Emergency alerts and Android: What you need to know

Emergency alerts on your Android smartphone are a good thing — even if they are a bit annoying sometimes!

Every so often — or frequently, depending on your tolerance level — you get an emergency alert on your phone. That horrible blaring of the emergency tone, the buzzing the vibration motor, and then the grim news. Someone’s missing. Or there’s a severe weather alert headed your way. Suddenly and without warning, your phone’s scaring the hell out of you. It’s bad enough during the day, and downright dreadful in the dead of night.

And that’s the idea.

The U.S. carriers have worked with the federal government to come up with a way to push alerts to your Android smartphone to warn you about dangerous weather, missing persons or other matters of grave national importance. The point is they want you to see this information in hopes that it could save your life — or someone else’s.

Here’s what you need to know about these emergency alerts and how you can control them on your Android phone.

What kind of emergency alerts are there?

There are three (or four, depending on how you’re counting) types of emergency alerts you can receive on your Android. They’re grouped into the less-dangerous-sounding “Cell Broadcast” heading, and include:

• Extreme threats: Classified as threats to your life and property, like an impending catastrophic weather event like a hurricane or tsunami.
• Severe threats: Less serious than the extreme threats, these could be the same types of situations, but on a smaller scale — stay safe, but you won’t need to pack up the car and head for the hills.
• AMBER alerts: These are specific alerts aimed at locating a missing child. Technically AMBER stands for “America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response.” But it was named for Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old who was kidnapped and killed in 1996. AMBER alerts can appear to be a bit cryptic, giving you the location of the alert, a car license plate number and the make, model, and color of the vehicle.
• Presidential alerts: These alerts will often fall into the “extreme threats” category, but are issued directly by the President of the United States (or indirectly through their office) and cannot be turned off in your phone’s settings.

What does an emergency or AMBER alert sound like?

It’s loud and annoying — particularly if you have a phone with really good speakers, or are with several people who have their phones out.

You’ll likely also find your phone is vibrating when an alert is issued.

How can I turn off emergency alerts on my Android?

Though you don’t have a choice as to whether you receive the presidential alerts, you can turn off the other types of alerts. We would recommend leaving them on, though, as the information could help you (or help you help someone else) in a time of danger. But if you want to familiarize yourself with the settings or tweak their parameters, here’s how you do it.

The settings will be found in a different place depending on what phone you have (yay, Android!) but the common theme is that the settings will be called “Cell Broadcasts.” The best way to start looking for them is to open up your settings, and if you have a search function to simply type in “cell broadcasts” or “emergency” — chances are the phone will present you with the settings right away. If you don’t have a search function, look under your sound, notification or display settings.

Here’s now things look in Android Oreo, Android Nougat, and on a Samsung phone.

Depending on your phone, you’ll be able to toggle each of the alerts independently, choose how they alert you and whether or not they vibrate when you receive one.

Other helpful links for emergency and AMBER alerts

If you want to learn more about how emergency alerts are handled, we’ve compiled a group of handy resources:

• CTIA (The Wireless Association) and Wireless Emergency Alerts
• AmberAlert.gov
• Active AMBER Alerts
• FCC and Wireless Emergency Alerts
• For iOS: Alerts on your iPhone
• Alerts on your Windows Phone

Update October 2018: This article was refreshed and updated to make sure all the information is still relevant.

Kingdom Hearts 3’s Deluxe Edition is a tad cheaper than usual

Want to know what’s going on with Kingdom Hearts 3? Here’s everything we know so far

In the early years of gaming, there were quite a few swings taken at the creation of a game utilizing Disney properties. Most of those games ranged anywhere from unplayable to mediocre as far as quality goes.

Then in 2002, Square released Kingdom Hearts onto the PlayStation 2. Disney fans and gamers rejoiced as they finally had a significant video game with Disney characters. Thus far, there have been a total of nine Kingdom Hearts games and here in 2018 Square stands poised to release a new entry to the gaming public.

We have been hearing rumblings about Kingdom Hearts 3 for years now but there is finally light at the end of the tunnel for fans of the series. As it stands now, we should see a release toward the end of 2018. However, what do we know about Kingdom Hearts 3 right now? Let’s take a look.

What’s new with Kingdom Hearts 3?

All the latest Kingdom Hearts 3 details can be found straight ahead. Be sure to check back often to find out everything new as we head toward release!

