UK Deal: Get the Blink XT home security system at its lowest price ever

Don’t blink, you might miss this deal.

Today only, Blink XT Home Security Camera Systems are down in price at Amazon UK. With 23% off, these are the best prices we have seen to date on the weatherproof cams.

The sale includes:

• 1-Camera Kit – £114.99 (Was £150)
• 2-Camera Kit – £184.99 (Was £240)
• 3-Camera Kit – £254.99 (Was £330)
• 5-Camera Kit – £384.99 (Was £500)

The Blink XT camera can be used indoor or outdoor and is a modular system that can be expanded with up to 10 cameras as you want them. You can set it up and control it easily with an iOS or Android smartphone, and you can add voice control with any Alexa-enabled device like the Echo Dot. The built-in motion sensor can send an alert to your smartphone when it’s triggered and record the event in the cloud. The included AA Lithium batteries should power it wirelessly for up to two years. The free cloud storage requires at least iOS 9.3 or Android 4.4.

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

See at Amazon UK

Are you sticking with the Pixel 3’s default launcher?

Even in 2018, third-party launchers are still mighty popular.

If you picked up a Pixel 3 or Pixel 3 XL, you’ve likely been getting familiar with the launcher that comes pre-installed on it out of the box. Just like the Pixel and Pixel 2 series before them, this year’s phones ship with the latest version of Google’s Pixel Launcher.

The Pixel Launcher is one of the smoothest launchers around and offers easy access to the Google Discover page, a persistent Search bar at the bottom, and the super helpful At A Glance widget. For all the things the Pixel Launcher gets right, however, it’s definitely not the best choice for people that want access to the most customization options possible.

When asked if they were sticking with the Pixel Launcher on the Pixel 3, this is how the AC forum community responded:

klau25
10-20-2018 10:59 PM

“

i am. Used to only use Nova, but since the Pixel Launcher changed all icons to the same now. They are all uniformed. i am sticking with Pixel Launcher for now.

Reply

Davidoo
10-20-2018 11:29 PM

“

Nova Prime for me as well. Can’t give up all that customization.

Reply

areyes163
10-21-2018 12:36 AM

“

I like the stock launcher. I actually use the search bar a lot. I would like the option to move it though. The stock launcher is fast for me so no complaints here. I do like Nova though but I plan on sticking with stock for now.

Reply

Armeniandave
10-21-2018 11:48 AM

“

I switch between Nova and action launcher. Both are awesome in slightly different ways.

Reply

What about you? Are you using the Pixel 3’s default launcher?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

• Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL review
• 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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Project Fi

Google’s Project Stream is so good it should worry the console makers

When streaming games over the internet is this good, is there any reason to buy a game console?

I’m not just a nerd and editor here at Mobile Nations; I’m also a pretty big gamer. When I first heard about Google’s Project Stream game streaming service I signed up with every email account I had. When I got the email saying I was invited to give it a try, I jumped at a chance to play Assassin’s Creed Odyssey by beaming it over the tubes to a Chrome browser tab. After spending a bit of time playing it, I’m here to say that Sony and Microsoft should better get their ducks in a row because Google might make a traditional game console obsolete.

Seriously. It’s that good. Here’s my quick take on the good and the bad of streaming a performance-hungry 3D AAA title over the internet. This isn’t a review of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey — we have one of those already. It’s also worth noting that Project Stream is a closed invite-only beta so the billion Chrome users aren’t all hitting the servers at once.

Setting it up

Project Stream, as mentioned, runs inside the desktop Chrome browser on every single platform that can install it. It runs in a standard tab like any other website and is purely a streaming service; there is nothing to download or install to get it up and running and outside of the same sort of cache you would see from a streaming service like Netflix. Nothing gets installed behind the scenes on your computer. Setting it up requires four things: A Google account, a Ubisoft account, a broadband internet connection and an invite to the service.

