Verizon Launches Third ‘Unlimited’ Plan With 75GB of LTE Data

Verizon today announced the launch of a third “Unlimited” data plan option, which provides users with 75GB of LTE data, 20GB of LTE hotspot access, 720p video streaming, 5 TravelPass sessions per month, and 500GB of Verizon Cloud storage.

The new “Above Unlimited” plan joins Verizon’s two other “Unlimited” plans, Go Unlimited and Beyond Unlimited. While Verizon calls these plans unlimited, all three have data caps on the amount of LTE data that users can access per month before having their speeds downgraded or limitations on video quality.

The existing Go Unlimited plan, Verizon’s cheapest option, provides users with unlimited LTE data, but it restricts streaming video to 480p and limits mobile hotspot speeds to 600Kb/s.

The current Beyond Unlimited plan provides users with 22GB of LTE data per month, with access to 720p video streaming and 15GB of hotspot data.

Neither of the two current plans include TravelPass access or extra cloud storage. Verizon’s TravelPass is designed to let customers use their domestic talk, next, and data allowances while traveling outside of the United States for $5 to $10 per day, with Above Unlimited offering five free days.

Verizon’s new Above Unlimited plan is priced at $95 for one line, compared to $85 for Beyond Unlimited and $75 for Go Unlimited. For a family of four, pricing for Above Unlimited is at $60 per line. The new plan option will be available for Verizon customers and those new to Verizon starting on June 18.

Unlimited data plans from carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have become increasingly complicated in the year and a half since carriers readopted unlimited data options. All three carriers now offer different unlimited tiers with various add-ons and restrictions, making unlimited cellular data plans as difficult to decipher as prior non-unlimited plans.

In the United States, carriers began seriously embracing affordable “unlimited” data plans starting in 2015, when T-Mobile introduced its simple T-Mobile ONE plan with unlimited talk, text, and 4G data for $70 per month. Verizon followed in February of 2017 with its first unlimited plan, as did AT&T.

Prior to 2015 and T-Mobile’s intervention, carriers primarily relied on limited data plans that provided 2-10GB of data to customers after largely eliminating unlimited data plans in the years following the launch LTE networks.

Tag: Verizon
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Updates iWork Apps for iOS and Mac

Apple today introduced updates for its iWork apps, adding new features to Pages, Numbers, and Keynote for both iOS devices and Macs.

Today’s update introduces support for recording, editing, and playing audio directly within documents, spreadsheets, and slides in all three apps. There are options in Settings to use the Apple Pencil to select and scroll, and all of the apps support a variety of new editable shapes and support for mathematical equations using LateX or MathML notation.

Charts in Pages and Keynote support rounded corners on columns and bars, while Numbers and Keynote support gradient and image fills for shapes and text boxes.

Full release notes for all three iOS updates are below:

Pages

• Easily record, edit, and play audio directly on a page.
• Smart annotation marks now stretch and wrap to follow your text as you edit.
• Quickly switch between drawing and smart annotation modes on iPad.
• A new option in Settings > Pages lets you use Apple Pencil to select and scroll
• Track text changes in shapes and text boxes.
• Add colors and images to backgrounds in page layout documents.
• Give charts a new look with rounded corners on columns and bars.
• Add mathematical equations to page layout documents using LaTeX or MathML notation.
• Enhance your documents with a variety of new editable shapes.
• Add gradient and image fills to shapes and text boxes.
• Easily browse templates by category.
• Save a different auto scroll speed per document when using presenter mode.
• Improved support for Arabic and Hebrew.

Keynote

• Edit existing or create new master slides.
• Easily record, edit, and play audio directly on a slide.
• A new option in Settings > Keynote lets you use Apple Pencil to select and scroll.
• Export a presentation as a movie or images.
• Give charts a new look with rounded corners on columns and bars.
• Add mathematical equations using LaTeX or MathML notation.
• Enhance your documents with a variety of new editable shapes.
• Add gradient and image fills to shapes and text boxes.
• Improved support for Arabic and Hebrew.

