Best Amazon Fire TV Deals for September 2018

The Amazon Fire TV Stick is a godsend for those of us who want to stick with our trusted non-smart television and also want to access Netflix on it, but there are also Fire TVs which have all the capabilities of Amazon’s Fire TV stick built into the TV itself. They’re generally affordably priced, but the best time to purchase one is during a sale. Below are the best deals we could find to help you locate the right Fire TV device or Fire TV for your home.

Sometimes, Amazon offers deals which are only available to Prime members, so it helps to keep your membership active while you’re on the hunt.

Fire TV devices

• Up to $35 off Fire TV devices with Roku, Apple TV or Chromecast trade-in
• Fire TV Game Controller for $19.99 (was $50)
• Fire TV Stick; buy two and save $5 with code 2PACK
• Fire TV Stick 4K; buy two and save $10
• Fire TV Stick + Echo Dot (2nd Gen) for $74.98 (was $90)
• Fire TV Stick 4K + Echo Dot (3rd Gen) for $79.98 (was $100)
• Fire TV Cube + Cloud Cam Security Camera for $199.98 (was $240)
• Fire TV Recast + Fire TV Stick 4K + HD antenna for $249.97 (was $300)

Fire TVs

• Toshiba 32″ Smart HDTV – Fire Edition for $149.99 (was $180)
• Toshiba 43″ Smart HDTV – Fire Edition for $279.99 (was $330)
• Toshiba 49″ Smart HDTV – Fire Edition for $329.99 (was $400)

Fire TV device or Fire TV?

Have you decided which product is right for you yet? Let us know in the comments, and if you already own a Fire TV device or Fire TV, feel free to share your favorite available apps too.

How to Access Control Center and Home Screen in iOS 12 With the iPad’s New Gestures

Apple in iOS 11 revamped the iPad’s interface and changed the way we interact with the tablet through a new Dock, a revamped App Switcher, and Drag and Drop, and with iOS 12, further iPad changes have been implemented.

There are new gestures to learn for accessing the Home screen, App Switcher, and the Control Center, along with a new status bar.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
The new iPad gestures are identical to the gestures on the iPhone XS, with Apple preparing us for the elimination of the Home button in future iPad models. Rumors suggest upcoming iPad Pro models will feature a TrueDepth camera system and Face ID rather than a traditional Touch ID Home button.

If you use an iPhone X, XS, or XR, the new iPad gestures will be familiar to you, but if you don’t, it could take a bit of time to get used to.

Dock Changes: Getting to the Home Screen and App Switcher

In iOS 11, when you wanted to access the Home screen from within an app, you would press the Touch ID Home button. That’s still true, but you can also now get to the Home screen when you swipe up from the bottom of the display, as demoed in the video above.

When in an app, swiping up from the bottom of the screen takes you right to the Home screen rather than just bringing up the iPad Dock within an app.

The iPad’s Home screen. Get here with one quick swipe on the Dock.
To get to the Dock to open more than one app for multitasking purposes, you need to do a swipe and a slight hold hold rather than just a swipe at the bottom inch of the screen while you have an app open already.

The iPad Dock in an app. A quick swipe brings you to the Home screen, but a swipe and a hold brings up the Dock in an app.
If you swipe and hold a bit higher on the screen, you can access the App Switcher on the iPad for quickly swapping between apps or closing apps, which is done with a swipe upwards on an app card. This gesture works both within apps and at the Home screen.

The iOS 12 iPad App Switcher, accessible with a longer swipe and hold on the Dock, either at the Home screen or within an app.

Getting to Control Center

Control Center in iOS 11 was paired with the App Switcher and was accessible by swiping up on the Dock, but that gesture now opens the App Switcher alone without providing access to Control Center.

Getting to Control Center is now done by swiping downwards from the right portion of the status bar, where it displays your battery life and Wi-Fi/Cellular connection.

All other gestures on the iPad remain the same, such as a swipe downwards from the top middle of the display to bring up your notifications and a swipe to the right to get to the Today section for widget access, but there are other iPad improvements worth noting in iOS 12.

iPad Status Bar

The iPad’s status bar has been redesigned in iOS 12, and it now resembles the status bar of the iPhone XS. The date and time are listed on the left hand side of the status bar, while battery life and Wi-Fi/Cellular signal and connection are displayed on the right hand side.

