A Huawei commercial used a DSLR to promote the Nova 3’s selfie camera

That’s a funny-looking phone you’re holding there…oh wait.

Huawei releases a ton of phones throughout the year (we’ve got a handy guide to help you keep track of them right here), and one of its most recent handsets is the Nova 3. The Nova 3 is a pretty typical mid-range Android smartphone, with one of its biggest features being its powerful selfie camera and AI features that accompany it.

A short 30-second ad for the Nova 3 was recently released, and in it, we see a man and women taking selfies in a number of different settings — one of which where the man is trying to take a selfie with the woman but she’s apprehensive as she doesn’t have any makeup on. However, the Nova 3’s AI beauty mode comes to the rescue by digitally altering her face so that it’s shinier and more tone. Pretty typical advertising fluff.

Sarah Elshamy is the actress shown in the clip, and on her Instagram page, she shared a photo while behind the scenes of the commercial. Low and behold, the pictures used in the commercial to showcase the Nova 3’s selfie camera weren’t actually taken with a Nova 3 — they were taken with a DSLR instead.

In the now-deleted picture, we can see the male actor in front of the DSLR holding his hand out and holding absolutely nothing in an attempt to make it look like he’s holding the Nova 3.

This mimicry isn’t entirely unheard of for these sort of commercials (especially from Huawei), but even so, it’s a nice reminder that not everything is as it seems when it comes to these “camera samples.”

Huawei Mate 20 rumors: Release date, specs, price, and features!

These new PlayStation 4 Dualshock controller colors are simply stunning

It will be hard to pick just one of these!

There’s no current shortage of color options on the Dualshock PlayStation 4 controllers, but if you weren’t really into one that you’ve already seen, maybe one of these new ones will do it for you. Sony has announced four new color schemes, Berry Blue, Blue Camouflage, Copper, and Sunset Orange, and they all look awesome. The Sunset Orange option has been available in the U.S. for a little, and will now be making its way to more regions, and the Copper color will be exclusive to GameStop in the U.S. Pre-orders will kick off soon, and they should be officially available to customers in the U.S, Canada, and more in September.

These colors are said to launch at $65. If you’re looking to add a new controller to your collection today, you could grab one from Amazon for $46.96 right now in black, silver, gold, green camo, or wave blue. Be sure to keep it locked here for more information as it becomes available, including a link to grab one of these for yourself.

Which one of the new colors interests you? I’ll be ordering one of the Berry Blue as soon as it’s available, personally.

Fortnite and PUBG are now both on Android. Which is the better game?

Here’s how Battle Royale’s biggest games compare on Android.

Battle Royal games have exploded in popularity, and now that everyone’s addicted these companies are seeing fit to release these games for your smartphones. We’ve been enjoying the mobile version of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds for quite some time, and now Fortnite — the biggest game in the space — has finally made its way to Android.

While there are other Battle Royale games available on the go, these are the two undisputed behemoth kings. In case you’re wondering about the differences between the two (and an honest opinion on which one is better), sit comfortably and read.

What’s Battle Royale?

Let’s start by talking about what Battle Royale actually is. The genre is still relatively new so there’s no hard definition to go by, but the early games typically have one trait in common: that Hunger Games style of stipulation that tasks you with surviving up against a number of other players who are looking to do the same.

Most commonly, these games involve dropping into a big map, finding weapons, attachments, and gear, and racing some sort of shepherding mechanic that eventually forces everyone to fight. The last man standing wins.

Not all Battle Royale games follow this core model, though. Games like Darwin Project, The Culling, and Realm Royale feature unique features such as crafting, a player who oversees the action like a God and influences it with special abilities, or out-of-this-world weaponry like chicken guns. They’re all different, but they’re all still Battle Royale games.

Fortnite for Android vs PUBG Mobile

With a better understanding of what these games are, we can take a look at what makes both of these games unique, as well as other factors — like pricing, availability, and mobile-centric features — which set them apart.

Download Fortnite (free)
Download PUBG Mobile (free)

Which phones can I play on?

Fortnite for Android and PUBG Mobile may be available on the same platform, but that doesn’t mean you can play them on every device. PUBG Mobile is the most ubiquitous of the lot, with more than 500 Android devices being supported. Meanwhile, the list of devices that Fortnite currently supports currently sits at a few dozen.

Fortnite’s system requirements are more stringent if you want the best experience. You’ll need Android 5.0 or higher, 3GB of RAM or higher, and an Adreno 530, Mali-G71 MP20, or Mali-G72MP12 GPU or higher.
Epic actually launched Fortnite for Android as a brief Samsung exclusive, with Samsung flagships from the last few years all being on the initial list of supported devices. That includes the Galaxy S7 and newer, Galaxy Note 8 and newer, and the Galaxy Tab S3 and newer.

