OnePlus 5T vs. Pixel 2: Battle of the Android superstars

If you want to know what it means to be an Android phone, then you need look no further than Google’s Pixel 2. The newly released smartphone is the most advanced Android smartphone on the planet, pairing the best technology with up-to-date Android advancements straight from Google itself. It’s one of the best smartphones in the world and it garnered its share of hardcore fans.

OnePlus has established a reputation for value, offering great specs at surprisingly low prices. But can a cheaper device from a smaller company measure up against the might of Google and its flagship? To find out, we took the newly revealed OnePlus 5T and put it head to head with the Pixel 2.

Specs

OnePlus 5T

Pixel 2
Size
156.1 x 75 x 7.3 mm (6.15 x 2.95 x 0.29 inches)
145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8 mm (5.7 x 2.7 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
162 grams (5.7 ounces)
143 grams (5.04 ounces)
Screen
6.01-inch AMOLED
5-inch AMOLED display
Resolution
2,160 x 1,080 pixels (401 ppi)
1,920 x 1,080 pixels (441 ppi)
OS
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Android 8.0 Oreo
Storage
64GB, 128GB
64GB, 128GB
MicroSD card slot
No
No
NFC support
Yes
Yes
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM
6GB, 8GB
4GB
Connectivity
GSM / CDMA / LTE
GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
Camera
Front 16MP, Rear Dual 16MP and 20MP
12.2 MP rear with OIS, 8 MP HD front
Video
4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 60fps, 1080p at 30fps, 720p at 30fps, slow-motion 720p at 120fps
4K at 30fps, 1080p at 120fps, 720p at 240fps
Bluetooth
Yes, version 5.0
Yes, version 5.0
Audio
Bottom-facing speaker, headphone jack
Stereo front-facing speakers, no headphone jack
Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes
Other sensors
Gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity,
Barometer, gyroscope, accelerometer, compass, proximity sensor, Active Edge
Water resistant
No
Yes, IP67
Battery
3,300mAh
2,700mAh
Charging port
USB-C
USB-C
Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Colors
Midnight Black
Black, Blue, and White
Availability
OnePlus

Google, Verizon

Price
$499
$650
DT review
Hands-on review
4 out of 5 stars

In terms of technological hardware, we’re looking at two very similar phones. The Pixel 2 and the OnePlus 5T both use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 processor, which has become fairly standard for any 2017 flagship Android phone (the Note 8, LG V30, and Razer Phone all use the same processor). It’s a powerful little chip, and we expect great performance out of both of these handsets — though nothing that could really set them apart.

It’s a similar story with internal storage — both the Pixel 2 and the OnePlus 5T offer a 64GB model and an upgraded 128GB model. Neither has a slot for MicroSD card expansion, so think carefully before choosing one storage option over the other.

RAM is where we start to see a difference between the two. The Pixel 2 has a respectable 3GB of RAM, while the 64GB OnePlus 5T comes with 6GB of RAM and the 128GB model comes with a staggering 8GB. That is a lot of RAM — we have previously seen the same amount on the Razer Phone, but it’s still an exceptionally large amount. While the impact a large amount of RAM has on a phone is debatable, the extra brainpower on the OnePlus 5T should mean it will be a more capable multi-tasker than the Pixel 2.

Audiophiles will be happy to learn that both phones come with the additional signal strength and features of Bluetooth 5.0, but the OnePlus 5T has an advantage over the Pixel 2 with the courageous decision to continue supporting a headphone jack. We’ve seen many manufacturers drop the venerable port in the last year, and it’s nice that OnePlus is still fighting the good fight.

It’s a tight fight between these two smartphones where specs are concerned. While the extra RAM may be a relatively small advantage, it still scores the OnePlus 5T some points over the Pixel 2 — and the headphone jack seals it. The OnePlus 5T takes the win here.

Winner: OnePlus 5T

Design and display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Google Pixel 2 may have cutting-edge flagship specs that can battle with the best of them, but the design falls somewhat short of 2017’s standard. Unlike the Pixel 2 XL, the Pixel 2 eschews the edge-to-edge display that we have seen many flagship phones adopt this year and it means that the Pixel 2’s large bezels look a little dated. However, it’s not a bad-looking phone, mirroring the iconic looks of the original Pixel phone, including the rear glass panel and fingerprint scanner. The 5-inch screen is an AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, and, as we’ve come to expect from OLED screens, it delivers a gorgeous picture with vivid colors and dark, inky blacks.

The OnePlus 5T is OnePlus’s first attempt at making a bezel-less phone, and the attempt has paid off — the OnePlus 5T is gorgeous. Unlike the Pixel 2, the 5T’s design is very 2017, with a massive 6-inch screen that dominates the front of the phone and shrinks the bezels to the very edges of the phone. The forehead and chin are reminiscent of the slim bands at the top and bottom of the Galaxy S8 and LG V30 (no Essential Phone or iPhone X-style notches here). The 6-inch screen is another AMOLED display, with an 18:9 aspect ratio and 2,160 x 1,080-pixel resolution. It was clear, sharp, and bright during our hands-on review, and we fully expect it to be just as good as the display in the Pixel 2. The only real downside to the OnePlus 5T is the massive camera bump. It extends a significant amount from the body, and it’s ugly. So many manufacturers have their cameras flush to the back, so why hasn’t OnePlus?

