Get your next three months of Audible for just $5 each with this early Prime Day deal

You’ll want to hear this.

Amazon is offering Prime members an exclusive discount on their next three months of Audible. New subscribers (as well as those who re-activate) can save 66%, dropping the cost to just $4.95 per month. Normally, this subscription costs $14.95 a month, and that’s what Amazon will bill after the first three months are over, so if you don’t want to continue your subscription you’ll want to be sure to cancel it before that time comes.

In order to take advantage of this promotion, you do need to be a Prime member. If you aren’t currently a member, you can get a free 30-day trial to be able to take advantage of this and other early Prime Day deals right now, and have all the other benefits like free 2-day shipping and more on the big day.

You’ll be billed monthly for the service, so if you decide during the first month that it isn’t for you, you can cancel your subscription immediately after only having paid $5. You’ll get one credit each month, which is each good for any audiobook on Audible regardless of its price. You’ll also get access to podcasts and other audio programs ad-free.

Additional audiobooks beyond the credits you receive are discounted by as much as 30%. If you want, you can swap books out for no extra charge, and if you cancel your subscription, you get to keep any books you’ve already collected forever.

Audible makes listening easy, as you can download the app on a range of devices, from Amazon Kindles to smartphones and more, and even your Sonos speakers.

Other early Prime Day deals are available right now too, like the Echo Show on sale for $130. For more info on the special event, check out our Prime Day hub and sign up for our Prime Day newsletter to stay on top of all the latest news, leaks, and deals.

See at Amazon

Where to buy the BlackBerry KEY2

Your guide for picking up the KEY2 in the U.S. and Canada.

The BlackBerry KEY2 isn’t a smartphone for everyone, but for fans of the BlackBerry brand or those that just want to have their physical keyboard back, it’s the go-to choice if you’re buying a new phone in 2018.

If you live in the U.S. or Canada and are interested in getting a KEY2 for yourself, we’ve put together a guide of where exactly you can pick up the phone. We’ll continuously update this as more info becomes available, but for now, let’s jump right into it.

United States

The KEY2 hasn’t been announced for any carriers, but BlackBerry is making it available unlocked through multiple channels. It’s up for pre-order now and will be followed by full sales on July 13. The U.S. unlocked KEY2 is designed for use on T-Mobile and AT&T, as well as their prepaid subsidiaries — so no, there isn’t support for Verizon or Sprint here.

Amazon

Amazon is charging $649 for the unlocked KEY2, in either silver or black. If you want to finance your purchase, Amazon offers 12-month no-interest payments for purchases over $599.

See at Amazon

Best Buy

If you prefer to buy from Best Buy, you can get either color of the KEY2 from BestBuy.com for the same $649 price. Best Buy hasn’t committed to having the KEY2 in stores, at least at the start, but there is 12-month no-interest financing for purchases of $399 or more.

See at Best Buy

Canada

Bell

The first Canadian carrier on our list, Bell, is selling the KEY2 for as little as $99.99 CAD if you purchase it on a 2-year term with at least 1GB of data on your account and a minimum of $80/month per user.

Alternatively, you can pay $299.99 with a 2-year term and 1GB of data with a minimum of $70/month per user or shell out $874.99 with no term requirement.

See at Bell

Rogers

Rogers is also carrying the BlackBerry KEY2, and if you purchase the phone with a 2-year Premium+ Tab, you’ll only pay $95 upfront.

The upfront costs increases as you choose less expensive monthly rates, and should you decide to buy the KEY2 outright from Rogers, you’ll be spending $799.

See at Rogers

SaskTel

Moving over to SaskTel, you can pick up the KEY2 for as little as $99.99 + $10/month with Plus Pricing when you purchase the phone on a 2-year Plus Pricing Voice and Data plan.

The price goes up to $299.99 when you get the KEY2 with a regular 2-year Voice and Data plan, if you decide to go monthly, prepaid, or buy the phone without any sort of plan, you’ll have to hand over $799.99.

To help offset that cost, SaskTel is offering a $150 credit + the trade-in value of your phone when you trade in your old handset and buy the KEY2. This promotion is valid through July 31, so be sure to take advantage of it sooner rather than later!

