Oppo F9 smartphone is a budget beauty with a teeny-tiny notch

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Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Oppo has just unveiled the Oppo F9, a stunning budget phone with a teeny-tiny notch that’s similar to the Essential Phone, and an eye-catching gradient pattern on the back. The screen-to-body ratio is an impressive 84 percent, thanks to the notch and the 6.3-inch display, which is squeezed into a tall 19.5:9 aspect ratio that makes it very comfortable to hold with one hand.

The stylish design wouldn’t be out of place in a flagship phone, but the specs and target markets tell a different story. This is a much less ambitious device than the Oppo Find X, with its pop-up camera, but there are some definite high notes here and Oppo is clearly open to different approaches toward an all-screen front.

The Oppo F9 is packing a Mediatek Helio P60 processor inside, backed by 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. There’s also a MicroSD card slot. The 6.3-inch LCD has a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels and is covered in Gorilla Glass 6 — one of the first phones to boast such protection — which is supposed to help your phones survive 15 drops from a meter without breaking.

That unobtrusive notch contains a 25-megapixel camera with an f/2.0 aperture that’s sure to excite selfie fans. There is also a small speaker above the notch. Sadly, the main camera is less impressive — it’s a dual-lens setup comprising a 16-megapixel lens with an f/1.9 aperture and a secondary 2-megapixel lens for depth.

You’ll also find a recessed fingerprint sensor on the rear and a large, 3,500mAh battery inside that supports Oppo’s lightning-fast VOOC charging technology. Just five minutes of charging will get you two hours of talk time.

Things get decidedly more budget when we move on to the Micro USB charging port and Bluetooth 4.2 support, but thankfully there is a 3.5mm audio jack on the bottom edge. There’s no wireless charging support or water resistance here either.

The Oppo F9 runs Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, with a fair bit of bloatware and Oppo’s user interface on top.

Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Our unit is Twilight Blue, but there will also be Sunrise Red and Starry Purple. The finish is a diamond pattern that shimmers in and out in the light and goes from electric blue at the bottom to black at the top. It looks great.

The Oppo F9 is launching in India and selected Southeast Asian markets, including Vietnam, imminently and looks like it will cost somewhere around the $300 mark, though the price isn’t yet confirmed. It should also be bound for the Middle East and North Africa, but there’s no indication it will ever be made available in the U.S. or Europe, so you’ll probably have to import one if you like the look of it.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Oppo Find X: Everything you need to know
• The Nokia X5 is a budget phone with a premium glass body and a notch
• The best cheap phones
• Alcatel 3V review
• Everything we know about the Nokia 6.1 Plus

Google One subscriptions offer more cloud storage for low prices, other perks

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Google Drive offers a lot of storage space by default with a free 15GB plan available for all. But if you’re a power user, or you simply like having as much backed up in the cloud as possible, then you might have taken advantage of Google’s paid plans. These storage-boosting options can increase your available storage by up to a huge 10TB, making it perfect for anyone who needs a huge amount of reliable, cloud-based storage.

Those Google Drive subscription plans are now being replaced with something simpler and cheaper. Starting August 15, Google users in the U.S. will be able to subscribe to Google One — a subscription-based service that offers more storage options, increased support, lower prices, and even benefits. Google announced the plan back in May, but it’s now finally available for those in the U.S. Here’s everything you need to know about Google One.

Increase your storage space

Increased storage space will likely remain the main reason to subscribe to Google One, and Google is sweetening the deal by increasing the number of plans to choose from. Pricing for the highest tier 10TB account will remain the same ($100 a month), but Google is adding a new option at the lower-end of the scale, as well as boosting the storage of its most popular option, without increasing the asking price.

The lowest tier remains the same: 100GB for $2 a month. There’s now also a 200GB option for $3 a month, and the old 1TB option has been replaced by 2TB plan but it retains the same $10 a month price tag. If you’re already paying for extra storage, your subscription will automatically be ported over to Google One’s equivalent option. People paying for the 1TB option will get an automatic upgrade to the 2TB plan, which is a nice upgrade.

