How to take travel photos with just your smartphone

Big cameras mean big features — and trekking to a travel destination with gear heavy enough to put a kink in the neck and extra baggage fees in the airline ticket. Smartphone cameras, on the other hand, are perfect for travel photography. They are easy cameras to pack, because it’s always in your pocket, and the newest models have great specs for capturing great images (and videos) of entire vacations, from start to finish (you can also quickly share to social media to induce instant jealousy from your followers). But, are they ideal for travel photography — do you risk missing out on something by not bringing more advanced cameras?

To find out if a smartphone is up to snuff, we recently joined Adobe in the British Virgin Islands — with the turquoise waters of the Virgin Gorda Baths and Jost Van Dyke as backdrops — where the company challenged photographers to put down their DSLRs and spend an entire day shooting with nothing but our phone (we were guests of Adobe, but all opinions are our own). And while we were happy to return to the DSLR, we found today’s smartphones are indeed capable travel cameras and easier to manage while, say, hiking through beachside caves. For many of you, that’s probably not news. But with any camera, whether a DSLR or phone, photography requires an understanding of the basic ins and outs, which can go a long way. Here’s what travelers planning on wielding only a smartphone camera need to know.

Know your smartphone camera’s limitations

The key to actually getting good travel photos with a smartphone is to understand what your smartphone can do — and what it can’t. Most smartphones have a single lens with a wide-angle focal length, while the dual-lens models have a bit more versatility with a slight zoom. Either way, if you expect to zoom in to the top of the Eiffel Tower with just your smartphone, you’ll be sorely disappointed. Smartphones are simply too small to pack in much optical zoom, and the digital zoom only crops the photo for a pixelated close-up.

If you expect to zoom in to the top of the Eiffel Tower with just your smartphone, you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Smartphones also aren’t as adept in low light and have more limited hardware. Most smartphones can’t use a slow shutter speed for creative blur or low light. The camera sensor is much smaller than what’s inside a DSLR or even an advanced point-and-shoot, and the resolution is typically lower, so if you want to make a giant canvas print of your trip to hang on the walls, a smartphone probably isn’t the ideal travel camera for you.

Understand a smartphone camera’s strengths

Smartphone cameras may be more limited than dedicated cameras, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have their perks. First and foremost is the size. Besides easily fitting inside your carry-on or a pocket, smartphones are easier to carry around while exploring. Hiking in The Caves at the Baths on Virgin Gorda required fitting through some tight spaces, so shooting with a smartphone was easier than removing a heavy gear bag in order to hike through a crevice.

Hillary Grigonis/Digital Trends

While a smartphone’s built-in lens means you can’t zoom in to that far-off landmark, their wide-angle focal length are ideal for capturing landscapes. It’s easy to fit the scene in the photo, and if not, to use the built-in panorama mode.

DSLRs have better hardware, but smartphones have better software. As smartphone makers continue to look for ways to improve the camera without allocating any additional space, software solutions like built-in High Dynamic Range and Portrait Mode are born. Besides the in-camera options, there’s no shortage of apps to edit and share those images quickly.

Ditch the native camera app (most of the time)

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

One of the easiest ways to get more from your smartphone camera is to use a good third-party camera app instead of relying on the one that is preinstalled on a smartphone. These non-native camera apps tend to be rich with advanced features, making a smartphone shoot just a bit more like a DSLR with manual settings and the option to shoot RAW, which is an uncompressed file type that offers more flexibility for editing those images. The built-in app is good for casual shots, but when you want to edit travel photos to make them pop, an advanced camera app is great tool.

The shots shared here were taken using Adobe Lightroom CC for mobile, with a few taken with the iOS camera app on an iPhone 7, as well. Besides shooting in DNG (Adobe’s RAW format) Lightroom lets you manually adjust shutter speed, ISO, and white balance. Lightroom also has a built-in HDR mode that’s helpful in difficult light, and there are post-editing tools galore. If you have an Adobe CC subscription, you can sync your photos with your other devices or store in the cloud. The app is free to use, with a subscription required for some of the extra features.

Non-native camera apps tend to be rich with advanced features, making a smartphone shoot just a bit more like a DSLR.

But Lightroom isn’t the only mobile app out there. For example, we’ve recently fallen in love with Moment’s camera app, which provides plenty of manual adjustments and RAW capture, but in elegant and easy-to-use interface. Essentially, look for an app with manual controls, DNG shooting and an HDR mode. Start by reading our guide.

Pack a portable charger

Heavy use of a phone’s camera will wear down the battery quickly. Weak signal strength and heat can also negatively impact battery life, so in remote or hotter regions, having extra juice is very important. Bring a portable USB charger (see our favorites) to keep your phone topped up so you can stay out shooting until sunset. Turning the power save mode on, disabling Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, or turning airport mode on can also extend battery life.

