Let Google’s A.I. make a mini version of you with Minis for Gboard

Emojis are so yesterday, and even stickers are slowly going out of fashion. We need a new, more personal ways to express ourselves. Thankfully, Google has responded to our needs, and Gboard is getting the ability to turn your face into a sticker with Minis on Gboard for iOS and Android.

From today, August 27, Gboard users on iOS and Android will be able to turn their selfies into Minis stickers, with assistance from Google’s A.I. and deep learning. Using a combination of machine learning, neural networks, and artist illustrations, users will have access to over a quadrillion different combinations of hairstyle, face shape, eye color, and more — an almost limitless number of ways to create your perfect digital selfie.

Minis for Gboard is an evolution of the selfie stickers feature originally launched for Google’s Allo chat app in May 2017. The process of creating a Mini will be as easy as it was on Allo — simply snap a selfie, and the process will go to work assigning skin tone, face shape, facial hair and more to suit your unique look. Once the process is complete, users can take a moment to customize the app’s creation, or simply accept the A.I.’s work and get sending.

Minis adds a few more options to the flair of the original Allo selfie stickers. Google believes everyone has more than one side to them, so users will be able to choose between two styles of Mini — Bold and Sweet — to use interchangeably, depending on mood or recipient. Google is also adding around a hundred new stickers on top of Allo’s already impressive collection of expressive stickers. So you don’t just have to send the pizza-face sticker — you’ll likely have even more food-based options to express your hunger.

Users can get snapping and sending their Minis by downloading the latest version of Gboard for iOS or Android, or by downloading Google’s Allo chat app for iOS or Android. If you want to learn more about how Minis were originally put together through a combination of machine learning and artistic illustrations, then check out Google’s original blog post about Allo’s selfie stickers.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google Home Mini review
• Best Buy slashes the price of the iPad Mini 4 for its anniversary sale
• Monoprice Maker Select Mini V2 review
• The Ursa Mini Pro is a cinema camera beast, but an approachable one
• eBay will give you a free Google Home Mini with any $119 purchase

Apple’s original computer expected to fetch more than $300K at auction

If buying a modern Mac doesn’t quite appeal to you, you could also try bidding on a piece of Apple history with the Apple-1. A fully functional Apple-1 will be up for auction in September by Boston-based RR Auction.

Expected to fetch more than $300,000, the RR Auction Apple-1 is described to be a later production model in 8.5/10 condition, and the PC will be sold as a set that includes the original Apple-1 board, the original Apple Cassette Interface (ACI), the original operational manual, two original Apple Cassette Interface manuals, a period surplus ASCII keyboard, a period “open frame” Sanyo 4205 video monitor, a new period-style power supply with original Apple-1 power cable connector, and period cassette interface cables. RR Auction’s model was expertly restored by Corey Cohen and the system was comprehensively tested for eight hours without any issues.

Also known as the Apple Computer 1, the Apple-1 is a desktop that was designed by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. It was originally launched in 1976 as a bare-board designed for users to build their own PCs. To finance the production of the Apple-1, late Apple CEO Steve Jobs sold his VW Microbus and Wozniak sold his HP-65 calculator. The very first Apple-1 unit sold for $666.66, and Apple sold just 175 units.

Today, Apple has a market cap of more than $1 trillion, showing how far the company has grown. In addition to computers, Apple counts the iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad, and the now-retired iPod, among its successes in the hardware space.

As a collector’s piece for PC enthusiasts, pricing varied widely for the Apple-1 at auction. At the low end, in 1999, the PC fetched just $50,000 at auction, according to Wikipedia, while a rare prototype sold for $815,0000 in a 2016 auction at the high end. Apple stopped production of the Apple-1 in 1977 when it launched the Apple II. To convince early adopters to upgrade, Apple offered trade-in discounts. When customers brought their Apple-1 units to trade in, Apple destroyed the boards, making the existence of functioning Apple-1 units very rare today, which explains why the expected auction price is so high. It’s estimated that only 60 units are left today.

Because the Apple-1 was created for enthusiasts, the RR Auction unit is notable in that it was not altered or modified in any way.

If the Apple-1’s price is too rich for your blood, you can also check out our Mac guide for a more modern PC experience.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple takes the title as first $1 trillion U.S. company
• Apple vs. Qualcomm: Everything you need to know
• Fitbit has already shipped a million Versa smartwatches
• Section of the Death Star from ‘A New Hope’ takes a proton torpedo at auction
• Ford will auction off this Mustang inspired by RAF fighters from WWII

PlayStation 4 Slim vs. PlayStation 4 Pro: Which should you buy?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe, but we’re also avid gamers who love getting the best experience at the best price. After hundreds of hours with these consoles, we’ve found the best picks for you.

PlayStation 4 Slim

Budget-friendly

$300 at Amazon

Pros

• Fits just about anywhere
• Whisper quiet
• Inexpensive

Cons

• No 4K support

The slimmer PlayStation 4 plays every game with ease, but the lack of 4K output is noticeable if your TV supports it.

PlayStation 4 Pro

4K Ready

$400 at Best Buy

Pros

• 4K HDR gaming looks incredible on everything
• PlayStation VR performance is best on this PS4

Cons

• Noticeably larger
• Can get loud during intense gameplay

If you want the best possible PlayStation experience, this is the one to buy.

Sony offers two versions of the PlayStation 4 without sacrificing a ton of features with either. You’re really just choosing between a great gaming experience and a greater gaming experience here.

What’s the difference?

Sony has a history of releasing a “slim” version of the PlayStation a couple of years after its initial release. In the past, those consoles have been labeled a little differently at launch to make it easier to tell the new version apart from the old one. These slimmer versions typically offer more a physical difference than a functionality difference, and this year is no different. The significant feature and performance difference comes with the PlayStation 4 Pro, and even then the difference isn’t huge unless you own a 4K television with HDR support.