The middle of the display, where the date was previously shown, is left open, perhaps for a future notch. Prior to iOS 12, the iPad’s status bar did not show the date, so that’s also a new addition.

Spacebar Trackpad

When typing on the iPad, if you press and hold with one finger on the space bar, it turns the keyboard into a trackpad to make it easier to navigate through a document and move the cursor.

This is a feature that has been available on iPhones with 3D Touch and on the iPad with two fingers, but in iOS 12, it’s simpler to use. A two finger touch also continues to work.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
Discuss this article in our forums

How to Force Restart iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus

If your iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus is acting up and needs a quick restart, you can follow these steps to force it to reboot without the need to shut it down.

The iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus feature a haptic Home button rather than a physical Home button, so forcing a restart is different than on earlier devices. It’s also different than restarting an iPhone 8 or later.

Force restarting an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus takes just one step. You’re going to want to hold down the Volume Down button on the left side of the device and the Sleep/Wake button on the right side of the device at the same time.

Hold the buttons for approximately 10 seconds until the screen goes dark and an Apple logo appears on the screen, which indicates the iPhone is restarting.

You can also hold down the Sleep/Wake or Side button on the device to bring up a screen that will let you shut down the iPhone entirely. The same option appears as part of the Emergency SOS screen if you press the Side button a total of five times.

Finally, if you open up the Settings app and go to the General section, you can scroll all the way to the bottom to find a “Shut Down” option.
Discuss this article in our forums

How to Force Restart iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR

Apple’s newest crop of devices, the iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR don’t have a Home button and feature new Side buttons with unique functionality, so Apple has introduced a new method for forcing a quick restart.

It takes a unique combination of button presses to cause your iPhone to restart, and while it’s not immediately obvious, once you’ve learned the steps, a force restart is the quickest way to restart your iPhone if it’s acting up.

Force Restarting iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears, then release the Side button.During this process, you will see a slider to power off the iPhone. You’re going to want to ignore it and continue holding down the Side button until the screen goes black. At that point, the Apple logo will pop up, and after the restart is complete, the screen will activate once again.

Using the force restart process prevents you from having to shut the iPhone down entirely, which takes several more steps.

If you do want to shut the iPhone down, you can do so by going to the General section of the Settings app, scrolling down to the bottom, and choosing the Shut Down option.

You can also hold down the Volume Up button and the Side button at the same time to bring up the Emergency SOS interface that also houses a “slide to power off” option.
Discuss this article in our forums

Google Pixel Slate vs. Apple iPad Pro

If you’re looking for a super premium tablet this holiday season, the iPad Pro, Google Pixel Slate, and Microsoft Surface Pro 6 are the top three ways to go. All three look pretty similar on the surface, but with the fresh release of the Google Pixel Slate announced, we’re diving a bit deeper to compare it to the Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch.

Read our Pixel Slate hands-on review.

Design

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The design of premium tablets is common these days, and both the Pixel Slate and the iPad Pro are initially hard to tell apart. The Google Pixel Slate is thin and light, crafted with rounded corners and comes in at 1.6 pounds. Similarly, the iPad Pro 12.9 is equally light at 1.57 pounds.

Both devices lack an integrated kickstand and depend on the use of a separate purchased keyboard cover to stay propped up. Google, though, does make things more advanced. The keyboard cover on the Pixel Slate has different angles of use and full backlighting, and cool rounded keys that should be silent when typing.

The displays on the two devices are also similar, and both Apple and Google want to make sure you have the best Netflix viewing pleasure. Apple’s 12.9-inch has 2,732 x 2,048 resolution, which works out to 264 pixels per inch across a 12.9-inch screen. The Pixel Slate has 3,000 x 2,000 resolution, which is 293 pixels per inch across a 12.3-inch screen. Google’s device will look sharper.

There’s also a difference in aspect ratio. The iPad has a 4:3 aspect ratio, while the Slate has a 3:2 aspect ratio. In practice, that means the iPad is a little closer to a square and feels more like the size of a piece of paper. The Slate’s aspect ratio is a bit wider, so 16:9 videos will have smaller black bars surrounding them.

Performance

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Under the hood, the Google Slate is powered by a touch-centric new version of Chrome OS, whereas the iPad Pro is powered by iOS 12. Both operating systems are mobile-centric, so your choice of the tablet just depends on which platform you prefer. Though iOS has no mouse support (and Chrome OS does) you’ll find similar apps and multi-tasking features across both platforms.