See at SaskTel

TELUS

In regards to TELUS, pricing for the KEY2 starts at $100 upfront and then $105/month when purchased with a 2-year plan. If you want a cheaper monthly rate, you can also spend $300 and then $95/month.

However, if paying month-to-month for a phone isn’t for you, TELUS will sell you the KEY2 on its own if you hand over $870.

See at TELUS

Unlocked

If you’re not about that carrier life and prefer buying your phones unlocked, you have several good options in Canada

Pre-orders are live now for a carrier unlocked version of the KEY2 from Walmart and it’ll later be available at Amazon, Best Buy, Staples, Blueshop, and Visions.

No matter which retailer you decide to buy from, the unlocked KEY2 is going to cost you $829 CAD.

See at Amazon

BlackBerry KEY2

• BlackBerry KEY2 review
• BlackBerry KEY2: Everything you need to know!
• BlackBerry KEY2 specs
• BlackBerry KEYone review: Coming home
• Join our BlackBerry KEY2 forums!

Buy the BlackBerry KEY2

Updated July 11, 2018: Updated availability info for Canada now that the KEY2’s been released.

Best Amazon Prime Day Phone Deals

Stop buying from your carrier.

Unlocked smartphones have become far more popular in the past few years, and if you are looking to treat yourself to a new one, Prime Day may be just the time to do it. We have already begun seeing a bunch of deals hit, and there will be some good phone deals to come as well.

BlackBerry

The BlackBerry KEYone has dropped $100 ahead of Prime Day, bringing it down to $399.99. There is both a GSM and CDMA variant of this phone, so you’ll want to make sure you buy the correct one for the carrier you’re on. The KEYone features a full QWERTY keyboard, 4.5-inch display, Snapdragon 625 processor, 32GB of internal storage and 3GB of RAM. It has a 12MP camera on the rear and a microSD card slot to expand the storage if needed.

See at Amazon

Huawei

Huawei will have a pair of devices available during Prime Day at up to $300 off their regular retail prices. The biggest price drop will be on the Huawei Mate 10 Pro, which will be available for $499.99. It originally lists for $800 and has only dropped as low as $550 in the past. It features a 6-inch 18:9 display, massive 4000mAh battery, 128GB of internal storage, 6GB of RAM, and a wonderful dual-camera setup on the back.

See at Amazon

If you’re looking to spend a little less, the Huawei Mate SE may be the choice for you. It normally sells for $250, but for a limited time, it will drop to $219.99. This is the lowest we’ve seen this device drop in price since its debut in March. The Mate SE has a 5.93-inch 18:9 display, a 3340mAh battery, 64GB of internal storage, 4GB of RAM and a 16MP main rear camera. There’s also a 2MP rear camera to complete the dual-camera setup, and you can add a microSD card if you need more storage.

See at Amazon

Prime-exclusive phones

Amazon hasn’t yet revealed the exact savings, but based on previous Prime Day events, it’s safe to assume Amazon will be offering some type of discount on various devices in the lineup. This year alone the assortment has expanded big time and Amazon removed the lock screen ads in favor of some pre-installed apps. Be sure to check out the full lineup of Prime-exclusive devices if you want a great device and don’t mind a few extra apps being installed on it to save some money.

See at Amazon

Other deals

As we get closer to Prime Day there will be more deals available. we will be updating this page with more deals as they become available, so be sure to bookmark this page to keep an eye on.

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

Here’s everything we know about the Galaxy Note 9!

Now more than ever, Samsung’s Galaxy S+ phones are becoming eerily similar to the Note series. The Note used to be Samsung’s way of touting all of the latest and greatest tech it had to offer, and while this is still the case, the same can be said for this year’s Galaxy S9+.

Samsung needs more than just the S Pen to make the Note 9 stand out from its own phones and the rest of the competition, and luckily, all signs are pointing to something exciting for this year’s release. Here’s what we know so far!

July 11, 2018 — Official render confirms the front of the Note 9’s design

There’s been no shortage of Note 9 renders over the last few weeks, and the latest comes by way of AndroidHeadlines.

The image shown above was obtained by the site and is said to be “an official render of the Galaxy Note 9.”

As we’ve seen from past images, the Note 9 is going to look a lot like the Note 8. There’s a large Infinity Display taking up the majority of the front, with the top area being home to the front-facing camera, iris scanning system, ambient light sensor, etc. Also similar is the power/lock button on the right with the left side being home to a volume rocker and dedicated Bixby button.

