Tag Heuer shoots, scores with new Premier League smartwatch watch face

If you own one of Tag Heuer’s Connected smartwatches, whether it’s the Connected Modular 45 or our preferred model, the Connected Modular 41, and are a soccer fan, the company has the watch face for you. It’s designed to keep you up-to-date with all the 2018-2019 Premier League season’s developments, right on your wrist.

Tag Heuer announced the special interactive watch face to celebrate the extension of its partnership with England’s top flight league. Tag Heuer will continue timing games — the company was the very first official Premier League timekeeper — whether its while the match is in progress, or through the international television broadcasts.

The exciting part about the watch face is the deep customization, as rather than follow each team and risk an overload of information, the watch face can be linked to your favorite team. This way all the match timings, live updates, player changes, and the scores delivered will be ones you want to see. Notifications can also be added, providing alerts on when the game starts, and goals scored at exactly the time they happen. Tag Heuer’s going to want to make sure all this is accurate too. Its reputation is at stake.

If you think this sounds slightly familiar, it’s similar to the way Hublot’s Big Bang Referee smartwatch operated during the World Cup. The special, limited edition watch provided up-to-date information on games, including goal alerts, was worn by World Cup referees, and shown off at the Baselworld 2018 watch fair. Hublot and Tag Heuer are both part of the LMVH luxury product conglomerate.

Additionally, Tag Heuer has also collaborated with sports teams and personalities in the past. Several big-name sports stars including Tom Brady and Jeremy Lin have designed custom Wear OS watch faces, for example. The Connected Modular range of watches also includes special editions linked to sports sponsored by Tag Heuer, with the most recent being a stunning collaboration with F1’s Aston Martin Red Bull Racing.

For now, though, it’s all about soccer (or football, whatever works for you). Sadly, if you’re a Premier League fan without a Tag Heuer smartwatch, you won’t be able to use the watch face on any other Wear OS device — it’s an exclusive to the brand. Those lucky enough to have a Connected Modular watch on their wrist, can download the watch face for free from Google Play now.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Tag Heuer Connected Modular 41 review
• How VAR and instant replay have transformed the 2018 World Cup (so far)
• Here is everything you need to know about the Fitbit Versa
• WatchOS 5 brings Walkie-Talkie, Podcast features, and much more
• The best smartwatches

These are all the Android Go phones available today

Entry-level phones from the cheap to the… very cheap.

Android Go is Google’s latest effort to make the experience of owning an entry-level Android phone less frustrating. The $100 price point is overrun by phones that come with outdated versions of Android and underpowered hardware, and Android Go is designed to fix these shortcomings. Aimed primarily at markets like India and Africa — where hundreds of millions of users are projected to make their way online for the first time in the coming years — Android Go aims to offer an uncluttered software experience.

Android Go is a barebones take on Android that is designed specially to run on low-powered hardware — devices with 4GB of storage and 512MB of RAM. Google created lightweight versions of its apps that work better on entry-level hardware, and the OS takes up a mere fraction of the space as a full-fledged Android install. Sure, the hardware isn’t the fastest around, but you’re getting the promise of quick updates and a markedly better user experience.

There are nine Android Go phones currently available in various regions around the world, and Samsung is set to announce its own product in this series shortly. There are hardware limitations in place for a device to be certified for Android Go, so a lot of the phones in this list share a similar set of specs. That said, you’ll see a lot of variety in terms of the design.

Alcatel 1X (U.S., UK)

Screen	5.3-inch 18:9 IPS LCD (960×480)
SoC	1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6739
RAM	1GB
Storage	16GB
Camera	8MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	2460mAh
Security	Fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	147.5 x 70.6 x 9.1mm
Weight	151g
Colors	Black, Blue
Price	$99

The Alcatel 1X is one of the few Android Go devices that offers an 18:9 display. That isn’t saying much as there are considerable bezels up front, but it is better in comparison with the rest of the phones on this list.

