The best cases for the Galaxy Note 8
The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 may be “old news”, but it’s still a great phone and you might have picked one on discount in lieu of getting the latest Note 9. We’ve broken things down by the manufacturer and offered direct links to some of our favorite styles, such as the Samsung LED Wallet Cover case and the always great Spigen Rugged Armor. But ultimately the choice is yours, and there are a ton of cases to choose from. Here are your best options!
Samsung’s most stylish
Samsung LED Wallet Cover case
This brilliantly-designed case blends screen protection with functionality, allowing you to see the current time and view notifications via LEDs without exposing the screen — all you do is press the power button and presto! This case also features an interior pocket for storing your cash or cards, which can help you cut down on your pocket carry.
$33 at Amazon
Feels real good
Samsung Alcantara case
Alcantara is a fashionable material that’s been popping up more and more in smartphone cases, with Samsung really leading the charge. This is a sleek and minimalist case with a finish unlike any other case you’ve used.
$11 at Amazon
Best Protection
OtterBox Commuter case
When it comes to the best cases, many people instantly think of OtterBox. It has built a solid reputation of making great cases backed by outstanding customer service. We’ll recommend the Commuter Series case since it’s a great combination of the rugged protection that OtterBox is known for and a slimmer design so it’s easier to slip into a pocket or purse.
$20 at Amazon
Best for Grip
Speck Presido Grip
Speck cases offer cases that stylish-yet-functional design options for those who want to add a bit of glitz and glamor to their phone. Consider the Speck Presido Grip, a case that’s designed to prevent phone drops by giving you a case with a stylish and grippy exterior.
$11 at Amazon
Fan Favorite
Ringke Coastal Blue
Ringke’s Coastal Blue case is a stylish two-piece case that combines a soft TPU layer with a hard PC shell that’s designed brilliantly. The exposed TPU on the back features waves that will feel great in your hands.
$11 at Amazon
Thin thin thin
Spigen Thin Fit 360 with Screen Protector
For those who only need an ultra-thin case to protect from scratches and scuffs, the Spigen Thin Fit 360 is a good option that also comes with one of Spigen’s tempered glass screen protector so you get all-round protection for your Note 8. This case is available in three color styles and starts at just $18 for the standard black model.
$18 at Amazon
Rugged and sleek
Spigen Rugged Armor case
This sleek, one-piece case is designed to be rugged with carbon fiber accents that looks really nice on taller devices like the Note 8. It’s made of flexible, shock-absorbing TPU material so it’s easy to install and features a matte finish for a great look and feel. It’s a really slim case, too, so you won’t be adding a ton of bulk in exchange for a case that will provide rugged protection.
$11 at Amazon
Most Stylish
Incipio Carnaby Esquire Series case
The Carnaby Esquire Series case features a fabric finish that’s available in gray or blue starting at $30. Each case features a TPU frame that helps disperse the shock from drops and the button covers and port cutouts are precise. It’s an elegant solution to keeping your Note 8 protected and available in three color options on Amazon.
$30 at Amazon
Keep it Simple
RhinoShield CrashGuard Bumper case
RhinoShield has developed a bumper case that offers truly rugged protection where your phone needs it most — in the corners, around the edges, and lips that come up around the front and back panels of glass. If you love being able to show off your brilliant new phone but also want to keep it protected from drop damage, you really can’t beat the RhinoShield CrashGuard.
$25 at Amazon
Strong and Light
UAG Monarch
The UAG Monarch for the Note 8 is a great option, featuring a really grippy back panel that feels great in you hand. There’s a soft rubber screen lip around the display and skid pads on the back, so your phone won’t be prone to slip and slide off any surfaces. These are also slim enough to not impede Samsung or Android Pay functionality and also allow you to wirelessly charge your phone without removing the case.
$30 at Amazon
Minimalist
Seidio Surface Case w/ Holster
Thin cases don’t need to be so bland and featureless. The Seidio Surface case is about as thin and slim a case as you’ll find, providing great scratch resistance around the back, a nice protective lip around the screen, and a pop-out kickstand on the back. It’s a dual layer case, too, so you should get ample coverage for drops, too.
$13 at Amazon
Dual-layer protection
Caseology Parallax Series
This case is designed around a TPU sleeve and a rigid polycarbonate frame which work together to offer superb protection. And that pattern on the back isn’t just for looks, the little grooves and ridges also help with grip for your fingertips. Get yours today, available in four unique colors.
$14 at Amazon
Deciding on one case can be hard, but with the cheap prices available here you might be best inclined to pick up a couple and swap between them! Choosing a case can be hard, but if you want maximum protection you’ll want a UAG Monarch or Otterbox Commuter. If you maintaining the look and hand-feel of your phone is most imporanat, then the RhinoShield CrashGuard Bumper is the right pick for you.
What do you actually get with an Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition?
Best answer: The Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition is quite the little bundle: an Amazon Echo Dot (2nd gen), a kid-friendly case in one of three bright colors, a power adapter and cable, a 2-year worry-free warranty, and a 1-year subscription to FreeTime Unlimited.
Amazon: Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition ($70)
What’s in the box?
The Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition may not seem like a bundle, but indeed it is. This $70 bundle comes with quite a bit inside, although the biggest of its benefits are intangible:
- An Amazon Echo Dot (2nd gen).
- Kid-friendly protective case (available in red, blue, and green).
- MicroUSB power cable.
- 9W USB power adapter.