Moving on to durability, the Pixel 2 wins some points back with the addition of IP67 rated water-resistance, which means the Pixel 2 should be able to take a short trip into the bath or down the toilet. Unfortunately, the OnePlus 5T is lacking in any sort of water protection, so try not to take it swimming. OnePlus does win some points back with the full aluminum body — while we’re a fan of the Pixel 2’s unique glass band, we tend to worry about glass bodies on smartphones. Throw a case on it and it’ll be fine, though.

This is another tough category to call. While the OnePlus 5T brings a massive 6-inch display to the battle, the camera bump is such a turn-off. The Pixel 2 might have an older style, but it’s unique and we quite like it. The Pixel 2 also comes with water-resistance, meaning less potential time in a bag of rice. We’re judging this one a tie.

Winner: Tie

Camera

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Peer into the OnePlus 5T’s cameras and you’ll find some serious snappers staring back at you. The dual lens-setup contains a 16-megapixel lens paired with a 20-megapixel lens, both with a wide f/1.7 aperture. If you’re familiar with the lenses on the previous OnePlus 5, then you will notice that the zoom lens has been replaced by the 20-megapixel lens — OnePlus says this is to help boost low light photography, but we are still disappointed to lose the optical zoom on the OnePlus 5T. We  have yet to put the OnePlus 5T’s camera through our tests, but we anticipate that OnePlus’s good history with smartphone photography, as well as the solid numbers we’ve seen, should lead to a pretty impressive camera on the 5T.

Still, we can’t see it beating the Google Pixel 2’s camera. On paper, this seems like a mismatch; the Pixel 2 brings only a single 12-megapixel f/1.8 lens to the battle with OnePlus’s double shooters, but despite seeming outgunned, the Pixel 2’s camera is a serious contender for being the smartphone camera of the year. It broke DxOMark records when it launched, and we’ve seen the Pixel 2’s camera produce consistently fantastic photos with awesome color accuracy and a frighteningly good simulation of “bokeh” in the portrait modes.

Camera quality is where flagship smartphones are increasingly able to show off their pedigree, and while OnePlus has a great history with smartphone cameras, the 5T just can’t beat the incredible software contained in Google’s Pixel 2 camera. While we haven’t had the chance to test the 5T fully, we can’t anticipate it beating the Pixel 2 at this time, but we will update this if it turns out to be a Pixel-beater. For now, the Pixel 2 reigns supreme.

Winner: Pixel 2

Battery life and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Battery life is where it gets a little sketchy for the Pixel 2, with a 2,700 mAh battery. Our review tests found that moderate to heavy usage throughout the day would often leave the phone at around 20 percent at 7 p.m. That is a hard sell for a smartphone battery and it caused no end of battery-focused anxiety, and led to us carrying the charger around with us, topping up the battery where we could. Thankfully, the charger included in the box comes with Google’s fast-charging technology, which enables the battery to go from 15 percent to 65 percent in around 45 minutes. Still, we prefer a larger battery to make sure it can see through the day.

The OnePlus 5T’s battery is significantly larger than the Pixel 2, weighing in at a respectable 3,300mAh. We have yet to test the battery fully, but OnePlus is adamant that the 5T’s battery will match up to the performance of the OnePlus 5, which easily lasted the day on moderate usage, hitting 10 p.m. with just under 50 percent remaining — even light usage on the Pixel 2 saw it drop to 42 percent by 8 p.m. The OnePlus 5T also comes with the proprietary Dash Charge technology, which we saw give the OnePlus 5 60 percent in 30 minutes. It’s seriously impressive technology.

Thanks to the aluminum bodies on these phones, neither comes with wireless charging. Every hero has a chink in their armor, and the Pixel 2’s is in the battery area. The OnePlus 5T wins here with a larger battery and faster charging times.

Winner: OnePlus 5T

Software

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The OnePlus 5T is Android 7.1.1 Nougat overlaid with Oxygen OS 4.7 — OnePlus’s custom Android skin. Ironically, it is a very similar experience to the stock Android you get on the Pixel devices, having few changes to the underlying Android. Still, there is a touch more customization than you can get on stock Android, and OnePlus has pared out some of the bigger additions to recent Android to keep the experience sleek and smooth — Google’s Daydream VR didn’t make the cut, and there’s no addition of a voice assistant outside of Google Assistant. You might also have noticed that the 5T isn’t running the latest version of Android — Android 8.0 Oreo. That is expected in early 2018, according to OnePlus.

