With these heavy duty cases, your Google Pixel 3 is in good hands

Some people prefer to use a brand new phone without a case — but if you’re on the exact opposite end of the spectrum and know you need the most rugged protection for your Pixel 3, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up some of the best heavy duty cases available for the Pixel 3, from perennial favorites like the Otterbox to more wallet-friendly options from other trusted brands we like. We’re sure you’ll find a case that speaks to you and your needs.

X-cellent protection

Ringke Fusion X

The Ringke Fusion-X is one of the more unique-looking cases you’ll find for the Pixel 3. It offers heavy-duty protection with a clear PC backplate combined with an impact-resistant bumper around the edges to protect against drops and bumps.

$10 at Amazon

Spigen’s toughest

Spigen Tough Armor

This case offers maximum durability without adding too much bulk to the Pixel 3’s design. Designed with a shock-absorbing TPU sleeve hugged by a rugged shell, the Tough Armor will live up to its name with a built-in kickstand offering a nice little bonus.

$16 at Amazon

All-round protection

Poetic Revolution 360 Degree Protection 

The only case on this list that comes with its own screen protector, Poetic Revolution is able to claim 360-degree protection with this heavy duty case that certainly looks the part. Thick, textured edges should ensure you always have a solid grip on your phone, and there’s a built-in kickstand that works in both landscape and portrait orientations.

$17 at Amazon

Best on a budget

CoverON HexaGuard Series

CoverOn offers a great budget option for those who want to protect their Pixel 3 for under $10. This is a dual-layer case that is designed to take the abuse of your daily use (hey, that rhymes!). The back features a basketball-inspired grip pattern that looks and feel great in your hand.

$8 at Amazon

Iconic brand

OtterBox Defender Series 

One of the most trusted names in smartphone cases, OtterBox offers its premium product for the Pixel 3. This is by far the most expensive option on our list, but if you’ve ever bought an OtterBox case before and dealt with its superb customer service, you know that you’re likely to get your money’s worth.

$50 at OtterBox

These are the best cases that offer heavy-duty protection for your Pixel 3. If you’re also interested in adding a screen protector to your phone, the Poetic Revolution is worth considering, but my recommendation goes to the Spigen Tough Armor. Spigen’s products are always top quality and the Tough Armor style in particular is a reliably rugged option for any smartphone. If you don’t mind spending a lot of extra money, the OtterBox Defender Series is going to be worth the money.

Set your messages to private to avoid the latest alleged PS4 hack

Don’t let your console get bricked without warning.

PlayStation 4 users across the internet have reported being affected by an alleged hack that completely bricks their consoles. According to these reports and this Reddit thread surrounding the matter, this hack is occurring when people receive a message on their account. Sony has yet to officially comment on the matter, but there are safeguards you can take in the mean time to prevent one of these messages from reaching your console.

Set your messages to private

Go to Settings.
Select Account Management.
Select Privacy Settings.
Select Personal Info/Messaging.
Select Messages.
Choose Friends Only or, even better, No One.
Confirm your selection.

By setting your messaging preferences to Friends Only or No One, you won’t be able to receive the alleged hacked messages going around. Though some people have reported that they can delete these messages from the mobile app on iOS or Android, others have reported that this does not circumvent the problem. Your best bet it to stop it before it happens.

If you’re one of the unlucky people already affected by this issue, you may need to factory reset your console.

Factory reset through Safe Mode

Turn off your console.
Hold down the power button for several seconds until it beeps twice.
Select Initialize PS4 on the Safe Mode screen.

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 get the Pixel 3 XL or the iPhone XS Max?

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

Google Pixel 3 XL

Big and bold

$899 at Google Store

Pros

• Google Assistant is fantastic.
• Huge display.
• Stereo speakers.
• Sizeable battery.
• Wireless charging.

Cons

• No headphone jack.
• Very large display notch.

Google took the Pixel 2 XL’s large body and squeezed a larger and much better 6.3-inch 18.5:9 display into it. The rest of the phone offers all of Google’s strengths: simple hardware, flagship specs, lightning fast software and an amazing AI-assisted camera on the front and back. It even sports a 3430mAh battery to keep your powered through the day.

