Essential Phone vs. Galaxy S8: Can a newcomer beat the reigning champ?

The Essential Phone, the top-of-the-line smartphone spearheaded by Android creator Andy Rubin, is finally here. It’s got an edge-to-edge screen with a unique cutout around the front camera, a durable titanium frame, and a snap-on accessory system that supports a 360-degree camera module.

But there’s plenty of competition. The Essential Phone is going up against Samsung’s Galaxy S8, one of the best smartphones on the market. So just how does it fare? Read on for a full Essential Phone vs. Galaxy S8 comparison.

Specs

Essential Phone

Samsung Galaxy S8

Size
141.5 x 71.1 x 7.8 mm (5.57 x 2.80 x 0.31 inches)
148.9 × 68.1 × 8.0 mm (5.86 × 2.68 × 0.31 in)
Weight
6.53 ounces (185 grams)
5.46 ounces (155 grams)
Screen
5.71-inch LCD
5.8-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED
Resolution
 2,560 x 1,312 pixels
2,960 × 1,440 pixels
OS
 Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Android 7.0 Nougat
Storage
 128GB
64 (U.S.) 128GB (International)
SD Card Slot
 No
Yes
NFC support
 Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM
 4GB
4GB
Connectivity
 GSM, CDMA, HSPA, EVDO, LTE
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
Camera
 Dual 13MP rear, 8MP front
Rear 12MP with OIS, front 8MP,
Video
 4K
4K
Bluetooth
 Yes, version 5
Yes, version 5
Fingerprint sensor
 Yes
Yes
Other sensors
 Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity, compass, barometer
Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, heart rate, proximity sensor, iris scanner
Water Resistant
 No
Yes, IP68
Battery
 3,040mAh
3,000mAh
Charger
 USB-C
USB-C
Quick Charging
 Yes
Yes
Wireless Charging
 No
Yes, Qi and PMA
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Color offerings
Stellar Gray, Ocean Depths, Black Moon, Pure White
Black, silver, gray, blue, gold
Availability
 Unlocked, Sprint

AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile

DT Review
 Coming soon
4 out of 5 stars

In terms of raw hardware, the Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 are evenly matched.

Both phones sport Qualcomm’s octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor paired with 4GB of RAM, but storage is a different story. The Galaxy S8 has 64GB of internal memory and a MicroSD Card slot that can accommodate cards up to 2TB in size, while the Essential Phone comes with 128GB of internal storage and no MicroSD Card slot.

Essential’s decision to ditch the MicroSD Card slot might upset folks who’ve invested in removable storage, but you get double the base storage from the S8. Plus, it’s rare to find a 128GB smartphone at the Essential’s price point in the U.S., so we’re giving it the win here. If a MicroSD card slot is important to you, then the S8 is for you.

Winner: Essential Phone

Design, display, and durability

The Essential Phone has a titanium body that’s shielded with ceramic. The screen, a 5.71-inch LCD with a 19:10 aspect ratio, stretches the entire length of the front, and has distinctive cutout near the top that curves around the selfie camera. There aren’t any physical buttons on the front or back, and just a tiny chin on the bottom.

The glass-and-metal Galaxy S8 is a lot curvier. Samsung’s Infinity Display tapers off around the phone’s edges, maximizing screen real estate. There aren’t any physical buttons on the front either. The two embrace the bezel-less trend in smartphones, and since design is largely subjective, we’re not awarding a win here.

But the Galaxy S8 is the more durable of the two on paper. It’s IP68 certified for water- and dust-resistance, which means it can survive a five-foot pool of water for up to half an hour. The Essential Phone isn’t, but in fairness, its titanium frame will likely hold up well against sidewalks and hardwood floors.

The Galaxy S8 takes the cake in terms of display technology. The Essential Phone’s LCD screen has good viewing angles and brightness, but it doesn’t match the vibrancy of the Galaxy S8’s Super AMOLED. It’s also less sharp: The Essential Phone has a 2,560 x 1,312-pixel resolution, compared to the Galaxy S8’s Quad HD+ 2,960 x 1,440.

Winner: Galaxy S8

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

On paper, there’s not a huge difference between the Galaxy S8 and the Essential Phone in the battery department. The Galaxy S8 has a 3,000mAh battery, and the Essential Phone has a slightly bigger 3,040mAh battery. Both have the same power-efficient Snapdragon processor, but the S8’s screen likely draws a little more power.

The Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 support different flavors of fast charging. The S8 has Samsung’s Adaptive Fast Charge, which takes about an hour to fully juice. But the Galaxy S8 also supports wireless charging (in the Qi and PMA format), which the Essential Phone doesn’t, so we’re giving it the win.

Winner: Galaxy S8

Camera

The Essential Phone has dual rear cameras on the back, one 13-megapixel monochrome sensor and one 13-megapixel full-color sensor. Custom camera software combines the data to boost color accuracy and improve low-light performance, and Essential says that in a future software update, the phone will gain the ability to shoot in HDR (high-dynamic range) and a DSLR-like bokeh mode (think the iPhone 7’s Portrait Mode).