As you would expect from the owner of Android, Google made sure the Pixel 2 comes with the latest Android software innovations. The Pixel 2 ships with Android 8.0 Oreo and the close integration between Google’s hardware and software means that Android runs buttery smooth on the Pixel 2; it’s possibly the best place to experience Android as it should be. But it’s not all about the stock Android experience — Google has added a few extra tidbits, just for the Pixel line. Active Edge is a new feature for the Pixel, fresh from HTC’s Edge Sense, and it allows you to activate your Google Assistant by simply squeezing the edges of your phone. It’s a small addition, and it’s mostly useful for areas where you don’t want to activate the Assistant with your voice. Other features, such as “Now Playing”, compares any music you might be listening to against an internal database, so you can be always sure what music is playing around you. There is very little that’s life-changing here; they’re very much quality of life improvements, but we appreciate them nonetheless.

The OnePlus 5T has a great stock Android-like experience, but the extra additions from Google in the Pixel 2 help to carry the day. The Pixel 2 wins here.

Winner: Pixel 2

Price and availability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The OnePlus 5T is set to release November 21, with prices starting from $500 for 64GB of storage and 6GB of RAM, and rising to $560 for the 128GB of storage and 8GB of RAM model. It will be sold exclusively on the OnePlus website, for now, while no U.S. carriers have announced deals for it. There is bad news for Verizon and Sprint customers, too — the OnePlus 5T has limited support on their networks, so it’s worth giving it a pass if you’re stuck with either of those two.

The Pixel 2 is currently available, with prices starting at $650 for 64GB of internal storage — the 128GB model will set you back a further $100. At the moment, Verizon has exclusivity on carrier sales, though you can buy the phone unlocked for use on any U.S. network, so that needn’t worry you if you’re a customer elsewhere. You can find all the purchasing options in our Pixel 2 buying guide.

We have to call this one a tie. The OnePlus 5T represents incredible value for money, but the lack of support for two major carriers makes it a tough sell within the U.S. The Pixel 2 is significantly more expensive, at $150 more at a base level — but it’s usable on every network.

Winner: Tie

Overall winner: Pixel 2

The OnePlus 5T is an incredible phone, and a worthy addition to OnePlus’s line of fantastic smartphones. However, it’s outmatched by the raw power of the Pixel 2. While the Pixel 2 may look dated, especially next to a phone as pretty as the OnePlus 5T, the experience of Android is second-to-none, it’s fast, and the camera is perhaps the finest we’ve seen to date.

Don’t get us wrong — if you don’t the budget for the Pixel 2 (and we totally sympathize with that), then you should not be ashamed to end up with the OnePlus 5T. It’s an amazing phone that will serve you well. But if you have the money for the Pixel 2, you should always be picking Google’s best over the OnePlus.

Editors’ Recommendations

• OnePlus 5 vs. OnePlus 5T: Is it worth making the upgrade?
• OnePlus 5T review
• The 6-inch OnePlus 5T costs $500 and you can unlock it with your face
• Google Pixel vs. Pixel 2: What difference does a year make?
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: Can Huawei top the Android powerhouse?

Enjoy photos in all their 4K glory with the latest Facebook Messenger update

As messaging apps become increasingly visual, Facebook Messenger is now allowing users to share high-resolution photos while chatting with friends. On Tuesday, November 21, Facebook announced an updated version of Messenger that supports image sharing at a 4K resolution, rather than getting downsized to 2K. The Messenger update comes at the same time PayPal is expanding their Messenger add-ons to include the ability to send an invoice within the platform.

With the update, Messenger now supports sending and receiving images that are up to 4,096 pixels in each direction. Despite the added resolution, Facebook says sending images through the messaging app will be just as fast as when those same photos were downsized.

4K is the resolution of many smartphone cameras, Facebook says, so the added ability allows users to see more detail in photos shared in Messenger. That could be pretty significant since the company says users share 17 billion images on Messenger every month. All users need to do to send a 4K photo is to make sure the app is updated before hitting the camera icon inside of a conversation.

Facebook says messaging is becoming more visual and that the use of images allows users to be more emotional and expressive — and it’s hard to disagree. From Snapchat to Messenger’s own redesign to focus on camera features, sending friends a message is no longer just typing a few words.

The enhanced resolution support is available by updating the Messenger app for users in the U.S., Canada, France, Australia, the U.K., Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. The feature will roll out to additional countries over the next few weeks, Facebook said.

PayPal’s Messenger Extension also recently launched the ability to send invoices via Messenger. The tool allows users to exchange money without leaving Messenger by using PayPal’s One Pay. Users can send invoices by choosing PayPal from the Messenger extensions menu. After creating the invoice in the app and sending, the recipient can hit the “Pay with PayPal” button and pay much in the same way as checking out with PayPal when shopping online. The tool expands the PayPal Messenger extension that also allows sending money to friends.

Editors’ Recommendations

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• Snap and edit pictures like a pro with the best photo apps for Android

Commune with nature in ‘Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp’ for mobile

App Attack is a weekly series where we search the App Store and Google Play Store for the best apps of the week. Check out App Attack for the latest apps we’ve tested out.

If you’re looking for a new game to dive into this holiday weekend, all you’ll need is your smartphone and maybe some patience. You’ll get to manage your own campsite, interact with cute little animals, and even travel a bit. This week we’re bringing you a beloved Nintendo franchise that’s finally available for mobile devices.

Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp — now available for iOS and Android — reunites you with nature. Where in main series entries you serve as the mayor of town, you’re now modestly appointed as campsite manager. To help decorate your campsite, you’re completing tasks for animals along the way who reward you with currency and crafting materials.

Since the game was released a day earlier than expected, there have been a few connection errors while playing. If that happens, I recommend force quitting out of the app and starting back up again; I was able to pick right back up again from where I left off.

Technical hiccups aside, it’s been a fun and entertaining experience so far. While I’m not the most avid gamer, I am familiar with Animal Crossing from my Nintendo GameCube days. Downloading the game for my iPhone was thus a nostalgic trip, considering that previous versions aren’t available on mobile. You can also log into your Nintendo Account to save data and earn points (redeemable for discounts and in-game items in other Nintendo titles).

In the beginning, I got to design my avatar by picking her hair color, hair style, and eye shape. I was then presented with a hipster-style outfit — knit sweater and striped socks included. Later on you can customize your camper with different colors and patterns. You’ll also get to choose between a total of four themes for your campsite — sporty, cool, natural, and cute.

When the game starts to pick up, you’re able to travel to other destinations like Sunburst Island and Saltwater Shores to meet other animals. Each one will provide you with a task that’s themed to your surroundings whether it’s fishing or catching butterflies. Completing these missions not only win you tons of supplies, but you can also start to make your campsite look less empty by inviting the animal mission-givers to come hang out. It’s important to remember that while Animal Crossing looks like fun, it means serious business. Each animal is pretty needy with their requests — providing you with an entire list of tasks before they’re willing to actually become your friend. But therein lies the game: the more requests you complete, the more supplies you earn.

With the supplies, you’re able to craft  furniture. For example, you’ll need wood to put together a picket fence and for a modern dresser you’ll need some steel. Note however that you can only make one item at at a time. You can purchase more space with Leaf Tickets, one of two in-game currencies, which you can either earn in-game or, if you’re impatient, purchase with real money. Fortunately I found that the game was generous with both supplies and Leaf Tickets, providing us with more than we needed in just a few hours of play. The game also includes Bells, the series’ traditional main currency, which are used to buy furniture and can only be earned in game (though much more rapidly than Leaf Tickets). I do recommend being strategic about the order in which you complete tasks, however, to avoid wasting too much time in transit between the various locations. There’s also the Market Place where you can shop for items instead, or set up your own “Market Box” where other players can purchase items you offer.

In order to fulfill the animals’ requests, you must purchase furniture for them to use when they’re at your camp site. It also serves to fill out your campsite, making it look cozier. The sky is the limit with customization, from the necessities like a couch and bed to an electric guitar or an even bigger tent. Unfortunately, this does mean you might have to sacrifice the furniture you actually want in order to save up leaf tickets and supplies for furniture that the animals request.

A new location for those who are already fans of Animal Crossing is Shovelstrike Quarry — where you can collect ore by mining rocks. There’s gold ore, silver ore, sapphires, and rubies, that can then be sold for Bells. To access the area, you’ll either need to use 20 of your Leaf Tickets or put together a group of five friends you’ve made to mine for minerals.

Since the game is fairly new, I managed to make a few friends already while playing. You can even visit their camp site — which made me a little jealous because some of them already had a ton of cool furniture laid out. But it’s definitely great for inspirational purposes when you’re trying to step up your camp site design game.

The interface is extremely easy to use, and it also keeps you super organized in a game where it can seem like there’s a lot to track. On the right-hand corner, there’s a menu with your Timed Goals and Stretch Goals that tell you whether or not they are complete. This is also where you can access all the different social features such as friend requests, notices, your mailbox, and more.

Timed Goals are much shorter and don’t require too much effort, and you also have a large amount of time to complete them. You’ll also be awarded with a variety of supplies to craft furniture. By completing stretch goals, you’ll receive perhaps the best prize of all — Leaf Tickets to use towards all types of different supplies, especially if you’re in a crunch. All your rewards from completing these tasks are stored in your mailbox which you can collect one by one or in batches.

Loyal Animal Crossing fans will be pleased to find that Pocket Camp captures the essential character and gameplay of the series, just in a different setting. With bright and cheery graphics and a satisfying core loop-, it’s still fun and easy to get hooked on. While I’ve only gotten through the first few levels, it’s definitely not a game I’ll tire of quickly.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nintendo’s free mobile game ‘Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp’ arrives a day early
• Animal Crossing Pocket Camp brings Nintendo’s life sim to mobile devices
• Meet Apple’s Animoji, custom-animated 3D messages for iOS 11
• This backyard biodigester will turn your food scraps into free cooking gas
• Bring your animated avatar to the real world with Snapchat’s Bitmoji feature

Here’s what everyone’s saying about the FCC’s net neutrality plan (in GIF form)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock — Patrick Star style — it’s highly unlikely that net neutrality hasn’t popped up on your any of your news or social feeds. If you decided to keep scrolling because it’s too confusing to figure out, we don’t blame you.

In short, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon vote to reverse net neutrality rules originally set in place under President Barack Obama’s administration in 2015. This basically means internet providers will no longer be required to give consumers equal access to online content. You’ll instead purchase the best service plan for your needs.

