eBay HeadGaze app lets physically impaired control iPhone X with head movements

Accessibility options for the physically impaired just got a huge boost, thanks to eBay’s open-source release of its HeadGaze software that allows users to control an iPhone X with simple head movements.

The software only works on the iPhone X at the moment, and uses the phone’s revolutionary FaceID system to track the user’s head movements, and translate them directly onto the screen. The software creates an on-screen cursor that’s then controlled by the user’s movements. Triggering a button or keypress is done by lingering the cursor over the desired button, and users can scroll or turn pages by lingering the cursor on specific parts of the screen. It’s a control scheme that won’t be unfamiliar to anyone who’s used a phone-based virtual reality headset like the Gear VR — but with the added benefit of not needing a bulky headset.

The technology was created by eBay’s computer team with guidance from PhD candidate and eBay intern Muratcan Cicek. While the software hasn’t yet been released on eBay’s app, eBay has released a video that shows the software working on the app. In an altruistic move, the auction giant has also released the source code on GitHub, so other developers can benefit from the software.

The software is primarily aimed at increasing accessibility options for the physically impaired. It is hoped this software could be incorporated into future mobile operating systems, giving more options to those who may struggle with the touch-based systems currently used in most mobile phones. With a system like HeadGaze, a phone could be held in position while a user uses head movements to browse. Future improvements in voice-based A.I. could also play a role in these accessibility options, helping to open the world of tech to a larger community of people.

Speaking to VentureBeat, Cicek said that the team is working on incorporating other movements into the system, including tracking eye movement. He also pointed out the uses this technology could have beyond the options it offers for the physically impaired, with examples from everyday life.

“Tired of trying to scroll through a recipe on your phone screen with greasy fingers while cooking? Too messy to follow the how-to manual on your cell phone while you’re tinkering with the car engine under the hood? Too cold to remove your gloves to use your phone?”

While touchscreens are likely going nowhere for a while yet, it’s likely we’ll see some serious developments in this area within the next few years. After all, a lot of us can unlock our phone with our eyes — why not control it with them, too?

Those $1 Bitcoins at Walmart have one big catch — they’re made of chocolate

Walmart selling Bitcoin should be pretty huge news as it would mean introducing the flagship cryptocurrency to the masses in hitherto unheard-of fashion. However, this digital money debut isn’t quite so impactful because the Bitcoins that Walmart has priced at just $1 per coin won’t help you make a fortune or buy something illicit on the dark web. These Bitcoins are made of chocolate.

Created by Frankford Candy, the chocolate Bitcoins look like every digital rendering of the virtual currency you’ve ever seen, as per TechCrunch. Big, gold-plated, chunky coins. Instead of being metal through and through though, they’re merely wrapped in it. Inside it’s the same chocolate coins you know and (maybe) love, but these ones look like Bitcoin.

Lots of Milk Chocolate + Bitcoins = Pure happiness. pic.twitter.com/4Tos2JqCHf

— Frankford Candy (@frankfordcandy) September 6, 2018

The coins come in the typical net packing with a label making it quite clear that they’re a confectionery and not legal tender. They do feature the Bitcoin logo though, giving them a suitably crypto-feel. Likely to be more popular among adults than the typical children chocolate coins attract, it seems likely that at least one well-meaning relative will buy these for a grandchild after hearing them discuss cryptocurrencies.

Unlike the real cryptocurrency though, these “Bitcoins” can only be purchased in store, with no option for online ordering or shipping. You can’t even reserve some for pick up in store later on.

Meanwhile, the real Bitcoin cryptocurrency isn’t’ faring so well. After peaking at almost $20,000 per token in late 2017, it’s tumbled down to a mere $6,250 per token at the time of writing. Other alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) like Litecoin and Ethereum have suffered similar fates, falling to a fraction of their worth at their peaks around the same time as Bitcoin’s value explosion at the end of last year.

