5 reasons why the new Razer Blade looks amazing

Razer recently announced the newest version of its Razer Blade gaming laptop — and it looks pretty stunning. If you’ve always wished gaming laptops weren’t so chunky and outdated, this is going to wow you. The Razer Blade has always been a solution to that problem — but the newest version looks better than ever.

Those bezels

We recently reviewed the Razer Stealth Blade and were a bit disappointed by the hefty bezels surrounding the display. It’s a quick way to make your laptop feel completely outdated.  The new Razer Blade has trimmed down the side bezels to just 4.9mm, which is even thinner than what you’ll find on the Dell XPS 13. A larger 15.6-inch display has been squeezed in without significantly increasing the laptop’s overall size.

A 144 Hz screen

For gamers, a 144Hz refresh rate is the most important aspect of any display. It’s what allows for the most responsive gameplay, pushing high framerates without screen tearing.

The Razer Blade isn’t the first gaming laptop with a high refresh rate, but it’s definitely an important upgrade from the previous Blade. The 144Hz 1080p display starts at $2,200. A 4K display is also offered (starting at $2,900) — though at only 60Hz.

My, what a big touchpad

The touchpad on the previous versions of this design (whether the Razer Blade or the Blaze Stealth) was great. The glass surface was responsive, and the click felt solid and satisfying to press. The only problem? It was a little small compared to what you get on a MacBook Pro or Huawei MateBook X Pro.

On the new 2018 Blade, Razer has upgraded the touchpad by stretching it out, filling out the bottom half of the palm rests.

Fantastic components

The new Razer Blade doesn’t just look better, it also has brand new components to match. Every configuration of the Blade comes with the 8th-gen Intel Core i7-8750H and 16GB of RAM. That’s great for a standard configuration.

On the graphics front, you have the choice between the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q or 1070 Max-Q. Both are fantastic GPUs that should provide some serious gaming capability to the Blade. Even the SSD choice is top-of-the-line — up to 2TB of NVMe M.2 SSD storage. All these components ensure that regardless of what you’re doing on your Razer Blade, the performance will be impressive.

It’s still thin and light

It’s rare for a company to make an updated laptop bigger and thicker. The new Blade has a larger screen than the previous version, as well as a slightly thicker base. It rounds out at 0.66 inches thick and 4.6 pounds (or 4.7 for the 4K version). As a means of comparison, that’s 0.05 inches thicker than the 15-inch MacBook Pro and 0.6 pounds heavier. That’s still not bad considering you’ve much beefier hardware under the hood.

It ain’t cheap, though. The Razer Blade starts at $1,900 and can be configured up a thousand bucks more from there. It’s currently available to be purchased online right now, so head on over if you’re interested in learning more.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Razer Blade Stealth (2018) review
• Razer Blade Stealth vs. Apple MacBook Pro
• Razer claims ‘world’s smallest’ with its 2018-edition Blade 15 gaming laptop
• The best gaming laptops
• The best laptops

Apple’s iPad Smart Cover could one day have a display that shows notifications

Apple may be looking into making the iPad Pro’s Smart Cover even smarter. Apple has filed a patent for a Smart Cover that will keep users up to date with alerts for things like notifications. What that means is that you won’t even have to open the cover to keep current with your notifications.

The patent application shows this is something Apple has been working on for some time — this is a continuation of several patents dating back to 2012.

In the patent, it’s clear that this new Smart Cover would take a similar form to the standard smart cover. In other words, it will be built to protect the iPad and will include a tri-fold form factor. On top of that, however, it could have both active and passive portions to it for displaying things like notifications. Active portions to the display would basically incorporate low-power elements like small LED displays to provide alerts.

The cover could also take a slightly more passive approach. In that instance, the cover would basically have transparent portions that would show parts of the iPad’s actual display. When the cover is closed, the iPad would show notifications through those transparent portions.

There’s also a hybrid version of the Smart Cover — which could have both LED displays and transparent sections to show other information.