Price	$269	$399
Dimensions	10.43in x 11.34in x 1.54in	11.61in x 12.87in x 2.17in
CPU	AMD Jaguar 8-core (x86-64)	AMD Jaguar 8-core (x86-64)
GPU	AMD Radeon (1.84 TFLOP)	AMD Radeon (4.2 TFLOP)
Storage	500GB / 1TB	1TB / 2TB
Optical out	No	Yes
WiFi	802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz + 5GHz)	802.11b/g/n (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
AV out	HDMI 1.4	HDMI 2.0
Power consumption	165w max	310w max
4K Streaming	No	Yes
USB	USB 3.0 (x2 )	USB 3.0 (x3)
PSVR support	Yes	Yes (Enhanced)

The biggest functional difference between the original PS4 and the new slimmer PS4 is power consumption. Sony claims the new PS4 has a max power draw of 165 watts, which sounds impressive next to the original 250w max of the first PS4 until you see most benchmarks. The original PlayStation 4 had an average power draw of 150w during its heaviest gameplay sessions, and never pushed anywhere near that 250w max. It is slightly smaller though, so there’s that.

PlayStation VR performance is something altogether different.

As you can see, Sony is using the same CPU and a GPU that’s a little more than twice the performance in the new PlayStation 4 Pro. There’s also an updated version of the HDMI standard in the PS4 Pro, but there’s no immediate difference in performance out of the box for video output. Games that struggled in the past to maintain 30fps or 60fps on a standard PlayStation 4 will be able to offer a more consistent experience with the PlayStation 4 Pro through its “boost mode” feature. This basically means games that appear a to stutter a little on a normal PS4 will look and play smoother on a PS4 Pro.

Understanding 4K and HDR on PlayStation

PlayStation 4 Pro also offers 4K video streaming and enhanced graphics on supported titles. Game developers will have the option to offer higher quality graphics to PlayStation 4 Pro gamers, which will be clearly labeled with PS4 Pro Enhanced on the box. Not only are most new PlayStation games being made to support this Enhanced ability, many of the more popular games from the past year are releasing updates to look better through the more capable console.

Take a look at every PS4 Pro Enhanced game you can buy today!

As for HDR support, while all of these consoles are technically capable of outputting HDR visuals thanks to a software update from Sony, the HDR content offered by almost every app and game doesn’t apply to anything but the Pro. HDR is typically tied to either 4K content or PS4 Enhanced content, neither of which will play on these older consoles.

HDR Output	🤔	✔️
4K Streaming	❌	✔️
Remote Play	720p	1080p
Share Play	720p	1080p

What about PlayStation VR?

PlayStation VR performance is something altogether different. PlayStation 4 Pro was built to better support PlayStation VR (You know, Project Morpheus and PlayStation Neo kinda go together and all that) but even here the differences are subtle on many titles.

Most titles that were available before the Pro was released look slightly better on the Pro, and those titles updated to support the enhanced graphics in the Pro are noticeably better looking than on the standard PS4. Because of the high focus on framerate in PlayStation VR, what you’ll see in Pro Enhanced titles is more detail, not smoother transitions like you’d see on the television.

PlayStation 4 Slim

Budget-friendly

$300 at Amazon

The slimmer PlayStation 4 plays every game with ease, but the lack of 4K output is noticeable if your TV supports it.

PlayStation 4 Pro

Powerhouse

$400 at Best Buy

If you want the best possible PlayStation experience, this is the one to buy.

Update August 2018: This article has been updated with new information on PlayStation 4 updates and new bundles available for the current models.

Android Pie brings full Xbox One controller support with button mapping fix

From new gestures to extending battery life, here’s everything you need to know about Android Pie!

Following last year’s Oreo release, 2018 is the year of Android 9 Pie.

Google’s latest flavor of Android is jam-packed with all sorts of new features, including a brand-new gesture navigation system, new UI elements, and a heap of under-the-hood tweaks that aim to make this the best version of Android to date.

Without further ado, here’s everything you need to know about Pie!

The latest Android Pie news

August 27, 2018 — Android Pie brings full Xbox One controller support with button mapping fix

If you’re fortunate enough to already have a phone running Android Pie, you may notice it works much better when paired with an Xbox One controller for gaming. As of Android’s latest update, Google has added full support for Microsoft’s controller, correcting some button mapping issues that players were experiencing prior to Pie’s release.

Though Xbox controllers have been shipping with Bluetooth on board for some time, the experience of pairing them up with an Android device hasn’t exactly been smooth. A number of users have reported issues with button mapping that hinder their usefulness. But, as spotted by XDA Developers (via The Verge), a Google engineer recently closed a bug report related to the problem on its issue tracker. “This bug should be fixed in P,” the engineer said, noting that the bug report is now marked as fixed.

This is big news for a large swathe of games, where ditching your digits for the elegance of a controller may be preferable. CNET reports, for example, that Fortnite will soon add Bluetooth controller support, making it much easier for those looking to jump between Xbox and mobile to do so without losing the finesse of a controller. This could potentially be big news for a future where Xbox games are streamed to mobile devices for triple-A gaming on the go.

August 23, 2018 — App Actions pops up in the Play Store

App Actions — the Android Pie feature that uses machine learning to predict what you want to do with various apps — now has its own listing on the Google Play Store.

Listed as “Action Services”, the new item is listed under the Tools category and is described as “Predicting next actions using on-device machine learning.”

Even if you see this in the Play Store, there’s no actual app shortcut or anything for it. Instead, it’s simply there for easier updates going forward as Google evolves the service.

Are you seeing Action Services in the Play Store on your Pie device?

August 15, 2018 — Android 9 Pie (Go Editon) is coming this fall

With Android Oreo, Google launched a special “Go Edition” of it that was designed specifically with lower-end hardware in mind. With Pie, that same idea is continuing (and getting better) with Android 9 Pie (Go Edition).

Android 9 Pie (Go Edition) is keeping everything that made its Oreo sibling great while also adding faster device boot times, a dashboard for tracking your data usage, verified boot + other security features, and comes with an extra 500MB of internal storage compared to Oreo’s version of Go (5.5GB vs. 5.0GB).

In other Go news, Google says that more than 100 OEMs will have Go phones on the market before the end of the year and that there are already 200+ devices available in over 120 countries.

August 15, 2018 — A fix is coming for slow-charging speeds on Pixel and Pixel XL running Pie

Google’s Pixel and Pixel XL are among the first smartphones to be treated by the Android 9 Pie update, but after getting the new software, users have been complaining about slow charging speeds with both the official charger that’s included with the phones and third-party ones. This bug’s been reported by both Pixel and Pixel XL owners, so we’re glad to hear that a fix is on the way.