Numbers

• Easily record, edit, and play audio directly in a spreadsheet.
• A new option in Settings > Numbers lets you use Apple Pencil to select and scroll
• Give charts a new look with rounded corners on columns and bars.
• Add mathematical equations using LaTeX or MathML notation.
• Enhance your documents with a variety of new editable shapes.
• Add gradient and image fills to shapes and text boxes.
• Easily browse templates by category.

On the Mac, Pages, Numbers, and Keynote support mathematical equations using LaTex or MathML notation, rounded corners on columns and bars when using charts, and new editable shapes.

Keynote includes improved compatibility with Microsoft PowerPoint, and Numbers includes improved compatibility with Microsoft Excel.

Pages and Keynote both include improved support for Arabic and Hebrew, with Pages also gaining support for tracking text changes in shapes and text boxes and the ability to add colors and images to backgrounds in page layout documents.

All of Apple’s iWork apps are free downloads that can be obtained from the App Store and Mac App Store.

– Pages for iOS [App Store]
– Keynote for iOS [App Store]
– Numbers for iOS [App Store]

– Pages for macOS [Direct Link]
– Keynote for macOS [Direct Link]
– Numbers for macOS [Direct Link]
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple Pay Promo Offers Two Free Bike Share Rides Through ofo

Apple today shared a new promotion that will allow Apple Pay users to get two free bike rides through the ofo app from now until June 20.

Ofo is a smart bike sharing service that’s designed to let users pick up and use a bike for short trips around various cities where ofo bikes are available.

The ofo service operates in multiple countries around the world, including the US, the UK, Australia, China, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, Singapore, Spain, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Israel, Austria, and Kazakhstan. The Apple Pay deal is, however, limited to the United States.

Ofo normally charges users $1 per hour to borrow an ofo bike, with Apple Pay providing two $2 off coupons that are good for two two-hour rides with the promo code “Apple18.” Each coupon is available for seven days after the promo code is used and will be applied to the next two rides when available.

Apple Pay must be selected as a default payment method before the code is applied, and riders who download the app and get a free trial should wait to apply the code after the trial ends.

In addition to promoting ofo, Apple’s most recent Apple Pay email highlights other transit-related services including Lyft, LimeBike, ParkMobile, MTA eTix, Ventra, and MBTA mTicket.

Related Roundup: Apple Pay
Discuss this article in our forums

Rymek mechanical keyboard is the retro tablet accessory you never knew you needed

Mechanical keyboards are all the rage right now. Just about everywhere we turn we find someone sharing their new mechanical keyboard; so popular are they that there’s an active Reddit community of some 275,000 subscribers.

We’re an Android site, and we talk about mobile tech. Why do we care about mechanical keyboards all of a sudden? Well, as it turns it, you can have a little bit of both worlds.

We recently learned about the Rymek retro-style mechanical keyboard with Bluetooth capabilities. Designed to resemble old school, vintage typewriters, it supports both wired and wireless (Bluetooth) connectivity. Naturally, we asked to check one out.

Upon opening the box we immediately fell in love with it. See, sometimes you find tech that looks great in photos and on paper only to learn in person that it’s not all that awesome. That’s not the case here. In the real world this thing looks, and feels, incredible.

With a black base and rose gold color for the keys, the Rymek looks like something you’d find in your great-grandmother’s attic. Yet, somehow it would also not surprise us to see it in a Blade Runner or Black Mirror setting, too.

You know that flat, quiet experience you often get with Bluetooth keyboards? Usually thin, minimalist, and otherwise boring? This isn’t it. No, this is a keyboard that’s not only clicky and a little noisy, but it’s a conversation starter, too.

Multiple OS support

They keyboard supports Windows and Mac OS as well as your mobile platforms of Android and iOS. In fact, although it’s not a portable unit that stows away in a bag, it works great with your tablets. This is partly due to the stent that snaps into the back of it. Where you might have previously feed a sheet of typing paper, now you can put your Galaxy Tab S3 in portrait or landscape mode.

