These are all the phones Samsung is releasing in 2018

Samsung does more than just the Note, you know.

If you own an Android phone, there’s a really good chance it’s got a Samsung logo on it. Samsung is the most popular Android OEM on the planet, and to achieve this, the company releases a ton of hardware every year.

Samsung’s highlight phones come from the S and Note lineups, but in between those, you’ll find a variety of mid-to-low-end gadgets, too.

To make sure you’re up to date with what Samsung’s got cooking, these are all the phones it’s releasing in 2018.

The phones that we’re still expecting

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

This August, Samsung’s expected to release its second big flagship phone for 2018 — the Galaxy Note 9.

Samsung’s Note is often a showcase for the best that the company has to offer, and this shouldn’t be any different. Early rumors are pointing to a design that’s very similar to last year’s entry, save for a slightly different layout on the back with the fingerprint sensor and dual camera setup.

The camera is said to be a big focus for Samsung with the Note 9, and after decreasing the battery capacity from the Note 7 to the Note 8, we’re happy to hear talk of the Note 9 coming with a giant 4,000 mAh battery.

Official pricing for the Galaxy Note 9 is unknown, but don’t be surprised if this one reaches beyond the $1000 marker.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 rumors: Release date, specs, price, and features!

The phones that have been released

Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ were announced in February, and although the two phones have a lot in common with the S8 series, they’re still two of the best Android handsets you can buy in 2018.

Highlights for the S9 and S9+ include Samsung’s always-great Super AMOLED displays, Snapdragon 845 processor, and radically improved cameras. Both phones have a physically-changing aperture that helps out tremendously with low-light photos, but only the larger S9+ has a second telephoto camera on the back.

While the starting price for the S9 and S9+ isn’t cheap at $720 and $800, respectively, the phones’ age means you can now find a lot of deals and promotions that help to cut costs.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!

Samsung Galaxy A6/A6+

As much as we love the S9 and S9+, we also understand that an upwards of $700 is way too much for some people to spend on a phone. If you want a good chunk of the S9 experience at a fraction of the price, that’s where the Galaxy A6 and A6+ come into play.

Both phones are touting Super AMOLED Infinity Displays with an 18:9 aspect ratio, and while the resolution is bumped down to HD+ and FHD+ for the A6 and A6+, the panels themselves are still great.

The A6+ comes with dual 16MP + 5MP cameras and a 3,500 mAh battery while the A6 has a single 16MP lens and a 3,000 mAh unit. The phones are available now in India, with the A6 starting out at $325 and the A6+ slapped with a price tag of nearly $385.

See at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy J6 and J8

The Galaxy J6 and J8 were announced alongside the A6/A6+ in late-May, and as expected, are decidedly less impressive compared to their A-series counterparts.

You’ll still find a Super AMOLED Infinity Display no matter if you choose the J6 or J8, but both have a resolution of just HD+. The J6 has a single 13MP camera on the back, the J8 has dual 16MP + 5MP rear cameras, and both come equipped with Android Oreo.

The J6 starts at around $207 with the J8 going for a bit more at $281.

See at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy J7 and J3

Although the J6 and J8 likely won’t be coming to the U.S. anytime soon, that’s exactly where the J7 and J3 are heading!

The lower-end Galaxy J3 has a 5-inch HD screen, 8MP rear-facing camera, and a 5MP selfie camera. As for the J7, you’ll find a 5.5-inch HD display, 13MP rear camera, and 13MP camera on the front.

Although further specs for the J7 remain unknown at this point, it’s been confirmed that the J3 has the Exynos 7570 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of storage, Android 8.0 Oreo, and a 2,600 mAh battery.

The J3 is already available on AT&T, and it carries a price of $209.

See at AT&T

Samsung Galaxy J4

The Samsung Galaxy J4 was launched in India in early June, and similar to the other J-series phones we’ve talked about so far, is yet another budget offering from Samsung.

Notable specs include a 5.5-inch HD display with the older 16:9 aspect ratio, the Exynos 7570 CPU, 2GB RAM, and 16GB of storage. If you want to spend a bit more cash, you can pick up a model that comes with 3GB RAM and 32GB of storage.

As for the camera situation, you’re looking at a 13MP rear sensor and 5MP selfie camera. There’s also a 3,000 mAh battery.

The 2GB + 16GB model will set you back about $148 while the 3GB + 32GB variant is going for $177.

See at Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S Light Luxury

A phone so nice they released it twice! This May, Samsung surprised us by releasing the Galaxy S Light Luxury — a rebranded and “lite” version of the 2017 Galaxy S8.