The future of Bitcoin itself remains somewhat uncertain. The “whales” who own billions of dollars worth of it continue to horde the cryptocurrency in anticipation of a potential bull rush and there are many more lower-level investors hoping for the same, but there has been little sign of a true resurgence so far this year.

Perhaps investing in chocolate coins is a safer bet. You can always eat those if they don’t go up in value.

Editors’ Recommendations

• What is Bitcoin?
• A look into Bitcoin’s troubled year
• How to buy Bitcoin
• What is Ethereum?
• What is a blockchain?

Live updates: Apple’s September 12 event

It’s finally time for Apple’s September 12 event, live from the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. We’ve broken down what we’re likely to see in our What to Expect post, but in brief, we’re expecting to see three new iPhones, the Apple Watch Series 4, and the possibility of a new iPad Pro and additions to the MacBook range. With the iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, and an iPhone Xr expected, you can bet we’ll be on the edge of our seats the whole time.

Want to know how to watch Apple’s event live? There are a few ways, but having a livestream blaring in the background isn’t the best for everyone. Sometimes it’s easier to get text updates. If that’s you, then don’t worry because we’ve got you covered. If you’re not able to watch the event, but you don’t want to miss the announcements, tune in here to see the latest live updates.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 12. We’ll see you there.

Introduction

The introduction is always fun, but it’s usually light on excitement — except for an interesting statistic. According to Tim Cook, Apple is about to ship its second billionth iOS device. That’s a lot of iPads and iPhones.

Apple Watch

• Not just the top smartwatch — the Apple Watch is the number one watch in the world
• Apple is making health and fitness an even bigger part of the Apple Watch
  • Will now notify the user if it notices an elevated heart rate — it’s an intelligent guardian
• The new Apple Watch Series 4 has similar form factor as the past watches
  • But with a 30 percent larger screen than ever before
  • Slightly thinner than the Series 3
  • UI has been redesigned to take advantage of more screen
    • Including a new watch face with more info, and custom shortcuts
  • Added more watch faces
  • Digital Crown now includes haptic feedback for great feedback
  • Speakers improved — now louder than before
  • Back made of black ceramic and crystal
•  Breathe app now available as a watch face on the Apple Watch that will guide people through breathing exercises
• Apple Watch Series 4 powered by the S4 processor
  • 64-bit dual core processor with performance that’s twice as fast
• Apple has also boosted the gyroscope and accelerometer
  • Thanks to these, the Series 4 can detect when a person falls by recognizing the specific movements that a person’s arms make when falling
  • Can call emergency services automatically
• Three new heart features
  • When your heart rate is too low
  • Irregular heart rate
  • ECG — electrocardiogram
    • The first ECG available to consumers
    • Will be able to check your heart health, including a PDF you can share with your doctor
      • Supported by American Heart Association and the FDA
    • These features will be available later this year and around the world
• Apple restating its commitment to privacy
  • Health and fitness data is encrypted on the device
• The Apple Watch Series 4 will have an 18-hour battery life
  • But an increase in outdoor GPS tracking life to 6 hours
  • Also a more eco-friendly watch
• Watch bands from other Apple Watches can be attached straight across to the Series 4
  • The Nike band comes with a reflective strip for vision at night
• The Apple Watch Series 4 will start at $400 for the regular model, $500 for the cellular model — and will release on September 21st
• The Series 3 will be getting a discount — $280 from today
• WatchOS 5 will release September 17

iPhone

• The iPhone X became the number one smartphone in the world
  • With a 98 percent customer satisfaction rating