You also get 16GB of storage and an 8MP camera at the back, and the 2460mAh battery is more than adequate to last an entire day without any issues.

With Android Go phones tailored at the $100 price point, one of the features that manufacturers have had to abandon is the fingerprint sensor, but that isn’t the case on the 1X. The phone has a fingerprint sensor located at the back, and it’s perfectly serviceable.

Best of all, the Alcatel 1X is up for sale in the U.S. for $99 unlocked.

See at Amazon

Nokia 1 (Global)

Screen	4.5-inch IPS LCD (854×480)
SoC	1.1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737M
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Camera	5MP
Front Camera	2MP
Battery	2150mAh
Security	PIN
Dimensions	133.6 x 67.8 x 9.5mm
Weight	131g
Colors	Warm Red, Dark Blue
Price	₹4,850 ($70) | £79.99 ($105)

The Nokia 1 is widely available across the world, making it the default option for those looking to try out Android Go. The phone has a vibrant design with a colorful polycarbonate back covers that can be easily switched out — like Nokias of old.

The phone has large bezels at the front and there isn’t a fingerprint sensor, but at $70 the Nokia 1 is one of the most affordable devices on this list.

See at Amazon UK

Nokia 2.1 (Global)

Screen	5.5-inch IPS LCD (1280×720)
SoC	1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 425
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Camera	8MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	4000mAh
Security	PIN
Dimensions	153.6 x 77.6 x 9.7mm
Weight	174g
Colors	Blue/Copper, Blue/Silver, Grey/Silver
Price	$115

At its core, the Nokia 2.1 is an entry-level phone with a massive battery. The 720p 5.5-inch display paired with a 4000mAh battery allows the phone to deliver at least two days’ worth of battery life without breaking a sweat.

The Nokia 2.1 is one of the very few devices on this list to feature a Qualcomm chipset — there’s a Snapdragon 425 under the hood with four Cortex A53 cores clocked up to 1.4GHz.

Elsewhere, you’ll find an aluminum mid-frame, which adds rigidity to the device and makes it one of the sturdiest Android Go phones available, and there’s a plastic back that feels great to hold.

You also get stereo speakers up front, FM radio, and Gorilla Glass protection on the panel. The Nokia 2.1 is set to go on sale very soon for the equivalent of $115.

See at Nokia

Moto E5 Play with Android Oreo (Go Edition) (UK)

Screen	5.3-inch 18:9 IPS LCD (960×480)
SoC	1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 425
RAM	1GB
Storage	16GB
Camera	8MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	2100mAh
Security	Fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	151 x 74 x 9mm
Weight	150g
Colors	Flash Gray, Black, Dark Lake
Price	€109 ($125)

Motorola unveiled the Moto E5 Plus and E5 Play back in April and has now rolled out an Android Go variant of the Moto E5 Play that’s slated to make its way to the UK.

Whereas the standard variant of the E5 Play comes with a 5.2-inch 16:9 screen, the Moto E5 Play with Android Oreo (Go Edition) features a 5.3-inch 18:9 panel.

As it is running Android Go, the device now comes with 1GB of RAM (instead of 2GB for the regular model).

The phone will launch in the UK shortly and will make its way across Europe and Latin America in the coming months.

Huawei Y3 2018 (South Africa)

Screen	5.0-inch IPS LCD (854×480)
SoC	1.1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737M
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Camera	8MP
Front Camera	2MP
Battery	2280mAh
Security	PIN
Dimensions	145.1 x 73.7 x 9.5mm
Weight	175g
Colors	Gold, White, Gray
Price	R999 ($75)

The Huawei Y3 is primarily sold in African countries, with the phone making its debut earlier this year in South Africa. The phone has a clean design, with Huawei focusing on the single loudspeaker located at the back — the company says it’s one of the loudest in this segment.

There’s also an 8MP f/2.0 camera, and the 2280mAh battery is good enough for a day’s worth of use.

