Best Dual-SIM Android Phones in 2018

• Best overall
• Best runner-up pick
• Best for $500
• Best budget pick

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy S9+

See at Amazon

The Galaxy S9+ shares the same design fundamentals as last years Galaxy S8+, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The design is still one of the most evocative around, and the dual curved screen is a standout.

Talking about the display, Samsung leads the industry with its AMOLED panels, and the one on the Galaxy S9+ is brighter and more vivid when seen against last year’s device. Simply put, it is the best display you can get on a phone today.

Then there’s the camera, which has variable aperture — a first in the smartphone segment. The S9+ also gets a secondary camera that offers 2x optical zoom, allowing you to zoom in on objects without losing out on the quality.

The S9+ also comes with 6GB of RAM as standard, and you can pick up a storage option with as much as 256GB of internal storage. Overall, the S9+ offers meaningful upgrades from last year’s flagship — particularly in the camera department.

Bottom line: If you want the most feature-rich phone available today, look no further than the Galaxy S9+.

One more thing: The dual-SIM variant of the Galaxy S9+ is powered by the Exynos 9810, Samsung’s latest 10nm chipset.

Why the Galaxy S9+ is the best

I’ll get this out of the way before we start: the Snapdragon 845-powered Galaxy S9+ variant that’s officially sold in the U.S. comes with a single SIM card slot. So if you’re looking for a dual-SIM version, you’ll have to pick up the international model powered by Samsung’s Exynos 9810.

The international version doesn’t have warranty in the U.S., and it’s for this reason I usually recommend a OnePlus device. However, the OnePlus 5T is no longer up for sale, and there’s no mention of when the OnePlus 6 will be unveiled. Once we have more information on that front, I’ll update this post.

Coming back to the Galaxy S9+, the international version is just as good as the model sold in the U.S. If anything, it’s slightly faster thanks to the new 2.7GHz M3 cores. The downside is that the battery life isn’t as good. In fact, it’s marginally worse than that of the Galaxy S8+.

That said, you should still be able to get a day’s worth of usage out of the battery in most usage scenarios.

Where the Galaxy S9+ has a distinct edge over other flagships is the display — Samsung’s Super AMOLED panels are the best in the business, and that’s immediately evident as soon as you start using the S9+.

The 6.2-inch QHD+ panel is also HDR10 compatible, and there’s a video enhance mode in the settings that makes colors pop, particularly while viewing multimedia content on the device.

The Galaxy S9+ has the same foundation as the S8+, but there’s a new dual camera at the back.

The camera is the main area of focus for Samsung with the Galaxy S9+ — the phone comes with dual 12MP imaging sensors. What’s particularly interesting is that the S9 series is the first with a variable aperture camera, with the lens able to shift form f/1.5 to f/2.4. That makes a tangible difference when taking photos, particularly in low-light conditions.

What that means is that the Galaxy S9+ is just as good as the Pixel 2, if not better. Samsung also nails the basics, with the S9+ offering a 3.5mm jack, a pair of decent AKG earbuds in the box, and IP68 dust and water resistance. You also get wireless charging, and Samsung Pay continues to be the best mobile payments service around.

As for dual-SIM usage, both SIM card slots in the Galaxy S9+ offer 4G connectivity, and Samsung lets you manage the settings for each SIM card — allowing you to select a default SIM for calls, texts, and data.

Runner-up pick

Huawei Mate 10 Pro

See at Best Buy

The Mate 10 Pro is Huawei’s latest battery monster. Featuring a 4000mAh battery, the phone manages to deliver two days’ worth of battery life without breaking a sweat.

The phone also comes with Huawei’s fast charging tech, so when you do need to top up, you’ll be able to go charge up to 60% in just 30 minutes.

The phone offers a 6.0-inch FHD+ 18:9 panel, and comes with Huawei’s latest Kirin 970 chipset with AI capabilities. The AI features allow the camera to select the optimal shooting mode automatically, and Huawei has mentioned that it will unlock additional capabilities in the coming months.