Assuming you can get an invite to play the beta, Epic says there’s a chance the game will work on more devices, which means you can install the game on pretty much anything. Epic Games just doesn’t guarantee a consistent experience on anything other than the list of smartphones listed above, so they won’t be able to do much for you if you experience any issues. Here’s a full list of supported devices you can play Fortnite for Android on right now:

• Google Pixel 2 / 2 XL
• Google Pixel / Pixel XL
• LG G7
• LG V35
• LG V30 / V30+
• LG G6
• LG V20
• LG G5
• Essential Phone
• OnePlus 6
• OnePlus 5 / 5T
• Razer Phone
• Huawei Mate 10 / Mate 10 Pro
• Huawei Mate RS
• Huawei P20 / P20 Pro
• Huawei Nova 3
• Honor 10
• Honor Play
• Honor V10
• Asus ROG Phone
• Asus Zenfone 4 Pro
• Asus Zenfone 5Z
• Asus ZenFone V
• Xiaomi Blackshark
• Xiaomi Mi 5 / 5S / 5S Plus
• Xiaomi Mi 6 / 6 Plus
• Xiaomi Mi 8 / 8 Explorer / 8SE
• Xiaomi Mi Mix
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
• Xiaomi Mi Note 2
• ZTE Axon 7 / 7S
• ZTE Axon M
• ZTE Nubia Z17 / Z17S
• ZTE Nubia Z11

High-end HTC, Sony, and Moto devices are notably absent from this list. While they’re currently unsupported, Epic is working to get the following Android phones working properly as soon as possible:

• HTC 10
• HTC U11 / U+
• HTC U12+
• Lenovo Moto Z / Moto Z Droid
• Lenovo Moto Z2 Force
• Sony Xperia XZ / Xperia XZs
• Sony Xperia XZ1
• Sony Xperia XZ2

PUBG Mobile is a bit laxer. So long as you have 2GB of RAM and are on Android 5.1.1 or higher, you’re good. There’s a chance lesser devices can run the game, too. The best way to see if your phone can run it is to download it from Google Play and give it a shot.

Both games make it easy to customize the graphical fidelity to help you achieve smoother performance. Fortnite lets you change the level of detail from low all the way through Epic, while PUBG Mobile offers similar graphics options and the ability to automatically determine the appropriate level based on your hardware. Play around with the settings to see what works best for you.

One last thing to note: PUBG Mobile is available via Google Play, but Fortnite requires you to install a third-party launcher as a direct download from Epic Games. (The exception to this being Samsung devices, which can get the game from the Galaxy Apps Store.) You won’t have an issue keeping your game updated in either case, but if it’s important that you get all your games from Google Play, it’s something to keep in mind.

Are they free to play?

This is the big question you might be wondering about, because PUBG is notoriously a buy-to-play game on other platforms, while Fortnite’s Battle Royale mode is free for all to download. That’s not the case on Android.

Both PUBG Mobile and Fortnite for Android are entirely free to download and play. The games are supported by microtransactions which give you access to new cosmetics, but otherwise don’t require you to spend a dime if you don’t want to.

PUBG has a selection of premium character and weapon skins to choose from, and these are added to over time. You can purchase things either directly or buy military crates for a chance at random items. There’s also a Royale Pass that lets you earn rewards the more you play, and these rewards are refreshed each season.

Fortnite, meanwhile, more regularly offers new skins either through direct purchase or by way of the Battle Pass, which allows you to pay a premium to earn exclusive rewards. Fortnite’s cosmetics are also more varied, with things like emotes, loading screen skins, glider effects, and more joining your typical selection of character model and weapon skins.

Gameplay differences

PUBG’s allure is that it’s a more realistic game. The visuals are more lifelike, the weapons are based on actual military equipment, and the ballistics model is made to emulate real life. That means things like bullet drop — which causes damage to fall off at longer range and requires you to adjust your shots to account for distance and height — are emphasized as these mechanics create a skill gap.

On the flipside, Fortnite is about as silly as silly gets. It’s cartoony, it’s unrealistic, and it’s over-the-top. And it’s all great. You can throw grenades that make your opponent dance or instantly erect structures that are several feet high. Run through time travel rifts to be taken to the skies and dropped back down to the ground just as you did when the game started. Use a golf cart to drift, and the finish it all off by dancing in front of a huge birthday cake. Anything can and will happen in Fortnite.

You also have a building system that allows you to use the materials you’ve gathered in the world to instantly create structures to use for cover and shelter. Its shooting model is of the hitscan variety, which means bullets will land perfectly as long as your crosshairs are on your target when you pull the trigger (with the only exception to this being scoped weapons).

Both games are plenty fun and intense in their own ways, and which one does it right really comes down to personal preference. There’s a misconception that PUBG requires more skill because it’s more realistic, but that’s not necessarily true. Both games require different types of skill, and you can play them as casually or as competitively as you want.

Mobile-friendly features

Fortnite and PUBG Mobile both have several features in play to help make the mobile experience easier. You can pick up items and weapons simply by running over them, and doors can be opened by running into them. In terms of shooting controls, Fortnite allows you to auto-shoot, which is a nice feature for those who don’t have the skill to aim, shoot, and build at the same time.

Both Fortnite for Android and PUBG Mobile also allow you to customize a ton of little control options and even resize and reposition HUD elements.

Crossplay

Fortnite is currently the only game in this genre with cross-platform play. You can play with friends on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, or PC if you so choose. We wouldn’t recommend doing that right now, of course, because someone with a proper controller or a mouse and keyboard setup will have a massive advantage. You could even the playing fields by using a Bluetooth controller, which brings us to our next point…

Bluetooth controller support

Neither Fortnite for Android nor PUBG Mobile officially support Bluetooth controllers at this time, meaning you’ll need to use onscreen controls to do anything. Epic attempts to make this easier with auto-shoot mechanics, though it still isn’t going to give you the same level of precision as using a controller would.

In fact, Fortnite takes a massive hit in this category due to its more complicated control scheme. While things are still sometimes awkward to pull off in PUBG Mobile, the fact that there’s no building system makes it a much more mobile-friendly game. All that said, there are plans for Fortnite to get Bluetooth controller support at some point down the line.