The patent also highlights treating different notifications differently. When using the transparent Smart Cover, for example, an email marked as important could show at the top of the notifications panel, while less important notifications could show lower down.

As is always the case with an Apple patent, there’s no indication of when this kind of Smart Cover will make it to market — or if it’ll ever be available at all. Apple and other tech companies routinely file for patents that they never end up using. Still, this does show that Apple is working on ways to make its accessories a little more functional, which could end up being very helpful for the people who use these accessories. As mentioned, Apple first filed a patent for the tech in 2012, but it has clearly been looking into the idea since then.

CRISPR gene-editing could help feed future generations

Experts predict that another two billion people will inhabit the Earth by 2050, bringing the global population to 9.7 billion. That’s a lot of mouths to feed. Current food production systems can’t keep up with today’s demand — more than ten percent of the world is undernourished — so how the hell are we going to feed our future?

The answer will likely lie in technology. And one of the most promising contributions comes from a gene-editing tool called CRISPR, which scientists can use to create crops that are more resilient to climate change and have higher yields.

A team of researchers from Purdue University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently demonstrated the potential of CRISPR in an intriguing new study. By making mutations in 13 genes, the scientists produced a crop of rice with 25-31 percent high yield. Without the aid of CRISPR, the crop would’ve required trial and error with millions of plants to reach a similar goal, according to the researchers.

To create the crop, the researchers used CRISPR to precisely snip out undesired genes that play a double role, increasing stress tolerance and suppressing growth. So although the crop had a higher yield, it was less resilient to environmental stress. Still, in field tests in Shanghai and on Hainan Island, China, the researchers found little impact to stress tolerance but significant gains in grain production.

“An important fact concerning CRISPR technology is its immediate applicability to agricultural problems, Jian-Kang Zhu, a plant biologist at Purdue who led the study, told Digital Trends. Although much of the attention and investment surrounding CRISPR has been in medical research, Zhu pointed out that “the successful applicability of this incredible technology to medicine is much farther in the future.”

After all, plants and microbes aren’t entangled with the same bioethical concerns that keep scientists from performing certain animal studies. “We can make genetic crosses and clones with plants and we can discard our mistakes,” Zhu said. “Obviously [those are] not ethical pursuits in human biology.”

Moving forward, Zhu and his colleagues will use this same tool on “elite” strains of rice, with the hope that the production boosts transfer over. They also plan to apply their approach to different crops.

A paper detailing the study was published this month in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Editors’ Recommendations

• CRISPR could one day help conservationists save our ocean’s coral
• Genetic engineering innovation makes plants more efficient at using water
• In new breakthrough, CRISPR tools target RNA to tackle dementia
• New startup promises ‘world’s first’ CRISPR-powered disease detection
• Science of the Lambs: We can now grow human cells in sheep

Dell has a new Developer Edition mobile workstation with Ubuntu, three more soon

If you’re looking for a new mobile workstation based on Linux, Dell has introduced four new Precision Developer Edition models. The Precision 3530 version is available now while the 5530, 7530, and 7730 models are listed as “coming soon.” All four are based on Intel processors and discrete mobile professional graphics provided by AMD and Nvidia. 

With a starting price of $942, the base Precision 3530 configuration defaults to the Intel Core i5-8400H four-core processor, but there are four other options up to the Xeon E-2176M six-core chip. You can also choose to stick with integrated graphics, or Nvidia’s Quadro P600 discrete chip with 4GB of dedicated video memory. 

The mobile workstation’s display measures 15.6-inches with options for touch input, and resolutions of 1,366 x 768 (default) or 1,920 x 1,080. The screen you pick will ultimately lock down other aspects of the configuration, such a color gamut range, WWAN support (or lack thereof), and the type of built-in camera. It’s backed by one of three battery options: a 68WHr fast-charging model, a 68WHr “long life cycle” version, and a 92WHr fast-charging edition. 

