Save $50 when bundling Google’s new Home Hub and select Nest devices

New hardware for less!

Best Buy is offering customers who bundle the recently-announced Google Home Hub with a Nest device a $50 savings on the purchase. You can pick from between the Charcoal and Chalk Home Hubs, and then for the Nest devices Best Buy has the 3rd-gen Smart Learning Thermostat, Indoor Cam 1 or 3-pack, and the Hello Smart Video Doorbell. You can use the display of the Home Hub to see who’s at the door and more, so bundling with the video doorbell might be one of the better uses for the savings here, and it drops the price down to just under $300 for both pieces.

If you prefer to stay within Amazon’s ecosystem, you can bundle the new Echo Show with a Ring Video Doorbell Pro for $428.99, or with the Wyze Cam for $234.99, which is better suited for indoors. If you just want some security cameras, this pair of Arlo Q 1080p devices is down to just $209 for the pair.

Either way, bundling is the best way to save when looking for these new smart home devices, and because you’ll be able to use your voice to control them, you should probably pick up some Philips Hue bulbs while your out there spending money!

See at Best Buy

Should you upgrade from the Pixel 2 XL to the Pixel 3 XL?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We live and breathe Android phones, and use nearly every one to find the best phones for everyone.

Google Pixel 3 XL

Latest and greatest

$899 at Best Buy

Pros

• Large, high-quality screen.
• Great camera.
• Dual selfie cameras.
• Wireless charging.

Cons

• No headphone jack.
• Large display notch.

Google refreshed its hardware and jumped to a 6.3-inch, 18.5:9 display — but it’s not all about size, the display is dramatically better as well. The rest of the phone builds on all of Google’s strengths: simple hardware, capable specs, smooth software, and an amazing camera experience front and back. It also added wireless charging and kept stereo speakers.

Google Pixel 2 XL

Still solid

$550 at Best Buy

Pros

• Robust metal construction.
• Great camera.
• Still has modern software.

Cons

• No headphone jack.
• Last year’s processor.
• Subpar screen.

This was Google’s top device a year ago, and that means for the most part it still feels modern today. The specs, hardware, and software are all up to speed and the camera is still fantastic. But its screen was bad then and looks even worse now.

The Pixel 3 XL isn’t a massive upgrade from the Pixel 2 XL, but there are a few changes that could make it worth it if you’re particularly upset with a few aspects of the phone.

Is the Google Pixel 3 XL a worthy upgrade from the Pixel 2 XL?

This comparison effectively hinges on two points: how much do you dislike the Pixel 2 XL’s display, and how big of a deal is it to spend $900 on a phone?

Google was at great pains to make sure the Pixel 3 XL’s screen didn’t repeat any of the problems of the Pixel 2 XL — and if you have the Pixel 2 XL, you know what I’m talking about. It’s dim, lacking that “punch” of color so many other phones have, and is proven to be more susceptible to burn-in and image retention than the competition. The Pixel 3 XL addresses all of these points. It’s brighter, more accurate, more colorful, and generally exhibits all of the qualities you expect for a phone of this price. If you’re underwhelmed by your Pixel 2 XL’s screen, the Pixel 3 XL may be appealing just from that point alone.

The screen upgrade is so important because elsewhere, the Pixel 3 XL isn’t necessarily a huge upgrade from the 2 XL. There’s a new processor inside, but the rest of the specs remain unchanged. The external hardware didn’t change in size or shape, which is a good thing in most people’s eyes, but the new glass back does offer a better feel and wireless charging capabilities.

Operating system	Android 9 Pie	Android 9 Pie
Display	6.3-inch OLED2960x1440 (18.5:9)Gorilla Glass 5	6-inch OLED2880x1440 (18:9)Gorilla Glass 5
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845Pixel Visual Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835Pixel Visual Core
RAM	4GB	4GB
Storage	64/128GB	64/128GB
Expandable	No	No
Rear camera	12.2MP, 1.4-micronf/1.8, OIS, PDAF	12.2MP, 1.4-micronf/1.8, OIS, PDAF
Front camera 1	8MP, f/1.8, auto focus75-degree lens	8MP, f/2.4, fixed focus
Front camera 2	8MP, f/2.2, fixed focus97-degree lens	n/a
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS
Audio	Stereo speakersUSB-C	Stereo speakersUSB-C
Battery	3430mAhNon-removable	3520mAhNon-removable
Charging	18W USB-C PDQi wireless	18W USB-C PD
Water resistance	IP68	IP67
Security	Fingerprint sensor	Fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	158 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm184 g	157.9 x 76.7 x 7.9 mm175 g
Colors	Just Black, Very White, Not Pink	Just Black, Black & White

The display is unequivocally better, and there are a few hardware upgrades — is that worth $900?