Pack a waterproof case

Hillary Grigonis/Digital Trends

Many of today’s phones are dust and splash proof, but most can only survive brief and shallow dunks below the surface of water. For waterside destinations, pack a waterproof case (here are our favorite waterproof phones and cases). An inexpensive waterproof smartphone pocket with a lanyard keeps the device safe from splashes, while more rugged cases are designed for submerging the phone.

Leave enough free space for plenty of photos

Nothing quite deflates the moment like getting a pop-up message that you’re out of free space. Save any images on your smartphone to a hard drive to free up space before you leave, and if you have a smartphone with a micro SD slot, use one to keep shooting longer. Naturally, if you have Google Photos or iCloud, you can also back up images to the cloud to free up space on your device.

Take thoughtful compositions

Hillary Grigonis/Digital Trends

Good photography isn’t as much about the gear as it is about the photographer — that means, with some extra thought, you can improve your smartphone photos without investing in (or hauling) lots of gear. Preview the shot and consider ways to make the image better before snapping the photo. Are there any distracting elements that you can eliminate just by adjusting your perspective? Does the image improve when you kneel or hold the phone higher in the air? Does the image look better with some negative space, or centered on the subject? A few simple composition adjustments can go a long way improving the shots from smaller cameras.

Tap to focus and use exposure compensation

Hillary Grigonis/Digital Trends

Outside of the small size and software, simplicity expands the list of perks to using a smartphone for photography. If the focus isn’t quite right, tapping the screen adjusts the focus to that point. Most smartphone apps, even the built-in apps, also have exposure compensation, which will lighten or darken the image even if you don’t understand how to use the advanced settings.

Look for “good” light

Advanced photographers know how to spot or create the ideal light for the shot — but understanding a few basics can help travelers capture most postcard-like scenes. The position of the sun is typically best for photos early in the morning and later in the afternoon, and worst in the middle of the day. Plan to visit the top landmark on your list first thing in the morning or later in the evening.

Plan to visit the top landmark on your list first thing in the morning or later in the evening.

Shooting towards the sun is also tough to do with a smartphone camera, so consider where the sun will be when planning which landmark to see when.

Shoot in DNG and edit for the best results

One of the perks of using an advanced camera app, even if you don’t understand the manual settings yet, is DNG. A DNG is a type of RAW image file that contains more information than the typical JPEG. Because of that extra information, DNG files have more flexibility when editing later. If the image is too dark, for example, you can brighten a DNG file more than you can a JPEG. DNGs will take up a little more space on your smartphone, but the end result is usually worth it.

DNG files are designed for editing. Use a RAW photo editing app to adjust the brightness, color, contrast, and more. Some advanced camera apps, like Lightroom CC, have both a camera and editing tools built in while others are editing only. Other editing apps include VSCO, popular for film simulation effects, and PicsArt, popular for remixing photos.

Consider smartphone lenses and a mini tripod

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

You can’t swap out your phone’s lens for something else, but you can add a lens on top of it for more versatility. Add-on lenses will allow you to capture wider scenes, zoom in on something, or get up close for macro shots. That means packing a bit more, but on some trips, the versatility is worth carrying a pocket full of extra lenses.

A mini tripod can also come in handy for shooting in low light. Tripods also help take less awkward selfies — some advanced camera apps will have a timer in them, or you can try a tripod set with a Bluetooth remote like the Joby GorillaPod.

If the smartphone accessories are essential to getting those shots, tuck them into a carry-on so they don’t end up halfway between paradise and home in a shredded suitcase — which happens to be the reason none of the photos you see here were taken with add-on lenses or a tripod.

When should I pack a different camera?

Smartphone lenses cannot replace advanced cameras, but what they lack in hardware they make up for in size, software, and simplicity. That makes smartphone cameras fine for many different types of travel — but how do you know to invest in a better travel camera? If you want zoom, underwater diving capabilities or you want to make a large print from your adventure, a smartphone probably won’t quite cut it. A bridge-style zoom camera, waterproof compact or a mirrorless camera may be the better choice for those treks. 