Since the proposal was announced, people have not been holding back on the internet to express how they really feel. Ironic, we know. Let’s take a look at a few responses, GIF-style.

Jessica Rosenworcel, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission:

“Our Internet economy is the envy of the world because it is open to all. This proposal tears at the foundation of that openness. It hands broadband providers the power to decide what voices to amplify, which sites we can visit, what connections we can make, and what communities we create.”

Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA-The Wireless Association president and CEO:

“CTIA and the wireless industry commend FCC Chairman Pai for acting to free the Internet from investment-chilling utility style regulation. In doing so, Chairman Pai will restore the long-standing bipartisan approach to the Internet, which will help drive billions of new dollars into mobile broadband networks, boost our economy, and ensure that we continue to lead the world in mobile wireless services.”

Joan Marsh, AT&T executive vice president of regulatory and state external affairs:

“Importantly, the adoption of this order will restore the careful balance needed between ensuring internet freedom while continuing to attract private investment in broadband facilities – investment that is essential to delivering on the promise of broadband for all Americans.”

Kathy Grillo, Verizon senior vice president and deputy general counsel, public policy and government affairs: 

“For decades, the internet flourished under a bipartisan regulatory approach that allowed it to operate, grow and succeed free of unnecessary government controls … Now, the FCC appears poised for a much-needed return to the approach that fostered so many years of internet openness and innovation,” Grillo told Digital Trends.

Harold Ford Jr., Broadband for America honorary co-chair:

“We strongly support the FCC plan to free the internet from 1930’s era over-regulation and usher in a new era of broadband investment, innovation, and job creation.”

Michael Powell, NCTA president and CEO:

“The draft order will not change how our companies view the freedoms intrinsic to internet service, but critically, it will correct the prior FCC’s mistake in relying on an outdated framework that elevates government micromanagement over market innovation and growth.”

Tim Berners-Lee, founder and web inventor of the World Wide Web Foundation:

“Do we want a web where cable companies determine winners and losers online? Where they decide which opinions we read, which creative ideas succeed? That’s not the web I want. To judge by support in opinion polls for upholding net neutrality, it’s not the web you want either.”

Jonathan Spalter, USTelecom CEO:

“FCC Chairman Pai’s proposal to restore the smart, common-sense, bipartisan policies that allowed the internet to flourish is a critical step toward closing the digital divide and ensuring net neutrality protections for all.”

Cinnamon Rogers, TIA senior vice president for government affairs:

“The FCC’s proposal, as outlined by the Chairman today, will improve the business case for deploying next-generation wireline and wireless broadband to meet growing consumer demand for connectivity, create high-paying jobs across the country, and enable new services powered by the Internet of Things.”

In addition to releasing public statements, people have also used Twitter as a main platform to voice their opinions on the issue:

#NetNeutrality is critical to ensuring the internet remains a place where people can come together, make their voices heard, & make change. We have to fight back.

— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) November 21, 2017

If the vote to overturn #netneutrality rules is passed, big business will benefit off a fatal blow to the internet's free exchange of information. FCC chair Ajit Pai can be reached at 202-418-1000. Dial him up. https://t.co/OYqGA4Rfnp

— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) November 22, 2017

New FCC rules give Comcast & Verizon full censorial powers over Internet akin to Chinese government

— Tim Wu (@superwuster) November 21, 2017

Taking away #NetNeutrality is the Authoritarian dream. Consolidating information into the hands of a few controlled by a few. Dangerous territory. https://t.co/ZVdvmGzcHf

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 21, 2017

It’s clear that most companies are in favor of completely dismantling net neutrality, but there are still those staying hopeful that we’ll come together to save it. Voting doesn’t take place until December 14, so we’ll be adding more reactions until then.

Update: Added new reactions for the latest proposal to reverse net neutrality rules.

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Here’s what everyone’s saying about the FCC’s net neutrality plan (in GIF form)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock — Patrick Star style — it’s highly unlikely that net neutrality hasn’t popped up on your any of your news or social feeds. If you decided to keep scrolling because it’s too confusing to figure out, we don’t blame you.

In short, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon vote to reverse net neutrality rules originally set in place under President Barack Obama’s administration in 2015. This basically means internet providers will no longer be required to give consumers equal access to online content. You’ll instead purchase the best service plan for your needs.

Since the proposal was announced, people have not been holding back on the internet to express how they really feel. Ironic, we know. Let’s take a look at a few responses, GIF-style.

Jessica Rosenworcel, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission:

“Our Internet economy is the envy of the world because it is open to all. This proposal tears at the foundation of that openness. It hands broadband providers the power to decide what voices to amplify, which sites we can visit, what connections we can make, and what communities we create.”

Meredith Attwell Baker, CTIA-The Wireless Association president and CEO:

“CTIA and the wireless industry commend FCC Chairman Pai for acting to free the Internet from investment-chilling utility style regulation. In doing so, Chairman Pai will restore the long-standing bipartisan approach to the Internet, which will help drive billions of new dollars into mobile broadband networks, boost our economy, and ensure that we continue to lead the world in mobile wireless services.”