There hasn’t been any news on that front for PUBG Mobile. In fact, some believe the developers don’t want to introduce controller support so as to keep the playing field level (which is possible because lack of cross-platform play means they know for certain that everyone playing in a server are playing on mobile devices), so it’s possible we may never see it. That hasn’t stopped players from figuring out ways to use external controls to improve their game, though.

Feature parity

This is an important point to touch on. Those who play the game on one platform will expect a game of the same name to have the same features on another. That isn’t always possible with mobile, though.

To that end, Fortnite for Android offers the most consistent experience across devices and platforms. That’s because the game has to be the same everywhere in order for cross-platform play to truly work. All the new updates and features Epic will introduce on a regular basis will show up quickly, because you wouldn’t be able to play with people on other platforms otherwise.

Meanwhile, PUBG Mobile is kind of operating in its own silo. The PC version is pretty far ahead of what’s available on mobile, and while the mobile experience is mostly in line with the baseline game, there are still new maps, weapons, vehicles, skins, and gameplay changes that will take time to be implemented. It’s catching up, but don’t expect day-one patches like Fortnite.

Fortnite for Android vs PUBG Mobile: Which is better?

As we mentioned before, it’s hard to say which game is better from a pure style standpoint. PUBG Mobile and Fortnite for Android can appeal to the same crowd due to how similar their gameplay models are, and it really is all about your personal preference at the end of the day.

In a world where you wouldn’t mind either style of game, Fortnite is the obvious pick if you play the game on multiple platforms or have friends on other platforms you’d like to play with. It also means you get a more active schedule of updates, with Epic introducing new changes and items on a weekly basis.

However, if you’re having trouble coming to grips with Fortnite’s control scheme, you may enjoy PUBG Mobile a lot more. It’s more customizable in that regard, and because there are fewer mechanics to worry about overall, you don’t necessarily need a Bluetooth controller to make it a pleasant experience. PUBG is also available on a lot more devices, so for some of you, it may be your only option.

We’d also give PUBG the nod for complete newcomers, as the game has a comprehensive tutorial and boasts an excellent onboarding experience that fills your first several games with mostly AI-controlled enemies. This helps ease you into the frying pan instead of having to jump straight into the fire.

No matter which camp you fall in, remember that both games are still changing on a fairly frequent basis, and what may be a point in favor of one game now could change in a matter of weeks. In fact, Fortnite on Android is still considered in beta, so there are likely tons of improvements already in the pipeline.

Fortnite for Android review

Which one do you prefer?

Give us a holler in the comments section to let us know which game you think is better, or simply which one you prefer to play right now!

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Which noise-canceling Sony headphones should you buy?

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to get good noise-canceling headphones.

Noise-canceling headphones are all the rage these days. They’re great for long flights and coffee shop writing sessions alike, and best of all you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to get a decent set anymore. While Sony’s popular WH1000XM2s are still class-leading in their active noise-canceling tech and high-quality audio delivery, there’s a much cheaper pair that’s been getting quite a bit of attention lately, the WH-CH700N.

While neither pair of headphones has a terribly memorable name, they’re both great products that fulfill different needs and uses cases. So which one is right for you and your needs?

Why the WH-CH700N is a great buy

For a couple dollars shy of two Benjamins, the CH700Ns are a great deal for even casual music listeners. Sony advertises a whopping 35 hours of playback on the CH700N’s rechargeable battery, and you can easily pair them to your NFC-capable phone by just tapping it against the left ear cup — of course, simply putting the headphones into Bluetooth pairing mode works just as well.

The CH700Ns are more than enough for most casual listeners who just want some peace and quiet.

Sony is known for delivering great-sounding audio no matter the price, but if you don’t like the out-of-box voicing on the CH700Ns, you can use the Headphones Connect app to EQ to your heart’s (and ears’) content. Of course, these headphones also support noise canceling, and even though it’s digital rather than active noise canceling, it still uses the built-in microphones to listen to the noise around you and adjust the effect accordingly. That’s pretty great for $199 headphones (though they’re down to $128 right now).

You can also use the included cable (assuming your phone still actually supports 3.5mm wired audio) to extend the life of the battery for noise canceling — or if you’re fine without noise canceling, you can listen to wired audio even after the battery is fully depleted. Then again, with 35-hour battery life, you probably won’t need to take advantage of that all too often.

See at Amazon

Why the WH1000XM2 is worth the extra money

The CH700Ns suit the needs of most casual listeners, but if you really need active noise canceling or you’re just after the best audio you can get from a pair of Bluetooth headphones, you may want to shell out the extra money for the WH1000XM2s. Yes, they’re expensive — almost twice the cost of the CH700N — but they’re well worth the money for the right kind of user.

You don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on headphones, but you probably won’t regret it if you do.

Like the CH700Ns, the 1000XM2s support conveniences like NFC pairing and a rechargeable battery through Micro-USB, but its noise canceling goes much further. Not only does it do a significantly better job at blocking out sound (it’s actively powered, after all), but it features Ambient Sound mode, which pumps some audio back into the headphones while still canceling out the majority of background noise, so that you can still hear and hold conversations, even with the headphones on.

Sony has also built in touch sensitivity on the right cup that allows you to quickly jump in and out of Ambient Sound mode by placing your hand over the cup, or tap and swipe in various directions to play, pause, or skip between tracks without having to pull out your phone. Once you get used to using these gestures, it quickly becomes hard to imagine going back to living without them.

On top of all of its conveniences and noise canceling, the 1000XM2s are just great-sounding headphones. Audiophiles will still scoff at the idea of using Bluetooth audio, and sure enough, you can get better sound quality from similarly priced wired headphones when you aren’t paying for everything else the 1000XM2s do, but to my ears at least, these sound even better than their direct competition, the Bose QC35s.

