Apple Launches 2018 MacBook Pros: 8th Gen Core, Up to 32GB of RAM, Third-Gen Keyboard, Quad-Core on 13-Inch and More

Apple today announced the release of 2018 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models with a wide range of new features, including up to six-core eighth-generation Intel Core processors, up to 32GB of DDR4 RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage, True Tone displays, Apple T2 chips, quieter third-generation keyboards, and more.

The refresh includes a long-awaited quad-core 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. Apple has not refreshed its 13-inch MacBook Pro models with standard function keys, which remain dual-core configurations.

15-Inch MacBook Pro Highlights

• 6-core Intel Core i7 and Core i9 processors up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.8 GHz
• Up to 32GB of DDR4 memory
• Powerful Radeon Pro discrete graphics with 4GB of video memory in every configuration
• Up to 4TB of SSD storage
• True Tone display technology
• Apple T2 Chip
• Touch Bar and Touch ID

13-Inch MacBook Pro Highlights

• Quad-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz and double the eDRAM
• Intel Iris Plus integrated graphics 655 with 128MB of eDRAM
• Up to 2TB of SSD storage
• True Tone display technology
• Apple T2 Chip
• Touch Bar and Touch ID

Starting at $1,799 and $2,399 respectively in the United States, Apple says the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar and 15-inch MacBook Pro models with Touch Bar are available today through Apple.com and in select Apple retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers later this week.

More details to follow…

Related Roundup: MacBook ProBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Apple Debuts New Leather Sleeves for 13-Inch and 15-Inch MacBook Pro

Alongside the release of new MacBook Pro models this morning, Apple has debuted a new Leather Sleeve accessory that fits the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Thunderbolt 3. Apple says the accessory is made of high-quality European leather with a soft microfiber lining that ensures protection of the MacBook Pro during travels.

Colors include Midnight Blue, Saddle Brown, and Black. Apple previously released Leather Sleeves for the 12-inch MacBook, but this marks the first time owners of the Pro line can purchase the accessory, and the first time the sleeves will be available in Black. The 13-inch Leather Sleeve costs $179, and as of writing the 15-inch version does not appear to have propagated yet on Apple.com.

For the MacBook Pros, the new models start at $1,799 (13-inch) and $2,399 (15-inch), featuring up to six-core eighth-generation Intel Core processors, up to 32GB RAM, the Touch Bar and Touch ID, and more. For more information on the specs for the new MacBook Pros, be sure to check out our full launch post.

Related Roundup: MacBook ProBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Pro (Buy Now)
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Monoprice Maker Select Mini V2 review

Research Center:

Monoprice Select Mini V2

A couple years ago, Monoprice took the 3D printing world by storm with a the original Maker Select Mini: a 3D printer that only cost 200 bucks, and had all the bells and whistles we could ever ask for. Now, it’s back with version two of that revolutionary printer — so naturally we took it for a spin to see how it stacks up to the original.

Standout Features and Specs

Monoprice’s V2 builds upon the first generation’s solid set of specs and features by adding a few minor (but important!) upgrades.

Among these improvements is an all metal hot end, which improves heating and helps prevent clogging, as well as a heated/insulated printing bed, which boosts print adhesion and prevents warping.

Riley Young/Digital Trends

Along with this improved heated bed, the V2’s build surface also features a special pad material (similar to BuildTak) that promotes adhesion during printing, and also makes parts easy to remove after they’ve finished. Finally, MP also equipped the V2 with an internal cooling fan that helps prevent everything from overheating.

There are also a few things that haven’t changed. Just like the first generation, the V2’s max resolution sits at 100 microns (0.1 millimeters), which is fairly average, but acceptable for the price. Its build envelope is also a perfect 4.7-inch cube, just like it was on the first generation. Again, this spec is somewhat average, but still not bad.

This V2’s setup is quite possibly the easiest we’ve ever encountered.

The all-metal hot end retains the same maximum temperature of 230, which allows you to print with a fairly wide range of filament types, but does limit you from some of the more exotic higher temperature materials. And terms of inputs and outputs, you can load your models onto the Mini V2 using a Micro SD card, a direct USB connection, or even do it via WiFi through Monoprice’s new mobile app.