I don’t have the speediest internet on the planet, and did have to close down some bandwidth-hungry applications on my Windows 10 desktop computer in order to pass the initial test to make sure I could play. I also had to disable the Windows 10 Firewall to pass the test, but the service worked fine with it enabled after I got the green light.

You don’t need a gaming PC to play Project Stream; it works on a Chromebook or MacBook.

My gaming PC is a home-built system on an MSI motherboard, with an Intel i7 8700k CPU, 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, and two ASUS-branded AMD RX Vega 64 graphics cards using CrossFire. It drives either two 1080P monitors or a single wide 4K monitor, depending on the game I’m playing. It’s a fairly standard gaming rig, filled with hardware that probably helps a little once the data gets here, but is completely unnecessary for Project Stream, which can also run on a Chromebook or MacBook Air.

Once your computer passes the tests, you are presented with the title screen for Assassin’s Creed Odyssey in full screen. You’ll be forwarded to sign into Ubisoft and to help alleviate a bit of that hassle you’ll get 1,000 game credits to buy cosmetic items at Ubisoft’s store. It’s enough to buy all but the most expensive thing available. If you already have a Ubisoft account, you won’t find any mention of the game in the UPlay app, but you can spend all those useless U gold coins you may have earned. It’s the microtransaction cosmetic racket you’ll find is typical of most AAA games in 2018, love it or hate it. (HATE IT.)

The tl;dr — have a computer that can run Chrome, a Google account, and an invite and you can be playing Assassin’s Creed Odyssey in about 3 minutes.

Quality

I’m not a stranger to streaming games. I use NVIDIA’s GeForce Now service on my Shield TV on occasion, and previously streamed from my desktop to a Shield Portable (remember those?) when I had an NVIDIA-powered graphics card. But I wasn’t ready for what I saw when it comes to quality.

Project Stream isn’t open for everyone so it may degrade in quality. But Google Duo didn’t.

Streaming a game through Google Chrome is just as good as playing from the hard drive of my PS4 or Xbox One. It looks as good, it’s as responsive, and even more seamless than switching inputs on a television and turning on a console. You can even use a wired PS4 Dualshock controller or an Xbox (One or 360) controller, as well. It’s better in terms of quality than NVIDIA’s service — which I’ve always thought was more than acceptable and worth the price — both graphically and latency-wise. It was, in a word, shocking.

Once again, it’s worth mentioning that this is a limited closed beta test. It’s possible that once open to more users Project Stream will turn into a laggy, blotchy mess where games that aren’t worth playing will be the norm. But I also participated in the GeForce Now closed beta, and it was never this good. I’m betting Google is using some of the same secret sauce for the bandwidth that it uses to compress and expand video for Google Duo here.

You’ll still have the same weird looking characters you’ll find in most Ubisoft titles, regardless of engine, but you won’t see any blurry pixelated images or ghosting during movement or even glitches when there are plenty of game sprites on the screen at once. When you press a button on the controller or mouse, you won’t find any perceptible input lag or latency issues. It’s just like playing from your Xbox. You won’t get the same quality of graphics you would from the PC version of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (there are no video settings other than brightness through the settings) but you will match a console like a PS4 Pro or Xbox One. It’s every bit as good as a high-end PC running in “High” or “Good” quality.

Menus are seemingly instant, and the only time you’ll notice a split second of waiting is when saving. Since I happen to really like the game, I also bought it for the PC and it does the same thing running locally. You’ll also see the same thing when saving your game on a console, as verified by several folks playing on one and kind enough to field some questions. And it’s all done inside a browser tab.

What’s not to love?

When it comes to convenience and quality, Project Stream outperforms my expectations. By a very large margin. But that doesn’t mean you should put your console up on eBay just yet. There are still some unknowns when it comes to ownership.