iPhone Xs

• Made from a surgical grade stainless steel, with a gold finish on the glass and metal
• Edge-to-edge rounded screen, covered by most durable glass ever on a smartphone
• Comes in Gold, Silver, and Space Gray
• Finally comes with IP68 water-resistance
  • Includes testing in chlorinated water and salt water
• 5.8-inch Super Retina OLED display
  • Highest pixels-per-inch rating ever in an iPhone
  • HDR10 and Dolby support
• iPhone Xs Max
  • 6.5-inch Super Retina OLED display
  • Closest Apple’s come to a handheld productivity device
• Powered by the A12 Bionic processor
  • First ever 7 nanometer chip
  • 6.9 billion transistors
  • Up to 40 percent faster than the A11 processor
  • Can process up to 5 trillion operations per second
  • Apps launch 30 percent faster with A12
  • Core ML (Apple’s machine learning core) will be up to 9 times faster, but with 1/10th of the energy
  • AR will also get a boost thanks to the added power of the A12 Bionic
• Siri shortcuts will learn when you like to do things, and offer help

This is a developing story. Refresh the page to see updates.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple iPhone Xs: News, release, specs, and more
• What to expect from Apple’s September 12 ‘Gather Round’ event
• Apple Watch Series 4: Everything you need to know
• Apple iPad Pro (2018): News and rumors
• How to watch Apple’s September 12 ‘Gather Round’ event

Refreshed MacBook Air and iPad Pro are absent from Apple’s website leak

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Ahead of Apple’s scheduled Gather Round event, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT on Wednesday, September 12, there has been plenty of official leaks of the next-generation Apple Watch and iPhone models. Apple’s official website contained codes revealing details about the official storage capacity, colors, and sizes of the new iPhone models as well as the refreshed Apple Watch designs, confirming previous rumors. However, two important Apple computing products that we didn’t see in Apple’s website code are the iPad Pro and any references to new Mac models. This could suggest that Apple will not announce updates to these products at the Gather Round event.

Previously, it’s been widely speculated that Apple will follow up with a second event in October focusing on its non-iPhone products. Though Apple has not confirmed it has plans for a second event this fall, industry insiders speculated that an October Apple special event will be the venue where Apple will introduce a refreshed MacBook or MacBook Air and a prosumer-oriented Mac Mini. Both the MacBook Air and the Mac Mini two beloved Mac products that haven’t seen any major refreshes in recent years. Earlier rumors indicated that Apple is working on redesigning its MacBook Air, but it wasn’t entirely clear if Apple will position the low-cost notebook as a new member of the MacBook family or as a refreshed MacBook Air.

Given that the iPad straddles the line between iPhone and computer — Apple’s tablet runs the same iOS operating system as its iPhone, but the company often positions the device as a PC replacement — it’s unclear if the iPad will be unveiled Wednesday or next month. The iPad refresh may be an exciting one for Apple users. Reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently reported that Apple may be switching away from its trusted Lightning connector on the tablet for a USB-C port. This means that MacBook owners can bring a single cable with them while traveling to recharge their Apple laptop and tablet.

If Apple does, in fact, unveil refreshed iPad and Mac models next month, it could use one of two strategies. The company could host another special media event, similar to today’s Gather Round keynote, or it could more quietly announce these updates through a press release. The second strategy is what Apple employed when it announced refreshed MacBook Pro models earlier this year.

Digital Trends will be covering the Gather Round event, to stay tuned to stay updated on all the latest Apple news.

Editors’ Recommendations

• What to expect from Apple’s September 12 ‘Gather Round’ event
• A MacBook Air with Retina display and Mac Mini “Pro” could arrive this fall
• What’s the skinny? Apple may launch a new MacBook with ultrathin design soon
• Mac Mini could make a comeback this year with a rumored refresh
• Apple registers 10 unannounced MacBook and iPad devices overseas

U.S. Senate will hear Google, Apple testimony on data privacy this month

Following the testimony of Twitter and Facebook executives earlier in September before Congress, lawmakers are renewing their interest in technology companies. The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Technology has scheduled a hearing with Amazon, Apple, AT&T, Charter Communications, Google, and Twitter on September 26 to hear how these technology companies protect the data and personal information of their customers.