All in all, the V2 is certainly more of an evolution than a revolution, but Monoprice’s improvements are smart ones that do big things for the printer’s reliability and overall performance — and it only costs you an extra $20.

Setup and Configuration

This V2’s setup is quite possibly the easiest we’ve ever encountered. It comes completely assembled and factory calibrated, so all you have to do is unbox it and supply some electricity. There’s not even an on switch — just plug it in, and you’re off to the races.

Riley Young/Digital Trends

From there, Monoprice’s super straightforward interface makes the remaining setup steps nearly foolproof. Things like loading filament and fine-tuning the print bed are all extremely simple to execute.

To offer a comparison, we’d say setting up the V2 is about as complicated as setting up a brand new toaster. It’s simple as hell, but it might take a bit of fiddling around before you find the ideal settings that result in that perfect, golden-brown toast.

Design and Build Quality

Lifting this printer out of the box surprised us — it’s astonishingly heavy for its size. This is largely due to the Mini V2’s all-metal construction, which makes it an incredibly sturdy machine that doesn’t wiggle around too much during printing.

Monoprice gave everything a makeover in terms of aesthetics.

It’s also pretty easy on the eyes. Most of the V2’s mechanisms are tucked behind its metal exterior and hidden from view, so the machine doesn’t look as rudimentary and utilitarian as some of its competitors. Better yet, despite the printer’s sleek design and tucked-away components, its inner workings are still easily accessible.

To be fair, we never needed to tinker with the V2 at all during our testing process, but accessible design and easily-replaceable parts are something we love to see on a printer. Ten points to Gryffindor Monoprice.

User Interface and Software

Monoprice scores high marks in this category. Both the onboard software and desktop-based slicer programs are wonderfully simple to use — though the latter isn’t necessarily thanks to Monoprice.

Riley Young/Digital Trends

As with all its printers, Monoprice’s Select Mini V2 is designed to work with whatever slicer program (the software that translates your 3D design into instructions a printer can follow) you desire. We used Cura: one of the most powerful and customizable slicers on the planet, which now includes pre-configured profiles for many of MP’s most popular printers. This makes the whole process extremely convenient, as you no longer have to manually configure your machine.

The onboard user interface similarly straightforward, and hasn’t changed too much since the first generation. The V2 boasts the same knob-based navigation scheme and the same intuitive menu trees — but Monoprice gave everything a makeover in terms of aesthetics.

Monoprice Select Mini V2 Compared To

FormLabs Form 2

Ultimaker 3

Monoprice Mini Delta

Monoprice Maker Select Plus

SparkMaker

Zortrax M300

Robo C2

NewMatter MOD-t

M3D Micro

MakerBot Replicator (5th Gen)

Pirate3D Buccaneer

3Doodler 2.0

3D Systems Cube

Ultimaker 2

Formlabs Form 1+

Suffice it to say you won’t have any trouble using this machine.

Print Performance

Don’t let the price tag fool you — the Select Mini V2 prints like a dream.

Our first print using the Mini was the infamous ‘lucky cat’ model, which Monoprice pre-loaded onto the printer’s SD card. Unsurprisingly, it turned out great, since most models like this are fine-tuned by the manufacturer. So in order to get a better idea of how the V2 performs, we ran it through our standard suite of benchmarks.

Riley Young/Digital Trends

The first of these, as always, was the 3DBenchy: a tugboat-shaped torture test designed to highlight a printer’s strengths, weaknesses, and quirks. Much to our delight, the Mini V2 did a fantastic job. No matter what parameters we set, the tugboat always came out clean, accurate, and very consistent from layer to layer. Some of the superfine details of the boat didn’t come through as clearly as we’d like, but it’s worth noting that nearly all FDM printers struggle in this area, and the Select Mini V2 performed just as well (if not better than) as most printers that cost 10 times as much. Other tricky elements, like steep overhangs and unsupported spans, were also reproduced without any significant errors.

After a couple weeks of printing random (usually Star Wars-related) objects we found on Thingiverse, we found that the Mini V2 is also quite reliable. Whereas some 3D printers leave you feeling worried and unsure if they’ll complete the job, we felt highly confident with this machine.

The only real drawback here is the V2’s relatively small build envelope.