June 29, 2018 — Note 9 hands-on hints at 2-day battery life, up to 8GB RAM, and more

Eldar Murtazin has built a name for himself as one of the top dogs in the mobile industry, and after going hands-on with a Note 9 prototype recently, he shared some highlights about what we can expect from the phone.

Murtazin notes that the Note 9 is quite a bit heavier than the Note 8, and while the exact battery capacity isn’t mentioned, he says that he was able to get around 23 to 25 hours of video playback at max brightness before needing to charge up and aroudn 1-2 days of regular use.

RAM and storage will start out at 6GB and 128GB, respectively, but Samsung will also offer 8GB + 256GB and 8GB + 512GB variants. The display is also said to be more visible in direct sunlight and comes with an upgraded Always On Display (though this could be pushed back to the Galaxy S10 if it’s not ready in time).

As for the S Pen, Murtazin reports that it’ll support Bluetooth connectivity, new work modes, and will be able to remotely unlock the Note 9.

What will the Galaxy Note 9 look like?

Quick answer — a lot like the Note 8.

We’ve seen one collection of renders for the Note 9 so far (pictured above), and save for the fingerprint sensor being moved below the rear camera sensor, the phone’s shaping up to be nearly identical to last year’s model.

As such, we can expect a large Infinity Display with slim bezels, an all-glass back, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Samsung’s event teaser suggests that we’ll get at least one bright yellow color option, but I’m still crossing my fingers the Galaxy S9’s Burgundy Red gets a wide release on the Note 9 🤞.

What specs can we look forward to?

Samsung’s Galaxy Note phones are always home to some of the best specs around, and the Note 9 shouldn’t be any different.

Based on the current rumor mill and what we’ve seen from other 2018 flagships, here’s what we think we’ll see this year.

Operating system	Android Oreo
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 or Exynos 9810
Screen	6.3-inch Quad HD (2960 x 1440) Super AMOLED panel 18.5:9 aspect ratio
RAM	6GB / 8GB
Storage	128GB / 256GB / 512GB
Expandability	microSD up to 2TB
Battery	4,000 mAh
Connectivity	USB-C 3.5mm headphone jack
Security	Fingerprint sensor Iris scanning Face unlock
NFC	Yes

When will the Galaxy Note 9 be released?

The Galaxy Note 9 will be announced on August 9, 2018, at an Unpacked event in New York City.

We can expect retail availability to come in a 1-2 week time frame after the announcement, if any previous launches are any indication.

How much will the Galaxy Note 9 cost?

Pricing for the Note series has steadily been going up each year, as has the majority of the smartphone industry.

The Galaxy Note 8 costs $950 unlocked, and I’d expect the Note 9 to cost either the same or slightly more. Apple proved with the iPhone X that people aren’t afraid to shell out $1000+ for a new smartphone, and I don’t consider it to be out of the question for Samsung to follow suit with the Note 9 – especially if it adopts newer technologies like an in-display fingerprint sensor.

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

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 rumors: Release date, specs, price, and features!
• Is it best to buy the Galaxy S9 or wait for the Note 9?
• Do you plan on upgrading to the Note 9?
• Galaxy Note 8 review
• Join our Galaxy Note 9 forums

Updated: June 29, 2018: Updated the spec sheet to coincide with latest rumors.

CordCutters.com is giving away an Amazon Fire TV Cube!

Heads up, folks! Our pals at CordCutters.com are giving away an Amazon Fire TV Cube. Because it’s Wednesday, and because they can.

What’s a Fire TV Cube, you ask? It’s part Fire TV, part Echo Dot, and a whole lot of awesomeness. (Read their full Fire TV Cube review here.)

Still need more? You hit up their contest page at this link, or just enter below. Good luck!

Enter to win!

THE PRIZE: One reader will receive an Amazon Fire TV Cube!

THE GIVEAWAY: Use the widget at the bottom of this page. There are multiple ways to enter, each with varying point values. Complete all of the tasks for maximum entries and your best shot at winning! Keep in mind that all winning entries are verified and if the task was not completed or cannot be verified, a new winner will be chosen. Service is not included with the prize and we don’t guarantee this will work outside of the US due to Amazon restrictions. International winners are responsible for any customs fees incurred during shipping.