Apple iPhone XS Max

Best iPhone ever

$1,099 at Apple

Pros

• Large beautiful display.
• Incredibly powerful A12 Bionic chip.
• 120Hz touch sensing display.
• Improved FaceID.
• Wireless Charging.

Cons

• Siri is still behind Google Assistant.
• No fingerprint sensor.

The iPhone XS Max is Apple’s biggest and best iPhone yet, with the incredibly powerful A12 Bionic chip. It has a large, vibrant 6.5-inch display and excellent stereo speakers. FaceID replaces a fingerprint sensor, and the cameras have some powerful new features. Guaranteed updates every year for several years are the icing on the cake.

The Pixel 3 XL and iPhone XS Max set the standard for smartphones running Android and iOS respectively. Software preferences aside, the Pixel 3 XL and iPhone XS Max are actually pretty similar smartphones. Both have glass and metal industrial designs with high screen-to-body ratios, along with IP68 resistance, wireless charging, stereo speakers, and more. While other Android companies can create their own competitors to Google’s Pixel 3 XL, the iPhone XS Max is the best iPhone you can buy right now.

What are the differences?

A large deciding factor in which phone you should buy is, of course, the operating system behind it. By now, you probably have a good idea where you stand on Android versus iOS, but the latest versions of both operating systems share several similar features, including a focus on digital wellbeing and helping prevent you from using your smartphone too much. In short, Android 9 Pie brings a fast, fluid experience with no unnecessary additions, while iOS 12 is simpler to use but lacking in customization options. This has been the standard for years though.

It’s hard to find major flaws in either phone’s hardware, and they both support the “notch,” although the deep notch on the Pixel 3 XL is unsightly, compared to the streamlined notch on the iPhone XS Max. The notch on the Pixel 3 XL houses the dual selfie cameras and one of the dual stereo-speakers, which Google says necessitated its larger-than-life size. The notch on the iPhone XS Max, meanwhile, houses the Face ID camera array which is the only way to secure the iPhone XS Max as there’s no fingerprint sensor.

One of the big differences between the two devices is their approach to photography. The Pixel 2 XL last year was outstanding and used AI to capture photos that were better than the dual-camera competition despite having a single camera. The Pixel 3 XL sticks with a single camera on the rear, but adds a secondary wide angle camera on the front to help you take group selfies. The iPhone XS Max uses dual cameras on both front and back, with Apple preferring to use hardware rather than artificial intelligence to achieve the same effects.

Both phones offer many of the same features so the choice is whether you prefer Android or iOS.

Apple made a big deal during the iPhone XS announcement over some of the improved camera features, including the adjustable bokeh effect in post and stereo audio during video capture. Google also made a big deal about its new camera features during the Pixel 3 announcement, including Night Sight for improved low light photography and the ability to adjust bokeh after capture.

Both phones are up there in the price department, with the Pixel 3 XL starting at $899, and the iPhone XS Max breaking the four-figure club with a starting price of $1,099. You’re get a similar experience in terms of performance, cameras, and display, but if you want iOS, the iPhone XS Max is the best phone you can buy. If you prefer Android, your choices are vast, and while the Pixel 3 XL is an excellent choice, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is also worth looking at.

Pixel 3 XL

Flagship Android Phone

$899 at Google Store

The flagship Android experience as Google imagines in.

The Pixel 3 XL sets the standard for the flagship Android experience as defined by Google, and uses AI to accomplish what most other companies use hardware to achieve.

iPhone XS Max

The best iPhone

The biggest and best iPhone that Apple has ever made.

$1,099 at Apple

The iPhone XS Max is the biggest and best iPhone that Apple has ever made, and if you need a large iPhone screen, you should look no further than the iPhone XS Max.

Is 4GB of RAM enough for the Pixel 3?

Thanks to Google’s software optimizations, it sure is.

Google officially announced the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL last Tuesday, and although hardly any specifications were mentioned during the company’s keynote, it’s been confirmed that both phones ship with just 4GB of RAM.