Other specs include up to 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, Wi-Fi ac, USB-C Gen 3.1, and an 8MP front shooter. Round the back, the phone has dual 12MP + 20MP cameras with Leica optics.

On the software front, the phone offers EMUI 8.0 on top of Android 8.0 Oreo. EMUI has come a long way over the course of the last year, and it isn’t a drawback anymore.

Bottom line: The Huawei Mate 10 Pro is an all-rounder that offers two-day battery life.

One more thing: Huawei’s carrier deals have been waylaid, so you’ll have to pick up the phone unlocked.

Best for $500

Xiaomi Mi Mix 2

See at Gearbest

The Mi Mix 2 is a particularly great phone as it comes with global LTE bands. It isn’t the first Xiaomi phone to do so, but it has a gorgeous design backed by a 5.99-inch screen with minimal bezels on three sides.

The phone is just as evocative from the back, thanks to the ceramic finish. Under the hood, you’ll find a Snapdragon 835, along with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.

The 12MP camera is one of the best available in this category, and the phone is slated to pick up the Oreo update shortly. The Oreo-based MIUI 9.5 build offers a slew of bug fixes, and generally makes the ROM feel much more cohesive.

Bottom line: The Mi Mix 2 is still one of the best phones in the $500 segment.

One more thing: You’ll have to buy the Mi Mix 2 from a reseller, but it’s worth the hassle.

Best budget option

Honor 7X

See at Honor

Retailing for just $199, the Honor 7X gets a lot of the basics right. The phone has a 5.93-inch FHD+ display with thin bezels, Kirin 659 chipset, 4GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, microSD slot, 16MP + 2MP cameras at the back, 8MP front shooter, and a 3340mAh battery.

You also get a dual-SIM card tray, but LTE connectivity is limited to the first SIM card — the second SIM automatically switches to 2G.

There really isn’t a whole lot that’s wrong with the Honor 7X, and the fact that the phone has picked up the Oreo update is an added bonus.

Bottom line: If you’re looking for a budget phone that offers great value for money, the Honor 7X is a great choice.

One more thing: The Honor 7X is a GSM-only device, so you won’t be able to use it on Verizon or Sprint.

Conclusion

The Galaxy S9+ may not have a revolutionary new design, but there’s nothing wrong with that. The phone is still one of the best-looking devices around, and the upgrades to the camera make it the best phone available today.

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy S9+

See at Amazon

The Galaxy S9+ shares the same design fundamentals as last years Galaxy S8+, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The design is still one of the most evocative around, and the dual curved screen is a standout.

Talking about the display, Samsung leads the industry with its AMOLED panels, and the one on the Galaxy S9+ is brighter and more vivid when seen against last year’s device. Simply put, it is the best display you can get on a phone today.

Then there’s the camera, which has variable aperture — a first in the smartphone segment. The S9+ also gets a secondary camera that offers 2x optical zoom, allowing you to zoom in on objects without losing out on the quality.

The S9+ also comes with 6GB of RAM as standard, and you can pick up a storage option with as much as 256GB of internal storage. Overall, the S9+ offers meaningful upgrades from last year’s flagship — particularly in the camera department.

Bottom line: If you want the most feature-rich phone available today, look no further than the Galaxy S9+.

One more thing: The dual-SIM variant of the Galaxy S9+ is powered by the Exynos 9810, Samsung’s latest 10nm chipset.

Updated April 2018 with the Galaxy S9+ as the best overall pick, the Mate 10 Pro as the alternate option, and the Mi Mix 2 as the best $500 option.

How to change DNS settings on your Google Wifi

Make your internet faster while ensuring your privacy.

You may have heard that the best April Fools’ joke this year wasn’t one at all: Cloudflare, a service that protects websites (including this one) from malicious acts like Denial Of Service Attacks (DDoS), launched its own consumer DNS service with the extremely memorable IP address, 1.1.1.1. What is DNS? Here’s a good summary, courtesy of Cloudflare itself:

DNS is the directory of the Internet. Whenever you click on a link, send an email, open a mobile app, often one of the first things that has to happen is your device needs to look up the address of a domain. There are two sides of the DNS network: Authoritative (the content side) and Resolver (the consumer side).