Greater differences can be found in the hardware. For $800, you’re getting a 12.9 inch iPad Pro with 4GB of RAM, 64GB, of storage, an A10X chip with 64‑bit architecture, and embedded M10 co-processor. The Pixel Slate starts at $599, with some very base specs comparable to the iPad. At the price, you’ll be getting a device with an Intel Celeron Processor, 4GB RAM and 32 GB of Storage. That is a cheaper base price, but with less storage and possibly a less powerful processor.

The Intel Celeron Processor is found in most cheaper Chromebooks and feel slow when multitasking and doing more demanding tasks. There are options for faster 8th gen Intel Core i5 or i7 processors on the Google Pixel Slate, but that kicks the pricing well above the $899 mark.

Keep in mind that both devices can be purchased with an optional pen. Apple’s is $99, and so is the one from Google. Considering the specifications, there are not many differences between them both, and all work fine for inking, drawing, and other tasks.

Portability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

When considering the portability of the Google Pixel Slate and the iPad Pro 12.9 inch, you need to account their measurements. The iPad Pro measures 12 x 8.66 x 0.27 inches, and the Pixel Slate comes in at 11.45 inches x 7.95 inches x .27 inches. Both are truly light and portable, but we think that the smaller length on the Google Pixel makes it easier to pack away when traveling. Unfortunately, both do look rather hard to hold in the hands, so there is that to settle on when shopping.

As for battery life, Google promises that you’ll get up to 12 hours with mixed usage on the Pixel Slate. In our testing, we got up to 10 hours on the iPad, which is still good. iOS is also known for excellent standby time — it uses little battery when not actively used. We don’t yet know how the Slate’s standby time will compare, but Chrome OS devices usually don’t handle standby as well as an iPad.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Coming down to the connectivity while on the go, the Pixel Slate looks to be the winner. Not counting the headphone hack, Apple includes only one proprietary lighting port. You’ll need to get a dongle to connect up your USB accessories, or compatible printers. Google, though, includes two USB-Cs for charging 4K display output and quicker data transfer. There’s no headphone jack on board the Pixel Slate, but there are killer dual-firing speakers for better surround sound. You’ll need a dongle or Bluetooth headphones with the Slate.

Get the iPad

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

At the end of the day, it’s better to choose the iPad Pro for now. Google’s Pixel Slate might look fancy and have new OS features, but at $599, the specs seem to be a bit disappointing for those looking for a powerful tablet without breaking the bank. Considering Google hasn’t released a new Android tablet in a long time, it is probably best to invest the extra money in the 12.9 inch iPad and grab something that is bound to last.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Everything you need to know about the Pixel Slate
• Google Pixel Slate vs. Microsoft Surface Pro 6
• Google Pixel Slate vs. HP Chromebook x2
• Google takes on iPad Pro and Surface Pro with its new Pixel Slate
• Pixel 3, Home Hub, and Pixel Slate — our first look at all Google’s new devices

Forget laxatives — this electronic pill will literally shake the crap out of you

Suffering from constipation? Well, put down the spoon containing your fiber-rich breakfast cereal. What you really need is a vibrating smart pill that will shake the crap out of you. And we mean that literally. Created by a startup in Israel, the so-called Vibrant capsule promises a “chemical-free and safe treatment” for patients suffering from, err, blockages.

They work by vibrating inside the GI tract, thereby inducing peristalsis, the muscular contractions that take place as your waste is moved through the digestive tract toward the rectum. The capsule’s vibration schedule is controlled by an algorithm, predefined by Vibrant’s research and development team and gastroenterologists. It is activated by a base unit that transfers the data to the capsule. Once the “problem” has been solved, the capsule is washed out of the body with the bowel movement.

While the idea of swallowing a vibrating pellet sounds, frankly, a bit crazy, it does actually work, according to some researchers who recently put it through tests in the U.S. Satish Rao and colleagues from Georgia’s Augusta University tested it in two clinical trials and found that it is able to relieve constipation as advertised.

