One of Amazon’s best e-readers, the Kindle Voyage, is $50 off today

Read a lot more!

Amazon is offering its Kindle Voyage for $94.99 in refurbished condition today as part of its daily deals. This is one of the best prices we’ve seen on this e-reader that sells for around $200 when it’s in stock. You can also get the Paperwhite for $79.99 or the entry-level Kindle for $59.99 in refurb condition today. All of these are tested and certified to both work and look like brand new units, and come with a full warranty from Amazon.

In the hierarchy of Kindles, the Voyage is near the top. Below the Oasis but above the Paperwhite. The Kindle Paperwhite is Amazon’s most popular e-reader and that thing’ll drop in price at the mention of its name. The Voyage, though, takes everything the Paperwhite does and does it a little better. It’s thinner, lighter, designed to automatically adjust brightness based on ambient light, and has a battery that will last you weeks. It also has physical buttons on the side. The original Kindle had that and it was fantastic, but now you have to pay a premium for a device like the Voyage or learn to swipe your screen like a pleb. Users give it 4.2 stars based on more than 13,000 reviews.

Get serious about reading if you’re getting serious with Voyage. Sign up for Kindle Unlimited and Amazon lets you read millions of books whenever you want.

See at Amazon

Google Pixel 3 XL’s screen gets an A+ rating from DisplayMate

From specs, pricing, features, and more, here’s the latest on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

Following months of leak after leak, Google’s officially taken the wraps off its Pixel 3 and 3 XL smartphones. The two handsets look exactly like what we saw in all the early photos and renders, and while the element of surprise may be gone, we’ve still got two impressive Android handsets to talk about.

Without further ado, this is everything you need to know about the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL!

Check out our hands-on coverage

Our review of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL isn’t ready quite yet, but in the meantime, make sure you check out our written and video coverage for our hands-on impressions.

This year’s Pixel phones aren’t drastically different compared to their predecessors, but improved displays, a faster processor, wireless charging and more all result in a really well fleshed-out package that makes for what could be some of the best smartphones you can buy in 2018.

Here are the specs!

If you’ve got a Pixel 2, a lot of the specs for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will look very similar. There’s still 4GB of RAM and a starting storage amount of 64GB, but the Snapdragon 835 processor from last year has been replaced by the newer 845.

For a full rundown on both phones, check out the link below. 👇

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL specifications

The displays are a lot better

Shortly after its release, one of the biggest controversies that popped up for the larger Pixel 2 XL was its poor display. We have an LG-made OLED panel once again, but the year-over-year difference is huge.

DisplayMate released a tweet during Google’s event for the Pixel 3 confirming that the 3 XL achieved an A+ rating and its DisplayMate Best Smartphone Display Award.

DisplayMate has Lab Tested the Google Pixel 3 XL OLED Display which has earned our Highest A+ Rating and a DisplayMate Best Smartphone Display Award. Our in-depth Display Shoot-Out review article will go live here on Monday October 15.

— DisplayMate Tech (@DisplayMate) October 9, 2018

Google’s touting 400+ nits of brightness for both phones, 2X less burn-in potential, and less color shifting.

There are still three different color profiles to choose from so you can fine-tune your experience, and out of the box, both the Pixel 3 and 3 XL have been optimized so that their displays look identical next to one another.

There are three colors

Google’s probably the best when it comes to naming its device colors, and this year we have Just Black and Very White. New this year is a pink hue that’s been aptly named “Not Pink.”

All three colors are available for both the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL no matter where you decide to buy them.

An all-glass back brings wireless charging support

For the past two years, Google’s used a mixture of aluminum and glass on the back of its phones. This year, the Pixel 3 shakes things up by adopting an all-glass construction.

There’s still an etched section near the top that adds a nice matte finish that allows for more grip and fewer fingerprints. Google’s also integrated Qi wireless charging support and selling a new Pixel Stand wireless charging accessory that’ll charge the Pixel 3 + 3 XL and put them into a new “dashboard” UI that shows a slideshow of pictures on Google Photos and various Assistant info.