The S8 makes do with a single 12-megapixel rear camera, but offers a software setting, Selective Focus, that approximates the bokeh effect.

Samsung’s camera is great, but there’s something to be said for the Essential Phone’s forthcoming features. Selective Focus does a decent job artificially blurring backgrounds most of the time, but capturing true depth of field requires the Essential’s camera hardware.

When it comes to the front camera, the Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 are neck-and-neck — both have an 8-megapixel selfie cam that can shoot video in 2K.

Winner: Essential Phone

Software

The Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 both run Android, but the former has a version that’s extremely close to Google’s pure Android. There isn’t much customization to speak of, and it’s pre-loaded with mostly Google apps. It’s about as close as you can get a Pixel without buying a Pixel.

The Galaxy S8, on the other hand, runs the latest version of Samsung’s TouchWiz skin. It’s chock full of features like Bixby, Samsung’s digital assistant, and Activity Zone, which puts handy utilities like a stopwatch, barometer, compass, and flashlight at your fingertips.

So which offers the better experience? It’s a matter of personal preference, really. Some people might find the S8’s TouchWiz more obnoxious than helpful, while others find the Essential Phone’s software a little too bare bones. Personally, we’re fans of the latter. The Essential Phone might not have all the S8’s bells and whistles, but it’s not overstuffed with features you’ll never use.

Winner: Essential Phone

Accessories

One of the Essential Phone’s biggest draws is its fancy accessory system. On the back of the phone are magnetic pins that snap to modular add-ons like cameras, batteries, and more. It’s like your computer’s USB port, but far more powerful.

So far, there’s only one accessory available for the Essential Phone: A 360-degree camera. It can capture video in resolutions up to 4K at 30FPS, and weighs just 35 grams. Essential says it will release a new accessory “every few months,” but it remains to be seen whether or not third parties will support it.

The Galaxy S8 doesn’t have that problem — Samsung’s flagship has an abundance of accessories. One is the Dex Dock, a hockey puck-like device that transforms the Galaxy S8 into a full-blown desktop. Another is Samsung’s Wireless Charging Pad, which can rapidly charge the Galaxy S8 in minutes flat. Samsung also has the Gear 360 camera, as well as the Gear VR for mobile virtual reality.

Winner: Galaxy S8

Price and availability

At $700 for the Essential Phone and $750 for the Galaxy S8, the two phones are pretty close in pricing. But availability is a different story.

The Essential Phone is only available from Essential’s website, Best Buy, and one carrier, Sprint, though Essential says that the phone supports every major carrier in the U.S. Contrast that with the Galaxy S8, which is available from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile.

Essential Phone
Samsung Galaxy S8
AT&T
 N/A
$750 or $25 per month for 30 months
Sprint
$29.16 per month for 18 months
$750 or $31.25 per month for 24 months
T-Mobile
N/A
$750 or $30 per month for 24 months with a $30 down payment
Verizon
N/A
$720 or $30 per month for 24 months

If you order from Essential, for a limited time you can get both the phone and 360-degree camera for $750.

Sprint’s offering a substantial leasing discount on the Essential Phone too — as long as you don’t mind the black model. Customers pay only $14.58 a month for a year and half, which amounts to a $260 savings. You’ll have to pay the remaining balance on the phone’s $700 if you want to keep it at the end of the lease, though.

Overall winner: Tie

The Essential Phone and Galaxy S8 may share similar internals, but they are two very different devices. The former boasts a durable (albeit not waterproof) titanium design with great cameras, a novel accessory system, and close-to-stock Android software. The latter offers one of the best screens and cameras on the market, Samsung’s TouchWiz software, and a bevy of accessories. It’s a tough choice, and that’s why this contest is a tie.

Versius is the world’s smallest robot arm for keyhole surgery

Why it matters to you

A lower-cost, more adaptable robot arm will make keyhole surgery safer and more efficient.

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.”

Versius is around 2-foot-by-2-foot in size and its creators claim will cost less than half the price of the $2.6 million robots currently used to carry out keyhole surgery.

The robot is modelled after a human arm, with the arm and wrist articulations necessary to provide maximum flexibility to surgeons during a procedure. It is controlled by a surgeon, who can guide the robot during an operation on a separate 3D high-resolution display, located in the operating theater. The resulting ease of use means a reduction in the physical and mental strain placed on the surgeon, allowing them to more quickly and safely carry out procedures on patients.

“Versius will launch in Europe next year, following in other markets around the world shortly after,” Frost continued. “Five years from now, we hope to be one of the largest surgical robot companies internationally with a robot in every major hospital.” Global annual revenue for robot-assisted minimal access surgery is currently approximately $4 billion. It is expected to hit $20 billion by 2025.

Between this surgical robot, robotic cleaners in hospitals, and miniature injectable robots designed to carry out complex internal surgery, it is enough to get you pondering whether there are going to be any humans left in the hospital of 2030! With the exception of patients, of course.

Hacked smart devices double as surveillance tools, new research finds

Why it matters to you

The research suggests that smart devices can be exploited as surveillance tool, so it’s wise to be more cognizant about the sounds coming out of your speakers.