Thanks to the printer’s heated bed and solid construction, it doesn’t often fail mid-print — unless of course you make a slicing error and prepare the model improperly. This printer is still bound by the laws of physics, so we definitely recommend printing with supports unless you’re certain you don’t need them.

All in all, Monoprice’s new-and-improved Select Mini earns high marks for performance. We did experience a few flubs, failures, and funky-looking prints, but these were the exception, not the norm. The V2 prints just as well (and in some respects, even better) than printers with far larger price tags. The only real drawback here is the V2’s relatively small build envelope, which limits the range of objects you can create with it.

Our Take

The Maker Select V2 is definitely more of an evolution than a revolution — but in this case, that’s a good thing. Monoprice didn’t need to reinvent the wheel with this machine, and thankfully, it didn’t try to. Instead, it threw some new tread and made a rock-solid product that’s better than the original — and the original was already pretty great. The V2 might not be the best 3D printer on the planet, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a better blend of price and performance.

Is there a better alternative?

If your main concern is getting the most bang for your buck, then look no further. You won’t find this many features packed into such an affordable package anywhere but Monoprice.

If $220 is too steep for you, we also highly recommend the MP Mini Delta, which is about $60 to $70 cheaper, but does have a slightly smaller build envelope.

If build area is your main concern, then we’d recommend checking out the Monoprice Maker Select Plus — arguably one of the best printers we’ve ever reviewed. In terms of print performance, it’s nearly identical to the Maker Select Mini V2, but it does have a far larger build area that allows you to print much bigger objects. It also has a touchscreen, which is nice.

How long will it last?

If you treat this little guy well, it’ll likely give you a long life in return. Due to its all metal construction, durable components, ample replacement parts, and Monoprice’s continued software support, the Select Mini V2 seems well suited for a long life on your desktop.

Should you buy it?

Yes, yes, a thousand times yes! This printer offers a near perfect blend of price and performance, so if you’ve been waiting patiently for an affordable printer that doesn’t suck, then your time has come.

Nokia 6.1 vs. Moto G6 Plus: With so much shared, design and camera make the difference

Both phones notch wins in different areas, but the deciding factor is pricing in your market.

For as solid and consistent as the flagship space has become, there’s still plenty of competition and innovation happening at the lower price points. Ranging between $250 and $350, there are lots of good options out there to get a great phone without breaking the bank. Two of the big names in this segment are the Nokia 6.1 and Moto G6 Plus, which both give solid specs, interesting designs and a promise of good clean software.

But which one is right for you? We have both phones in hand to compare and see the areas where each one is best and what complete package offers the better value.

See Nokia 6.1 at Amazon
See Moto G6 Plus at Amazon

What’s the same

Nokia and Motorola have dialed in on very similar core platforms, with both phones based on a Snapdragon 630 processor. The Moto G6 Plus has the benefit of more internal storage with 64GB, but the Nokia 6.1’s 32GB is plenty for the price and both phones offer an SD card slot for expansion. They’re both running 1080p displays, and the battery sizes are comparable — 3200mAh for Motorola, and 3000mAh for Nokia — for full-day (and little more) battery life.

The core internals, features, display and software are nearly the same here — which is a good thing for everyone.

The core hardware ideas are the same as well. You get USB-C charging on both, a fingerprint sensor that gets the job done, plus a single basic speaker that leaves much to be desired. Though the Moto G6 Plus display is larger diagonally, its 18:9 aspect ratio means it’s basically the same screen real estate as the Nokia 6.1’s 5.5-inch 16:9 display. Resolution is effectively the same, as is quality — I give the small nod to Motorola for having more pleasing (read: saturated) colors, but both offer the same visibility while the Nokia has a more neutral and accurate color profile.

Both phones are running Android 8.0 Oreo, and in daily use, you wouldn’t really notice the difference between the two. The Moto G6 Plus has a few of Motorola’s nice-to-have features, and they’re still useful, but none of them are game-changing experiences at this point. The Moto gestures and Moto Display are neat, but you’d never choose the G6 Plus just to have them. Being an Android One phone the Nokia 6.1 fully defaults to all of Google’s apps and services, which is a plus for most of us — you don’t have to deal with any duplicate apps or poorly-integrated manufacturer services. You also have the benefit of guaranteed software updates, which is very much the opposite of Motorola’s history with its mid-range phones.

