The Google Pixel 3 XL is the best unlocked Android phone you can buy

The Google Pixel 3 XL is far and away the best phone Google has made, and that also makes it the best unlocked Android phone. With the Pixel 3 XL, simplicity is the goal: the hardware is efficiently designed, the software gets out of your way, and all of the features have a distinct purpose. It also offers the best overall camera experience of any phone.

Our pick

Google Pixel 3 XL

$899 from Google Store
$899 from Best Buy

The best unlocked Android phone.

The Pixel 3 XL focuses on having the fastest, simplest and most helpful software experience, running on simple and powerful hardware. It accents everything with an amazing camera and a handful of features that make it stand out from the competition.

Who should buy this phone

The Pixel 3 XL is not for those who measure a phone’s quality by the spec sheet numbers or the raw scale of features it offers. But if you just look at the spec sheet and the features, you’re missing out on the bigger picture: the Pixel 3 XL is an amazing phone to use.

The Pixel 3 XL offers an exceptional smartphone experience, whether you’re a novice or a pro.

Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro, Google’s software experience is immediately appealing. Android 9 Pie is simple, smooth, easy to use and isn’t saddled by a bunch of features or extras that get in your way. You won’t experience bloatware or unwanted apps, and the deep integration with Google services makes setup, sync and app management easy. Everything you do on the Pixel 3 XL is fast, and you can do as much, or as little, as you see fit with it.

One of the biggest selling points is its cameras. The rear camera takes the best photos in the business, whether you want to just point and shoot or get deeper into the extra features. On the front, a pair of cameras offers fantastic selfies for just you or a group — you can even go all-out with selfie portrait mode.

This phone is the complete package. Sure it’s missing a couple of the highest-end specs, and it isn’t as customizable as the competition, but the pros heavily outweigh those cons.

Is it a good time to buy this phone?

Yes. The Pixel 3 XL was released in mid-October, and Google holds to a strict yearly cycle for releasing phones. This will be the latest and greatest from the company for months to come.

Reasons to buy

• Amazing photo quality
• Great selfies
• Super-loud stereo speakers
• Simple, intuitive software
• Wireless charging
• Guaranteed software updates

Reasons not to buy

• No headphone jack
• Display notch

There are so many great Android phones available, but the Pixel 3 XL stands out

It should come as little surprise that Google’s own Pixel phones offer the best possible Android experience. It starts with the hardware, which is clean, efficient and robust. The three color options give you choices on the look, but regardless you get great speakers, wireless charging and solid (if unspectacular) battery life. The screen is also great, with the extra-large 6.3-inch OLED panel giving you plenty of room to view everything.

It should come as little surprise that the best Android experience comes directly from Google.

Android 9 Pie is an excellent operating system filled with nice-to-have features, but at the same time isn’t weighed down by extra cruft or bloatware that you don’t want. It’s capable of being a simple and easy to use system, or a super-powerful tool for more advanced users — the choice is yours. In either case, you benefit from fantastic performance and smooth animations, plus deep integration with Google’s services. You also get three years of guaranteed software updates, plus unlimited Google Photos backups at full resolution — nice perks.

On both phones, you get the same industry-leading camera performance. The rear camera has just a single sensor and lens, but Google’s software takes it to new heights. You can take amazing photos with little thought in any scene, and new enhancements to processing give you better digital zoom and multi-frame capture without any configuration or changing of modes. The dual selfie cameras give the you flexibility to shoot super-sharp single shots, group wide-angle shots, or uniquely processed portrait mode photos.

Every Pixel 3 XL is unlocked (yes, even the ones Best Buy and Verizon sell), with the same hardware, so you don’t have to worry about network band compatibility or dealing with different versions of the phone.

Alternatives to the Google Pixel 3 XL

The Pixel 3 XL is a great choice for so many people, but of course, there are some potential buyers who don’t want to go all-in with the Google way of doing things. That’s why there are other phones out there that offer a different experience and are worthy of considering.

Compact pick

Google Pixel 3

$799 from Google Store

The complete Pixel experience, in a smaller size to fit your hands and pockets.

This is a simple equation: take the Pixel 3 XL, and scale it down to a size that’s more manageable in one hand. You get all of the same specs, features and camera quality as the larger phone — you just get less screen to work with, and a smaller battery that leads to shorter battery life.