Every domain needs to have an Authoritative DNS provider. Cloudflare, since our launch in September 2010, has run an extremely fast and widely-used Authoritative DNS service. 1.1.1.1 doesn’t (directly) change anything about Cloudflare’s Authoritative DNS service.

On the other side of the DNS system are resolvers. Every device that connects to the Internet needs a DNS resolver. By default, these resolvers are automatically set by whatever network you’re connecting to. So, for most Internet users, when they connect to an ISP, or a coffee shop wifi hot spot, or a mobile network then the network operator will dictate what DNS resolver to use.

Chances are, your DNS resolver is provided by your ISP, which then has access to a list of every website you visit. ISP-based resolves are also notoriously slow, which can affect the speed at which web pages load.

Google has, for years, provided its own super-fast consumer DNS resolver at the addresses 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4. Now, with Cloudflare entering the game, we thought we’d show you how to change the DNS on your Google Wifi.

See at Google Store

How to change your DNS resolver on Google Wifi

All of your Google Wifi administration is done on your Android phone, through the excellent Google Wifi app.

Open the Google Wifi app.
On the home screen, tap Networks & general to enter the network settings.
Tap Advanced networking.
Tap DNS.

• By default, Google Wifi uses Google’s own DNS, but also makes it easy to change it to either your ISP’s, or a custom DNS.

If you want to change to Cloudflare’s DNS, tap Custom.
Under Primary server, enter 1.1.1.1.
Under Secondary server, enter 1.0.0.1.
Tap Save.

That’s it! Now your network’s DNS will use Cloudflare’s privacy-focused resolver instead of Google’s. If you want to change it back, simply follow these instructions and revert back to Automatic.

Google Hardware

• Google Wifi review
• Google Home review
• Chromecast Ultra: all you need to know
• Which Chromecast should you buy?

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How to make your Galaxy S9’s software look like a Pixel with a simple theme

A simple download is all it takes.

You may want all of the hardware, specs and power that come with a Galaxy S9 or S9+, but perhaps you aren’t the biggest fan of how the Samsung Experience software looks. If you prefer the Google Pixel look instead, there is actually something you can do to bring your Samsung closer to that style. And it only takes a few minutes.

Big time fans of Android customization know that Samsung has a built-in system-level theme engine that lets third-party companies and individuals design complete themes for its phones. And these themes go way beyond just changing the launcher — they can change the colors across the entire interface, tweak the lock screen, change the navigation buttons, swap out icons for all of the system apps and even change coloring for the system apps like Phone, Clock and Messages.

How to theme and customize your Galaxy S9

The best Pixel-style theme I’ve found yet is one called “Pixelize” by developer Cameron Bunch. It attempts to replicate the Pixel interface through changes in the launcher, notification shade, settings, navigation bar and a full set of Google icons for stock apps. On the whole, it does a great job — the launcher and navigation bar in particular are great, and of course the Google icons really add to the authenticity. The same developer also makes a “dark” version of the Pixel theme as well.

If you want to put this “Pixel” theme on your own Galaxy S9, the process is dead simple. Just click this link to the theme when reading this on your phone, which will launch Samsung Themes to its page. (If you’re not on your phone, copy the link from your computer or search for “Pixelize” in the Themes store.) Once open, all you have to do is tap once to download and again to apply the theme, and a few seconds later your entire phone’s theme will be changed.

This theme includes an icon pack, changing the system icons where possible, but if you want to swap it out all you have to do is go back to the Samsung Themes home page, tap on “Icons” down at the bottom and restore the stock ones. The same steps, but in the “Themes” tab, will let you revert your entire phone back to the default Samsung theme.

Samsung themes can’t be a complete re-skin of the interface, but it gets close enough for most people.