For snapping wide-angle landscapes without gear sapping your energy on a long hike, you can capture better travel snapshots with a smartphone and a few tricks. Because if there’s anything carrying a 50 pound bag of DSLR gear on top of a fresh sunburn through three airports has taught us, it’s that sometimes, simplicity is a good thing.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best RAW camera apps for Android and iOS
• The best camera apps for Android
• The best travel camera you can buy
• What is a DSLR camera and how is it different from mirrorless?
• The best point-and-shoot cameras you can buy

Chromebook users may soon get the Pixel phone’s best feature: Its camera app

With Google continuing to blur the line between its Chrome operating system and Android, we’re now learning that Google may soon port the Google Camera app from its Android-powered Pixel line of smartphones to Chrome OS devices. Reddit users reported that they noticed a secondary camera app appeared inside the dock after Google rolled out an update to the Chrome OS on the dev channel. It’s unclear when Google intends to more broadly roll out the update that brings the new Google Camera app to all Chrome OS users.

“On mine the left one (only one) opens up the normal app, but once open in the dock it has the right icon,” Reddit user conman__1040 reported.

Reddit

In a posted screenshot of the two camera icons side by side, another Reddit user said that the left camera icon is the stock camera, while the one on the right is the new Google Camera app. Although a few users noted that both camera apps worked for them, some stated that the new camera app does nothing.

“Both of them work on my Samsung Chromebook Plus,” Reddit user bicyclemom wrote. Analysis of the code commit and Google’s relevant bug report indicates that the new Google Camera app will only open on Chrome OS devices that can run Android apps, which is why the app works for Pixelbook users and bicyclemom’s Samsung Chromebook Plus. For devices where both camera apps will work, it’s unclear if Google will prioritize one app over the other. “Whether the stock Chrome OS camera app or the Google Camera app is opened will be ‘determined dynamically,’” XDA-Developers reported based on its code analysis.

Given the Google Pixel’s excellent computational photography capabilities delivered through Google’s Camera app on Android, it makes sense for Google to bring its highly rated camera experience to Chrome OS. An improved camera experience may not be as useful on today’s Pixelbook given that the device doesn’t have a rear-facing camera, it could help push newer devices with mobile-friendly form factors, such as tablets and detachables. Chrome OS tablets, including the detachable HP Chromebook x2 and Acer Chromebook Tab 10, could be used as alternatives to traditional iPad and Android tablets, and an improved camera experience could allow these devices to be used for documentation purposes in business and educational environments.

Additionally, Google is also rumored to launch a new Pixelbook this fall, and there have been speculations that this device could come with a detachable keyboard, making it a good challenger to Microsoft’s recently announced Surface Go and a new crop of iPad tablets that are slated for a refresh this fall. A rear-facing camera on a Chrome detachable or tablet, coupled with an improved camera app, will make these devices more competitive.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The Pixelbook could soon run Windows 10
• New Chrome OS features make your Chromebook a better Windows replacement
• Chromebooks will start to feel more like Windows, but in a good way
• The best Chromebooks of 2018
• Google prepares an always-connected Chromebook to take on Microsoft

Pictures of a blank GeForce GTX 1180 card reveal connectors and memory slots

Pictures of the upcoming GeForce GTX 1180 graphics card have supposedly surfaced on Baidu showcasing only the card’s printed circuit board. Based on the certification logos, it’s a final design and presumably a reference board used by Nvidia’s hardware partners to create their own GTX 1180 add-in graphics cards.

Based on the layout, the GTX 1180 will provide six- and eight-pin power connectors. The current GTX 1080 requires only one eight-pin power connector, thus this second six-pin connector may be tied into Nvidia’s rumored GeForce GTX 1180+ card to help power the extra speed. More on that in a second.

The design also reveals eight slots orbiting the GPU chip’s empty seat for the onboard memory. Presumably, Nvidia will use Micron’s new GDDR6 now in mass production to provide 8GB of onboard memory for the GTX 1180. Rumors claim the card will also have 16GB, which is where the GTX 1180+ may come into play. This extra memory, along with higher GPU speeds, could require that second 6-pin connector to handle the additional power needs.

In addition to the memory, the board showcases new SLI “fingers” used to connect two GeForce cards. They’re presumed to include Nvidia’s NVLink technology used in its server-bound products, which provides higher bandwidth between multiple processors. In the case of Nvidia’s GTX 11 Series, NVLink should enable insane super-high details at super-high framerates in games using two cards or more.

Along the side you’ll see four video-out connections, three of which are likely DisplayPort and HDMI. The fourth small connector suggests a possible USB-C port, but that may actually be Nvidia’s proprietary connector for virtual reality headsets. It will supposedly be based on the current HDMI 2.1 specification and support 120Hz refresh rates over a single cable.

Photos of the final printed circuit board design shouldn’t be surprising given Nvidia is getting ready to launch its GeForce GTX 11 Series family. The company now confirms its previously rumored GeForce Gaming Celebration event taking place just before the Gamescom convention in Germany. Nvidia doesn’t specifically state the GTX 11 Series will make its debut but instead touts “spectacular surprises” and “new PC games running on the latest GeForce hardware.”