Joan Marsh, AT&T executive vice president of regulatory and state external affairs:

“Importantly, the adoption of this order will restore the careful balance needed between ensuring internet freedom while continuing to attract private investment in broadband facilities – investment that is essential to delivering on the promise of broadband for all Americans.”

Kathy Grillo, Verizon senior vice president and deputy general counsel, public policy and government affairs: 

“For decades, the internet flourished under a bipartisan regulatory approach that allowed it to operate, grow and succeed free of unnecessary government controls … Now, the FCC appears poised for a much-needed return to the approach that fostered so many years of internet openness and innovation,” Grillo told Digital Trends.

Harold Ford Jr., Broadband for America honorary co-chair:

“We strongly support the FCC plan to free the internet from 1930’s era over-regulation and usher in a new era of broadband investment, innovation, and job creation.”

Michael Powell, NCTA president and CEO:

“The draft order will not change how our companies view the freedoms intrinsic to internet service, but critically, it will correct the prior FCC’s mistake in relying on an outdated framework that elevates government micromanagement over market innovation and growth.”

Tim Berners-Lee, founder and web inventor of the World Wide Web Foundation:

“Do we want a web where cable companies determine winners and losers online? Where they decide which opinions we read, which creative ideas succeed? That’s not the web I want. To judge by support in opinion polls for upholding net neutrality, it’s not the web you want either.”

Jonathan Spalter, USTelecom CEO:

“FCC Chairman Pai’s proposal to restore the smart, common-sense, bipartisan policies that allowed the internet to flourish is a critical step toward closing the digital divide and ensuring net neutrality protections for all.”

Cinnamon Rogers, TIA senior vice president for government affairs:

“The FCC’s proposal, as outlined by the Chairman today, will improve the business case for deploying next-generation wireline and wireless broadband to meet growing consumer demand for connectivity, create high-paying jobs across the country, and enable new services powered by the Internet of Things.”

In addition to releasing public statements, people have also used Twitter as a main platform to voice their opinions on the issue:

#NetNeutrality is critical to ensuring the internet remains a place where people can come together, make their voices heard, & make change. We have to fight back.

— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) November 21, 2017

If the vote to overturn #netneutrality rules is passed, big business will benefit off a fatal blow to the internet's free exchange of information. FCC chair Ajit Pai can be reached at 202-418-1000. Dial him up. https://t.co/OYqGA4Rfnp

— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) November 22, 2017

New FCC rules give Comcast & Verizon full censorial powers over Internet akin to Chinese government

— Tim Wu (@superwuster) November 21, 2017

Taking away #NetNeutrality is the Authoritarian dream. Consolidating information into the hands of a few controlled by a few. Dangerous territory. https://t.co/ZVdvmGzcHf

— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) November 21, 2017

It’s clear that most companies are in favor of completely dismantling net neutrality, but there are still those staying hopeful that we’ll come together to save it. Voting doesn’t take place until December 14, so we’ll be adding more reactions until then.

Update: Added new reactions for the latest proposal to reverse net neutrality rules.

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12 Great Star Wars Gifts 2017

These are the Star Wars gifts that are actually worth buying.

It’s a glorious time to be a Star Wars fan! We get a new movie every year, new books spanning so many different aspects of the universe, and an actual mountain of themed swag around every corner. So much Star Wars swag. In fact, it’s a little too much if you’re trying to buy something good for the Star Wars fan in your life. You can reach out in just about any direction of every store right now and find something with the Star Wars logo stamped on it — including, weirdly enough, oranges — but if you’re looking for the good stuff it can be a little intimidating.

This list should get you started down the right path. Everything here is stuff I’ve found worthy of the Force-sensitive people in your life, and there’s a little something in here for everyone.

Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar

If you’ve got someone younger in your life who enjoys counting down the days until Christmas, you can’t do better than this Lego Star Wars setup. It’s a new Lego Star Wars bit every day, including popular minifigs like BB-8.

It’s a cute way to get kids ready for the holiday, and at $50 you know you’re getting lots of Legos.

See at Amazon

R2-D2 Measuring Cup Set

Who says an Astreomech Droid can’t be helpful around the kitchen? This kit is meant to sit out on the counter and look exactly like everyone’s favorite helper, right until you need a cup of sugar. When that happens, you can disassemble this Droid into a whole bunch of different measuring utensils.

Aside from being a very reasonably priced $18 when you consider how many measuring cups and spoons you get, it’s a practical way to show off your Star Wars love in the kitchen.

Oh, and for those who prefer the shiny newness of BB-8, there’s a kit for you too.

See at Amazon

Jedi Challenges AR

Start your Jedi training virtually! Only, unlike a VR headset, this AR headset lets you see the real world while you interact with a training hologram. This program splits your training up into multiple games, including lightsaber battles with famous Star Wars villains and actually HoloChess!

Check out the Jedi Challenges review to learn more!

This $200 kit comes with an incredibly detailed replica of Rey’s lightsaber as the controller, and is hands down the best Star Wars game you can guy this year.