Nabbing a subscription brings you cloud-based storage not just for Google Drive, but for Google Photos, and Gmail. Storing photos in Google Photos is free, but photos and videos are compressed. If you choose to save the original, high-resolution version of the photo, it will utilize the account storage you pay for through the Google One plan.

Benefits on Google and beyond

You won’t just get increased storage for stumping up some green: Google One subscribers will also get access to various perks and benefits. Details on these are a bit thin on the ground at the moment, but Google has mentioned it will start with credits to spend in the Google Play Store, as well as discounts and deals on hotels found through Google Search. You can expect more deals as time goes by — such as price cuts on the Google Express delivery service as well as the Google Store — in the coming months.

While this probably isn’t a reason to pay the Google One fee, it’s a great additional bonus.

More support from Google, and for your family

Finally, Google One subscribers will be able to access 24/7 support teams directly from Google. These Google-based specialists will be able to help with a range of inquiries for all of Google’s products, from using Gmail offline, or recovering accidentally deleted files.

You’ll also be able to share your Google One account with up to five members of your family, sharing the benefits across accounts, while keeping payment on a single card.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best cloud storage services
• How to choose an external hard drive
• Google gives YouTube Music a makeover with new features
• 8 easy ways for you to transfer photos from an Android phone to a PC
• Google Photos is seeing stars (and hearts) with new social reactions

Google One subscriptions offer more cloud storage for low prices, other perks

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Google Drive offers a lot of storage space by default with a free 15GB plan available for all. But if you’re a power user, or you simply like having as much backed up in the cloud as possible, then you might have taken advantage of Google’s paid plans. These storage-boosting options can increase your available storage by up to a huge 10TB, making it perfect for anyone who needs a huge amount of reliable, cloud-based storage.

Those Google Drive subscription plans are now being replaced with something simpler and cheaper. Starting August 15, Google users in the U.S. will be able to subscribe to Google One — a subscription-based service that offers more storage options, increased support, lower prices, and even benefits. Google announced the plan back in May, but it’s now finally available for those in the U.S. Here’s everything you need to know about Google One.

Increase your storage space

Increased storage space will likely remain the main reason to subscribe to Google One, and Google is sweetening the deal by increasing the number of plans to choose from. Pricing for the highest tier 10TB account will remain the same ($100 a month), but Google is adding a new option at the lower-end of the scale, as well as boosting the storage of its most popular option, without increasing the asking price.

The lowest tier remains the same: 100GB for $2 a month. There’s now also a 200GB option for $3 a month, and the old 1TB option has been replaced by 2TB plan but it retains the same $10 a month price tag. If you’re already paying for extra storage, your subscription will automatically be ported over to Google One’s equivalent option. People paying for the 1TB option will get an automatic upgrade to the 2TB plan, which is a nice upgrade.

Nabbing a subscription brings you cloud-based storage not just for Google Drive, but for Google Photos, and Gmail. Storing photos in Google Photos is free, but photos and videos are compressed. If you choose to save the original, high-resolution version of the photo, it will utilize the account storage you pay for through the Google One plan.

Benefits on Google and beyond

You won’t just get increased storage for stumping up some green: Google One subscribers will also get access to various perks and benefits. Details on these are a bit thin on the ground at the moment, but Google has mentioned it will start with credits to spend in the Google Play Store, as well as discounts and deals on hotels found through Google Search. You can expect more deals as time goes by — such as price cuts on the Google Express delivery service as well as the Google Store — in the coming months.

While this probably isn’t a reason to pay the Google One fee, it’s a great additional bonus.

More support from Google, and for your family

Finally, Google One subscribers will be able to access 24/7 support teams directly from Google. These Google-based specialists will be able to help with a range of inquiries for all of Google’s products, from using Gmail offline, or recovering accidentally deleted files.