Interestingly, the phone features the F2FS file system over the more conventional EXT4, and Huawei says it is better-optimized for the Y3’s intended use case.

See at Huawei

ASUS ZenFone Live L1 (SE Asia)

Screen	5.5-inch 18:9 IPS LCD (1440×720)
SoC	1.4GHz quad-core Snapdragon 425
RAM	1GB/2GB
Storage	16GB/32GB
Camera	13MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	3000mAh
Security	PIN
Dimensions	147.3 x 71.8 x 8.2mm
Weight	150g
Colors	Space Blue, Rose Pink, Shimmer Gold, Midnight Black
Price	$105

The ZenFone Live L1 marks ASUS’ foray into Android Go, and the phone is now available in Indonesia — with other Asian markets set to receive the device shortly.

When it comes to specs, the Live L1 is the most interesting phone yet in this space. The phone has a 5.5-inch 18:9 panel with an HD+ resolution, and like the Nokia 2.1 and the Moto G5 Play, it is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 425.

It also has a 13MP rear camera, and ASUS is selling the device in two variants — one with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage, and a model with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.

The hardware combined with the variety of color options on offer make the Live 1 a great choice in this category.

See at ASUS

Micromax Bharat Go (India)

Screen	4.5-inch IPS LCD (854×480)
SoC	1.1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737М
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Camera	5MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	2000mAh
Security	PIN
Dimensions	136.5 x 67 x 9.6mm
Weight	130g
Colors	Black
Price	₹4,299 ($65)

Indian manufacturers like Micromax have faded to relative obscurity over the last two years, but the Bharat Go is a decent option for those looking to pick up an Android Go device.

For one thing, it is one of the most affordable phones on the list, selling for the equivalent of $65. The Bharat Go is exclusively sold offline — part of Micromax’s broader push to focus on the retail sector — so you won’t be able to find it on an e-commerce store.

That said, the phone is available at thousands of retail stores across the country, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to get your hands on a unit if you’re living in India.

Lava Z50 (India)

Screen	4.5-inch IPS LCD (854×480)
SoC	1.1GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737М
RAM	1GB
Storage	8GB
Camera	5MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	2000mAh
Security	PIN
Dimensions	135 x 66.6 x 9.7mm
Weight	140g
Colors	Black
Price	₹4,299 ($65)

Indian brand Lava Mobiles has been a long-time Google partner, so it stands to reason that the manufacturer team up with the search giant over an Android Go phone.

The hardware on offer is identical to what you get with Micromax’s Bharat Go, but there’s a slight variance in design, and you’ll actually be able to buy the Lava Z50 online.

And just like the Bharat Go, the Z50 is available for what amounts to $65.

See at Flipkart

General Mobile GM8 Go (Turkey)

Screen	5.5-inch 18:9 IPS LCD (1440×720)
SoC	1.5GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6739
RAM	1GB
Storage	16GB
Camera	13MP
Front Camera	5MP
Battery	3500mAh
Security	Fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	150 x 70.5 x 8.59mm
Weight	152g
Colors	Gold, Space Gray
Price	$180

Turkey’s General Mobile has been making Android One handsets for some time now and the GM8 Go is a lightweight version of the GM8.

It doesn’t miss out on any essentials — you get a 13MP rear camera, 18:9 screen up front, and the 3500mAh battery should deliver two-day battery life with ease.

There’s also a fingerprint sensor at the back. The phone offers serious hardware (for this segment), and it has a hefty $180 price tag to boot.

See at General Mobile

More to come

There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to Android Go phones, and with Samsung set to make its debut in the coming weeks, this category is only bound to get interesting.

Are you planning to get an Android Go phone? If so, what device are you eyeing? Let us know in the comments below.

Updated August 2018: This article was updated with the latest prices of Android Go devices.