It’s hard to find some new games DRM free. GoG and Humble Bundle are lifesavers, but most gamers will have Steam, or UPlay, or Origin (or all three) installed on their PC and Sony or Microsoft make no bones about DRM. That means you don’t own the game you’re playing. You only own the rights to play it, and that’s what you paid upwards of $60 for. We see the same with music and video — even if you buy the disk or the digital files, you don’t actually own the content.

Google sucks at digital rights for content.

It’s hard to tell how Google can (will) mangle up user rights when it comes to games purchased through or played via Project Stream. Google Play Music shows us Google isn’t the best company on the planet when it comes to securing content rights (ask anyone in Europe) and buying a service to play your favorite game and seeing that game disappear overnight because of a rights dispute is not a pretty thought. But it is a likely possibility if we look to Play Music or Play Movies & TV as examples. At least Sony or Microsoft won’t stop you from playing a game if you bought the disk and can’t get online to authenticate… oh nevermind. If you were a Destiny player, you know how it feels.

Is on-demand gaming worth not actually owning any of your games? that’s going to depend on pricing and availability as well as how well Google can satisfy the bloodlust of companies like EA. One thing’s for sure, it’s definitely better than this:

It’s not clear what Google plans to charge for Project Stream when it launches, nor how many games will be offered, but if the quality and performance stay this good, Sony and Microsoft should watch out.

See at Google

The Lenovo Yoga Chromebook is now on sale at Best Buy for $699

You get a huge 15.6-inch display and Intel Core i5 processor.

Back at IFA 2018 in August, Lenovo unveiled a trio of new Chromebooks for the holiday shopping season. The most powerful of the bunch, the Lenovo Yoga Chromebook, has officially been made available for purchase at Best Buy in the United States.

The Lenovo Yoga Chromebook comes equipped with a 15.6-inch IPS display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080. Since this is Yoga device, it can be folded back 360-degrees and used in a total of four modes — Laptop, Tablet, Tent, and Stand.

Under the hood is an 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of eMMC storage, and Intel UHD Graphics 620. In regards to ports, you’ll find a 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack, two USB-C ports, one full-size USB-A 3.0 one, and a microSD card slot.

Package all of that up into a sleek aluminum chassis with a Midnight Blue paint job for $699, and you’re looking at a seriously impressive Chromebook that’s considerably less than Google’s Pixelbook or the new Pixel Slate. (You can also step up to a model with a 4K UHD display for $899).

The Lenovo Yoga Chromebook is available for purchase from Best Buy right now with free shipping and in-store pickup.

See at Best Buy

UK Daily Deals: Blink XT security cameras, Fitbit trackers, 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 Blink XT home security systems, Fitbit trackers, Xbox Live Gold membership, Philips Wake-up Lights, 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.

Ghostbusters World review: A fun new take on a new formula

If bustin’ makes you feel good, you’re in for an ectoplasmic adventure!

What with the unrivaled success and impressive subsequent staying power of Pokemon Go, it was inevitable that we would start to see clones hit the market eventually. One title that hopes to scoop up a bit of the Pokemon player base is Ghostbusters World, an AR reality game that shares much of its DNA with Pokemon Go but hopes to expand its depth with various additions.

Ghostbusters World

It’s not Pokémon, but it’s close

Fans of the Ghostbusters franchise will absolutely love this game but I can’t see die-hard Pokemon Go players abandoning ship for Ghostbusters World.

Free at Play Store

The Good

• Chock full of elements and characters to make Ghostbusters fans smile
• Good amount of depth involved in catching ghosts
• Plenty of content to keep you busy

The Bad

• Battles can feel a bit grindy
• If I never hear that song again it will be too soon

Bustin’ makes me feel good

The centerpiece of Ghostbusters World will be familiar to anyone who has spent time playing Pokemon Go. You take on the role of a Ghostbuster and set out into the real world where you will encounter a myriad of different ghosts, many of which have been scooped out of the various Ghostbusters properties. As a Ghostbusters fan, I was truly excited when Tony Scoleri popped up near me and I got a chance to take him down.

