Own an Amazon Echo in India? You can now use Alexa to text or call your family

Alexa-to-Alexa messaging and calling goes live in India, along with the ‘Drop-In’ feature that turns your Echo into an intercom.

Amazon is rolling out key features to Echo owners in India. You can now use Alexa-to-Alexa calling and messaging to talk to contacts that also own an Echo device. You’ll first need to give Alexa access to your contacts, and it’ll go through the list and suggest people that have an Echo device linked with their phone numbers. It’ll show the list of contacts available to text and call, after which it’s as easy as asking Alexa to place a call or send a text message.

The Drop-In feature — which essentially turns the Echo into an intercom — is also going live. The feature allows you to call into an Echo device in another room. If you’ve got an Echo set up in your living room and another one in your office, you can say, “Alexa, drop in on the office” from your living room and broadcast a message.

You can also set permissions for who gets to drop in on your Echo device. Restricting it to the “Only my household” setting will ensure that only your family members get to use the feature to connect to your Echo devices. The ability to add family members to your Amazon account isn’t available in India just yet, but Amazon will likely roll out the feature shortly.

In the three months since it made its debut in India, over 1,000 new localized skills have been added to Alexa. Amazon also announced that it is removing the invite-only limitation for Echo device, and making the Echo family available at over 350 retail outlets across 20 cities in India.

As a refresher, the Echo Dot retails for ₹4,499, the regular Echo is on sale for ₹9,999, and the Echo Plus with built-in smart home hub is available for ₹14,999.

See at Amazon

Amazon Echo

• Tap, Echo or Dot: The ultimate Alexa question
• All about Alexa Skills
• Amazon Echo review
• Echo Dot review
• Echo Spot review
• Top Echo Tips & Tricks
• Amazon Echo vs. Google Home
• Get the latest Alexa news

See at Amazon

The differences between Android and iOS are rapidly evaporating

There is no blue team. It’s all a lie. Red and blue are the same.

Through years of feature cloning and one-upmanship, Android and iOS have slowly become the same thing. Every year we see Apple and Google take to the stage with broad messages, which sound like different overall missions, only to see individual features that closely resemble the other offering.

As I sit here with an iPhone X to my left and a Google Pixel 2 to my right, I can honestly pick up either and comfortably use it without feeling like any one major feature is missing from the experience I appreciate on the other. Through no manipulation of my own, aside from the apps I choose to install, the differences between these two experiences have all but faded away.

For my use, and I suspect for many others as well, there are no major functional differences between iOS and Android anymore.

How we got here

I’ve been an Android guy from day one — picked up an HTC G1 because it gave me a Linux terminal I could carry in my pocket. I was a server admin at the time, so being able to remote in from the tiny computer in my pocket held tremendous value. Also, having come from the LG enV line of phones, I appreciated the hardware keyboard. While I have bought and tried every iPhone that has ever been released, I never really enjoyed the experience. Android got its hooks in me first, but never deep enough for me to not try what was offered elsewhere.

Today, the iPhone X feels just as feature-complete and enjoyable to use as my other favorite phone, because both companies have made so many moves to copy features found on the other side.

These details only matter to nerds like me, and with each generation those differences fade.

A lot has changed for both iOS and Android since those early days. As each of these platforms matured, it became necessary to implement both hardware and software features others found compelling. Tech nerds look at little things like the ability to copy and paste or the decision to use larger displays as these major efforts to copy the competition, but the reality is the major things were already fairly similar. You pick up the phone, open an app, use the app, and put the phone back down.

As much as Apple likes to crow about security or Google about intelligence, the truth is the way most people use their phones has always depended a lot more on whether your phone had access to the things your friends have access to. So these minor things that made the apps easier to use or more convenient to share from became priorities to implement everywhere.