The session titled “Examining Safeguards for Consumer Data Privacy” was scheduled by Senator John Thune, R-S.D., to “examine privacy policies of top technology and communications firms, review the current state of consumer data privacy, and offer members the opportunity to discuss possible approaches to safeguarding privacy more effectively.”

Witnesses include Apple’s vice president of software technology, Google’s chief privacy officer, Twitter’s global data protection officer, among others. Interestingly, Facebook is absent from the list of technology companies scheduled to testify. After it was revealed that the personal data of more than 87 million users on its network may have been exposed as a result of the Cambridge Analytica scandal earlier this year, Facebook’s privacy policies were heavily scrutinized, prompting the company to implement changes to how it handles and shares data. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress in April regarding the scandal, and last month it updated lawmakers on how its fighting hacking and election engineering on its social network.

“Consumers deserve clear answers and standards on data privacy protection,” Thune said in a statement. “This hearing will provide leading technology companies and internet service providers an opportunity to explain their approaches to privacy, how they plan to address new requirements from the European Union and California, and what Congress can do to promote clear privacy expectations without hurting innovation.”

The European Union passed its General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) earlier this year in May, and in June, California passed its own state Consumer Privacy Act, which will become effective in 2020. The state allows consumers to opt out from having their data sold and consumers can request companies delete the data that have been collected. California also prevents companies from charging customers for opting out of data collection, and the state attorney general can impose fines if companies fail to protect consumer data from hackers.

Congress will give the six tech companies a chance to explain their approaches to privacy and an opportunity to address how they’ll respond to requirements from new legislation from the EU and California. Unlike some of its peers who lobbied against the California law, Apple will likely promote its pro-privacy policies at the hearing. “At Apple, we believe privacy is a fundamental human right,” the company states on its website. “Every Apple product is designed from the ground up to protect that information. And to empower you to choose what you share and with whom.”

Editors’ Recommendations

• Watch live: Twitter and Facebook executives testify before Congress
• Despite promising to stop sharing your data, Facebook continues to do so
• Facebook suspends data firm claiming access to 1 trillion conversations
• Amazon, Microsoft, Uber donate to oppose the California Consumer Privacy Act
• Two U.S. senators think your TV is spying on you, ask the FTC to investigate

These are the best Galaxy S9 screen protectors

Protecting the Samsung Galaxy S9’s curved display is no easy task — tempered glass offers the best protection but a PET film can generally flex around the edges of curved displays better. There’s also a price difference, so there’s a lot to consider when you’re buying. Whether you prefer tempered glass or a flexible film, these are the best screen protectors for the Samsung Galaxy S9.

Our Favorite

Whitestone Dome Glass

The big selling feature for this wet install screen protector is its unique curing process, which uses UV light. If the worst case scenario has already occurred and your screen is cracked, think of this as a second chance screen before dropping hundreds of dollars on a proper replacement screen. It’s by no means cheap, but it’s one that you can trust to apply well, hold well to the edges of your screen, and protect it with its life.

$50 at Amazon

Easy to Install

amFilm Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Whereas the Whitestone Dome Glass might require the most complicated installation process, amFilm has tried to simplify the process by providing an installation guide so you can line up the perfect fit. This simpler screen protector also comes with a more wallet-friendly price. The more classic dot-matrix and silicone gel is more prone to peeling up, so make sure you follow amFilm’s installation guide.

$12 at Amazon

Best for Cases

Spigen NeoFlex screen protector (2-pack)

Spigen always makes great cases, so they’re the natural choice for making case-friendly screen protectors. They might not be tempered glass, but they’re far easier on your wallet, and far easier to apply since you can keep your case on. Just make sure you watch the installation video and be very patient with the drying process.

$9 at Amazon

Thinnest Option

IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

IQShield offers a two-pack of tissue-paper-thin plastic film screen protectors that have been fine-tuned to be compatible just about any case you throw at it. These screen protectors have an oleophobic coating to help prevent fingerprints and smudges and are easy to install.