Where in Pokemon Go you simply toss a Pokeball at your target, there is a little more depth in Ghostbusters world. If you keep your AR on (I turned mine off) you must first move your PKE meter around in order to find the ghost. Once you have it in your sites you blast it with your proton pack in order to lower its health. While you are engaged in weakening the slimy little bugger, it may attack. This is your opportunity to hit the counter button so that you can avoid taking damage yourself. Once you feel your ghost is sufficiently weakened, it’s time to throw out your trap and show it how you do things downtown.

I personally really enjoyed the added complexity that is required to catch ghosts. It makes it feel as if there is a little bit more game to the game. As it stands currently, there are 150 different ghosts out there in the world for you to trap. Again, not unlike Pokemon Go, each ghost has a type which helps to dictate how well they will do in combat against each other.

Tell him about the Twinkie

If you are concerned about the volume of content, there are plenty of other things to do in Ghostbusters World to keep you busy. If you want to take a break from busting ghosts, you can always head over and play some Story Mode. In Story mode, you will build a team of four ghosts that you have previously captured and use them to take on waves of other ghosts. As your progress, your ghosts will level up and you can even level them up yourself by spending PKE crystals and upgrade them with Runes.

You can also head into the Ghost Dimension where you can play modes like The Daily Haunt and Gozers Tower. Much like Story mode, these modes feature battles with your own team of ghosts. If that’s not enough for you, you can dip into PVP where you can battle your ghost team against those of other players globally. While these modes are great to round out the content in the game, at early levels, many of the battles seem a bit too easy which can lead to it feeling a bit like a grind at times.

It’s the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man

Oh! You say you want boss battles? Well lucky for you, you can battle one of the coolest penultimate bosses of all time. That’s right. While you are out wandering around in Ghostbusters World, it is entirely possible that you might run into the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. He is massive so you are probably going to want to team up with some friends in order to take him down. If you have been too busy collecting spores, molds, and fungus to make any friends, you can always use the in-game chat feature to find some fellow busters to team up with.

I had no idea it would be so much. I won’t pay it

Alright, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. It’s 2018 and it’s a mobile game so of course there is bound to be some microtransactions and of course, there is. The real question is how fast you hit that paywall and how brutal is it. Are you going to have to stop playing if you don’t start paying?
I am happy to report that it is nowhere near the worst I have experienced when playing mobile games. I had a nice smooth flight all the way from level one to fifteen and never felt as if I would have to take out my wallet. Of course, the option is there if you don’t want to rush upgrades to your gear or your ghosts but it doesn’t seem to be game breaking in any way. In fact, it feels like it is just about on par with how they do things in Pokemon Go.

Verdict

4
out of 5

I actually had an absolute blast playing Ghostbuster World. I have been a fan of the franchise since I was just a kid and this IP actually speaks to me a bit more effectively than Pokemon Go does. I have nothing bad to say about Pokemon. It’s just that this is a bit more up my alley. If you have been interested in the idea of playing a game like Pokemon Go but just weren’t really into the IP, then Ghostbusters World may be just perfect for you. I know it is for me.

See at Play Store

Best replacement power cord for PlayStation 4

The AmazonBasics power cord for PlayStation 4 is an affordable replacement from a trustworthy brand. It’ll provide the exact kind of power your PS4 needs at a very comfortable range.

Our pick

AmazonBasics Power Cord for PS4

• $7 at Amazon

Super cheap and super long.

AmazonBasics items are meant to be affordable, no-frills alternatives to name brand items. Not only are they cheaper, but you get the Amazon promise to go with it.

Who should buy this power cord?

If you’re in need of a longer cable than what came standard with your PS4 or if yours is broken somehow, this is all you need.

Is it a good time to buy this power cord?

You won’t have to worry about this power cord being supplanted anytime soon. It’s a standard issue power cable and is even usable with other devices using the same connector type.