According to The Verge, Google’s currently testing a software update that resolves the issue. In a statement that was sent to the publication, Google said:

We’re aware of an issue where non-Power Delivery (PD) USB-C chargers no longer rapidly charge the 2016 Pixel and Pixel XL after the upgrade to Android 9 Pie. The 18W rapid charger included in-box is a PD charger and does not exhibit this behavior. We are verifying a fix for non-PD USB-C chargers and will roll it out in the coming weeks.

A clearer timeframe than “the coming weeks” would be nice, but nonetheless, it’s great to hear that these troubles with be over with soon.

August 6, 2018 — Google releases Pie’s OTA images for Pixel and Nexus devices

If you’re eager to start using Pie ASAP, Google’s got you covered.

The full OTA images have already been released, meaning you can grab them and flash Pie onto your Pixel or Nexus phone this very second.

Go, go, go!

Grab the OTA files here

August 6, 2018 — Google unveils Android Pie statue at the Googleplex

Every new version of Android is represented by a statue at Google’s Mountain View campus, and with Pie going live, Google has unveiled the Android Pie statue.

The unveiling didn’t have the same fanfare as last year, where Google held events in New York and Mountain View to launch Oreo. With Pie out of the way, it’s time to start guessing what Android Q will be called next year.

August 6, 2018 — The Essential Phone is already being updated to Pie

Oh man — that was fast!

Just a few minutes after Google announced that Android Pie will begin rolling out to its Pixel phones, Essential announced on Twitter that the Essential Phone is also getting its Pie update today.

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

This is the first non-Pixel phone to get the Pie update so far, and as more are announced, we’ll update this article accordingly.

August 6, 2018 — Android Pie is here!

After months and months of waiting, Google’s officially announced that Android P is Android 9 Pie.

As expected, the update will roll out to Pixel and Nexus devices first with OEMs involved in the Android Beta Program to follow. Pixel phones will begin receiving the Pie update today, and while we don’t have any exact dates yet as to when Pie will be available for the other beta program phones, it should be at some point this fall.

Android 9 Pie is official and the update is starting today

August 2, 2018 — Android P tipped for August 20 launch

We’re expecting the final version of Android P to land any time now, and according to Evan Blass on Twitter, the new software is slated for a release on August 20.

pic.twitter.com/ovby4pC3ph

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) August 2, 2018

That date lines up with the release schedule Google previously published, not to mention the fact that Oreo was released on August 21 last year.

Now, what in the world will it be called? 🤔

July 25, 2018 — Google pushes Android P Beta 4

“Android P is almost here!” That’s how Google starts its blog post introducing Android P Beta 4, also known as Developer Preview 5, which is available on all supported devices starting today.

According to Google, “Today’s Beta 4 update includes a release candidate build with final system behaviors and the official Android P APIs (API level 28), available since Beta 2. It includes everything you need to wrap up your testing in time for the upcoming official Android P release.” In other words, this is basically the same version that will ship to Pixels later in August, when the public version is released.

How to install Android P on your Pixel right now (or roll back to Oreo)

July 20, 2018 — Android P engineers discuss dark mode, gestures, and more in Reddit AMA

Leading up to the official launch of Android P in about a month or so, the development team behind the new update recently got together for an AMA on Reddit to answer technical questions about P.

The dev team covered a ton of stuff, but there are a few highlights worth pointing out here. First off, when it comes to Android P’s gesture navigation, they had this to say:

We evaluated many, (MANY!) options for navigation as part of this overall change to the system spaces (worth noting that our main impetus was about making All Apps/Overview more accessible from wherever you are in the system, similar to the notification shade). HOME and BACK are so central to Android navigation (both the system and the apps) – that ensuring the dependability of them via buttons with enough space led us to the current design. All that said – we really value both the aesthetic and functional appeal of a smaller nav bar / more gross-gesture navigation and are continuing to explore opportunities to bring that in.

A system-wide dark mode has also been on the minds of many, and to not much surprise, it was said that Google doesn’t “have anything to announce about a unified dark mode.”

The team also explained how maintaining Project Treble is actually more difficult than past efforts, said a fix is coming for Android’s awful sharing menu, and more.

Read through the full AMA here

All the big details

Android P is officially Android 9 Pie

No Popsicles or Pineapples here. On August 6, 2018, Google revealed that its next version of Android is Android 9 Pie.

Along with the name change, the number this year is also slightly different. Rather than following the trend of 7.0, 8.0, etc., Pie is referred to as 9. This probably doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, but it’s still an interesting move on Google’s part.

Check out our full review!

Every new Android version builds upon the previous one, meaning that each new update is better than the last.

However, in day-to-day use, how does really Pie hold up? What’s it like using the new gestures instead of the traditional navigation buttons? How do the subtle UI tweaks compare to Oreo? What’s performance like?

All those questions and much, much more are answered in our full review, so be sure to give it a read and watch!

Android 9 Pie review: Greater than the sum of its slices

How to upgrade to Pie

We could talk about Android Pie all day long, but if you don’t know how to actually use the new software for yourself, what’s the fun in that?

Most users will likely upgrade to Pie via a simple OTA update, but if you don’t feel like waiting on Google to serve that to you, you can manually flash it on your phone, too.

Jerry’s got all the details of how to start using Pie right now, so be sure to give his guide a look.

How to install Android Pie on your Pixel right now (or downgrade to Oreo)

See what Google has to say about Pie in our interview with Android’s UX Manager

Android Pie is a big deal for Google. Between the gestures, digital wellbeing initiative, and more, there’s a lot going on all at once.

Andrew recently had the chance to talk with Android’s UX Manager, EK Chung, about all things Pie to get a better understanding of why this is such a big release for the company.

This is a longer read, but it’s absolutely worth a look if you want a deeper understanding of what all went into crafting Pie into the final build that we have today.

Interview: Google’s EK Chung on Android 9 Pie design, simplicity and digital wellbeing

It completely changes Android’s navigation system

Back in 2011 with Android 3.0 Honeycomb, Google introduced Android’s iconic three-button navigation system we’ve come to know and love – Back, Home, and Recents. Seven years later with Android Pie, these are being eliminated in favor of a gesture-based system.

Android Pie is the first time Google’s heavily relying on gestures for navigating the UI, and in their current form, they work as follows:

• Tap the Home button/pill to go home
• Swipe up to access the recent apps page
• Swipe up twice or do a long swipe for the app drawer
• The Back button only appears in certain apps/menus when it’s needed

This combination of taps and swipes can be confusing at first, but with enough practice and patience, are fairly easy to master in a short amount of time. Phones that are updated to Pie will still use the three-button nav by default, but if you want to turn them on, doing so is fairly simple.