Not everyone wants a huge phone (though most people clearly do), and the Pixel 3 delivers the same great Pixel experience with a size that’s comfortable for a wide range of hand (and pocket) sizes. The Pixel 3 is small enough to fit in your bag or pocket even with a case on, and you won’t find yourself fumbling around to awkwardly to reach the top of the screen.

Despite being smaller, the Pixel 3 has all of the same great hardware, specs, features and camera quality as the larger 3 XL. That includes the glass build, wireless charging, screen quality and stereo speakers. The only things you miss out on here is just the sheer size of the 3 XL’s screen, and its larger battery. Apps may feel more cramped, requiring a little more zooming or scrolling, and at the end of the day you’re going to have less wiggle room in the battery. If you’re a heavy phone user, the Pixel 3 may not be able to manage everything you throw at it without a midday top-up.

A do-everything flagship

Samsung Galaxy S9+

$730 from Amazon

A great all-around phone with wide appeal, and amazing hardware and features.

The Galaxy S9+ is the phone anyone can pick up and make their own. You don’t miss out on a single spec or hardware feature, and it has both one of the best displays and best camera experiences available. It’s also cheaper than Google’s latest phones.

Samsung makes phones that appeal to the widest possible market, and that’s why the Galaxy S9+ is so easy to recommend. It has every hardware feature and spec you could want out of a phone in 2018, and the software is there to make it all work. You can also customize the software to do whatever you want, but that means it takes a lot more setup and massaging to work just right — and in the end, it still won’t match Google’s simplicity.

But the GS9+ does most things just as well as the Pixel 3 XL, and even bests it in a couple areas: namely its higher display brightness, expandable storage and headphone jack. Being several months old, it’s also much cheaper. You’ll pay about $725 for the Galaxy S9+, which is a considerable savings over the Pixel 3 XL and enough of a discount to make many people consider it.

Special stylus

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

$930 from Amazon

An incredible phone with a huge price to match.

The Galaxy S9+ is great, but the Samsung Note 9 is even greater. It does everything the GS9+ does, but adds in a larger screen, more storage, longer battery life and an S Pen stylus. And it’s about $200 more because of it.

The Galaxy Note 9 is easily the best Note phone Samsung has ever made, and for once it’s actually better than the latest Galaxy S phone in every way. The battery has jumped up to 4000mAh, which gives you effortless all-day battery life, and the rest of the experience is the same as what the Galaxy S9+ offers.

That means you get top-end specs, a great camera, an industry-leading display and so much more. And the Note has an S Pen, which remains unmatched in the smartphone world. The problem is its $925+ price tag, which is a tough pill to swallow when you can get almost the same experience for about $200 less with the Galaxy S9+. That makes this an “upgrade” and not the standard recommendation.

Great value

OnePlus 6T

$549 from OnePlus

A flagship in every way but price.

OnePlus has a formula that just works: make a phone that can compete with flagships in most ways, then drop the price by a few hundred dollars. It’s amazing what you can get for just $550 in the OnePlus 6T, with great hardware, above-average cameras, super-fast software, and a packed spec sheet.

With a price of just $550, it almost doesn’t make sense how good the OnePlus 6T is. Great hardware and a super spec sheet rival the competition, and the 6.41-inch AMOLED screen is no slouch. The cameras are a step down from the top tier, but they’re consistent and produce great images. And its OxygenOS software is actually capable of challenging Google’s in simplicity and speed.

The OnePlus 6T isn’t perfect, and has many shortcomings when compared head-to-head with the other phones here. But with a price tag that’s $300 less, it’s hard to complain about the small issues. Given its price it’s shocking how close the OnePlus 6T gets to the competition, and there’s a good chance you’ll be willing to forego a few nice-to-have extras to save so much money.

Budget pick

Moto G6

$239 from Amazon

The best budget Android phone for most people, hitting all of the basics at an incredible price.

The Moto G6 is a budget-priced winner in every respect. From the modern design to the dual camera setup and excellent performance, the Moto G6 represents the pinnacle of Motorola’s dominance in the budget phone space.