The giveaway is open through July 23, 2018, and the winner will be announced right here shortly after the closing date. Good luck!

Win an Amazon Fire TV Cube from CordCutters!

By entering you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.

Ringke Onyx Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ review: Hello darkness, my old friend

It’s not the boldest case on the block, but sometimes subtle style is best.

I’ll admit it: I’ve been spoiled by gold colors and flashy fashions. When I go looking for a phone case, I want something that stands out, but far more often, cases are designed to blend in. Subtle cases allow our phones to draw less unwanted attention when using our gleaming $800 smartphones in crowded areas, and they fit a larger variety of occasions, locations, and wardrobes.

Subtle, unobtrusive cases are more generic, but that also makes them more adaptable and popular. Ringke’s Onyx case for the Samsung Galaxy S9+ proves that just because a case is subtle, it doesn’t have to be boring, too.

Ringke Onyx Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

Price: $9.99

Bottom line: This is a simple case with a light-duty protection at a great price if you don’t mind it being a dark solid color.

The Good

• Lightweight protection with subtle texture near the top and bottom
• Wide port cutouts and gentle slope to the fingerprint sensor

The Bad

• Limited color options
• The flat back gets a little slick in sweaty hands

See at Amazon

Ringke Onyx Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What I like

Ringke has taken a two-tone approach to its monochromatic Onyx. The majority of the back is covered by horizontal stripes, a pattern with maybe a millimeter of depth to it that it barely noticed in-hand. Meanwhile, the top and bottom of the case’s back are slightly raised with a more pronounced angular texture, allowing you to recognize how far up or down the phone you’re gripping by feel alone.

The grip around the sides of the Onyx is firm, and the buttons still satisfyingly clicky through the thin silicone covering. The silicone under the fingerprint sensor is gently sloped, helping guide you up to the sensor without sliding you up too far to smudge the camera lens, and the rest of the cutouts are thoughtfully spaced to accommodate boxy OTG cables and adapters.

Ringke Onyx Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+ What doesn’t work

This is a very lightweight, silicone case, and as such it’s not going to provide the best protection against drops. That’s the trade-off that comes with every light-duty case, but if you want some extra protection, you can stick a phone grip to the back. Phone grips can even allow you to add a pop of color to the otherwise monochromatic case; I’ve been using a red Spigen Style Ring and it looks fierce.

The Onyx comes in three colors, but it’s a sliding scale of one color: There’s a burgundy Lilac Purple, an almost black Plum Violet, and then there’s the actual, factual Black. I’m not saying any of these colors are bad, but they are a bit basic, and if you’ve got a Coral Blue, Silver, or the newer Rose Gold variant, these cases won’t compliment your phone nearly as much as a color-matched model would.

Ringke Onyx Case for Samsung Galaxy S9+

Ringke’s Onyx case is subtle yet sophisticated. It is monochromatic without being monotonous, it is a case with depth, even if its back is flat. There are technicolor cases out there, but who says that they

4
out of 5

Do I wish there was a deep sea blue to compliment the black and purple models of the Onyx case? Yes, yes I do, but there’s a reason that most women have a little black dress in their wardrobe: black goes with everything.

See at Amazon

These are all the Huawei/Honor phones coming out in 2018

Having trouble keeping up with Huawei’s countless phones? You’re in the right place.

Although it may not be as popular as Samsung or Apple in the U.S., one of the world’s biggest smartphone brands is Huawei.

Huawei often releases some of the best and most interesting Android phones of the year, including powerful flagships and more affordable options through its Honor sub-brand.

It can be hard to keep up with Huawei’s endless releases, so to help keep you in check, here are all the phones the company’s launching in 2018.

The phones we’re still expecting

Huawei Mate 11

The Mate 10 Pro

Towards the end of 2017, Huawei decided to go out with a bang with the impressive Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro.

The Mate 10 Pro paved the way for Huawei’s 2018 lineup, featuring the Kirin 970, a large 6-inch 18:9 screen, and fantastic dual cameras.

Rumors surrounding its successor are still pretty light, but if it’s anything like last year’s model, it’ll be big, powerful, and a true beauty to look at. The Mate 10 Pro was the first in the series to adopt a new glass back, and we’ll likely see Huawei continue that trend this year with the Mate 11.