The Pixel Stand is a $79 wireless charger for Pixel 3 that unlocks special display modes

Google’s made a ton of camera improvements

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL have some of the best cameras we’ve ever seen on a smartphone, and with the Pixel 3, Google’s making the camera experience even better.

Perhaps the biggest change includes the addition of a second front-facing camera. You now have access to a regular and wide-angle lens for all of your selfies and portrait mode works no matter which one you use. Google’s also integrated an algorithm to remove any distortion caused by the wider lens.

Other changes include:

• 40% faster HDR+ processing
• Improved detail retention while zooming
• Night Sight mode improves low-light shots
• Top Shot mode captures multiple frames before and after your picture and then recommends an alternative shot compared to what you actually captured

Along with all this, Google Lens is also built right into the Pixel 3’s camera app and works automatically when it detects something.

Android 9 Pie is available out of the box

As you’d expect, Android 9 Pie is running on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL from day one. This is the same Android Pie we’ve been using on the Pixel 2 phones, including the new navigation gestures, quick settings panel, etc.

The Pixel 3 does bring a handful of new software goodies, including the full release of Digital Wellbeing outside of its beta state and a slightly updated UI for the camera app.

There’s also a new call screening feature that’ll allow you to send your caller to a system that asks them to provide information about who they are and why they’re calling. What they say comes through in real-time and you can choose to hang up or pick up at any point.

Here’s when and where you can buy it

If you want to pick up the Pixel 3 for yourself, pre-orders are open right now. The Pixel 3 costs $799 for the 64GB model and goes up to $899 if you get the 128GB variant. For those same storage configurations on the Pixel 3 XL, you’ll pay $899 and $999, respectively.

The Pixel 3 series will be sold at Verizon, Best Buy, the Google Store, and Project Fi.

See at Google Store

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL hands-on preview
• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 3 vs. Pixel 3 XL: Which should you buy?
• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL specifications
• Join our Pixel 3 forums

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Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

Should I buy the Amazon Echo Sub?

Best answer: The Amazon Echo Sub adds richness and depth that you just don’t get with an Echo or the Echo Plus. If you already have an Echo and stream music through it, you’ll know that the bass is flat. That’s where the Echo Sub comes in — the companion device is designed to pair to compatible Echo devices to offer room-rumbling sound.

Amazon: Echo Sub ($129)

The Echo Sub makes your music come alive

With the Echo Sub, Amazon is taking a different approach from that of Google or Apple. Instead of launching a standalone device to take on the likes of Google Home Max or the HomePod, Amazon is offering a piecemeal solution in the Echo Sub. You’ll be able to configure the Echo Sub with a single Echo or Echo Plus or pair it with two Echo devices to turn it into a 2.1 system.

The Echo Sub is hefty at nine pounds, but its fabric finish — designed to complement that of the Echo and Echo Plus (2nd gen) — allows it to stand out.

Coming to the hardware, the Echo Sub offers a six-inch woofer with a 100-watt class D amplifier, and it manages to deliver an impressive amount of bass. Pairing the Sub with an Echo device (or two) leads to a vastly superior experience when streaming music, and if you already have an Echo or Echo Plus and are looking to improve its sound quality, then the Echo Sub is a natural addition.

Add some bass

Amazon Echo Sub

$129 at Amazon

Booming bass for your Echo

The Echo Sub adds much-needed bass to the Echo or Echo Plus. The ability to create a 2.1 system from two Echos paired to the Sub makes it an interesting choice for those looking to stream music, and it costs less than Google or Apple’s offerings in this segment.

Essential is reportedly making a phone based primarily on voice commands

Development of the Essential Home has also apparently been put on hold.

The future of Essential has been something of a mystery for the last few months, but thanks to a report from Bloomberg, we now have new details on the company’s latest project that should hopefully give it a new lease on life.