Now, this theme (or any other) won’t make your Galaxy S9 look exactly like a Pixel — there are inherent limitations to the theme engine that make that impossible. The notification shade can change icon styles and colors, but it’s still the same layout and configuration as before. Same goes for the settings panes, though a color tweak is mostly what’s needed to make it “Pixel” like anyway. The multitasking view is the same, albeit with a different top bar color. And most annoyingly of all, themes cannot theme the actual notifications themselves nor the bottom “notification settings / clear all” bar. This really makes dark themes look incomplete, but it’s a reality of theming on Samsung phones with its built-in engine.

Even still, switching themes feels like a win. Though this is just a basic change to colors and a few design elements, I think it has a far cleaner feeling to it than Samsung’s default interface. And because it’s a deep system-level theme, there are very few places where it doesn’t feel “right” as you use the phone. Overall, it’s great, and maybe it will help fight your nagging desire to switch to a Pixel phone for its software design.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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Is it worth upgrading to the Galaxy S9?

To Plus or not to Plus.

Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and S8+ phones are nearly identical to one another, but Samsung tried something different this year. Although the S9 and S9+ have a lot of similarities, only the S9 Plus offers 2GB more RAM, a 500mAh larger battery, and dual rear cameras.

One of our forum users is thinking about switching to the regular Galaxy S9 as they want something smaller than their Pixel 2 XL, but the missing features found only on the S9+ have left them a bit hesitant about what to do.

Members of the Galaxy S9/S9+ community in the Android Central forums were quick to respond, and this is what they had to say:

jeetu4444
04-02-2018 07:43 PM

“

if u really need the smaller size phone go ahead with S9….but since I am a note 8 owner I find s9+ very good size….
if u really care for portrait shots just install the pixel camera in s9 ….

Reply

joemontana57
04-02-2018 08:27 PM

“

I’m coming from an S6, I have an S9+. Because of the aspect ratio, I find it very easy to hold with one hand.

When I was looking at phones, I played with a pixel 2XL. I found it to be significantly larger in the hand than the S9+

Reply

swagglepuff
04-02-2018 09:58 PM

“

I just switched my daily from the essentIal phone(same size as the iPhone X) to my s8+. That size is a good feel for sure, which is interesting because I had a note 8 for a week and returned it because it was to damn big. I think at the end of this week I am going to trade my s8+ for the s9+. As far as ram goes the s8+ is running oreo and Samsung experience 9.0 which is what the s9 is running I…

Reply

neil74
04-03-2018 01:20 AM

“

The 2XL is bigger in the hand but is lighter.

The S9 is a great size but battery really is not very good so when stacked against the extra ram and camera to the plus is the better option. With gboad set to 1 handed mode it is just fine for 1 handed typing too.

Reply

With all that said, we now want to hear from you – Do you recommend getting the regular Galaxy S9 or the S9+?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Google Pixel 2: Which should you buy?
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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Changing your ASMR experience forever with Google Daydream

ASMR, the tingles, your Google Daydream and you

ASMR stands for the autonomous sensory meridian response which, in short, is the tingling sensation you get when you hear just the right sound or see a perfectly soothing visual. It’s commonly described as a “low-grade euphoria” and plenty of YouTubers have mastered the art of to give you these tingles right from your phone or computer.

Now, as most of us are aware, the Google Daydream is a portable VR device that you can plug your phone into. You can combine the art of ASMR with Google Daydream by downloading the YouTube app to your phone and watching it on your VR device. This gives you a hands-free way of experiencing maximum relaxation from anywhere you’d like.

So, whether you’ve never tried ASMR before or you’re already an avid follower, it let me tell you how watching these videos through the Google Daydream will absolutely change your life.

How does it work?

A few quick searches on Google shows that not everyone is capable of feeling the tingles from ASMR through videos, but a decent amount of people are. These sensations pulled from artificial situations are triggered when your favorite part of a song plays or even that deeply touching moment of your favorite movie or show. The feeling is very hard to describe, even as someone who can experience it. What I can say is that the sensation is very similar to the way you feel when someone slides their fingers slowly across your back or someone using one of those metal head-scratchers on you.