On the outside, the S Light Luxury looks nearly identical to the S8. It has an 18.5:9 Super AMOLED display that measures in at 5.8-inches with a resolution of FHD+. The back is made out of glass, the fingerprint sensor is to the right of the camera, and the Bixby button (for better or worse) is here, too.

Inside, however, Samsung swapped out the S8’s internals with a mid-range setup. You’ll find the Snapdragon 660, 4GB RAM, and 64GB of storage. The rear and front cameras are 16MP and 8MP, respectively, there’s a 3,000 mAh battery, an IP68 rating, and wireless charging.

You can buy the Galaxy S Light Luxury in China right now for around $626.

Samsung Galaxy A9 Star/A9 Star Lite

Last on our list is the Samsung Galaxy A9 Star series. Composed on the A9 Star and A9 Star Lite, both phones were announced for China in early June. While the A9 Star Lite is pretty much just a rebrand of the A6+, the regular A9 Star carves its own path.

Specs wise, the A9 Star has just about everything you’d expect from a mid-range 2018 Samsung phone. There’s a 6.3-inch Super AMOLED FHD+ display, dual 16MP + 24MP rear cameras, 24MP selfie camera, Snapdragon 660 processor, 4GB RAM, and a pretty big 3,700 mAh battery.

Design wise, the A9 Star looks quite a bit different compared to Samsung’s other 2018 phones. The dual cameras on the back are positioned near the far left and the fingerprint sensor is placed farther up than usual. These aren’t huge changes, but when compared to the rest of Samsung’s portfolio, are pretty noticeable.

The Galaxy A9 Star costs around $570 while the A9 Star Lite goes for $310.

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

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

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HP Chromebook X2 review: Great Chromebook, better Android tablet

The first detachable Chromebook is here, and it’s more than worth your consideration.

Chromebooks — and Chrome OS as a whole — have been going through a growth spurt over the last few years. Conversely, Android tablets are still around, but it’s clear that Google is aiming for low-cost Chromebooks to take over this space. Convertible Chromebooks are already plentiful and inexpensive enough to fill this gap, but these don’t necessarily make good tablets.

Yes, you can spin them around and use them in portrait mode. Yes, Android applications on Chromebooks have come a long way — essentially feeling like native applications at this point.

But the extra weight that comes with a keyboard makes it hard to use them in tablet mode for hours and hours while you watch Netflix or read a book. And having your hand grip a keyboard deck instead of a smooth surface — as minor as this sounds — contributes to knowing you’re not actually using a tablet.

So what’s the solution? Read on.

HP Chromebook X2

Price: $599.99

Bottom line: This is the first detachable Chromebook, and it sets a high bar for competing devices.

The Good

• Lightweight in tablet mode
• Rock solid when used as a laptop
• More than powerful enough for most Chrome OS users
• Better than average battery life
• Gorgeous, vibrant display

The Bad

• No backlit keyboard
• Only 32GB of internal storage
• Higher-specced options are nowhere to be found

See at Best Buy

Acer announced (but has yet to release) the first Chrome OS tablet in March, and HP shortly followed with the first Chrome OS detachable: the HP Chromebook X2.

I’ve been using the HP Chromebook X2 as my main device since June 4, both with my personal account and the G Suite account for my day job. In this time, there has been one software update, but this was a minor bug fix update.

HP Chromebook X2 What’s included

Unlike competing devices like the Surface Pro and the iPad Pro, the Chromebook X2 includes everything you need in the box. The keyboard is attached to the screen when you remove it from the box, and the pen is packed in its own plastic packaging. Unscrew the battery housing for the pen, pop in the included AAAA battery, and start using the pen — no pairing required.

Also included is a 45-watt USB-C charger, though the X2 will gladly charge from any USB-PD charger or power bank. With a 45-watt charger, it can go from completely drained to full in about an hour and a half.

HP Chromebook X2 The insides

The Chromebook X2 is powered by a 7th generation Intel Core m3-7Y30 processor and 4GB of RAM, with 32GB of internal storage. The processor is a fanless, low-power model — perfect for Chromebooks. That storage is expandable via microSD, and you can always hook up a USB-C flash drive for portable storage. Since all of the ports are on the screen portion of the device, it’s too thin for USB-A ports. 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 are here to connect you to the net and your wireless accessories.

HP Chromebook X2 The outsides

The display is the exact same panel that’s been used in the Samsung Chromebook Plus and Pro and the Google Pixelbook. This is a 2400×1600 display — meaning it has the excellent 3:2 aspect ratio — and just like those earlier devices, the display is gorgeous. I have 20/20 vision, and I struggle to see any pixels, even when the display is close to my face. Colors are accurate and vibrant, making videos and comic art pop.