- Quick Start Guide.
- 2-year “worry-free” warranty.
- 1-year subscription to Amazon’s family-friendly FreeTime Unlimited.
When dealing with technology and kids, it’s accepted that accidents do happen, and Amazon knows this. That’s why while the normal Amazon Echo Dot only comes with a 90-day limited warranty, the Kids Edition comes with a two-year worry-free guarantee that will replace it if your kids get too rough with it — no questions asked.
When dealing with technology and kids, it’s accepted that accidents do happen, and Amazon knows this.
That said, the hardware is only half the story here. The Echo Dot Kids Edition’s biggest features — the bulk of the parental controls, the filtering of inappropriate content, the hours upon hours of audiobooks and family-friendly music — all of those are not a part of the Echo Dot Kids Edition itself. Those are features of FreeTime Unlimited, the subscription you’re going to want as long as you let your kids use an Amazon Echo.
FreeTime Unlimited: what sets the Kids Edition apart
Amazon FreeTime Unlimited is a one-stop shop for family content and parental controls for every device in your house. Here are some of the FreeTime Unlimited features that the Echo Dot Kids Edition relies upon:
- Ad-free radio station and playlists for kids by Radio Disney, Nick Radio, and Amazon.
- Hundreds of Audible audiobooks, including Disney stories and classic fairytales.
- Premium Alexa skills and games from Disney and Nickelodeon, including alarms with popular kids characters.
- Parent Dashboard to review activity, pause Alexa, set time limits and bedtimes, filter age-inappropriate content from sources like Amazon Music and Spotify.
- Voice Shopping disabled by default, to avoid your little ones ordering snacks every time they get hungry.
- Help shape kids’ manners by rewarding them when they ask nicely and say ‘please’ when asking questions.
FreeTime Unlimited also comes with e-books, movies, TV shows, and age-appropriate games on Android, iOS, Kindle, and Fire tablets, but all of that content isn’t free. While the Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition comes with a 1-year subscription of FreeTime Unlimited, once that year is up, the service will run Prime members $3/month for its “Single Child” plan and $7/month for a “Family” plan, which has room for up to four children. One year of the FreeTime Unlimited Family plan is $84, which makes an Echo Dot Kids Edition essentially free if our family uses the service regularly.
Family fun
Amazon Echo Dot Kids Edition
$70 at Amazon
Endless entertainment
This bright little hockey puck of a speaker is ready to meet your family and answer all those curious questions your kids have about life and animals and the universe. FreeTime Unlimited’s robust parental controls and quality content ensure your kids can enjoy Alexa safely.
Samsung Galaxy A9 is eerste Galaxy met achterop 4 camera’s
De tijd waarin twee camera’s achterop voldoende was ligt officieel achter ons. Samsung heeft zojuist de Galaxy A9 aangekondigd met achterop 4 camera’s. Opvallend want meestal brengt Samsung dit soort primeurtjes eerst uit naar de Galaxy S-vlaggenschepen. Ook die tijd ligt blijkbaar achter ons.
De Samsung Galaxy A9 is het grootste model uit de A-serie en is de eerste Galaxy-smartphone van Samsung met achterop het indrukwekkende aantal van 4 camera’s. Volgens Samsung is het zelfs de eerste telefoon met een dergelijke Quad Camera. Om te zorgen dat ook de rest van het toestel nog wat aandacht krijgt zit hij vol functies.
De Galaxy A9 in Bubblegum Pink
In essentie verschilt de A9 niet zoveel met de onlangs aangekondigde A7 (2018) behalve dan de extra camera achterop en het iets grotere scherm van 6,3 inch. De Quad Camera is goed voor een aantal zaken waaronder 2x optische zoom om beelden dichterbij te halen. Een extra brede groothoeklens met AI Scene Recognition herkent razendsnel de beste instellingen voor de beste foto. De Depth Lens voegt scherpte/diepte aan je foto toe wat je handmatig nog kunt aanpassen. En de 24 megapixel hoofdcamera schiet levendige en altijd belichte foto’s met z’n lichtsterke f/1.7 prime lens. Volgens Samsung heb je hiermee genoeg lenzen en mogelijkheden tot je beschikking om voor vrijwel iedere situatie de perfecte foto te schieten.
Ontvang een e-mail wanneer de Galaxy A9 2018 verkrijgbaar is
Samsung Galaxy A9 in de winkel
Om te zorgen dat je dit de hele dag door kunt doen is er een opvallend grote 3800 mAh batterij geplaatst. De standaarduitvoering komt met 6 GB aan werkgeheugen wat ruim genoeg is om snel van apps te kunnen wisselen zonder te wachten. Samsung levert de A9 standaard met het verouderde Android 8.0 Oreo zonder iets te noemen over mogelijke updates. Dat blijft een dingetje bij Samsung. Verwacht de Galaxy A9 vanaf november in de winkel voor een adviesprijs van €599. Beschikbare kleuren zijn Caviar Black, Lemonade Blue en Bubblegum Pink. De blauwe en roze uitvoering hebben een fraaie kleurovergang die we eerder bij Huawei zagen. Alle genoemde modellen komen met 128 GB aan opslaggeheugen maar is uit te breiden met nog eens 512 GB via een los verkrijgbare geheugenkaart.