Reasons to buy

• Cheap
• AmazonBasics support
• Plenty long

Reasons not to buy

• Not made by Sony

There’s no reason to go anywhere else

The AmazonBasics replacement power cord for your PlayStation 4 is your best bet if you’re in need of such a thing. There are a few reasons why.

For starters, it’s made by AmazonBasics, a divisional arm within Amazon which looks to offer own-branded alternative versions of everyday products. Amazon’s goal with these products is to offer the absolute bare minimum functionality you need without all the bells and whistles that usually inflates the cost of products. This philosophy is echoed right down to the packaging, with Amazon liable to ship your product in a plain clear bag.

There’s no substitute for trust, and we trust AmazonBasics.

While AmazonBasics isn’t always the cheapest alternative you can find, it gets pretty close. And no one can match Amazon’s 1-year warranty in this field, so if your product ever breaks you have a pain-free route to getting it fixed or replaced. Good luck finding that with the droves of other products made by unreputable companies.

At 6 feet long, this cable should be usable in any home entertainment setup. It’s even longer than the one that comes with your PlayStation 4 by default.

Alternatives to the AmazonBascis Replacement Power Cord for PS4

Most of the available power cords do the same thing, and even though 6 feet is a pretty good length, there may be some out there who need it even longer. Thankfully, there exists such an option.

Runner-up

AmazonBasics 12-foot Replacement Power Cord for PS4

It’s AmazonBasics, but twice as long.

$9 at Amazon

Same great warranty, twice the length, and still has a low price tag.

Just like the 6-foot version of this cable, the 12-foot replacement cable for your PS4 offers power. Most of these replacement cables do, but none of them come with the peace of mind of buying from the AmazonBasics brand.

Bottom line

The AmazonBasics power cord should fit and work perfectly with your PS4. It’s affordable, lengthy, and trustworthy. With a 1-year warranty, you’ll have a pain-free replacement process if it doesn’t stand the test of time.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Quentyn Kennemer has been a tech and gaming enthusiast for as long as he can remember. He has decades of experience and expertise, and was practically born with a controller in his hand.

Jennifer Locke has an undying passion for gaming. She knows the value of good, quality accessories and peripherals, and draws on her own personal experiences to offer the best recommendations.

The Lenovo Smart Display is also available for pre-order in Canada

The Lenovo Smart Display also appears to be coming soon.

Smart Displays are the latest form factor to bring the Google Assistant into people’s homes, and since earlier this year, the Lenovo Smart Display has been doing just that for folks in the United States. Our friends in Canada have yet to join in on the Smart Display love, but thanks to a Best Buy listing, it would appear that that’s soon changing.

If you head to Best Buy Canada’s website right now, you can pre-order the JBL Link View Smart Display for $349.99. The release date is listed as November 1, 2018, and if you use promo code SHPREORDER, you can save 10% at checkout.

A quick search on Best Buy’s site also shows the 8-inch Lenovo Smart Display, and while its product page wasn’t live as of a few days ago, it can now also be pre-ordered for $259.99 with a release date of November 1.

What does all this mean?

The Google Pixel 3 is also launching in Canada on November 1, so it’s likely we’ll get a proper announcement either then or slightly ahead of time confirming that Smart Displays are finally ready for the Canadian market.

See at Best Buy

Updated October 22, 2018: Updated this article to reflect that the Lenovo Smart Display is also available for pre-order.

5 PlayStation 4 issues and how to fix them

Put that credit card away and try these steps to fix what’s ailing your PS4 controller.

We would all love to live in a perfect fantasy world where everything works exactly the way it was intended. But we don’t, and our tech lives by the same gnarly rules of life that everything does.

PlayStation 4 gamers know all too well how a bad controller can ruin their days off, but you don’t have to put your gaming on hold or go out and buy new hardware whenever your DualShock 4 is on the fritz. Here are some common issues you may run into with your PS4 controller, as well as suggestions on how you can fix them.