If the display upgrade alone wasn’t enough to change your mind, perhaps you’ll be interested in the new camera features. The front-facing camera has been upgraded with auto focus and a new sensor, and it’s now assisted by a secondary wide-angle camera for better portrait mode and group selfie shots. The rear camera takes fundamentally better photos, and better leverages the Pixel Visual Core — but chances are that many of its new features can actually make their way back to the Pixel 2 XL (in due time). The Pixel 3 XL takes great photos, but the Pixel 2 XL is no slouch — it spent a year at the top of the charts in image quality.

So let’s bring this all back together and talk about price: the Pixel 3 XL costs $899. If that seems like a lot of money to you, and you own a Pixel 2 XL already, this upgrade probably doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. The screen is unequivocally better, the camera experience is an upgrade, and a couple of extra hardware features are nice — and in the end, you don’t lose anything. But are those relatively small changes worth scrapping your phone and paying another $899 for a Pixel 3 XL.

Google Pixel 3 XL

Latest and greatest

$899 at Google Store

Google’s best-ever phone.

Phones are large nowadays, and Google’s Pixel 3 XL is no exception. A 6.3-inch OLED screen is dramatically improved from the Pixel 2 XL, and the rest of the experience builds on Google’s strengths: awesome software, great performance, innovative camera features and guaranteed updates.

Google Pixel 2 XL

Still solid

Still a modern and capable phone.

$550 at Best Buy

The Pixel 2 XL has been updated to Android 9 Pie and is still a modern phone in so many respects. If it weren’t for the poor display quality, it’d be easier to enjoy the performance, software and quality camera — but on the whole, it’s still a good phone if you find it at a discount.

These Xbox One console bundles come with a free Echo Dot for voice control

Ask and you shall receive.

As part of a big Xbox update, Microsoft just released the Xbox Skill for Cortana and Alexa which allows you to navigate your Xbox One console using your voice and a Cortana or Amazon Alexa-enabled device, such as the Echo Dot.

To celebrate the announcement, Amazon is offering discounted bundles of the Xbox One and Echo Dot hardware so you can get started using the feature right away. With this deal, you’re basically getting one of the new Echo Dot devices for free with your purchase of either an Xbox One X or Xbox One S console, saving you from having to spend $50 on one separately. The console bundles are priced at $499.99 and $299.99 respectively, which is the same retail price you’d find for them at other stores without the Echo Dot included. You’ll also receive NBA 2K19 with the bundle.

Once your new toys arrive in the mail, you’ll be able to use your voice to do things such as turn on or off your console, open a specific game or app, take screenshots, adjust its volume, and more. The Xbox Skill is now available to download at Amazon.

If you’re looking to own extra Echo Dot devices in your home, you can save $10 when you buy two at Amazon right now.

See at Amazon

Google’s Home Hub smart display spotlights another Microsoft failure

Google’s Home Hub joins Amazon’s Echo Show in an ambient-computing, smart-display space in which Microsoft is conspicuously absent.

Amazon pioneered the progression of voice-controlled ambient computing with its Alexa-powered smart speakers. The Google Assistant-powered Google Home and Apple’s Siri-powered HomePod eventually followed. In 2017, Amazon upped the ante with its Amazon Echo Show smart display. The Echo Show brought the ability to display interactive content to the smart speaker battle.

Microsoft was notably absent from this space until the embarrassingly-neglected Cortana-powered Invoke Harman Kardon smart speaker hit store shelves. With little marketing and an assistant with limited skills, mindshare and geographic reach, Microsoft’s initially-$200-priced speakers remained unnoticed by consumers. A recent Invoke price cut and Microsoft’s repositioning of Cortana as a business-focused assistive agent may signal Microsoft has little intention of recommitting to the consumer-focused ambient computing space.

This would conflict with the company’s professed commitment to the professional and personal user across work and play. In a nutshell, Microsoft’s recently revisited commitment to users across their professional and personal lives demands Microsoft ensures Cortana-powered ambient computing is available to users at home just as it is at work. Two years ago, Microsoft revealed a Home Hub plan to turn hundreds of millions of Windows 10 PCs into Cortana-powered smart speakers with screens. Microsoft’s plan was great, but the execution poor, and competitors like Google introduced products that are everything Microsoft’s should have been.

Microsoft’s Home Hub, a dream deferred

Microsoft’s Home Hub concept versus Google’s Home Hub reality.