I’m an avid believer that everything to do with the sensation of feeling is amplified when you are not the one doing it. For instance, brushing the knots out of your hair doesn’t hurt half as much as someone else brushing those same knots out of your hair. This goes in the opposite spectrum as well, tingling sensations and goosebumps are experienced that much better when you’re not the one doing it. ASMR taps into this field by giving you the same way to feel this sensation without having to scratch your own back, per say.

This low-grade version of euphoria is mad relaxing and, because of this, is spiraling into popularity on YouTube. Basically, whether you need to wind down after a long day at work or need some help getting to sleep ASMR can swoop in like the superhero you need and be super conveniently accessed by your phone.

The benefits of ASMR in virtual reality

Let me start off first by saying there are levels to ASMR on YouTube. You can easily find videos of sound only that emulate getting haircuts, head massages or other white noises to get you to that relaxation state. While these videos are fun to enjoy, it’s the ones with visual stimulation that will change your life combined with the Google Daydream. Visual effects could be anywhere from them pretending to caress your face with make-up brushes or a number of role-play videos you can find.

Some nights you’re so tired or wound up that you just want to hear the music because you don’t feel like holding up your phone. Other nights you might wanna see the visual so you stand there holding your phone above your head (and running the risk of dropping it on your face. Doh!) But, what if you didn’t have to make a decision?

By plugging your phone into your Google Daydream and strapping that VR headset to your face you eliminate every need for holding anything. Not to mention the level of immersion you get from these videos when you’re earbuds are in and all you have to do is load up YouTube and lay back.

Tl:dr: you need to try this out

I tested this a few nights ago and it changed my life. I was halfway through one video when I felt my eyes drooping to sleep. No matter how many times I kept telling myself I’d take the headset off just before I fell asleep, nothing prepared me for waking up confused as to when the sun came up. Never in my life had I reached that deep of a level of relaxation without having to go to a Spa or getting a message.

Not everyone can experience ASMR, and we don’t know why

Science can’t really explain why we get these feelings from ASMR, where it comes from or how it happens. Guess it’s to the same conclusions that they don’t know why some people can’t either. If you’re someone who can’t, these videos are probably gonna seem super weird to you. But don’t knock your friends for liking it, ASMR is another form of meditation to find relaxation in an easy-to-find outlet. If it helps, it helps.

I’ve linked an example of ASMR above here for you to test out. Throw on your headphones, close your eyes and relax. Plenty of my friends and loved ones have attested to how much ASMR helps their anxiety or just generally getting their brain relaxed when they’re wound up due to overstimulation. So even if you run a tight schedule and need a moment of relaxation to shut off from the day or you just want to experience this mild form of euphoria, get your Google Daydream ready and load up YouTube.

You’ll thank me later.

Your thoughts?

Have you ever tried ASMR and, if so, what are your favorite videos? I’m also interested in hearing your reasons for listening to or watching ASMR! Have you tried it in VR? Tell us in the comment section below!

The Honor 10 could be announced on May 15

Honor’s event will be held in London.

Do you remember the Honor 9? The phone was released in July of last year, and when Alex reviewed it at the time he called it “the best phone for less than £400.” If you’ve been itching for a successor to that device, you might not have to wait too much longer.

Honor 9

Honor recently shared a press invite on its UK Twitter account for an event that’ll be taking place in London on May 15. It shows the silhouette of a phone with the phrase “Beauty in AI.”

There’s no explicit mention of what phone will be announced anywhere on the invite, but seeing as how we’re nearing a full year since the Honor 9 was released, it seems likely that this will be when we get our first look at the Honor 10.

👀💣💥👀 Follow this space to find out more!!! #BeautyInAI #ForTheBrave pic.twitter.com/ZF9OKN7PAZ

— Honor UK (@UKHonor) April 5, 2018

Some of the Honor 9’s best features were its stunning glass design, excellent dual rear cameras, and fast performance thanks to the Kirin 960 processor. Assuming we get something similar in May, we should be in for a real treat.

