Check out the 5 best iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus case deals

With Apple’s new announcement of the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, the cell phone accessories industry is already releasing products specifically designed for these new devices. The iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus both certainly have some standout features, which we saw, for example, when we saw Apple display the iPhone 8 augmented reality capabilities but before you order, there are some helpful ordering tips to keep in mind. Once you do take the plunge and pre-order a new phone, consider these iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus case deals that will help you get the most life out of your new smartphone investment.

Case-Mate Tough Stand Case ($34)

Make media viewing a hands-free experience with this Case-Mate Tough Stand Case available for both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The one-piece platform frame can stand on its own but isn’t too bulky. To the contrary, it gives your phone an ultra slim look.

It has an integrated metal alloy kickstand that provides a nearly perfect media viewing experience for both portrait and landscape viewing angles. The case has a reinforced corner design with a soft inner cushion, and flexible sides and a knurled grip. Metallic chrome buttons finish off the polished look of the case.

The case is 10-foot drop tested and comes with a lifetime warranty. It normally retails for $40 but our exclusive coupon code DIGITALTRENDS15OFF you can score an iPhone 8 Case-Mate Tough Stand Case for $34 or an iPhone 8 Plus Case-Mate Tough Stand Case for $34.

iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus

Case-Mate Tough ID Case($43)

Leave your wallet behind when you use this Case-Mate Tough ID Case available both for the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus. The multi purpose case has an embedded wallet panel and has slots that can hold up to four cards, perfect for holding items such as your driver’s license, MetroCard, credit cards, and more.

The case is made of handcrafted genuine leather with a stylish red stitching detail. Metallic buttons and the four card slots complete the trendy look of the case. It’s also equipped with a full shock absorbing layer for extra protection.

The ID case comes with a worry-free lifetime warranty and normally retails for $50 but again with our exclusive coupon code (DIGITALTRENDS15OFF) you can snag an iPhone 8 Case-Mate Tough ID Case for $43 or an iPhone 8 Plus Case-Mate Tough ID Case for $43.

iPhone 8 iPhone 8 Plus

Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone 8 Plus Case ($12)

Keep the clarity without losing protection with this Spigen Ultra Hybrid iPhone 8 Plus Case, which is currently 52 percent off on Amazon. The case is a clear and transparent case yet robust and durable.

The case is equipped with a TPU bumper offer that maintains a slim, barely-there profile. Its crystal clear construction flaunts the stunning design of your new iPhone 8 Plus. Raised lips around the screen and camera offer extra protection for those delicate areas. Additionally, air-cushion technology around all corners further ensures your new iPhone stays safe and protected.

Available in black, crystal clear, red, mint, or rose gold designs, the case has a PC back that provides long-lasting clarity so you don’t have to worry about it turning yellow over time. Grab one today for $12 on Amazon after a $13 (52-percent) discount, to show off and protect your new iPhone 8 Plus.

Amazon

Anker KARAPAX Shield+ Case for iPhone 8 ($11)

Get heavy-duty protection for your new iPhone 8 with this Anker KARAPAX Shield+ Case for iPhone 8, which is currently 58 percent off on Amazon. This case defends your iPhone 8 with multiple layers of protection but still manages to maintain a stylish design.

It’s made from an anti-scratch material with shock absorbers on all four corners, along with raised edges that protect the screen and camera from drops and knocks. The protection case features a dual-layer polycarbonate hard shell and soft TPU core with a 3D-texture finish that combine to provide superior drop protection. TotalTouch Technology delivers a custom engineered texture for a comfortable in-hand feeling that also provides a more secure grip.

If you have any lingering concerns about how well this case can protect your phone, you can rest assured because it’s tested under rigorous, military-grade standards and manufactured using premium quality materials for superior defense against bumps and knocks. Snag one today for $11 on Amazon after a $15 (15-percent) discount, and feel assured that your expensive iPhone 8 purchase is protected.

Amazon

Anker KARAPAX Breeze Case for iPhone 8 Plus

Enjoy a case that just feels good to hold with this Anker KARAPAX Breeze Case for iPhone 8 Plus, which is currently 62 percent off on Amazon. It has a unique 3D texture that offers an incredible in-hand feeling and exceptional grip to prevent the phone from slipping out of your hands.

The durable case combines a Polycarbonate metallic frame with a soft TPU cover for enhanced protection. It’s crafted out of premium materials which further provide long-lasting defense against scratches, as does the raised edge detailing around the screen and camera. Conveniently, responsive button covers and precise port cut-outs ensure the functionality of your new iPhone 8 Plus is not compromised.