After having spent so much time with a simple Bluetooth keyboard at our desks, we have really come to like the Rymek. The saddle-shape to the keys gentle hug the finger and provide excellent response. The keyboard features Blue and Brown Switches, which is important to mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

Retro-style and Futuristic

Let’s talk about the lighting effects. It wasn’t enough just to make this keyboard look like something out of the past. No, the dynamic lighting is where the futuristic aspect comes into play. The keys themselves are backlit, something you don’t often see in a wireless keyboard.

The Rymek offers five brightness levels and seven light effects; four speeds let you fine-tune things to your liking. Some might be a little distracting at first, but they’re just so cool you can’t not have something going on.

The keyboard pairs with up to three devices via Bluetooth and there are shortcut buttons to hop from one to the next. Moreover, the return handle that sits at the top left of the Rymek lets you toggle between Bluetooth and USB mode.

Not Just Pretty, but Practical

Speaking of functional aesthetics, the scroll knob on the right is how you adjust your media volume. It’s not just for looks or to remind you of how things used to be in a paper world; it’s practical.

The internal battery on the keyboard is 2,000mAh, or way more than you’d normally expect from a simple Bluetooth unit. But, when you factor in various light effects and usage, it will have an impact. With that said, it’s estimated that you’ll get about 50 hours out of a single charge.

Where to Buy

Currently available on Indiegogo, we’re huge fans of the Rymek. Prior to receiving our review unit we didn’t know half of what do about mechanical keyboards. We also learned it’s not the only one of its kind. But, looking through the crowdfunding page, and comparing to others, there’s an amazing amount of value packed into this kit.

Given how much a physical keyboard increases productivity on a tablet, we’ve found that the Rymek has breathed new life into our Nexus 9. The pair have found a place in our home where it’s perfect for managing emails and other tasks in the evening.

In addition to the black and gold version, you can also purchase it in a caramel and white option. The black has a gorgeous “piano” lacquer that really does mimic the finish of piano keys. If the caramel looks like we think it would, we’d have a hard time not wanting to eat them.

The Rymek will normally retail for $199, which puts it right in the thick of things as compared to similar units. But, if you get in on the early bird deal, you’ll nab it for only $119. Go super early and it’s yours for just $99.

Sony’s Xperia XZ2 Premium has a crazy-high ISO for photos and video

Just a month and a half ago at Mobile World Congress, Sony teased it was working on a smartphone that could hit 51,200 ISO for photos, and 12,800 ISO for videos. The company claimed the latter would be the world’s highest ISO in a phone. Well, that phone is already here, and it’s called the Xperia XZ2 Premium.

The 5.8-inch XZ2 Premium is the successor to last year’s Xperia XZ Premium, and it currently sits as the flagship of Sony’s 2018 lineup, ahead of the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact releasing this week. The XZ2 looks exactly like the Xperia XZ2, except for the extra camera on the rear. It follows the company’s new redesign, which highlights curves and elegance over the sharp and angular look on the XZ Premium; oh, and there’s a fingerprint sensor on the back. Sadly, it looks as though the Premium has chunkier bezels on the front surrounding the screen. It’s protected by Gorilla Glass 5 on both sides of the phone, which allows for Qi wireless charging; and it’s IP65/IP68 water-resistant.

Game-changing camera?

But it’s the camera that sets this phone apart from the competition. ISO is a tool available on all cameras that let you brighten an image. It’s handy when you are in low-light situations, but the downside of using it is the increased noise or grain in the photo. The higher the ISO, the grainier the photo. Still, having a high ISO is a good option because it makes the camera more versatile. Sony’s claiming that its incredibly high ISO capabilities with video and photo on the XZ2 Premium will offer up “true professional camera quality.”