$8 at Amazon

Are screen protectors and cases a must-buy for any new phone you own or do you prefer the naked look and feel? Have you had hands-on experience with a screen protector that others should know about? Let us know in the comments!

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint
Amazon

Update September 2018: We’ve updated pricing information for our picks and condensed our recommendations so that you can find what you want faster.

Start a new game with the retro SNK NEOGEO Mini International console

40 retro games are packed into this tiny game console.

It’s time to relive the arcade glory days. Just yesterday SNK announced that its NEOGEO Mini International game console will become available to pre-order in the US on September 12 — as in, today. Considering how popular retro consoles have been recently, there’s a high likelihood this could sell out just like the others, so you may want to get your pre-order in quickly.

Based on the classic Neo Geo arcade cabinet from the 90s, this console will include 40 of SNK’s greatest hits, including Fatal Fury, Art of Fighting, various Samurai Showdown titles, ten ‘The King of the Fighters’ games, and Metal Slug 1 and 2. Unlike the NES Classic and SNES Classic edition consoles from Nintendo, you won’t even need to hook up this retro console to a TV as it features its own built-in 3.5-inch LCD display. There’s also an HDMI port in case you do want to connect an HDMI cable to watch all the action via your television.

The console also features built-in stereo speakers, a headphone jack, joystick controller and the ability to save and load games without the need for an external memory card. If the joystick is a bit smaller than you can see yourself playing comfortably, you can also pick up a NEOGEO Mini Pad in white or black. Those are essential if you want to play two-player too. Considering the entire console is small enough to fit in your palm, I’m sure there are plenty of people who won’t be playing with the built-in controls.

The SNK NEOGEO Mini International is now available for pre-order for $109.99 at Amazon and GameStop.

See at Amazon

How to watch the iPhone (2018) event: Live at 10:00 AM PT on Sept. 12!

iPhone Xs? iPhone X Max? iPhone Xc? Find out the truth about the name at this year’s iPhone event.

Every September, Apple launches a new iPhone and usually one or two additional new devices. This year, we already know we’re going to see two updated (and new sized) versions of the iPhone X, as well as the Apple Watch Series 4, but will Apple bring any other goodies to the party?

Apple iPhone (2018) Event Preview

This year, the iPhone event takes place at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET on September 12.

Follow along by watching the live stream

You can watch the live stream of Apple’s iPhone event at the official event page, which will be updated just in time for the event.

Apple’s Event page

You can also watch it from the Special Event app on Apple TV.

If you’d like to watch the live stream peppered with some commentary from the team at our sister site, iMore, be sure to follow them on Twitter.

• iMore Twitter
• Rene Ritchie
• Lory Gil

Bookmark iMore’s event page to keep updated on the news

iMore will be covering the event as it happens, but will also spend the rest of the day, the next few days, and the following weeks with follow-up content about everything announced and providing in-depth analysis of the event. Please be sure to bookmark their event page so you can check in regularly to see what they are talking about.

iMore live events page

Don’t forget, the iPhone (2018) event (let’s be real… it’s going to be called iPhone Xs) takes place this Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 10:00 AM PT/1:00 PM ET.

Motiv Ring Review: Nothing up my sleeves

The perfect fitness tracker for people who don’t want to look like they’re wearing a fitness tracker.

After 20 minutes of silence, the woman sitting across from me at this picnic table I was writing at felt compelled to strike up a conversation. “Do you mind if I ask what your wedding ring is made of? I’ve never seen anything else quite like it,” she asked of the complete stranger before her. It caught me off guard, not because I didn’t know who she was, but because I had no idea what wedding ring she was talking about. I quickly realized she was referring to the Motiv Ring on my right hand, and laughed as I explained this wasn’t jewelry I was wearing.