What’s unclear about Nvidia’s new graphics card portfolio are the names they’ll use. We typically refer to them as the GTX 11 Series family although rumors in the past have referred to the GTX 2080 and GTX 2070.

Also unclear are the names of the actual chips: We presume Nvidia will use GT104 for the 1180 card, but Nvidia already used “GT” part names with its Tesla design. That second letter is typically associated with the chip design’s codename, which would be “Turing” in this case. Given the Tesla chips used GT200-based labels, Nvidia may still be safe using GT100 labels.

A supposed email from one of Nvidia’s hardware partners to a retailer claims the GeForce GTX 1180 will arrive on August 30, 2018, followed by the GTX 1170 and GTX 1180+ on September 30 and the GTX 1160 on October 30. The dates could be bogus or possibly delayed given the current overstock of Nvidia’s current GeForce GTX 10 series.

Google will warn businesses if state-sponsored hackers target G Suite users

In an effort to protect its business users from hacking, Google is rolling out a new feature for G Suite users that will let organizations know if any of their users have been targeted by a government-backed attack. By default, the warning feature is disabled, but administrators can turn on the feature to receive an email alert if Google detects any state-sponsored hacking attempts have been made, Google said in a blog post detailing the update. These hacking attempts can range from phishing, malware, or other means.

To enable the alerts, G Suite administrators can navigate to the Admin Console, click on Reports, select Manage Alerts, and go to the Government-backed hack option.

Even if an administrator receives an alert, it doesn’t mean that the user’s account has been compromised, Google cautioned. However, if an administrator feels that more action is necessary, Google also provides some simple tools to take action. Administrators can alert the user, share more details about the hacking attempts with the user, secure the user account, and manage alerts within the administrator dashboard.

While the alert gives organizations more insight into potential cyberattacks on their users, the feature isn’t new. Google has been warning Gmail users of government-backed hacks for years.

“Since 2012, we’ve warned our users if we believe their Google accounts are being targeted by government-backed attackers,” Google said. “We send these out of an abundance of caution — the notice does not necessarily mean that the account has been compromised or that there is a widespread attack. Rather, the notice reflects our assessment that a government-backed attacker has likely attempted to access the user’s account or computer through phishing or malware, for example.” These alerts are usually sent when Google detects phishing emails, attachments with malware, or brute-force attacks.

Google’s G Suite announcement comes after the company experienced criticism for Gmail’s new confidentiality mode, with the Department of Homeland Security expressing concern that protected email links may have the unintended consequence of leading to more phishing victims.

Given the rising number of cyberattacks, Microsoft also recently launched similar protections for its users through a new AccountGuard pilot program. Unlike Google’s efforts, Microsoft’s AccountGuard is only available at this time for accounts from political organizations, according to a report from Bleeping Computer. “This service is part of Microsoft’s ‘Election Defense Technologies’ and is offered on a non-partisan basis by invitation only,” the site reported.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Massive Gmail redesign rollout will begin in earnest in July
• Google adds snooze button, Google Pay to Gmail for iOS
• Homeland Security is worried about Gmail’s confidentiality mode
• Leaked Android app shows message scheduling is coming to Google’s Gmail
• Need a nudge? Gmail’s new email reminder system goes live

Best Galaxy S9+ Cases

Pump, pump, pump it up!

The Galaxy S9+ is a stunning slab of metal and glass. But that stunning slab quickly turns to a sorry slab the moment you drop it onto the ground. As hard as it may be to hide that nice design, a case is almost a requirement with these phones.

If you’re looking for a case for your Samsung Galaxy S9+, look no further! If you’re looking for a case for the smaller Galaxy S9, check out our list of those.

• Samsung Alcantara Cover
• HOVED Slim Fit
• Besiva Ultra Slim
• Besiva Tempered Glass Back Cover
• Maxboost Wallet Case
• Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone
• Spigen Thin Fit 360
• SUPCASE Full-Body Rugged Holster case
• Trianium Clarium Clear Hybrid
• Maxboost HyperPro Case
• WIH-CH Protection Case
• Xawy Slim Fit Shell

Samsung Alcantara Cover

Most Stylish

If you want to stick to first-party options, Samsung has you — and your phone — covered. Samsung’s Alcantara cover is on the spendy side, but with good reason: it’s cut precisely for your phone, and the Alcantara will feel luxurious in your hands. You get easy ample cutouts for the cameras, flash, fingerprint sensor and other ports. There are also covers for the power, volume and Bixby buttons so you don’t have to dig your finger in to activate your favorite voice assistant.