The increased ISO is possible thanks to the Motion Eye Dual Camera, along with Sony’s AUBE fusion image signal processor. This is Sony’s first smartphone with a dual-camera system on the rear (the Xperia XA2 Ultra has two cameras on the front). Like Huawei phones, the 12-megapixel camera has a f/1.6 aperture and shoots strictly in black and white, while the 19-megapixel f/1.8 camera shoots in color. The signal processor uses data from both camera sensors, and the end result is a system that offers incredibly high sensitivity for low-light environments. Don’t worry about hitting those high ISO numbers, because Sony said images will be “clean” and “noiseless.” Neither cameras have any kind of optical image stabilization.

Key Specs

CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845

Memory: 6GB RAM

Screen Size: 5.8 inches

Resolution: 2,160 x 3,840 pixels

Dimensions: 158mm x 80mm x 6.4mm

Storage: 64GB

MicroSD Card Slot: Yes

Battery: 3,450mAh

Operating System: Android 8.0 Oreo

Sony said it used Strategy Analytics’ SpecTRAX Service to run through the published specifications of more than 11,800 smartphones. The XZ2 Premium emerged as the winner for the highest ISO in video, as of February 2018.

The camera system also offers a Portrait Mode, which adds a strong blurred background behind a subject, as well as a monochrome mode, when you want to shoot in black and white. Like the Xperia XZ2, you can capture video in 4K HDR, and shoot super slow motion video at 960 frames per second in 1080p. The latter slow-motion feature bests the Huawei P20 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S9, which can only shoot 960fps in 720p. The front-facing camera has 13 megapixels.

Display and specs

The 4K screen (2,160 x 3,840) supports HDR content, bringing color accuracy on the screen closer to what the artist intended. The phone also utilizes Sony’s Dynamic Vibration System, which was first introduced in the Xperia XZ2. This means there’s a stronger vibration motor in the phone, and it’s tuned to offer feedback to various audio changes such as when there’s a gunshot in a film, or when you’re playing a game. There are front-facing speakers on the Premium, which Sony said is its loudest ever, for an even better immersive experience.

The Xperia XZ2 Premium is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor and 6GB of RAM. That means it has slight more RAM than the XZ2, and its bigger size means a larger 3,450mAh battery to boot. It comes with 64GB of internal storage, with support for MicroSD cards.

The Premium will be available in the summer, in Chrome Black and Chrome Silver, and it will run Android 8.0 Oreo. It will officially be available for pre-order in China beginning July 2, and we anticipate seeing a U.S. release shortly after.

While pricing has yet to be announced for the U.S. the phone will sell for CNY 5,999 in China. We anticipate pricing in the U.S. to be around $950.

Updated June 14, 2018: Added Chinese pricing and U.S. estimate.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Everything you need to know about the Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact
• Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra review
• Sony crams 8x zoom in the RX100 VI, but it’s still pocketable
• Safeguard your Sony smartphone with the best Xperia XZ2 cases
• Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV review

Samsung’s speedier Chromebook Plus V2 now comes with a second camera

Samsung’s Chromebook Plus was a hit with consumers when it launched last year, and this year, Samsung is giving it a refresh. Dubbed Chromebook Plus v2, the second-generation model gets a bump in processing power, adds a secondary camera, and comes with a more comfortable and durable keyboard that makes this unit a great option in the education segment when it goes on sale on June 24. The Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 retains the signature hallmarks of its predecessors, including a stylus with its own silo on the device, a premium build quality, and a convertible form factor that makes it a great machine to run Android apps.

This year, the Chromebook Plus V2 ditches the ARM processor from last year in favor of Intel’s Celeron 3965Y silicon, which should give it a boost in performance. Alongside the new Intel chip are 4GB of RAM and a 32GB drive for storage. The Celeron processor also comes with Intel’s HD Graphics 615 integrated. Connectivity is handled through the two USB-C ports, a single USB 3.0 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a MicroSD card for up to 400GB of extra storage.

Another big upgrade for this year’s model is a secondary camera on the rear. The front camera clocks in at 1 megapixel, while the rear camera has a 13-megapixel F1.9 lens with autofocus. The second camera is located on the keyboard deck, allowing you to capture images when you rotate the hinge to transform the Chromebook Plus v2 into a tablet.