“Two randomized sham-controlled studies were performed in nearly 250 patients with chronic constipation using single or multiple vibrations per day,” Rao, professor of medicine at Augusta, told Digital Trends. “In both trials, subjects took five capsules per week, on five separate days. Patients receiving Vibrant capsules had significantly greater bowel movements than [the] sham group. Specifically, we noted that Vibrant augments normal colonic biorhythm, and the increased bowel movements coincided with, or around the time of, Vibrant activation.”

The majority of participants did not report feeling any vibrating sensation in their gut while the smart pills were doing their thing. Nor were any major side effects reported by participants. The results of the study are set to be presented this week at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology.

“The next step is to perform a sham-controlled phase 3 RCT that will begin January 2019 across multiple sites,” Rao said. “If this confirms efficacy and safety, the next step is [Food and Drug Administration] approval and marketing.”

With any luck, it won’t be too long before the capsules are available on U.S. shores. Hey, who doesn’t enjoy a bit of cutting-edge poop-related technology? Especially when, as is apparently the case here, it works so well.

Editors’ Recommendations

• DirecTV Now: Everything you need to know
• The best live TV streaming services: PlayStation Vue, Hulu, Sling TV, and more
• The best shows on Netflix right now (October 2018)
• The best budgeting apps for Android and iOS

Google Pixel 3 XL hands-on review

Research Center:

Google Pixel 3 XL

Notch.

That’s the first word that came to mind as we used the Google Pixel 3 XL. As the name suggests, it’s the larger model of the two phones Google unveiled at its hardware event in New York City. The Pixel 3 XL is a big phone with a design that’s attractive from many angles – but wow. That notch. It’s unlike the notch on the iPhone XS, and many other Android phones, because it’s big. Real big.

Once you get past the notch, however, you’ll find a phone with a great screen, fluid software, and a stunning camera.

Notched design, big OLED screen

The Pixel 3 XL has the same features as the Pixel 3, a strategy Google started with earlier Pixel phones and Apple copied for the iPhone XS and XS Max. That doesn’t mean they’re identical, however. The Pixel 3 XL has a larger 6.3-inch screen, offering space for more pixels and a bigger battery. The only design difference this year is the massive notch on the Pixel 3 XL, whereas the smaller Pixel 3 opts for chunky bezels around the screen.

The notch is ugly, plain and simple. It juts into the screen way and looks distracting. We don’t normally moan over the notch on a phone, but the Pixel 3 XL takes it a bit too far. If we were getting this big of a notch, it’d be nice if Google included a Face ID-esque unlocking method for the phone alongside its fingerprint sensor on the rear.

Turn the phone over, though, and it can pass for handsome. Google is sticking with the two-tone look, but instead of mixing glass and metal, it’s all glass on the rear. Google has managed to make the bottom glass matte, so it’s not as slippery as other phones and hides fingerprints better. However, the Pixel 3 XL is less alluring than Samsung’s Galaxy Note 9 or Apple’s iPhone XS.

The notch is ugly, plain and simple.

The 6.3-inch OLED screen offers 2,960 x 1,440 resolution, and it looks fantastic. It was bright enough to see with direct sunlight shining through windows, though we’ll need to take a better look outdoors. Colors are vibrant and paired with deep black levels in dark scenes. While the phone is large, it didn’t feel too unwieldy to hold during our short time with it.

Dual front-facing speakers return, which is why there’s a chin on the front. Google says the speakers are 40 percent louder than last year’s Pixel 2, and the difference is noticeable. We could hear Google Assistant even over the press event’s cacophony.  Speaking of Google Assistant, you can squeeze the phone to trigger Google’s helper, just like last year.

There’s no headphone jack, but Google wins some points for including USB Type-C earbuds in the box, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack adapter.

Strong performance, Android Pie, and modest battery

The Google Pixel 3 XL is powered by the common Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, paired with 4GB of RAM. Navigating Android 9 Pie felt fluid and responsive, with apps launching quickly, and multitasking posing no issue.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

While Android 9 Pie on the Pixel 2 XL allowed us to change the method of navigating the phone, we could not find an option to use the traditional Android navigation buttons. That means you’re stuck with using Google’s gesture navigation system, which isn’t as simple as the gesture navigation system on the iPhone XS.