See at Amazon

Which headphones would you buy?

It’s hard to compare headphones at such vastly different price points, but it gets a little easier when you remember that they’re intended for different users. Yes, of course the WH1000XM2s are better headphones than the WH-CH700Ns for triple the price, but not everybody needs to spend $300 on headphones. For the vast majority of people, the CH700Ns are more than good enough, and they’re a significantly better value.

If, on the other hand, you’re a frequent traveler who doesn’t want to sacrifice audio quality, the 1000XM2s remain not only my recommendation between these two options, but some of my top-recommended headphones overall. The combination of great audio, powerful noise canceling, and convenient features make these headphones worth every penny.

Which headphones would you buy between these two? Have you already been rocking a pair for a while now? Or do you have an alternative you’d recommend over either? Let us know in the comments below!

Razer’s new controllers and headset are cross-platform and customizable

If you’re going to go third party, might as well be the best around.

Razer has announced two new advanced controllers, the Raiju Ultimate and the Raiju Tournament edition, and a new headset, the Razer Thresher, for the PlayStation 4. The controllers are a follow-up to the Razer Raiju released last year, which is still considered one of the best third-party controllers you can buy. Both controllers are officially licensed and designed to be as customizable as possible for gamers. For one thing, they both feature wired and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth. The controllers also have on board profiles along with the ability to pull custom profiles from the cloud if necessary. The headset will also be able to switch between wired and wireless connections.

The Raiju Ultimate will also have some extremely modular options because Razer wants it to be the controller “that adapts to every gamer.” It will come with interchangeable thumbstick and D-pad controls, multi-function buttons that can be mapped to profiles and recalled at will, and sensitivity controls that can be adjusted to precision by the user. It also has Razer Chroma’s RGB LED lighting that can sync with your controller vibrations and other actions.

Since the Ultimate is designed to work with both the PlayStation 4 and the PC, and it can connect via Bluetooth or USB, it comes with a switch on the back that makes it easy to adjust when you decide to use it in a different way. There’s also a quick control panel for instant access to the controller’s functions like button mapping and profile switching, and a secure button lock so you can stop accidentally pressing buttons you don’t want to press.

The Raiju Tournament Edition is very similar to the Ultimate. Both controllers will feature the Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons that have the feel of a mechanical switch, and both controllers can be customized using Razer’s mobile app. The Tournament Edition lacks the Raiju Ultimate’s custom lighting, only has one on-board profile compared to four, and doesn’t have the built-in control panel. The differences are minor and reflect in a price that’s $50 less expensive. Plus, it’s still going to be a high-quality addition to your controller collection.

Thanks to the wired 3.5mm connection on the new Razer Thresher for PS4, you’ll be able to use it on more platforms than just the PlayStation, including the Nintendo Switch and PC. It will connect to the 2.4 GHz wireless band and last up to 16 hours in wireless mode, too. It has a range of 40 feet, so you can sit comfortably while talking to your friends. It has a retractable mic, built-in volume controls, and large, memory foam ear cushions for long-term comfort. The audio comes from 50mm drivers with a frequency response of 12 to 28,000 Hz. If you’re an Xbox gamer or just need a headset solution right now, there is a Razer Thresher out there right now that’s worth your time.

All three of these devices will be available to purchase at Razer.com starting August 20. The Raiju Ultimate will retail for $199.99, the Tournament Edition will be $149.99, and the Thresher for PS4 will start at $129.99. We’ll start seeing them available at other retailers in the fall.

Sony has announced some new custom color schemes for the PlayStation 4 DualShock controllers, too, if you’re more of a traditionalist.

See at Razer

OnePlus is now taking applications for the OnePlus 6 Closed Beta Program

Unlock the secrets.

The OnePlus 6 is now available, and it’s a compelling option for someone looking for an unlocked phone at a reasonable price — starting at $529 to be specific. But price aside, it’s a great choice for anyone, even those considering more expensive options, thanks to a combination of hardware and software, and a community that continues to support the company and one another.

Here’s everything you need to know about the OnePlus 6!

The latest OnePlus 6 news

August 20, 2018 — OnePlus starts accepting applications for Closed Beta group

On its community forums, OnePlus announced that it’s opening up a Closed Beta group for the OnePlus 6.

Unlike the OxygenOS Open Beta that’s open for anyone to sign up for, the Closed Beta will be restricted to just 100 users who own a OnePlus 6, are active in the forums, and are willing to provide constant feedback/communication with the OnePlus team through Slack.

Members of the Closed Beta will be able to test bleeding edge versions of OxygenOS before they’re even moved over to the Open Beta, and because of this, all users that are accepted must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement with OnePlus to ensure that any features/bugs found in the builds are kept under total secrecy.

If you’d like to apply for the OnePlus 6 Closed Beta Program, you can do so here.

July 18, 2018 — OnePlus 6 Android P Developer Preview 3 adds bug fixes and tweaked UI

On July 18, OnePlus announced its third developer preview of Android P for the OnePlus 6.

This update mainly focuses on big fixes, with some of the highlights in the changelog including improved system stability, fixed issue with mobile hotspot, better camera functionality with third-party apps, and improved overall image quality with the camera. Also included is the July 2018 security patch.

Our friends at 9to5Google recently got their hands on the beta, and as they spotted, this preview includes a few UI changes — most notably the recents page/app switcher.

The cards on the recents page have a more rounded appearance and appear to be smaller than Android P on Google’s Pixel phones. There’s also a menu button near the top of each app that lets you quickly hop into split-screen mode. Other chnages include a redesigned settings page and a white paint job for the Shelf.