What’s different

Nokia’s latest round of smartphones, now under the tutelage of HMD Global, offer some of the best hardware available at their respective price points. Even for $270, the Nokia 6.1 is a nicely coated solid block of metal that feels like it will stand the test of time — especially when you set it alongside the primarily plastic-bodied phones it competes against. The finish is a little slippery when paired with this wide 16:9 aspect ratio, but it’s a small knock on what is otherwise an exceptional bit of hardware for the money. The pops of color from the chamfered edges are a treat, and the curved glass on the front is striking.

Two different ways to handle hardware: focus on form or function.

The Moto G6 Plus is a bit more pragmatically designed. The entire frame is slick plastic, which looks good but feels really cheap — and there are concerns about how it’ll hold up to regular use if you don’t slap a case on there. The back glass is a nice touch though, and the shape of the phone is much easier to handle when paired with the grip the back provides. The result of that ergonomic shape is a blob-like design that isn’t as striking or interesting as the Nokia — you could argue for either one, but the Nokia simply looks better and the Moto is easier to use in one hand.

When it comes to software performance, I haven’t found any issues with the Nokia 6.1 in particular (aside from the camera, which I’ll get to) — the Moto G6 Plus is just a little faster. Side-by-side tests show it’s just a bit snappier in the interface and switching between apps, but without another phone to compare to you’d be perfectly happy with the Nokia 6.1. The Moto G6 Plus has 4GB of RAM to the Nokia 6.1’s 3GB, which just gives you that little bit of breathing room to keep more apps loaded at any given time — and adds some future proofing.

The Nokia 6.1’s camera app and general camera performance is disappointing.

The discussion of performance dovetails nicely into the camera comparison. First, I have to address the biggest differentiator here: the Nokia 6.1’s camera app is really inconsistent. For some inexplicable reason, this “Android One” phone has camera app performance that should’ve stopped its certification in its tracks. The app is often slow to open, slow to respond and most importantly completely inconsistent in its ability to actually capture photos. Unfortunately a majority of the time it simply doesn’t capture a photo when the shutter is pressed — and the interface shows a capture — and instead takes a photo a second or two later, typically of the ground or your fingers. It’s incredibly frustrating, and something I’ve heard from other people’s Nokia phone experiences — and also not a problem that the Moto G6 Plus suffers from.

But still, it does take photos so long as you’re patient. Here’s how it compares to Motorola’s phone.

Nokia 6.1 (left) vs. Moto G6 Plus (right) — click images to view larger.

Even throwing the Moto G6 Plus’s secondary camera out of the equation because it’s largely irrelevant to the experience, the 12MP sensor with an f/1.7 lens has the hardware advantage over the Nokia 6.1’s 16MP f/2.0 setup. Larger pixels (1.4- vs. 1.0-micron) plus more light from a wider aperture is a good equation, and the G6 Plus takes advantage to produce better photos overall.

The Moto G6 Plus offers an overall better camera — as it should, because it’s a bit more expensive.

In daylight, both cameras do a fine job of recreating scenes with good colors and a nice crispness in details and edges — nothing to complain about at this price point at all. In low light the Moto G6 Plus shows its hardware advantage, though, taking photos with better details, smoother surfaces and just generally better quality. The Nokia 6.1 takes about the level of low light photos I’d normally expect for a sub-$300 phone, but the G6 Plus raises the bar.

If the Nokia 6.1’s camera app offered comparable performance I’d still give the G6 Plus the nod because of its better low light capabilities, but when you add the app performance to the difference in quality you see Motorola has the complete lead here.

Which should you buy?

Nokia and Motorola took different strategies to the table to make a sub-$300 phone. Both have very comparable internal specs befitting the price point, as well as nice-to-see features like a quality display, good fingerprint sensor, solid battery life, USB-C and a headphone jack. But the details differ. The Nokia 6.1 offers far better-looking and feeling hardware with sleek metal and nicely sculpted glass. Having Android One’s guaranteed updates is a big bonus too, especially compared to Motorola’s poor history. But the Moto G6 Plus has its own benefits, like slightly better overall performance, a more ergonomic design, a better camera and more RAM and storage.