Looking to replace your controller? These are our favorites!

PS4 controller won’t connect

This is a classic problem that likely has plagued many-a gamer at least once. Sometimes, the controller just fails to sync with the console. As odd as it may be for a connection to work fine days on end only for it to suddenly fail, it happens. In most cases, a quick run around the reset mill should correct any issues:

First, try plugging your DualShock 4 into the PS4 using your USB cable. This should attempt a resync and in most cases will get you going again.
Try restarting your console.
If neither of those worked, look on the rear of the controller for a tiny hole located next to the L2 button. You’ll need a pin, paperclip, or some other type of thin poking device to jam in there. Push the button on the inside for a couple of seconds and then release, then attempt to resync the controller to your PS4 by plugging it in with your USB cable.

It’s worth noting that the PS4 uses a standard Bluetooth connection, so if you use your controller with multiple devices — such as your PC, smartphone, or tablet — you’ll want to make sure it’s not connected to anything else while you’re trying to connect it to your PS4.

PS4 controller won’t charge

If your controller won’t charge by plugging it into the PS4, it may be due to a number of different factors. We’re going to employ the process of elimination to see what, exactly, is broken. Here are some things you should try:

• Your USB cable could be damaged. Try a different one.
• Try plugging the controller up to a different USB port on the PS4.
• If possible, try charging another controller with the same cable on the same port.
• Try plugging it in while you’re in safe mode. To enter safe mode on the PS4, first turn the console off, and then when you turn it back on be sure to press and hold the power button for 7 seconds. You’ll hear a second beep and you should arrive at the safe mode screen.
• See if Windows will recognize your controller by plugging it into your PC’s USB port.

By the end of the trial you will have figured out what has failed on you. If it seems the USB cable is to blame then it’s time to buy a new one. If the controller charges normally in a different port then your PS4 may be malfunctioning. If a different controller works on the same port or USB cable then it may be the USB port on the controller itself that’s broken.

Try every combination you can and write down the results of each test. Hopefully, you’ll find that you just need to use a different cable or replace the controller and not have to send your entire PS4 in for repairs.

PS4 controller trackpad is not working

The PS4 controller is unique in that it has a trackpad on it. You can use it to navigate menus or type words, but it’s also used in some video games for controlling certain mechanics.

Try these steps if you find that your trackpad is being unresponsive:

Turn it off and back on again.
Clean the trackpad with a 50/50 solution of isopropyl rubbing alcohol and water.

Beyond that, a broken trackpad is cause for a repair or replacement. It won’t do you any good to try and replace it as the part is not readily available, and you’d also be potentially compromising your controller’s USB port as the trackpad is connected by the same ribbon that powers it.

PS4 controller buttons are sticking

Sticky buttons can be a problem even if you try to keep your controller as clean as possible. Sometimes buttons can become unstuck or lose their stickiness with repeated use, but if you aren’t having any luck then you may need some chemical help.

Take a microfiber cloth and dab it with a bit of isopropyl rubbing alcohol.
Use the cloth to wipe around the exterior of the buttons. Make sure you cover each affected button thoroughly.
Try pressing the buttons now.

If it still doesn’t budge, you may need to take the controller apart for a deeper cleaning. There’s a handy guide on YouTube that shows you exactly how to go about it.

Note: You may void your warranty if you take your PS4 controller apart yourself. Be sure that your warranty is no longer valid and no other means to repair or replace the controller can suffice before attempting this.

PS4 controller can’t hold a charge

While we love the PS4 controller, one downside that we can’t get over is its lack of a user-replaceable battery. This is because batteries have a tendency to degrade over time, and some of them degrade so harshly that they can fail to hold a charge more than an hour.

If your controller is dying too fast — or worse yet, it simply won’t turn on — it could be due to a bad battery. Replacing it is pretty easy, thankfully. All you’ll need to do is buy a replacement battery for around $12, grab some screwdrivers and open the controller, and swap out the old one for the new one. iFixIt shows us just how easy that process can be.