This year, Samsung has made big improvements to the keyboard to make it easier for typing and more durable. The keyboard now comes with curved key caps and is designed to be spill-resistant. Samsung claims it can withstand spills up to 60cc.

And even though the design remains the same — the Chromebook Plus V2 keeps its predecessor’s premium aluminum alloy build — the display is a notable downgrade from the first-generation model. This year’s v2 uses a 12.2-inch display with a standard 1080p resolution, while the original model came with a 12.3-inch panel with a higher 2,400 x 1,600-pixel resolution. That means that along with a lower resolution display, the panel’s aspect ratio has also changed from a 3:2 to 16:10 this year. While 1080p will likely suit most users fine, many productivity enthusiasts still prefer the 3:2 aspect ratio popularized by Microsoft on its Surface lineup.

Samsung is also promoting some of the software features that make its Chromebooks stand out against the competition. “The Samsung Chromebook Plus (V2) offers even more functionality to users with multiple connected devices, including easy file sharing between Chromebook and mobile devices,” Samsung said in a press release.

The Chromebook Plus V2 will be priced at $499 when it launches later this month at Best Buy. Be sure to check out our guide to the best Chromebooks if you’re in the market for a new Chrome OS device.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Acer Chromebook Spin 11 review
• The best Chromebooks
• The slick HP Chromebook x2 just landed at Best Buy
• HTC U12 Plus vs. HTC U11: Is it time to upgrade?
• Dell, HP may be building premium Chromebooks to compete with Google Pixelbook

Want to get into the ‘Fallout 76’ beta? Here’s how you do it

Bethesda’s Fallout 76 is scheduled to arrive on November 14, but eager gamers don’t want to wait that long, right? That is where the break-it-early-test-application (BETA) program comes into play. The company is looking for willing gamers to evaluate its new Vault and venture out into the hills of West Virginia to test their skills and uncover any buggy secrets. Unfortunately, there’s currently only one way to enroll in this program. 

According to Bethesda, the only way to get into the BETA program is to pre-order Fallout 76. It will be accessible on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC, but currently, there is no set date for when the program will go live. Bethesda also states that you must be 18 years or older to participate in the program, and you will need an internet connection, and a subscription to Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus on the consoles. 

So how does BETA entry work? If you purchase the game on the Xbox One Store, PlayStation Store, or Bethesda.net eShop account, you will have instant access to the program once it goes live: No codes are necessary. If you purchase the game at a retailer such as Best Buy, GameStop, or Walmart, you’ll need to visit account.bethesda.net/en/settings/redeem-code to manually enter a redemption code provided on your receipt, as a separate slip, or within an email. If you don’t have a Bethesda account, now is a good time to create one before the game’s launch. 

“Please note that this information is subject to change without notice,” Bethesda states. “Vault-Tec is not liable for any damages, injuries, or mental anguish inflicted during or after the BETA. Always consult your Vault Overseer for guidance on appropriate BETA usage.” 

If you missed this E3 2018 gaming convention reveal, the next installment in the Fallout franchise takes an interesting turn: Multiplayer. The story precedes all other Fallout games as you’re one of the first individuals to step out of the Vaults after the nuclear holocaust. The setting is West Virginia, a world that’s four times larger than what you can explore in Fallout 4.  

Even though Bethesda acknowledges that it has a few bugs in its games, the BETA program likely isn’t solely about squashing pesky problems. Every character you meet in Fallout 76 is a real player, thus the BETA testing is likely about tweaking the game’s persistent world experience and the underlying servers as real-world humans emerge from their Vaults. 

In addition to multiplayer support, Fallout 76 also expands on the base-building aspect of Fallout 4. Instead of knocking down houses and building your unique structures in a locked location, you can build an entire base anywhere you want. Even more, you can pack up that base and relocate it anywhere you choose. Just be careful: Other players may come in and completely annihilate your creation. 