Android Oreo

• Android Oreo review!
• Everything new in Android Oreo
• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
• Will my phone get Android Oreo?
• Join the Discussion

How to turn on and use Android Pie’s new gesture navigation system

Take a look at a huge fundamental change to Android navigation

Android 9 Pie’s consumer launch is exciting for a whole bunch of reasons, not the least of which being a brand new gesture navigation system that eschews the standard “back, home, recents” buttons we’ve all grown accustomed to. The replacement is a gesture-based interface that hides the recents button, and even the back button sometimes, to hopefully let you move more fluidly and intuitively through the interface.

But when you install Android Pie on your phone, you won’t actually see this new gesture navigation system by default — you have to enable it to experience this significant change to the way Android works. Follow these steps:

Open up your phone’s Settings.
Scroll down and tap on System.
Find Gestures and tap on it.
Tap on Swipe up on home button.

Toggle the switch to on — you’ll notice the navigation buttons change immediately.

Aside from the oddly named and placed settings, that’s a pretty simple process.

So, now you need to know how to use these gestures. Here’s a quick rundown of how the gesture system works:

• You still tap the new elongated “home” button to go home at any time, that doesn’t change.
• When you’re in an app or view that can use a back button, the back button will appear to the left of the home button where you’re used to seeing it.
• Swipe up on the home button and continue swiping to open the app drawer.
  • Alternatively, swipe up on the home button and swipe up again to open the app drawer.
• Swipe up on the home button to enter the multitasking view.
  • Swipe left and right to move the list, and tap to select apps.
  • Swipe up to remove apps from the list.
  • Press and hold on the app icon at the top to enter “split screen” view.
  • Apps in this view are “live” — you can select, copy and paste text while in the multitasking view.
• Swipe right on home button and hold to scroll slowly between apps — release to open the center app.

• Swipe right on home button quickly and release to just switch to the previous app — analogous to a double tap on recents currently.

  

This is a pretty considerable change to the way you interact with an Android phone, but I feel it’s intuitive and more directly interactive in a way that the static buttons weren’t. This change also affords Google the opportunity to dynamically adjust the buttons to the context of what the phone is doing, opening up even more possibilities going forward.

How to master the new Android Pie gestures

Update August 2018: With Android Pie’s official release, we’ve updated this article to reflect the latest changes.

Android 9 Pie

• Android 9 Pie review: Greater than the sum of its slices
• Everything you need to know about Android 9 Pie!
• Will my phone get Android Pie?
• How to get Android 9 Pie on your Pixel right now
• Join the Discussion

UK Deal: Up your phone’s storage with this £37 128GB SanDisk microSD card

Never worry about running out of space again.

You can save on some additional storage for your phone, tablet, action camera and more today as the 128GB SanDisk Extreme Pro microSDXC card is reduced in price at Amazon UK. It’s down to just £37.49, after having sold for over £50 most recently.

The card supports 4K UHD video and can read data at 100MB/sec — making it ideal for phones with higher-end camera capabilities or for your digital camera/action cam itself. Importantly, the Extreme Pro series is rated A1, meaning the cards are optimised for providing a faster smartphone experience and enable apps to be loaded quickly, making this the perfect card to expand the storage of your phone or tablet.

The 64GB version of this card is also discounted, on sale for £28.30 — down from around £33 — as part of SanDisk’s sale on additional storage that includes SD cards, microSD cards, USB Flash Drives and more.

For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK, sign up for the UK newsletter and follow the team on Twitter.

See at Amazon UK

Happy 20th Launch Anniversary, iMac

On August 15, 1998, Apple officially released the first iMac, the candy-colored gumdrop-shaped iMac G3, launching a desktop machine that has continued to be updated and revised over the years.

Designed by Apple design chief Jony Ive, the iMac G3 was unique among computers at the time for its unusual shape, the use of translucent plastics that allowed the internals to be visible, and the bright colors that Apple adopted.