If you look deeply at these operating systems, you can see the small differences so many tech bloggers will claim are enormous which separate them. Android makes it easier to share information between apps, for example. If I click a YouTube link in one app, it always opens the YouTube app to play the video instead of opening YouTube in the browser. Meanwhile, Apple offers the kind of granular control over the information your apps take and deliver that I dream of on Android.

Neither of these things matter to someone like my sister, whose biggest concern is whether her phone has the latest fitness app update or a fun new camera app to play with her kids. These details only matter to nerds like me, and with each generation, those differences fade.

When the most important thing is apps, it becomes important to make sure your operating system offers the best version of an experience and then make sure it can’t be had elsewhere. For Apple, that app has always been iMessage.

Google has tried and failed to capture the magic of popular messaging apps more times than I care to count, while Apple fans consider receiving messages from someone not using an iPhone a mark of shame. Meanwhile, Google’s computational photography keeps the Pixel phones in the camera lead without actually offering a superior sensor. Apple and Google could easily share here, but these apps are now ammunition in the effort to encourage users to switch from one to the other.

Where we go from here

I’ve spent a lot of time over-simplifying the comparison between these two to make a point, but it’s important to highlight one major difference. In this effort to make apps a form of currency, Google faces challenges that Apple will never need to worry about.

Samsung controls the vast majority of Android’s market share, and regularly tries to make its own versions of Google’s software stand out from Google’s. The Pixel phones aren’t the most popular Android phones, but they set the standard for how Android should look and feel. Not only do the Galaxy phones not do everything the Pixel phones can do, but the experience is also muddied with bad copies of Google’s best features. Google lacks the absolute control of its platform Apple possesses, which is why a lot of changes come through its Play Services system instead of through full operating system updates. Google can’t update every part of a phone this way, but the parts this software can touch are easy to adjust and improve almost instantly.

Apple and Google are competing at an absurdly even footing for this to be possible.

There’s also a big problem with universality in the Apple ecosystem. If you use all Apple products, the experience can be quite good. Deviate from that, and things start to fall apart.

The only fitness tracker that talks to Apple’s excellent health ring and achievement system the right way is the Apple Watch. HomePod is only really useful if you use Apple Music. But it goes deeper than hardware, and that’s where things become truly problematic. Apple’s keyboard isn’t my favorite, but I can never truly disable it in favor of one I prefer. The Apple keyboard takes over whenever I’m entering a password in order to protect me, and then some apps will default to Apple’s keyboard instead of the one I have selected.

Another example is the browser. Safari is the default for everything and if you deviate from that your general experience across the OS suffers unnecessarily. Granted, in this case, Safari is generally the best performing browser on iOS, but it’s an unmistakably user-hostile move to tell users they can have whatever apps they want and then artificially limit the capabilities of those non-Apple products.

Many — possibly even a majority — of Apple users are happy with platform lock-in. Similarly, a great many Android users are happy with whatever is provided on the phone to start. This is why many U.S. carriers tried for so long to exercise greater control over the apps that came included on phones; the money to be made from app developers who coveted that space in front of our eyeballs was enormous. And it continues to happen in a lesser sense today because it works.

The apps included on a phone are more likely to be the one used, unless that person has friends or co-workers all using some other app. While we spend an increasing amount of time in apps, research suggests more than half of us don’t regularly go looking for new ones to install.

The bottom line here, at least for me, is how impressive it is for these two platforms to have grown to be nearly indistinguishable from a functionality perspective. The buttons may be in different places, and the number of taps and swipes I have to accomplish a task may be slightly higher or lower, but I can’t point to any one thing in my day-to-day I can’t do on one of these phones that I can do on the other. I have a little more control over how things look on Android, and I’m a fan of the way I can (sometimes) pick up my iPad and be right where I left off in an article on my iPhone, but there’s very little else about the experiences I can point at and say I absolutely must have to enjoy my phone and see it isn’t available on the other.

To me, this all spells fantastic news for the future of Android.