You’ll also be able to share your Google One account with up to five members of your family, sharing the benefits across accounts, while keeping payment on a single card.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best cloud storage services
• How to choose an external hard drive
• Google gives YouTube Music a makeover with new features
• 8 easy ways for you to transfer photos from an Android phone to a PC
• Google Photos is seeing stars (and hearts) with new social reactions

Which should I buy: NVIDIA Shield or Shield Pro?

We know the Shield rocks a solid Android TV experience, but the Shield Pro might just be the better buy.

The NVIDIA Android Shield TV does just about everything from streaming 4K movies and TV shows to playing high-end Android games with the included Shield Controller. But when NVIDIA refreshed the line at the start of the year, it kept around the Shield “Pro” model as well — and in this case, it hasn’t been physically redesigned like the standard version, though it retains its $299 price tag.

That leaves an interesting question about whether you should consider the standard Shield Android TV model or the Pro — let us help you decide.

See at Amazon

It’s all about the storage

On the face of it, there’s one big choice: can you get by with 16GB of internal storage in the base model, or do you need the breathing room of a 500GB hard drive? The Shield Pro’s 500GB storage will give you tons of room to install as many games and store as much media as just about anyone would want.

With NVIDIA’s streaming game solutions GeForce Now and GameStream there are fewer games to be properly “installed” than before, and all of the popular media services are streaming-only, but if you plan to load local media or use the Shield Android TV as a Kodi or Plex device you’ll probably want that extra storage.

But also remember that you can add storage to the Shield via basically any USB drive, and have it integrate right into the system. That starts to eat into the $100 you saved by going with the standard model, but it is an option if you already have a high-quality USB 3.0 flash drive hanging around you can dedicate to the system.

You get a different remote

All Shield Android TVs work with the great redesigned Shield Controller, but NVIDIA has decided to ship different versions of the TV-style remote depending on which version of the box you buy. The standard Shield Android TV comes with the new design, which drops the headphone jack and rechargeable battery in exchange for year-long (or more) battery life from a pair of coin cell batteries.

The Shield Pro still comes with the original TV remote — offering rechargeable batteries (via included Micro-USB cable) and a headphone jack for private listening. The decision between the two is a personal choice, really, but it’s important to know they don’t offer the same experience.

The most important thing to know is that both Shield Android TV models give you a remote in the box — that’s a good improvement over the original models that only came with a controller. (You can save $20 on the standard Shield Android TV by going with a version that only has a remote as well.)

A few extra features

Because the Shield Pro is still based on the original hardware design, it retains a few of the features that were lost when the standard model moved to a smaller body. That means the pro retains the microSD card slot for expanding its storage and Micro-USB port a direct connection to your computer.

Both features are nice to have, but not really essential. You already have 500GB inside the box and can extend it further with any USB storage device, and NVIDIA has enabled PC connections via one of the USB-A ports on the new box as well.

One slightly bigger deal is the inclusion of an IR receiver on the Shield Pro, meaning it can be easily controlled by popular universal remotes that use IR for multi-device management. If you already use something like a Logitech Harmony for your entertainment center, this may be a make-or-break situation. Don’t count out the chance that universal remote makers like Logitech can update or release Bluetooth versions of the remotes that would work just fine with the standard Shield, though.

The Pro is a bit bigger, too

This is a relatively minor consideration after you think about all of the functional differences between the models, but the new Shield Android TV design is dramatically smaller than the Pro. The new box is roughly 40% smaller and 60% lighter than the Pro since it doesn’t have the extra ports and storage inside, and that could make a difference if you have a tricky home entertainment setup. Like, for example, you’re considering mounting the Shield on a wall behind a hanging TV.

Chances are if you need any of the Pro’s extra features you’ll be able to make it work, but if you have a very specific place or mounting requirements for hiding the box, keep the size difference in mind.

Which should you buy?

If you’re going to be doing a lot of local gaming and/or storing a bunch of movies and TV shows on your Shield Android TV, you should snag the upgraded Shield Pro with 500GB of storage. If you plan to use apps like Plex to turn your Shield into a DVR, that extra storage will be a must-have. Chances are the features like an SD card slot, IR receiver and rechargeable remote won’t in themselves be enough to spend $100 more on the Pro, though — like I said, it really is all about that storage.