See at Best Buy

Propel Drones

Remote control toys that look like Star Wars vehicles aren’t a new thing by any stretch, and that includes flying toys that look like popular ships. Drones that can actually engage in combat with one another? That’s new, and Propel brought them to life in spectacular fashion this year.

Check out the review for more details!

For $99 you can choose between Vader’s Tie Advanced or the classic X-Wing, and these ships can actually play laser tag that ends in the loser “crashing” to the ground when it has taken the right number of hits. If you’d rather something a little closer to the ground, you can also grab one that looks like a Speeder Bike.

See at Amazon

Sphero Droids

Sphero took the world be storm last year with its BB-8 droid that could putter around your room on its own when you weren’t remote controlling it. This year, there are several more to choose from and a lot of new features. BB-9E, a droid from The Last Jedi, is available alongside R2-D2 and R2-Q5. Among the new features, all of these droids will sit with you and watch the Star Wars movies, reacting to everything exciting or scary in the movies.

For $130, these droids offer a ton of fun and the designs are just plain great.

See at Amazon

littleBits Inventor Kit

Toys are great, but creating something is an amazing feeling for any age. The littleBits Star Wars kit is designed to teach you how to make your own R2-D2, by helping you understand the tech inside and what it all does. When the kit is all assembed, you can use the littleBits app to teach R2-D2 new skills and send it out on missions.

There’s a lot of tech in here for $99, and it’s a fantastic start into the educational world of littleBits tech.

See at Amazon

Boba Fett Laptop Backpack

There are a ton of Star Wars backpacks out there, and unfortunately a lot of them are not very good at being a durable backpack. This Bioworld backpack has plenty of pockets, includes a nice padded section for keeping a laptop safe, and is rocking an amazing Boba Fett theme.

This is a decent backpack for $50 and looks nice enough to hand one out to each of your Dad’s clones.

See at Amazon

BB-8 Car Charger

If you’re ok with a car charger taking up a cupholder in your front console, this $30 kit will give you two USB ports providing 2.1a each and features an adorably animated BB-8.

The little Droid will twist and turn around as you drive, clearly keeping an eye out for anything that may be in need of repairs. You couldn’t ask for a better co-pilot.

See at Amazon

Lego Death Star

It doesn’t matter what age you are, the Lego Death Star is one of those things every geek covets. This $500 kit is massive, even by Lego standards, and is absolutely the kind of thing you will spend weeks working on.

It’s clearly only for the most hardcore of Lego Star Wars fans, but the grin on their face when they open this gift from you will stretch from ear to ear.

See at Amazon

Star Wars From a Certain Point of View

There are a lot of great Star Wars books out there, but this one is unlike all the others. If you’ve never read any of the From a Certain Point of View books, you should make this the first one. This is a collection of short stories from the Star Wars universe where the main themes we all know and remember are retold from the perspective of someone who is not the main character.

The paperback is only going to set you back $20, and this really should be on every Star Wars fans bookshelf.

See at Amazon

Star Wars Battlefront II PlayStation 4 Pro

You don’t have to be a hardcore Star Wars fan to enjoy the new Battlefront II game, but if you know a fan who has been looking to upgrade their PlayStation 4 you might consider this as a gift. It’s a standard PlayStation 4 Pro on the inside, but the outside includes three beautiful graphics on the top of the console and matching symbols on the included controller.

This $450 bundle is already a decent price for the nice theme, and getting the copy of Battlefront II in the box with it is a nice addition. Just, you know, keep an eye out for loot boxes.

See at Amazon

Millennium Falcon Multi-Tool

While not actually practical as a multi-tool you carry around and use every day — nothing replaces my Leatherman, sorry — this $30 kit will put a smile on the face of any Star Wars fan that is even the least bit handy.

The Falcon comes out the box looking like it has seen better days, and all of the included tools are actually functional. It’s cute, and you’ll probably try to use it a few times, but really this is something you’d rather have sitting on your workbench to bring a little geek into the shop.

See at Amazon

Did we miss something? Shout out in the comments!

Sharing your Gear VR with friends

Sharing a Gear VR with friends is fantastic and fun!

Playing in VR is a great way to experience things in a completely new way. You enjoy games and experiences you might never have gotten to otherwise. Of course, when you have an awesome new toy, you’re going to want to share it with your friends. If you’re wondering how you can best share your Gear VR, or how to play with friends, we’ve got you covered.

Read more at VR Heads!

Deal: Get 3 months of unlimited data for $99 from Rok Mobile

One of the cheapest unlimited data plans on the market just got cheaper.

ROK Mobile is offering new customers three months of unlimited data on Verizon’s network for just $99. Save $50 on this sweet Black Friday deal when you pay for three months upfront (regular monthly price marked down from $50 to $33).