There are a few software features exclusive to the Pixel 3 series that we haven’t been able to try yet. You can place the phone screen facing down to trigger “Shh” mode, which silences all your notifications; a new Call Screening option uses Google’s Duplex technology to let you see whether a call is from a telemarketer; and Gmail’s Smart Compose feature is coming to mobile — it automatically generates text it thinks you want to write in an email, and the launch is starting with the Pixel 3.

But the biggest advantage to owning a Google Pixel 3 is software updates. Google manages the Android operating system, so the Pixel 3 will always receive fast Android version and security updates as soon as Google pushes them out. The list of phone manufacturers that can make the claim of fast updates is growing — such as OnePlus, Essential, or HMD Global — but the Pixel series will still always get updates the fastest.

There’s a 3,430mAh battery inside, which is smaller than last year’s Google Pixel 2 XL. That’s disappointing. We’re not expecting more than a full day of use. Since the phone can wirelessly charge, Google is selling a separate 10-watt wireless charging stand for $79. The Pixel Stand juices up the phone, but there are a variety of other integrations, such as connecting with the Pixel’s Do Not Disturb mode, and doubling as a digital frame for your photos.

Google Pixel 3 XL Compared To

Sony Xperia XZ3

Huawei Mate 20 Lite

Honor Play

Pocophone F1 by Xiaomi

Moto Z3

Vivo Nex S

Moto Z3 Play

LG G7 ThinQ

Cat S61

OnePlus 6

Moto G6 Play

Honor 10

Nuu G3

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3

There’s no MicroSD card slot, but there are options for 64GB or 128GB of internal storage. Google is still offering free photo storage for Google Photos in their original resolution.

Another stellar camera

The Google Pixel 2’s is at the top of our list. The Pixel 3 XL improves on it while maintaining the single-lens camera system on the back. It’s a 12.2-megapixel lens with a f/1.8 aperture, and we experienced almost zero lag when snapping photos. The camera app feels smoother than ever before, and has several slick new features.

Google’s still has its impressive HDR+ technology in the Pixel 3 XL, which takes many photos when you tap the shutter icon and combines them all to create a perfect photo. A new feature called Top Shot now alerts you to when someone may have blinked in a photo. And you can peruse through all the photos it captured to choose something better. It’s much like choosing a key photo in Live Photos on the iPhone.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

More impressive is Super Res Zoom, which reduces the noise in photos captured by digitally zooming in. There’s no optical zoom, so zooming in to capture a photo on the Pixel 3 XL won’t look as good as using the 2x optical zoom on phones like the LG V40, Galaxy Note 9, or the iPhone XS, but the results are still impressive. We were able to make out details of buildings far away after zooming in. It works far better than expected.

Portrait Mode looks better than ever before — on the front and the back.

There’s now not one, but two front-facing cameras. Both are eight-megapixel cameras, with the main lens having a f/1.8 aperture, and a secondary wide-angle lens with a f/2.2 aperture. You can use the wide-angle lens for group shots, or to simply take in more of the scenery in your selfie. Switching between both cameras is incredibly fluid, and Portrait Mode works with both cameras, so photos can stand out even more. Playing around with both cameras is a lot of fun.

Portrait Mode also looks better than ever before — on the front and the back. It accurately identified the edges of a subject and applied a strong bokeh effect. Details here are incredibly sharp, and these photos often look like they came straight from a DSLR.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There’s even more to the camera, but we didn’t have chance to try every feature during our hands-on. What we saw, however, has us convinced the Pixel 3 XL will remain a favorite among smartphone photographers.

Price and availability

The Google Pixel 3 XL starts at $899, and pre-orders are open now. It officially goes on sale starting October 18. The phone is being sold through Google and Verizon, but if you buy it from the Google Store, you can use it on any major carrier network in the U.S.

It’s a steep price for a phone, but we like almost everything we see — except for the notch. It looks like the camera is going to be yet another winner, the screen looks great, the speakers get loud, the software is uncluttered and bloatware-free, and performance is strong.

If you can stomach the notch, the Pixel 3 XL might be the best Android phone yet.

Google brings back its pop-up shops to show off its new lineup of products

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Following the unveiling of its latest hardware products, Google announced that it will also offer new ways to experience its products for everyone worldwide. But rather than simply stocking store shelves, the company is going its usual route — by opening pop-up shops. But it doesn’t stop there — the company has also introduced a new customer service program and a partnership with tech retailer, “b8ta.”