To me, that’s fantastic news for Android. Apple and Google are competing on an absurdly even footing for this to be possible. Comparing the quality of cameras is a matter of the most minute details. The performance of these high-end phones is nearly indistinguishable. All of my apps exist everywhere. As a tech blogger with access to all of this hardware, I’m in a uniquely privileged position to make this claim, but I can honestly switch from an iPhone X to a Pixel 2 and not really feel like I’m making a huge switch. The maturity of these platforms makes that possible, but it also makes the rush to make other things that keep users from switching a greater priority than polishing some rough edges in this next generation.

Android Oreo

• Android Oreo review!
• Everything new in Android Oreo
• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
• Will my phone get Android Oreo?
• Join the Discussion

What do you think about Samsung stopping the Galaxy S8’s Oreo update?

Fix those bugs!

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Samsung gave us a rather unpleasant treat by stopping its rollout of Android 8.0 Oreo for the Galaxy S8. Some users in countries like Germany, France, Poland, and others were able to successfully download and use the new software, but for everyone else, they’re at the mercy of Samsung until it decides to push out a new build.

Samsung didn’t specifically say why the current Oreo update was pulled, but it’s assumed there was a bug the company deemed big enough to stop its distribution.

A few of our forum users shared their thoughts about this news shortly after it broke, and this is what they had to say.

h2ofun
02-14-2018 05:15 PM

“

If they pulled it, implies issues. I will stick with what works

Reply

gernerttl
02-14-2018 05:31 PM

“

Yeah. Samsung (or any other OEM) doesn’t just arbitrarily pull updates without a reason. Whether or not Samsung says why is largely irrelevant.

Reply

Morty2264
02-14-2018 07:22 PM

“

Agreed. We want those issues to be dealt with and worked on so we do not encounter (as many) bugs when we download the update.

Reply

Nubwy
02-14-2018 05:59 PM

“

Yeah, I understand. Coming from Apple, I am more used to regular updates.

Reply

Now, we’d like to hear from you – What do you think about Samsung pulling its Oreo update for the Galaxy S8?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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Deal: Save big when you lease an LG V30+ from Sprint!

For a limited time, you can save big when leasing the LG V30+ from Sprint. Save 47% on an 18-month lease and pay just $20/month for the lease term (regularly $38/month). Plus, as a special Valentine’s Day gift from Sprint, you’ll be eligible for a FREE LG Tone Active ($179 value) or Google Home ($129 value).

If you’re looking to pair up your new phone with a plan, Sprint’s Unlimited Freedom is one of the cheapest on the market with 4 lines for $25/mo per line and 5th line free (until 03/31/19), with autopay. Plus Hulu is now included!

Sprint Unlimited Freedom includes:

• Unlimited talk, text, and data. Once you’ve reached 23GB of data, your speeds may temporarily slow down during times of high network congestion.
• HD video, 1080p
• 10GB of 4G mobile hotspot

The fine print:

• This deal requires a new line of service activation and an 18-month lease. Well-qualified customers are eligible.
• At the end of the 18-month lease, you have the option to buy your device. You’ll pay the balance between the full price and what you’ve paid so far.
• There are taxes on any device you go with and you’ll have to pay that up front regardless.
• If you cancel your service, the remaining device balance will become due.

See at Sprint

Today’s the day to get yourself a new bag to keep your cables organized, tablet safe, and more

A bag for everyone!

Whether you’re someone who is always on the road or someone who just likes to have things neatly organized and ready to go in case you have to go, the perfect bag awaits you in this sale. Take this 3-layer BagSmart travel cable organizer which is down to $16.09 from its regular $25.99 price tag. It not only keeps all your USB and charging cables neat, but it also has a spot for your phone, tablet, spare batteries, pens, notebooks, and more.

If you’re traveling with your camera, there are a few great choices here as well. This compact shoulder bag can fit most DSLRs and a spare lens, as well as extra batteries and memory cards, and today it’s just $38.99. You probably have other gadgets to take as well, which is where this electronics travel organizer comes in handy. For just $18.19 you can easily store your gear like camera lenses, phones, tablets, external hard drives, computer mice, memory cards and tons of other stuff.