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?’”

Gollakota and his team used software called CovertBand, which allows a smart device to double as a remote-controlled sonar system, by taking advantage of a device’s built-in speaker and microphone. The researchers manipulated the devices to play modified music and the software could then analyze reflected sounds to track body movements and position.

“The way this works is that we embed a chirp signal in the music and hide it using the beats of the music,” Gollakota explained. “These signals get reflected off the human body and can be observed by the microphones in these devices. We can analyze these reflections and can figure a whole host of things about the person.”

The UW team hid the subtle chirp in songs by artists like 2Pac and Michael Jackson, which you can hear here. The chirps are slight but not always indistinguishable. In the study, listeners could identify the edited songs 58 percent of the time.

Using CovertBand the researchers were able to detect multiple individuals within the same room as the device and even behind barriers, such as thin walls. Without barriers they could detect a walking individual about twenty feet away with an error of around seven inches. Through a thin wall that distance decreased by about half.

Though the idea is unsettling, this isn’t the most secretive surveillance technique — an attacker has to literally play music for it to work. If someone tried this on your home smart TV, you’d surely notice. It nonetheless demonstrates the potential for such devices to be exploited in private or public spaces.

“Be careful about what kind of audio can be played on your device,”Gollakota advised. “Strictly control what kind of apps can use both your speaker and microphones and ensure that only the most trusted apps can do so.”

The researchers will present their report next month at the Ubicomp 2017 conference.

Dissolving pods add cream to your coffee without creating waste

Why it matters to you

This dissolving milk pod may mean the days of splashing yourself when you open one of those tiny hotel milk containers are coming to an end.

Adding milk or cream to your coffee in a hotel room or on the move could be about to get a bit more environmentally friendly, thanks to the work of researchers from Germany’s Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg. As a replacement for the miniature milk containers that are often used, they’ve developed dissolving milk pods, ready to be dropped straight into your favorite hot beverage like a sugar cube.

The milk pods are essentially small containers with a hard and stable shell, which contains liquid milk or condensed milk. The shell is made of a crystalline material like sucrose or a sugar substitute. When the capsules are added to a hot liquid, the coat quickly dissolves and the liquid filling is released into the drink with a minimum of fuss — and, more importantly, no waste.

“Conventional pre-portioned plastic [containers] are applied in a variety of sectors for packaging coffee-cream or condensed milk because of their handy size,” Martha Wellner, one of the researchers on the project, told Digital Trends. “However, they have a great disadvantage as the opening process leads to an unclean handling. The first main advantage of our product is that it avoids the splashing and spilling as no opening is necessary. Furthermore it contributes to an environmental waste reduction as the dissolvable capsule replaces conventional plastic [packaging].”

At present, the hard shell leaves behind a sweet taste: perfect if you like sugar in your coffee, not so great if you don’t. However, the researchers may be able to tweak their creation in subsequent iterations to result in no additional flavoring.

The team’s milk pods can be kept at room temperature for up to three weeks, with no negative effects. “We have discovered no changes so far,” Wellner said, regarding the milk quality after the pod-making process. The researchers also say that additional drinks, such as fruit juice concentrate, may also be stored in the same way.

A paper describing this research was recently published in the journal Chemical Engineering & Technology. With this and the various smart expiration labels and new approaches to pasteurization we’ve covered as of late, who knew there was so much innovation going on in the milk world?

Android 8.0 Oreo review

Android Nougat is so 2016. Like it or not, a new delectable dessert is in town: Oreo. It’s the name given by Google to the latest version of its Android mobile operating system. Android 8.0 Oreo follows Android 7.1.2 Nougat, and it continues Google’s tradition of alphabetically naming its version updates after desserts. It’s the second version of Android to use a brand name. The last was Android KitKat in 2013.

Android 8.0, like its predecessor, has more under-the-hood changes than visible overhauls. There are plenty of new features (see our Android Oreo roundup here), but they’re all relatively minor. Still, these new additions and improvements show us how much more mature Android is now, and they make version 8.0 an update you don’t want to miss.

As a note, we have been testing Android Oreo on a Google Pixel. While all the features will be similar across other Android 8.0 devices, there may be different color themes and reorganized layouts. For example, Google has changed the Pixel’s notification drawer to a white color, while the bluish-gray color remains on Nexus devices.

More useful notifications

Let’s start with one of the most visible changes to the operating system. The notification drawer, which you access by swiping down from the home screen, now shows the date on the bottom, and the Settings gear icon has also moved to the same lower pane. Expand the notification drawer and you’ll notice the display brightness slider is now at the top, with the Quick Settings tiles below. At the very bottom are the Quick Settings edit icon, user icon, and access to the Settings app. This is a minor, but welcome change that makes it easier to access these tools without needing to stretch your finger all the way to the very top of the screen.

General notifications like weather or commute times from the Google app now take up less space (though they can expand). Notifications themselves are more useful, due to three new features. First, and a personal favorite, you can schedule notifications. Gently swipe the notification left or right until you see a gear and a clock icon. Tap the clock and it will present you with options to have the notification resurface in 15 minutes, 30 minutes, 2 hours, or 1 hour (default). For inbox zero folks like me, this is a godsend as it means not having to swipe away important notifications, while still clearing my notification tray.