“This is iMac. The whole thing is translucent. You can see into it. It’s so cool,” said Jobs when introducing the iMac G3.

Apple’s first iMac, which sold for $1,299 at launch, came equipped with a 233 – 700MHz PowerPC 750 G3 processor, 128GB of storage, a 15-inch CRT, a CD-ROM drive, and an ATI graphics card, components that don’t sound impressive today but made for a powerful, well-rounded machine, that, in combination with the design, made the iMac a best seller.

At launch, and in the years following its release, Apple released the iMac G3 in a slew of shades that include the famous Bondi Blue, Blueberry, Grape, Graphite, Indigo, Lime, Sage, Strawberry, Ruby, Snow, Tangerine, and two patterned colors, Blue Dalmatian and Flower Power.

If you live near Michigan, all 13 colors of the original iMac G3 are on display at the Henry Ford Museum in a popup collection called “Looking Through Things,” which has been introduced in celebration of the iMac’s anniversary.

The iMac G3 was introduced just a year after Steve Jobs returned to lead Apple, and it came at a time when the company was still struggling and trying to find its footing. By 1999, Apple saw its first quarter profits more than triple, with the jump attributed to sales of the new iMac.

Apple in May celebrated the anniversary of the debut of the iMac G3, which, while launched in August, was first introduced by Jobs in May 1998.

20 years ago today, Steve introduced the world to iMac. It set Apple on a new course and forever changed the way people look at computers. pic.twitter.com/GbKno7YBHl

— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) May 6, 2018

Since the iMac G3’s 1998 debut, Apple has introduced several revisions to the desktop machine, launching design revisions in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2015.

Today, the iMac is available in 21.5 and 27-inch size options, with 4K and 5K Retina displays, respectively. Kaby Lake chips, AMD graphics, and super fast SSDs are included.

We also have an iMac Pro, a workstation class machine aimed at Apple’s professional users with a unique Space Gray body, Xeon processors with up to 18 cores, Radeon Pro Vega graphics, and up to 4TB of SSD storage.

We’re still expecting refreshed iMac models in 2018. There’s no word on when the next design change is coming, but in 2018, Apple is expected to add 8th-generation Coffee Lake chips and other internal improvements that make a great desktop machine even better.

Related Roundup: iMacBuyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy)
Discuss this article in our forums

Classic Strategy Game ‘Rome: Total War’ Coming to iPhone on August 23

Feral has announced that the iPhone version of ROME: Total War will be released on August 23. The acclaimed historical strategy game made its way to iPad in November 2016, and has since been redesigned for an even more mobile experience.

ROME: Total War on iPhone

ROME: Total War seamlessly blends conquest and politics on a massive scale as it challenges players to build and rule the ancient world’s greatest empire over three hundred years, from the late Roman Republic to the early Roman Empire. Players will deploy strategy and tactics in spectacular real-time battles, and use diplomacy, subterfuge and assassination to smooth the path to ultimate victory in huge turn-based campaigns.

The upcoming version includes a suite of features tailored specifically for iPhone, from a redesigned user interface to enhanced touch controls. Feral says the game will make full use of the latest version of Apple’s Metal API for improved performance, enhanced graphics, and reduced battery usage.

ROME: Total War will require an iPhone 5S or later, iOS 11, and 4GB of free space to install. The full list of supported iPhones is below:

• iPhone 8 plus
• iPhone 7 plus
• iPhone 6s plus
• iPhone 6 plus
• iPhone X
• iPhone 8
• iPhone 7
• iPhone 6
• iPhone 6s
• iPhone SE
• iPhone 5s
• iPod Touch (6th generation)

ROME: Total War for iPhone will be available from the App Store for $9.99 as a universal app. That means anyone who previously purchased the game on iPad will be able to install it on their iPhone at no additional cost, and transfer across any existing save files.