If the addition of those features don’t feel like they’re worth $100, the 16GB base model should be sufficient for you. Use the money you saved on a USB 3.0 flash drive for some extra storage, and maybe invest the rest in some games to play!

See at Amazon

Update August 2018: The differences haven’t changed, but the pricing and their accessories have. Here’s the latest information you need to choose between the different Shield Android TV models.

NVIDIA Shield Android TV

• Read our Shield Android TV review
• The latest Shield Android TV news
• Shield vs. Shield Pro: Which should I buy?
• Join the forum discussion
• Complete Shield Android TV specs

Amazon

Make your kid’s car safer and smarter for $30 or less

Whether you’re rocking a ’67 Impala or your mother’s old minivan, your only need three things to make your car safer and more phone-friendly at the same time.

Android Auto offers a simplified UI in the car with Google Assistant voice commands that let you control the whole thing hands-free. Even better, non-essential notifications are quashed while in Android Auto’s Car Mode, so new emails from work or new Snaps from your friends won’t tempt you to try turning Android Auto off.

And since Android Auto can run right independently of a car stereo, you’re already at least a third of the way to a safer driving experience.

• Dependable, affordable magnetic car mounts
• Bluetooth adapter for car stereo
• Android Auto Autolaunch

Dependable, affordable car mounts

There are car mounts available for every style and price point, but the easiest car mounts on the market right now are magnetic car mounts. You stick a slightly magnetized metal plate to the back of your phone — or slip one between your phone and its case — and then just hold your phone close to the mount when you get in the car. Magnetism will pull the phone to the mount and keep it there.

These mounts aren’t as bulky as cradle mounts, are cheaper to buy, and the magnets will hold on pretty well so long as you’re not going over some backcountry dirt roads. Magnetic mounts come in all shapes and styles, but air vent mounts are compact, easily transferable, and cost less than a pizza.

Spigen Kuel Air Vent Magnetic Car Mount 2-Pack

$10 at Amazon

As easy to securely stick onto an air vent as it is to transfer, this mount is perfect for multi-car families that switch vehicles frequently. Spigen’s $10 2-Pack comes with 2 Kuel mounts and 4 magnetic plates.

Nite Ize Steelie

$20 at Amazon

Hitting potholes like a whack-a-mole champion? No worries! The Steelie’s concave magnet dot is super strong and moves around the spherical magnet mount to keep it from falling off. This mount is more expensive, but if you live in an area with bad roads, it’s well worth the upgrade.

If neither of these mounts strike your fancy, there’s an entire world of car mounts out there for you to choose from.

See some of our other favorite car mounts

Bluetooth adapters

You can use Android Auto without a car stereo, but unless the speaker on your phone is super loud, you’ll probably want to pipe the audio from your phone into your car’s radio. Bluetooth adapters also allow us to take advantage of Android Auto’s Autolaunch feature and start Android Auto up every time your phone connects to your car’s Bluetooth adapter.

There are several styles of Bluetooth Adapters out there, but we’re going to touch on two today: an AUX adapter and an FM adapter.

Soundbot SB360 Bluetooth 4.0 Car Kit

$20 at Amazon

This Bluetooth adapter plugs into the AUX port on your car’s stereo and an included USB charger. The other end of the adapter is a magnetically-mountable hub that houses a microphone and call/media control buttons.

Because the adapter can be mounted with magnets, that means that you can move the adapter from car to car easily, just like the Spigen Kuel phone mount we mentioned above. You can even clip it to your shirt or seatbelt if your car is especially noisy in order to ensure the microphone — and Google Assistant — can hear and understand you.

Nulaxy In-Car Bluetooth FM Transmitter Radio Adapter Car Kit

$18 at Amazon

If you don’t have an AUX port on your radio, then you’ll have to use an FM transmitter to get the audio from your Bluetooth in through the radio. FM transmitters are a clunkier solution, but the Nulaxy aims to make the experience as painless as possible without breaking the bank.