Notification Badges, or Dots, mimic iOS’ unread badge counters, and as the name suggests you’ll only see dots appear above an app or app folder with new notifications. These dots use the color from the app, so they aren’t distracting and don’t look out of place. Tapping and pressing the icon of an app with a dot can show you the notification as a pop-up, not unlike Apple’s 3D Touch. Here, you can also find app shortcuts, which were introduced in Android 7.1.1. They let you access specific functions in an app, and the look has been slightly redesigned in Android 8.0.

The Notification Channels feature brings more control over what notifications you see.

But perhaps the biggest change to notifications in the latest flavor of Android is through Notification Channels, or categories. This new feature brings more control over what notifications you see. Press and hold a notification, and you can see a toggle to block all notifications from an app. Tap All Categories and you’ll see all the different channels you can get notifications from via an app. For example, in the Twitter app’s notification settings, you can toggle notifications on or off for Direct Messages, Emergency Alerts, Followers and Contacts, and Recommendations from Twitter. It allows you to choose which type of notifications you want to get alerts from in an app. This feature can be incredibly handy (power users will love it), but you may not even use it much at first, particularly because it’s not immediately clear or well-explained how it works within the OS.

One of our favorite features in Android 7.0 Nougat is notification bundling, where multiple notifications from the same app are grouped and expandable. It’s exciting to see Google further improving notifications, and providing more tools for the user to control them in Android 8.0.

Streamlined Settings

The Settings menu in Android 8.0 is one of the largest visual overhauls in the update, mainly in how it’s now so much shorter than before. Google has grouped a lot of settings that once stayed separate, and while it will take some time to get used to or find a setting, we think these new groupings are for the better. You’ll also notice several new design changes across the Settings menu, with less dividers and better use of white space.

There’s no slide out menu for navigation anymore, just 13 Settings categories. At the top, you’ll see a blue-colored drop down for ongoing functions, such as if your Do not disturb or Night Light is on. Some notifications are now minimized into an Advanced tab in specific categories. While I like the idea, sometimes it means an additional tap to get to basic settings, such as assigning your default notification sound — there’s nothing advanced about that.

Overall, the Settings menu is well-designed and looks more professional than ever before. I’ve had trouble finding specific settings via the search icon, but it has been incredibly easy to find them now in version 8.0.

Picture-in-picture mode, Autofill, and Smart Text Selection

We have a few favorite new features, and especially like Autofill. Think of the Google Chrome browser’s autofill option, where it stores your login information or address, and allows you to easily add it into forms. Android now has the same feature. Every time you log into a new app, or add your address or credentials, Google will ask if you want it to remember the information. If you allow it, the next time you try to log in, it will automatically fill out the form. It’s far easier than remembering and typing out your username and password, and it’s a welcome addition into Android.

Picture-in-picture mode feels like a feature that should have been around for a while, and technically apps like Skype have utilized this function before. Essentially, it lets you continue watching a YouTube video or a video call when you exit the app. The video now acts like a floating pop-up over the home screen or other app you’re using, allowing you to multitask. Tapping on the pop-up allows you to either expand it again, or use some playback controls.

Like Autofill, Smart Text Selection is also one of those features you won’t appreciate until you use it. We’ve all had to copy an address or phone number from one app, and then open the corresponding app such as Google Maps or your phone dialer to paste it in. Now with Smart Text Selection, when you highlight a phone number, for example, you’ll get the option to jump into the dialer app immediately. The same is true for when you highlight an address — you can jump into Google Maps and the address will already be inputted. This feature will become even more robust as third-party developers add support for it.

Checking the Vitals

Android phones are already in more than a billion people’s hands, but Google is still tinkering with the operating system’s fundamentals in Android Oreo. Vitals is a new initiative to focus on security, system stability, boot time, and battery life.

On our Google Pixel, we’ve seen the boot time go from around a minute to about 15 seconds. We haven’t seen any issues with system stability or apps crashing, so perhaps it’s the operating system at work — we can’t be sure.

To keep your battery life safe, there are now Wise Limits on “how frequently background apps can retrieve the user’s current location,” and for your phone’s security there’s Google Play Protect. It’s a culmination of security features that have already been implemented. If you head over to Settings > Security & Location > Google Play Protect, Google will tell you when it last checked your app and device for “harmful behavior.” Find My Device is available here, and it’s essentially a rebranded Android Device Manager that lets you remotely lock and erase your phone if it’s lost.

Even installing apps from outside the Play Store is now a little more secure. You need to toggle which apps are allowed to download apps from “Unknown Sources.”

Project Treble

One of Android’s biggest flaws is fragmentation. It’s the fact that despite Android 7.0 Nougat’s release in August 2016, the version is only installed on 13.5 percent of Android devices. iOS 10, on the other hand, is installed on 86 percent of devices. It’s because Apple makes its hardware and software, and it can issue updates when it wants. When Google rolls out an update, chipmakers, manufacturers, and carriers all need to test it out to make sure nothing breaks, and this process can take months, if not more.