If you can spare the extra cash, consider the Moto G6 Plus — otherwise, Nokia wins.

Which of these phones is best for you partially comes down to where you’re shopping. In the U.S. Nokia sells the 6.1 officially, and so it carries a very reasonable price of $270. The Moto G6 Plus you buy in the U.S. will be an imported international model with some markup pushing it over $300. At these prices, it’s a tough call, because at perhaps a $50 price difference that may give you enough pause to pick the Nokia 6.1 and deal with its shortcomings in camera and performance. Here, the Nokia 6.1 is actually closer priced, depending on the day, to the standard Moto G6 — and the Nokia 6.1 is a better device for that money.

Elsewhere in the world, the Nokia 6.1 and Moto G6 Plus are much closer in price, and if you’re going to spend the same amount of money on either one it feels like the Moto G6 Plus is the better of the two. It all comes down to whether you appreciate the hardware beauty and guaranteed software updates of the Nokia 6.1, or the more ergonomic feel and better performance of the Moto G6 Plus. Choose what’s most important to you — either one is a great pick for about $300.

See Nokia 6.1 at Amazon
See Moto G6 Plus at Amazon

Moto G6, G6 Plus and G6 Play

• Moto G6 Plus review: Mastering the art of the mid-range phone
• Moto G6 review: Finding success in compromise
• Moto G6, G6 Play, and G6 Plus specs
• Join our Moto G6 forums

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Best Android Phones with Expandable Storage in 2018

These are the best phones with expandable memory to store your movies and music.

• Best overall
• Best for features
• Other alternatives
• Best mid-range option
• Best budget pick

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy S9 / S9+

See at Amazon

The Galaxy S9 series takes what made the Galaxy S8 so good and fixes many of the minor irritations, including the placement of the rear fingerprint sensor. The screen is brighter, the software feels smoother thanks to a faster processor, and the camera is significantly improved in low light.

But Samsung didn’t mess with what counts for those who need additional space: in addition to 64GB of internal storage standard, there’s a microSD slot for up to 400GB of additional room, something we know a lot of you desire.

Bottom line: Both versions of the Galaxy S9 come with expandable storage, and are a couple of the best phones out there today.

One more thing: The Galaxy S9+ has more RAM, a bigger battery, and a secondary camera.

Why the Galaxy S9 is the best

The Galaxy S9 series is the culmination of many years of Samsung learning lessons about what its customers want. Available in two sizes, 5.8 inches and 6.2 inches, the S9 and S9+ are beautiful phones. Both are made with curved glass and reinforced 7000 Series aluminum, and they’re about as compact as phones their size can be. They also have plenty of power and battery life, along with excellent cameras that offer superlative low-light performance.

Of course, these phones cater to power users, too: wireless charging, water resistance, headphone jacks, and, of course, expandable storage.

There’s 64GB of space built in, but that SD slot will ensure your Galaxy S9 never runs out of space for photos, videos, and music.

Best for features

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

See at Amazon
See at Best Buy
See at T-Mobile
See at Verizon
See at AT&T
See at Sprint
See at Samsung

If you want something a bit bigger than the S9+, or want to partake of the excellent S Pen stylus, the Note 8 is your next best bet for a phone with microSD expandability.

The Note 8 features everything you’d expect from a modern Samsung phone — water resistance, wireless charging, and 64GB of storage, plus microSD. It’s powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 chip in the U.S., or Samsung’s own Exynos equivalent internationally, with a hefty 6GB of RAM for smoother performance.

Bottom line: The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is one of the most expensive Android phone you can buy right now, but with good reason — it’s also one of the very best.

One more thing:If you’re buying in the U.S., you’ll miss out on some of the more exotic color options, like blue and gold. (In Europe, you’ll have black and gold to choose from.)