For starters, from October 18 through December 31, those in New York and Chicago will be able to try out Google’s new products at the company’s pop-up shops. The New York City store is located in SoHo at 131 Green Street, while the Chicago pop-up will be located in Bucktown at 1704 N. Damen. Store hours have yet to be announced but we’ll update this article when we have more information.

Similar to last year’s Google pop-up store, you will be able to see and interact with all of the products the company unveiled at its event. This includes the new Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, the Google Home Hub, and the Pixel Slate tablet. As each one becomes available, you can purchase the products at the pop-up as well.

Aside from being opening day of the pop-up shop, October 18 is also when the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL will be available for purchase. Those in the San Francisco Bay Area will have the opportunity to receive their new device only three hours after purchasing it from the Google Store, thanks to Google’s Enjoy Service. In an effort to “bring the Google Store to you,” customers will also have their phone set up by a Google expert in-person. The service is currently available to order the Pixel 2 XL, Pixelbook, and the Google Home Max.

In its announcement, Google also mentioned that it recently conducted a small, localized test where Google Home Minis were delivered by drone to customers’ homes only 10 minutes after ordering. While we wish that could be a reality in the near future, it seems like the Enjoy Service is the closest we’ll get to receiving products quickly after ordering them.

In select locations across the country, Google’s new products will also be available at “b8ta” stores — which provide an interactive shopping experience for customers to test out products. Each Google Home product is placed in a home-like vignette, in an effort to simulate what it would feel like to use the product in your own space. The specific locations that feature the new products include Austin and Houston, Texas; San Francisco and Corte Madera, California; Tysons Corner, Virginia, along with two new b8ta stores in Short Hills, New Jersey, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Here’s everything Google announced at its October 9 event
• Walmart stocks its stores with VR training for its employees
• Google takes on iPad Pro and Surface Pro with its new Pixel Slate
• BMW teases its Vision iNEXT Concept ahead of global debut next week
• Here’s how to buy the new Google Pixel 3 and Google Pixel 3 XL

Google is revolutionizing smartphone photos with computing, not lenses

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL takes low-light images, high-resolution photos, and well-timed shots — but those big new photo features aren’t realized solely by the camera packed inside. Instead, Google is tackling tasks typically left to larger cameras with computers, not lenses and high-resolution sensors.

(Read our hands-on preview of the new Google Pixel 3 XL.)

Like the Pixel 2, Google integrated a special chip designed just for photos, the Pixel Visual Core, and a dual-pixel sensor that enables dual-lens effects with a single lens. And like the original Pixel phone, the Pixel 3 shoots and merges multiple images without a delay by using HDR+. And like the first two generations of Google smartphones, Google isn’t done leveraging artificial intelligence and computational photography to take better photos.

Good-bye, crappy smartphone zoom?

Smartphone cameras have either a slight zoom using two lenses or digital zoom — and all digital zooms produce poor results by cropping the photos. You just can’t fit a big zoom lens inside a small smartphone. Google is promising better zoom with a fixed, single lens smartphone (on the rear, anyways) using Super Res Zoom.

The feature doesn’t appear to require a tripod, since it actually needs those small movements in your hands.

Super Res Zoom revamps an existing idea and reworks the concept to solve a new problem — that crappy smartphone zoom. Digital zoom doesn’t work well because the resolution is drastically reduced — but what if the image you started with had a higher resolution?

Super Res Zoom takes a burst of photos. Small movements in your hands will make those photos taken from a slightly different position. By stitching those slightly different photos together, the Pixel 3 creates a higher resolution image. And with a higher resolution image, you can use digital zoom with results that aren’t so cringe-worthy.

Perhaps what’s even more intriguing is that the feature doesn’t appear to require a tripod, since it actually needs those small movements in your hands. Panasonic, Olympus, and Pentax cameras have similar modes using pixel shift, but they are designed to create a higher resolution final file, not as an artificial zoom, and tripods are recommended.

A good low-light smartphone?

Speaking of cringe-worthy, Google’s Liza Ma says that the Pixel 3’s new low-light mode called Night Sight is so good, you’ll never use the flash. Like the Super Res Zoom, the feature is powered by machine learning. The Night Sight doesn’t use any of the usual hardware solutions for a better low light shot like a larger sensor and brighter aperture — instead, machine learning re-colors the photo to create brighter, more vivid colors even without using the flash.