Although the Essential Phone 2 is dead, it’s reported that Andy Rubin and his team at Essential are developing a new type of smartphone that’s centered primarily around voice interactions and artificial intelligence that can make calls, text, and do other things automatically for you.

The design of the new mobile device isn’t like a standard smartphone. It would have a small screen and require users to interact mainly using voice commands, in concert with Essential’s artificial-intelligence software. The idea is for the product to book appointments or respond to emails and text messages on its own, according to the people familiar with the plans. Users would also be able to make phone calls from the planned device.

Such a device would be drastically different from our current smartphones, and as such, it’s said that Essential will market this new gadget as either a complimentary phone to your primary one or as a standalone handset for people that are trying to spend less time looking at a screen.

In order to properly work on this mystery device, Bloomberg also reports that Essential has “paused development” of its Essential Home smart speaker/display that was first announced alongside the Essential Phone in May 2017.

It’s said that we can expect to see Essential’s new phone as early as CES 2019 this coming January, so we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for more info over the coming months.

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL hands-on preview: Screens worth staring at

Essential Phone

• Essential Phone review
• Essential Phone specs
• The latest Essential Phone news
• Join our Essential Phone forums!

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Best Buy
Sprint
Telus

The AmpliFi Instant sets up mesh networking at home in a couple minutes

Making it easy.

If you’ve ever been curious about mesh networking but found these giant four piece systems too daunting, the new Ubiquiti Networks AmpliFi Instant Wi-Fi System might be your ticket in. It is designed to be setup in just a couple of minutes. The most basic package only comes with the AmpliFi Instant Router, and that’s good for coverage up to 2,000 square feet. If you’re feeling brave you can upgrade to the bundle that includes one MeshPoint extension. The extension comes already paired with the router, so all you’ll need to do is plug it in where it’s needed.

This is not Ubiquiti’s first foray into mesh networkng. The original AmpliFi HD is still a very good system, too, and one we have seen go on sale a few times this year. But even on sale it’s still not as affordable as the Instant, which starts at $99 for just the router. The Google Wi-Fi system and TP-Link Deco M5 are probably the only decent systems that come close in terms of expense, but both of those come with multiple devices to setup.

The router has a touchscreen display, similar to the AmpliFi HD, a one Gigabit Ethernet port, and a WAN port for connection to your cable or DSL modem. It uses dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi with 2.4GHz and 5GHz radios. When you first set it up, you’ll use the free app on both iOS and Android to configure it. Later, you’ll be able to use it to check network stability, parental controls, remote access, guest access, and more.

See at AmpliFi

Complete repairs on your tech gear at home with this 76-piece kit for $15

No problem too small.

Oria’s 76-piece precision toolkit is down to $14.83 at Amazon with coupon code HA11OROR. This is a huge chunk off its regular $28 price and matches a deal we last saw in early August. It comes with a utility knife, anti-static wrist strap, anti-static tweezers, SIM card ejector pin, LCD suction cup, triangle plectrum, plastic spudgers, metal spudger, stainless steel ruler, and more. The pieces are made of CRV steel to guarantee long-term use.

You can use the included pieces to repair devices like the iPhone, iPad, cameras, gaming consoles, controllers, and plenty of other electronic devices. It comes in a well-organized nylon bag so that you don’t misplace any pieces after you use them.

See on Amazon

These PlayStation VR games are guaranteed to make you scream

If you haven’t yet tried a scary game in virtual reality but love horror games on normal 2D screen, you’re in for a treat. Being cut off from the real world around you coupled with binaural audio is crazy immersive. Here at Android Central were a tech-based company that specializes in virtual reality. If you’re in the market for some horror games for PSVR, here are some of the best we’ve been able to find so far.

A trip to the looney bin

The Inpatient

This title comes with a whole love of meta leveled fear as to what it would be like to be a sane person stuck in an asylum. The goal is to regain your memories and find out who you are before it’s too late. What happens if it’s too late is for you to find out…

$13 at Amazon

A new way to play a fan favorite

Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

Relive one of our favorite zombie games, now in your VR headset. There’s nothing quite more thrilling than a horde of undead running at you. Set place in a mansion in modern-day Dulvey, Louisiana, you’re tasked with learning dark secrets (and surviving).