July 10, 2018 — The OnePlus 6 Red is now available for purchase

The day has finally come! You can now buy the striking OnePlus 6 Red exclusively from OnePlus’s website.

This limited edition model of the phone costs $579, and for that price, you’re getting the most powerful configuration with 8GB RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

OnePlus is making a limited run of this color, so once it’s gone, it’s gone.

See at OnePlus

July 3, 2018 — OnePlus shows off different colors/patterns it was testing for the OnePlus 6

OnePlus recently launched the lustrous OnePlus 6 Red, and while there’s no doubt it’s one of the most gorgeous phones on the market right now, it was just one of many designs that the company was toying with before ultimately selecting the red we now have.

PCMag was recently invited to tour OnePlus’s headquarters in Shenzen, China, and during the visit, got a chance to look at some other colors OnePlus was testing for the 6. As you can see in the video above, OnePlus was messing with glass backs that had subtle patterns, gradiant designs, and much more.

The video also showcases early prototypes of not only the OnePlus 6, but other OnePlus phones, too. I’m a big fan of the OnePlus 6 we ended up getting, but it is cool to see what could have been.

July 1, 2018 — OnePlus is adding a limited-edition red OnePlus 6 to the mix

Late on Sunday night in the U.S., OnePlus is announcing a limited-edition red OnePlus 6, which is coming to North American and European markets on July 10 for $579. The model will just be available in the now-common 8GB/128GB RAM and storage combination, and only from OnePlus.com.

Following the launch of the critically acclaimed OnePlus 6, which sold over 1 million units in just 22 days, OnePlus is bringing a new limited-edition color to Europe and North America, the OnePlus 6 Red.

The OnePlus 6 Red is designed to match power with style, with attention to detail paramount. The metallic red shimmer coupled with the red, mirror-like fingerprint sensor elegantly contrast the silver accent around the camera.

Six panels of glass make up the back of the OnePlus 6 Red. With this variant, OnePlus has added an additional anti-reflective layer to create a sense of depth by allowing more light to reach the bottom layers before being reflected off the device. A translucent orange layer has been intermixed with the red base layer to achieve a radiant and glossy red, unique to OnePlus design.

OnePlus also says that the Bullets Wireless headphones will also be restocked on July 10.

More: The OnePlus 6 in red

June 14, 2018 — One million units of the OnePlus 6 were sold in just 22 days

We expected the OnePlus 6 to sell like hotcakes, but I don’t know if anyone was anticipating demand on this level. On June 14, OnePlus confirmed that it crossed one million sales of the OP6 just 22 days after it launched.

OnePlus notes that this demand is a “sharp upward hike from even the OnePlus 5T”, and as such, the OnePlus 6 is now taking the title of the company’s best-selling product to date.

For comparison, both the OnePlus 5 and 5T each crossed one million units sold within three months of launching.

June 14, 2018 — OnePlus 6 comes with Dirac’s latest sound optimization solutions

Swedish-based audio technology company Dirac works with the likes of OPPO and Xiaomi to provide optimized audio solutions, and the company announced that its latest technologies are baked into the OnePlus 6.

Dirac Power Sound is a micro-speaker tuning technology that optimizes the performance from the built-in speaker to deliver a clearer, more natural sound with richer details and more powerful bass.

Dirac HD Sound, meanwhile, is a sound optimization solution that tweaks impulse and frequency response to improve sound quality. Dirac says it has worked closely with OnePlus to ensure that the sound output coming out of the 3.5mm jack is “optimized to the highest level, while also capable of producing sound characters tuned to OnePlus users’ preferences.”

June 12, 2018 — The OnePlus 6 in Silk White is back on sale for a limited time!

If you missed out on the opportunity to grab a sexy OnePlus 6 in sexy Silk White, now’s your chance — though it will probably sell out pretty quickly.

See at OnePlus

June 6, 2018 —Bullets Wireless earphones and Silk White OnePlus 6 sell out in 24 hours

Just 24 hours after they were made available for purchase, both the $69 Bullets Wireless earphones and $579 Silk White OnePlus 6 both sold out.

If you didn’t get a chance to grab either of these yesterday, OnePlus says the Silk White OP6 will be back in stock on June 12 with the Bullets Wireless following shortly after.

June 4, 2018 — Silk White OnePlus 6 and Bullets Wireless earphones launching June 5 @ 10:00 AM ET

About two weeks following the OnePlus 6’s launch, the limited edition Silk White version of the phone and OnePlus’s Bullets Wireless earphones are officially going on sale.

The Silk White OnePlus 6 is “the company’s boldest design to date” featuring six layers of white glass that have been mixed with pearl powder and gold accents for the frame, fingerprint sensor, and more. It’s a downright stunning look and will cost $579 USD with 8GB RAM and 128GB storage “while supplies last.”

Along with the Silk White OnePlus 6, the excellent Bullets Wireless earphones are launching, too. Andrew recently gave these a glowing review, praising them for their surprisingly great sound quality, USB-C charging, comfortable design, and competitive $69 price tag.

Both the Silk White OnePlus 6 and Bullets Wireless will be available on June 5 at 10:00 AM ET.