Of course, when you’re traveling you need something to hold your clothes. This unisex large weekender duffle bag is down from $39.99 to $27.99 and its sizing makes it perfect to use as your “personal item” on most airlines. If you already have some nice luggage that you want to maximize, consider this 3-pack of packing cubes to keep your clothes organized and neat inside your suitcase.

There are a bunch of other bags included in this one-day sale, so be sure to check them all out and grab one today.

See at Amazon

Huawei Mate 10 Pro review: A second opinion

Huawei’s best efforts can’t save this great phone from a failed launch in the U.S.

Samsung isn’t the only brand known for throwing seemingly every possible feature into its phones, and the telecom giant Huawei is betting big on AI this year with its new flagship, the Mate 10 Pro. With an attractive design, speedy performance, and a massive battery, it’s the best phone the company has ever crafted, but a number of unforeseen circumstances may keep it from seeing its fifteen minutes of fame.

If all had gone according to plan, the Mate 10 Pro would have been Huawei’s big entry into the U.S. as a premium brand, but between getting dropped by AT&T and soliciting fake reviews on Best Buy … it isn’t off to a great start. Months after we reviewed it, the unlocked model is still up for pre-order stateside, but it’s a hard sell at $800.

See at Huawei

The Mate 10 Pro matches nearly everything you might expect from a 2018 flagship phone. It’s absolutely gorgeous, with a sleek glass and metal design that curves to fit comfortably in your hand, despite a massive footprint, and it feels every bit as premium as phones from competing brands like Samsung or HTC. I love the aesthetic choice to put a horizontal stripe through the glass around the camera hardware, which gives it a unique and identifying look.

The included case and screen protector are nice touches that save you the trouble of finding your own.

It’s one of the more slippery phones around, and that glass back is quick to pick up scratches, but Huawei at least includes a thin TPU case in the box that does a good job at solving both problems.

One reason so many brands are moving to glass designs for their phones is to support wireless charging, but sadly you won’t find that here. You also won’t find a 3.5mm headphone jack, with the Mate 10 Pro going the way of USB-C audio, for better or worse. On the bright side, it’s at least water-resistant — though that’s basically a given in 2018.

As always, I love Huawei’s placement of the fingerprint sensor around the back of the phone, just under the camera modules. It’s in the perfect spot to quickly find with your index finger, and it’s one of the fastest sensors I’ve ever used. What’s more, it allows for swiping gestures to pull down the notification shade or swipe through photos in your gallery.

Up front, the Mate 10 Pro is all display, with a massive 6-inch AMOLED panel and that fancy new 18:9 aspect ratio everybody’s been switching to. As a stickler for pixels, I was hoping for more than 1080p, but it’s perfectly fine for daily use and a much lower battery drain than QHD.

Huawei has been making a lot of noise over the Mate 10 Pro’s Kirin 970 chipset — and more specifically, the Neural Processing Unit it includes. This NPU equips the Mate 10 Pro with powerful AI features that aim to improve photography as well as maintain the phone’s performance over time, but most of its enhancements are in the backend for now. Save for the scene detection feature (more on that later), you probably won’t even notice that it’s there.

You’ll definitely notice the rest of the software, though. It’s impossible to talk about a Huawei device without bringing up the company’s often questionable UX design.

EMUI 8 is running the show on the Mate 10 Pro, backed by Android 8.0 Oreo. As always, it’s quite a departure from the traditional experience most Android users are accustomed to; there’s no app drawer by default, and you’ll have to sort through a myriad of pre-installed Huawei software that tends to replicate features that already exist elsewhere on the phone.

To be fair, EMUI is more reserved than ever with the Oreo refresh, as menus in the Settings app are now far less convoluted, and enabling the app drawer reveals a pretty reserved and close-to-stock home screen, complete with the Google Feed. But certain fundamental problems persist throughout the UI.