If neither of these options sound good to you, you can use your favorite pair of Bluetooth headphones, but you won’t be able to turn on Autolaunch. You’ll want to make sure that your state doesn’t have any laws against wearing a headset or headphones, which AAA has a handy list for, and consider using one bud or earcup and leaving the other ear open to better hear hear road noise or any weird warning noises your car may be making.

Best Bluetooth Headsets in 2018

Setting up Android Auto Autolaunch

Once you’ve downloaded the Android Auto app and you’ve paired your phone with either the Bluetooth already available in your car or a Bluetooth adapter, you can set Android Auto to automatically launch when it connects to that specific Bluetooth device.

Open Android Auto.
Tap Get started.

Google warns you that Android Auto is going to ask for several permissions. Tap Continue.

Tap Allow for each of the 6 permissions.
Android Auto will need notification permissions to see notifications and let urgent ones through. Tap Continue.

Tap the toggle next to Android Auto**.

Tap Allow.
An Autolaunch prompt will appear as the final section of setup. Tap the checkbox next to the Bluetooth device associated with your car stereo or Bluetooth adapter.

Tap Turn on.

Ready to ride

With Autolaunch enabled, when you get into your car, simply place your phone onto the car mount and turn on your car. Your phone should automatically connect to the Bluetooth adapter when it turns on, which will in turn on Android Auto. Cutting down distractions without giving up the convenience of Google Maps or your music subscriptions like Spotify or Google Play Music, Android Auto and a good magnetic mount can help you to drive safely and smartly no matter how outdated the rest of your car’s tech may be.

Read more: Setting up Android Auto so you’ll actually use it

Here’s everything T-Mobile announced at its Un-Carrier Next event!

Here’s what’s new with T-Mobile’s latest Un-Carrier initiative.

T-Mobile took the stage in Charleston, South Carolina on August 15 to host its latest Un-Carrier Next event. There were three big announcements, including Team of Experts, a new partnership with Live Nation, and free Pandora Plus for all customers.

Here’s a quick breakdown of everything that was announced!

Team of Experts

Team of Experts is T-Mobile’s new initiative for rethinking the way customer service is handled. Gone are the days of constantly being transferred to different representatives, having to wait for hours on hold, repeating yourself over and over, etc.

As part of Team of Experts, T-Mobile is dedicating 30-40 employees to customer groups so that you’ve always got instant access to someone to help you out. You can get in touch with your Experts by phone, email, texting, or through the T-Mobile app 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. You can communicate with one of the Experts instantly to get your issue handled right away, or alternatively, leave a message and come back when you have time to pick up where you left off.

You’ll also be able to use Team of Experts to schedule calls at a time that’s convenient for you, see pictures of your Experts in the T-Mobile app to develop a more personal relationship with them, and more. There aren’t any robots, call menus, etc.

Team of Experts is available for all T-Mobile customers starting today.

Access to exclusive concerts via Live Nation partnership

T-Mobile’s partnering with Live Nation, one of the largest sites for buying concert/event tickets, to provide its customers with a slew of benefits. T-Mobile customers will be able to purchase tickets to sold-out events, have fast-lane entry to events, get $25 tickets to lawn/outdoor concerts, and be able to purchase T-Mobile branded lawnchairs and access T-Mobile-exclusive concession stands.

These perks will be rolling out to amphitheaters/event centers nationwide and many of the perks will be offered through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app.

Free Pandora Plus for the next year

Speaking of T-Mobile Tuesdays, all subscribers will also get a free year of Pandora Plus through the T-Mobile Tuesdays app on August 21.

Pandora Plus regularly costs $5/month and comes with unlimited personalized radio stations, ad-free listening, unlimited skips + replays, higher-quality streaming, and up to 4 stations you can save for offline listening.