Once again, this model is tested under military-grade standards for robust protection, yet it maintains a sleek, slimline design. Grab one today $10 on Amazon after a $16 (62-percent) discount and give yourself one more reason to never let your new iPhone 8 Plus leave your hand.

Amazon

Looking for even more great deals on tech and electronics? Check out our deals page to score some extra savings on our favorite gadgets.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com. Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

How are you liking the Android Wear 2 update?

Android Wear’s 2.0 update brings a lot to the table, but is it a good meal?

It’s been about 6 months since Android Wear was updated to version 2.0. Along with the ever present promises of better battery life and performance enhancements, we got new features that included goodies like being able to install apps on the phone and use it in standalone mode with its own LTE connection. As far as updates go, it was a pretty darn good one.

Of course, two new watches appeared to kick things off. Both were from LG, but they are distinctly separate models for different kinds of users. The LG Watch Style is smaller and lacks an LTE connection and NFC. This helps keep it slimmer, and a slimmer and smaller smartwatch is something a lot of people want. The flip side is the LG Watch sport, which is not ashamed of its girth because all the bells and whistles are on board.

I’ve been using the LG Watch Sport for a while and here’s my quick take.

The Watch

This isn’t a review of the LG Watch Sport. You can read that here if you want a longer take on the watch and the features of the software. But one thing needs mentioning because it is a result of being able to support Android Wear 2’s new features.

This watch is thick.

Baby’s Got Back.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Just like some want a smaller and slimmer watch, there are plenty of people who love big chunky watches. And it has to be thick to fit all the new parts to include NFC and LTE in the watch body. It will take a redesign of how LG builds the familiar round diver-style watch to make it slimmer, and that is surely coming. But for LG in 2017, it had to be thick. In any case, it’s not something to ignore but it’s hard to complain too much because the new hardware does work well and fully supports Android Wear 2.

I thought this would bother me more than it did, even though I don’t necessarily mind a big watch. But I found it wasn’t as bad as I feared and after a week or so I didn’t notice it at all. Whether that’s a credit to LG’s design team or me convincing myself to just deal with it I don’t know. But I’ve been wearing it 20 hours a day for the past six weeks and have no problems with it.

I do like the crown and buttons on the Sport, and they make navigating the new UI changes easy. Being able to feel all three buttons is almost necessary to use the new software, especially in the dark with your watch lit up brightly.

Connectivity

I’ve been using my Sport on Project Fi with a data-only SIM card or with a standard T-Mobile SIM card on a legacy unlimited plan. It’s worth mentioning that a Project Fi SIM gives you a great data connection and there are no restrictions on how you use that data, but you can’t natively send text messages or make calls. Some have been able to use various workarounds, but don’t expect it to work. Likewise, your T-Mobile plan might not apply for use with a wearable, so check with them if you have any questions.

The LTE connection can be very useful if you need to leave your phone at home but it’s not a necessary feature for me.

Having said that, I don’t have a need for a standalone LTE connection. I see why some folks do, but if you have your phone in your pocket all the time, it’s just not something you’ll be using very often. It does work well. You can look at your email or messages of social media, stream music, download apps from Google Play, or surf the web even. But if you have your phone on you and they’re connected, you can do the same without an LTE connection.

Calling someone using your watch only feels like a really cool James Bond thing the first time. It’s convenient but it’s also very public. Rather than step away for a bit or privacy, I would reach for my phone; at least that way only one side of the conversation was loud enough to hear. If Google Assistant worked a little better, it would be great while I was driving. I’m sure Google sees the need for some improvement there.

In any case, having a data connection or making calls from a watch isn’t exactly new, nor is it new to LG. It is new for Android Wear, though. And while I don’t find either particularly useful, things work better than I expected for a first try. People who do find the new connectivity options a useful addition are probably more happy about that than those of us who don’t, but as a tech writer, it’s nice to see Google get it right the first time.

Standalone apps

I like the idea of standalone apps on the watch. I also think it was smart to forgo them in version one and wait for some more specialized internal hardware that wouldn’t choke on them. If I have to worry about managing apps on my watch to keep it from lagging, I’m just not interested.

Standalone apps and the Play Store are something Google got right on the first try.

I haven’t seen any serious issues with apps installed and running on the watch. Battery life takes a hit because you’re doing more, but it’s comparable to using apps that ran on your phone in version one of the software. If you do it a lot, that means the screen is on a lot and you put it on the charger a lot.

When you install an app on your phone that has a counterpart for your watch, you get notified that you can download and install it. You can also browse a curated and mostly text-based version of the Play Store through your watch and install apps that way. It’s very simple and easy to understand, which is always a plus.