You’ve undoubtedly heard the saying “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” right? Huawei hasn’t.

The lock screen only shows you notifications that have come in since the last time you locked your phone, and even new notifications can’t be expanded in the lock screen. This doesn’t stop the notification LED from blinking, meaning you’ll constantly be checking for notifications that aren’t there until you unlock the phone.

I’ve also run into problems with default apps. Changing the home screen launcher is already more difficult on EMUI than anywhere else, but even once you’ve done so, all it takes is for your new launcher to receive an update from the Play Store, and the Mate 10 Pro defaults back to the Huawei Home for … some reason.

It’s not all bad, though. EMUI has a great one-handed mode, and plenty of options for hiding the navigation bar or replacing it with a floating dock. In addition, it adds a convenient scaling button to the bottom of apps that aren’t yet optimized for the 2:1 aspect ratio of the display.

The Mate 10 Pro has a fantastic pair of cameras around the back that come as a result of Huawei’s partnership with Leica. It pairs a 12MP primary sensor with a secondary 20MP monochrome sensor — both with an f/1.6 aperture, and the former equipped with OIS.

This layout isn’t a first for Huawei, but the Mate 10 Pro benefits from improved optics and post-processing over its predecessors, and the result is an extremely impressive shooting experience on the phone. From dynamic range to sharpness, detail, and low-light performance, the Mate 10 Pro produces some absolutely stunning photos.

That’s thanks in part to Huawei’s beloved NPU. Its most visible feature is its scene detection capabilities in the camera app; point the phone at a subject like a pet or your lunch, and the software will intelligently switch to one of 13 optimal shooting modes, changing the camera settings to best fit your shot. It works well, though I wish the software were a bit more clear on exactly what settings it’s changing.

You’ll probably want to play around in the camera app for yourself, though; there’s no shortage of shooting modes and additional options. The wide aperture mode allows you to capture those depthy, bokeh-filled shots, though the ƒ/1.6 aperture does a pretty great job at that naturally.

Now for as well-rounded as the Mate 10 Pro is, there’s one thing it excels in above all else: battery life. It’s packing a whopping 4000mAh cell, and boy is it impressive. During my weeks of testing, I never once managed to kill the phone in a single day, even when spending significantly more time playing games to intentionally run the battery down.

If there’s any one reason to buy this phone, it’s the insanely long battery life.

It’s still not the best metric, but on average, I saw six to seven hours of screen-on time, mostly comprised of Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Slack, and various messaging apps. For context, I get closer to three or four hours of screen-on time with phones like the OnePlus 5T under the same workload — and even less on the Galaxy S8. Put simply, if there’s a longer-lasting phone than the Mate 10 Pro, I haven’t seen it.

To make matters even better, Huawei’s 5A/4.5V SuperCharge technology means that it won’t take long to top up either. It’s not quite as fast as OnePlus’s Dash Charge, but it still manages to bring the Mate 10 Pro back up to a full tank of gas in less than 90 minutes.

The Mate 10 Pro is a hard sell at $800, but that’s not the whole story.

Overall, the Mate 10 Pro is a great phone that encompasses all that makes up a flagship in 2018. It has one of my favorite designs of the year, extraordinary cameras, and easily the best endurance of any phone I’ve ever tested. In a vacuum, it’s an easy recommendation as Huawei’s best phone to date, an AI-focused powerhouse.

But this isn’t a vacuum, and there are a lot of other great phones out there. Phones like the Galaxy S8 and S8+ bring wireless charging and microSD expandability to the mix, and the LG V30 offers expansive manual video controls. The real kicker? They’re all cheaper than the Mate 10 Pro.

For $800 without the option for carrier financing (though that’s out of Huawei’s control), it’s hard to picture most people buying the Mate 10 Pro over the aforementioned alternatives. Still, at the moment there are plenty of deals to get $150 back on the Mate 10 Pro through Amazon, Best Buy, and even Huawei’s own site, and at $650 it becomes a much more compelling prospect — especially if you’re someone who needs that all-day battery life.