Other great alternatives

Here’s the thing about microSD slots in Android phones: They’re not exactly a rarity. In fact, the majority of our favorite flagships from the past year have included expandable storage. A few great, recent examples include:

• LG G7
• Honor View 10
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro

The mid-range option

Nokia 7 Plus

See at Amazon

The Nokia 7 Plus ticks all the right boxes for a phone that retails for $400. It has a durable chassis built out of series 6000 aluminum, and comes with a two-tone finish that makes it stand out. It is the first phone by HMD to feature an 18:9 display, and the panel itself is one of the best you’ll find in this category. Coming to the internals, the Nokia 7 Plus is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 660 chipset, and is paired with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

You also get dual 12MP + 13MP cameras at the back, a 3800mAh battery that delivers a day’s worth of usage consistently, and a 256GB microSD slot that takes up the secondary SIM card slot. The software side of things is just as interesting, as the Nokia 7 Plus runs Android One, ensuring the device will receive platform and security updates on time.

Bottom line: There isn’t a device that delivers quite as much value as the Nokia 7 Plus for $400.

One more thing: The phone isn’t officially available in the U.S., but the variant listed on Amazon comes with Band 4, making it compatible on AT&T and T-Mobile.

Best budget pick

Moto G6

See at Amazon

The Moto G6 continues Motorola’s tradition of offering phones with great value in the budget segment. The phone now comes with a glass back that resembles the Moto X4’s aesthetics, and at the front Motorola switched to an 18:9 panel.

While it isn’t running Android One, Motorola is still committed to delivering a clean and uncluttered user interface that includes standout features like Moto Display.

Bottom line: If you’re in the market for a budget phone that gets the basics right, the Moto G6 is a great choice.

One more thing: The Moto G6 is available unlocked from Amazon, and works on Verizon and Sprint as well as T-Mobile and AT&T.

Conclusion

If you want a phone that has expandable storage, the Samsung Galaxy S9 or S9+ are your best options. Sure, they’re expensive, but the phones boast top-of-the-line hardware, a stunning metal and glass design, and some of the best cameras in this space.

Water resistance and fast wireless charging make it an even more compelling choice. Add all that and throw in a microSD slot that supports up to 400GB of expandable storage and it’s easy to see why the Galaxy S9s are the most feature-rich Android phones around.

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy S9 / S9+

See at Amazon

The Galaxy S9 series takes what made the Galaxy S8 so good and fixes many of the minor irritations, including the placement of the rear fingerprint sensor. The screen is brighter, the software feels smoother thanks to a faster processor, and the camera is significantly improved in low light.

But Samsung didn’t mess with what counts for those who need additional space: in addition to 64GB of internal storage standard, there’s a microSD slot for up to 400GB of additional room, something we know a lot of you desire.

Bottom line: Both versions of the Galaxy S9 come with expandable storage, and are a couple of the best phones out there today.

One more thing: The Galaxy S9+ has more RAM, a bigger battery, and a secondary camera.

Updated July 2018: with the Nokia 7 Plus as the mid-range pick and the Moto G6 as the best budget option.

These RAVPower wireless chargers have never been more affordable

Cables are so last year.

As part of today’s Gold Box deals of the day, Amazon has a few different RAVPower wireless chargers on sale with prices starting at just $26.59. To make the deals even sweeter, we’ve partnered with RAVPower to be able to offer our readers some exclusive discounts on top of the already-reduced pricing, which also means that these deals are now open to everyone, whether an Amazon Prime member or not. There are a few different options available, including a portable one, so you’ll want to check them all out and pick up the one that will work best for you.

First up is the 7.5W fast charging pad which is down to $26.59 from $38 at Amazon, but using coupon code MNRPPC066 during checkout will drop it down to just $22.79. It comes with a Quick Charge 3.0 wall adapter and has a built-in LED indicator to help you quickly visualize the charging status without touching your phone. If you prefer the circular design of this charger you can grab it instead for a few cents more using coupon code MNRPPC034.

Rather have something to keep your phone standing upright while it charges? This wireless charging stand should be just what you’re looking for, and right now it can be yours for $27.59 when you use coupon code MNRPPC069. Amazon is selling it to Prime members for $32.19 and it normally sells for over $40. This one also comes with a Quick Charge 3.0 adapter and has a dual-coil design to allow you to place your phone in either a landscape or portrait position on the pad.