ROK Mobile Black Friday Deal

• Deal is available for a limited time for new customers
• You can bring an unlocked phone which runs on CDMA and is 4G compatible. Check eligibility on carrier website.
• After the promotional 3-month service period, plans will move to standard monthly service and pricing
• Service must be activated on or before 1/15/18

ROK Mobile Unlimited data plan features

• Unlimited talk & text & high-speed LTE data, speeds may temporarily slow down at 20GB during times of high network traffic: this soft speed limit known as data deprioritization
• Video streaming in SD (standard def) 480p with the option of turning ‘data stretcher’ feature off for higher streaming speeds
• Access to 30 million WiFi hotspots via MyROK App this is not tethering (the ability to share your cellular data with other devices, laptops, and tablets) but the option to use more WiFi access points. ROK does not offer tethering aka mobile hotspots
• ROK Rewards, save on local deals (in-store and online shops, restaurants, …) Find out more here
• No contracts or credit checks required
• Roadside assistance

See at Rok

4 important things PlayStation could learn from Xbox

Sony has a pretty good thing going with PlayStation, but it could always learn a few things from the competition.

Differences between competing companies aren’t bad, but learning from the same companies could help improve those products. In the case of Sony and Microsoft — PlayStation and Xbox — the two platforms go about their business in fairly different ways.

But what if they didn’t? What if both companies learned from the other? Obviously there’s a bit of that going on already, but here’s how we think Sony could learn a bit from Microsoft’s Xbox successes.

More: A PlayStation 4 feature we’d love Xbox to copy

Make PlayStation Now more like Xbox Game Pass

PlayStation Now has always left me with a little confusion as to what Sony wants it to be. Initially it was an amazing idea and I started paying for it primarily to play games on the PS Vita. But instead of support growing, Sony has started to restrict the number of devices that can use it. That’s probably not without reason (why support something no-one uses) but PlayStation Now could be so much more.

It could be like Xbox Game Pass. It’s already more expensive without being quite as good.

While PlayStation Now allows folks to stream games from the cloud and play them on a PC, Sony could turn it into a subscription service where you get to download full PS4 games to play at your leisure for as long as you continue to pay up. This will always be better than streaming a game from the cloud, and Xbox Game Pass has quickly become a solid value-add.

4K Blu-ray support

Sure, this is something that will need another hardware revision, but Sony has to include 4K Blu-ray support down the road. The fact it isn’t included in the PS4 Pro is pretty laughable.

I remember trading in my Xbox 360 for a PlayStation 3 because of Blu-ray support. Sony was first out of the gate and now the Xbox One S and the Xbox One X are both ahead when it comes to the latest and greatest.

It has to happen.

Proper backward compatibility

Sony kind of has this, but not really. What Sony does is charge you to buy old games again to play on your PS4 whether you owned them in a past life or not.

What Microsoft does is both allow you to buy old games (now from both the original Xbox and the Xbox 360) as well as play them for free if you bought them in the past. Whether you’ve got the disc or a digital copy doesn’t matter.

Microsoft got around the hardware limitations by building a virtual console that runs on the Xbox One. Where there’s a will, there’s usually a way.

Integration with OTA or cable TV

Much was made of the ‘failure’ of Xbox One at launch thanks to Microsoft’s decision to focus a lot on home entertainment when really it should have been about the games. That’s in the past but what hasn’t changed is how good the Xbox One is at integrating with your home TV setup.

By plugging your cable box or OTA antenna (via an adapter) directly into the console the OneGuide app acts as your TV guide right on the console. It’s a little thing, but if your console is the center of your home entertainment setup, it’s super convenient.

There are ways and means of enjoying TV on PlayStation, in North America Sony will happily take money off you for it. But if you already have it, a way to hook it all together on the next hardware revision would be pretty fantastic.

Your ideas

Those are just a few things we enjoy on Xbox that we’d love to see Sony integrate to PlayStation in the future, but what about you? If you’ve got your own ideas be sure to drop them into the comments below!

PlayStation 4

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• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

Amazon

Black Friday deal: Get two years of IPVanish VPN for just $69

Looking to invest in a VPN? This Black Friday deal might be too attractive to turn down.

Virtual Private Networks (VPN) have been gaining traction lately due to the eroding nature of our privacy while online. A VPN acts as an encrypted tunnel that shuttles data from your PC to a special server before hitting the open internet. This special server features a shared IP, also providing a bit of extra anonymity.

There are plenty of VPN services to choose from, but they aren’t all created equally. Paid VPNs are generally preferred due to increased performance, extra features, and a clearer agreement as to the logging of your data. One paid VPN service that we reviewed warmly is IPVanish, a leading provider in the arena.

See our IPVanish VPN review

IPVanish has strong encryption, works on a wide variety of devices (including some routers), has a long list of servers in plenty of countries, promises to not keep user logs, and offers solid speed and performance across the board.

When it comes to subscriptions, IPVanish usually offers three different options. You can get one month for $10, you can get three months for about $9 per month (total of about $27), or you can get one year for about $6.50 per month (total of about $78).

If those prices seem a bit steep, Android Central has a Black Friday/Cyber Week deal running from November 22-29 that makes a special two-year deal come in at just $69. That’s a monthly cost of just $2.87. Compared to the regular yearly subscription offer, you’re getting two years for less than half the price.

If you’ve been thinking about a VPN service to help protect your privacy online, this two-year deal for IPVanish might be the push you need.

See at IPVanish