The HP Chromebook X2 next to the Google Pixelbook.

This display is surrounded by a healthy bezel — not as large as on the Pixelbook, but still enough to comfortably hold the tablet portion without accidentally touching the screen. Touch response is excellent; there’s no delay between tapping the screen and an action occurring. The reflective HP logo on the bottom bezel is a bit distracting at first, but I’ve since gotten used to it.

The side of the tablet portion is trimmed in reflective silver, while the back is stark white with a reflective HP logo. The white portion has already picked up a few faint blue marks from going into and out of my backpack, so be warned about scuffs. The keyboard is black on the bottom and blue on the top with a faux leather texture. This is the only color option currently, so if you want a different look, you’ll need to hope some company make a skin. There are two obnoxious stickers on the keyboard when first opening the device, but these are removed easily enough.

While I prefer plain designs — just see the skin on my Pixelbook — I have to say I don’t mind these colors. The design is distinct without being gaudy, and you wouldn’t confuse this for any other laptop.

HP Chromebook X2 What it’s like to use as a laptop

If you’ve ever used a Chromebook, the experience of setting up and using this will be very familiar. Even if you’ve never used a Chromebook, you’ll be able to pick up and use this without any issues. The whole unit is a bit top heavy since all of the components are inside the screen, but you’ll have no problems using it as a laptop. And I do mean a LAPtop: the hinge is stiff enough to hold the tablet portion upright, meaning you’ll be able to use it on your lap without any worry. Contrast this with the Surface Pro, which uses a kickstand for stability. The kickstand is fine on a table, less so in a lap. The hinge opens up to about 120-degrees, so you want the screen flat on a table, you’ll need to detach the screen.

The hinge is absolutely solid, making this natural to use in your lap.

The keyboard uses the same layout as every other Chromebook (minus the Pixelbook) — again making this familiar for return Chrome OS users. The keys themselves are well spaced with good travel, and after a few minutes to adjust to how much force the keys need, I was spitting out words like it was nobody’s business. The trackpad gives you enough space for navigation gestures, with great tracking and a satisfying click. There are precious few trackpads I can use without reaching for an external mouse, and the trackpad on the Chromebook X2 is one of them. The whole keyboard deck communicates with the rest of the components over the POGO pins, so no need to worry about pairing or interference from a Bluetooth connection.

This is the first Chromebook with a 7th-generation Intel Core m3 processor, but there aren’t drastic differences between that architecture and that of the 6th-generation processors. I was able to write, load up a bunch of web pages, drive an external monitor, all without any slowdowns. The Pixelbook may be a better match for those that are going to use hardcore Linux apps, but these specs will suffice for nearly every other Chromebook user.

The newer generation processors are a bit more battery efficient than previous ones, and that reflected in my use. I could comfortably get 10 to 12 hours of use from the Chromebook X2 with five or six tabs open, browsing web pages and typing up documents in Google Docs, and about 75% brightness. Video watching nets me about the same life, while the battery seems to last forever when reading books and comics. I compare this to seven or so hours of similar use on my Pixelbook, which is just low enough to necessitate a mid-day recharge.

HP Chromebook X2 What it’s like to use as a tablet

Getting rid of the weight of the keyboard goes a long way towards making this comfortable to use as a tablet.

As a detachable, the Chromebook X2 is much lighter when used as a tablet compared to every other Chromebook. The Pixelbook and Samsung Chromebook Plus and Pro weigh in at 2.4 lbs, while the screen of the HP Chromebook X2 comes in at 1.6 pounds. This may not sound like a huge difference, but after hours of comic-reading or in-bed Netflix, you’ll absolutely be able to tell a difference.

The lighter weight translates to being able to comfortably use the device as a tablet for longer periods of time. Reading books, doodling with the pen, or watching shows on Netflix are all super easy, and it’s great to be immersed in the 12.3-inch screen.

HP Chromebook X2 Other odds and ends

Both USB-C ports can be used for charging, display-out and transferring data. A USB-C port on each side is great, since it cuts down on cable clutter. The 3.5mm headphone jack is present and accounted for, and can be used for microphone input. The power button is thoughtfully placed on the top left edge, meaning you won’t accidentally press it when using the device in portrait orientation.

The cameras are… present. The camera interface on Chromebooks has improved a bit over the last year, adding the option for video recording and the ability to switch between front and rear cameras. But the camera interface on Android has grown a lot in the same time, with the addition of Motion Photos and Google Lens. You can use the Google Lens Android app, but this doesn’t present information in the camera viewfinder. Here’s hoping we see more capabilities for cameras in Chrome OS.