The selection isn’t as robust as anyone would have hoped six months later, but there’s not much you aren’t able to do with your watch even if you can’t use the same app you’re used to using.

NFC and Android Pay

Paying for something with your phone is easy, and using your watch is even easier. Except, not really.

That’s mostly because of security needs. I know the idea of walking by with a six-pack of socks or whatever you needed that day and holding up your wrist as you pass by a payment terminal sounds cool, but in reality, you don’t want things to automatically pay for themselves when they are using your money. It’s not difficult to use Android Pay, but it’s certainly not automagic. That’s a good thing.

Android Pay isn’t automatic. You need to manually open the app, and that’s how it should be.

For starters, you’ll need to set up a PIN and unlock your watch anytime you have taken it off. It stays unlocked as long as it stays on your wrist, though. When you want to use Android Pay you’ll need to open the app, let it load and hold the top of the watch near the payment terminal to pay with your default card. If you want to use a different card, you’ll need to choose which one from the Android Pay app. The rest is what you’re already used to if you use Android Pay, as is the hit-or-miss availability at the places you shop.

Again, Google did a good job with things and the times I’ve used Android Pay through my watch have all went off with nary a hitch. It is worth noting that while you can use Android Pay without having a connection to your phone, the initial setup only works when connected to a phone that supports Android Pay itself. Since this is also a security feature it’s not something I’m complaining about, but some people surely feel differently.

Odds and ends

• The “app drawer” puts recently used apps at the top of the list, which is awesome. Scrolling through the list isn’t hard but seeing the handful of apps you use most on the screen together is a great touch.
• Typing on a tiny watch screen is awkward. There is no sugar coating that.
• Having Google Assistant on your watch would be a lot better if Google Home and your phone didn’t fight with it. Google needs to fix this.
• Using more than one Google account is surprisingly easy.
• Android Wear 2 probably won’t appeal to someone who didn’t like Android Wear version one. You either want or need smart features on your watch or you don’t.

Final thoughts

There are going to be some people who think NFC and watch payments or standalone connectivity finally makes having a smartwatch worth it. But I’m betting that most people who didn’t find Android Wear useful last year aren’t going to be won over. I find myself in the middle all around on this front. When I need to do something on my wrist or see messages without pulling out my phone, Android Wear is a great way to do just that. When I don’t, I’d just as soon wear a regular “old fashioned” watch or none at all. I just don’t find it any more cumbersome to pull out my phone to make a call, send a message or pay for something.

I’m not Wear’s biggest fan, but I would spend money on this.

The new features all work surprisingly well. Some, like the LTE connection, are because of the hardware in part, but the software itself is well put together and the user experience may not be the most beautiful but is simple and functional. Sometimes less is more and I don’t need to see high-resolution UI accents when I want information at a glance. As a part-time Android Wear user at best, I like the direction Google is moving towards with Wear and how LG has implemented them.

While it’s not a necessity in my life, this is something that I can see myself spending some mad money on and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend an Android watch to anyone who thinks they need it or would find it useful.

Your turn

Have you been using Android Wear 2 for a while? If so, join the discussion and tell everyone what you love, what you hate, and how well you’re liking it!

Android Wear

• Everything you need to know about Android Wear 2.0
• LG Watch Sport review
• LG Watch Style review
• These watches will get Android Wear 2.0
• Discuss Android Wear in the forums!

Get the Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle for only $49!

It’s tough to find work these days that doesn’t require some pretty impressive computer skills. We’re not just talking about proficiency with some basic office software or keyboarding skills, either; some of the most in-demand IT jobs require you to be an expert in security, Cloud software, Linux, networking, and more. How on Earth do you get these under your belt? When do you have the time to study or the money for tuition?

The online education experts at iCollege have the solution you’ve been hoping for with the Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle. By studying online, at your own pace, and at a much lower cost than you’d expect, you’ll get all the training you’ll need to pass the professional certification IT exams that will finally get you the job you’ve been wanting, or move your IT career to the next level.

The Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle is available right now through Android Central Digital Offers for only $49.99, a 98% savings on an eight-course bundle that would normally cost you over $2300! Over a 12 month period, you’ll learn from the very best and cover all of the essential IT topics, including:

• PC Hardware, Motherboards, and Processors
• Storage, Peripherals, and Configurations
• Operating Systems and Control Panels
• Hospital and healthcare IT regulatory requirements
• Business model strategies and risk management
• Time and cost management
• Project feasibility, communications, and much more

Prepare for your IT certification exams from the comfort of home and at your own pace. Move ahead at work or finally apply for the IT job you’ve always wanted. Take advantage of the Ultimate CompTIA+ Certification Bundle now for only $49.99!