HMD Global maakt 6 inch grote Nokia 3.1 Plus officieel
Het Finse HMD Global heeft zojuist in India de Nokia 3.1 Plus aangekondigd. Een 6 inch groot toestel met dubbele camera voor een scherpe prijs. Tenminste als je hem in Roepie wilt afrekenen want een Europese release is nog niet aangekondigd.
Het aantal Nokia’s dat momenteel de markt bereikt gaat in rap tempo. De teller staat voor dit jaar al op 8 en als deze Nokia 3.1 Plus ook hier wordt uitgebracht verhogen we dat aantal graag naar 9. Voorlopig lijkt het toestel alleen bestemd voor India. Zij krijgen daar vanaf oktober de beschikking over een 6 inch grote Android-telefoon met HD+ resolutie, 2 dagen aan batterijduur, dubbele camera en laag prijskaartje vanaf € 159.
De in India aangekondigde Nokia 3.1 Plus
Zoals gebruikelijk draait de Nokia 3.1 Plus het kale Android One. Hiermee ben je gegarandeerd van jarenlange updates waaronder maandelijkse beveiligingsupdates. HMD Global is groot voorstander van het Android One-programma en brengt vrijwel uitsluitend haar toestellen hieronder uit. Dat is een groot voordeel voor consumenten die zich geen zorgen hoeven te maken over toekomstige updates en ondersteuning. De 3.1 Plus komt uit in de kleuren blauw, wit en ‘Baltic’ en in varianten met 2 GB aan RAM en 16 GB aan opslag of 3 GB aan RAM en 64 GB aan opslag. De eerste kost 159 euro, de tweede variant moet 179 euro kosten. Geen gek bedrag voor een toestel met 13 + 5 megapixel camera en groots 18:9-scherm. Nu alleen nog even hier uitbrengen.
Apple Acquires iPhone Power Management Technology in $600 Million Deal With Chipmaker Dialog
Apple has finalized a business agreement with Dialog Semiconductor to license its iPhone power management technology and transfer technical assets, in a deal worth $600 million.
As part of the agreement, Apple will acquire some of the Anglo-German chipmaker’s assets and 300 of its R&D staff, which is around 16 percent of Dialog’s workforce. Dialog’s shares rose as much as 34 percent on the news, their highest since 2002.
Announcing the deal on Thursday, Dialog said Apple would pay it $300 million in cash for the transaction and prepay a further $300 million for products to be delivered to Apple over the next three years. Commenting on the news, Apple SVP Johny Srouji told TechCrunch:
Dialog has deep expertise in chip development, and we are thrilled to have this talented group of engineers who’ve long supported our products now working directly for Apple. Our relationship with Dialog goes all the way back to the early iPhones, and we look forward to continuing this long-standing relationship with them.
Dialog shares took a tumble in late 2017 when the company admitted that Apple, its top customer, could build its own power management chips for future iPhones without the chipmaker’s help.
The admission came as a serious blow to Dialog, which exclusively designs the current main power management chip for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch models. Apple reportedly accounted for nearly three quarters of Dialog Semiconductor’s revenue in 2016.
However, today’s agreement gives Dialog time to reduce its dependence on Apple, which the chipmaker predicts will account for three-quarters of its sales over the course of this year.
Dialog CEO Jalal Bagherli told Reuters the chipmaker could now look forward to a “managed, smooth” transformation of the business as it seeks new opportunities for growth in other markets that could include home speakers, fitness trackers or smart watches.
The deal represents a huge investment for Apple, which will take over Dialog facilities in Italy, Germany, and the U.K., expanding its chip research and development significantly across Europe. Subject to regulatory approval, the deal is expected to close in the first half of 2019.
Tag: Dialog
Discuss this article in our forums
Razer Phone 2 hands-on review
Research Center:
Razer Phone 2
What makes a “gaming” phone? It needs the power to play the latest mobile games with ease, with enough battery capacity and cooling to keep the fun going. Throw in a great screen, spectacular sound, simple-to-use software, and you have a winner, right? Almost. That was the Razer Phone. It fell short of being great because of its mediocre camera performance, especially when compared to the competition in its $700 price range.
A good camera and features like IP67 water resistance aren’t optional anymore. After all, this is still a phone – it needs to play games in addition to everyday tasks like snapping photos at a birthday party, not instead of them. Razer now understands all of this, and the company is trying to get the message out that its new Razer Phone 2 is not just a gaming phone, but a flagship as well. From the brief time we’ve spent with it, that claim holds up.
Glass, glass, glass
What do most flagship phones in 2018 have in common? Glass backs. It’s why even budget phones have glass on the back; it feels premium, even if it doesn’t offer any utility. But glass on most high-end phones does have purpose: The convenience of wireless charging, which doesn’t work with a metal back.
That’s precisely what Razer has done with the Razer Phone 2. You can place the phone on a Qi wireless charging pad to juice it up, which certainly is convenient, and Razer is selling a 15-watt wireless charging stand as a separate accessory (for $100). Glass does take points away for durability, though.
The original Razer Phone felt like a tank; you could drop it and there’d hardly be a dent on the back. Now, you’ll want to slap on a case to protect the beautiful Gorilla Glass 5 exterior. Without a doubt, the glass back immediately delivers a more sophisticated look for the Razer Phone 2, and the darker black color helps make the Razer logo pop.
The Razer logo is no green or grey, but a RGB LED. With the pre-installed Chroma app, you can alter the color to whatever you want, and choose a pattern like “breathing” for a pulsating effect.
Razer has managed to make the screen 50 percent brighter, and the difference is stunning.