That’s the same amount of RAM found in last year’s Pixel 2 series, and with phones like the OnePlus 6 and Galaxy Note 9 shipping with up to 8GB, the Pixel 3’s RAM count is looking pretty lackluster.

However, is 4GB of RAM really too small or is it still just fine for most people? Here’s what the AC forum community has to say.

Robisan
10-14-2018 01:18 AM

“

It’ll be OK now, but it hardly makes the P3s future proof. It will be comparatively small and potentially inadequate well before the supported lifespan of the device ends.

Reply

Thales SF
10-14-2018 04:40 AM

“

The ideal would be 6gb to more ram, but with 4gb it will survive. I’m using an og pixel XL and it has 4gb too, it isn’t that bad, usually I didn’t remember it is just it of ram and it is going great

Reply

TemporalBeef
10-14-2018 04:58 AM

“

My s8+ still runs well with 4gb of ram. I think that’s fine for a smartphone right now. They’re not gaming rigs after all…

Reply

J Dubbs
10-14-2018 07:36 AM

“

It makes a huge difference how well the ram is optimized…… and Google are the Masters of software, just like Apple… which is why the top of the line iPhone also only has 4 gigs of RAM. A lot of companies toss numbers around to make sales, but huge amounts of ram aren’t necessary if it’s optimized properly. Remember the pixel line is designed to run Daydream, that’s a pretty intensive gaming…

Reply

What do you think? Is 4GB of RAM enough for the Pixel 3?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

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

Best Buy
Verizon
Project Fi

Don’t let the Pixel 3 XL’s notch distract you from an otherwise great phone

O__________O

For the last few months, we’ve seen leak after leak of Google’s Pixel 3 XL. Along with the phone being one of the most leaked products in industry history, it’s also been met with some of the most criticism I’ve ever seen against a device before it was even released. The cause of that criticism? The notch.

That big, ugly, unsightly notch.

The notch in the leaks was so bad that some people tried convincing themselves that this must be Google’s way of toying with us. Google had to be leaking this monstrosity on purpose and would then bamboozle us by announcing the completely bezel-less Pixel Ultra. Right? RIGHT!?

The Pixel 3 XL — and its notch — are both very real.

Nope. The Pixel 3 XL is real, and — like we’ve been expecting for months — it’s got that big ‘ol notch taking up a good chunk of the top display. It’s certainly not pretty, and I won’t be patting Google’s design team on the back anytime soon, but as unattractive as it might be, the hate it’s been causing the Pixel 3 XL as an entire product to receive is ridiculous.

Remember last year’s Pixel 2 XL? It didn’t have a notch, but it also had one of the worst displays for a phone in its price range at the time. Burn-in / image retention was happening after just days of use, the blue shift on some devices was far more noticeable than other OLED panels, and the colors out of the box were straight up ugly. There was no notch, but the screen itself was a hot mess.

With the Pixel 3 XL, Google basically fixed all of our complaints with the 2 XL’s screen. The blue shift has been reduced, the possibility for burn-in has been cut down by 2x, and the colors look much better with excellent display profiles to give you a more saturated look or a screen that almost looks 100% true-to-life.

I don’t know about you, but I’d argue all day that it’s worth having a really great OLED panel with a cutout at the top over a pretty crappy one with no notch.

And you know what? The upgrades don’t stop with the screen.

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL are widely regarded as having the best smartphone camera ever, and with the Pixel 3 series, Google’s taken that same winning formula and made it even better. There’s now a wide-angle front-facing camera to help you get more people in a shot, the new Night Sight mode promises to deliver truly awesome low-light photos, Google’s found a way to vastly improve digital zoom compared to other phones, and there’s even AI working in the background to capture multiple frames before and after you take a photo to then recommend a better picture than what you actually took.

Add that all together with what we’ve already come to love from the Pixel 2’s camera, and we’re likely looking at a new best smartphone camera in history.