See at Android Digital Offers

Grab an unlocked 128GB Google Pixel for $610, or the Pixel XL for $650

Newegg Flash is offering major discounts on 128GB Google Pixel devices, with the standard Pixel available for just $609.99 while the XL version is available for $649.99. This saves you $139 off the regular price of the standard Pixel and $219 off the XL edition. Good luck finding this much phone for that price anywhere else. This deal is only available in the ‘quite black’ color.

Pixel brings the power of Google to your fingertips, with quick access to helpful tools like Google Assistant and Google Duo. The Pixel not only has a 2,770mAh battery, but it can be charged super fast as well giving you seven hours of usage time after being plugged in for just 15 minutes. Meanwhile, the Pixel XL has a 3,450 mAh battery, allowing it a standby time of up to 552 hours… or 23 days.

Specs of the Pixel are as follows:

• Operating System: Android 7.1 Nougat
• Cameras: Rear: 12.3 MP • Front: 8 MP
• Processors: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 821 processor
• Memory & Storage: RAM: 4GB • Storage: 128GB

These phones are factory unlocked and work on all major carrier networks (In the US, all GSM-based networks and two CDMA-based networks: Verizon and Sprint.)

If you’d like to save a bit more money, you can currently purchase a refurbished 32GB Google Pixel for as low as $330.

Get a Pixel Get a Pixel XL

More from Thrifter:

• What does Amazon’s takeover of Whole Foods mean for you?
• 8 Weird Things You Probably Have in Your House that Sell On Ebay

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Essential Phone 360 camera impressions: Solid accessory in need of some polish

It’s a relatively niche space, but Essential is innovating a bit.

The Essential Phone’s first proper accessory attachment, its 360-degree camera, is finally slowly shipping to early buyers and is available to add to new Essential Phone orders. At $199, the 360-degree camera isn’t exactly an impulse purchase and is in the same price range as other 360-degree offerings, like the Samsung Gear 360.

But just look at it: it’s so small, and it’s an interesting example of the types of things that are possible with the Essential Phone’s pogo pins and fast wireless data transfer system. Even though the Essential 360-degree camera doesn’t have any interoperability with other devices, it sure is a cool piece of technology and worth seeing how it works — and importantly, how that measures up to Essential’s claims and expectations.

How it works

As you’d expect, the Essential Phone’s 360-degree camera is dead simple … almost to a fault. Just snap the camera onto the back, where it attaches with a satisfying clunk of strong magnets, and the camera app will load up in a few seconds directly to the 360 capture mode. You can switch the camera between 4K and 2K resolution, tap a button to re-center the image, and then take a photo or capture video. Yup, that’s it.

Unlike the Moto 360 Camera Mod, you can’t actively switch between the 360 and standard cameras. In fact, the only way to get the 360 camera to launch is to remove the camera from the phone and reattach it. (Surely something that could be added with an update to the camera app.)

360-degree photos and videos are saved automatically into the photo gallery, right alongside all of your other photos and videos, where you can share them out — so no dealing with other storage media or transferring files. You can share the 360-degree photos and videos to all of the usual places like Facebook, YouTube, Google Photos, Flickr, etc. and they have all of the proper metadata to show up just perfectly.

Photos

Here are a few good photo samples that give you a feel for what the Essential 360-degree camera can do. One in harsh, one-sided lighting outside, one in consistent lighting outside, and one inside during the day.

The photos look pretty good and have plenty of resolution to be competitive — even though it may not seem too impressive when you compare it with 13MP stills from the main camera. Colors are accurate and no part of the scene is really blown out or blurry, which is about what the average person is going to expect. The stitch between the two lenses is noticeable still, but is pretty well smoothed — it’s only really pronounced in the first photo, which has very strong lighting only hitting one of the lenses. Each 360-degree photo is just 1-2MB.

Though it isn’t necessarily surprising, it’s disappointing to see that the Essential Phone’s camera app doesn’t seem really ready for the 360-degree camera. There’s no option to shoot with just one lens or the other for great one-shot panoramas, nor can you actively switch between standard and 360 shots on the fly. The camera app itself is still quite slow, as you’d expect if you’ve read any of our previous Essential Phone coverage.

Video

In the above video clip, you’ll get a good taste for a few different aspects of the Essential 360-degree camera. First, you get a feeling for how sensitive the microphones are — or at least, how they’re primarily tuned to hear what’s very near to the camera. You can in some cases hear me breathing at an arm’s length away, and at the same time barely hear cars driving by at 20 mph.

A few small issues aside, this is really solid 4K 360-degree video out of a tiny camera.