Going forward, phones like the Pixel 3 will have gestures turned on by default with no way to revert back to them. So, while you can keep using your Back, Home, and Recents for now, you’ll need to get aclimated with the gestures sooner or later.

How to master the new Android Pie gestures

The user interface is more rounded and colorful

Android Pie isn’t as drastic of a visual change like we saw with the jump from KitKat to Lolipop, but compared to Oreo, there are some elements that are noticeably different.

At first glance, things like the colorful icons in Settings, circular Quick Settings icons, and rounded corners for just about every menu jump out like a sore thumb. These elements do take some getting used to, but I ultimately came around to liking them quite a bit.

Something else you’ll notice with Pie is just how alive it feels. Between the new gestures and updated animations, Android moves in a way that I’ve never seen before. Oreo was smooth and buttery, but Pie flies underneath your fingertips in a way that can only be experienced in-person.

There are tools for helping you use your phone less

Google talked a lot about helping people with their “digital wellbeing” at this year’s I/O conference, and a lot of those efforts are baked right into Android Pie.

Although not live quite yet, later versions of Pie will introduce a new system called Android Dashboard. Android Dashboard will offer a quick glimpse into how you’re using your phone, including stats on which apps you’re using the most, how many times you’ve turned on the screen, how many notifications you’ve received, and how much time you’ve spent on each app.

You’ll also find a feature called App Timers that’ll restrict you from using a certain app after you’ve spent x amount of time on it, as well as tools for easily turning on Do Not Disturb and switching your screen to a monochrome color palette to help you wind down for bed.

Google’s Digital Wellbeing initiative: Everything you need to know

Google’s trying to squeeze as much juice as possible out of your battery

It seems like Google’s always trying to find ways to maximize your phone’s battery life as much as possible, and with Android Pie, those efforts are present in a new Adaptive Battery mode.

Similar to how Adaptive Brightness automatically adjusts your display’s brightness level based on your environment and usage, Adaptive Battery will examine how you use your phone and limit CPU usage to apps you infrequently use.

Google notes that Adaptive Battery can lower CPU usage by as much as 30%, and thanks to the use of Machine Learning, it’ll only get better the more you use your phone.

How to save battery life on Android Pie

App shortcuts are everywhere

With Android Nougat, Google introduced us to App Shortcuts for the first time. Holding down on an app icon to quickly access certain elements of it can be genuinely useful at times, and with Android Pie, Google’s taking these to the next level with App Actions and Slices.

App Actions will try to determine what you’ll do next with your phone and give you recommend shortcuts for doing so within the app drawer, Assistant, and more. For example, if you watch Good Mythical Morning each day with breakfast, you might see an App Shortcut in your app drawer for searching Rhett and Link on YouTube during the morning.

On the other hand, Slices will allow you to perform more complex actions from the Assistant or Google Search. In the example Google gave at I/O, searching “I want to book a ride” will give you a special link to call a ride home via Lyft (assuming you’ve got the app installed).

Android Pie features you’ll love: App Actions

157 new emoji

In Android 9, Google’s added a ton of new emojis to keep your conversations bright and colorful — 157 of them, to be exact.

Although we won’t run through the entire list, some of the highlights include red hair, superhero, face with three hearts, bagel with cream cheese, mooncake, lobster, and llama.

There are also improvements to existing emoji, including two new gender-neutral family and couple designs and updated looks for the bacon, salad, turtle, and cricket emojis.

Check out all of the new emoji here!

A new standard for biometric authentication

Fingerprint sensors and face unlock systems make it easier than ever to access private information on our phones, and in Android P Developer Preview 3, Google added a brand-new standard for this called “BiometricPrompt API.”

Thanks to the new API, developers no longer have to create their own dialog for using biometric systems with their apps. This isn’t something you’ll notice in day-to-day use, but it’s an important background change we’re more than happy to see.

Android Pie features you’ll love: Better, faster biometrics

All the little things

In addition to the big changes found in Android Pie, there are a ton of smaller elements also scattered throughout the update. Some of my favorites include:

• Built-in screenshot editor
• Zoom pop-up when highlighting text
• Changing the volume now defaults to your media volume
• Volume controls appear on the right of your screen instead of the top
• Do Not Disturb is more customizable and easier to understand

Updated August 6, 2018: This article was revamped/refreshed with up-to-date content now that Android Pie is official!

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

These are the best wireless chargers for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9

Keep your Note 9 charged with a stylish wireless charging pad!

When you’ve got a big, expensive phone like the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 you’ll want to take full advantage of all those premium features you’ve paid for. That includes wireless charging, which has really progressed over the years into an efficient means for keeping your phone’s battery topped up.

We’ve highlighted the best wireless charging pads for the Note 9, so you can find the one that fits into your style better.

• Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad
• Samsung Wireless Charging Duo Pad
• iON Wireless Mini Fast Charger Qi Charging Pad
• Anker Qi-Certified Wireless Charger

Samsung Fast Charge Convertible Wireless Charging Pad

Best Overall

Samsung’s convertible wireless charging stand is one of the best designed wireless pads you can buy. Priced at $60 and available in black or tan color options, you’ll see Fast Charge speeds with your Samsung phone whether you have the pad laying horizontally or propped up at an angle.

See at Amazon

The pad also comes with a spare Samsung Fast Charge wall charger — because you can never have too many Samsung wall chargers. Thanks to the coil placement, you’re able to orientate your phone on the pad in either portrait or landscape however you want — and with a phone as big as the Note 9 that’s a clutch feature.

Samsung Wireless Charging Duo

Best for multiple devices

The latest wireless charging pad from Samsung, launched alongside the Note 9, is this stylish wireless charger that lets you charge two phones, or your Note 9 and a Samsung smartwatch — specifically the Gear S3, Gear Sport, or Galaxy Watch. Built with 7.5W Fast Charge Technology, you’ll be able to charge your Samsung devices faster than ever. Get this wireless charging pad for $119 direct from Samsung.

See at Samsung

If you want the latest and greatest wireless charger from Samsung itself, this is it. It’s the most expensive wireless charger on the list but it’s also the most functional, letting you charge two devices at Fast Charge speeds while using just one wall outlet.

iON Wireless Mini Fast Charger Qi Charging Pad

Most Best Value

The latest charging pad from iOttie is this Qi-compatible product with wireless Fast Charging up to 10W for the fastest wireless charging speeds for your phone. Featuring a really nice fabric finish that’s available in Charcoal Black, Ruby Red, Ash Grey, and Ivory White, This is a wireless charger you’ll be happy to show off in your office or living room. The kit comes with a wall charger brick and charging cable and can be yours for as low as $27.