Huawei Mate 10 Pro review: Best Android flagship for battery life

Honor 8X

Released at the very end of last year, the Honor 7X continues to be one of the best ways to spend less than $200 on a smartphone well into 2018.

Honor really hit the nail on the head with the 7X, offering a sturdy metal design, fast Kirin 659 processor, 5.93-inch 18:9 display, and respectable dual cameras for just $199 in the U.S.

We fully expect an Honor 8X to be announced before 2018 is over, featuring a similar price and even more bang-for-your-buck.

Honor 7X review: The new budget champion

The phones that have already come out

Huawei P20/P20 Lite/P20 Pro

A few months after the Mate 10’s U.S. launch, Huawei came out swinging once more with its P20 series — consisting of the P20, P20 Lite, and P20 Pro.

There are a lot of similarities with the three phones, including glass designs, fingerprint sensors, and notches in their displays.

While all of the handsets are worth a look, the P20 Pro is easily the most eye-catching. In addition to its ultra-reflective and color-changing glass back with the Twilight color, you’ll find not one, not two, but three rear cameras — including a 40MP RGB sensor, 20MP mono sensor, and 8MP telephoto one.

The end result of this wild combination are some of the best photographs you can take from a smartphone, especially when it comes to low-light shots.

You’ll find a lot to love about the P20 Pro, but depending on where you live, buying it could prove to be a bit tricky.

Where to buy the Huawei P20 Pro in the U.S. and Canada

Huawei Porsche Design Mate RS

If the P20 Pro isn’t cool enough for you and you’ve got endless amounts of cash to burn through, the Huawei Porsche Design Mate RS might be the perfect fit.

This is essentially the same phone as the P20 Pro, but it’s got a different design, stunning red color, in-screen fingerprint sensor, and a pain-inducing $2000 price tag.

The Porsche Design Mate RS certainly isn’t for everyone, but it’s easily the most eye-catching phone in all of Huawei’s lineup for the year.

See at Porsche Design

Huawei Mate SE

On the complete polar opposite end of the spectrum from the Mate RS is the Huawei Mate SE.

The Mate SE costs just $249 in the States and comes with a 5.93-inch edge-to-edge 18:9 FHD+ display, dual 16MP and 2MP rear cameras, Kirin 659 processor, 4GB RAM, 64GB of storage, and a large 3,340 mAh battery. It’s also available in both Grey and Gold colors.

You get a lot of bang-for-your-buck with the Mate SE, but if you want to stretch your dollars even further, I’d suggest checking out the Honor 7X that was released at the tail-end of 2017.

Honor 7X vs. Huawei Mate SE: What’s the difference?

Huawei Nova 3

If you like the Huawei P20 but wish it came in a more affordable package, that’s where the Huawei Nova 3 comes into play.

In regards to its design, the phone looks very similar to its P20 cousin. The front is home to a 6.3-inch Full HD+ display with a 19:9 aspect ratio, and because this is 2018, there’s a notch at the very top.

Around back is a glass finish that comes in Purple, Black, Aqua Blue, and Primrose Gold/Yellow colors. This is also where you’ll find the fingerprint sensor and dual 16MP + 24MP primary cameras.

Under the hood is the Kirin 970 processor, 6GB RAM, and Android 8.1 Oreo. Huawei will officially unveil the Nova 3 on July 18, but it’s already up for pre-order on VMall right now.

See at VMall

Honor View 10

Honor’s first phone for 2018 was the Honor View 10, and boy does it have a lot to offer. This is one of the pricier Honor phones at $499, but it comes equipped with just about every flagship feature you could ask for.

The Honor 10 impresses at first glance with a metal unibody design and ultra-slim bezels. The display measures in at 5.99-inches with an 18:9 aspect ratio and has a resolution of 2160 x 1080. There’s a fingerprint sensor underneath it, 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom of the frame, and dual 16MP + 20MP cameras on the back.

Other goodies include the Kirin 970, 6GB RAM, 128GB of storage, NFC, and Android 8.0 Oreo with EMUI 8.0 on top of it. Add all that together with a face unlock feature and a long-lasting 3,750 mAh battery, and you end up with one heck of a phone.