Next, you see how much walking and movement affects the video quality. It’s not too bad, actually, and there isn’t too much of a jelly effect with the processing applied to it. Then you get to see what things look like when the camera is still (toward the end of the video) — things look really good here once you take the shaking and movement out of the equation. And remember, this is just handheld.

Across the whole video, you notice a couple of small downsides. There’s some odd artifacting in a few places, and there seem to be unnecessary stitching lines where you wouldn’t expect — like directly down the middle of one of the lenses, which is odd. Both of those things, and the sensitive microphones, can indeed be fixed in software. Those small quibbles aside, the core experience here when it comes to video is quite good. That’s solid 4K resolution video out of what is a really small camera setup.

Bottom line

Essential got a whole lot right with its 360-degree camera. It’s extremely compact by 360-degree camera standards, and is relatively inexpensive at $199 — and at the same time, it shows off the great capabilities of the phone’s pogo pins and wireless data transfer. The quality of its photos and videos are quite good, too, which isn’t always easy to do on the “first” try for a product like this.

As is the case with the rest of the experience, the 360-degree camera is hamstrung by software.

As is the case with the rest of the camera experience on the phone, though, the 360-degree camera is somewhat hamstrung by its software. Being able to quickly take and share 360-degree photos and videos just like any other photo is really awesome, but the camera app lacks many features that would be very useful — like simply being able to switch between 360 and standard photos on the fly, or stream 360 videos to Facebook and YouTube.

The Essential 360-degree camera itself isn’t going to sell anyone on the Essential Phone, but as proof of what its technology can do and yet another piece of the ecosystem, it definitely serves its goal. It’s a really solid and not-too-expensive 360-degree camera option.

Essential Phone

• Essential Phone review: First impressions
• Essential Phone specs
• The latest Essential Phone news
• Join our Essential Phone forums!

Amazon
Best Buy
Sprint
Telus

Bring wireless music to your home with the $165 Sonos Play:1

The powerful and compact Sonos Play:1 speaker is currently $35 off at eBay, dropping the price of it down to just $165. While $35 may not seem like a big discount, it isn’t too often that we see any savings on these speakers, so you don’t want to miss when it happens.

Whether you have Sonos speakers already spread throughout your house or are looking to get started with your first one, taking advantage of discounts when they are available is the best way to do this. You’ll be able to add a Play:1 to your existing setup or put it in a room or office to run independently.

Sonos does an amazing job of supporting its speakers and bringing new features to them often. Unfortunately, this price won’t last long. If you’re in the market for a Sonos speaker, be sure to grab one in either black or white before the deal ends.

See at eBay

For more great deals be sure to check out our friends at Thrifter now!

Google Pixel and Pixel XL: Everything you need to know

A year on, Google’s Pixels remain important — this is what you need to know.

Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are fantastic. These phones are the first made entirely under Google’s control, following in the footsteps of the two Chromebook Pixels and the Pixel C tablet — and they marked a new era of smartphones blessed by Google.

That makes these phones interesting from a hardware perspective, wearing just the “G” logo on the back and taking on some neat design cues, but also in terms of how the software and features are deeply integrated into these aluminum blocks. Here’s everything you need to know about the Google Pixel and Pixel XL.

The Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 are coming

With almost a year in the rear-view mirror, the original Pixel and Pixel XL are about to hand off the torch to their successors. The Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2 will be announced on October 4!

The offering is expected to follow a similar formula: two phones at different sizes and price points with the same set of core features and advantages. The difference in 2017 is that the phones are expected to be made by different manufacturers, with HTC taking the smaller Pixel 2 and LG taking the Pixel XL 2.

Read: Google Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2: Release Date, Specs, Price and Rumors!

What will happen to the original Pixels?

Of course, the original Pixels will continue to live on — at lower prices, and still with plenty of runway in terms of software updates. They will get the newest version of Android Oreo, expected to be version 8.1, right alongside the new Pixel 2 and Pixel XL 2. And aside from any hardware limitations (there shouldn’t be many), they should have all of the same features as well.

The original Pixels won’t be left behind — expect software support for Android P and beyond.

The interesting thing to see will be how much Google brings camera improvements back to the original Pixels. So much of what Google does with photography is in the software rather than hardware, and it’s feasible that the original Pixels could ride the wave of camera improvements through Android 8.1 and the new Google Camera app.

If you choose to hold onto one, the 2016 versions of the Pixel and Pixel XL will get Android P in 2018 as well — and get security updates for another year after that. So you don’t have to worry about being left behind in the dust.

Read (and watch) our Google Pixel review

The easiest way to learn about Google’s newest phones, as we experienced them closely after their launch, is to read our full review and then watch the video review that goes along with it!