$27 at Amazon

Killer clowns and abandoned parks

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood

A VR rollercoaster ride where you have to fend off clowns and other spooks if you want to survive. This combo of arcade shooting and genuine scares makes for thrilling time!

$24 at Amazon

A zombie simulation

Killing Floor Incursion

If you’ve got a fear of clowns, this might not be the game for you. But, if you’ve got a deep level of horror you should face those fears and attempt your fate anyways! This title takes you through a horror rollercoaster where each move you make will change your fate of life or death.

$30 at PlayStation Store

From psychological horror to seemingly real threats, there’s plenty of titles out there for you to try out. Scare the pants off yourself by increasing your immersion into these games with your VR headset and truly feeling the fear. From zombies to incarceration, the possibilities are endless.

UK Daily Deals: Fire HD 10, Osram Smart+ Lights, Anker headphones, and more

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today on certified refurbished Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets, Osram Smart+ HomeKit/Alexa-compatible lighting, Anker headphones, Philips 4K UHD TVs and much more!

View the rest of the deals

Each day, the Thrifter UK team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.

For more UK deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter UK and follow the team on Twitter for the most up-to-the-minute coverage.

You’ll soon be able to change your PSN ID

You soon won’t be stuck with that cringe-worthy PSN ID you made as a kid.

After years of asking for such a feature, Sony has announced that players will soon be able to change their PlayStation Network IDs. This feature has been a long time coming, and according to the company, it’s not without some growing pains.

When you change your online ID, you will be given the option to also display your old one along with your new ID so that your friends will be able to recognize you. Whether you decide to display your old ID or not, you will not be able to reverse the decision after completing the PSN ID change process.

How this will work when displaying your ID in multiplayer games is a bit more limited. Sony states that this feature will be compatible with games published after April 1, 2018, and only some of the most-played PS4 games before this date.

This feature is compatible with PS4 games originally published after April 1, 2018, and a large majority of the most-played PS4 games that were released before this date. However, please note not all games and applications for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita systems are guaranteed to support the online ID change, and users may occasionally encounter issues or errors in certain games.

Once this feature launches, a list of compatible games published before April 1, 2018, will be made available.

Players will be able to change their name once for free, however additional name changes after the first will cost a small fee. Non-PlayStation Plus members will be charged $9.99 per additional name change, while PlayStation Plus members only have to pay $4.99. You will be able to change your online ID through the settings menu or your profile.

This feature is set to come first to the PlayStation Preview Program and will be made available to select users that have pre-registered as testers for previous PS4 system software betas. Though Sony did not reveal a specific date at which this will begin, the company did say that the testing process for this feature will end in late November. A full roll-out to all PlayStation users in planned for early 2019.

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

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Samsung Galaxy A9 renders reveal a phone with four rear cameras

That’s a lot of cameras.

We’re expecting Samsung to announce its Galaxy A9 mid-ranger in the next few days, and when it’s unveiled, it’ll be the first mainstream smartphone to ship with a total of four rear cameras.

On Wednesday, October 10, both Evan Blass and MySmartPrice shared renders of the upcoming phone that confirms the four sensor monstrosity on its back. Phones with three cameras like the LG V40 and Huawei P20 Pro already look pretty odd, and adding another one certainly doesn’t help the A9 from an aesthetic point of view.

As for how all of these cameras will work, we’re expecting a 120-degree wide-angle lens, 2x optical zoom one, a 24MP main shooter, and a depth sensor that should help for portrait shots.

Having so much flexibility with those different cameras could prove to be incredibly useful, but if not handled properly, we could be looking at another Samsung experiment gone wrong.

What’s your take on these Galaxy A9 renders? Sound off in the comments below!

LG V40 ThinQ review: Five cameras aimed straight at Samsung