It can even change color based on incoming notifications: an incoming Gmail will turn the logo red, for instance. The Razer Wireless Charger has built-in LEDs that pull the same trick, which is a handy way to silently alert you to a notification when you’re across the room. You can’t customize the notification colors on either the phone or the wireless charger, sadly.
The dual-camera module on the back is now centered above the Razer logo, with a flash in between both cameras. That’s about it in terms of flourishes, except for all the fingerprints you’ll leave behind thanks to the glass.
Better display and sound, water resistant
From the front, the Razer Phone 2 looks exactly the same as its predecessor. The speaker grills flanking the display are just as massive, and the screen has the same 5.7-inch size. The power button on the right doubles as a fingerprint sensor — it’s still hidden in the aluminum frame — and the volume rocker is comprised of two circular buttons on the left edge.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The 5.7-inch LCD IGZO screen supports HDR10 content, and the stereo speakers have Dolby Atmos certification — this is a phone meant to entertain. The screen looks sharp with its 2,560 x 1,440 resolution, but we’re more excited to see the 120Hz refresh rate making a return. More frames per second means fast-paced games will look smoother, but even Instagram, Twitter, and the Android operating system feel more fluid and responsive.
The screen is colorful, but blacks don’t look as deep as an OLED screen would offer. That being said, Razer has managed to make the screen 50 percent brighter, and the difference is stunning. When watching a scene from Black Panther on Netflix side-by-side next to the original Razer Phone, we found sharper details and punchier colors on the Razer Phone 2, but most of all it was so much easier to see darker scenes because the screen is brighter overall. It’s excellent.
You can juice the 4,000 mAh battery up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes.
The speakers may look the same, but Razer said there’s now a much larger speaker box for improved sound output and bass response. It was easy to pick out stereo sound traveling from one end of the screen to the other, especially in a car chase scene in Black Panther. It helps you feel more immersed in the film, and it’s easily room-filling sound.
One of the biggest hurdles with the Razer Phone 2 was finding a way to make the phone IP67 water resistant without sacrificing the speaker grills on the front, but the company succeeded. You can take this phone underwater up to a meter for 30 minutes, and it’ll perform without a problem afterwards.
There’s no headphone jack, but Razer includes a THX-certified 24-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) in the box, which you can use with wired 3.5mm headphones. The company is also releasing a pair of USB Type-C earbuds with active noise canceling, but they’re sold separately.
Powerful gaming performance, big battery
The Razer Phone 2, like many other Android flagships, is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, but it packs a massive 8GB of RAM. Whether that much RAM is necessary is debatable, but we played a few games on the phone and didn’t run into any performance problems in our brief testing.
You should be able to play games on the Razer Phone 2 for an even longer period of time thanks to a new Vapor Chamber cooling system, which is a paper-thin sheet that sits in the middle of the phone, with vapor inside, that helps spread heat across the entire surface of the phone. Razer claims you should hardly expect to see any kind of performance throttling when gaming or doing graphics-intensive tasks, and while we did feel heat spreading, the performance never suffered.
If you’re able to game for longer periods of time, you’ll need a battery that can keep up. Razer has opted for a 4,000mAh battery again, which should easily last a full day with high usage. What’s more, Razer is one of the few manufacturers supporting Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 4+, and by using the included charger, you can juice it up to 50 percent in just 30 minutes. It supports Qi fast wireless charging as well, but a wired USB Type-C charging cable will still get the job done faster.
Razer Phone 2 Compared To
Sony Xperia XZ2
Samsung Galaxy S9
Moto G6 Play
Motorola Moto G6
Huawei Honor 8 Pro
Meizu Pro 6 Plus
ASUS Zenfone 3 Deluxe Special…
Samsung Galaxy Note 7
LG V20
Samsung Galaxy Note 5
Huawei Nexus 6P
LG V10
Motorola Moto X Style Pure Edition
Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
No Android Pie — yet
Razer is continuing its partnership once again with the developer of popular third-party launcher, Nova Launcher. That means you’re getting a close to stock Android experience, with a simple-to-use Android launcher that’s deeply customizable.
The only other pre-installed apps are from Razer, like Chroma, which lets you change the colors of the logo on the back of the phone. There’s also Razer Cortex, which is a game launcher akin to Nvidia’s GeForce Experience Windows app.
The Razer Phone 2 is an improvement in almost every way.
A feature called Game Booster lets you tweak exactly how you want your games to look and perform. You can turn down the resolution for smoother framerates, or crank all settings to max for the best-looking image, framerates be damned. It won’t work with all games, but it’s a handy tool that gives players a lot of control over games.
The biggest downside with software on the Razer Phone 2 is that it’s not launching with Android 9 Pie, but Android 8.1 Oreo instead. The latest version of Google is definitely on the way, but Razer would not share a timeline for when we can expect it.
Promising camera
We haven’t had much of a chance to play around with the camera yet, but it’s the one area of the phone we’re most excited to test. Razer said it carried over “nothing” from last year’s Razer Phone in an attempt to start completely from scratch. The first improvement is the use of cameras from Sony. Both cameras on the rear have 12-megapixel sensors — the main one has a f/1.75 aperture with optical image stabilization, and the secondary lens is a telephoto with 2x zoom and a f/2.6 aperture.
The user interface is easier to follow this time — there’s finally a dedicated button to quickly swap to the 2x optical lens — and the camera app doesn’t feel so barebones. It snaps pictures quickly, and the image quality looks solid, but we’ll have to do more testing to see how it compares to the rest of the flagship market.