See at Amazon

Honor 10

The Honor 10 was released in late April, and it has more in common with the Honor View 10 than just a similar name. Just like the View 10, the Honor 10 has the Kirin 970, 6GB RAM, and either 128GB or 64GB of storage. However, that’s where the similarities end.

You’ll find dual cameras on the Honor 10, but they’re a bit different with 16MP and 24MP sensors. There’s also a 24MP shooter for the selfie camera, 5.84-inch 1080p LCD screen with a notch at the top, and a reflective, color-changing glass back just like the Huawei P20 Pro.

The Honor 10 is available in China and the UK, and depending on the storage configuration you choose, you’ll spend between $414 and $478.

Honor 10 announced with the P20’s design and a much lower price

Honor 7A/7C

Next up, we’ve got the Honor 7A and 7C. These are the cheapest phones on this list, coming in at £139.99 and £169.99, respectively.

You won’t find the most impressive specs on the 7A and 7C, but what you do get is all the basics for a solid experience at an incredible price.

The 7A is the more affordable of the two, offering a plastic body with a metal-like finish, Snapdragon 430 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of storage, and a single 13MP camera. With the 7C, you get a faster Snapdragon 450, 3GB RAM, 32GB of storage, and a depth-sensing 2MP camera to go along with the primary 13MP shooter.

You can purchase the Honor 7A and 7C in the UK and India.

Honor 7A + 7C bring face unlock to the sub-£170 price point

Honor Play

There’s been a recent interest in gaming phones in the Android space, with notable handsets including the Razer Phone and Asus ROG Phone. Honor’s the latest company to take a stab at this growing niche with the Honor Play.

A good gaming phone needs to be plenty powerful, and the Honor Play delivers here. It’s powered by the Kirin 970 and comes with a feature called GPU Turbo that allows you to eek out even more performance when playing particularly demanding titles.

You’ve got your choice between 4 and 6GB of RAM depending on the model you choose and 64GB of storage is present for housing all your local files. Other specs include a 3,750 mAh battery, Android 8.1 Oreo, and a 6.3-inch 19:9 screen with a resolution of 1080 x 2280.

The Honor Play is launching first in China with a starting price of around $375.

See at VMall

Honor 9i

The Honor 9i was also announced alongside the Honor Play, but it ditches the gaming focus and instead aims to be your typical Honor mid-ranger.

Up front is a 5.84-inch 19:9 display with a 1080 x 2280 resolution. The Kirin 659 powers the phone along with 4GB RAM and a 3,000 mAh battery should offer respectable endurance.

Other features include dual 13MP + 12MP cameras on the back, 64 or 128GB of storage, and Android 8.0 Oreo.

Similar to the Honor Play, the Honor 9i is also launching in China and carries a starting price of $220.

See at VMall

Honor 10 GT

In early July, Honor officially took the wraps off of the Honor 10 GT. This is mostly the same phone as the Honor 10 that was released earlier in the year, save for the fact that it has a whopping 8GB RAM.

Aside from that, everything else is just as you’d expect. The Honor 10 GT is powered by the Kirin 970 processor, has a 3,400 mAh battery, 5.8-inch 2280 x 1080 display, 16MP selfie camera, 16MP + 24MP rear-facing sensors, and the rare 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Honor 10 GT is launching in China on July 24, and while pricing is still unknown, it’ll likely cost around $500 or so.

See at Honor

Huawei P20 + P20 Pro

• Huawei P20 and P20 Pro hands-on
• Huawei P20 and P20 Pro specs
• The Porsche Design Mate RS is a P20 Pro that costs $2000
• Join the discussion in the forums

Updated July 11, 2018: Moved the Huawei Nova 3 to The phones that have already come out section.

Android Phones With The Best Battery Life in 2018

• Best overall
• Best for hard workers
• Best for less

Best overall

Google Pixel 2 XL

See at Best Buy

The Google Pixel 2 XL is very large, but for that size you get a 3520mAh battery capacity to make sure you get through a full day with charge to spare. Google’s software is light, and has power management to make sure your phone is both powerful and efficient. The more advanced “battery saver” features of other phones aren’t present here, but from our experiences you don’t need those — the phone just does optimization on its own, and your battery lasts.

The battery life is hardly the only reason to buy the Pixel 2 XL. You also get Google’s fantastic software, along with years of guaranteed updates, and great performance. The camera is still one of the best available, and the hardware is solid as well. The only downside you can really find here is the below-average display.