Other ingredients thrown into the mix include DDR4 system memory spanning 4GB to 16GB (2,400MHZ or 2,666MHz), and up to two storage devices. The default configuration includes a 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive and no secondary drive, but you can use a hard drive (up to 2TB) or M.2 SSD (256GB) as the primary drive for the operating system, and a hard drive or SSD as the secondary drive for data. 

On the connectivity front, this workstation provides a headphone jack, one USB-A port (5Gbps), and a VGA port on the right. On the left you’ll find a USB-C port with optional Thunderbolt 3 support, a USB-A port (5Gbps), an SD card reader, and an optional Smart Card reader. The laptop’s Ethernet and HDMI 2.0 ports are on the back along with a third USB-A port (5Gbps). 

Finally, the default configuration includes Wireless AC (867Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity. It’s available worldwide now sporting Ubuntu 16.04 LTS although it’s certified for Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 7.5. 

As for the other three models coming soon, the Precision 5530 will sport a 15.6-inch screen in a 14-inch chassis. It will support next-generation graphics up to Nvidia’s Quadro P2000 discrete graphics, eighth-generation Intel Core processors, and “next generation” Intel Xeon processors. Memory will consist of up to 32GB (2,666MHz) while storage options range up to a 4TB SSD. 

Meanwhile, the 15-inch Precision 7530 mobile workstation will support eighth-generation Intel Core and Xeon processors, up to 128GB of memory at 3,200MHz, and discrete graphics from AMD (Radeon WX) and Nvidia (Quadro). This laptop will even handle up to 6TB of storage on a PCIe-based SSD. 

Finally, the 17-inch Precision 7730 boasts a thin and light form factor for its size sporting eighth-generation Intel Core and Xeon processors. It too will support up to 128GB of memory at 3,200MHz, but a larger maximum storage capacity of 8TB. All three upcoming workstations will ship with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS already installed. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• You can stuff a hefty Core i9 six-core CPU in Dell’s new refreshed XPS 15 laptop
• Apple iPad (2018) review
• Dell rebrands Inspiron gaming laptops to G Series, serves up four new models
• Lenovo’s new IdeaPad laptops tickle your gaming fancy without breaking the bank
• Acer’s new lineup includes white gaming laptop and Pixelbook-esque Chromebook

Dell has a new Developer Edition mobile workstation with Ubuntu, three more soon

If you’re looking for a new mobile workstation based on Linux, Dell has introduced four new Precision Developer Edition models. The Precision 3530 version is available now while the 5530, 7530, and 7730 models are listed as “coming soon.” All four are based on Intel processors and discrete mobile professional graphics provided by AMD and Nvidia. 

With a starting price of $942, the base Precision 3530 configuration defaults to the Intel Core i5-8400H four-core processor, but there are four other options up to the Xeon E-2176M six-core chip. You can also choose to stick with integrated graphics, or Nvidia’s Quadro P600 discrete chip with 4GB of dedicated video memory. 

The mobile workstation’s display measures 15.6-inches with options for touch input, and resolutions of 1,366 x 768 (default) or 1,920 x 1,080. The screen you pick will ultimately lock down other aspects of the configuration, such a color gamut range, WWAN support (or lack thereof), and the type of built-in camera. It’s backed by one of three battery options: a 68WHr fast-charging model, a 68WHr “long life cycle” version, and a 92WHr fast-charging edition. 

Other ingredients thrown into the mix include DDR4 system memory spanning 4GB to 16GB (2,400MHZ or 2,666MHz), and up to two storage devices. The default configuration includes a 500GB 7,200RPM hard drive and no secondary drive, but you can use a hard drive (up to 2TB) or M.2 SSD (256GB) as the primary drive for the operating system, and a hard drive or SSD as the secondary drive for data. 

On the connectivity front, this workstation provides a headphone jack, one USB-A port (5Gbps), and a VGA port on the right. On the left you’ll find a USB-C port with optional Thunderbolt 3 support, a USB-A port (5Gbps), an SD card reader, and an optional Smart Card reader. The laptop’s Ethernet and HDMI 2.0 ports are on the back along with a third USB-A port (5Gbps). 