Still not convinced? The Pixel 3 XL also brings:

• Wireless charging
• 40% louder stereo speakers compared to Pixel 2 XL
• IP68 dust/water resistance
• Unlimited Google Photo storage
• Qualcomm’s insanely powerful Snapdragon 845

Oh, and the phone can use the Google Assistant to screen calls so you don’t have to waste time talking to scammers. There’s a lot going for it.

Would the Pixel 3 XL be even better if it had all of these goodies minus the notch? Yeah, without a doubt. I’m far from a fan of it and think it’s one of the worst implementations we’ve seen of a notched screen, but I also think Google crammed enough other features into the Pixel 3 XL so that you’ll be sucked into everything it does right and forget about the notch after a couple days like what’s been the case for every other phone.

The comments section is bound to be a war zone, but I’d still love to see what you think. Do you agree with me or think the Pixel 3 XL deserves to be taken out behind a shed and shot? Sound off down below — just watch out for the shrapnel and pitchforks.

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

Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL

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

Best Buy
Verizon
Project Fi

The new Palm phone is exclusive to Verizon and costs $350

This is designed to accompany your current phone, not replace it.

Back in March of this year, it was reported that TCL was actively working on a new Android phone that would revive the iconic Palm brand and bring it back to market. A leaked image of said phone appeared a few months later in August, and now on October 15, 2018, we have all the official details on the first Palm phone in years.

This new phone is simply referred to as “Palm” and is designed to be a new type of phone that lives alongside your main smartphone. It’s got an extremely small 3.3-inch LCD HD display, Snapdragon 435 processor, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. You’ll also find a 12MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, and a weight of just 2.2 ounces.

The Palm is powered by Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box, but it doesn’t look like any build of Oreo we’ve seen before. Here you’ll find a custom build of Android with no traditional home pages or anything. Instead, you’ve got a vertical list of all your apps, a Google search bar at the top, quick access to the Google Assistant by double-pressing the power button, and that’s about it.

There’s also a special “Life Mode” that turns off all notifications and even disables the Palm’s radios in an effort to help eliminate distractions and focus on what matters. Speaking to Variety, creator Dennis Miloseski said, “It’s about technology receding. Do you really need to bring a supercomputer with you everywhere you go?”

Verizon is the exclusive carrier/retail partner for the Palm and is selling it for either $349 unlocked, $299 with a two-year contract, or $14.58/month for 24 months. Also, instead of acting like a normal line, the Palm uses Verizon’s NumberShare service that essentially copies your existing phone number to it for $10/month.

The Palm is currently expected to go on sale in November.

Palm is coming back in the most disappointing way possible

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 vs. NBA Live ’19: Which should you buy?

Android Central’s team has a legion of gamers who stay up late to play and wake up early to talk about the hottest, newest, and most fun titles.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2

Arcade Fun

$30 at Amazon

Pros

• Over-the-top basketball fun
• Huge roster of NBA stars
• Over a dozen park-style locations

Cons

• Not enough depth

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 takes us back to the days of NBA Jam and NBA Street. Caricatures of your favorite NBA superstars from the past and present will pull off crazy moves and dunks on the court. Its only problem is that it doesn’t offer much else.

NBA Live ’19

Authentic Basketball

$40 at Amazon

Pros

• Simulation-style NBA gameplay
• Tons of gameplay modes
• Great online features

Cons

• Gameplay needs tuning

NBA Live ’19 challenges for the simulation basketball crown with improved gameplay, presentation, and features. Despite the positive changes, it still has some ways to go to match its competitor.

This is a section that summarizes what the two options are and who we recommend get each thing. It shouldn’t be too long, because details do follow.

Two very different games

Although NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 and NBA Live ’19 are both NBA basketball games, they’re aimed at far different crowds. NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a more casual affair, offering a game that’s easy to pick up and play.

This is the game you get if you aren’t too serious about playing authentic simulation basketball. When you just want to posterize your opponents at the rim after doing a mid-air front flip or shoot a 3 from half court, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 trades realism for sheer fun.

There are over 400 NBA superstars of the past and present in the game. Many of the new appearances are thanks to 2K Sports’ hand in publishing the game, as the publisher used its influence to help secure the likenesses for big names like Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.