In a world filled with great low-cost Android phones, the Moto G6 stands above the rest — and that makes sense, because Motorola has been dominating this space for years. The Moto G6 hovers around $220, yet offers a modern design and many of the same software features as the higher-end smartphones on this list.

It has a big screen, good battery life, surprisingly quick performance and a nicer camera than you’d expect for the money. It has modern conveniences like a USB-C port and fast charging, plus bonuses like a 3.5mm headphone jack. Motorola’s software is also fantastic, with a clean interface and useful features you’ll take advantage of every day.

Bottom line

The Google Pixel 3 XL is the best unlocked Android phone you can buy today. It has amazing performance, simple and powerful software, great cameras and no clear issues or downsides. Its hardware matches the competition in terms of quality and features, and finally isn’t let down by a subpar screen. You can also get the same features in a smaller size (for less money) with the Pixel 3. Samsung’s Galaxy S9+ and Note 9 offer compelling alternatives to those who want more features and can manage the software. And for those who put price first, the OnePlus 6T offers an exceptional value for a flagship while the Moto G6 gives you most of what you’re looking for for hundreds less still.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Andrew Martonik is the Executive Editor, U.S. at Android Central. He has been a mobile enthusiast since the Windows Mobile days, and covering all things Android-related with a unique perspective at AC since 2012. For suggestions and updates, you can reach him at andrew.martonik@androidcentral.com or on Twitter at @andrewmartonik.

Daniel Bader is the Managing Editor of Android Central. As he’s writing this, a mountain of old Android phones is about to fall on his head, but his Great Dane will protect him. He drinks way too much coffee and sleeps too little. He wonders if there’s a correlation.

Jerry Hildenbrand is Mobile Nation’s Senior Editor and works from a Chromebook full time. Currently he is using Google’s Pixelbook but is always looking at new products and may have any Chromebook in his hands at any time. You’ll find him across the Mobile Nations network and you can hit him up on Twitter if you want to say hey.

OnePlus 6T, Xperia XZ3, Honor 8X, and more now support ARCore

Google’s AR platform is now available to more than just the Pixels.

You don’t need to own a Pixel from Google to take advantage of ARCore anymore! Google is working with partners like Samsung, Motorola, Huawei, Xiaomi and others to bring augmented reality to all types of phones at all price ranges.

Here’s the complete list!

Phones with ARCore support

Asus

• ROG Phone
• Zenfone AR

Google

• Pixel and Pixel XL
• Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL
• Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL
• Nexus 6P
• Nexus 5X

Huawei

• Honor 8X
• Honor 10
• Honor View 10 Lite
• Mate 20 Series
• Nova 3/Nova 3i
• P20/P20 Pro
• Porsche Design Mate RS
• Porsche Design Mate 20 RS
• Y9 (2019)

LG

• LG G6
• LG G7
• LG G7 One
• V30 and V30S
• LG V35
• LG V40
• LG Q6
• LG Q8

Motorola

• Moto G5S Plus
• Moto G6
• Moto G6 Plus
• Moto X4
• Moto Z2 Force
• Moto Z3
• Moto Z3 Play

Nokia (HMD Global)

• Nokia 6 (2018)
• Nokia 6.1 Plus
• Nokia 7 Plus
• Nokia 7.1
• Nokia 8
• Nokia 8 Sirocco
• Nokia 8.1

OnePlus

• OnePlus 6T
• OnePlus 6
• OnePlus 5T
• OnePlus 5
• OnePlus 3T

Razer

• Razer Phone

Samsung

• Galaxy S7 and S7 edge
• Galaxy S8 and S8+
• Galaxy S9 and S9+
• Galaxy Note 8
• Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy A5 (2017)
• Galaxy A7 (2017)
• Galaxy A8 and A8+ (2018)
• Galaxy Tab S3
• Galaxy J7
• Galaxy J5 and J5 Pro

Sony

• Xperia X
• Xperia XZ Premium
• Xperia XZ1
• Xperia XZ1 Compact
• Xperia XZ2
• Xperia XZ2 Compact
• Xperia XZ2 Premium
• Xperia XZ3

Xiaomi

• Mi 8/Mi SE
• Mi Mix 2S
• Mi MIx 3
• Pocophone F1

Excited to get started with ARCore? Make sure you have the framework app installed and get ready for some exciting new apps to head your way!