Tag: Feral
Discuss this article in our forums

Knoxville ranks No. 1 in mobile performance among U.S. metro areas, study says

Ever wonder where in the United States your mobile device would work best? According to RootMetrics’ most recent network performance test, Knoxville, Tennessee, takes the number one spot for mobile performance out of the 125 major metropolitan areas tested. Trailing closely behind in second place is St. Louis, while Minneapolis takes third.

RootMetrics’ recent findings dive deeper into the mobile experience within metropolitan areas across the country. Each area was ranked from highest to lowest across six mobile performance categories — overall, reliability, speed, data, call performance, and text.

Knoxville ranked first in three out of the six performance categories — overall, network reliability, and call performance. It also earned top-5 rankings in five different categories (all except for text).

In RootMetrics’ previous round of testing, Knoxville didn’t finish in the top five in any category. The report attributes its success to fast median download speeds, along with its high scores in call and data reliability which come in at 99.7 and 96.9, respectively.

When it comes to the mobile performance in the 10 largest U.S. cities, Chicago ranked highest in network speed and data performance. New York City and the Tri-state area ranked low in all six categories and placed at number 54 overall.

But the report notes that NYC did improve in all performance categories during this test period — most notably, network speed. After finishing 74th in the second-half of 2017, NYC ranked 37th this time around. Regardless, the findings do highlight one interesting thing — a larger city does not necessarily have better mobile networks.

As for the lowest-performing metropolitan markets in the U.S., Springfield, Massachusetts, finished within the bottom five in four out of six categories — overall, reliability, call, and text. The low rankings were attributed to poor blocked call results from all four carriers, along with slow speeds from Sprint. But in the network speed and data performance, it managed to rank higher than the bottom five.

Of the 125 areas, Santa Rosa, California, placed last for not only overall performance but also network reliability and data performance. While its speeds and reliability results can be considered satisfactory for most users, it was poor in comparison to results in other cities.

All of the rankings are based on the average of the RootScores for the four major U.S. carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon. Each ranking is weighted by the estimated national percentage of subscribers for each network — meaning a performance from a carrier that has more customers is weighted heavier than scores from carriers with fewer subscribers.

Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: It all comes down to the battery

The Mi A2 goes up against the best-selling phone in India.

Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has turned into a juggernaut: over the last two years, phones in this series have defined the budget segment in India. To put things into context, the Redmi Note 5 series managed to rake in sales of over 5 million units in just under four months, and one out of every ten phones sold in India over the last three months was either a Redmi Note 5 or a Note 5 Pro.

Then there’s the Mi A2, Xiaomi’s 2018 Android One device. The Mi A2 shares a lot of similarities on the hardware front with the Redmi Note 5 Pro — both share a design aesthetic, same display, and a lot of the internal components are also identical.

There’s no question that the Redmi Note 5 Pro continues to be one of the best-selling phones in India. Let’s see how Xiaomi’s other budget phone fares next to it.

Xiaomi Mi A2 vs. Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro: Specs

Operating System	Android 8.1 OreoAndroid One	Android 7.1.2 NougatMIUI 9.5
Display	5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+(2160×1080) IPS LCD panelGorilla Glass 5	5.99-inch 18:9 FHD+(2160×1080) IPS LCD panelGorilla Glass
SoC	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 6604×2.2GHz Kryo 260 + 4×1.8GHz Kryo 26014nm	Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 636Eight Kryo 260 cores up to 1.8GHz14nm
GPU	Adreno 512	Adreno 509
RAM	4GB/6GB	4GB/6GB
Storage	32GB/64GB/128GB	64GB/64GB
Expandable	No	Yes, dedicated up to 128GB
Rear camera	12MP (f/1.75, 1.25um) + 20MP (f/1.75, 1.0um)PDAF, LED flash, 4K video recording	12MP f/2.2 lens + 5MP f/2.0 lensPDAF, LED flash 1080p video recording
Front camera	20MP (f/1.75, 1.0um)AI portrait modeLED Selfie lightBeautify 4.0	20MP f/2.2 lensLED Selfie lightBeautify 4.0
Connectivity	LTE with VoLTEWi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0GPS, GLONASS	LTE with VoLTEWi-Fi 802.11 ac, Bluetooth 5.0 GPS, GLONASS Micro-USB, 3.5mm jack, IR blaster
Battery	3000mAh batteryQuick Charge 4.0 (India)QC3.0 (ROW)USB-C	4000mAh battery 5V/2A over Micro-USB
Fingerprint	Rear fingerprint	Rear fingerprint
Dimensions	158.7 x 75.4 x 7.3mm	158.6 × 75.4 × 8.05mm
Weight	166g	181g
Colors	Black, Rose Gold, Gold, Blue	Gold, Rose Gold, Blue, Black