There’s an 8-megapixel front-facing camera with a f/2.0 aperture, but we haven’t had a chance to test it yet.
Price and availability
The Razer Phone 2 costs $800 for the mirror gloss finish you see here, which only comes with 64GB of internal storage (a MicroSD card slot is available in case you need more space). There will be a satin finish model for sale, but it costs $900 as it includes 128GB of internal storage.
Sure, it’s $100 more than the original, but the Razer Phone 2 improves upon its predecessor in almost every way. Razer has taken the time to listen to feedback and implement changes to create a phone that can compete with the rest of the flagship market in many categories other than gaming performance. Much of this hinges on the quality of the cameras, and we’ll be doing further testing to make sure they’re comparable to the competition.
Razer Phone 2 vs. Razer Phone: Time to level up?
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Razer Phone was something of a surprise last year, but it looks as though gaming phones are a new category that’s here to stay. This year, Razer is looking to level up with an improved smartphone that offers the best mobile gaming experience around and improves on some of its predecessor’s shortcomings.
On top of the inevitable adoption of a newer processor, the Razer Phone 2 has a better camera, water resistance, and wireless charging support. We decided to compare it to the original Razer Phone to see precisely what has changed. Game on.
Specs
Razer Phone 2
Razer Phone
Size
158.5 x 78.9 x 8.5 mm (6.24 x 3.1 x 0.33 inches)
158.5 x 77.7 x 8 mm (6.24 x 3.06 x 0.31 inches)
Weight
220 grams (7.76 oz)
197 grams (6.95 oz)
Screen Size
5.7-inch IPS LCD
5.7-inch IPS LCD
Screen Resolution
2,560 x 1,440 pixels (515 pixels per inch)
2,560 x 1,440 pixels (515 pixels per inch)
Operating System
Android 8.1 Oreo
Android 7.1.1 Nougat
Storage Space
64GB
64GB
MicroSD Card Slot
Yes
Yes
Tap-to-pay services
Google Pay
Google Pay
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
RAM
8GB
8GB
Camera
Dual 12MP + 12MP rear, 8MP front
Dual 12MP + 12MP rear, 8MP front
Video
4K at 30 frames per second
4K at 30 frames per second
Bluetooth Version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 4.2
Ports
USB-C 1.0
USB-C 1.0
Fingerprint sensor
Yes (side)
Yes (side)
Water resistance
IP67
No
Battery
4,000 mAh
Fast charging (Quick Charge 4.0+)
Qi wireless charging
4,000 mAh
Fast charging (Quick Charge 4.0+)
App Marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T
T-Mobile, AT&T
Colors
Black
Black
Price
$800
$700
Buy From
Razer
Razer
Review Score
Hands-on review
3.5 out of 5 stars
Performance, battery life, and charging
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Razer Phone 2 is packing a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor backed by 8GB of RAM. This year’s “flagchip” is in all the top Android phones and it’s significantly faster and more power efficient than last year’s Snapdragon 835, which you’ll find in the original Razer Phone. Both have 64GB of storage with room for expansion via a MicroSD card.
The battery capacity hasn’t shifted, still weighing in at 4,000 mAh, and you’ll find support for the incredibly fast Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0+ standard in both Razer phones, but only the Razer Phone 2 offers Qi wireless charging.
Winner: Razer Phone 2
Design and durability
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Quite honestly we wouldn’t award Razer’s design any plaudits. The chunky, squared-off look of the original, itself inherited from the ill-fated Nextbit Robin returns in the Razer Phone 2, but this time around the rear of the phone is black glass and the triple-headed snake logo glows with customizable lighting effects that can serve as app notifications. It’s a bold, unique look that definitely grabs your attention. The camera module has also been centered, giving the Razer Phone 2 a much more stylish look from the back than the original. You’ll still find the fingerprint sensor in the power button on the side of the frame. The front of these phones looks very similar with the 5.7-inch screen flanked by stereo speakers.
The first Razer Phone felt like a tank that could survive a drop or two. The glass-clad Razer Phone 2 doesn’t feel as durable, but it does add water resistance into the mix with an IP67 rating that means it can be submerged in shallow water for up to half an hour without sustaining damage.
Winner: Razer Phone 2
Display
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The displays in these phones are identical on paper. They are both 5.7-inch IPS LCD screens with resolutions of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. They also both offer 120 Hz screen refresh and 120 Hz touch sampling, which ensures that you never miss a frame of the gaming action. It still doesn’t match the quality of an OLED screen, but Razer has managed to make the screen 50 percent brighter this year and it really makes a difference.
Winner: Razer Phone 2
Camera
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
We highlighted the camera as one of the weak spots of the Razer Phone. Despite pairing two 12-megapixel lenses it disappointed with most shots and we felt the experience was severely hampered by slow software that was lacking in features. Razer went back to the drawing board with the Razer Phone 2 camera to pair an all-new 12-megapixel wide-angle lens with optical image stabilization (OIS) and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 2x zoom. Based on first impressions, it seems to be a big step up on last year’s camera.
Both phones can record video at up to 4K at 30 frames-per-second and also have an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.