Two sizes, same phone

Google’s branding for the Pixel phones is a tad confusing, as the name used in marketing is just “Pixel” while we of course we know there’s more than one phone available. But the way you should look at this is just two different screen sizes of the same phone: a 5-inch Pixel, and a 5.5-inch Pixel XL.

The phones are identical in terms of internal specs, build, hardware quality, features and software — there are just three differences to note: the Pixel XL has a larger 5.5-inch display, a higher 2560×1440 resolution, and a larger 3450mAh battery. That compares to the Pixel’s 5-inch 1920×1080 display and 2770mAh battery.

The drop in screen resolution shouldn’t be too upsetting considering the still-high pixel density at 5 inches, and of course when the body gets smaller, the battery is going to shrink as well. Battery life shouldn’t drop off much considering the smaller screen and resolution. Really, this comes down to how much screen you need to get your daily tasks done, and how much you can manage in your hand and pocket.

More: Google Pixel vs. Pixel XL: Which should you buy?

Nexus is dead. Long live Pixel!

The new Pixel and Pixel XL are of course not Nexus phones by brand, but they clearly carry on the legacy of the line. They come from Google, are sold unlocked, and epitomize the complete Google experience.

If you owned (or lusted after) Nexus phones in the past for their simplicity, direct support from Google, and clean integration of Google’s own apps and services, you’ll be served just as well by a Google Pixel.

Updates come from Google, guaranteed

One of the most compelling reasons to buy a phone from Google is software updates. Not only will the Pixels be supported by two years of guaranteed Android platform and feature updates, but you’ll also be getting monthly security patches for three years as well. Those updates won’t be such a pain to take, either, as Android Nougat introduced seamless updates that get in place in the background and apply quickly on reboot.

There are lots of phones with really cool software features right out of the box, but it’s their shaky continued support a year or two down the road that make us take pause. If you don’t want to worry about when or where your future software update is coming, the Pixels should be your top choice.

You get 24/7 support built in

It’s not necessarily a software feature at its core, but part of the justification of the Pixels’ high prices is the inclusion of live 24/7 support direct from Google. The support is built right into the settings of the phones, and lets you quickly contact Google for a phone call or chat to talk about what’s going wrong with your phone.

Much like Amazon pioneered on its Fire tablets, Google can also start a screen sharing session with you so you can literally show your exact problem to the support person and figure it out while on the phone. It’s these sorts of things you may not think about all the time, but when you just can’t figure out a problem it’s great to have it there. The feature may be particularly useful if you’re looking at the Pixel for a less tech-savvy family member or friend — you’re no longer the tech support!

The best part about the 24/7 support is how it becomes even more useful as the phones get older and approach (or surpass) their warranty dates.

More: The Pixel’s secret weapon: 24/7 support

You get unlimited full-quality camera backups for life

Google Photos and the Pixel are a match made in heaven. Not only do the Pixels have excellent cameras, but Google allows all Pixel owners to back up their photos and videos — even 4K video! — in full resolution for free, forever.

It’s one of those things that Google can do only because it owns the entire stack, and it makes owning the phone even better.

More: The Pixel’s secret weapon: Unlimited high-resolution camera backups

You should look at Project Fi

If you’re looking to switch carriers after getting your Pixel, you may want to look into switching to Google’s own carrier offering called Project Fi. It’s an awesome carrier that doesn’t tie you down with contracts, agreements, lengthy bills or overage charges — it’s all about simplicity, just like the Pixels.

With Project Fi, your Pixel will actively switch between using Sprint, T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular networks depending on which is best, and will also jump on open Wi-Fi outside of your house as well as let you make calls and texts over any Wi-Fi network. It’s just $20 per month to start, plus $10 per gigabyte of data you use, no matter how much you use. You’re refunded for data you buy but don’t consume in the month, and you can even use that data outside of the U.S. with no extra fees. There’s even a group plan where you can bring along your family to Project Fi.

You can get a Project Fi SIM card for free when you order your Pixel, or if you already have one on the way you can pick up a SIM card when you sign up for Project Fi online.

Having Pixel problems?

If you look around a little, you’ll see there are plenty of reported problems with the Google Pixel, from Bluetooth to Wi-Fi to microphones cutting out. Google has promised to fix all of them in time, and may have fixed any issues before you got to them in particular, but in the meantime, you can find our running list of Google Pixel issues and share your stories.

Common Google Pixel problems and how to fix them

Pixel owner? Hop in the forums!