Honor 9 review: The best phone for less than £400

Are the Galaxy S9-style stereo speakers better than front-facing speakers?

They might not sound quite as good, but they’re less intrusive to the phone’s overall design.

Built-in audio has never been a particularly strong suit for most phones. Manufacturers are usually happy to just drill a couple of holes into the bottom of their devices and call it a day, but the end result is usually a tinny, thin-sounding speaker that’ll leave you connecting to headphones or Bluetooth speakers more often than not.

Every once in a while, though, we see a phone that actually makes onboard audio a priority. HTC is probably best-known for this, putting a big focus on its front-facing BoomSound speakers when it launched the legendary One M7. Since then, a number of other companies have tried their hand at front-firing speakers, but eventually even HTC gave up on the idea, because it just gets in the way of a beautiful design.

They’re both better than a mono speaker grill, but one boasts superior audio while the other saves room for design.

The HTC U11, along with the newer and, if you ask me, much better looking U11+, forego the dual front-firing speakers and instead opt for a layout that Apple has been using since the iPhone 7; a combination of the earpiece speaker and a speaker grill along the bottom edge. Most recently, Samsung has started doing the same with its Galaxy S9 and S9+, but why has this become the new norm?

This stereo speaker configuration makes a lot of sense from a design perspective. Nearly every phone is built with these two components in mind (save for a few devices with oddities like bone conduction), so there’s nothing to change as far as the outward appearance goes. The same can’t be said about the dual front-facing speaker layout, which is becoming increasingly less viable as the market shifts towards bezel-less phones with taller aspect ratio displays.

Imagine a phone with front-facing speakers and a notch. Once you’re done screaming and swearing, you’ll get an idea of why the stereo speaker configuration is becoming so popular lately; it doesn’t get in the way of any modern design trends, and most people aren’t buying their phones based off of speaker choices anyway. If you want small bezels, you’re going to have to live without front-facing speakers — or, in the case of the Pixel 2 XL, get both in exchange for a huge chassis, because internals still have to go somewhere.

I’m personally a big fan of the newer dual speaker design. I love the utility of a big screen, but I still want a phone that fits comfortably in my hand and pocket, so a phone with minimal bezels is ideal. That’s why I carry phones like the Galaxy S9 and iPhone X — both of which utilize the earpiece/speaker grill combo. Sure, it isn’t as loud or full-sounding as a pair of true front-firing speakers, but it’s still a hell of a lot better than something like the Galaxy S8, and I don’t mind connecting to my Bluetooth headphones when I really need better audio.

What’s your take? Do you, like me, favor the speaker combination implemented on newer phones like the Galaxy S9, or do you long for the days of BoomSound? Let us know in the comments below!

Google Voice is running an open beta for Wi-Fi calling

It’s actually happening.

Google Voice received a long-overdue redesign in January of 2017, and this updated it with much-needed features and a modern UI. However, there was something that was still missing – VoIP.

After years of patiently waiting, it looks like our day has finally come. On the Google Voice Help Forum, Google’s announced that it’s running an open beta for Wi-Fi/data calling that’s integrated directly into Google Voice.

VoIP with Google Voice allows you to make and receive calls using Wi-Fi or your mobile data connection in addition to your regular cell signal, and the big benefit to this is still being able to make calls even when you’re in a dead-zone but still connected to Wi-Fi.

This feature is currently supported on the Google Voice Android app and on the web, and signing up for the beta is as easy as filling out a form, updating the Google Voice app, and following instructions on an email you’ll be sent with more info on how to get everything working.

Since this is a beta, however, there are a few known issues, including:

• Obihai devices won’t work if you enable calling over Wi-Fi
• You won’t be able to use incoming call options when you enable calling over Wi-Fi and mobile data
• If using Google Voice from your computer, Wi-Fi calling only works in Google Chrome (support for Firefox, Edge, and Safari is coming soon)
• While using Bluetooth on Android – Buttons on your Bluetooth device won’t work for accepting/declining calls, earpiece mode won’t work, and calls may drop when switching between Bluetooth and speakerphone depending on your Android version

If you’ve got Google Voice, are you going to be signing up for this beta?