Winner: Razer Phone 2
Software and updates
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The original Razer Phone launched with Android 7.1.1 Nougat, but has since been updated to Android 8.1 Oreo. The Razer Phone 2 is being released with Android 8.1 Oreo installed, which is a bit disappointing since Android 9.0 Pie is now available. There is a customizable launcher and a special Game Booster app, but the experience is fairly close to stock Android. We expect the Razer Phone 2 to get updates for a bit longer than the Razer Phone, so it scores the win here.
Winner: Razer Phone 2
Special features
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Both Razer phones have the fast refreshing, super responsive screen, though the brightness is improved in the Razer Phone 2. They also both offer plenty of customization options in the Game Booster app. However, only the newer phone boasts a Vapor Chamber cooling system which, paired with the more powerful processor, allows you to run demanding games for longer before the phone overheats. The Razer Phone 2 also has that versatile, eye-catching light-up logo on the back which can be fully customized with the pre-installed Chroma app.
Winner: Razer Phone 2
Price
The original Razer Phone costs $700, but the Razer Phone 2 will cost you $800. You can buy either one unlocked directly from Razer, but they won’t work with Verizon or Sprint.
Overall winner: Razer Phone 2
It’s refreshing when a manufacturer listens to feedback and works to improve as Razer has done here. A lot of the things we didn’t like about the original have been improved or fixed in the Razer Phone 2. The camera and design are much better, it’s faster, it’s water resistant now, and it supports wireless charging. Even at $100 more, the Razer Phone 2 is a much more attractive prospect and the obvious choice if you’re considering these two phones. If you already have the Razer Phone, we’re not sure you’ll want to upgrade so soon.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Razer Phone 2 hands-on review
- The Razer Phone 2: Everything you need to know
- Razer Blade 15 (2018) review
- Nokia 7.1 vs. Honor 8X vs. Moto G6: Budget phone battle royale
- LG V40 ThinQ vs. V35 ThinQ vs. V30: Which of LG’s big phones is best for you?
Razer Phone 2 vs. Galaxy Note 9: Closer than you think
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Razer Phone was a great gaming-focused phone from 2017, but it fell short of being a great smartphone because of a weak camera and a lack of water-resistance. Razer has taken the criticism to heart with the Razer Phone 2, enhancing the weaker points to deliver a phone that hopes to be a great gaming device and smartphone. But the Razer Phone 2 has a lot of competition, and it’s eventually going to find itself up against one of the biggest and best smartphones around — the Galaxy Note 9.
Which phone comes out on top when these two titans clash and which should you buy? We found out.
Specs
Razer Phone 2
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Size
158.5 x 78.9 x 8.5 mm (6.24 x 3.11 x 0.33 inches)
161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3 x 0.34 inches)
Weight
220 grams (7.76 ounces)
201 grams (7.09 ounces)
Screen size
5.7-inch UltraMotion IPS LCD
6.4-inch Super AMOLED display
Screen resolution
2,560 x 1,440 pixels (515 pixels per inch)
2,960 x 1,440 pixels (516 pixels per inch)
Operating system
Android 8.1 Oreo
Samsung Experience 9 (over Android 8.0 Oreo)
Storage space
64GB
128GB, 512GB
MicroSD card slot
Yes, up to 1TB
Yes, up to 512GB
Tap-to-pay services
Google Pay
Google Pay, Samsung Pay
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
RAM
8GB
6GB, 8GB
Camera
Dual 12MP (with OIS) and 12MP telephoto rear, 8MP front
Dual 12MP (with dual OIS) rear, variable aperture, 8MP front
Video
2,160p at 30 frames per second
2,160p at 60 frames per second, 1080p at 240 fps, 720p at 960 fps
Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0
Ports
USB-C
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-C
Fingerprint sensor
Yes (side)
Yes (back)
Water resistance
IP67
IP68
Battery
4,000mAh
QuickCharge 4.0+
Qi wireless charging
4,000mAh
QuickCharge 2.0
Qi wireless charging
App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store
Network support
T-Mobile, AT&T
T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint
Colors
Black
Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple
Price
$799
$1,000
Buy from
Razer
Samsung, Amazon
Review score
Hands-on review
4 out of 5 stars
Performance, battery life, and charging
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Both of these phones put a heavy emphasis on gaming performance, and so it’s unsurprising that we see some exceptionally powerful hardware here. Both the Razer Phone 2 and the Note 9 are equipped with this year’s “flagchip,” the Snapdragon 845. Thanks to that chip, you get smooth performance whether you’re playing the latest mobile game or just checking your emails. Both have innovative cooling systems too — the Note 9 comes with water-cooling, while the Razer Phone 2 comes with the Vapor Chamber cooling system, which spreads heat around the phone.
There is lots of RAM here with 8GB in the Razer and 6GB or 8GB in the Note 9. While the Razer Phone 2 has just 64GB of onboard storage compared to the Note 9’s 128GB, both have a MicroSD card slot to boost that, so the lower capacity shouldn’t matter too much. Both phones come with whopping 4,000 mAh battery capacities that should easily last the day. Both also come with Qi wireless charging but the Razer Phone 2 comes with much faster charging, thanks to the rare inclusion of QuickCharge 4.0+.
It’s an exceptionally tough category to judge since both phones rock similar specs. We’re calling this section a tie.
Winner: Tie
Design and durability
Call 2018 the year of repeated designs because both of these phones (and many others) are calling upon their predecessors for style tips. Most people would be hard-pressed to tell the Note 9 apart from the Note 8, while the Razer Phone 2’s front is a doppelganger for the Razer Phone, and it’s only when you see the glass back that the differences become obvious.