Google didn’t dive much into detail how machine learning is used to brighten the photos, but says the A.I. recolors the image for a brighter shot without the flash. We’ll have to wait to see just how well that recoloring works — the feature isn’t launching until next month via software.

Top Shot mixes HDR+ with A.I. that chooses your best photos for you

The Top Shot feature inside the Pixel 3 is essentially burst mode — a fast series of photos — and a feature that DSLRs and even smartphones have long had. But what Google is doing different with Top Shot is automatically choosing which moment out of that burst is the best one.

Top Shot takes a fast burst of photos. The Pixel 3 highlights the one with your actual timing, and also highlights a recommended photo. Machine learning, Google says, determines which image in that burst is the best option. By feeding a computer a bunch of good photos and bad photos, essentially, the software learned that, yes, photos are better with everyone’s eyes open and a smile in the frame. And if you don’t agree with the A.I.’s pick, you can dig through the burst and choose the image yourself.

Google says the alternate shots are still also captured in HDR+ — so essentially, that burst mode is also taking smaller bursts to layer together for a more detailed image. HDR+ already impressed in earlier Pixel models, but managing both burst shots and multiple images at once suggests impressive computing power. (And yes, those photos will probably take up a lot of space, but Google is including unlimited Google Photos storage with the Pixel 3).

The idea of using A.I. to choose your best shots is nothing new — Adobe announced a beta tool for Lightroom to do just that a year ago. But what the Pixel 3 does is mix that new concept of automatically flagging your best shots without sifting through the bad ones with the old school burst mode. And it’s all done on one device.

So where does hardware fit in?

While the biggest new features are powered by A.I., the Pixel 3 doesn’t leave camera hardware unchanged. The front of the phone now houses two cameras — one an expected 8-megapixel camera, the other a wide angle lens with a 97-degree field of view so you can actually fit everyone into a groupie. A portrait booth mode will also trigger the shot hands-free by looking for a smile or a funny face, Google says.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The camera keeps a single lens at the back, yet manages to continue the impressive portrait mode from earlier models using dual pixel technology instead of dual lenses. That portrait mode is getting a boost, Google says — the Pixel 3 can edit the result, including changing the subject for a sharp background instead.

The camera’s dual pixel autofocus can also now track subjects — a feature that’s been around for some time on advanced cameras but is a nice addition to see integrated into a smartphone. The rear camera also includes optical and electronic image stabilization, a flicker sensor and a bright f/1.8 lens.

Video is shot at up to 30 fps 4K or 120 fps in 1080p.

Google may have made some claims that are no big deal for DSLR fans like tracking autofocus, but pit the Pixel 3’s camera against other smartphones and those A.I. features could give the Pixel 3 an edge. Annie Leibovitz, at least, agrees — she’s entered into a partnership with Google, the first time the photographer has signed an agreement with a brand. She’s not saying anything about leaving her dedicated camera behind, but Leibovitz did use the Pixel 3 for portraits and places while traveling, Google says.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Google Pixel 3 hands-on review
• Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL: Everything you need to know
• Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL: 5 features we love, 5 features we don’t
• Here’s everything Google announced at its October 9 event
• Google Pixel 3 XL hands-on review

Google Pixel Slate hands-on review

Research Center:

Google Pixel Slate

Google has been in the tablet game for a long time, but hasn’t had much success. Remember the Nexus 9 or Pixel-C? Yeah, not many people do.

The Pixel Slate is Google’s newest attempt. With Chrome OS becoming more robust by the day, it feels like the right time for the company to give it another shot. While there is promise in what Google has crafted, its shortcomings leave us worried, too.

Solidly unsurprising

The Pixel Slate takes inspiration from competitors like the iPad Pro and Surface Pro 6. Its form factor is most like the Surface products, a tablet with a full desktop operating system and a removable keyboard.

Of those devices, the Pixel Slate is the least exciting. Its aluminum shell is solid, but it lacks the distinctive stylings of the Pixelbook. The two-tone aesthetic has been replaced by a simple, blue chassis that doesn’t look unique. Google has embraced a minimalist aesthetic lately and it generally works, but this is too far.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

It does feel great to hold. At 1.6 pounds, it’s not the lightest tablet in the world, but remember it has a 12.3-inch display – larger than the more typical 10-inch tablet. The Pixel Slate doesn’t feel dense. It’s also well balanced. By placing the heaviest components in the center of the device, the Pixel Slate is easy to hold and rarely feels like it wants to leap from your grip.