Huawei Mate 10

• Huawei Mate 10 Pro review
• Huawei Mate 10 series specs
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro U.S. review: Close to greatness
• Join the discussion in the forums
• More on 2016’s Mate 9

Google’s official Pixelbook sleeve can be yours for a whopping $100

An expensive sleeve for an expensive laptop.

The Google Pixelbook is an expensive laptop, but for fans of Chrome OS, it’s worth every single penny. I’m been loving my time with the Pixelbook so far, and I’ve eagerly been waiting for Google to let me buy its official sleeve for the thing. However, now that I can and pricing details are out, I think I’ll go with something else.

First, let me say that Google’s sleeve for the Pixelbook looks darn good. The gray finish compliments the Pixelbook’s white and silver paint-job, and the flap on the top with the Google logo in the upper-left corner nicely mimic the front design of the laptop itself.

Inside the sleeve is where you’ll find a layered microfiber finish to help protect the Pixelbook, and there’s even room on the right side to store your Pixelbook Pen, too.

As great as all of this looks, however, I’m not so sure it’s worth the $100 asking price. I have no doubt the sleeve is probably the best one you can buy for the Pixelbook, and for as nice of a machine as it is, I fully understand wanting to protect it at all costs.

You can check it out with a click or tap of the button below, but personally, I’ll be sticking with something a bit more affordable.

See at Google Store

Best Merge Cube apps for schools

Merge Cube could be the future of interactive education

One of the more exciting accessories that has come across my desk in quite some time has been the Merge Cube. The soft foam is durable and the range of apps available make it an excellent present for kids and grownups and make me think there are applications for it in schools. There are no shortage of games for this augmented reality platform, including some of my favorite puzzle games for the Merge Cube, but there are now also some great uses for education.

Here’s a look at a few of my favorites!

A lot of these apps would also work in the Merge VR headset, allowing a student to use both hands while interacting with the cube, making the experience even better. The headset may be a little pricey for schools at around $49 but Merge is introducing a new, slimmer version aimed at children this summer for the low price of $30 and perhaps a bulk sale price for education.

See Merge Cube at Amazon See Merge VR at Amazon

Mr Body

Mr Body is a very simple app for elementary level kids to get an idea of what organs are in the human body. Currently there are 10 different organs to check out including the Brain, liver, and even the pancreas, each with their own small piece of blurb to explain what it does. All you have to do is look at the organ you want to examine, touch the screen and you will see an enlarged version and the explanation. Simple and easy for any kid to use.

Mr Body, while not being the most technical app out there, does give young kids some great information about their body and does it in a bright fun way that can hold in their hand. I’m pretty sure the first time i used the app it only 4 organs and now, with updates it has reached 10 so I’m convinced this is an app that will grow into something much more comprehensive.

Find Mr Body on Google Play

Galactic Explorer

Galactic Explorer is extremely similar to Mr. Body but with an astronomical slant instead of biological. You control it in the same way by tapping on one of the heavenly bodies spinning in your hand for a closer view, then tapping on the info screen to give you a short snippet of info about each planet. I prefer Explorer over Mr. Body graphically, it’s just a better-looking app with the swirling star surrounded by revolving planets.

Again, for an app designed for younger children, around 10-14 years, this app gives a lovely sneak peek into a world children rarely get to see. It also gives a small snippet of information they can take with them into future education. The information is always short, concise and gives them a few facts in an easily digestible format, perfect for young kids.

Find Galatic Explorer on Google Play

Dino Digger

This may be my favorite of the Education apps so far. Dino Digger is designed to make interacting with fossils and paleontology fun for grades 2-8, given children a chance to unearth their own fossils using assorted tools of the trade, all the while learning a little about each dinosaur and the area of the world they inhabited. The cube itself is a small patch of rock or ground that you have to dig out making the whole app feel very interactive.