Updated November 2018: This article was updated with a complete list of all the phones that support ARCore.

NVIDIA’s highly-rated Shield TV is down to just $140 for a limited time

Stream your favorite shows and play your favorite games all with one device.

The NVIDIA Shield TV with remote is down to $139.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you $39 off the regular price of this item.

It’s improved over previous iterations. Heck, this one gives you access to Amazon Prime Video, which is a step-up by itself. Sure, the Shield is more expensive than a Roku but the Shield is a gaming console, too, and a decent one at that.

We took a look at whether or not the Shield TV is worth it in 2018, and concluded that it indeed is by saying:

The NVIDIA Shield TV is still the best Android TV box you can buy in 2018. NVIDIA has done a great job offering software updates that continually make the Shield TV better than before, and the 16GB is a great option for any habitual streamer. So yes, it’s absolutely your best bet for an Android TV box in 2018.

Odds are this deal won’t stick around for too long, so be sure to grab one now, before the price drop disappears.

See at Amazon

Mophie Juice Pack now available for the Galaxy Note 9

Add an extra 2,525 mAh to your Note 9 for $99.95.

Battery packs are often essential accessories for smartphones, and no one does battery packs better than Mophie. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is already outfitted with a huge internal battery at 4,000 mAh, but if that’s still not enough for you, you can now buy Mophie’s Juice Pack for the phone.

The Juice Pack comes equipped with a 2,525 mAh battery and does so in a case that’s ultra-slim and mostly retains the Note 9’s low profile. It also offers impact protection against drops and has rubberized pads around the inside to safeguard the Note 9 even more in the event of a fall.

Even with the case on, the Note 9 still works with wireless chargers and supports fast wireless charging when on a Qi-compatible charger.

If you’re interested, the Galaxy Note 9 Juice Pack is available for purchase now at Mophie’s website for $99.95.

See at Mophie

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review
• Galaxy Note 9 vs. Note 8
• Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy Note 9 specifications
• Is the Note 8 still a good buy?
• Join our Galaxy Note 9 forums

AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
Samsung
Amazon

Which Pixel Slate model is right for me?

Best answer: The Pixel Slate is available in four different models, but for most people, the $799 or $999 versions are the only models worth consideration. If you want to stretch your dollars even further, it may be worth considering the HP Chromebook X2.

Google: Pixel Slate ($599 to $1,599)

Best Buy: HP Chromebook X2 ($600)

A wide range of specs

Google’s Pixel Slate is a high-end two-in-one Chromebook with a 12.3-inch touch display and optional keyboard. Like many of Google’s hardware products, they also come with a high price and it’s important to make sure you are buying what you want and what you need. With five different options to choose from — each with its own price and specs — it’s a good idea to think about what you want to do with a Pixel Slate as well as what it can do.

The lowest priced model is the $599 version that will come with an Intel Celeron processor, 4GB of memory and 32GB of storage. Google will also offer a similar model with the same CPU but with 8GB of memory and 64GB of storage, and while the price isn’t yet disclosed, it’s a fair bet to say it will be $699. These are both options that you shouldn’t even think about buying because they are just too expensive.

The specs that drive these entry-level options are more than adequate for a Chromebook, whether it comes with a detachable keyboard or not. In fact, we see plenty of other great Chromebooks with very similar specs and they perform quite well. They also are several hundred dollars cheaper. The same $599 that buys the lowest spec Pixel Slate will also buy an HP Chromebook X2 with a better Intel m3 CPU and the attachable keyboard and Pen. A $500 Pixel Slate purchase does not include the keyboard, which will cost an additional $199.

Since these laptops run Chrome OS, the software and capabilities are the same no matter what company manufactures them. The Pixel Slate may be a Google product, but unlike Android phones, that makes no difference when it comes to timely updates or features. Other manufacturers are also likely to release Chrome tablets and two-in-ones and the odds are that they will be priced similar to the HP X2 and not the Pixel Slate. You can stretch your dollar further by shopping smarter, and you really should in this case.

At the opposite end of the spectrum lies the $1,599 model with an 8th generation Intel Core i7, 16GB of memory and 256GB of storage. These specs sound like a dream laptop, and the $1,500 price really isn’t too much to pay for them. But you don’t need these sort or internal parts.