HP Chromebook X2 The bad parts

My main gripe with this device is that HP initially said it would have a backlit keyboard, but it doesn’t. As familiar as I am with the Chrome OS keyboard layout, I still need to look down at the keys sometimes. The lack of a backlit keyboard is a huge mark against this device, especially at this price. Both the Asus C302 and the refreshed Samsung Chromebook Pro offer a backlit keyboard for less money.

And while I’m fine with the 32GB of internal storage, others won’t be. Android apps can’t take advantage of microSD cards just yet, so this low amount of storage will be limiting for those that want to download Netflix shows offline or download large Android games.

I also wish there was an LTE option. Tethering from my phone’s Internet connection is fine, but having the option for integrated LTE would be nice to save my phone’s battery. Integrated LTE would also mean users could just open the device and get to work, rather than wait to connect to their phone or connect to unsafe public Wi-Fi points.

HP Chromebook X2 Alternatives

If you’re staying within the Chrome OS world, there aren’t any other detachables yet. If you don’t care about being able to detach this and use it as a tablet, you can either save money by buying the Samsung Chromebooks or new Acer Chromebooks, or get more power and storage with the Pixelbook.

If you’re not tied to Chrome OS, then the iPad Pro and Surface Pro are also excellent alternatives, with the iPad leaning more towards being a tablet and the Surface leaning more towards being a full laptop.

HP Chromebook X2 Should you buy it?

If you loved using high-end Android tablets like the Pixel C as an on-the-go productivity device, a detachable like this is a natural next step as high-end Android tablets fade away. A full desktop browser will go a long way to making you even more productive than a tablet could anyway, with all the Android apps you’ve been using.

If you want a Chrome OS tablet, this is the only option until Acer actually releases their tablet. Even then, this is a more complete device by including a keyboard in the box. This can be your one portable device by having the full keyboard, full desktop browser, and some productivity apps. At the same time, this can also be a great consumption device by removing the keyboard and curling up to read a book.

4.5
out of 5

Unless something comes along to drastically improve on this device (like a backlit keyboard), I can see this being my daily driver for a long time to come.

See at Best Buy

How to watch the World Cup in VR

Experience the game through your headset as if you’re there

World Cup soccer has taken over the world again, and the hype is real. Any fan who doesn’t have the ability to go the live games in person want to know what it feels like to be there and virtual reality can do that for you. By checking out any of the options below you can load the games into your headset and feel as if you are standing in the crowd just like everyone else.

Get ready to scream and cheer louder than ever before, the games are here!

BBC Sport VR 2018 FIFA World Cup app

The perspective of this VR footage is filmed from the stadium audience. You can get the full experience of being in the crowd from the comfort of your own couch! This is available for your Android, iOS, Oculus, PlayStation VR and Gear VR. BBC is allowing people to watch **all* the 2018 World Cup games for free, but this is at a first come first serve basis. It hasn’t been stated how many people will be able to watch in their app at the same time, but we do know the number is limited.

It also appears the app is only available for use from within the UK. Everyone outside of the UK are receiving regional errors when it comes time to download or launch the app. Furthermore, this app is not Daydream compatible. You can, however, tell the app you are using your cardboard and then use your Daydream headset anyway. You’ll lose the function of your controller, but you will still be able to navigate through the app.

See on Play Store
See on PlayStation Store
See on Oculus Store

Oculus Venues

This app won’t be showing all of the World Cup, but you can still get an experience of watching from the stadium for at least a few rounds. Oculus Venues also allows you to watch with other users watching in Venues. While there is a viewing solo mode, I recommend trying it out with fellow sports fans in the audience. This app works on your Oculus Go or your Gear VR and it is completely free to use!

The following games will be shown in venues

• Germany vs Mexico – June 17
• Portugal vs Morocco – June 20
• Brazil vs Costa Rica – June 22
• England vs Panama – June 24

See on Oculus

Watch the live stream in VR

Plenty of people still want to watch the games from their headset instead of their TVs or computer screens. This can make viewing the game even more comfortable because you can lay down on your bed with a headset strapped to your face and still get the same images. While the livestream for the World Cup 2018 won’t have 360-degree abilities to watch, you can still view it from any of your headsets through the YouTube app.

YouTube is live streaming the World cup here.. You won’t need to download the YouTube app for the Oculus devices because you can access the entirety of YouTube from any browser (including all VR content).

See on PlayStation Store
See on PlayStore