Motorola announces Pie update plans for 8 of its Moto phones

A new version of Android means it’s once again time to peer into my crystal ball.

Did you hear? Android Pie is a thing now. And we know that everyone will want it and want it as soon as possible. That’s how it works and that’s how we are wired. We want updates, we want them to be spectacular and we want them right now.

The reality of the situation is a bit different. Most phones made in the last 18 months will see Android Pie, but some of them will only get updated when we see the first developer preview for Android Q (Quince Jelly or gtfo, Google!) come along. It’s a lot easier for manufacturers to update their phones to a newer version, but it’s still not any better. That’s another article for another time, though. This one is where I guess which phones will get updated sometime in the next 12 months.

Predicting anything Android-related is 10% science and 90% interpretation.

It’s not as easy as you think and many sudsy cold beverages worth of thought goes into my guesses each and every year. About one-third of them are no-brainers, but some of the others are basically the same odds as a coin flip. It seems like manufacturers only care about a few models that get a lot of press time. But I do have to toot my own hat (or something) and say I have a pretty good track record. Luck or skill? You decide. (It’s totally skill.)

Let’s break it down by the major manufacturers of the phones we love and make a few predictions. Remeber, these are just predictions and not any official word on anything from any company unless otherwise noted.

Still waiting for Oreo? Check to see whether your phone will be upgraded!

Google

I always start with Google because it’s easy and I’ll get it right every time. That’s what I want at the top of the page. I say it’s easy because Google has already told us which phones get updated and which won’t.

• The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have already been updated to Pie.
• The Pixel and Pixel XL have already been updated to Android Pie.
• While not actually from Google, any Android One phones manufactured since October 2017 will also be updated to Pie “later this fall.”

And that’s it. Prior to the Pixel, Google promised two years of full support and three years of security updates for phones they sell under their own brand. The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are just about three years old. Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu, Adios, Good Bye. They were great phones.

More: It’s time to say goodbye to the Nexus program for good

Android Beta Program Partners

For the first time ever other companies have joined Google in supporting the Android Beta Program. When it was started for Android Pie (then known simply as P) the following phones joined Google’s Pixel and Pixel 2 family in supporting it:

• Sony Xperia XZ2
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
• Nokia 7 Plus
• Oppo R15 Pro
• Vivo X21
• OnePlus 6
• Essential PH‑1

That means that every one of these phones should see a full-on update to Android Pie in the very near future. In fact, the Essential PH-1 is seeing its update at the same time the Pixel and Pixel 2 are!

We’re proud to bring Android 9 Pie to Essential Phone the same day it’s released! Check your phone now for the update. 🥧 pic.twitter.com/pniUDl9yr8

— Essential (@essential) August 6, 2018

Samsung

Samsung makes more models of a single flagship line like the Galaxy S each year than Google has made in total, but it’s also pretty easy to know which phones Samsung will update because they’re predictable. Samsung offers four “premium” models each year. like 2018’s Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, the Galaxy S9 Active that we all know is coming, and the Galaxy Note 9. Even when Samsung sold 15 different models of the Galaxy S6, they were all treated the same when it came to expecting an update.

When to expect it is just as predictable, and it will happen about a year from the date this was first published (March 2018). Some models in Europe will see it first, about a month later it will show up somewhere else, and once Samsung is satisfied it’s not going to totally wreck about a gazillion phones they will give it the green light. Add in whatever time your carrier needs and the final result is just about a year from its initial release.

• The Galaxy S9 and S9+ (and any S9 Active that comes in the future) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 9 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy S8 and S8+, and the Galaxy S8 Active, will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 8 will be updated to Android Pie.

Here’s where it gets interesting. there are a handful of other Galaxy phones that have a huge regional fanbase. In India, for example, the Galaxy J models are huge hits because they offer most of the same experience you find in a Galaxy S at a lower price. Samsung will give them the same treatment the Galaxy S and Note lines receive. That’s not the most interesting part, though. That would be the seemingly random phones that Samsung decides to update. We don’t know why we see this every year (Carrier requests? Developer favorites? Aliens?) we just like seeing it. And we all wish we saw more of it.