Project Treble attempts to mitigate the issue by separating the Android code to make it easier for chipmakers like Qualcomm to find and make sure the software works with its processors. While this makes things easier for chipmakers, it’s still up to manufacturers and carriers to move fast to issue the update timely. We won’t really be able to see how this plays out until next year because this whole project only works on devices that ship with Android Oreo.

You can read more about Project Treble here.

Miscellaneous improvements

There are plenty of other minute features we haven’t talked much about, such as support for higher quality audio codecs, support for a wider color gamut, and improved support for physical keyboards. There are Pixel-specific improvements as well, such as how double-tapping in the camera viewfinder now zooms in, and there’s now a video icon to swap to recording mode. The adaptive icons on your home screen can now be changed to different styles — from circles and squares to rounded squares, squircles, and teardrop-shaped apps.

A dunk-able update

All in all, Android Oreo doesn’t have one big flashy feature. It’s a minor update, but it’s still important in offering a cohesive plan on monitoring your devices ‘Vitals,’ while also introducing features than make the operating system feel more mature and robust than it ever has been. As always, it’s probably good to wait a few days when the update is available to make sure there are no major bugs reported, but after that, install away. Pixel and Nexus devices will get Android Oreo first, followed by devices from other manufacturers later this year or next year (whenever your manufacturer decides to issue the update).

When is your phone getting Android 8.0 Oreo? We asked every major manufacturer

It’s that time of year again. With a brand-new Android version comes the immediate question: when will my device get the upgrade? As a general rule, if your phone was made in the last two years, there’s a good chance you’re in luck — though every manufacturer is different and it really depends on what you own. Before Android 8.0 Oreo broke cover, 7.1.2 Nougat was the latest version of the platform, and it’s still unavailable to the wide majority of currently-supported phones. Still, that didn’t stop us from posing the question to all of Android’s major manufacturers. Here’s what they had to say.

Alcatel

Alcatel’s track record with Android updates is unfortunately spotty, and at the moment, there’s only one phone we expect to receive Android Oreo: The just-released Idol 5S. The Idol 5S is currently Alcatel’s only product running 7.1.1 Nougat. The company’s lower-priced handsets, the A50, A30 Plus, and A30, all launched with 7.0 Nougat. Alcatel also promised to eventually deliver Nougat to last year’s Idol 4S, which launched with Marshmallow.

We reached out to TCL, the company that owns Alcatel, regarding its update roadmap. The company had nothing to share at this time, though we’ll update this article as soon as we receive an answer.

Asus

Asus has confirmed to Digital Trends that the ZenFone 3 and ZenFone 4 series will receive Oreo by the second half of 2018. Although the company isn’t the quickest with updates, it did eventually follow through on its promise to bring Nougat to the ZenFone 3 series, so it’ll likely do the same here — just be prepared to wait a while. Part of the delay is likely due to the company adding its own ZenUI skin over the operating system, which will reportedly see an upgrade to 4.0 for Oreo.

Asus phones confirmed to receive the update:

• ZenFone 4
• ZenFone 4 Pro
• SenFone 4 Selfie
• ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro
• ZenFone 4 Max
• ZenFone 4 Max Pro
• ZenFone 3
• ZenFone 3 Deluxe
• ZenFone 3 Max
• ZenFone 3 Laser
• ZenFone 3 Zoom

BlackBerry

TCL, which works with BlackBerry to manufacture its devices, has confirmed it will update the KeyOne to Oreo. There’s no word on precisely when that might happen, but the version of Nougat on the device is pretty light and faithful to stock Android, so hopefully the company won’t have to make too many customization that would lengthen development. As far as some of the company’s other phones, no announcements have been made at this time, so we’ll have to wait and see.

BlackBerry phones confirmed to receive the update:

• KeyOne

Google

Google’s devices are the quickest to receive every new Android version. In keeping with the company’s 18-month support policy, four Google devices will be the first to receive the Oreo update: The Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X. This will be the final major update for the Nexus line.

Google phones confirmed to receive the update:

• Pixel
• Pixel XL
• Nexus 6P
• Nexus 5X

HTC

HTC has been one of the more respectable Android manufacturers where updates are concerned. Last year, it confirmed early on which of its phones would see upgrades to Nougat. Although it hasn’t made an announcement yet, and has not returned our request for a timeline, the company should offer a clear-cut roadmap once it’s ready to do so. In the past, it’s gotten Marshmallow and Nougat updates out the door in less than four months — an impressive feat, given the company makes its Sense UI modifications to Google’s operating system.

Specifically for Oreo, we expect the HTC U11 and U Ultra to lead the way on updates, with the older HTC 10 to follow. We’ll provide a list as soon as we hear official word.

Honor

Like its parent company, Huawei, Honor hasn’t made any announcements regarding Oreo. Also much like Huawei, Honor doesn’t sell many devices in the U.S. — there’s the Honor 6X and Honor 8. The Honor 8 already received an update to Nougat, but there’s no telling whether it will make the jump to Oreo. We reached out for information, and will let you know what we hear.