Note: You may void your warranty if you take your PS4 controller apart yourself. Be sure that your warranty is no longer valid and no other means to repair or replace the controller can suffice before attempting this.

Check your warranty

If none of the above worked or if you are uncomfortable performing some of these troubleshooting steps, then perhaps it’s time to give Sony a call. Check to see that your PS4 and its controller are still under warranty, and if they are then Sony will be able to repair or replace them for free. If not, you can still likely pay for a repair, and that’s still going to be much cheaper than replacing the thing outright.

As a general rule of thumb for any problems you have with your PS4, call Sony to see your less risky options before deciding to take on any of these repairs yourself.

Any other tips?

Here, we tried to cover the most common issues that you are bound to come across when playing your PS4. The controller gets the most mechanical wear out of all your components, after all, and no amount of tender love and care can stand up to the long-term effects of regular usage.

Think we missed anything here? Let us know of any other PS4 controller issues that seem to be plaguing you and whether you’ve been able to fix them!

PlayStation 4

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

Amazon

Should you buy a Galaxy Note 8 in 2018?

Best answer: If you don’t care about having the absolute latest tech, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 is still a great smartphone in 2018 and can be purchased for as much as $250 less than the newer Note 9.

• Amazon: Samsung Galaxy Note 8 ($742)
• Amazon: Samsung Galaxy Note 9 ($1,000)

The Galaxy Note 8 is still plenty powerful

Despite being a year old, the Samsung Galaxy Note 8’s specs continue to deliver in 2018.

Powering the phone is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 with 6GB of RAM, and while the 835 has since been succeeded by the newer 845, it still works great for just about anything you throw at it. When it comes to RAM, the Note 8 actually has more than Google’s new Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

You also get 64GB of expandable storage (up to 256GB), dual 12MP rear cameras, an 8MP selfie camera, and a 3,330 mAh battery.

Its InfinityDisplay continues to look great

One area in which Samsung always dominates is with its displays, and the Note 8 is no exception to that rule. Outfitted with a 6.3-inch Quad HD+ curved AMOLED panel, the Note 8’s screen is just as much of a joy to look at now as it was a year ago.

Colors are bright and vibrant, the text is extremely crisp, and everything just pops in a way you don’t see even on more current flagships.

The Note 9’s biggest advantage is its battery

As great as the Note 8 is, there are a few things you don’t get with it that you will find with the newer Note 9.

Most notably, the battery in the Note 9 is considerably larger. While the 3,330 mAh unit for the Note 8 isn’t necessarily bad, it just doesn’t hold a candle to the Note 9’s monstrous 4,000 mAh pack. The Note 9 also gets the win when it comes to internal storage — offering up to 512GB out of the box and then allowing you to expand it up to another 512GB with a microSD card.

Other things you won’t find on the Note 8 include:

• Remote S Pen functionality (use as a clicker for slide shows, shutter button for the camera, etc.)
• Modest camera improvements
• Better rear fingerprint sensor placement

The Note 8 remains a good purchase

If you can live without the larger battery and remote S Pen functionality, the Galaxy Note 8 is absolutely still worth a look — especially considering that you can save up to $250 compared to the Note 9’s starting price.

Still going strong

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

$742 at Amazon

One year old and holding up great.

It might not be Samsung’s latest or greatest phone anymore, but the Galaxy Note 8 is still a force to be reckoned with. The 6.3-inch AMOLED display still looks fantastic, the Snapdragon 835 + 6GB of RAM is plenty powerful, and the camera package continues to deliver excellent photos and videos.

Latest and greatest

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

$1,000 at Amazon

The best that Samsung offers.

If you’re okay spending $1,000, the Galaxy Note 9 delivers the best smartphone you can buy from Samsung right now. It’s got the very latest specs, the best camera, and is currently first in line ahead of the company’s other phones for new Android updates as they become available.