The last option is one of the coolest ones. It’s a portable wireless charger that has an internal 10400mAh battery and a 10W output. It basically combines a portable battery pack and wireless charger into one, and using coupon code MNRPPB080 drops it down to just $39.99. This regularly sells for $66 and has never dropped below $50 before, so this is easily the best price you’ll be able to pick one of these up for.

If you’re not a Prime member, be sure to select the “Regular Price” option to add to your cart and then use the corresponding coupon code to see the price drop in your cart. If you are a Prime member, you can still stack the coupon on top of the Prime-exclusive savings to drop the price to those stated above. You can also sign up for a free 30-day trial to be able to take advantage of other Prime-exclusive deals and all the savings on Prime Day.

Samsung has no reason to launch the Galaxy S10 at CES 2019

The electronics giant knows better than to push up its flagship timeline by two months.

Another year, another round of rumors and talk about Samsung pushing up the launch time frame of the next Galaxy S phone. Some commentators are convinced that Samsung will show off the Galaxy S10 at CES 2019, running January 8-11, which would come nearly two months earlier than the Galaxy S9 launch this year. Not only do I not expect this to happen, but I also see no evidence of why Samsung would consider it.

Sales of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ may not have been as strong as some had expected, but they’re still massive — estimates of sales over 30 million units for the year are still huge, and Samsung’s overall profits are still increasing on a year-over-year basis. Looking at the simple financials of it, Samsung has no real incentive to accelerate its timeline to launch a successor any earlier than usual. The Galaxy Note 9, coming in early August, will also provide a bump to sales as the company heads into the holiday quarter.

To be fair to the misguided analysts, the Galaxy S10 will likely be at CES 2019 — it just won’t be there publicly. Big trade shows offer a great opportunity for companies to take private meetings about current and future products, and the discussions between Samsung and various partners are no exception here. Being that the Galaxy S10 is likely to launch near the end of February or early March, the phone(s) will have been substantially finalized and in production by early January — perfect timing to meet with carriers, accessory makers and the like (under conditions of anonymity, of course) to see the new device or at least talk about its capabilities.

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

As far as public announcements go, CES is the type of show that suits the announcement of the forthcoming Galaxy X. Current rumor has it that CES will be the stage for Samsung to show off the new Galaxy X phone, at least in some capacity. While I’m still rather skeptical that Samsung would announce such an interesting and dramatically futuristic device ahead of the launch of the mainstream Galaxy S10, this show makes far more sense for a Galaxy X type device than a Galaxy S10.

CES is not only too early, but it’s the entirely wrong occasion for a mainstream phone launch.

CES is more about showing off new and interesting technology, talking about overall company strategy and showing the future of companies rather than just the present. It’s the type of show where we see prototypes and engineering samples shown off, not full-fledged mass-market products. CES is absolutely famous for producing amazing-looking products that never make it to market. Why lump your ready-to-sell Galaxy S10 in with thousands of companies all launching crazy products across the entire electronics industry? Samsung is a company that’s big enough to command its own space, it’s own time and the full attention of a large portion of the media and public when it launches a phone.

The Galaxy S10 itself may be exciting and surprising in many ways, but when it launches is entirely predictable — look past CES, and watch the late-February time frame.

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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AT&T
T-Mobile
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What a New Design Could Mean for Apple Watch Series 4

The Apple Watch Series 4 expected this fall will feature a new design and a display that’s 15 percent larger, according to the latest reports from respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Additional details have yet to emerge, but the Series 4 could mark the first design change introduced in the Apple Watch since its debut three years ago.

Kuo expects the two new Apple Watch models will measure 1.57 inches (39.9mm) and 1.78 inches (45.2mm), compared to the current 38mm and 42mm Apple Watch sizes. Rumors remain unclear on whether the casings themselves will be larger or if a reduction in bezel size will allow for larger OLED displays, but that hasn’t stopped designers from sharing their own Series 4 concepts.

Rumored Apple Watch Series 4 design (left) alongside Series 3 (right)
Venya Geskin created the above mockups envisioning what a larger display could look like on a new Apple Watch while retaining the existing physical dimensions. In this design, the Series 4 screen adopts rounded corners to align with the reduced bezels and maximize the display area, similar to the display on the iPhone X.