Huawei

Huawei has yet to confirm which of its phones will receive Oreo, and hasn’t responded to our request for comment. We expect to see an update for the Mate 9 and P10, which launched with Nougat, sometime in 2018. Outside of that, it’s hard to say what the company’s plans are at this time.

When the update does release, it’ll likely come in tandem with a new version of Huawei’s user interface, EMUI. Additionally, most of its phones are not sold stateside — the Mate 9 is the only phone listed for sale on the company’s U.S. site. We’ll update this as we hear more.

LG

We’re still waiting to hear what LG’s update roadmap looks like. Until then, we can look to history for some clues. Last year’s LG V20 was one of the first devices to launch with Nougat, and we could see the same happen this year with the LG V30, which will be revealed on August 31. The company’s other flagship, the G6 will also certainly receive Oreo down the line; and while the G5, LG’s failed modular phone, is still within the update window, it’s unclear if it will still get it.

Digital Trends reached out to the company for clarification, and we’ll update this report as soon as we hear more.

Motorola

While Motorola isn’t quite as timely with its updates as it once was, the company is still pretty transparent about its plans, and is one of the better phone-makers in terms of making sure none of its products are left behind. Although Motorola couldn’t give us a list of devices upon our request or provide a timeline, it did return with the following statement:

“Once Android O is fully released, we will begin working on the new code for our devices — as always, we know upgrades are about getting it right and making sure the phone performance remains the best it can be. We’ll share upgrade plans for our products and more specific timing later, and will keep everyone posted on our software upgrade page.”

With that said, Motorola will assuredly upgrade the Moto Z and Z2 lines, and likely the Moto G4 and G5 families as well — though the Moto E3 may miss out. Check back here for new information.

OnePlus

OnePlus has said the OnePlus 3 and 3T will receive the next iteration of its own OxygenOS based on Oreo. Although unconfirmed, the recently-released OnePlus 5 is expected to follow suit. During a Reddit Ask Me Anything, the company confirmed it plans to release the updates before the end of 2017.

Unfortunately, older devices, like the OnePlus 2 and X, look to have been left behind after the company failed to follow through on its promise to update them to Nougat.

OnePlus phones to receive the update:

• OnePlus 5
• OnePlus 3
• OnePlus 3T

Samsung

Like most other phone makers, Samsung has not yet made any announcements regarding Oreo’s release. Still, there are rumors, courtesy of SamMobile, that indicate no less than 16 devices will receive the update. Of course, some phones, like the Galaxy S8 series, are a given. The Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge should also receive the update. However, a few lesser-known devices not as common in the U.S., like the Galaxy J, A, and C series, may follow suit. These product lines typically are not supported for quite as long as the flagship S devices, so you’ll have to wait for official word from Samsung for clarification. In the meantime, we reached out to the company and are still awaiting a response.

Sony

As we wait to hear from Sony, its rumored nine of the company’s devices will see an Oreo update. The report comes from Phone Arena, and includes flagships like the Xperia XZ Premium, mid-rangers like the Xperia X Compact, and lower-end handsets like the Xperia XA1 Ultra. Other phones released within the past two years may also be supported.

Sony has stepped up its update efforts as of late, with the Xperia X Performance being the first of the company’s devices to receive Nougat just over three months after being released. With the IFA Conference coming up on September 1, and a Sony flagship rumored to be unveiled, it’s possible though unlikely that we could see new hardware debut with Oreo built-in. Keep an eye on our IFA coverage for news as it breaks.

ZTE

ZTE hasn’t said which of its phones are getting Oreo, and when we reached out for comment, a spokesperson responded with the following statement:

“We evaluate whether or not a device receives the latest update on a case by case basis. We are very open to looking at bringing Android O to all our of devices, but because of device hardware capabilities and carrier requirements, this will drive how quickly we would be able to commit to whether we can, and the actual timelines of seeing this come on a device.”

ZTE did make good on its promise to keep its devices current during Nougat’s run. It brought version 7.1.1 to the Axon 7, and added support for Daydream VR at the same time. The company even ran a program for ZMax Pro users to preview Nougat. It’s been reasonably timely with updates in the past, and hopefully that will continue with Oreo’s rollout. We expect the Axon 7 and Axon 7 Mini to lead the way.

That’s everything we know regarding which phones will receive Android 8.0 Oreo. There are some manufacturers not on this list, and for them we revert to Google’s official response:

“We’ve also been working closely with our partners, and by the end of this year, hardware makers including Essential, General Mobile, HMD Global Home of Nokia Phones, Huawei, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Sharp and Sony are scheduled to launch or upgrade devices to Android 8.0 Oreo.”

It’s still early days in terms of the operating system’s latest release, however, so you can look forward to frequent updates in the coming months. If we missed a phone manufacturer you think should be on this list, let us know!

The explosive Junkertown is the next escort map set to be added to ‘Overwatch’

Why it matters to you

Overwatch’s escort game type is about to become even more varied, as Blizzard has revealed a new map set on the mean streets of Junkertown.