May 31, 2018 — Battery percentage coming to the status bar, fix for rear camera autofocus issue, and more

As part of a Q&A session OnePlus held of its forums, the company answered a lot of burning questions on users’ minds. You can read through the full rundown here, but the highlights include:

• The three dots in the status bar will be removed in the next update.
• A battery percentage is coming to the status bar in the next update.
• Scheduled Do Not Disturb will be added in the next update.
• The next update will fix low volume for calls and notifications.
• Future updates will correct issues with the rear camera’s autofocus.
• Your network will properly work when using an IDEA as a non-data card in the next update.
• A fix in the next update will resolve an issue that causes sound to stop working when switching to the speaker from the earpiece.

May 29, 2018 — JerryRigEverything tears down the OnePlus 6 to see how waterproof it really is

It was expected that OnePlus would have to cut a few corners in order to keep the OnePlus 6’s price as low as it is, and one of those cuts came in the way of a proper water resistance rating.

Unlike other flagship phones, the OnePlus 6 doesn’t come with a proper IP rating. However, OnePlus does note on its website that the phone “is well-equipped to survive a drop in the sink or a spilled glass of water.”

To test out just how “water resistant” the OnePlus 6 actually is, JerryRigEverything cracked open the phone and determined it’s about as protected as other phones that have a proper IP rating. Check it out above!

May 23, 2018 — The OnePlus 6 is now available!

It was only announced a week ago, but the OnePlus 6 is now available to order from oneplus.net starting at $529 USD.

Are you ordering?

Read our review and watch the video

First thing’s first, watch the video and read the review. There’s plenty about the phone to learn, even though much of it is familiar. But the essential question a review tries to answer is, Should you buy this thing? And the response is an unrestrained, Yes.

The OnePlus 6 is the company’s finest phone ever, with excellent design, build quality, battery life and, for the first time, cameras.

Read the review

Review the specs

Once you’re done reading the review, you should, ahem, review the specifications. The phone is powerful — like one of the most powerful on the market today — with plenty of headroom and legroom (it’s proverbially spacious is what I’m trying to say) for whatever you want to throw at it. Apps-wise, not like object-wise.

OnePlus 6 specifications

How does it compare to other phones?

Of course, the OnePlus 6 doesn’t exist in a bubble — you have to compare it to other devices if you’re going to decide whether you should buy it. Thankfully, we’ve done most of the work for you, comparing it to the best flagships on the market right now.

• OnePlus 6 vs. Google Pixel 2 XL: Which should you buy?
• OnePlus 6 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?

What about to other OnePlus phones?

Yeah, OnePlus owners like to keep it in the family, so to speak, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see many upgrading, or thinking of upgrading, from an existing OnePlus device, like a 3, 3T, 5, or 5T. Of course, with the company releasing two phones a year these days, it won’t be long until the next upgrade cycle hits, but that also means that the existing phones age quite well, thanks to frequent software updates (the joys of not going through carriers).

If you have a OnePlus 5 or 5T, you can probably hold onto those phones for a bit longer — unless you need the camera improvements. OnePlus’s 2016 phones, on the other hand, may be getting a bit long in the tooth and could use a replacement.

• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: Should you upgrade?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 3T & 3: Should you upgrade?

Is the OnePlus 6 camera that much better than before?

This photo was taken in nearly pitch-dark conditions. OnePlus ramps up the light sensitivity to ISO6400, which would normally produce a lot of grain, but this photo is totally usable thanks to better software processing.

Yes! The OnePlus 6 has a larger 16MP sensor than previous OnePlus devices, with pixels that are 19% bigger, so low-light photography is immensely improved. It’s not going to overtake the Huawei P20 Pro or Pixel 2 for Low Light Champion Of The World, but it’s reliable in all conditions, and that’s more important than anything else.

The camera is probably the biggest improvement over previous OnePlus models.

The phone’s main sensor is aided by a fast ƒ/1.7 aperture, so true depth of field is a thing, along with drastically improved image signal processing from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845. Together, the phone is able to detect the correct settings more quickly, take multiple shots if necessary, enable HDR mode automatically, and reduce or eliminate grain in dark conditions.

There’s also Optical Image Stabilization (OIS), which was in the OnePlus 3 line but removed in last year’s series for unknown reasons. It’s back now, and paired with a larger sensor and faster main lens, the results speak for themselves.

On the other hand, the OnePlus 6’s secondary camera has less to do — it’s a 20MP sensor with an ƒ/1.7 lens, but its main purpose is to facilitate portrait mode which, while good, isn’t enough reason to have a second sensor in the first place.

Is the notch distracting?

The notch is what it is. You may hate it out of an aversion to all things Apple, or you may learn to live with it and forget it’s there. Most people will fall somewhere in the middle — it’s a character trait, like a freckle or a certain hairstyle.

What it does, though, is open up spme additional real estate on the 6.28-inch screen, which is great. But it also limits the number of icons that can be seen in the notification area, which is a bummer. Plus, the clock on the left side of the notification bar will never make sense. If you watch the video below, though, you can see ways to tweak the notification area to your liking. And you can also disable the notch altogether if you want to.

How’s the software?

It’s good! Running Android 8.1 Oreo, OxygenOS has turned into one of the most enjoyable, reliable versions of Android to date. OnePlus has also added a number of additions to make the whole thing run more smoothly, especially if you’re looking to maximize your screen real estate.

One of the more interesting changes to the software is a set of gestures that eliminates the bottom navigation keys, relying on swipes up from different areas of the bottom edge to go back, home, and enter multitasking. It’s different, but not bad. You’ll have to try it yourself.

As for tips and tricks, we’ve already got that list going, so if you’re looking to make the most of your OxygenOS experience, we have you covered.

• How to enable navigation gestures on the OnePlus 6
• How to disable the notch on the OnePlus 6

What’s it cost?