But that’s where similarities end. The Razer Phone 2’s design has angular corners and hard edges, as well as sizable top and bottom bezels that house the front-facing speakers. It’s definitely a gaming phone though, and it sports RGB lighting on the Razer logo. By contrast, the Note 9 is a culmination of modern design, with an all-glass design and soft curves that glide into each other. These phones have different styles, but the Note 9 is definitely the better looking.
Water resistance has been added to the Razer Phone 2, with an IP67 rating, but it doesn’t quite match the Note 9’s IP68 rating. However, the aluminum front of the Razer Phone 2 probably gives it better drop-resistance than the all-glass Note 9. On the other hand, the Note 9 is one of the few flagship phones to still come with a headphone jack — worth keeping in mind if you can’t lack the jack.
While the Razer Phone 2’s design will have its fans, the Note 9 is far prettier and has better water resistance.
Winner: Galaxy Note 9
Display
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
Here’s where both phones get to be a little bit special. The Note 9’s 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display is utterly gorgeous and showcases some of the deepest blacks and most vibrant colors we’ve seen on a smartphone. It’s so good that it was awarded DisplayMate’s highest ever score, making this an exceptional piece of technology.
The Razer Phone 2’s 5.7-inch UltraMotion IPS LCD display isn’t able to match the Note 9’s amazing color reproduction, but it’s still special in its own way — it supports a super-smooth 120Hz refresh rate. This means the Razer Phone 2’s display updates twice as often as most other phone displays, making performance smoother than normal — and significantly improving how good games feel on the device.
It’s another tough matchup — but we think the Note 9’s higher quality screen will be coveted, but gamers will want the smoother 120hz display. We’re giving the Note 9 the win for being technically superior.
Winner: Galaxy Note 9
Camera
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Razer Phone’s camera was one of its major weaknesses and it was primarily the software that let it down. That seems to have been fixed in the Razer Phone 2, which sports a much-improved camera app to complement the dual 12-megapixel lens set-up. But it’s up against a photography monster here. You’ll find a similar pair of 12-megapixel lenses on the Note 9, but the variable aperture borrowed from the Galaxy S9 ensures photography is solid in a variety of lighting conditions, and Samsung’s artificial intelligence optimization is top-notch.
The Note 9 also comes with a portrait-taking mode called Live Focus too, and though both phones have an 8-megapixel selfie shooter, Live Focus really gives Samsung the edge in selfies. Video capabilities are similar, with both being able to take video in 4K resolution — but the Note 9 can record at 60 frames-per-second, and in super-slow motion.
The Razer Phone 2’s camera is much improved, but it’s a mismatch — like throwing a new boxer against a world champion. The Note 9 wins.
Winner: Galaxy Note 9
Software and updates
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Note 9 comes with Samsung’s custom user interface — the Samsung Experience — laid over the top of Android 8.0 Oreo. It looks good and it offers some good customization options and additional features but there is a good deal of apps that repeat Android’s own base apps. That’s not an issue with the Razer Phone 2, which runs almost stock Android 8.1 Oreo, but with Nova Launcher pre-installed. Nova Launcher offers a huge amount of customization, and you can tweak to your heart’s content. You won’t find many pre-installed apps either, except for Razer’s Chroma and Cortex apps.
While neither has Android 9.0 Pie yet, you can expect it to come to both phones eventually. However, we expect Razer to have the update out well before Samsung, since Razer doesn’t need to adapt its own custom UI in the same way Samsung does.
Both phones have great software, but we’re suckers for purer versions of Android. Add Razer’s better update history to that and the Razer Phone 2 comes out on top.
Winner: Razer Phone 2
Special features
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends
The Razer Phone’s special features are mostly entertainment-based. The front-facing stereo speakers hidden in the chunky top and bottom bezels are exceptionally loud, and there’s a THX-certified 24-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) included, which you can use with wired headphones. Outside of that you’ll find Razer’s special game-boosting apps that serve to help keep your games together and optimize your experience — and the awesome RGB lighting on the back. Make no mistake, this is a gaming and entertainment-focused phone.
The Note 9’s features cater for a wider audience. Bixby is pre-loaded, and though it’s still not great, it’s improving. Samsung’s DeX mode has improved too, enabling your Note 9 to serve as a makeshift desktop and you can now use it with just a single cable. But the real headline feature here is the S Pen, which can be used to write on the screen, access quick features, or — most excitingly — be used as a camera trigger or clicker thanks to a low power Bluetooth connection. It’s a big change in the Note’s stylus, and it’s now something you might use.
While the Razer Phone 2’s features are more tempting if you love your games or movies, we feel the Note 9’s are better suited to most people.
Winner: Galaxy Note 9
Price
The Galaxy Note 9 is currently available, and prices start from $1,000 for 128GB of storage and 6GB of RAM. As a Samsung flagship, it’s usable on every major U.S. network.
The Razer Phone 2 will be available for pre-orders from October 11 and will start from $799. Unfortunately, it will only work on T-Mobile and AT&T.
Overall winner: Galaxy Note 9
We all knew it would end up this way but the Note 9 really had to fight to keep its crown this time. The Razer Phone 2 looks to be a real contender, with tons of power, an improved camera, and an amazing 120Hz display. If you love your mobile gaming, your music, or your movies, then the Razer Phone’s super-smooth display, loud speakers, and flashy RGB lights will likely make you very happy. But for everyone else, the Note 9 is the phone to get — even at $200 more.