Blizzard officially unveiled the next piece of content set to be added to its enormous popular hero-based shooter, Overwatch. Junkertown is a map for the escort game type that is themed around everyone’s favorite society of lawless Australians.

In Overwatch lore, the Junkers are a savage society of people displaced into the irradiated outback after Australia’s supply of omnium was destroyed. Two members of the game’s cast — Junkrat and Roadhog — are Junkers, and Junkertown is the home base for this deranged and deadly group.

We learn a little bit more about Junkrat and Roadhog’s relationship with Junkertown in a short called The Plan that was released by Blizzard alongside the reveal of the map — namely, why they are not living there at the moment. The pair were exiled from Junkertown by its queen, having committed several crimes worthy of expulsion. We can perhaps assume that it is the queen that is speaking in the Junkertown reveal trailer.

Junkrat and Roadhog set about on a worldwide spree of heists, taking their bounty back to Junkertown in the hopes of using it to double-cross the queen and gain some measure of revenge. Unfortunately, despite Junkrat’s best efforts to perfect their plan ahead of time, there are a few hitches that get in the way.

Shorts like this one really help flesh out the world of Overwatch and Blizzard has been doing a great job of making both the setting and the characters that live in it seem full of life and history. For a multiplayer-only title, the studio has been able to tell plenty of bite-sized stories, a strategy that obviously owes a debt to Valve’s work on Team Fortress 2.

Of course, the big news for players is the fact that another map is being added to the game, bringing the current total up to 20. Response to the last map to be released — Horizon Lunar Colony, which made its debut in June 2017 — has been decidedly mixed, but there seem to be enough interesting elements like moving platforms and alternate routes to make Junkertown a hit. Plus, there is certainly room for more escort maps in the game.

Best Cases for the Samsung Galaxy S8

The Galaxy S8 is one of the most exciting phones of the year, so if you want to keep it pristine, grab a case!

The Samsung Galaxy S8 has been around for a few months now, and there’s no question that it’s one of the best-looking phones on the market right now. But there are two sides of curved Gorilla Glass, which means that any drop, even from a short distance, could damage it. If you’re looking for a case for your new Galaxy S8, we’ve got you covered!

• OtterBox Commuter Series Case
• Ringke Flex S Series
• VRS Single Fit Case
• Spigen Liquid Air Armor
• Nomad Leather Folio Wallet

Otterbox Commuter Series

The OtterBox Commuter Series has garnered a well-deserved reputation as being one of the best cases for keeping your phone well protected while maintaining a slim design.

Like most OtterBox cases, this is a two-piece case that features a soft inner sleeve paired with a hard outer shell that helps to absorb impacts while providing great all-around protection for your phone. The case features port covers over the headphone jack and USB-C charging port, which just adds extra protection against dirt, dust, and pocket lint.

Typically we’d also recommend OtterBox’s Defender Series, which typically offers more rugged protection with a built-in screen protector. However, OtterBox made the curious decision to not include a screen protector with their Defender Series case for the Galaxy S8. Both cases are compatible with screen protectors but the Commuter Series is probably your best bet, as it’s $10 cheaper and offers most of the same protection — although it lacks the Defender Series’ belt clip holster.

You can grab the OtterBox Commuter for around $25.

See at Amazon

Ringke Flex S Series

If you like your case’s name aligning with your phone’s, the Ringke Flex S is a great option. (It’s also a damn good case.)

The main attraction here is the exceptional protection gleaned from the combination of a flexible TPU layer cushioning the phone itself, which is covered by a hard polycarbonate layer. That’s a familiar combination, but Ringke’s version is very attractive, with a grippy, textured back that looks great as it protects.

You can pick up a Flex S case for around $14 and it comes in four colors.

See at Amazon

VRS Design Cases

VRS Design has a full collection of cases available from its site for the Galaxy S8, but we’ll highlight one of the more minimalist options here.

The Single Fit case offers a minimalist option for keeping your phone safe. It’s a one-piece case made of TPU that snugly fits around your Galaxy S8 without adding too much bulk to that sleek design. Unlike the phone itself, this case is fingerprint resistant and also provides better grip than the slippery Gorilla Glass on the Galaxy S8. You get nice protection around the camera and fingerprint sensor on the back, and a subtle lip around the screen, along with the ample cutouts and precise buttons to ensure your phone’s functionality is unaffected.

Check out the Single Fit case for around $20.

See at VRS Design

Spigen Liquid Air Armor

Spigen consistently delivers cases that combine great design and quality protection for a stylish product that keeps your phone safe. We’ve gone hands-on with their latest batch of cases for the Galaxy S8 and can report back that they’re as good as ever on Samsung’s latest device. Whether you like their Tough Armor series or their minimalist Thin Fit cases, you’re sure to find a case that you’ll love.

We’re big fans of the Liquid Air Armor, one of the most low-profile cases that actually protects your phone. It’s a great combination — a flexible TPU, not too thin, plus a textured back for extra grip.

Best of all, the case is just $10, which is a steal for one of our favorite cases for the Galaxy S8!