The OnePlus 6 starts at $529 USD for the base model and goes up to $629 for additional RAM and storage. There are three configurations and three colors, and here’s a breakdown of which one to buy.

Here’s how the pricing breaks down in various regions.

6/64	$529	€519	£469	$699
8/128	$579	€569	£519	$769
8/256	$629	€619	£569	$839

See at OnePlus

Tell me more about the colors

There are four colors: Mirror Black, Midnight Black, Silk White, and Red.

• Mirror Black is going to be the most common, since it’s the only color offered in the cheapest tier. It’s shiny, reflective glass, so it gets fingerprint-y, but that’s OK because you’ll likely put the phone in a case (see below). It’s also a little slippery, which is to be expected. Mirror Black is offered in 6GB / 64GB configurations for $529.

• Midnight Black is the color we’ve come to expect from OnePlus over the years, though the matte-looking finish belies a glass back, too, like the Mirror Black. Midnight Black is only available in 8GB / 128GB and 8GB / 256GB configurations for $579 and $629, respectively.

• Silk White is one of the more limited of the four colors. It’s also covered in glass, but like the Midnight Black model it has a matte finish and is easier to grip. Its white back has rose gold accents, and it’s definitely the nicest and most unique of the three colors. It’s only available in the 8GB / 128GB configuration for $579, and once the run is sold out, OnePlus is not making any more.

• Red is also a limited edition color and is easily the most vibrant of the four that are available. It has a similar shiny finish like Mirror Black but uses a translucent orange layer and red base layer to create one of the most powerful reds we’ve ever seen on a smartphone. Sales open on July 10 and it’ll be available with 8GB RAM + 128GB storage for $579.

What color OnePlus 6 should you buy?

I heard there’s an Avengers version — TELL ME EVERYTHING

Yes, you heard right: OnePlus has once again worked with Disney on licensing a special version of the OnePlus 6 for the Chinese and Indian markets. Last year, OnePlus offered an understated Start Wars variant of the OnePlus 5T, and now the Avengers version takes advantage of the hype behind the recent film release.

The Avengers version comes in a unique box and includes an Iron Man case and a OnePlus/Avengers co-branded medallion, which is neat. And while there’s a familiar glass back on the Avengers Edition, it has a Kevlar-style design underneath. Because Kevlar=superheroes, or something.

While the special edition isn’t coming to the U.S. officially, I’m sure that some entrepreneurial Indian and Chinese resellers will do the dirty business of importing some of them at a huge premium to this side of the world.

This is the OnePlus 6 Marvel Avengers Edition

The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Sprint or Verizon

The OnePlus 6 technically supports the CDMA bands for Verizon and Sprint in the U.S., but the phone lacks certification for their networks, so those users — just under half the smartphone-wielding U.S. population, is out of luck.

We’ve got your full technical explainer below.

The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Sprint or Verizon

Do you like cases?

As it does with all of its phones, OnePlus has unveiled a series of first-party cases for the OnePlus 6, and they’re all pretty great.

This year, there’s a fancy new protective bumper made of woven nylon, and while it adds a bit more bulk than the typical snap-on, I think it looks and feels awesome.

These are the official OnePlus 6 cases you can buy at launch

What are your thoughts on the OnePlus 6?

Let us know in the comments!

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

Updated July 3, 2018: Added the OnePlus Red to the list of colors!

WhatsApp backups will no longer count against Google Drive storage

The change goes into effect on November 12, 2018.

There are a number of reasons to use WhatsApp, and for a lot of users, one of the biggest lies with just how easy it is to create and update backups of your conversations. If you store these backups on Google Drive, we’ve got some good news.

Starting November 12, 2018, WhatsApp backups will no longer count against your Google Drive storage limit. This is a result of a new partnership between WhatsApp and Google, and in an email being sent out, Google notes that some people might “see the quota benefits earlier.”

Along with this, it’s also noted that any WhatsApp backups that haven’t been updated in over a year will automatically be removed from your Google Drive storage.

To ensure that none of your data is accidentally erased, Google recommends manually backing up your WhatsApp account by October 30, 2018, if it’s not already updated.

How to back up and restore your WhatsApp messages with Google Drive

Fitbit Announces ‘Charge 3’ Fitness Tracker Launching in October for $150

Fitbit today announced the “Fitbit Charge 3,” its latest fitness tracker that includes improvements to health and workout features, a 7-day battery life, and advanced sleep tracking with an upcoming “Sleep Score” beta. The Charge 3 is completely swimproof and includes a touchscreen display, but is considered a “tracker” and not a “smartwatch,” like the Fitbit Versa or Apple Watch.

The Charge 3 has an aluminum case, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display, and a 40 percent larger OLED display than the Charge 2. Additionally, the company says that the Charge 3 has “the most advanced health and fitness features” on one of its trackers to date, including the addition of a relative SpO2 sensor that can estimate changes in blood oxygen levels to track new health indicators, like sleep apnea.

Other health features include:

Goal-based exercise modes: Choose from 15+ exercise modes like bike, swim, run, weights and yoga; set a goal for calories burned, distance or duration, and see real-time stats, progress and celebrations on device when you reach your goal.

Water resistant to 50M: Wear in the shower, rain, pool or ocean. See real-time duration on your wrist with Swim Mode, or use SmartTrack® automatic exercise recognition to see laps and pace in the Fitbit app post-swim.

Female health tracking: Gain a deeper understanding of your menstrual cycle by using the Fitbit app to log your period and ovulation (coming soon), record symptoms and compare cycle trends over time. With all your health and fitness stats in one place, you can better manage your health; easily see where you are in your cycle in the on-device dashboard.