That’s not to say nobody needs these specs in a Chromebook. The software has matured and is capable of running Linux desktop-class software programs, plenty of which can put this sort of power to good use. If you’re the type of person who needs this level of computing power for things like desktop multimedia processing or programming and compiling, you already know it and don’t need a guide to tell you. That’s because even people who do a fair bit of multimedia creation and coding just don’t need these specs to do it quickly and properly. An 8th generation Core i7 is overkill for almost everything a user would need to do, at least for the foreseeable future. This model is a laptop that many of us would love to have, but once you reach this price point — and remember this doesn’t include the $199 keyboard — there are better options from Apple and Microsoft.

That leaves us with the two models in the middle, which are the two most people should be looking at if they are interested in buying a Pixel Slate. They will both perform about the same until the processor is pushed to the limit, so what you plan to do will determine which model is best for you.

The $799 Intel Core m3 model with 8GB of memory and 64GB of storage would make for an excellent everyday computer for anyone without the need for specialized software. If you want a high-quality Chromebook to go online or do your taxes or even install Linux applications like Darktable to process RAW photographs, it would make for a great way to do it. It’s also secure for all your online needs with Chrome as the operating system and has access to over a million Android apps from the Google Play Store. Chances are, this is the Pixel Slate you want.

If you will often have a need for any program that is math-intensive, like compiling code or any specialized industrial or scientific software, the extra $200 for the model with the 8th generation Intel Core i5 will prove more than capable and the additional storage (it is configured with 128GB versus 64GB) will provide both the room to install these programs and the disk space they need to run. This model would be perfect for field engineering work for both the professional and student or for a programmer who writes in low-level languages and needs a strong compiler that won’t waste an hour each time you need to debug something.

The Pixel Slate is an ambitious offering from Google and probably won’t be the company’s best-selling product. But if you are interested, it’s worth taking the time to decide what you plan to do and which model you need before you buy.

Google’s latest

Pixel Slate

From $599 at Google

Google’s new tablet

The Pixel Slate looks to be a fine Chromebook for just about anyone, provided you take the time to consider what you need and buy the right model.

Better value

HP Chromebook X2

$599 at Best Buy

More bang for the buck

The $600 HP Chromebook X2 will offer comparable performance at the same price, but it includes a keyboard. That’s an additional $200 if you buy a Pixel Slate.

Add USB and Quick Charge ports at home with 20% off Topgreener outlets

Forget wall adapters.

The Topgreener 36W Quick Charge 2.0 USB power outlet is down to $23.51 with code TGBF2018. This is a brand new offering from Topgreener, and it has never dropped from its regular $29 price.

The two USB ports provide fast charging for any QC 2.0 device and regular charging for non-compatible devices like the iPhone. It still gives the best possible charge no matter what is plugged in since it can detect the device and react accordingly. The outlet also comes with three snap-on face covers to blend in to your home’s decor.

This promo code will work on a few more Topgreener outlets, too:

• Double Power Outlet with USB-A and USB-C ports for $20.92 (from $26)
• Single Power Outlet with three USB-A ports 2-pack for $31.60 (from $40)
• Single Power Outlet with three USB-A ports 6-pack for $90.58 (from $113)

See on Amazon

Free Spotify users will soon be able to use Spotify Connect

Come for the easy setup, stay for the algorithm-based recommendations

One of the most popular names in the music world today isn’t a band or a record label: it’s an app called Spotify. Spotify was one of the earliest and most popular music streaming services on the market today. The service is available on almost every platform, from cars to home assistants to high-end speakers to phones, tablets, and computers. Spotify’s prowess with data analysis and algorithmic music suggestions have made the service addictive for music-hungry users, and as the first major service to offer student pricing, it’s spread like wildfire on college campuses across the country.

Here’s what you need to know before and after you dive in with it.

The latest Spotify news

November 7, 2018 — Free Spotify users will soon be able to use Spotify Connect

Spotify Premium comes with a host of features to help users get the most for their $9.99 each month, one of which is full access Spotify Connect. Thanks to an update to Spotify’s SDK for connected speakers, free users of the service will soon be able to experience the magic of Connect for themselves.