Finally, the default configuration includes Wireless AC (867Mbps) and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity. It’s available worldwide now sporting Ubuntu 16.04 LTS although it’s certified for Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 7.5. 

As for the other three models coming soon, the Precision 5530 will sport a 15.6-inch screen in a 14-inch chassis. It will support next-generation graphics up to Nvidia’s Quadro P2000 discrete graphics, eighth-generation Intel Core processors, and “next generation” Intel Xeon processors. Memory will consist of up to 32GB (2,666MHz) while storage options range up to a 4TB SSD. 

Meanwhile, the 15-inch Precision 7530 mobile workstation will support eighth-generation Intel Core and Xeon processors, up to 128GB of memory at 3,200MHz, and discrete graphics from AMD (Radeon WX) and Nvidia (Quadro). This laptop will even handle up to 6TB of storage on a PCIe-based SSD. 

Finally, the 17-inch Precision 7730 boasts a thin and light form factor for its size sporting eighth-generation Intel Core and Xeon processors. It too will support up to 128GB of memory at 3,200MHz, but a larger maximum storage capacity of 8TB. All three upcoming workstations will ship with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS already installed. 

Editors’ Recommendations

• You can stuff a hefty Core i9 six-core CPU in Dell’s new refreshed XPS 15 laptop
• Apple iPad (2018) review
• Dell rebrands Inspiron gaming laptops to G Series, serves up four new models
• Lenovo’s new IdeaPad laptops tickle your gaming fancy without breaking the bank
• Acer’s new lineup includes white gaming laptop and Pixelbook-esque Chromebook

Cheap Chromecast Speakers: Best Under $35

Just because you want a great-sounding speaker doesn’t mean you have to spend more than you did on your Chromecast Audio.

Chromecast Audio provides us with an easy way to stream media from our mobile devices to our favorite speakers, whether they feature Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or neither. We’ve selected five of the best portable speakers that go great with this audio accessory and cost no more than the Chromecast Audio itself. Keep one in your bedroom, living room, kitchen, or bathroom — these speakers will give you the superior sound you crave without breaking the bank.

• Cambridge Soundworks OontZ Angle 3
• Photive Hydra
• AYL Portable Mini Speaker
• Anker Classic Portable Speaker
• VTIN Outdoor Speaker

Cambridge Soundworks OontZ Angle 3

While the Chromecast Audio may not be waterproof, the OontZ Angle 3 from Cambridge SoundWorks certainly is. This 5-inch speaker speaker has an IPX5 rating, making it completely splashproof for any setting. Inside is a long lasting 2200mAh battery that provides up to 15 hours of music through its dual drivers for a total of 10W of stereo sound. The OontZ Angle 3 sounds great on every level — mids, highs, and even bass are clear thanks to the passive subwoofer design. If you’re after a speaker that’s built for a tougher environment, this is a great option for you.

You can pick one up for around $25.

Read our in-depth review

See at Amazon

Photive Hydra

The Photive Hydra is perfect for people that want a cheap speaker and are more concerned about sound quality than convenience. Sporting a passive subwoofer and two 40mm drivers, the Hydra delivers a fuller-sounding low end, while still providing pleasing, clear treble.

Its IP66 rating means it can get wet, but not submerged. Obviously, your Chromecast Audio is not water-resistant at all, but its a nice feature to have if you ever choose to use it away from the tether of your Chromecast Audio. For about $35, the Photive Hydra could be yours.

See at Amazon

AYL Portable Mini Speaker

For something a bit more compact, but surprisingly loud, the AYL portable mini speaker is definitely one to check out. The 3W speaker on top provides quality sound that jams for up to 10 hours on a full charge. The unique design of this speaker makes it ideal for travel, quickly collapsing into a smaller size when needed. There’s even a built-in 3.5mm headphone cable on the bottom for hooking up your Chromecast Audio, along with an extension cable if you need a little extra length. Priced around $15, you can’t go wrong with this mini speaker.