Here are the prices and bundled goodies for each edition. Remember, all three provide access to the BETA program. 

• $60 = Standard Edition
• $80 = Tricentennial Edition — includes in-game items
• $200 = Power Armor Edition — includes physical and in-game items.

Editors’ Recommendations

• ‘Fallout 76’ is an online-only ‘soft-core’ survival game arriving this November
• Bethesda E3 2018 press conference confirms ‘Starfield’ and ‘The Elder Scrolls VI’
• You’ll soon be able to arm yourself with replica ‘Fallout 76’ gear
• Bethesda teases ‘Fallout 76,’ but mystery still surrounds upcoming game
• DT Daily: What’s ‘Next’ for No Man’s Sky’s big universe?

Android P vs. iOS 12 notifications: How have Google and Apple changed notifications?

Apple and Google are in the midst of beta programs for the next version of their mobile operating systems, and both the iOS 12 beta and Android P beta bring a few changes to how notifications are handled. They’re now more similar than ever, so we decided to put them side by side to compare.

Android P notifications

Google has slowly but surely been giving users a little more control directly from notifications, and that’s truer than ever in Android P. Perhaps the biggest change is the ability to easily block a notification from ever showing up again. Just press and hold down on a notification, and press Stop notifications to block all notifications from the app. For even more granular control, you can tap the i button on the top right, tap Notifications, and you’ll see separate categories of notifications you can block, in case you don’t want to completely block everything from the app.

Another handy new feature in Android P is Smart Reply within notifications. For now, it’s only available in select apps, but it lets you easily reply to messages with basic phrases (that get better over time) without having to type anything. You can still use the Quick Reply feature to respond inline without opening the app, and there are other options depending on the app, such as Mark as Read and Delete.

Google has bundled notifications from the same app for a long time now, which helps things look streamlined and uncluttered. Pulling down on bundled Gmail notifications, for example, will show you each email separately, and you can then interact with each one. Ever since Android Oreo, it has also been possible to snooze notifications to reappear at a later time just by sliding a notification slightly to the left or right, and tapping on the clock icon.

In Android P, Do Not Disturb has also been revamped as a part of Google’s Digital Wellbeing tools to help people manage screen time better. Turning on the mode will block all notifications from appearing in your notification drawer (they still come through, you just get zero visual interruptions). There’s a good degree of customization here, so you can control what exactly happens with Do Not Disturb, and when it should automatically kick in.

If you often swipe notifications away frequently for a particular app, Android will now also suggest blocking notifications completely. It’s a way to help prevent you from constantly swiping things away if you never interact with the particular notification.

iOS 12 notifications

Apple has made some pretty major changes to notifications in iOS 12. Most importantly, notifications will finally be grouped by app, just like in Android. What that means is that if you get 30 Twitter notifications a day, they won’t all appear as separate notifications. Instead, they will look bundled together so it doesn’t take up a lot of space in your Notification Center. Just tap on the bundle to see them expand so you can look at each notification individually.

For each app, you can can set whether you want to see notifications on the Lock Screen, Notification Center, or as Banners when you’re using your phone — something that you could do before — but it’s all explained in a simpler manner in iOS 12.

You now also don’t need to go to the Settings app to tweak how notifications appear. If you swipe left on a notification, there’s now a Manage button next to View and Clear. Tap Manage and you can tell the app’s notifications to “deliver quietly.” This hides the notification from your lock screen, and delivers it straight to Notification Center when you unlock your phone. It also turns off sound and vibration. There’s also a “Turn Off” button, which disables the app’s notifications altogether.

Notifications have also been tweaked a little in Do Not Disturb mode. Apple has included a new version of Do Not Disturb called Bedtime Mode, which is aimed at ensuring you’re truly not disturbed even if you check the time on your iPhone during the night. Bedtime Mode sends notifications straight to the Notification Center, so they won’t show up on the Lock Screen, potentially preventing you from being able to get back to sleep. You can also set Do Not Disturb mode to turn on or off based on time or location. Last but not least, Do Not Disturb can pull from Calendar events and can turn on when it detects you’re in a meeting.