With a recent price cut to $25, you can get a luxurious case for not a lot of money. The Samsung Alcantara Cover is available in black, blue, and red.

See at Amazon

HOVED Slim Fit

Slim Choice

Sometimes, you just need a bit of extra grip for your phone. One case that does just that is HOVED’s slim fit case. You get the bare minimum amount of protection, but it’ll still be better than leaving your phone naked. Also, the extra bit of grip may be the difference between having a firm hold on your phone and it slipping out of your hands. HOVED’s slim fit case still offers easy access to all the phone’s ports, as well as precise cutouts for the cameras, flash and fingerprint sensor. Again, the buttons are covered so you don’t need to dig your finger down into the case itself.

All in all, HOVED’s slim fit case is perfect for those that don’t want much bulk but still want a bit of protection. At $11, it’s a worthwhile investment for your phone. The HOVED Slim Fit case is only available in black at the time of writing.

See at Amazon

Besiva Ultra Slim Cover Case

Even Slimmer

I’m not sure this case actually qualifies as “ultra slim,” but it’s a solid choice nonetheless. You get a super rugged case that can handle plenty of drops and tumbles, but you also get an integrated Spigen-esque metal ring on the back. But wait, we’re not done yet! Inside that metal ring is a magnet, making this the perfect companion for a magnetic car mount. One downside is the lack of a front lip, meaning you’ll also want to invest in a screen protector. Also, it’s likely the metal ring will interfere with wireless charging.

The Besiva Ultra Slim Cover Case is available in black for $10.

See at Amazon

Besiva Tempered Glass Back Cover

More glass

If you like the way the back glass of your phone feels, but want a little bit of protection, Besiva has another great case for you. Its Tempered Glass Back Cover works the same way a Tempered Glass screen protector would work: you get a second layer of glass to keep the phone itself from getting scratched or cracking. This case also offers a rubber bumper for the frame, and there’s enough room around front for a front screen protector, so you have a double decker glass sandwich. Since this is just a glass case, NFC will still work for Google Pay, and you’ll be able to see whichever color option you selected for the phone.

Besiva’s Tempered Glass Back Cover is available for $9.

See at Amazon

Maxboost Wallet Case

Best Wallet

Wallet cases are a great way to consolidate all the things in your pockets, and Maxboost has a wallet case just for the S9+. You get three slots for cards and IDs — there’s no ID card window, unfortunately — and you can prop the case on itself to create a phone stand. There’s also a small pouch for paper currency, and a magnetic flap to keep it all together. Because the S9+ has its volume buttons on the left side, you’ll need to open the case to crank your music up. That’s unfortunate, but it’ll be true of any wallet case for the S9 series.

At $13, the Maxboost Wallet Case is a low-cost way to declutter your pockets and protect your phone. At the time of writing, it is only available in black leather.

See at Amazon

Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone

Hybrid Option

Spigen has been making phone cases since dinosaurs roamed the earth, and they have a good variety of styles to protect your phone. One of the more unique styles is their Neo Hybrid line with Herringone pattern. You can protect your phone, while also matching styles with your necktie. The case comes in two parts: a TPU layer that hugs your phone, and a hard plastic bumper frame for extra protection. Spigen highlights that the case still allows for Qi wireless charging, which is something thicker cases may interfere with.

The Spigen Neo Hybrid Herringbone case is available in a variety of colors for between $15 and $17. If the Herringbone style doesn’t strike your fancy, Spigen has plenty of other cases for the S9+.

See at Amazon

Spigen Thin Fit 360

Best Value

Spigen has another great option for those who want the thinnest possible case that still offers a good deal of protection. The Thin Fit 360 case comes in four pieces: a back plate, top and bottom plates and a tempered glass screen protector. The buttons are covered by the case as well, so you don’t have to struggle to use them. You still have easy access to the fingerprint sensor, charging port and headphone jack as well. The case also includes a tray for Spigen’s magnetic plates, so you can use this with one of Spigen’s magnetic car mounts.

Spigen’s Thin Fit 360 case is available in black, lilac purple, and coral blue between $18 and $20.

See at Amazon

SUPCASE Full-Body Rugged Holster case

Most Rugged

Another great option if you toss your phone around a lot is SUPCASE’s Rugged Holster case. You don’t have to use the included holster, but the option is there. There is a generous lip around the front of the phone, helping protect the screen from getting cracked. There are flaps over the charging and audio ports, helping protect your phone’s insides from dirt and dust. And while the case is thick, you’ll still be able to use wireless charging.

The SUPCASE Full-Body Rugged Holster case is available in black, blue, pink, and white between $18 and $23.