Bottom line: Between a big battery, an efficient processor and Android Oreo’s various enhancements, the Pixel 2 XL is easily an all-day phone.

One more thing: The smaller Pixel 2 may be appealing with its lower price, but it doesn’t have proportionately good battery life.

Best for hard workers

BlackBerry KEY2

See at BlackBerry Mobile

The BlackBerry KEY2 is all about getting work done — just look at that hardware keyboard and you instantly figure that out. And you can’t do your work when your battery is dead, or even when you’re worried about running out of juice. So BlackBerry paired up an efficient processor with a 3500mAh battery to make sure you always get through the day.

On top of the larger-than-usual battery and efficient processor, you also get battery controls and alerts that make sure you won’t be caught without battery when you need it. The smaller display and simpler software on the KEY2 also help stretch every mAh to the fullest. You just won’t have to worry about charging mid-day on this phone.

Bottom-line: You won’t all of a sudden decide to use a hardware keyboard phone for the battery alone — but if you’re drawn to that keyboard, you’ll also be reassured the KEY2 won’t die prematurely.

One more thing: You’ll pay a little extra for the KEY2 than the capabilities would lead you to expect, but for specific users it’s definitely worth the money.

Best for less

Moto Z3 Play

See at Amazon

Motorola’s “Play” line has always focused on battery, and even as the battery sizes have decreased in successive generations the Moto Z3 Play still rules the roost in the mid-range segment. A 3000mAh battery doesn’t sound like a lot, but the Snapdragon 636 processor is super efficient and Android 8.1 software helps make the most of it all.

But the Moto Z3 Play’s real benefit is a separate Moto Mod attachment that comes in the box, which in a snap adds another 2200mAh of capacity in a still-thin package . You can easily go through a full heavy day with just the internal battery — but add the included Moto Mod and you have a two-day phone.

The rest of the phone experience is textbook Moto, including clean software, robust hardware and a solid metal build. At $499 it’s quite expensive for the performance, but if you need that battery life on a budget it’s top of the list.

Bottom-line: The Moto Z3 Play can easily be a two-day phone, and the rest of the experience will make sure you actually want to use it that long.

One more thing: Amazon offers the Moto Z3 Play directly at a $50 discount.

Conclusion

Every phone maker has a claim about “all-day” battery life, but only a few live up to it. The Pixel 2 XL is a solid battery performer and also a great overall phone. Hard workers who may benefit from a hardware keyboard will love the BlackBerry KEY2’s battery, and if you don’t want to spend so much the Moto Z3 Play (and its included Moto Mod) will give you two days of charge-free use.

Best overall

Google Pixel 2 XL

See at Best Buy

The Google Pixel 2 XL is very large, but for that size you get a 3520mAh battery capacity to make sure you get through a full day with charge to spare. Google’s software is light, and has power management to make sure your phone is both powerful and efficient. The more advanced “battery saver” features of other phones aren’t present here, but from our experiences you don’t need those — the phone just does optimization on its own, and your battery lasts.

The battery life is hardly the only reason to buy the Pixel 2 XL. You also get Google’s fantastic software, along with years of guaranteed updates, and great performance. The camera is still one of the best available, and the hardware is solid as well. The only downside you can really find here is the below-average display.

Bottom line: Between a big battery, an efficient processor and Android Oreo’s various enhancements, the Pixel 2 XL is easily an all-day phone.

One more thing: The smaller Pixel 2 may be appealing with its lower price, but it doesn’t have proportionately good battery life.

Update July 2018: The entire list has been overhauled, with the Pixel 2 XL taking the top spot from the generally less appealing Huawei Mate 10 Pro. The new BlackBerry KEY2 replaces the KEYone, and the Moto Z3 Play comes in as a great option for less money.

Best Motorola Phones in 2018

Motorola continues to make compelling phones in a few different categories

The last few years have been one of quiet overhaul for Lenovo-owned Motorola, bringing all of its disparate product lines, from the inexpensive Moto E to the premium Moto Z, into a familiar aesthetic. We’ve seen a bunch of new phones come out in 2018 that cement Motorola as the budget king while also trying to get its Moto Z series in line with other budget flagships on the market.