Read our review of the AYL Mini

See at Amazon

Anker Classic Portable Speaker

Anker’s Classic Portable Speaker, a box design that uses a single 2-inch, 4W driver and bass port to deliver its amazing quality sound. Powering the unit is a 2100mAh Li-ion battery that will keep the music going for up to 20 hours. The built-in mic allows you to use the Anker Classic as a speakerphone, but for keeping things simple just plug in your Chromecast Audio to the 3.5mm port on the side and enjoy what this crafty speaker has to offer. Included is a longer auxiliary cable, travel pouch, microUSB charging cable, and an 18-month warranty. You can grab one in black, blue, or white for around $30.

Read our review of the Anker Classic

See at Amazon

VTIN Outdoor Speaker

If you want a Bluetooth speaker that can withstand a few bumps and bruises, the VTIN Outdoor Speaker is a great value at only $30.

While its IPX4 rating won’t let you submerge the speaker, it should be able to withstand the occasional splash of water or light rain. Plus, the speaker is protected by the rugged rubberized chassis of the VTIN Outdoor Speaker, meaning it should be able to take almost any environment you throw at it.

This speaker gets pretty loud. It’s got two 10W speakers on either side of the device that can pump up any party and full volume. Oh, and did I mention it has a 4,400 mAh? You can listen to music for roughly 30 hours on the Vtin outdoor speaker without having to charge up. Plus, if you want to venture away from your Chromecast you can always use it with standard Bluetooth.

See at Amazon

What speakers are you using with Chromecast Audio?

Those are our top picks for an affordable speaker to use with Chromecast Audio. Which speakers are you using or looking into getting for yours? Sound off in the comments!

Updated May 2018: Added the VTIN Outdoor Speaker to our list.

Chromecast

• Chromecast vs. Chromecast Ultra: Which should you buy?
• Chromecast and Chromecast Audio review
• Chromecast Ultra vs. Roku
• Join the discussion in our forums

Chromecast:

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Best Buy

Chromecast Audio:

Google Store
Best Buy

Chromecast Ultra:

Google Store
Best Buy

The best multiplayer games for your Oculus Go

Get your friends and family in on the fun

The Oculus Go has countless game and apps for you to enjoy. But, playing games by yourself is something we can always do no matter what device we’re on. After that huge spiel during F8 about connecting with your friends and family, why not try and find something to play together? Games are always that much more fun when you have someone to share them with.

So, strap on your headset and get ready to teach all your loved ones why you love VR. Here are all the best multiplayer games for your Oculus Go!

Catan VR

Bring a whole new immersive environment to the tabletop games you love to play with your friends. No costumes or imagination are required when it comes time for you to envision your best friend is the Wizard you always knew he was. Not just that, but Catan VR simplifies the process of playing said board games with your friends. Instead of needing Skype, a phone app, and a google document to keep track of all the progress, the game does it entirely for you. Now no one needs to DM the party and can get right to enjoying the party with one another. For about $15 on the Oculus Store you can enjoy this experience with friends or strangers!

See on Oculus Store

RUSH

Take a deep breath and get ready to plunge yourself from the highest mountain. Before you leave a small voice whispers in your head, “It’s too dangerous to go alone, take this!” and you’re equipped with a hang gliding suit. Your friends line up with you and it turns into a race to the finish, who can reach the ground first? Test your luck with the course and try to collect more powerups than that Jerk Dan who keeps bumping you into oncoming rocks. For just $7.99 on the Oculus Store, you and a group of people can get the real experience of hang-gliding like your life depends on it.

And I gotta say, for a game about free-falling I didn’t experience any form of nausea. And this is coming from someone who almost puked playing UltraWings up until I learned how to avoid that.

See on Oculus Store

Anshar Online

Pretty sure my head exploded a little bit when I saw the words “space”, “shooter”, “Co-op” and “PVP” all in the description of one game. Anshar Online, available for $7.99 on the Oculus Store, has a 4 out of 5-star rating with 63 reviews. There are over 50 missions for you to give a shot at with your friends, or heck, even your enemies. Power up your ship and get ready to take out the other team. There are gorgeous environments with a pretty solid movement system that makes sure you’ll feel comfortable in this VR game.