See at Amazon

Trianium Clarium Clear case

Keep it Clear

All of the other cases hide the design of the phone. If you bought one of the exotic colors the phone is available in, you’ll want to show off that design. A clear case is perfect to give you more grip on the phone, protect the phone when your grip fails, and still show off those crazy colors. Trianium makes an excellent clear case that does just that. There isn’t much front protection, but it is compatible with most screen protectors. You get easy access to the ports, fingerprint sensor, and buttons, and since it’s a thin case wireless charging will work without issue.

The Trianium Clarium Clear case is available for $5. There’s also a black tinted version available for $10.

See at Amazon

Maxboost HyperPro Case

Mid-Range Option

If you want a clear case with a bit more protection, Maxboost has just the case for you. The back of the case is perfectly clear for showing off the lovely color of your phone, but there’s a thicker rubber around the edges of the phone, where it’s most vulnerable to drops. The case works perfectly with wireless chargers, and you have easy access to all of the ports, buttons and the fingerprint sensor. One downside is there’s not much of a lip of the front of the case, so the display may be scratched up if you set it down on a rough surface.

Maxboost’s HyperPro case is available in black/clear, orange/clear and black/smoke flavors between $10 and $13.

See at Amazon

WIH-CH Protection Case

Add a Kickstand

One more rugged option comes from WIH-CH. Their protection case is rugged enough to survive most drops, features a kickstand for movie watching, and even has a since card slot behind the kick stand. If you’re taking your phone hiking, this case would be perfect for carrying your ID with you, while being able to buy things with Samsung Pay or Google Pay. You still have generous cut-outs for the ports, camera, fingerprint sensor, as well as covers for the buttons. There’s a slight lip around the front of the case, but I’d still be wary about placing the phone face down.

The WIH-CH Protection Case is available in black for $8.

See at Amazon

Xawy Slim Fit Shell

Wonderful weave

If you want your case to have a truly unique pattern, go for Xawy’s Slim Fit Shell. With its cross-hatch pattern, your phone will easily stand out from the crowd. That pattern also adds an extra bit of grip and shock resistance. There are also tiny heat dissipation holes, in case you’re worried about your phone overheating. There are generous cutouts for the charging and audio ports, fingerprint sensor, cameras and flash, as well as covers for the buttons. While this case won’t be as rugged as some of the other options, it should handle drops from table height with no worries.

Xawy’s Slim Fit Shell is available in black for $8.

See at Amazon

What say you?

Which case are you using on your Galaxy S9+? Let us know down below!

Updated July 2018: Added the Besiva Tempered Glass and Xawy cases, and updated the prices.

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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Bookshelf speakers, computer desks, robot vacuums, and more are all discounted today

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

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on Aukey’s computer desk, KEF Q100 bookshelf speakers, robotic vacuum cleaners, and more! Most of these prices will be gone when the day ends, so don’t miss your chance to save big!

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

Should you buy Fortnite for PS4, or is the free version good enough?

Fortnite is the newest Battle Royale game, but it comes with more features that you have to pay for. Is the game worth the money?

Fortnite: Battle Royale has become a big hit this year on PlayStation 4, and most of the hype comes from it being free. However, Fortnite does have a paid version that is similar to the Battle Royale, but with entirely different gameplay.

Is the full version of Fortnite worth buying, or could it just be a waste of your money? Take a look!

See at PlayStation Store

Battle Royale vs. Save the World

Battle Royale is a fun PvP game you get for free when you download Fortnite, and it’s become a big hit across many platforms. Whether you play by yourself, with another player, or with three other people, you have to go against 100 people to become the Victory Royale. It’s very similar to PUBG with its own little twist: building forts to protect yourself from other players.

If you’re looking for another online game where you can just run around and take people down, then you’ll love the Battle Royale version of this game. However, if you’re just looking for a fun PvE game, then Save the World is definitely for you.

Save the World, the paid version of Fortnite, puts you on a team with other players as you go through and kill the zombies that are terrorizing the survivors. You have to build forts to protect certain objects and people throughout the game, as well as craft your own guns and ammo. I also like that it gives you a back story to the Battle Royale version of the game, explaining the Storm and why it is there.

Basically, the paid version of the game gives you objectives and a story that can be fairly rewarding as you sink time into it. You’re also supporting the people who actually made the game by buying Save the World, but let’s be honest — the additional gameplay is the real hook here.

Is Fortnite: Save the World worth it?

Save the World is $40 so it’s a bit of a pricey game, and it’s still early access. There is room for improvement, but I believe the game is wonderful, especially taking into consideration that it’s not complete. If you’re looking for something that will be better than the Battle Royale mode, you won’t find it in this game, but it is just as good in my opinion.