In this way, the folks at Motiv have already produced an absolute success. Nobody will ever look at the gadget on my right ring finger and think it is anything other than a ring, and that’s the whole point. Because this isn’t a wedding ring, but in fact, a fairly capable fitness and sleep tracker crammed into something the size of a ring. And, if I’m being honest, that I can wear this and never know I’m wearing a gadget is why I keep it on my finger.

Hidden in plain sight

Motiv Ring

A unique take on fitness tracking.

This fitness tracker hides in plain sight and looks great.

$200 at Amazon

The Good

• Hardly any bulk or weight, it’s just a ring
• Multiple chargers in the box
• Looks great

The Bad

• Not a ton of support for different workout types
• Android app is kind of flaky

Motiv Ring What I like

There are two types of fitness tracker people, those who need to see their step count or calorie burn count at all times as a reminder to keep going, and those who look at this information at the end of the day or when they have time. I fit in the latter group. I don’t need a display on my wrist showing me I’m only two walking minutes away from my goal. I want to push myself every day, and then at the end of the day see how well I did. Seeing a constant goal on your wrist makes me less likely to push beyond that goal, or worse encourages me to cheat to reach the goal so I can tell myself it’s cool to be a couch potato for a little while.

Motiv Ring is an engineering feat and a stylish accessory at the same time, which is both rare and fantastic.

In this respect, the Motiv Ring calls to me. I wake up, put it on, and that’s it. When I have time, I’ll check Google Fit on my phone and see how my goals are progressing, but it’s not something in my face at all times. In fact, the only indication you have this ring is ever doing anything other than living on your finger is the occasional subtle LED blink on the far side of the ring or the heart rate monitor on the inner side of the ring. The LED only blinks when it’s communicating with the phone, which you can force by rotating it on your finger (which, to me, is amazing). Motiv made the act of fidgeting with your ring an actual part of the UI, syncing the fitness data it has collected to your phone when you perform this force sync.

The charger used here deserves some love too. I’m usually one of the first to bemoan the use of a proprietary charger, but when you’re designing a gadget in the shape of a ring, you’re pretty limited on options. This charger is a simple USB-A stick with a magnetic end to hold the ring in place, and it works beautifully. But the charger isn’t nearly as clever as Motiv making sure you not only have two chargers in the box, but also making sure one of those chargers has a holster you can clip onto your keyring so it goes with your everywhere.

Perhaps most important, it looks nice. It looks like a ring, especially when it’s on my finger. There’s a slight bump where the heart rate monitor lives, so it’s clear this isn’t your average ring when you see it sitting on a table, but otherwise, there’s no way anyone is going to know you’re wearing a fitness or sleep monitor. That means you can wear it with anything, no worrying about whether the watch strap matches your outfit or whether it’s appropriate to have a fitness tracker peeing out from under your sleeve. I think the Motiv Ring is an engineering feat and a stylish accessory at the same time, which is both rare and fantastic.

Motiv Ring What I don’t like

As cool as it is to have a secret fitness tracker on my finger, the fitness tracker parts of this fitness tracker are a little lacking. It handles step counting great, so walking or running can be automatically counted in the app and correctly labeled. But if you’re doing something like cycling or swimming, there’s a fair bit of manual input needed. Motiv Ring will record the elevated heart rate, but the app presents you with a graph where you manually tell the app what you were doing during that high heart rate period. To Motiv’s credit, there are a lot of options there and it’s fairly easy to do, but the extra steps are a little frustrating if you’re trying to capture an activity with a degree of accuracy.

The Android app needs some work when it comes to stability.

I’m not a fan of the Motiv app in general. This ring has been out for quite a while now, with support for Android phones only recently added, and to be honest, the Android app is kind of unreliable. My initial set up with this ring failed multiple times on multiple phones due to a Bluetooth issue, and any time there’s a software update for the watch I have to try to apply the software update more than once for it to take. I’m a much bigger fan of syncing everything from the Motiv app directly into Google Fit and just using that, which is something Motiv makes very easy. But the Android app itself needs some work when it comes to stability.