The typing experience could be better; the low-travel keys have a harsh bottoming action.

We saw someone balance the device on the end of their finger. It’s more than just a party trick. The weight distribution makes one-hand use comfortable, which is impressive on a 12.3-inch device. That’s not something we can say about the Surface Pro 6.

The 12.3-inch display looks fantastic, with a higher pixel density than the iPad Pro. It’s big, bright, and colorful, all of which are crucial for a device that is essentially just a large screen. We wished the bezels around the edges of the display had been cut back a bit more, which would’ve made the Slate feel modern.

The computing experience is solid. The more expensive configurations include up to 16GB of RAM and up to an 8th-gen Amber Lake Core i7. That’s a Y-Series processor for those keeping track at home, which is a fanless, dual-core CPU designed for thin devices. That means it’ll trot behind the Surface Pro 6, which offers quad-core Intel hardware.

Google Pixel Slate Compared To

Amazon Fire HD 8

Microsoft Surface Book 2 13-inch

Samsung Galaxy Tab S4

Microsoft Surface Go

Huawei MediaPad M5 Pro

Apple iPad 9.7-inch (2018)

Amazon Fire HD 10 (2017)

Asus Transformer Pro T304

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Apple 10.5‑inch iPad Pro

Lenovo Yoga Tablet 2 Pro

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Microsoft Surface 2

Sony Vaio Duo 11

Acer Iconia Tab W700

The desktop experience is heightened by two USB-C ports, which can power multiple high-resolution monitors while charging the device. While we’d like to bemoan the lack of a headphone jack, it’s not too surprising to see the old port removed on a device like this.

An ok keyboard at a high price

The Pixel Slate Keyboard is like Apple’s Smart Keyboard. It folds to hold the tablet in different positions, but it also features a full-size keyboard and touchpad like the Microsoft Type Cover. The tablet slides into the magnet lock and feels stable to tap. The folio case features a simple, smooth way of adjusting the angle of the screen — just push on the back or forward on the folio’s makeshift kickstand. It makes the overengineered hinges found in some 2-in-1s seem downright silly.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The typing experience could be better. The low-travel keys have a harsh bottoming action, even compared to something like the MacBook Pro. The round key design isn’t our favorite, either, though they are backlit and have a familiar layout. One positive here is the touchpad, which is large and surprisingly clicky.

We observed some noticeable software and performance issues during our time with the device.

Both the keyboard and the accompanying stylus (the $100 Pixelbook Pen) are quite expensive and not bundled in with the device. The Pixel Slate Keyboard will cost you an extra $200. That’s more than either of the offerings from Apple or Microsoft.

Chrome OS has a long way to go

Google has thrown in changes to make Chrome OS more touch-friendly than before. When you undock it from the keyboard, the device automatically enters tablet mode, bringing up a new launcher with floating icons. The settings menu has been redesigned to be more touchable, too.

There’s a new, Android-like camera app to support the front and rear-facing eight megapixel cameras. Neither look great, though the wide-angle lens on the front makes for good selfies. The Pixel phone’s Portrait Mode has been thrown in for kicks, though we noticed a lack of detail in the blurring effect.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends and Juliana Jara/Digital Trends Espanol

We observed some noticeable software and performance issues during our time with the device. The new split-screen mode, while a nice addition, felt clunky on the Intel Core M model we used. We can only imagine the entry-level Intel Celeron model would be worse. Many apps, even ones that were downloaded on the device to demo, didn’t support split-screen use. The swipe-up navigation was buggy, often disappearing.

Some of this can be chalked up to early software — after all, the device doesn’t even have a firm release date. But it’s also indicative of a deeper problem. Google has never been afraid of putting products that aren’t refined.

Attaching a keyboard to an Android device – as the company did with the Pixel C — didn’t suddenly make it a laptop replacement. In the same way, the Pixel Slate doesn’t feel like a definitive statement on Google’s vision of 2-in-1 devices and operating system.

Google has all the right pieces of the puzzle; Google Play, attractive hardware, and a wide variety of devices. Still, from what we’ve experienced so far, the Pixel Slate hasn’t figured out how those pieces should fit together.