Meanwhile, NBA Live ’19 wants to emulate the real-world product as much as possible. It features all current teams and NBA players, and even has a wealth of legendary players to use in team building modes or when you play as classic teams in regular 5-on-5 games.

And there are tons of ways to play NBA Live ’19. You can run the team as a general manager and take some of your favorite franchises to the promised land. Or you can make your own superstar and go from bench-warming roleplayer to venerable hall of famer. Then take that guy online and compete in pickup games with your friends. You could also build a dream team by collecting your favorite players and competing against others for rewards. This is the game to get if you’re interested in all the little nuances that make the game of basketball fun.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a nice change of pace

Sports games can be grueling depending on how you play them. Whether you’re grinding for new players for your MyTeam, playing online to increase your rank, or running a whole organization as the general manager, there’s a lot to distract you. NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 eliminates those distractions to present something you can pick up for 30 minutes at a time when you just want some quick fun.

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2

Arcade Fun

$30 at Amazon

If you miss NBA Jam, this is the game for you.

2K’s Playgrounds 2 is not your typical basketball game, and that’s exactly why some will gravitate toward it. It changes the genre up to focus on ridiculousness and fun.

NBA Live ’19 is a full course meal

Alternatively, those who want a little more substance in all facets of the NBA experience can go for NBA Live ’19. The game presents its own brand of fun in the form of simulation gameplay that accurately emulates the ebb and flow of professional basketball, and there’s a little something here that everyone can enjoy.

NBA Live ’19

Authentic Basketball

NBA Live ’19 takes you further.

$40 at Amazon

NBA Live ’19 is a full-fledged simulation basketball game that offers deep hooping action. The game is chock full of content to ensure you never run out of things to do.

Grab the NVIDIA Shield Smart Home Edition and Google Home Mini for $200

Control everything from one place.

A couple weeks ago we shared a deal featuring the NVIDIA Shield streaming media player and a free Google Home Mini. That included the regular edition and the gaming edition that comes with its own controller. That deal is still good, but today we’re seeing that same free Google Home Mini promo plus a $20 discount on the Smart Home Edition of the NVIDIA Shield.

This version is different because it comes with the SmartThings Link, which is a Z-Wave transmitter that lets you use the Shield like a smart home hub. If you already use a SmartThings Hub or have Z-Wave smart home devices in your home, like smart light switches, then this should be of interest to you.

The SmartThings Link is $40 on its own, and the Google Home Mini is $49. The Google Home Mini pairs with the Shield quite well. In fact, you can use the Home Mini to power up the Shield TV, launch games, and more. Walmart also has the Nvidia Shield with the free Google Home Mini, just not the price discount on the smart home edition.

See at Best Buy

UK Daily Deals: Xbox Live Gold, refurb Fire HD 10, Hive thermostats, more

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

We found plenty of great deals today Xbox Live Gold membership, Hive Smart Thermostats + free Echo Dots, refurb Amazon Fire HD 10 tablets, Marshall speakers 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.

This Arduino programming and eBook bundle is only $90

Many of us have dreamed about building a robotic servant, but jumping into that level of circuitry right off the bat isn’t exactly feasible. It’s best to start with simple circuits — things that control lights and buzzers — before moving onto more complex builds. What you need is an Arduino kit that starts at the bottom and moves up to more advanced projects through hands-on experiments.

Become a robotics pro with this Arduino bundle! Learn more

Right now, Android Central Digital Offers has a deal on the The Complete Arduino Starter Kit & Course Bundle. Instead of the regular $600, you’ll pay only $90 — that’s 85% off the regular price! If you’ve always been interested in circuity and creating your own electronic and robotic builds, now is the time to take the plunge.

The ARDX Arduino starter kit comes with everything you need to start tinkering, including 13 circuits, each with a breadboard layout. Get started on robotics, wearables, and much more.

Become an Arduino pro now! Learn more

Ready to get started with Arduino? This starter kit bundle is the best way to immerse yourself in the world of circuitry. And at only $90, there’s no better time than the present. Don’t wait too long; this offer won’t last forever.