See at Amazon

This wireless charger from iOttie is the latest refinement from a company that has been making quality charging pad for years. Check out our full review if you’re still unsure.

Anker Qi-Certified Wireless Charger

Budget Pick

Our most budget-conscious pick on the list spares no quality or features. Anker, a well-known brand, offers a 7.5W Qi wireless charger that is extremely thin and low-profile but will charge your Galaxy Note 9 right quick for just $20.

See at Amazon

At $20, the Anker Qi-Certified wireless charger has overheating protection with its larger coil that spreads the heat over a wide surface area, and a low-profile 5mm thickness that will practically disappear on any desk or bedside table.

For even faster charging, Anker offers a 10W wireless charger for $22, too.

Which is your preferred style?

These are our top picks for Note 9 wireless chargers, but we want to know which is your favorite. Let us know in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review
• Galaxy Note 9 vs. Note 8
• Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy Note 9 specifications
• Is the Note 8 still a good buy?
• Join our Galaxy Note 9 forums

AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
Samsung

Dying Light 2 preview: A dark post-apocalyptic parkour playground

Dying Light 2 is a truly-ambitious sequel from Techland, which looks set to take the zombie-infested post-apocalypse parkour playground to new heights.

Dying Light 2 is the long-anticipated sequel to Techland’s Dying Light, which was a parkour-focused open world zombie survival game where a viral apocalypse has begun to destroy civilization.

Set in the fictional city of Harran, Dying Light’s melee-oriented combat was fun and infectious, tied together with a relatively light but engaging narrative. Dying Light didn’t do anything particularly revolutionary, but it was one of the best-looking open world titles out there, complete with four-player co-op and an almost Diablo-like focus on looting and upgrades.

Dying Light 2 will see the return of many of the things fans have come to expect from the franchise, with a massively expanded scope, and a consequence-driven branching narrative. Welcome to medieval, post-societal future of Dying Light 2, where humanity has regressed back into the dark times.

See at Amazon

The modern dark age

Dying Light 2 is a little more down to earth in some ways than its predecessor, as Techland seems to be striking a more serious tone. Legendary games writer Chris Avellone is leading the writing for Dying Light 2, as well as contributing various other facets of the game’s structure. The narrative of Dying Light 2 is taking a far bigger role than it did in its predecessor, with a big emphasis on choice and consequence.

Your job is to find a place for yourself in this chaotic world, and the choices you make will shape the world.

Set in an apocalyptic future, a zombie apocalypse and the subsequent chaos has wiped out almost all of technology and infrastructure. The survivors carve out a grim existence. Water and other basic necessities are scarce, and organized gangs and militia prey on the weak and innocent. Your job is to find a place for yourself in this chaotic world, and the choices you make will shape the world, quite literally.

Major and minor story decisions in Dying Light 2 don’t just change the flow of the game’s story, but can dramatically impact entire areas following.

Warring factions

Dying Light 2’s press demonstration offered a little more insight into the gameplay Techland previously revealed at Gamescom. The player is offered the opportunity to secure a water tower from a group of bandits, following the disappearance of a rival gang’s “emissary,” neutral individuals whose job it is to negotiate between groups. Killing an emissary seems to be a little taboo even among the ruthless gangs of this new world.

Ascending to the top of the tower, the player has the opportunity to learn more and negotiate with the small bandit duo who have ensconced themselves at the top of this water tower. Discovering that the emissary was quite literally booted out of the tower, the player is offered the choice between negotiating a deal with the bandits or fighting them to the death.

Not all choices in Dying Light 2 will be so binary, but this quest offered a glimpse into the way your decisions will have physical consequences upon the world.

If you kill the bandits, the militant Peacekeeper (PK) faction moves in, setting up banners in the area. Peacekeepers appear to be what remains of the military, complete with advanced weaponry. With the water tower secured, you can access water supplies for free in the entire area, as the advanced faction repairs the local plumbing infrastructure. The downside: They rule with an iron fist, abusing and suppressing the local survivors. And you’re their mate.

Your decisions will have physical consequences on the world.

If you help the bandits, they won’t be able to repair the local plumbing, but they will set up a new trading post in the area, which you can become a business partner for. You’ll get a cut of the profits, and the local population won’t see you as a PK stooge.

Techland noted that depending on the flow of the story from previous quests, the two bandits might not have been in the tower at all, it might have been someone else entirely.

The dangers of Dying Light 2

Dying Light 2 puts an emphasis on the human factions, but that doesn’t mean the virus from the first game has been completely wiped out.

You might remember the more powerful infected monsters from the first game, which only emerged at night. Only these more powerful photosensitive zombies remain, and during the day, they stay hidden inside various buildings and underground locations, hiding from the sunlight. Dying Light 2 calls these areas “nests,” and due to being filled with sleeping zombies, they often contain the best loot, since local bandits and survivors are too afraid to risk entering. If you brave the nests, you’ll have to creep silently, aiming your flash light away from the horde, or risk being torn apart very rapidly.

During our demo, the player encountered a group of bandits setting up a UV light perimeter around a nest of zeds, in hopes of clearing out an unlooted building. This presented the opportunity to take out the bandits and make use of their UV set up to get some easy loot. Dying Light 2’s combat system does not make you a super hero – you’re still very vulnerable, and must approach combat with thoughtfulness. To that end, you can often enlist the help of the environment itself in combat.

Stealth takes an expanded role in Dying Light 2. You can hide in bushes, and sneak upon unsuspecting enemies for sneaky kills. Eliminating as many threats as possible before going hand-to-hand is a must, since you’re probably going to get yourself killed if facing multiple hostiles at once. The rewards, however, may outweigh the risks.

Parkour upgraded

Dying Light’s hyper-agile traversal mechanics have been upgraded for the sequel, adding double the amount of parkour moves and cues that should serve to make Dying Light 2’s movement a lot more fluid. The world map has been designed with an immense amount of verticality in mind, complete with features to help you make the jump.

The world map has been designed with an immense amount of verticality.