See at Amazon

Nomad Leather Folio Wallet

Nomad’s Galaxy S8 folio case is like nothing else on the list. It uses Horween leather from the oldest tannery in the United States that is meant to show its age. On the inside of the light brown case is a holder for up to six cards plus cash, and the phone insert is there to keep your Galaxy S8 steady in the case of a drop.

This is one of the nicest-looking folio cases we’ve seen to date, and we’re looking forward to seeing how it looks in three or six months!

See at Nomad

What case are you rocking?

We want to know how you plan to keep your Galaxy S8 protected. Let us know which case you’re getting in the comments!

Update, August 2017: This list has been updated with some new options and up-to-date links.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

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Android Oreo will make you love notifications again

Android Oreo brings some great new features to one of the most important parts of the OS: the notification shade.

One of the major areas that get updated with Android Oreo is the notification system. Notifications and the tray method of showing them to us have long been one of Android’s strong points and making changes to something that’s already great can be difficult. Android Oreo builds on the current rich notification system that started a few versions ago and brings these new features.

Notification channels

Applications can now have different categories for the notifications they show us, and which ones are displayed and how is up to the user to define. Google’s YouTube app is a great example of how these changes work.

There are three categories of notification in YouTube on a phone with Android Oreo. Two of those categories are handled by your Android on a per phone basis (General notifications and Offline notifications) and the third is a section of account-based settings like notifications of highlighted videos or when someone you subscribe to uploads a new video.

If you enable one of the categories, you have fine-tuning controls like importance (a system setting that has important notifications make a sound, vibrate or peek open), what sound they should play if sounds are enabled, whether they should show an icon notification badge and more.

You’ll find this in the applications’ settings, but only if the developer specifically targeted Android Oreo when they built the app.

More: How to set up Android Oreo’s notification channels

Notification badges

We’re all familiar with “notification dots” that some manufacturers add to their launcher and third-party home replacements bring to any phone. With Android Oreo they are now part of the operating system and won’t rely on a third-party solution.

When you have a notification for an app that you haven’t yet looked at, the app’s icon will display a small colored dot in the upper-right corner. These badges follow the rules for notification channels if the app has enabled those, and are tied into cloud messaging so if you’ve checked on a computer or tablet, they go away on your phone.

These won’t replace existing solutions from apps like Nova Launcher, so you’ll be able to keep using what you already enjoy. If you would rather not have badges on your icons you can turn them off in the app’s notification settings.

Notification snoozing

Sometimes you don’t want a notification to disappear, but you aren’t able to check an app right away. Notification snoozing lets you postpone things.

Long pressing on a notification and sliding it to the right now gives you a timer icon in addition to the settings icon we’ve been seeing since Android Marshmallow. Tapping on it removes the notification from your tray but doesn’t mark it as “read”, and after a set amount of time, it will come back. Notifications reappear with the same level of importance they first appeared with so you’ll hear a sound of it will peek if you have it set to do so.

Checking an app from another location (like your tablet) can remove a snoozed notification, and they can be updated without reappearing — if you were to snooze a Gmail notification, another new email wouldn’t bring it back until the time is up.

Notification timeouts

Developers can now build a timer into a notification and have it disappear after it expires, even if the notification hasn’t been checked. This is handy for things that are time-sensitive like happy hour specials at your favorite restaurant. Knowing that appetizers are Buy One Get One Free until 7 PM is awesome, but seeing it at 8 PM isn’t.

Background colors

Notification can have a predetermined background color, including different colors for each notification category.

Google suggests that this is used only for “ongoing tasks which are critical for a user to see at a glance” like driving directions in the Maps app or an ongoing phone call. The color can be preset by the developer, or dynamic as we see in media players with persistent notifications.

This can make any ongoing notification stand out so you won’t have to scroll through a long list to see them. It also places a lot of responsibility on app developers to make sure their notifications don’t clash with any theming of the notification tray.

Messaging style improvements

Notifications can now provide more information in both collapsed and expanded forms. These changes were designed for your favorite messaging app. With Android Oreo, it can give quick reply bubbles when collapsed, or give message history when expanded.

This is a great way to give rich notifications a little context. If you can’t remember the previous messages in a conversation, you no longer have to open the app to read the most recent ones.

Notification settings and dismissal

Notification settings are tools for developers that help set the text displayed when you link from a notification back to the apps actual notification settings. This should allow developers to be a little more user-friendly and help guide us when they’re using Notification channels.

Notification dismissal is a new method of the Notification Listener service that lets an app know if the notification was removed because a user checked it or if it was removed for another reason, like snoozing.

Notifications are a big deal on a device designed to help us communicate. It’s great to see plenty of attention given to them at the operating system level!

Android Oreo

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• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
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Three great apps for your Merge Cube

Explore the shiny new world os Augmented Reality with these apps!

The Merge Cube from Merge VR is a real treat! At just $15 it opens up augmented reality in a way haven’t really seen before and, although it is fairly new there are a handful of fun apps you might enjoy.

We have whittled them down to the top 3 you should try and a bonus one that’s in trial. These 3 Apps are in no particular order as they are all equally fun in our eyes.

Read more at VRHeads!