Editors’ Recommendations
- The Razer Phone 2: Everything you need to know
- Razer Phone 2 vs. Razer Phone: Time to level up?
- Razer Phone 2 hands-on review
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. OnePlus 6: Does more expensive mean better?
- LG V40 ThinQ vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Can the V40 unseat the king?
Singapore reclaims longest flight but could you sit on a plane for that long?
It’s probably just as well there are no economy seats on Singapore Airlines’ newest international service.
Why? Because at almost 19 hours, the flight between Singapore and New York will be the longest in the world.
Such a lengthy flight would surely leave your body pleading for mercy if you had to endure it in a cattle-class seat, so the airline has opted to fit the plane with luxurious business seats as well as a number of still-not-that-comfortable-sounding premium economy seats.
Taking 18 hours and 45 minutes between Singapore’s Changi Airport and Newark Liberty Airport just a short drive from New York City, the service, which starts on October 11, is actually a relaunch after the Asian carrier scrapped the route in 2013 due to running costs.
Having deemed it viable again, the carrier is using Airbus A350-900 ULR (ultra-long range) aircraft with 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy seats for the colossal 10,377-mile (16,700 km) flight. The airline’s other A350-900 aircraft are configured to carry a total 253 passengers instead of the 161 we see here.
In a bid to increase comfort for what sounds like a grueling journey — it does, after all, last just five hours short of an entire day — the aircraft has been designed with special lighting to reduce jet lag (there’s a 12-hour time difference), larger windows, and higher ceilings.
Perhaps wisely, Singapore Airlines also teamed up with health spa resort Canyon Ranch, which has knocked together a wellness plan to ease passengers through a flight that spans half the globe. It includes specially designed menus that focus on hydration, nutrition, and bold flavors; “subtle sleep strategies” to improve rest quality; and guided stretching exercises to ensure that your body doesn’t completely seize up halfway across the Pacific.
For in-flight entertainment, the airline has added 200 hours worth of movies and TV shows to the 1,000 already available as part of its regular services, and for anyone who needs to stay connected even at 38,000 feet, there’s Wi-Fi, though it’s not free.
Seat prices vary according to demand and date, but some passengers have been paying around $4,000 for a premium economy return ticket.
“Singapore Airlines has always taken pride in pushing the boundaries to provide the best possible travel convenience for our customers, and we are pleased to be leading the way with these new non-stop flights using the latest-technology, ultra-long-range [aircraft],” Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong said in a release.
Singapore Airlines’ new service takes the place of Qatar Airways Doha-to-Auckland, New Zealand route as the world’s longest flight. That one launched in February 2017 and takes 17 hours and 30 minutes to reach its destination.
Editors’ Recommendations
- In ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ Singapore’s tech and opulence get starring roles
- Delta tech issue grounds planes, could affect Wednesday flights
- Airbus Zephyr solar aircraft breaks record for longest flight
- Flying could feel more like going to the movies with VR headsets and headphones
- The best earbuds of 2018
This high-tech shopping cart from Walmart could save your life
Today’s businesses want to find out as much as they can about the people who use their services so they can improve their offering with a view to building an even more lucrative operation.
Store cards and apps already help retail businesses collect customer data, but Walmart would like to know feeling when you’re inside its store, and has come up with an idea for a way to find out.
The retail giant recently submitted a patent application detailing a design for a sensor-laden shopping cart that can track a customer’s heart rate, temperature, how tightly they’re gripping the cart’s handle, and other data like the speed at which the cart is being pushed.
According to the filing, the high-tech shopping cart would transmit the information to a server for speedy analysis and, if necessary, initiate a response.
Walmart told the BBC it would not collect any personally identifiable data, using it merely to learn about how shoppers respond to certain store conditions, while also allowing staff to offer speedy assistance if it detected that someone was experiencing a sudden health issue.
Life-saving potential
So if the sensors on the handle of the cart detected that a shopper’s heart rate and temperature were both increasing rapidly, the system could automatically alert a worker on the store floor to check that the customer is OK. While it’s rare to see shoppers keeling over at Walmart, or inside any store for that matter, if it did happen then Walmart’s smart shopping cart could turn out to be a life saver.
The patent also explains how the real-time data could be used to improve the overall shopping experience, explaining: “The server may identify that the heart rate of most customers increases when they enter certain aisles … or when certain music is playing across the intercom.”
So, for example, if a store’s ’80s mixtape started playing Joe Dolce’s Shaddap You Face, Walmart would likely detect a store-wide spike in shoppers’ stress levels and know never again to subject its customers to such an upsetting track.
Data from the carts could also help to quickly pinpoint potentially dangerous customer behavior. If, say, the system suddenly detects a cart hurtling along aisle 7, a store worker could be despatched to determine the cause of the behavior and stop it from continuing.
For now, Walmart’s proposal for a data-gathering shopping cart is just a patent application, so it may never come to fruition. Other notable Walmart patents from the last couple of years have included self-driving shopping carts and product-carrying drones for inside its stores. No, we haven’t seen either of those yet, either.
Editors’ Recommendations
- Apple considers making its own health-monitoring processors
- 7 of the most unusual wearable wellness devices
- Autonomous cars: Waymo and Walmart partner on a grocery pickup service
- The best Black Friday stores compared: Amazon, Walmart, and more
- Engineers build new camera capable of taking pictures in five dimensions