This is an incredibly minor thing, but the sizing of the Motiv ring is something I wish I had a little more control over. Motiv sends out a box with a bunch of different plastic rings so you can determine what size you need, and when you make a decision, it ships out that correct size. As a fitting system, this is perfect. It makes sure you are buying the right thing, and works well. But the sizing guide from Motiv doesn’t include half sizes, so my Motiv ring is ever so slightly larger than I’d prefer. It only ever bothers me when I’m on my bike, and the act of squeezing the handlebar exposes the gap between the ring and my finger and feels a little off, but it’s there.

Motiv Ring Should you buy it?

Fitness trackers come in all shapes and sizes for a reason; there’s no such thing as one size fits all. For those who don’t want to broadcast their fitness tracker or who don’t feel the need to constantly check a display to see their fitness progress, Motiv Ring is excellent. It’s comfortable, stylish, and a great basic tracker.

And for $200, you’re getting a surprising amount of technology crammed into a tiny space and a pair of chargers for when you inevitably lose one. Motiv has assembled a quality package well worth the space it takes on your finger.

4
out of 5

Motiv Ring also comes in a Rose Gold if you’re not as excited about the Slate Grey pictured in this review.

See at Amazon

Protect your Note 9 with these Spigen cases

There are case makers that have built up a reputation for quality cases, year after year, model after model. While manufacturers like Otterbox and UAG may be known for their tough, tank-like cases, Spigen has cultivated a repertoire of cases — including the Choice Award-winning Neo Hybrid — that offer style and protection without boxy bulk or breaking the bank.

Best blend of style and substance

Spigen Neo Hybrid Case for Galaxy Note 9

The Neo Hybrid is a two-layer case that’s thinner than most one-layer cases and sports a sophisticated Herringbone texture that’s grippy but still works well with phone grips. 5 color variations are available, from a darling red-and-rose gold Burgundy to an expertly color-matched Ocean Blue.

$17 at Amazon

Shining scuff protection

Spigen Liquid Crystal Case for Galaxy Note 9

Spigen’s thin clear case grips well, hugs every curve of the Note 9’s glass, and costs less than a pizza. The Liquid Crystal line isn’t as quick to show smudges and smears as other clear cases, and the Glitter versions hide smudges and scuffs even better for $2 more.

$11 at Amazon

Kickin’ it old-school

Spigen Tough Armor Case for Galaxy Note 9

The Tough Armor may not be the most cutting-edge case on the block, but it’s hard to argue with the dependability of its classic two-layer construction. There are four cool colors available for the outer polycarbonate shell, and there’s even a kickstand built in to help prop your phone up for an in-flight movie.

$18 at Amazon

Crystal-clear durability

Spigen Ultra Hybrid S Case for Galaxy Note 9

Looking to split the difference between the thin style of the Liquid Crystal and the firm functional protection of the Neo Hybrid? Try the Ultra Hybrid S, which has a polycarbonate back and a flexible bumper that makes it easier to slide the phone in and out as needed. This S version of this case is higher-rated than the normal Ultra Hybrid and sports a kickstand.

$15 at Amazon

Pulling double-duty

Spigen Slim Armor CS Case for Galaxy Note 9

Wallet cases are usually thick leather folios, but Spigen’s Slim Armor CS hides your cash and cards out of sight, out of mind in a hardshell card slot. It can’t hold more than a couple of bills or 2-3 cards, but you’re not showing off your cards and cash every time you use your phone the way folio cases do.

$19 at Amazon

The Neo Hybrid’s two-tone beauty is the perfect blend of slim style and sturdy protection, but the Liquid Crystal Glitter lets the Note 9 shine like the gem it is. No matter what case you’re using with the Galaxy Note 9, you’ll want to grab yourself a Spigen Style Ring POP to help you better grip the Note 9’s large frame and keep it mounted in the car thanks to the Style Ring POP’s magnetic mount compatibility.