What the Mi A2 does better

Although both phones share a lot of features, there are key differences that make them stand out. The Mi A2 is aimed at those looking for an uncluttered software experience — as the device is in the Android One initiative, the interface is in line with Google’s vision for Android. The device runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, and Xiaomi has committed to delivering the Android Pie update in the coming months.

There’s a lot in common on the design front, but the aluminum unibody chassis — with the antenna lines seamlessly merging into the body — gives the Mi A2 a slight edge in this area. The dual camera configuration is also identical across both phones, with the cameras arrayed vertically and the modules protruding from the chassis. This isn’t as big an issue on the Redmi Note 5 Pro as it has a thickness of 8mm, but it makes the 7.3mm Mi A2 wobbly when laid out on a flat surface.

It’s safe to say the Mi A2 has the best camera in the budget segment. The phone manages to do a much better job in low-light scenarios and has better dynamic range when compared to the Redmi Note 5 Pro in daylight conditions. On the video front, the Mi A2 has 4K video recording, and even though the Snapdragon 636 chipset facilitates 4K video, the Redmi Note 5 Pro doesn’t come with that option.

Mi A2 on the left, Redmi Note 5 Pro on the right.

Elsewhere, the Mi A2 relies on USB-C for charging and comes with Quick Charge 4.0 for the Indian market. The charger included in the box delivers a 5V/2A charge, so you’ll have to pick up an aftermarket accessory to unlock the charging potential of the phone.

Xiaomi Mi A2 review: A great sequel with a fantastic camera

What the Redmi Note 5 Pro does better

With a 4000mAh battery under the hood, the Redmi Note 5 Pro is a battery monster. The phone routinely delivers two days’ worth of usage from a full charge, with over nine hours of screen-on-time on average. In fact, the only phone that meets the battery longevity of the Redmi Note 5 Pro is ASUS’ ZenFone Max Pro M1, and that particular device has an even larger 5000mAh battery.

The Redmi Note 5 Pro also has the basics covered: you get a 3.5mm jack and a MicroSD slot that can accommodate a 128GB SD card. These features are integral in the budget segment, and their omission makes the Mi A2 a less attractive option to potential buyers. The Mi A2 also loses out on dual VoLTE, and as the device isn’t running MIUI, you miss out on the localized features that Xiaomi bakes into the ROM.

See at Flipkart

Which should you buy? Mi A2

If I had to choose between the two, I would recommend the Mi A2 over the Redmi Note 5 Pro in a heartbeat. I’m partial to Android One, and the camera on the Mi A2 is leagues better than what you get on the Redmi Note 5 Pro. But that recommendation isn’t for everyone, as the device is missing out on the 3.5mm jack and MicroSD slot, both table stakes features in this segment.

If you absolutely need a phone with a headphone jack and a MicroSD slot, then the Redmi Note 5 Pro is the way to go. It’s also the winner if you’re looking for a device with two-day battery life — the 4000mAh battery combined with MIUI’s battery optimization tweaks make the Redmi Note 5 Pro a battery champion. The Mi A2 lasts a day on a full charge without any issues, but the Redmi Note 5 Pro is a winner in this area by a significant margin.