With this SDK update, speaker manufacturers are given the ability to open up Spotify Connect to both free and Premium users. So, while you won’t be able to rush out and use Spotify Connect on a free account this very second, we should see updates to speakers in the near future that offer this new functionality.

Commenting on the news, Spotify’s Senior Product Director, Mikael Ericsson, said:

The release of our new eSDK will change the game for Spotify’s Free users who want to enjoy music on their connected speakers. We look forward to supporting our partners over the coming months as they update existing speakers and bring new products to market.

October 31, 2018 — Spotify’s family plan now comes with a free Google Home Mini

If you live in a house with multiple music fanatics, Spotify Premium for Family is a great value. For just $14.99/month, you get access to six individual Premium accounts so everyone can enjoy their own custom Spotify experience.

Now, as part of a new partnership with Google, all Spotify Premium for Family plans come with a free Google Home Mini.

Both new and existing subscribers can take advantage of this promotion starting November 1, and you’ll be able to claim your free Home Mini through December 31.

Get your free Home Mini here

September 14, 2018 — Spotify is raising its offline limits!!

Spotify’s offline limits have been one of the bigger sticking points for Premium users. While Spotify’s 10,000 song library limit takes a while to reach, the 3-device, 3,333 song limit for Spotify’s offline content has been quite easy for users to hit, especially if they subscribe to any huge community playlists. Well, after years of persistent user complaints, Spotify is upgrading its offline limits to 10,000 songs on up to 5 devices. A Spotify spokesperson confirmed to Rolling Stone:

At Spotify, we’re always working on improving the experience for our users. We can now confirm that we have increased the number of offline tracks per device — from 3,333 on three devices to 10,000 tracks per device for up to five devices.

Being able to use more devices with Spotify’s offline content is great news, but the fact that you’ll be able to download your entire library on a single device is even better, since most users only use one phone at a time, and want to be able to access all of their music offline rather than just a third of it.

All the big details

Getting Started

Spotify is built to be as easy a listening experience as possible, and for most users, making an account is as easy as pressing one button. From setting up an account to getting your library established, we’re here to help you avoid as much pain as possible while you make the switch.

Getting started with Spotify

Pick your subscription

There are a lot of subscription styles out there for Spotify, but which one will fit you — and your family members — best? We break down the difference in Spotify subscriptions beyond the price points and show their prices and pitfalls, especially the very tight strings wrapped around Spotify Premium for Family subscriptions.

How to pick a Spotify account

Play your music everywhere

One of Spotify’s perks is that users can play back their music just about everywhere: their watch, their phone, their TV, their car, their smart speakers, high-end speakers, their computer, and just about everything in between. Best of all, connecting to all of these diverse devices uses the same simple UI: Spotify Connect. Here’s how this musical magic works and what it works with.

Spotify Connect: What it is and why it’s awesome

Settling in with Spotify

Once you’ve gotten your account up and running, it’s time to start mastering Spotify and making it work for you. From library management to offline playback and beyond, there are some simple things you can do to turn your Spotify experience up to 11.

Top 5 tips to make the most of your Spotify subscription

Playlist problems persist…

Playlists are a big part of any music service, but they’re doubly important on Android because playlists curated by everyday users can be highlighted by Spotify’s search and shared with your friends, family, and followers. There’s just one little problem: you can’t really edit playlists properly on Android. Or Chromebooks, for that matter.

Spotify has a playlist problem on Android

… but Spotify’s playlists have a secret ally

Even if you can’t tweak your playlist order, description, and image on Android, it’s still possible to build a big, beautiful playlist on Spotify. If you start running out of ideas for additions to your playlists, don’t worry. You can leverage the work you’ve already done and Spotify’s algorithms to expand your playlist with Playlist Radio.

Use Spotify’s radio to build bigger, better playlists

Queues, subqueues, and frustration

Managing and mixing up your queue on Spotify is a bit of a minefield for two reasons. The first is that rather than showing your listening history by letting you scroll up in your playlist, whatever you’re playing is at the top of the queue and what you last listened to is at the bottom if it’s visible at all.

The second is that Add to Queue doesn’t do what it’s called, which can turn an already confusing queue into a vanishing, inconsistent tur-queue-ken.