October 3, 2018 — Grab the Deluxe Edition for a tad cheaper

Amazon is putting on a nice deal for the Deluxe Edition of Kingdom Hearts 3. Normally $80, the game is sitting on Amazon for $75.16. That’s a savings of 6%. Take another $1.53 off when applying the coupon attached to this deal.

The total upfront discount isn’t massive, but it effectively eliminates your tax obligation, so that’s a win. Don’t forget that Amazon offers a $10 credit for Prime members who pre-order it. The credit is delivered 30-35 days after the game ships. That’s nearly $20 in savings with no hoops to jump through if you’re already a Prime member (and if you’re not, a free trial gets you there just as well).

The Kingdom Hearts 3 Deluxe Edition comes complete with a premium steelbook case, a hardcover art book, and a collectible pin. Look forward to the game launching in the west on January 29, 2019.

See at Amazon

September 18, 2018

Following the trailer released last week, Square Enix has released an extended trailer diving deep into the world of Big Hero 6! This is our best look at the recreation of San Fransokyo yet. Expect to hear more information soon as Tokyo Game Show 2018 begins in a couple of short days.

September 10, 2018

Ahead of Tokyo Game Show (TGS) 2018, Square Enix has released a new Kingdom Hearts 3 trailer showcasing the world of San Fransokyo in Big Hero 6. Along with new gameplay, we got a glimpse at cinematics from the worlds of Monsters, Inc., Tangled, and Toy Story.

July 17, 2018

Those looking to pre-order Kingdom Hearts 3 just received some extra incentive to do so from GameStop. The company has revealed that one of three fabric posters will be included with your pre-order of the game, and it’s up to you to cast your vote on Twitter with the hashtags noted in the image above to decide which one it will be.

June 11, 2018

Sony had their own piece of exclusive Kingdom Hearts 3 footage to show at E3 2018. The new footage confirms the inclusion of Pirates of the Caribbean. This isn’t the franchise’s first appearance in a Kingdom Hearts game, with Kingdom Hearts 2 having been the first.

Yes, Captain Jack Sparrow is back, and Sora’s crew are on deck to help him live the pirate’s life. The gameplay sequences for this world seem pretty epic, with both a ship battle and a fight with a huge sea monster being featured. The trailer also shows that a replica version of Riku will make an appearance.

Alongside that new footage, we get word that not only will there be a special edition Kingdom Hearts 3 PlayStation 4 console, but you’ll also be able to buy all three mainline Kingdom Hearts games as a bundle. That means you’ll get Kindom Hearts 1.5 HD Remix, Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, and Kingdom Hearts 3 in the same package. They’ve even thrown in Kingdom Hearts 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue for good measure.

A release date for the special edition PS4 has not yet been confirmed, though it’s likely we’ll see it on or close to Kingdom Hearts 3’s release date, which was previously confirmed to be January 29th, 2019.

June 10, 2018

Square Enix has announced a release date for Kingdom Hearts 3. It’ll be arriving January 29th, 2019. Originally, their goal was to get the game out in 2018. However, the company needs more time to ensure the game is the best it can be before launch.

With that news, we also saw a new trailer at E3 2018 that revealed new details, namely showing off new content and abilities surrounding previously unannounced Disney franchises. Those franchises include heavy-hitting staples such as Frozen and Lion King, with Elsa and Mufasa making appearances, respectively.

A whole new world

Since its inception, an important element of the Kingdom Hearts games has been the setting. Part of the joy of these games is the opportunity to explore familiar Disney worlds in a way that is not possible when you’re watching a film. Some of the worlds which have been tapped for inclusion in KH3 include Andy’s House from Toy Story, Twilight Town, Mount Olympus from Hercules, Monsters Inc, Tangled, and even San Fransokyo from Big Hero 6.

With Disney owning just about every existing IP under the sun there doesn’t seem to be many worlds left that are not within their reach. However, everything indicates that all the worlds tapped for inclusion will remain those who lie directly under the Disney Umbrella, as well as some from underling Pixar.

While Kingdom Hearts 3 isn’t a traditional open world game, Square Enix has a clear goal to increase the scope and capacity of each world. Some of these levels are the most expansive we’ve ever seen in a Kingdom Hearts game. You’ll especially feel the scale at places like Toy Box in the Toy Story world, or Mount Olympus over in Hercules’ corner. Despite the increased size, Square Enix manages to create each world with the level of detail that’ll make you feel like you’re in the theater watching your favorite movies all over again. It’s this nice balance of scope and focus that gets us excited to be sucked into Disney’s magical kingdom once more.