See on Oculus Store

Drop Dead

Zombies, guns, and your most trusted survival partner… What more could a girl ask for? My only complaint about Drop Dead is the ability to have only one person to play with you. I would 10/10 nostalgia all over my keyboard right now if I got a zombie game experience close to what we had when Nazi Zombies was a thing back on Call of Duty – but for VR. You can get Drop Dead for $9.99 on the Oculus Store and truly immerse yourself into a simulated zombie apocalypse. Prepare yourself for the screaming (and laughter that follows) when you’ve got oozing, rotting bodies jumping in your face.

Good thing there’s a VR headset protecting your cranium!

See on Oculus Store

What’s your favorite?

Did you get to try out any of the games I mentioned above? If so, which one is your favorite? If you have a favorite that I didn’t mention let us know in the comment section below!

Oculus Go

• A parent’s guide to Oculus Go
• Oculus Go vs. Lenovo Mirage Solo
• Best Gamepad for Oculus Go
• Best Battery Backup for Oculus Go

Oculus Go 32GB
Oculus Go 64GB

Philips Hue smart lights, Amazon Echos, and ultra-wide monitors are all on sale today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

Today you can get big discounts on Philips Hue lighting systems, Amazon Echo devices, LG’s 34-inch UltraWide monitor, and more!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Here’s what you need to know about Dash Charge on the OnePlus 6

Dash Charge is one of the best fast charging protocols available today.

OnePlus rolled out Dash Charge back in 2016 with the OnePlus 3 and 3T, and it has become one of the best fast charging standards available today. Dash Charge allows the OnePlus 6 to go from zero to 60% charge in just 35 minutes, and while there are other fast charging solutions that let you top up your battery quickly, the advantage with OnePlus’ tech is that it doesn’t overheat your phone.

Dash Charge is licensed from OPPO — OnePlus’ sister company — and is different from the majority of quick charging options available today, most of which are based on Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology. Here’s what you need to know about Dash Charge on the OnePlus 6.

Is it still Dash Charge?

With the OnePlus 6, there has been some contention around Dash Charge’s naming convention. The official listing for the OnePlus 6 makes no mention of Dash Charge, calling the feature Fast Charge instead. However, the bundled wall charger and the USB-C cable still retain the Dash Charge moniker, so we reached out to OnePlus to find out what’s going on.

It looks like the manufacturer’s request for a trademark was rejected by the EU earlier this year, leading to the name change on the website:

Originally designed by OnePlus and submitted to the USPTO and the EUIPO for trademark application in April 2016, “Dash Charge” was first used in conjunction with the release of the OnePlus 3 in June 2016. We used “Dash Charge” for two years until the EU trademark was rejected in March 2018.

This in no way impacts the functionality of the technology itself. Under existing trademark law, registration is not a necessary prerequisite for commercial use, and OnePlus will continue to work towards securing a trademark for our charging technology. We appreciate everyone’s patience in the meantime.

A primer on fast charging

A standard smartphone battery is highly reactive, which is why phone manufacturers have several safeguards built into the charging circuitry. Batteries usually take in more power initially, tapering out as the charge builds. It is on this principle that fast charging works.

Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology delivers a higher voltage to the battery to expedite charging time. Quick Charge 4.0 is fully compliant with the USB-C Power Delivery (PD) spec, and is 20% faster and up to 30% more efficient than Quick Charge 3.0. Qualcomm has introduced a power management algorithm called Intelligent Negotiation for Optimum Voltage (INOV) to ensure better temperature regulation, along with safeguards to protect against overheating and overcharging.

Qualcomm uses high voltages, whereas OPPO pushes more amperage.