With new phones like the Moto Z3 Play and another one coming in August, there’s plenty of reasons to be excited about Motorola in 2018 and beyond.

Moto Z3 Play

Released June 2018 The latest phone in Motorola’s Moto Z lineup is a minor improvement over its predecessor, but the Moto Z3 Play is still impressive nonetheless. For $499, you get a tall 18:9 display with plenty of power in the Snapdragon 636, along with a dual camera that goes the distance in most lighting environments.

Best of all, the phone still supports all the same Moto Mods that have been available since the first Moto Z device was released in 2016.

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Moto E5 series

Released May 2018 Motorola went bigger and more versatile with its Moto E5 series, featuring a regular model, a Play, and a Plus — just like the G6 lineup. Once again, only two of the models, the E5 Play and E5 Plus, are available in North America, but they’re both interesting for their own reasons. The Moto E5 Play features a durable black plastic body with a removable battery; the Moto E5 Plus has a large 6-inch screen and a massive 5000mAh battery.

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Moto G6 series

Released April 2018 With the Moto G6 series, Motorola cements itself as the most capable manufacturer of budget devices in the world. With three devices at three distinct price points, the G6 Play, G6, and G6 Plus are separated only by their specs, but they share the same tall, glass-clad body and 18:9 screen aspect ratios.

While the Moto G6 Plus isn’t available in North America, it’s widely available in Europe, Asia, and South America. The Moto G6 and G6 Play are available in North America unlocked or through various carriers.

Where to buy the Moto G6

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Moto X4

Released October 2017 The Moto X4 was the rebirth of the beloved Moto X lineup that disappeared shortly after Lenovo bought Motorola from Google. Now covered in glass, the Moto X4 was the first phone to ship with Amazon’s Alexa assistant built-in, and featured all of Motorola’s staple software features, including Moto Display. It was also Motorola’s first phone to feature a wide-angle secondary camera.

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Moto Z2 Play

Released June 2017 Motorola followed up the Moto Z Play pretty quickly, and the Moto Z2 Play is a worthy sequel that tries to bridge the gap between the more affordable Play and the regular “Z” flagship from 2016. The phone features a much sleeker design than its predecessor, shaving a full millimeter of thickness, but doing so cuts down on the battery by 15%.

Aside from the improved, all-metal chassis, the Z2 Play sports a much-improved 12MP camera with a wider aperture and Dual Pixel Focus technology, as well as a newer version of the oft-lauded Moto Display feature that we’ve grown to love so much.

Of course, the Z2 Play also supports Moto Mods, and was announced alongside three new add-ons that are also compatible with older versions.

Moto Z2 Play review

See at Motorola

Moto G5 and G5 Plus

Released March 2017 The Moto G5 series features two models of differing size, capability, and price. The Moto G5, which is not officially available in the U.S., cuts costs by sticking with plastic and only a splash of metal, while the G5 Plus goes decidedly mid-range with its Snapdragon 625 chip and up to 4GB of RAM. Both models feature improved cameras and batteries, but the G5 Plus manages to compete with devices twice the price thanks to a large-pixel sensor and a wide-open lens.

The Moto G5 and G5 Plus also reinforce a recognizable design language that began in 2016 with the Moto Z and Z Force. A wider, easier-to-use fingerprint sensor (now on the cheaper model, too), rounded sides and a circular camera module maintain visual continuity with the Moto Z line, and the metal makes both phones feel very good.

The Moto G5 Plus is still available, but it’s been largely supplanted by the Moto G6 series (above).

Moto G5 Plus review

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Updated July 2018: This post has been updated with the latest Motorola phones that you need to care about.

Cover a large home in strong Wi-Fi with the $219 Netgear Orbi 3-pack system

Wi-Fi Blanket.

The Netgear Orbi home mesh networking system 3-pack is down to $219.48 on Amazon. Just clip the $30 coupon to get in on the discount. This same kit sells for around $294 usually, and this price is the lowest we’ve ever seen.

The Orbi mesh networking system covers up to 6,000 square feet in high-performance Wi-Fi. It can produce speeds up to 2.2Gbps, and these satellites are designed to be compact so they can be placed conveniently throughout your home. All the satellites share a single name so you won’t have any network interruption when you go from room to room. Use the free Orbi app to set it all up in minutes.

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