Similarly to Android P notifications, if you swipe a lot of notifications away and never interact with them, Siri will suggest blocking all notifications from the app.

Conclusions

The main takeaway here is that Apple is giving users a whole lot more control over their notifications, but it’s still not as granular as Android, especially when it comes to showing or blocking specific notifications from individual apps. Android also allows users to do more from notifications without ever having to jump into an app. It’s possible on iOS, but only on devices with 3D Touch.  That said, Apple seems to be doing better at helping people decide where they can see notifications. On Android, you can’t separate the notifications you see on the Lock Screen or in the notifications drawer.

These are all excellent changes for consumers, and we’re glad Apple and Google are trying to make it easier to manage the onslaught of notifications that we encounter on a daily basis.

Editors’ Recommendations

• iPhone notifications are no longer a nuisance with iOS 12
• How to turn off notifications in Windows 10
• How to disable push notifications in your browser
• Chrome OS notification center redesign borrows from Windows 10 Action Center
• Apple’s iPad Smart Cover could one day have a display that shows notifications

Best Portable Pico Projectors in 2018

Make your next family movie night unforgettable with a portable pico projector!

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, pico projectors are essentially handheld projectors that are compact, portable, and affordable. They exist to fill the niche for those who want the ability to project content directly from their phone or tablet to make it easier to share photos or watch movies with friends.

These days, pico projectors come in all shapes and sizes, with some even available as modular attachments for your smartphone. It should be noted that the dream of having a pocket-sized projector that’s capable of powering a backyard movie screening is not quite a reality just yet. Instead, these projectors are ideal for mimicking a big-screen experience indoors without the need for a full-sized HD projector.

There’s a ton of variety out there, but we’ve outlined some of the best available in 2018.

• AAXA Technologies P300 Pico Projector
• Anker Nebula Capsule
• ASUS S1 LED Pocket Projector
• LG PH150G LED Projector
• Moto Insta-Share Projector Moto Mod

AAXA Technologies P300 Pico Projector

If you go looking for a pico projector, you’re going to find a ton of options from AAXA Technologies. They’re one of the bigger brands in the space and have a ton of different pico projectors at every price point.

We’ve highlighted the P300 because it’s not too expensive and features native 1280×800 HD resolution with Texas Instruments DLP technology and a 500 LED Lumen optical engine. In terms of connectivity, you get HDMI, mini VGA, Micro SD and USB readers — if you’re looking for something with Bluetooth for connecting with your phone, your best bet from AAXA is the pint-sized P2-A projector, although it’s not nearly as bright or capable as the P300.

This palm-sized projector is capable of projecting images up to 120-inches in low-light conditions, includes a remote and tripod for easy setup, and also has an onboard media player allowing you to plug in your media and go. It was the top pick on Wirecutter, too.

You can find it for just $360 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Anker Nebula Capsule

And now for something completely different — the Anker Nebula Capsule is a fresh and cool take on what a modern portable projector could be from a company with a great reputation for making reliably awesome products.

The Nebula is just the size of a soda can but packs in some great features including a capable projector, 360-degree speaker, and Android 7.1 operating system that lets you run streaming apps such as Netflix, Hulu, Youtube, Plex, and more so you can take all your favorite content on the go — as long as there’s Wi-Fi available.

The built-in battery allows for up to 4-hours of video playback with a screen size of up to 100-inches under ideal conditions — and you’re able to use it while plugged in, too. Use the Capsule Control app to control things from your phone. You’re also able to screen share from your phone to play games or cast content from your phone, but copyrighted content from streaming services can’t be screen shared — hence the built-in apps!

Snag this ultra-portable and one-of-a-kind pico projectors for just $370 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

ASUS S1 LED Pocket Projector

This pocket projector from ASUS is small and mighty, and with a 6000mAh rechargeable battery, it also doubles as a power bank to keep your mobile devices charged. It uses advanced DLP technology that’s capable of a short-throw projection that creates a 41-inch screen from just one meter away.