In 2016, we saw Microsoft’s vision for smart displays. Unlike rivals, Microsoft wouldn’t have to build dedicated smart speakers, try to create a market, and then develop distribution channels to get them to consumers. With a home and business PC install base of more than one billion and a growing Windows 10 presence, Microsoft planned to use software to turn existing Windows 10 PCs into Cortana-powered smart speakers. Microsoft’s OEM partners were also expected to create dedicated intelligent displays to complement this strategy.

Microsoft’s Home Hub was going to provide families with communal access to calendars, apps, and Sticky Notes via a Welcome Screen on a shared PC. Windows Hello would also recognize users and keep individual data private.

Home Hub was supposed to connect Windows 10 PCs to various smart home devices allowing users to control them via Cortana. Sadly, with the failure of Windows on phone, Microsoft’s consumer-facing commitment to Cortana has further waned. With a two-year virtual silence on Home Hub and an apparent lack of interest in making Cortana relevant to consumers, Microsoft’s Home Hub dreams seem destined to remain unrealized.

Google Home Hub, a dream realized

During its 2018 “Made by Google” event, Google announced its seven-inch Assistant-powered smart display. This diminutive device is three inches smaller than Amazon’s latest 10-inch Alexa-powered Echo Show and is bedroom-safe due to the intentional omission of a camera.

The $149 device is more affordable than the $230 Alexa Show. Reports also claim that Google’s superior speech recognition supports more natural language and has fewer mistakes than the Echo Show. Still, Alexa’s 50,000 skills and the Echo’s compatibility with thousands of smart home devices beat Google Home Hub.

Still, even in its shortcomings, Google Home Hub brings the reality of hands-free, voice navigated computing with a display to users in a way Microsoft has not. And though the Lenovo Smart Display and the JBL Link View brought Assistant-powered smart displays to market earlier, Google Home does so in a sleeker package.

Microsoft, the dreamer

Google Home Hub is equipped with far-field microphones, stereo speakers and a seven-inch LCD touch display. From browsing YouTube videos to following recipes and invoking music services, Google’s Home Hub will begin impacting consumer behavior in a very real way.

Home Hub features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth which allows users to cast their phone content to the device. It also acts as a digital picture frame for users’ cloud-based photos when not in use. As “everyone’s personal Google,” Assistant on Home Hub will continue answering questions effectively as Google leverages its progress in organizing the world’s information. Home Hub also connects to smart home gadgets and provides a Home View Dashboard of the entire state of a smart home. No longer will users have to access separate apps to control connected devices.

As Google brings all of this and more to users on its first-gen smart display, Microsoft’s Home Hub dreams may remain an unknown concept and yet another frustrating miss Microsoft watchers can add to Redmond’s pile of what could have been.

New iPad Pro Models Spotted in Analytics With Same Resolutions as Current 10.5-Inch and 12.9-Inch Models

Apple is widely expected to introduce new iPad Pro models with Face ID at a media event later this month, and we can now confirm that Apple has been testing those models internally over the past few months.

iPad Pro with edge-to-edge display render via iDropNews
Mobile app analytics platform Appsee has informed MacRumors that model identifiers iPad8,1; iPad 8,2; iPad8,3; iPad 8,4; iPad 8,5; and iPad 8,8 began to appear in its device logs starting August 1. Earlier this week, 9to5Mac’s Guilherme Rambo claimed those identifiers represent unreleased 2018 iPad Pro models.

“The model codes for the Wi-Fi models of the 2018 iPad Pro will be iPad8,1, iPad8,2, iPad8,5 and iPad8,6,” said Rambo. “Meanwhile, the cellular-capable models will be iPad8,3, iPad8,4 and iPad8,7 and iPad8,8.”

For what it’s worth, Appsee has yet to see any iPad8,6 or iPad8,7 sessions appear in its analytics, but those models very likely exist.

What’s more interesting is that the new iPad Pro models appear to have the same display resolutions as the latest 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch models. Appsee’s logs indicate that the iPad8,1 through iPad8,4 models have a resolution of 1,112×834 points, while the iPad8,5 and iPad8,8 measure in at 1,366×1,024 points.

Point resolution is not pixel resolution, but we can easily find out the latter.

iPad Pro displays use Apple’s high-resolution @2x modifier, meaning there are four pixels for every point. As such, simple math reveals that the new iPad Pro models in the logs have resolutions of 2,224×1,668 and 2,732×2,048 pixels, identical to that of the current 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch models respectively.

The data suggests that iPad Pro models with Face ID will have the same-size 10.5-inch and 12.9-inch displays, and retain 4:3 aspect ratios. However, the overall dimensions of the tablets are likely to shrink, as the iPad Pro is expected to receive an iPhone X-esque redesign with an edge-to-edge display.