Characters Welcome

Another critical element of the Kingdom Hearts series has, of course, been characters. There is something undeniably exciting about running into some of your favorite Disney denizens whilst you progress through a KH game.

While your main characters will remain steadfast – Sora and the gang are back – there are some additions. With the inclusion of the aforementioned worlds, it should come as no surprise that we will see end up crossing paths with their related character inhabitants. You’ll certainly be seeing Woody, Buzz, and the glutton of other toys living in Andy’s room for the Toy Story sections. I, for one, am totally ready to get some heals from Beymax.

And that’s alongside mainstays such as Goofy, Donald Duck, and Mickey Mouse, all of whom have proven to be valuable comrades for Sora over the years.

Gameplay

Kingdom Hearts 3 will seemingly feature a keen blend of all the combat mechanics introduced in each previous title. Keyblades still cut foes down with ease and magic is still here to help you quickly dispel waves of enemies. However, we’ll also be seeing new mechanics such as character summons, keyblade transformations, link attacks, something Square Enix is calling “attractions,” and more. Here’s a quick rundown of what those types of attacks are:

• Character Summons: You can call on one of your Disney or Pixar friends to fight alongside you for a short time.
• Keyblade Transformations: Alongside your keyblade’s normal abilities and combos, you can transform the keyblade after hitting a series of uninterrupted attacks. The temporary transformation unlocks a wealth of new abilities, as well as a finisher attack.
• Link Attacks: Like Character Summons, this mechanic brings your friends into the fray, but instead of being there as a sidekick they’ll execute a more coordinated and powerful attack with Sora.
• Attractions: These are flashy, big abilities that play out like rides you’d see at Disneyworld and Disneyland. For instance, you can call on something like a water ride to splash through a ton of foes.

There will also be other miscellaneous gameplay mechanics that may be unique to certain worlds and sequences. For instance, Sora can take control of robot Gigas at Toy Box to help him get around the store and fight enemies faster. Expect a lot of variety in this regard.

Players will get stronger as the game goes on with a leveling system that should increase your power, health total, mana pool, and offer new abilities. And it’s not just Sora getting this treatment, either – all your mainstay companions have their own experience to grow.

World traversal has been a big part of the Kingdom Hearts series, and Sora’s movement abilities are seeing some interesting changes with this entry. Sora has seemingly been practicing parkour as a new mechanic allows him to scale up, down, and across walls. This is likely to help players quickly maneuver through a world is just as wide as it is tall, with verticality being a staple element of Kingdom Hearts.

As was the case in most Kingdom Hearts games to date, you’ll be fighting enemies who use Darkness for evil. Darkness is both an alternate realm and an actual force of energy. Good characters can use Darkness to augment their abilities, though the bad ones use it with far more malevolent intentions. Much of your battling will be done against those known as the Heartless, a common enemy in the game. The Heartless are actually living forms of the darkness that exists in everyone’s heart. Their goals are likely driven by some evil no-gooder behind the scenes, as the heartless don’t act on any sort of feeling or emotion of their own.

When can I play?

Square Enix has announced that Kingdom Hearts 3 will now launch January 29th, 2019. The game was originally given a 2018 launch window, but Square Enix has felt the need to delay it, likely to make sure it gets the polish it needs.

If you want to get in line early, you can always head over and preorder a copy for $60.

See at Amazon

In its long and storied history, Kingdom Hearts has done a stellar job of taking the elements that work and adding new ones. Like a fine wine, Kingdom Hearts has (mostly) gotten better with age. At this point, we don’t know everything about what is in store for us but as the year progresses we will undoubtedly see more new pieces of the puzzle unveiled.

I think Square knows that part of the magic and joy in these games is the surprise of running into unexpected characters. I have no doubt that they are holding a few cards close to their chests for the time being but I can’t wait to find out what those cards are.

What do you want to see in Kingdom Hearts 3?

Updated October 2018: Don’t miss out on an opportunity to save a few bucks on the Deluxe Edition!

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

Smart home kits, Switch controllers, and more are discounted today

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

There’s never a shortage of deals available, but sorting through all of them can be difficult at times. We’ve handpicked all the best tech, and everyday essentials discounts that you can take advantage of right now and brought them to one central location. From Amazon’s newest Fire TV Stick 4K to the new season of SNL, these are today’s best deals.

Tech Deals

View the rest of the deals

Everyday Essentials

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Can the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro help me lose weight?

Best answer: Through various built-in and third-party exercise apps, as well as third-party nutrition tracking apps, the Gear Fit2 Pro can help you track all of your progress, from start to goal weight.