Developer Ryan Jones calculates that the larger screens could provide a 35 and 38 percent larger display area for the 38mm and 42mm models, respectively. Such a change would significantly enhance user interaction with the Force Touch display, allowing for bigger clock faces and virtual buttons, and more space for viewing text, equating to less scrolling. In addition, watchOS 5 promises to bring rich HTML content to Apple Watch devices, so a larger screen would enhance the experience of navigating websites and interacting with them.

According to separate industry sources, there’s an outside chance that the upcoming Apple Watch models could use micro-LED screens, which have the potential to be thinner and lighter, with improved color gamut, increased brightness, and support for higher resolutions. If micro-LED is adopted this year, it could potentially free up space for other hardware improvements.

Here’s exact to-scale drawings of Apple Watch Series 4 based on the rumors. Note the 38mm screen will be bigger than the current 42mm screen! 😱 pic.twitter.com/lh9VqPMQ7g

— Ryan Jones (@rjonesy) July 11, 2018

Kuo believes the next Apple Watch will feature improved health monitoring capabilities, including improved heart rate features. The analyst doesn’t explain whether these improvements would be based on software or hardware, but some combination of the two is one possibility.

The heart rate sensor in the current Apple Watch uses rapidly flashing green LED lights paired with light‑sensitive photodiodes to continuously monitor heart rate during workouts and Breathe sessions. However, the device switches to infrared light to measure heart rate in the background at intervals that vary, depending on your activity level.

Unlike some smartwatches, currently it’s not possible to configure Apple Watch to monitor your heart rate continuously all of the time. Such a feature in the Series 4 would be a welcome addition, but whether it could be battery-efficient without adopting a different sensor array than the current one is unclear.

That said, Kuo also believes that the Apple Watch will feature a higher-capacity battery for better battery life. The adoption of solid state buttons that don’t physically click but instead use a Taptic Engine to provide haptic feedback to users could also potentially provide extra room for a larger battery.

Another possibility Apple is said to be testing is an EKG feature that records the electrical activity of the heart using two fingers on either side of the Apple Watch. This would detect electrical changes in the skin caused by the rhythm of the heartbeat – and potentially identify any irregularities.

Concept design by Benjamin Geskin
Whatever comes with Apple Watch Series 4, we should know for certain in just a couple of months. Apple is expected to announce the device at its annual September event, which is typically held during the first or second week of September. What changes are you hoping for in the new Apple Watch? Let us know in the comments below.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution)
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Apple Pay Promo Takes $10 Off StubHub Orders of $100 or More Through August 1

This week’s Apple Pay promo offers concertgoers and sports fans the chance to get $10 off a purchase of $100 or more from StubHub. To get the discount, browse tickets in the StubHub iOS app, use Apple Pay to checkout before August 1, and enter the code APPLEPAY-10 during the checkout process.

The new promotion is themed around summer music festivals, and encourages users to pay with Apple Pay in apps like Airbnb and Lyft to book rooms and order rides to and from events. The company is also pointing customers towards a few clothing apps like Abercrombie & Fitch, GOAT, Hollister, and HBX.

The Stubhub promo follows a few Apple Pay promotions that have been themed around summer activities as well, which offered customers the chance to get discounts on Fourth of July dinners from TGI Fridays, save money on new Adidas shoes to wear during summer workouts, and redeem two free bike rides with the ofo app.

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U.S. government signs an agreement with ZTE to lift export ban

ZTE will once again be able to conduct business with American component vendors.

ZTE’s woes in the U.S. are about to come to a close. The Chinese telecommunications giant has signed an agreement with the Department of Commerce that will lift the export ban — which will allow ZTE to do business with American suppliers like Qualcomm. ZTE was issued a denial order in April after it was revealed that the manufacturer violated sanctions against North Korea and Iran.

ZTE is now required to complete a $400 million escrow payment, following which the ban will be lifted:

Our statement on #ZTE and the escrow agreement: pic.twitter.com/w0Bbej1mAU

— U.S. Commerce Dept. (@CommerceGov) July 11, 2018

The three-month saga is estimated to have cost ZTE upwards of $3 billion, according to Bloomberg. The company had to appoint a new chairman and replace its senior management, and while the export ban is set to be lifted, ZTE could face further penalties from the U.S. Senate.