Some seem to have been borrowed from the likes of Assassin’s Creed, with freeform jumping across small objects like street lamps, and special hook ropes that let you ascend rapidly up a large building. Others seem completely new, however, granting the player the ability to plunge their melee weapon into a cloth billboard for a rapid descent, or dive into a tree to break a big fall.

Dying Light 2 also features parkour climbing puzzles, which may make you groan, but they’re a little more interactive and challenging than some of the other games out there utilizing the “Ubisoft tower” map reveal gameplay mechanic. Dying Light 2 retains the stamina meter, which constantly depletes when you’re hanging from, or balancing on objects. You’ll need to plan your movements up larger towers more carefully than you might in other games.

Objects also obey physics more intelligently. You can swing from ropes, jump onto moving objects like trucks and other vehicles, and hang from hanging objects like crates. Dying Light 2 should feel a lot less clunky than its predecessor, with a liberated traversal system parkour fans will enjoy.

Positive outlook

Dying Light 2 looks like an incredible upgrade from its predecessor, striking a more serious tone. Chris Avellone’s influence looks like it’ll touch upon the entire game, creating a meaningful branching narrative with plenty of opportunity for replayability.

The open world is four times bigger than the original game and all of its DLC combined.

I’m excited to learn more about the world Techland is building for Dying Light 2, which has some post-apocalypse aesthetic cross-over with franchises like Waterworld and Mad Max. Society is moving on, but it’s doing so without technology, in poverty and strife. The open world is, according to Techland, four times bigger than the original game and all of its DLC combined, with plans for plenty of post-launch support. To support Avellone, Techland has also tripled the size of its internal writing team, to help flesh out Dying Light 2’s world.

Dying Light 2 will continue to rock four-player co-op, and any loot or experience you acquire in your friends’ worlds will come back with you to your own. Your narrative won’t progress while inside a friend’s game, but you’ll get to experience all the same choices and happenings they do, should you choose to help out.

Dying Light 2 doesn’t have a launch date yet, but we’ll keep you posted when we know more. It should hit PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

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5 ways the Lenovo Smart Display is better than the Amazon Echo Show

Despite being available for over a year, Amazon’s Echo Show doesn’t stand up against Lenovo’s Smart Display.

There’s a lot to like about the Lenovo Smart Display. It takes the smarts of Google Assistant and combines it brilliantly with a display and Google Cast functionality, which all comes together to make something genuinely enjoyable to use.

But it’s not the first product of its kind out there; in fact, Amazon has had its Echo Show on shelves for over a year now. If you compare the two side by side, it’s clear there are a couple of significant things Lenovo Smart Display offers over the Amazon experience and those things add up fast when choosing which to buy.

The information on display is just plain better on Lenovo Smart Display

Both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa are great at offering an audio system for answering questions and offering insight into your day. Reasonable people can argue about which is “better” at answering different kinds of questions or integrating with your life, but overall these are comparable and quality services. Transitioning those audio skills to a visual medium is a little different, and in this respect, the Lenovo Smart Display blows Amazon’s Echo Show away.

Everything about the visuals on the Smart Display, from the way it shows you the translation of what you said in text form on the screen to the way the results are displayed on the screen, is way better than what Amazon has to offer. When you change the temperature on your thermostat, you get a visual confirmation. When you ask for the weather somewhere you get lots of information in a beautiful graph. When you ask for recipes, you get everything from step-by-step instructions to detailed videos for how to create your dish.

Amazon’s Echo Show does some of this, but not nearly as well or as detailed as Lenovo’s Smart Display. And if you have the larger version of the two Smart Display Options, the visual information doesn’t feel stretched or out of shape. It all feels pleasantly optimized for the hardware.

The touch interface on Lenovo Smart Display is actually useful

While there is a touch screen on the Amazon Echo Show, you don’t really use it for much. If you want to adjust some settings you can, if you want to answer a call from another Echo you can, but there’s really not much else you use that touch screen for on a regular basis. It’s seriously underutilized, especially when compared to the Lenovo Smart Display.

Google’s Android Things interface functions in many ways like Android. You can swipe away an app you’re currently using to see things in the “home screen” which usually has your calendar and other Assistive features at a glance. You can expand things like weather to get more information, you can scroll through steps in a recipe, and of course you can play and pause and select new things to watch across the dozens of video options streaming to the Lenovo Smart Display.

You don’t have to ever touch the Lenovo Smart Display if you don’t want to, but there are a lot of reasons to want to as you explore this experience further. Especially if you’re likely to use it in the kitchen.

Much respect for a physical camera shutter

I like using Google Duo as much as the next person, but seeing someone’s face pop up on your screen automatically before you’ve answered a video chat call is a little unsettling to people who aren’t familiar with the app. Personally, I love being able to see who is calling and what they might be up to before I answer, but it’s not for everyone. Not only does Google Duo respect that by making it possible for you to turn this feature off on your account, but the Lenovo Smart Display has a physical cover for it camera so you can be totally sure nothing is using that camera to look at you when you aren’t expecting it.

This seems like such a small thing, but for a lot of people it’s really not. The smaller Lenovo Smart Display could easily be the kind of thing you set on a bedside table, just like you would an Amazon Echo Show or Echo Spot, neither of which have camera covers built in. In a world of increasingly connected everything, this thoughtful design not only offers you some peace of mind, but gives those around you some control over their environment even if you’re not bothered by having an open camera near you at all times.

So. Many. Video. Options.

If you have an Amazon Echo Show, and you want to stream some video while you’re cooking or getting dressed, your options are ridiculously limited. You can stream from Amazon Instant Video, which is nice if you’re a Prime member, and you can stream video segments from your news feed. That’s pretty much it, which isn’t much when you look at what the Lenovo Smart Display has to offer.

Out of the box, Google shows off one major thing it can do because it’s Google. YouTube, YouTube Music, and YouTube TV are all on board and tightly integrated well. You can see what you’re going to watch or listen to next, voice and touch commands give you a lot of options, and it all integrates well into the apps on your phone. If you use these services right now, they really shine on Lenovo Smart Display.

Separate from YouTube, this is a Google Cast target. You can choose to stream a lot of different Chromecast-supported apps to the Lenovo Smart Display just like you would a television or Chromecast Audio source. Not every app is supported yet, big names like Netflix are glaringly absent, but Hulu and Plex and dozens of others are already available. The same can’t be said of the competition.