Amazon: Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro ($195)

The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro can help track all your exercise and nutrition progress

With a host of third-party apps to try — over 3,000, in fact — there are myriad ways the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro can help you lose weight. Whether it’s tracking your running distance and pace, tracking your nutrition, or offering coaching through third-party apps, the Gear Fit2 Pro is your electronic buddy, along for the ride throughout your weight-loss journey.

Suggestions to get you started

If you’re looking for some great core apps to try out first, check these out:

MapMyRun

From Under Armour’s MapMyFitness suite, MayMyRun does just that: maps out your run, telling you your pace, showing you where you’ve been, and keeping track of all of your running data for you. Plus you can leave your phone at home, using the built-in GPS in your Gear Fit2 Pro while you run, and syncing up when you get home.

UA Record

This Under Armour app lets you record all of your nutrient/calorie intake information and keep track of it every single day so that you make sure you’re eating healthily along with maintaining a steady exercise regime.

Fit Evolution Pro

Not sure where to begin with certain exercises and stretches? Fit Evolution Pro is your digital personal trainer, walking you through exercises, show you how to perform certain movements safely, and more.

Our pick

Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro

$195 at Amazon

Fitness and nutrition tracking all on your wrist.

With a proper diet and exercise, the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro can be an excellent training companion to help you track all of your data. With over 3,000 apps to help you keep an eye on your progress, every little detail helps when you’re trying to lose weight, and the Gear Fit2 Pro can help.

Pixel 3 pre-orders will open immediately after the October 9 event

Everything we know about what’ll likely be one of the year’s best phones.

Google first introduced its Pixel series in 2016, and since then, has been hard at work to establish itself as a serious player in the smartphone market. Google may be one of the most powerful and iconic companies in the world, but when it comes to hardware, is still very much a newcomer.

We saw vast improvements with the Pixel 2 compared to the original Pixel line, and we’re expecting to get that again with the Pixel 3. Google’s quickly learning what it takes to compete with the likes of Samsung and Apple, and seeing as how the Pixel 2 was one of 2017’s best phones, there’s a lot riding on this year’s entry.

Ladies and gentlemen, here’s everything we know so far about the Google Pixel 3.

The latest Pixel 3 news

October 3, 2018 — Pixel 3 pre-orders will open immediately after the October 9 event

Google’s October 9 event is getting closer and closer, and as part of a promotional email that the company began sending out today, we now have confirmation that preorders will “start immediately after the event.”

In addition to this, Google also has a few fun questions you can now ask the Google Assistant in preparation for the big day. Just ask “What’s this announcement about?”, “When are you making this announcement?”, or “How can I found out more about this announcement?”.

Lastly, the email also shows a large number 3 that transitions between black, white, and mint colors (likely the three colors that’ll be available at launch).

September 27, 2018 — Pixel 3 promo materials confirm Active Edge and other software features

The folks at MySmartPrice have been on a roll when in regards to Pixel 3 leaks as of late, and today, the site’s now shared a ton of promo images and an instructional video that confirm various software features the phone will have.

The video above shows users how to navigate and use the Pixel 3, and as expected, the Android Pie interface is pretty much identical to what we have on the Pixel 2 series right now. The gesture navigation is there, the notification panel is more rounded, and the revamped Do Not Disturb is present. Also confirmed in the video is the return of Active Edge (being able to squeeze the Pixel 3 to prompt Google Assistant).

As for the still promo images, the biggest takeaway from these is the one that shows the Pixel 3 retaining the Now Playing feature from the Pixel 2 that shows song info on your lock screen if it hears music playing in the background.

September 26, 2018 — This is Google’s Pixel Stand charging accessory for the Pixel 3

Last Friday, we got a look at a new accessory Google may launch alongside the Pixel 3 — the Pixel Stand. Now, instead of a promo image, we have a full device render to get a better idea of what it’ll look like in the real world.

The bottom of the Pixel Stand appears to have a grippy rubber base (similar to the Home Mini) that keeps it in place on a desk or table. A USB-C cable powers the accessory, and on the top is the wireless charging pad the Pixel 3 will rest on.

Like we saw last week, the Pixel 3 will probably go into a Smart Display-like mode once docked in the Pixel Stand to show your notifications, weather, traffic updates, and more.

Do you think you’ll be picking up a Pixel Stand?

September 25, 2018 — Pixel 3 wallpapers are now available to download

The Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL will be here in just two weeks, but if you can’t wait that long and want to make your current phone look a bit more like Google’s latest and greatest, you can now do just that.