Even though there are new Pixels on the horizon, there are still millions of people happily using the originals. Maybe you’re one of them! To keep the discussion going, see how your phone is holding up compared to everyone else, and troubleshoot any ongoing issues you may have, you’ll want to join our Google Pixel forum!

Updated September 2017: This article was completely rewritten to reflect current information and the coming of the Pixel 2!

Google Pixel + Pixel XL

• Google Pixel and Pixel XL review
• Google Pixel XL review: A U.S. perspective
• Google Pixel FAQ: Should you upgrade?
• Pixel + Pixel XL specs
• Understanding Android 7.1 Nougat
• Join the discussion in the forums!

Google Store
Verizon

NPR’s biggest podcasts are available on the iHeartRadio app

There’s a new place to listen to your favorite NPR podcasts: the iHeartRadio app. A press release says that Fresh Air, How I Built This, Invisibilia, Planet Money and Up First will be available via the app, among some 30 others. So, wherever the iHeartRadio app exists (Android, iOS, Alexa are a few examples) you’ll be able to catch up on Radiolab. It isn’t the biggest news in the world, but more access to NPR’s podcasts is sure to make a few people happy today.

Source: iTunes, Google Play, iHeartRadio

The best monitor arms

By Anna Perling

This post was done in partnership with The Wirecutter, a buyer’s guide to the best technology. When readers choose to buy The Wirecutter’s independently chosen editorial picks, it may earn affiliate commissions that support its work. Read the full article here.

After researching more than 60 monitor arms and testing 10 over the past two years, we found that the AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm is the best for most people who want to save space on their desks. It accommodates a wide range of positions and angles to improve workstation ergonomics, and it’s adjustable, easy to set up, and unobtrusive. It’s also sturdy enough to support heavier monitors.

Who should get this

Hunching over a laptop is terrible for your back and neck. Photo: Kevin Purdy

If you work at a computer for long periods of time, a monitor arm can help prevent back and neck pain by positioning the screen in an ergonomically ideal location. Alan Hedge, an ergonomics expert and director of the Human Factor and Ergonomics program at Cornell University, recommends that the top of a screen be about 2 to 3 inches above eye level, because human eyes see more below the horizon line than above. Monitor arms are also helpful if you alternate between sitting and standing at your desk or share a workstation with people of varying height.

How we picked and tested

From left to right: the Ergotron LX Monitor Arm, the Ergotron LX Tall Pole Monitor Arm, and the AmazonBasics Single Monitor Arm. Photo: Ryan Flood

Everyone has a different body and a different workstation, so the wider range of motion a monitor arm has, the better. A good monitor arm should support VESA mounts, the most common standard supported by most displays. Monitor arms must also sturdily attach to a wide range of desks and include cable-management options. We also like to see clear assembly instructions and a strong warranty.

We tested by assembling each monitor arm, attaching each arm to a Dell UltraSharp U2715H (our previous pick for the best 27-inch monitor), and mounting each to a desk. For each arm we assessed the setup process, sturdiness, and the range of movement, and we had people of varying heights use and adjust the monitor in both sitting and standing positions.

Our pick: AmazonBasics Single Monitor Arm

The hefty clamp on the AmazonBasics is easy to secure onto a desk. Photo: Ryan Flood

The AmazonBasics Single Monitor Display Mounting Arm is the monitor arm we recommend for most people because it’s the most adjustable, the easiest to set up, and the sturdiest arm for the price. It has 13 inches of height adjustment, extends outward up to 25 inches, and can tilt 70 degrees backward and 5 degrees forward. You can also pan and rotate a full 360 degrees for vertical alignment. It comes with a 1-year warranty covering damage to the arm, but not damage to your monitor.

The AmazonBasics desk clamp and VESA mounting plate are both sturdy, an absolute must for an arm designed to hold an expensive monitor. The wide, heavy desk clamp is easy to tighten, and in our tests, jostling the base didn’t move the arm at all.

We don’t love the AmazonBasics Single Monitor Arm’s cable-management system, which consists of a flimsy piece of plastic that hooks onto the underside of the lower arm plus zip ties that hook cables under the top portion of the arm. If the AmazonBasics arm’s cable management doesn’t cut it for you, we recommend the Velcro ties we describe in our home-office furniture and supplies guide.

Runner-up: Ergotron LX Monitor Arm

The polished aluminum finish makes the Ergotron look slightly fancier than the AmazonBasics. Photo: Ryan Flood

If our pick is sold out or you don’t mind spending around $35 more for a monitor arm with a longer warranty, we also like the Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Monitor Arm. The Ergotron LX is nearly identical to the AmazonBasics aside from the polished aluminum finish on the arm and base. The Ergotron also has a considerably longer warranty (10 years, versus the one-year warranty on the AmazonBasics). Beyond those differences, however, the Ergotron is equally sturdy, adjustable, and easy to assemble, which is why it’s not our top pick: the AmazonBasics has the same features for a lower price.