The only downside I found to the Save the World mode is the fact that the controls are different than in Battle Royale. It’s strange to me that the controls are not universal, as they changed the way you can select materials or different guns. I find myself accidentally throwing a grenade when I just want to build a floor instead of a wall. It took some getting used to, and I hope it’s something they’ll fix when the game is fully released.

I’m glad I purchased it, because it is certainly a lot of fun, and it’s helped my performance in the Battle Royale mode quite a bit. It has a tutorial you can go through which can help when you’re building structures and trying to survive against other players. This game is definitely worth spending forty bucks on, and it can be just as fun to play alongside players as opposed to against them.

See at PlayStation Store

It might be worth waiting

While Fortnite’s Save the World mode is great fun and would ordinarily be worth $40, the fact that Epic is planning to make that mode free upon the game’s full, official launch means it may be worth waiting. If you’re just curious about the mode in between rounds of Fortnite Battle Royale, we’d suggest waiting until the game goes free-to-play at some point later this year. If your interest goes a bit beyond curiosity, then, by all means, pay your ticket for a fresh take on the zombie defense genre.

Will you be purchasing Fortnite?

Let us know in the comments below if you will be getting your hands on Fortnite: Save the World!

Upated July 2018: We’ve clarified that Save the World will be free-to-play at some point down the line.

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How to use Samsung DeX from a regular USB-C hub

Don’t spend money you don’t have to.

While it may not be the main attraction of the Galaxy series, Samsung’s DeX is a great way to expand your phone onto a full desktop interface. These are still the same mobile apps you know and (hopefully) love, but on a bigger screen. That sounds awful on paper, but each app gets its own window, there’s a Windows-like desktop launcher you can fill with icons, and there’s a taskbar at the bottom just like full desktop operating systems.

But Dex comes with a price. You need to have a Galaxy flagship after the Galaxy S8, but the main barrier to entry is that you need one of Samsung’s DeX docks. That’s another $100 on top of the cost of the phone, so it’s something most users won’t bother with. Even I — a tryer of all things — didn’t feel like it was worth the money to try DeX.

Then one night, I plugged my Galaxy S8 into the same USB-C hub that I use with my Chromebook. I was too lazy to remove the USB-C power supply from the hub and plug the phone in that way, and my other USB-C power cords were in the other room — so they basically didn’t exist. I plugged the phone in, started making dinner, and lo and behold, DeX starting appearing on my monitor.

Which hubs can you use with DeX?

Thing is, I’m not sure why it worked on this hub and not others I’ve used in the past. I’m using ARKTEK’s USB-C hub that features two USB-A ports, but ARKTEK’s other hub with one USB-A port didn’t work. Nor did AUKEY’s USB-C hub.

One theory I had was that this hub passes more power to the phone than others. So, I plugged in a Satechi USB-C power meter to find out just how much juice was flowing. After a few minutes to let the phone and hub negotiate the charge, the charging rate setting around 4.8 volts at 1 amp. Or simply, 4.8 watts. That’s a tiny amount of power, and any USB-C hub should be able to pass that much since the hub will likely be used with laptops that draw more power.

The other theory is just how each dock handles HDMI video. There’s no way to measure this, it’s just something you have to try. Nothing bad will happen to your phone if you plug it into your USB-C hub, and even if it doesn’t work you’re only out a couple minutes of your time.

What’s next?

Samsung isn’t going to advertise which USB-C hubs will trigger DeX, since it still wants you to spend money for its dock. At least… for now. XDA states that Samsung may be looking to officially let DeX work with USB-C hubs with the Galaxy Note 9 release. If you don’t already have a USB-C hub — or your current hub doesn’t work with DeX — it’s not a bad idea to wait until the Note 9 announcement for Samsung to say something official. If DeX does work with your USB-C hub right now, no need to worry.

What are your thoughts?

Do you use DeX often? Let us know down below!

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Moto Z3 hands-on preview: A Verizon exclusive that adds a 5G flourish

It may look familiar, but this phone goes to 5G.

Motorola’s newest phone looks a lot like its other newest phone — and that’s no accident.

The Moto Z3 (no Force) is a Verizon-exclusive version of the Moto Z3 Play, and while it shares much the same spec sheet, there are a couple of upgrades — and one particular exclusive feature — that will keep it differentiated. Of course, it supports Moto Mods (more on that in a bit), but at its core, it’s a 2017-era smartphone from a specs perspective in a 2018 body.