LG

LG has always been a wildcard when I write this post every year. Like Samsung, there are a few “important” models that get all the press coverage and plenty of other more inexpensive models that most of us aren’t talking about.

LG also mentioned some streamlining in the release cycle, which hopefully gives the development teams time to get an update out the door and have it be a good update.

• The LG G7 ThinQ will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V30 (including the V30S or whatever models we have seen or will see) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V20 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG G6 will see Android Pie.

Older models like the G5 and V10 are done seeing any attention and won’t see any updates. LG makes a handful of phones that aren’t quite flagship material, and we know it is willing to spend the time and money on updating some of them even if your carrier isn’t and you never see it. That means nothing is a given.

I also think LG consolidating things and releasing phones when they think it’s time for a new model rather than by looking at a calendar will make a difference here and lead to longer support.

Huawei

Huawei is tough to read. It hasn’t abandoned the Asian way of doing smartphones like LG and Samsung have for their U.S. divisions and sometimes that means the things the company does can be puzzling to those of us used to the Western way of thinking. Just when I think I have figured out exactly which phones are the company’s flagship models that will get the lion’s share of time and money spent, they change it all up. That’s a good thing.

Something made Huawei change the way it redistributes and maintains phones running the EMUI operating system (Huawei’s version of Android) in 2017 and I think that’s going to be reflected when it comes to Android P updates.

• The Huawei P10 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Huawei Mate 10 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Honor 9 and Honor View 10 series will be updated to Android Pie. I’m hoping, but less confident about the Honor 7X.
• The Huawei Mate 9 will probably be updated to Android Pie, but we’ll see.

This includes the various Plus, Pro, and Porsche models (I want a Porsche phone) as well, and because EMUI is so different than every other smartphone software available users will have no idea which version of Android they are running unless they look.

Besides, if the things a handful of little birds are saying happen to be true, EMUI 9 isn’t going to be able to run on any hardware older than what comes in these phones.

Motorola

Motorola had a weird 2017. That’s putting it mildly. They released like 100 phones in the Americas and Western Europe (Editor’s note: it was actually 9) and they ranged from the surprisingly great $100 Moto E4 to the Moto X4, the first of hopefully many non-Google phones you can use on Project Fi, and all the Z and Force you can handle in between.. And they did it without compromising the G series which has been a company staple for years from the smartphone division.

Moto phones under Lenovo are slowly becoming like the Thinkpad — quietly chugging along in the background doing their thing. And doing it well.

On August 15, Motorola published a blog post outlining the handsets that’ll receive the official Pie update starting this fall. They include:

• Moto Z3
• Moto Z3 Play
• Moto Z2 Force
• Moto Z2 Play
• Moto X4
• Moto G6 Plus
• Moto G6
• Moto G6 Play

While that’s a strong list, the notable omissions include the Moto E5, E5 Plus, and E5 Play.

HTC

Disappointing sales have left the future of HTC’s smartphone business in uncertainty, but assuming the company doesn’t go under in the next few months, it’s announced that it’ll be updating four of its smartphones to Android 9 Pie. The list is as follows:

• HTC U12+
• HTC U11
• HTC U11+
• HTC U11 Life (Android One version)

We’re pleased as pie to confirm updates to Android Pie for the HTC U12+, U11+, U11, and U11 life (Android One). Timeframes for roll-out will be announced in due course. We can’t wait to know what you think of Google’s freshest slice of Android! pic.twitter.com/mPJePFegne

— HTC (@htc) August 10, 2018

Annnnddd…that’s it.

HTC says that it’ll release timeframes for its Pie updates “in due course”, and as those announcements are made, we’ll update this article accordingly.

Must mentions

These may be the companies we’re most familiar with in the west that sell Android phones, but they aren’t the only companies doing it. Out of the literally hundreds of models available, a few stand out and need mentioning.