There’s an HDMI/MHL port in the back that lets you plug in your favorite device including support for Samsung or Apple devices. To connect a Samsung phone to this projector, you’ll need a USB-C to HDMI adapter which goes for $32 on Amazon. There’s also a built-in speaker and a headphone jack, and you can expect up to three hours of playback on a fully charged battery.

Get this compact and convenient pico projector for just $307 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

LG PH150G LED Projector

Next up is this stylish projector from LG, which features a ton of wireless connectivity that might make it more suitable for your lifestyle.

First off, you’re able to project up to 100 inches to replicate a movie theater experience in your home, and the LED lamp will last up to an estimated 30,000 hours, which means you won’t have to replace this projector — even if you used it for 8 hours a day for 10 years straight! There’s a built-in wireless mirroring function that works with Android smartphones and tablets, along with a USB port for plugging in files directly. Best of all is the Bluetooth support for audio output, meaning you can pair up a portable Bluetooth speaker or something a bit more capable and really enhance your home theater set up.

This projector is a great, stylish, and functional option that’s available for just $330 on Amazon.

See at Amazon

Moto Insta-Share Projector Moto Mod

This is Android Central, so we’d be remiss if we didn’t include the most portable projector on the market — the Moto Insta-Share Projector that’s available as a Moto Mod for the Moto Z line of phones.

For Motorola fans, the Moto Insta-Share Projector is one of the coolest Moto Mods available, connecting directly to your phone and letting you project videos, photos, and more right onto your wall — up to a 70-inch display. Moto Mods snap onto the back of a Moto Z, Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z2 Force, or Moto Z3 Play and add extra functionality to your phone. In this case, you’re able to convert your smartphone into a home theater setup, which is pretty amazing!

The Moto Insta-Share Projector is down to only $150 on Amazon, although you’ll obviously need the right phone to use it.

See at Amazon

What would you use a pico projector for?

These things are super functional, whether you’d use it in a professional setting to show off presentations or spreadsheets or strictly use them for entertainment purposes. Have you had any experience using a pico projector? Got a recommendation that didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments below!

Samsung Chromebook Plus V2 announced, coming to Best Buy on June 24

Samsung’s latest Chromebook will set you back $499.99.

The Samsung Chromebook Plus was one of the better grown-up Chromebooks of last year, and to follow up its success, we now have the Samsung Chromebook Plus (V2).

The V2 looks mostly the same compared to the 2017 Chromebook Plus, but there are a few important changes inside and out that should make it a much better experience for everyone — one of the most notable being the silicon that powers everything.

Samsung’s ditching ARM processors and switching to the much more capable Intel Celeron 3965Y. From running Android apps, having multiple tabs open in Chrome, and more, this will allow the V2 to be considerably faster with just about every task. That Celeron processor is also paired with 4GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 615, 32GB of expandable storage (up to 400GB via microSD), and a 39Wh battery.

As much as we love seeing the upgraded internals, the Chromebook Plus V2’s screen is actually a downgrade compared to its predecessor. The 16:10 1920 x 1080 panel should be fine, but it’s quite a bit different from the 3:2 2400 x 1600 screen on last year’s model.

In regards to ports, we’re looking at two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, microSD card reader, and one full-sized USB-A 3.0 port. There’s also a 1MP front-facing camera for video calls and a 13MP camera next to the keyboard that can act as a rear-camera when using the Chromebook Plus V2 in tablet mode.

If you’re interested, Samsung says the Chromebook Plus V2 will go on sale at Best Buy both online and in-stores on June 24 for $499.99.

Acer Chromebook 11 vs. Samsung Chromebook Plus: Which should you buy?

Chromebooks

• The best Chromebooks
• Chromebooks in education: Everything you need to know
• Should you buy a Chromebook?
• Chromebook Buyers Guide
• Google Pixelbook review
• Join our Chromebook forums