Download: Google Voice (free)

JYDGE review: Doling out sweet cyberpunk justice

When the future is overrun by gangs of violent cyberpunks, send in the JYDGE!

In the distant future, humanity lives in futuristic megacities like Edenbyrg, where crime is rampant and the only solution is swift, violent justice. The only solution is the JYDGE.

JYDGE was developed by 10tons, the team behind another fantastic twin-stick shooter, Neon Chrome. In it, you play JYDGE, a cybernetic enforcement officer who is sent into the most dangerous situations to take out violent gangs, save hostages, and try to bring some order and justice to the world.

While JYDGE isn’t a direct sequel to Neon Chrome, it’s safe to call it a spiritual successor. Both games are clearly set in the same futuristic techno-dystopia that’s been heavily inspired by Blade Runner, RoboCop, and Judge Dredd and feature really slick graphics and a thumping good soundtrack.

What really sets JYDGE apart from Neon Chrome is there’s more of a story being told here. Whereas Neon Chrome had a loose narrative to justify the endless procedurally generated levels, JYDGE has you play a cybernetic mercenary who basically gets to dole out justice as the judge, jury, and executioner.

There are four acts to play through, each broken up into 4 or 5 different missions that involve eliminating cyberpunk criminals, saving hostages, or destroying weapons of mass destruction. Each mission has six medals to unlock by completing goals. Some of them are pretty basic like kill all enemies or free all the hostages, but others are a bit trickier like completing the level in under 25 seconds or without sustaining damage. You’ll need to keep collecting medals to unlock new levels and upgrades for your character and weapon, which means you’ll be replaying certain levels multiple times.

Fortunately, this game plays like an absolute dream that you won’t mind playing through missions over and over again. The touch controls are tight as I feel like Neon Chrome really allowed 10tons to work out the kinks and figure out what works best for mobile. There’s a ton of strategy involved in picking the right cybernetic upgrades to get the job done, and there’s an insane amount of variety included here.

One of the things I really love about playing JYDGE is that you really have the freedom to tackle each level as you see fit. JYDGE is able to smash right through window panes which is my favorite technique — I just love the imagery of a bunch of crooks just chilling as this robotic killing machine bursts through a window and just clears the room. You’re also able to melee attack to destroy most objects, and can use explosions to blow out walls to create your own path. It’s fantastic and really lends itself to multiple play-throughs.

I haven’t played JYDGE long enough to unlock everything and that’s partially due to switching devices and losing my progress — cloud saves via Google would have been really nice. You’re going to need to invest some serious time in this game to master and complete it, but given the polish and attention to detail, this will be a game that I will play through to the end.

JYDGE provides the value you’d expect from a paid mobile game, and there are no ads or in-app purchases to deal with. Fantastic!

You can get JYDGE on sale right now for $5.99 on the Google Play Store.

Download: JYDGE ($5.99)

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Moto G6 devices to be announced on April 19

Get ready to meet the Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus.

In a post on its official blog last week, Motorola confirmed that its first phones of 2018 would be announced at some point in April. We didn’t know an exact date at the time, but according to a press invite that’s popped up, that’s now changed.

First shared by AndroidPIT, Motorola’s sent out press invitations for an event that’ll be held in São Paulo, Brazil on April 19. The invitation doesn’t call out the Moto G6 series by name, but it seems awfully clear that this is what the company will be announcing.

It’s been over a year since the Moto G5 family was released, so the timing’s right for its successors to make an appearance. Along with that, the green background for the invitation lines up with the green wallpaper that was present on recently leaked renders for the G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus.

The Moto G6 lineup is shaping up to be as solid as ever, and if it’s anything like the G5, it’ll offer some of the best bang-for-your-buck in the Android smartphone space.

Are you looking forward to these phones?

New leak shows off the Moto G6, G6 Plus, and G6 Play in all their glory