Spotify’s Add to Queue is a lie

Offline mode could use some work

We take our music out for a run, we bring music into the shower, and we always bring music when we travel, be it by plane, train, or automobile. And since we bring our music where our internet sometimes cannot follow, that means that offline modes for our music apps are important. Offline for Spotify is lackluster at best, and that’s disappointing for a whole host of reasons.

Offline mode on Spotify sucks out loud

Made For You is made in heaven

Finding something to listen to can be a tricky proposition for any music lover, but Spotify is known far and wide for their algorithmic prowess. And the best example of it isn’t the Discover Weekly or the year-end statistics. No, siree, the best use of Spotify’s number-crunching genius is a little section in Your Library called Just For You.

Spotify’s ‘Made For You’ is a love letter to music addicts

Spotify vs. Google Play Music

Spotify has a lot of competition, but perhaps the biggest competition they face on Android is convincing people that they’re better than the music player that came pre-installed on your phone: Google Play Music. To be sure, both services have their ups and downs, but here is a critical comparison of the two services to help you decide if you want to give Spotify your time, attention, and money.

Spotify vs. Google Play Music: The battle of the bigs

What’s your take?

What do you love or hate about Spotify? Let us know in the comments!

These are all the first-party cases for the OnePlus 6T

OnePlus makes some of the best bang-for-your-buck smartphones on the market, and unlike a lot of other Android OEMs, supports its devices with a plethora of first-party cases. The 6T is the latest OnePlus phone to hit the market, and if you’re thinking about buying one (or already have), you owe it to yourself to outfit it with an official case from OnePlus itself.

The most protection

OnePlus 6T Bumper Case (Nylon)

OnePlus’s Bumper Case offers the most protection compared to anything else, and the Nylon version is the toughest of the bunch. You get 360-degree coverage in a slim and lightweight profile that doesn’t make the 6T obsenely bulky, and the unique texture on the back is both grippy and ultra-protective.

$30 at OnePlus

Carbon fiber all the things

OnePlus 6T Bumper Case (Karbon)

Karbon is the name of one of the other Bumper Case styles OnePlus sells, and it’s essentially the same style as the Nylon case but with carbon fiber on the back instead. OnePlus’s Karbon finish is described as being “flexible, sturdy and lightweight”, and it’s a winning combo you can’t go wrong with.

$30 at OnePlus

A touch of nature

OnePlus 6T Bumper Case (Ebony Wood)

Want to protect your 6T while also giving it a touch of elegance? That’s where the Ebony Wood Bumper Case comes into play. You’ll find a gorgeous pattern of red hues and deep blacks throughout the entire case, and on top of that, you still have top-notch protection.

$30 at OnePlus

Soft and grippy

OnePlus 6T Silicone Protective Case

For people that want their phone to standout from the crowd, the Silicone Protective Case is a great choice. The stunning red color is extremely vibrant, but along with that, you also get a very grippy back texture and full protection for the entire phone.

$21 at OnePlus

Twice as functional

OnePlus 6T Flip Cover

Want your case to do more than just protect your phone? Meet the OnePlus 6T Flip Cover. The display on the 6T turns on and off when you open and close the front of the case, and it’s a really nice touch. There’s also a slot for storing a debit or credit card.

$21 at OnePlus

Bring back Sandstone

OnePlus 6T Protective Case (Sandstone)

If you’re still mourning the loss of OnePlus’s Sandstone material on its smartphones, we’ve got good news. You can bring it back to the 6T with the official Protective Case. Along with the soft yet grippy material, the case offers ample protection in a slim package. There’s also a carbon fiber finish that’s available.

$21 at OnePlus

Easy on the wallet

OnePlus 6T Protective Case (Karbon)

This case brings the same carbon fiber material from the more expensive Bumper Case to a more affordable and slimmer profile. It has the same basic design as the Sandstone case but offers a smoother and more lightweight finish that’ll likely be more attractive to some buyers.

$21 at OnePlus

The OnePlus 6T is all about offering a high-quality experience at an affordable price, and that same mantra carries over beautifully to the 6T’s official line of cases. The Protective Case is a great way to safeguard the 6T without adding any extra bulk, and the Sandstone finish that comes with it feels downright fantastic. If you want even more coverage, the Bumper Case gives you even more security for just a few more dollars and looks good while doing so.