But if you’re in the market for a phone with a great camera, clean software, and the promise of quick updates, then the Mi A2 is a fantastic choice. With just ₹2,000 ($30) separating both phones, it’s an easy choice to make.

See at Amazon India

Lyd is a battery-powered, ‘no-spill’ bottle that is activated by your lips

Technology companies have a habit of solving problems we didn’t know existed. Paper maps were working just fine until apps came along. And now look at us. We can hardly find the way home when our phone is dead.

Enter Lyd, a battery-powered bottle that is something like a sippy cup for adults. If you’re the type of grownup who constantly spills drinks on yourself, Lyd may be perfect for you. If you aren’t, the high-tech container might strike you as a bit of a gimmick.

Lyd’s no-spill solution is a specialized, well, lid that uses an algorithm — yes, an algorithm — to detect when your lips are on the bottle.

For Lyd CEO Fredrik Krafft, the inspiration for his product came from a moment of clarity.

“I remember the moment very clearly,” he told Digital Trends. “I was holding a vacuum bottle and was thinking [about] how the bottle should work. It came to me that it should work just like when you drink from a glass.” In other words, he wanted a bottle that could be drunk from all sides.

Krafft’s vision got momentarily derailed when he started as head of the transportation company, but last summer he put his effort back into the project and set out to finish Lyd. He’s now taken to Kickstarter to fund the no-spill solution. At the time this article was published, the company had raised about half of its $26,300 goal with a month left to go.

The bottle now contains a 360-degree lid for ultimate ease of access and a vacuum flask designed to keep hot beverage hot and cold drinks cold. Krafft wouldn’t say exactly how the algorithm knows whether it’s your lips on not, say, your dog’s tongue trying to sneak a taste. And, no, it isn’t personalized to just one user, but Lyd can be set up to pour when you place your finger on the sensor. Battery life ranges from two and four weeks, and charges in four hours.

One thing is for sure, we have an obsession for “disposable” plastics and it’s causing chaos for the natural world. We approve of any way you can cut back on your plastic water bottle usage whether it’s with a Lyd or a classic canteen.

Early birds can claim their own Lyd via Kickstarter for $39. The company says they’ll retail at $69. As always, we offer a disclaimer for all crowdfunded projects.

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Kuo: Apple to Launch AR Glasses in 2020, Apple Car in 2023 to 2025

Apple will earn its next trillion dollar market cap through its services business, an augmented reality headset, and an Apple Car, according to reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who now works for TF International Securities and today sent out a new note for investors outlining products that he expects to see in Apple’s future.

According to Kuo, Apple will launch an Apple Car sometime between 2023 and 2025, with the car set to be positioned as “the next star product.” Kuo foresees the Apple Car revolutionizing the automobile market much as the iPhone revolutionized the smartphone market back in 2007.

We expect that Apple Car, which will likely be launched in 2023-2025, will be the next star product. The reasons for this are as follows: (1) Potentially huge replacement demands are emerging in the auto sector because it is being redefined by new technologies. The case is the same as the smartphone sector 10 years ago; (2) Apple’s leading technology advantages (e.g. AR) would redefine cars and differentiate Apple Car from peers’ products; (3) Apple’s service will grow significantly by entering the huge car finance market via Apple Car, and (4) Apple can do a better integration of hardware, software, and service than current competitors in the consumer electronics sector and potential competitors in the auto sector.

Kuo also believes that Apple is planning to introduce AR glasses in 2020, expanding on its existing augmented reality market. AR, says Kuo, is the “next-generation revolutionary UI,” with Apple planning to redefine the UIs of its existing products by offering an AR experience created by the augmented reality glasses that are rumored to be in the works.

Apple will also continue to build out its services offerings to drive further revenue growth, says Kuo, but he does not go into detail on what new services categories Apple might offer in the future.

Related Roundup: Apple Car
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