Operating system	Android 8.1Moto Display, Voice, Actions
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
GPU	Adreno 540 GPU
Screen	6.01-inch Full HD (2160×1080) AMOLED
Materials	Gorilla Glass 3 6000 series aluminum
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB
Expandability	microSD up to 2TB
Rear camera	12MP, Dual Autofocus Pixel phase-detect, laser autofocus 1.25um pixels f/2.0 lens dual-LED flash
Rear camera 2	12MP black & white Phase detection autofocus portrait mode
Video capture	720p (120fps), 1080p, 4K (30fps)
Front camera	8MP 1.12-micron pixels f/2.0 wide-angle lens
Connectivity	USB-C (USB-C to 3.5mm adapter included)
Speaker	Single front-facing
Moto Mods support	Yes
Water resistance	Water-repellent coating
Security	Side fingerprint sensor, face unlock
NFC	Yes
Battery	3000mAhTurboPower charger (8 hrs battery in 15 min)
Colors	Deep Indigo
Dimensions	76.5 x 156.5 x 6.75 mm
Weight	156g

That means a Snapdragon 835 instead of an 845, and 4GB of RAM instead of the increasingly common 6GB or 8GB. The 6-inch screen is the same AMOLED panel as on the Play, too, for better or worse, with a 2160×1080 pixel resolution, as is the 3,000mAh battery.

On the camera side, there’s a dual 12MP camera setup, with 4K video support. Both sensors are upgrades over the Play — the secondary sensor, in particular, is black and white, promising better low-light photos. Up front, there’s an 8MP selfie camera.

The phone’s design is a known quantity: covered with Gorilla Glass 3 on both sides, there’s a right-side fingerprint sensor, a left-side power button, and very fast face unlock support. Moto Mods support is particularly important here, too, because this is the only phone in the Moto Z lineup to support 5G.

As part of the launch, Motorola and Verizon are co-launching a 5G-compatible Moto Mod that will launch in early 2019, allowing the carrier’s four supported cities (Houston, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and another unannounced one) to connect where the gigabit-plus speeds are available.

It uses the previously-announced Snapdragon X50 platform, which includes four millimeter-wave antennas operating at 28GHz, with support up to 5Gbps in ideal conditions.

So how does the 5G Moto Mod work? It’s actually pretty interesting. When attached to the back of the phone using the magnetic pogo pins, the X50 modem kicks in and, if there’s sufficient signal, takes over the download and upload responsibilities from the X16 modem in the phone’s Snapdragon 835. When there’s a phone call, based on the current 5G spec, it falls back to the phone’s modem.

But there’s a separate, much-faster X24 LTE modem in the 5G Mod, too, offering LTE speeds of up to 2Gbps over existing LTE networks. If you’ll recall, the X24 was announced alongside the X50 in February, and it’s the world’s first product built on a 7nm process. It only achieves those vaunted 2Gbps speeds using 20 spatial streams and 5x carrier aggregation, or up to 7x carrier aggregation with fewer individual streams.

The Moto Z3 will be available at Verizon on August 16 for $480 outright, or $20 per month for 24 months. The 5G Moto Mod doesn’t have pricing or specific availability just yet, but Motorola says it will release it in “early 2019” when Verizon’s 5G network is a bit more mature and ready for mobile connections.

See at Motorola

The Moto Z3 is official and coming to Verizon on August 16

There’s also a new 5G Moto Mod!

At a press event at its HQ in Chicago, Motorola officially announced the Moto Z3 on Thursday, August 2. This is a more powerful version of the Z3 Play that was unveiled earlier this year, and similar to past Z flagships, the Z3 will be sold exclusively on Verizon in the United States.

The Z3 looks a lot like the Z3 Play with its 6-inch bezel-lite Super AMOLED display and dual 12MP rear cameras, but under the hood, you’ll find more powerful internals like the Snapdragon 835, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of internal storage.

Like we were expecting, Motorola stuck with a similar design once again as to accommodate all of the Moto Mods that have been released up until this point. Speaking of Mods, the Z3 is launching alongside Motorola’s latest snap-on accessory that brings 5G speeds to the phone.

The 5G Moto Mod won’t be available until 2019.

There’s no word quite yet as to how much the 5G Moto Mod will cost, but once it’s available, you’ll be able to place it on the back of the Z3 and access Verizon’s 5G network (assuming you live in a market that’s covered by it). So far, Verizon’s confirmed that it’ll bring residential 5G access to Houston, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and one other unnamed city by the second half of this year. In 2019, a “mobile 5G solution” will be released so more people can access the upgraded network.

The Moto Z3 is launching on August 16 and will be available for $20/month for 24 months — working out to a final retail price of just $480. To sweeten the deal, Verizon’s offering up to $300 off when you switch and trade in your current phone.

As for the 5G Moto Mod, Motorola says it’ll be available early next year.

Moto Z3 hands-on preview: A Verizon exclusive that adds a 5G flourish