As far as accuracy is concerned, Appsee has a proven track record at this. The analytics firm discovered the model identifier iPad6,8 with a resolution of 2,732×2,048 pixels in its logs back in August 2015, and Apple introduced the original iPad Pro with that exact resolution the following October.

Appsee describes itself as a powerful qualitative in-app analytics platform that enables app professionals to measure, understand, and optimize the end-users’ experience in their mobile apps, driving increased engagement, conversions, and in-app monetization. More information can be found on their website.

However, there are a few rumors that conflict with this data. First, often-accurate Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the next iPad Pro models will have 11-inch and 12.9-inch displays. If the 10.5-inch model is in fact evolving into an 11-inch version, then the resolution would be different as a result.

Second, dimensions from Japanese blog Mac Otakara and a photo on Slashleaks suggest the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro will be approximately 4mm wider. That does not necessarily mean the display will be larger, though, and it’s worth noting that all of the other alleged dimensions are smaller on both models.

One way or the other, we should find out in a few weeks. Apple has yet to invite the media to its rumored October event, and with its CEO Tim Cook in Belgium on October 24, there is an increasing probability that the event might not take place until Tuesday, October 30, give or take a day.

Related Roundup: iPad ProTag: AppseeBuyer’s Guide: 10.5″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy), 12.9″ iPad Pro (Don’t Buy)
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Deals: Last Call for Exclusive Anker Discounts, 2017 MacBook Flash Sale, and More

We’re entering the final days of our latest exclusive sale with accessory maker Anker, in which you can get up to 42 percent off portable chargers, speakers, iPhone cases, wireless chargers, and headphones.

You can find every product on sale in the list below, and if you see something you like be sure to place your order before the codes expire on Sunday, October 14. As usual, these discounts are found on Amazon, so Prime members can place their orders and get free 2-day shipping.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

iPhone Cases

• iPhone X Breeze Case – $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $6.99

• iPhone X Shield Case – $3.99 with code RUMORS07, down from $6.99

Cables and Chargers

• PowerLine+ Lightning Cable with Pouch (3ft, Red) – $9.49 with code RUMORS92, down from $13.99

• Powerline+ II Lightning Cable with Pouch (6ft, Black) – $13.49 with code RUMORS53, down from $17.99

• PowerPort Cube with 3 Outlets and 3 USB Ports – $20.79 with code RUMORS63, down from $25.99

• USB-C Wall Charger with 5 Ports – $39.99 with code RUMORS56, down from $49.99

• PowerWave 7.5 Stand Wireless Charger – $39.99 with code RUMORS25, down from $49.99

Audio Accessories

• Soundcore Spirit Pro Sports Headphones – $39.99 with code RUMORS88, down from $49.99

• Soundcore Vortex Wireless Headset – $44.99 with code RUMORS03, down from $59.99

• Soundcore Flare Portable Bluetooth 360-degree Speaker (Black) – $50.99 with code RUMORS31, down from $59.99

Portable Chargers

• PowerCore II 20,100 mAh Portable Charger – $47.99 with code RUMORS26, down from $59.99

• PowerCore Speed 20,100 mAh Portable Charger + 30W Power Delivery Wall Charger – $79.99 with code RUMORS75, down from $99.99

Besides the exclusive codes, Anker has a few normal discount codes live on Amazon:

• 6ft Premium Nylon Lightning Cable [2-Pack] (Black, Silver, Red) – $17.99 with code ANKER532, down from $23.99 (exp. 10/30)

• 3.3ft Premium Nylon Lightning Cable [2-Pack] (Black, Silver, Red) – $14.99 with code ANKER532, down from $19.99 (exp. 10/30)

• PowerCore 10,400 mAh External Battery Pack – $23.99 with code ANKERPC4, down from $29.99 (exp. 10/31)

In other sales, Woot today has the 12-inch MacBook from Mid 2017 (1.2 GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB HD) for $899.99, down from $1,299.99. This model is on sale for today only, so if you’ve been on the hunt for a cheaper entry-level MacBook this is definitely a good opportunity. Comparatively, this model is priced at $1,249.00 on B&H Photo and $1,299.99 on Best Buy.

If you’re planning a trip soon, Pad & Quill is offering its TechFolio Cord Organizer for $15 off using promo code Family15. This makes the travel accessory $74.95, down from $89.95. Pad & Quill’s ongoing PQ16 coupon code for 10 percent off your order is also still live, but can’t be combined with Family15.

For more information on this week’s sales and bargains, be sure to head over to our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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