Qualcomm claims that with its parallel charging technology, you’ll be able to use your phone for five hours with just a five-minute charge. The chip vendor licenses the technology to third-party OEMs, which is how companies like Samsung can offer Adaptive Fast Charging on the likes of the Galaxy S9. In Samsung’s case, the company is still using Quick Charge 2.0, and although there aren’t many phones with Quick Charge 4.0 on the market, most flagships offer Quick Charge 3.0.

Meanwhile, OPPO has its own fast charging solution called VOOC (Voltage Open Loop Multi-step Constant-Current Charging). The fast charging system is used in the F7, R11, R15, and other OPPO phones, and on OnePlus devices as Dash Charge. OPPO uses dedicated circuitry in the charger itself for heat management and dissipation, which is why you can only get Dash Charge speeds with OnePlus-branded wall and car chargers — such as the one that’s included in the OnePlus 6’s box.

The key difference between the two fast charging technologies is that while Qualcomm uses higher voltages to charge batteries, VOOC relies on delivering a higher amperage. For instance, Quick Charge 3.0 goes up to 6.5V at 3A, creating 19.5W, whereas VOOC delivers 5V at 4A to attain 20W. And that has a few advantages.

It’s all cool

One of the main benefits of Dash Charge (and VOOC) is its ability to keep temperatures low while charging. The fast charging option allows you to watch videos or play games while the phone is charging, with no net drop in charging speeds. That isn’t the case with Quick Charge, as the higher voltages invariably lead to the phone reverting to normal speeds to prevent overheating.

With Dash Charge, you can play games or watch videos while charging your phone without worrying about overheating.

Furthermore, even though the OnePlus 6 can charge up to 60% in 35 minutes, it takes slightly over 45 minutes to go from 60% to a full charge. That’s to prevent damage to the battery (and more importantly, you), with the wall charger limiting output at 2A after hitting 75% and going even lower after reaching 85%. The microcontroller unit inside the phone constantly monitors the charge level to determine the desired amperage to be delivered.

The main disadvantage with Dash Charge is that you need to use OnePlus-branded chargers (it sells both a wall and car charger) to get the higher speeds on the OnePlus 6, as OPPO is yet to license the technology to third-party vendors. You can use other chargers to top up the OnePlus 6, and use the Dash Charge wall charger with other devices, but in both cases they will fall back to a lower charging speed.

Your thoughts

What do you think of Dash Charge on the OnePlus 6? Let us know in the comments!

Updated in May 2018 with information specific to the OnePlus 6.

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

Google Home speakers outsold Amazon Echo ones for the first time in Q1 2018

3.2 million Google Homes were sold during this year’s first quarter.

Even if they accidentally send your private conversations once and a while, smart speakers are awesome tools. I use my multiple Google Homes on the daily, and it looks like a lot of other people do, too.

For the first time ever, Google outsold Amazon in the smart speaker market during the first quarter of 2018.

Google sold 3.2 million Google Home and Home Mini speakers in Q1, whereas Amazon sold just 2.5 million of its Echo devices. Amazon has consecutively outsold Google since Q1 2017, so the folks in Google’s hardware department should give themselves a big pat on the back.

Between Google, Amazon, and Apple, a total of 4.1 million smart speakers were sold in the United States during the quarter, with China and South Korea taking second and third place with 1.8 million and 730,000 units, respectively, thanks to likes of Xiaomi, Tmall, and others.

Per Canalys Analyst Ben Stanton —

Google has several advantages over Amazon that have helped it move ahead. But its biggest advantage is in the channel. Operators and retailers tend to prioritize Google’s speakers over those from Amazon, as Amazon is in the tricky position of being a direct competitor. But Amazon is fighting back hard, and the sheer quantity of Alexa Skills and smart home integrations will be tough for any competitor to match.

It’s unclear if Google will be able to pull out another win in Q2 2018, and even if it doesn’t, this is still a huge step forward for the company.

Do you own a smart speaker? If so, is it a Google Home or Amazon Echo?

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

Google Home

• Google Home review
• Google Home Mini: Everything you need to know!
• Google Home Max review
• These services work with Google Home
• Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
• Join our Google Home forums!

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Target
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