• OnePlus will update the 5 and 5T and 3 and 3T.
• Sony’s high-end Xperia like the Zs and Xs from 2017 and 2018 will be updated, but other models probably won’t be.
• The BlackBerry KEYone probably won’t be upgraded to Android Pie, but we know the KEY2 will be.
• Now that Nokia has committed to Android One across all of its devices, there’s a good chance many of the more expensive models, like the Nokia 7 and Nokia 8 Sirocco, will join the 7 Plus in Pie-land.
• Someone at XDA will update their Nexus One to Android Pie and I am going to do my best to get Google to send that person a brand new Pixel 3 NotchXL.

Like mentioned earlier, these are just educated guesses at this point. but one thing I know for certain is that no matter what the phone, any updates will feel like they took too long to make it into our hands. That’s just how we’re wired.

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

Updated August 15, 2018: Added new info regarding Motorola’s Pie plans.

The TicWatch Pro is the best Wear OS smartwatch you can buy right now

• Best overall
• Best for watch lovers
• Best lifestyle watch
• Best value

Best overall

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro

If you’re looking for a smartwatch you can use everywhere, this is it.

$249 from Amazon

A solid, sturdy watch with two displays for great performance indoors and out, with a classy design you can get away with anywhere and still feel great about using it.

Why the TicWatch Pro is the best

It’s not easy to find a Wear OS watch that ticks all the boxes. Some are great for fitness and the outdoor life, while others pack NFC payment tech and offer quality microphones for good Google Assistant functionality. TicWatch Pro is, in my opinion, the first Wear OS watch I’ve wanted to wear everywhere. It looks nice in every environment, comes with a leather strap you can wear while working out due to its textured silicone backing, and its two-stage display means you get phenomenal visibility everywhere.

And I’m far from alone. Here’s what Ara Wagoner had to say in her review of the watch:

You can glance down at your watch as you type, cook, drive, or go about your day and instantly, easily read the LCD display, and with tilt-to-wake, you can still see your flashy, fabulous custom watch face and notifications when you pull your wrist up to engage it. The handoff between the two modes is just as quick as the normal tilt-to-wake on any other watch, but it saves so much more battery. In short, I freaking love it.

This watch is a little on the bigger side, but the overall design makes it very comfortable to use despite this, and it’s honestly just a nice looking watch at the end of the day. If you’re looking for the best Wear OS experience, even if you’re an iPhone user, right now this is it.

Best for watch lovers

Huawei Watch 2 Classic

If you’re looking for something in a small package, this is for you

$225 from Amazon

A gorgeous, sharp 1.2-inch OLED panel and a comfortable leather wristband make for plenty of enjoyment, plus the heart rate monitor and GPS let the Watch 2 Classic live on its own, sans phone, when you want to go on a run.

Best lifestyle watch

Misfit Vapor

$199 from Amazon

Looks great and can be worn with just about anything.

The Misfit Vapor rocks a touch-sensitive frame so you don’t cover the screen while scrolling, and includes a programmable side button for launching your favorite apps.

Best value

Mobvoi Ticwatch E

$160 from Best Buy

Best bang for your buck that really does the trick

The folks behind Ticwatch E demonstrate the answer quite clearly by stuffing GPS, IP67 water resistance, and a 300mAh battery into a solid polycarbonate body.

Conclusion

The TicWatch Pro is not just a good watch, it’s the best Wear OS watch you can currently buy. While that may change in the coming months with new wearables from big names like LG, Sony and others, no other Wear OS device right now does as much, and so well, as the TicWatch Pro.

Best overall

Mobvoi TicWatch Pro

If you’re looking for a smartwatch you can use everywhere, this is it.

$249 from Amazon

A solid, sturdy watch with two displays for great performance indoors and out, with a classy design you can get away with anywhere and still feel great about using it.

Update, August 2018: The TicWatch Pro is now the best Wear OS smartwatch you can buy right now. We’ve removed the Asus Zen Watch because it has been discontinued and replaced it with the Huawei Watch 2 Classic.