Personalized insights: Know yourself to improve your health with new dynamic insights about your activity, heart rate, nutrition and sleep to help you reach your goals with positive reinforcement and tips to course correct when needed (coming soon in the Fitbit app).

For the Sleep Score beta, the company says that users will be able to access this feature later in the year. Sleep Score will provide users with a nightly score so they can see a “more complete picture” of their overall sleep quality and what factors could be negatively affecting it.

Like other Fitbit trackers, the Charge 3 can also display smartphone notifications for calls, texts, and other apps. Fitbit Pay will be available on the Charge 3 Special Edition, letting users checkout at NFC-compatible locations using the smart tracker.

There is also a new line of accessories for the Charge 3, including classic bands, sports bands, woven bands, and Horween leather bands. These accessories range from $29.95 to $49.95.

The Fitbit Charge 3 itself is available to pre-order today on Fitbit.com (and other retailers tomorrow) for $149.95 in black with a graphite aluminum case or blue gray with a rose gold aluminum case. The Fitbit Charge 3 Special Edition with Fitbit Pay will cost $169.95. The tracker will officially launch in stores this October in North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

Tag: Fitbit
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2018 iPhones May Feature Faster and More Efficient Wireless Charging With Switch to Copper Coil

A translated China Times report today claims that the wireless charging coil on at least one of Apple’s widely rumored trio of 2018 iPhones will be made from copper wire instead of FPC, short for ferrite polymer composite, allowing for both faster and more efficient wireless charging from a technical standpoint.

iPhone X’s wireless charging coil visible under X-ray via iFixit/Creative Electron
Essentially, the report claims that Apple will be switching from thinner FPC coils with higher resistance to thicker copper wire coils with lower resistance for the wireless charging receiver built into iPhones.

Since high power and high efficiency are the trend of wireless charging, it is expected that at least one of the three iPhones in 2018 will abandon the FPC to adopt a copper coil solution to achieve the above goal, and because the copper wire coil resistance is small. It can also offset the thermal effects generated by the increase in power.

The reduced resistance would allow Apple to increase the power threshold that iPhones can safely handle via wireless charging, without overheating, which could result in faster and more efficient charging via Qi-certified mats, although this would still depend on the wattage that a particular mat outputs.

For context, FPC is a mixture of iron, at least one other metal, and plastic, whereas copper is a more pure material. Both have electromagnetic induction properties, making them suitable for wireless charging coils.

The latest iPhones support wireless charging at up to 7.5W, which actually isn’t much faster than wired charging with a 5W power adapter, due to the efficiency limitations of the FPC coil. The switch to copper would yield improvements, assuming that Apple found a way to fit the thicker coil in its next iPhones.

Apple is expected to unveil its 2018 iPhones at Steve Jobs Theater in September, but the company has yet to announce a date for the event.

Related Roundup: 2018 iPhonesTag: chinatimes.com
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Dark Sky Updates iOS App With New Design, Unified Timeline, and Improved Notifications

Popular iOS and Android weather app Dark Sky has updated with “one of the biggest overhauls” to date, according to a new blog post that the company shared online today.

The update introduces a new visual look and the home screen now has a “unified timeline,” which combines various aspects of your local forecast onto one page instead of separating them into multiple areas. Now, you can view the current conditions, next hour rain, next 24 hours, and next week forecasts in one scrollable tab.

At the top of the Forecast tab Dark Sky now has a precipitation map below the current temperature and next-hour graph. This should “provide more context” to forecasts when quickly launching the app, according to the developers.

For the next 24 hours forecast, you can tap between the temperature, “feels-like” temperature, precipitation, wind, wind gust, humidity, dew point, UV index, and cloud cover by scrolling through the red text under the graph. This updates the graph with the relevant information, and is also available to look at for days in the upcoming week.

At the bottom of this tab is a “Time Machine” feature that shows the weather going back decades, and can also provide seasonal average weather for days beyond the next week. Grossman points out that this can be useful for planning trips and vacations.

The previous Dark Sky (left) compared to the new (right)
The next major addition is a saved locations feature, which is a standard addition to many weather apps that Dark Sky has lacked over the years. Now, you can save multiple locations in the app to check the weather in different cities by swiping the forecast left or right.

Notifications have been improved, with custom notifications that let you create your own weather alerts for the conditions you care about. Instead of alerts solely tied to precipitation, now you can create push notifications that warn you about high UV indexes and more. To do this, you will have to set location access to “always” for Dark Sky in the iOS settings app and allow notifications.

There are also new updates to the app’s iconography and completely rewritten internals:

We’re incredibly grateful to The Iconfactory for redesigning our set of weather icons. Gone are the stark black-and-white glyphs, having been replaced with more easily recognizable — and colorful — icons and buttons.

This update isn’t just a visual refresh: On iOS, we’ve completely rewritten the internals of the app from scratch. It is, effectively, an entirely new app. This means it should be far more stable and responsive, it loads faster, and it sets us up to much more easily incorporate new features and enhancements in the future.

Dark Sky has been a popular third-party alternative to Apple’s own Weather iOS app for a few years now, particularly for its ability to warn you about impending bad weather. Apple has highlighted the Dark Sky app and its useful features in the past, particularly in a short Apple Watch commercial titled “Rain” from 2016.

Grossman says that with the launch of the new update, users can expect to see “more frequent” updates as well from now on, with new features already in the works. Dark Sky users on iOS and Android can get the new update for free starting today, and those who haven’t downloaded the app yet can do so for $3.99.

Tag: Dark Sky
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