Deep integration with Google Services is important to me

As an Android user, and a long time fan of Google Assistant (and Google Now before it) I deeply appreciate the way I can make my data work for me through my apps. Google is very good at reminding me when I need to leave for an appointment, because I have given it access to my calendar and my turn-by-turn navigation. It all just happens automatically, which is great. And lots of other Google apps are integrated through Lenovo’s Smart Display. I can speak messages into Google Keep, make phone calls through my phone number, everything I can do with Assistant on my phone.

Amazon offers some of these features through the Echo Show, but none of them are particularly well integrated, making for a clumsy side by side comparison. I can give Alexa my work address so it can give me traffic patterns on the way to work in the morning, but even with access to my calendar it won’t do the same for the doctor’s office. Even when I manually provide Alexa with my information, it’s still not as good at being my virtual assistant as Google.

See at Best Buy

UK Deal: Take up to 30% off Amazon hardware this Bank Holiday

Nearly all of its devices are on sale right now, so don’t miss out.

Right now, Amazon UK is celebrating the August Bank Holiday with up to 30% off a variety of its own hardware, including the £35 Echo Dot, £35 Fire TV Stick, Fire Tablets starting at £40, £90 Kindles, and more. Beyond just the Amazon-branded hardware, there are also discounts on Ring’s popular video doorbells for £149 and Spotlight cameras for £169.

Most of the discounts bring the items back down to the lowest they’ve ever sold for, so be sure to check them all out now and load up before the prices rise again.

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

Here’s what Android fans can expect from IFA 2018

Let’s get ready for some fresh tech, coming live from Berlin.

IFA is a yearly electronics trade show held in Berlin, Germany — and the 2018 version kicks off this week! The show technically runs from August 31 to September 5, but for the purposes of the technology enthusiast things get going around August 29. And of course, that’s when Android Central starts hitting all of the news.

As MWC has grown and several companies have decided to focus on running their own separate events for big product launches, IFA has become less important. But it still serves as a good place for the big companies to talk about smaller announcements: things like smartwatches, mid-range phones, products for international markets, accessories, connected home gear and more.

As we all get geared up to cover IFA live from Berlin, here’s what you can expect from this year’s show.

Samsung

IFA is typically a great show for Samsung to announce its less-important products like smartwatches and tablets … but this year, the company took the wraps off of the Galaxy Tab S4 and Galaxy Watch well before the show.

Because the big announcements are out of the bag, we’re not expecting anything notable in the mobile arena from Samsung. We could see a lower-end tablet (or two) released, plus a better opportunity to see the latest accessories for the Galaxy Note 9 and S9+. The biggest announcements out of Samsung this year will more likely land in the TV and smart home space, where Samsung is extremely influential. We’ll hear about the “Galaxy ecosystem” and how everything is tied together — much like we got ahead of the Note 9’s unveiling.

Samsung’s press conference is on August 30 at 11:00 a.m. CET / 6:00 a.m. ET.

Sony

It isn’t uncommon for Sony to time its smartphone releases with the major trade shows — mostly MWC and IFA. Sony’s Xperia XZ2, XZ2 Compact and super-spec’d Xperia XZ2 Premium all launched months ago, so IFA could be a great landing place for some sort of an XZ3 (and potentially a Compact version).

Rumors point to an XZ3 that’s effectively unchanged in design from the XZ2 Premium, with the new more rounded metal and glass look that we’ve seen in Sony’s 2018 lineup. There’s a moderate spec bump in RAM and storage, and it’s expected to run Android 8.1 Oreo with a forthcoming update to Android 9 Pie.

Sony’s press conference is on August 30 at 1:00 p.m. CET / 8:00 a.m. ET.

Lenovo / Motorola

Lenovo goes after trade shows in a big way, because it covers so many different product categories. Our friends over at Windows Central will have a full breakdown of the Lenovo laptop and convertible announcements, which are sure to be exciting and numerous.

For the Android Central crowd, you can expect Lenovo to have new announcements around its Chromebook lineup (both education and consumer), as well as potential refreshes of its tablet line.

We expect Motorola to announce further availability details for the new iPhone X-lookalike Moto P30 — while we don’t expect this to make an appearance in North America, we should hear more about it expanding beyond just China and India.

Lenovo’s press conference is on August 30 at 7:45 p.m. CET / 1:45 p.m. ET — it’s a bit of a different format than most, so the announcements may trickle out over the course of a few hours.

LG

Early rumors pointed to LG using IFA as a launch spot for the new LG V40, but since then we’ve heard nothing else to indicate the company will launch the phone at this show. Expect the V40 announcement toward the end of October instead.

Instead, like Samsung, we expect LG to make announcements regarding mobile accessories, TVs and smart home gear. You can expect to see lots of “ThinQ” thrown around, of course.

LG has the opening keynote on August 29, but the real product-focused keynote is on August 31 at 10:30 a.m. CET / 4:30 a.m. ET.

Huawei / Honor

Huawei has a lot of products to announce seemingly at all times, and IFA is a good place for it to get news out particularly for its European-focused segments. The Honor brand has already launched the Honor 9N and Honor Note 10 officially, but this will be a proper global unveiling and our first opportunity to see the new devices. The Honor Note 10 is particularly neat because of its insanely huge size. There’s also rumor of the Honor Play — a big, inexpensive, gaming-focused phone — making its international debut.

We should also be in store for some new color variants of the already-stunning Huawei P20 Pro. And Huawei does like to announce its new Kirin processors with more fanfare than most manufacturers, and we could see the latest in high-end chips, the Kirin 980, shown off in prototype fashion. The only wild card is whether we hear about the Huawei Watch 3 — no solid rumors on that front.

Huawei’s press conference is on August 31 at 2:00 p.m. CET / 9:00 a.m. ET.

BlackBerry

BlackBerry may be riding the big launch of the KEY2 still, but it’s ready to announce something else at IFA. Rumors point to a certain announcement for the KEY2 Lite, or KEY2 LE (Lite Edition) at the show, which will be a value-focused inexpensive version of the phone to compete on a lower price point.

In order to hit the price BlackBerry is rumored to drop the specs across the board to a Snapdragon 636, 4GB of RAM and a 3000mAh battery. Basically, offer up that great keyboard in a more affordable package.

BlackBerry doesn’t have a press conference time set, so it’s more likely to show off the phone in a more casual setting considering its lower importance than the higher-end KEY2.