I love Dinosaurs, I have since I was a tiny tot and Dino Digger makes me wish we had it when I was a child, I would have lost my mind. There are plenty of dinosaurs to find in the app as well as more information than the last two apps give you, it has a slightly wider range for its audience, after all, so the app could be used over several lessons or classes in conjunction with other, more traditional teaching methods.

Find Dino Digger on Google Play

HoloGlobe

While HoloGlobe is still in Early Access it is worth a mention here. The premise of this app is to show the Earth with a lot of different real-time information over it. For example, you can have real-time clouds flowing over your pale blue dot or, my favorite, see the night/day line move slowly along the countries. There are many other features to check out on HoloGlobe as well though they are still a little janky, it is Early Access after all.

HoloGlobe seems to be aimed at older students, high school and above I think, as it has more complicated data and no real intuitive learning structure. It feels more like an aid to collect real-time data in a handy visual way than an aid for teachers. I am still excited to see what HoloGlobe can do in the coming months to broaden its scope and maybe it can come up with even more data to wow and amaze.

Find HoloGlobe Early Access on Google Play

So there we are the first Merge Cube apps for Education. I have a feeling Merge VR will make a big push in the direction in the coming months and we will see some interesting new ways to use the Merge Cube to expand our minds. Let us know in the comment section if you have found any more.

Best Buy’s President’s Day sale features the UE Megaboom, 4K TVs, and more

Happy Birthday, Mr. Washington! Now take my money!

Best Buy’s 4-day President’s Day sale is actually five days if you’re a My Best Buy rewards member. It’s free and easy to be a member. Just sign up with an account on Best Buy’s site. Once you do that you’ll be able to see all the President’s Day sales starting today and take advantage of your early access.

There are plenty of electronics and appliances on sale. We’ve highlighted a few of them:

• Jlab Audio Epic Air wireless earbuds – $99.99 (from $150)
• Logitech UE Megaboom portable Bluetooth speaker – $141.99 (from $187)
• KitchenAid Professional 500 Series stand mixer – $209.99 (from $260)
• LG 49-inch UJ6200 4K LED TV – $369.99 (from $400)
• Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch Core i5 – $749.99 (from $1,000) – See other models on sale

Shop the Full Sale at Best Buy

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S in the works with Snapdragon 845 and 3,400 mAh battery

The Mi Mix 2S appears to be real after all.

Shortly after the launch of the Mi Mix 2, rumors started flying around suggesting that Xiaomi was working on a new variant called the “Mi Mix 2S” with an iPhone X-like notch near the top of the display. These rumors were quickly shut down, but a few months later, it would appear that a Mi Mix 2S is, in fact, in the works.

The Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

The fine folks at XDA Developers recently acquired firmware files for the Mi Mix 2S, confirming not only that its codename is “polaris”, but a lot of specifications we can expect for the device as well.

All the ingredients for a solid 2018 flagship are here.

According to these files, the Mi Mix 2S will ship with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, a large 3,400 mAh battery, and a display with an 18:9 aspect ratio and 2160 x 1080 resolution. Android 8.0 Oreo will be present on the Mi Mix 2S out of the box, and as such, there will be support for Google’s Project Treble. Other mentioned specs include dual-SIM support, an IR blaster, and some sort of AI camera tech similar to what’s found on the Huawei Mate 10 Pro.

As for the design of the Mi Mix 2S, that’s still unknown. The photos we saw in November were confirmed to be a regular Mi Mix 2, but it’s not entirely unlikely that Xiaomi will adopt the notch for the phone. This is a trend that more and more manufacturers are trying to mimic, and it’s even something that will have native support in the next version of Android.

Pricing and release date details are also up in the air, but even so, the Mi Mix 2S is shaping up to be another 2018 flagship that’s worth a place on your radar.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2 review: Astounding, audacious, accessible