A sleeker-looking option: Fully Jarvis Monitor Arm

For the sleekest ergonomic setup, go for the Jarvis. Photo: Michael Hession

If you want a nicer-looking monitor arm and are willing to put up with a slightly more difficult assembly process, get the Fully Jarvis Monitor Arm. It’s one of the best-looking monitor arms we tested; it comes in white, black, and silver. The Jarvis has a 13-inch vertical range, can extend 24 inches side to side, tilt 90 degrees, rotate 180 degrees, and pan 360 degrees. It also maintains the same VESA compatibility as our other picks, and comes with a five-year warranty covering damage to the arm only.

The Jarvis was slightly more difficult to set up than the AmazonBasics arm, even though Fully released a video and improved the setup process since the last version we tested. In our tests, we needed a second person to help mount the monitor onto the arm, and thought balancing the arm while assembling the desk clamp was a bit awkward.

For tall people at a sit/stand desk: Ergotron LX Tall Pole Monitor Arm

The extra 6 inches on the Ergotron LX Tall Pole will give people over 6 feet tall enough height to properly position their monitor. Photo: Ryan Flood

If you’re over 6 feet tall and need a monitor arm to use with an adjustable standing desk, we recommend the Ergotron LX Desk Mount LCD Monitor Arm Tall Pole. In our tests, we found that the 7-inch pole in the regular LX arm wasn’t quite tall enough to properly position a monitor for tall people, and the 13¼ inch pole in the extra-height version was necessary to achieve ergonomically ideal monitor heights. The LX Tall Pole is just as sturdy and easy to set up as the regular Ergotron arm; the two arms are identical aside from the pole length.

For dual-monitor setups: AmazonBasics Dual Side-by-Side Monitor Arm

The AmazonBasics dual monitor arm is similar to the single-arm version in design and adjustability. Photo: Ryan Flood

We recommend the AmazonBasics Dual Side-by-Side Monitor Display Mounting Arm for anyone who needs a dual monitor arm. As with the single-arm version, the AmazonBasics dual-arm model is sturdy and easy to adjust, and it has an impressive vertical range. It can support two 27-inch monitors and 40 pounds total. It offers the same features as the Ergotron dual arm, but it’s cheaper and offers just a one-year warranty (Ergotron offers a 10-year plan).

The AmazonBasics dual arm can adjust 13 inches vertically, extend 25 inches side to side, tilt 70 degrees backward and 5 degrees forward, and rotate 360 degrees. In our tests, both arms on the AmazonBasics held tension and were easily adjustable, moving from side to side, forward and back, and even vertically to accommodate for a range of dual-monitor setups. This model doesn’t allow for stacking, however.

This guide may have been updated by The Wirecutter. To see the current recommendation, please go here.

Note from The Wirecutter: When readers choose to buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn affiliate commissions that support our work.

iPhone 8 and 8 Plus Launch at Virgin USA and Over 25 Additional Countries on September 29

Virgin Mobile USA today announced that it will begin shipping iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders on Friday, September 29, the same day the devices launch in 29 additional countries around the world.

Virgin said its Inner Circle members will be able to pre-order the devices on Friday, September 22, but it’s unclear if Apple will be accepting pre-orders on that date as well in the second wave of launch countries.

Apple began accepting iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time for major carriers AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint, in addition to SIM-free models. Virgin’s date is one week later, but for the iPhone X, it will accept pre-orders starting Friday, October 27, the same day as Apple.

The next countries include Andorra, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Greenland, Guernsey, Hungary, Iceland, India, Isle of Man, Israel, Jersey, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

Apple’s online store doesn’t operate in all of those countries, but iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus should be available in limited quantities through authorized resellers and carrier partners where available.

Virgin operates on the Sprint network. Inner Circle members get unlimited talk, text, and data for $50 per month, with a few caveats: video quality is limited to up to 480p, music streams at up to 500 kbps, and games stream at up to 2 Mbps. Virgin promises 4G LTE speeds for “practically everything else.”

Customers who use more than 23GB of data in a billing cycle will be de-prioritized during times and places where the network is constrained.

Until September 28, customers who buy a new iPhone, or bring their existing iPhone and transfer their phone number from another carrier, will receive one year of unlimited talk, text, and data for just $1 with AutoPay enabled. The device must be a CDMA model, and the same caveats mentioned above apply.

Related Roundup: iPhone 8
Tag: Virgin Mobile
Discuss this article in our forums