Others

• Casio Is expected to announce a new Wear OS smartwatch, which should be a follow-up to the WSD-F20.
• Fossil Group is likely to have some wearable announcements across its many brands. Some could be Wear OS, but most will be proprietary wearables along the lines of what we typically see from its sub-brands like Misfit and Fossil.
• Razer is supposed to have a presence of some sort at the show, though we would expect that to be on the PC/gaming side rather than mobile.
• ASUS will have its typical layout of consumer and gaming gear, but we could get an update on the status of the RoG Phone line.

Be sure to follow all of our IFA 2018 coverage right here on Android Central, subscribe to us on YouTube to see videos from the show, and check back in at the end of the show for our top device announcements!

Google Assistant’s voices are more than just a color

What’s in a voice? A lot more than you might think.

Google Assistant may interact with users on many different devices and platforms, but the most frequent way — and often the only way — it will respond to you is with its voice. As such, picking a Google Assistant voice that’s pleasing, comforting, and trustworthy can dramatically boost your feeling of connection to Google’s AI as well as increase your willingness to call on it for information or help.

If you live in the United States, you get a choice of which voice you’d prefer Google Assistant to speak to you with, but choosing one of these voices can be a bit like going on a blind date. When you go into Google Assistant’s settings to pick a new voice, each of the voices is not given a number anymore, nor is it given a name. Each Google Assistant voice is given a color, and just as the colors of the rainbow have whole hosts of meanings throughout our cultures, the color of each voice has a distinct sound, speed, and personality.

Let’s take a spin around Google’s color wheel and pick a voice that’s right for you!

Red: The Classic

Red is the original Google Assistant voice, and for some countries and many many hearts, she’s still the only voice. Her easy tone and subtle warmth conjured up images of lipstick and candy apples. Red’s voice is inviting, embracing, and welcoming to new users — not too fast or too slow, not too lively or too mellow — but as the default, Red also gets a little, well, stale.

For better or worse, Red is the most widely-used Assistant voice.

It’s not her fault. She’s everywhere: the ads for Google Assistant use Red’s voice, as do the demo videos and as the default voice, she’s what everyone who doesn’t realize or doesn’t care to customize their Google Assistant’s voice. She’s also the voice that some newer or more niche skills will switch back to if they’re not supported by another color’s voice yet.

Orange: The Sidekick

Orange is a bright, warm color of nutrition, of the fall harvest, and the highly visible color used for warning signs and visibility vests. Orange is bold, so Orange the color clashes ever-so-slightly with Orange the voice, which is a little slower and almost a little timider.

His voice that of an Assistant that bends over backward to stay out of your way; he wants to help you, but he won’t speak up unless called upon. Orange’s voice can be rich and fun once you warm up to him, and he’s not going to boss you around when you ask him for directions or recipe instructions.

Amber: The Cheerleader

Amber is warm and bright as her namesake color. Her higher pitch and honeyed voice encourages you to ask her more questions, play more games, and think of Assistant not as some stuffy, know-it-all taskmaster but as a friend that wants to help you when you’re bored just as much as she wants to help when you’re busy.

Amber’s cadence is a little faster than the classic Red, her excitement growing with each Routine she successfully executes and each game she lets you win. This is an Assistant voice that’s perfect for pushing you to go further, do more, and seize the day.

Green: The Legend

The Google Assistant that made the most waves at Google I/O back in May — well, apart from everyone freaking out over Google Duplex — was the news that one of the new voices coming to Google Assistant was that of singer-songwriter-actor-modern god John Legend, the Green voice. Now, don’t go getting any ideas that Green is going to serenade you with those Grammy-winning pipes; his voice isn’t exactly the same, but Green is smooth, gentle, and chill.

Green sounds like a voice that would ask you if you if you want to join him for a meditation session with Sleep Sounds. He’s very zen, and that’s a very good feature for a voice to have when the world feels like it’s flying apart at a million miles an hour.

Cyan: The Muse

Cyan is Green’s next door neighbor, and I like to imagine that she joins him for those meditation sessions and some early morning yoga. Cyan is another mellow voice, the voice of reason and calm that will guide you through your busy day and then help you kick back and unwind before summoning up the ocean waves for a well-deserved nap.

Cyan isn’t as quick as Amber, but she’s steady, smooth, and dependable while still ready to let down her hair and start the dance party at a moment’s notice.

Blue: The Confidant

Blue is Red’s fraternal twin brother. He’s got the same tempo and subtle warmth that welcomes new users in, ready to show off just what he can do. His voice is dependable but not deep; he’s trustworthy but not overbearing, making him a great companion and confidant.

When you need someone to share your ideas with — he writes them down for you to come back to later — you can safely confide your deepest darkest calendar plans with Blue, who may even have a few ideas about how to help you with pulling off that forbidden island escape or burying a body.

Or a surprise party. Let’s go with the surprise party.

Purple: The Guide

Purple’s the loving, gentle guide to newer users, older users, and anyone looking for a motherly mentor. Her slower, clearer cadence is easier to follow along with, and her voice is soft and sweet when you’re asking her how to do your homework late into the night or trying to figure out how to make breakfast without waking up your partner.

If you’re trying to acclimate someone to a Google Home who’s not used to Google Assistant seeming omnipotence, Purple is a voice that can help them lower their suspicions and ease them into trusting her with their timers, recipes, and help.

Pink: The Announcer

Pink may be last on Google’s color wheel — seriously, how do you not put Pink up front with Red? — but he has more than enough drama and panache to make up for it! Pink’s deep voice comes straight from an old-fashioned commercial, ready to pull out the classic “IN A WORLD…” and turn your everyday life into a movie trailer!

Pink’s deep voice can imbue a sense of trust and knowledge to some users, and his confident readings can make even the most mundane facts seem exciting. Like the color, Pink is bold, has flair for the dramatic, and hosts a good sense of humor.

Pink is also a good voice to remember as we head into the fall. After all, Real Men Wear Pink.

Which voice colors your world?

The voices and their personalities are quite hard to sum up into one-word colors — and I really do wish Google would name their voices — but which color voices your Google Assistant? Green has been my companion this summer, minus a few weeks where I had an affair with Pink.

I’m sorry, Green! You were going through an awkward phase and Pink was just so dynamic! FORGIVE ME!!!

Google Home

• Google Home review
• Google Home Mini: Everything you need to know!
• Google Home Max review
• These services work with Google Home
• Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
• Join our Google Home forums!

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