Apple is ‘Not in Talks’ to Settle Legal Dispute With Qualcomm and is ‘Gearing Up For Trial’

Apple and Qualcomm are not in talks “at any level” to settle a wide-ranging legal dispute spanning multiple countries, according to Reuters.

The report cites an unnamed source on Apple’s side who said “there is absolutely no meaningful discussion taking place between us and Qualcomm, and there is no settlement in sight,” with Apple “gearing up for trial.”

The case is set to go to trial early next year, should the companies fail to reach a resolution, according to the report.

Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf had told investors on the company’s quarterly earnings call in July that the two companies were in talks to resolve the litigation. “We hope that through the combination of either those paths, we could get to a resolution, and we’re confident that we will,” he said at the time.

The saga began when Apple sued Qualcomm in January 2017 for allegedly withholding nearly $1 billion in royalty rebates as retaliation for Apple “responding truthfully to law enforcement agencies investigating them,” referring to the FTC’s investigation into Qualcomm’s anticompetitive business practices.

Qualcomm countersued Apple in April 2017, accusing the company of failing to engage in good faith negotiations for a license to its 3G and 4G standard essential patents on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms. Qualcomm also accused Apple of encouraging regulatory attacks on its business in multiple countries.

Qualcomm’s countersuit said Apple “could not have built the incredible iPhone franchise” without relying upon the chipmaker’s “fundamental cellular technologies.” Qualcomm went as far as alleging that Apple “contributed virtually nothing to the development of core cellular technology.”

Qualcomm also accused Apple of making “misleading statements” about the performance of Qualcomm and Intel modems in iPhones. In testing, iPhone 7 models with Qualcomm’s modem achieved faster wireless speeds than those with Intel’s modem, but Apple said there was “no discernible difference” between the two.

Apple broadened its lawsuit against Qualcomm in June 2017, accusing the chipmaker of “double-dipping” with unfair patent licensing agreements. Apple said Qualcomm charged it royalties based on a percentage of the entire iPhone’s value, despite supplying just a single component of the device – the wireless modem.

The legal dispute encompasses several other claims, including Qualcomm’s allegation that Apple shared Qualcomm’s trade secrets with Intel to help improve its LTE modems, allowing Apple to stop using Qualcomm’s modems.

Qualcomm was the exclusive supplier of wireless modems in iPhones until the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus, when Apple added Intel as a secondary supplier. Likely due to this legal dispute, Intel became the exclusive supplier of wireless modems starting with the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR.

Apple is reportedly $7 billion behind in royalties owed to Qualcomm as it withholds payments as a result of the legal dispute.

Tag: Qualcomm
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Twelve South Launches ‘PowerPic’ Wooden Picture Frame With 10W Qi Charger for $80

Twelve South today launched the “PowerPic,” a traditional wooden picture frame that includes a hidden, 10W wireless charger. You can place any 5″ x 7″ photo in the PowerPic, and then to charge an iPhone 8, 8 Plus, X, XS, XS Max, or XR, you simply place the device on top of the photo.

Twelve South says that the idea behind the PowerPic was to create a Qi charger that would not add to the clutter of a bedside table or desk, so that when your iPhone (or any compatible Qi smartphone) isn’t charging, it just looks like any other framed picture in your home.

The main visual difference comes at the back of the frame, where a small status light lets you know when the smartphone is fully charged. The light can also alert you if a foreign object in a wallet case, like a bank card with a chip, is preventing the iPhone from charging. The PowerPic includes a 1.5m USB-C to USB-A cable, so the device can be plugged into any traditional USB 3.0 port.

The company also notes that there are potentially inventive ways for customers to use PowerPic, like taking two separate images — one for the frame and one for your iPhone — that when placed together are completed. Twelve South has a few ideas of its own to inspire users, offering a list of frame and iPhone wallpapers themed around New York City, Paris, the holidays, and Rockefeller Center, downloadable for free here.

Those interested can purchase the PowerPic for $79.99 in White or Black on TwelveSouth.com starting today.

Tag: Twelve South
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