The folks at MySmartPrice recently got their hands on 28 wallpapers that’ll ship with the Pixel 3 series next month, and just like last year, they look fantastic.

You’ll find a total of 28 wallpapers, including some new Live Wallpapers that Google introduced with the Pixel 2.

To get them, just tap the link below and install all of the individual wallpapers and APK file included in the Google Drive folder. So long as you’ve got a phone running Pie and have the Google Wallpapers app installed, you shouldn’t have any issue getting these on your device.

Download the wallpapers here

September 22, 2018 — Renders from Evan Blass show the Pixel 3 and 3 XL side by side

Since you guys keep asking… pic.twitter.com/DpRqzsyRem

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) September 21, 2018

’tis the season for Pixel render leaks, and this render from Evan Blass shows the Google Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL side by side with the screens off, showing off their size difference and their front camera/sensor layouts. These are consistent with the plethora of renders we’ve seen in recent months, with the O__O sitting smack dab in the Pixel 3 XL’s notch while the notchless Pixel 3 keeps its sensors to the left-hand side of the earpiece.

The Made by Google Event is slated for October 9th, where we will finally see the products in the flesh and see what they are or aren’t packing under those sizable screens.

September 18, 2018 — These are supposedly the Pixel 3’s official press renders

Although leaks for the Pixel 3 aren’t new at this point, the latest one from Nieuwe Mobile is the first time we’ve gotten an official press render for the 3 and 3 XL.

The renders show a lot of what we’ve already seen. The regular Pixel 3 is a fairly unoffensive device with relatively slim bezels on the top and bottom. The Pixel 3 XL, on the other hand, has a notch and chin at the top that’s been ridiculed to death.

The large “3” for the wallpaper is the same one present on the Google Store’s promo page, and if you look at the Google Search bar at the bottom, there’s an Assistant icon that we haven’t seen before.

There’s obviously no way to confirm whether or not these are legit renders, but as this point, it’s about as close as we’ll get until October 9.

September 17, 2018 — The Pixel 3’s fourth color might be pink

Following up on our previous entry from last week, there appears to be a fourth color for the Pixel 3 hidden on Google’s teaser page.

There’s a fourth color in the source code 🎨 #Pixel3 (@frontpagetech) pic.twitter.com/zutFwTRzKp

— Cas van Dinter (@CasVanDinter) September 16, 2018

Along with black, white, and mint that are visible to everyone, a quick look through the page’s source code reveals a fourth color referred to as “pink.” Google’s only ever launched three color variants for its Pixel phones at a time, so the fact that we could be getting four right from the get-go is pretty exciting.

However, a deeper look through the source code does reveals even more. Although we’re currently seeing black, white, mint, and the new pink color, there’s also mention of blue and green — suggesting that we might possibly get five total colors at launch time.

September 14, 2018 — Pixel 3 mint color teased in new promos from Google

With a little over three weeks to go before the big October 9 event, Google’s shared two new teasers to get people excited for the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

The first of these appears to be live on all versions of the Google Store and is pretty basic. There’s a large 3 and some text next to it that reads “Stay tuned! Looks like you’ve already enrolled for updates from the Google Store. Be on the lookout for some news from us on Oct. 9.”

In addition to that, a Google page in Japan has a much fancier promo page that also potentially reveals a new color that we’ve yet to see in any of the leaks.

If you visit the page on your smartphone or tablet, you’ll see large text at the top that says “Coming Soon.” Below that is an outline of a phone with Google’s “G” logo at the bottom.

You can rotate your device side-to-side to move the outline of the phone on the page, and tapping on your screen cycles between a white, black, and mint background. These background colors also fill in the phone outlines, suggesting that these are all colors that’ll be available for the Pixel 3/3 XL. We’re already expecting white and black, but this is the first time we’ve ever seen a reference of a mint option.

September 6, 2018 — Google officially announces October 9 event for Pixel 3

Google has just sent out invites to the press for a hardware event in New York City, and just as rumored it will take place on October 9. The invite came in with a delightfully designed (and very swiftly swoopy) animated gif that honestly doesn’t give us any hints as to what we’ll be seeing. But there’s no reason why this wouldn’t be the launch event for the Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

The only question is whether we see more than the two phones. Last time around, Google had a blockbuster event that was ostensibly for the Pixel 2 and 2 XL, but also included the launch of the Google Home Max, Google Home Mini, Pixel Buds and Pixelbook. If Google pulls out all the stops once again, we could be in for a huge hardware launch event.

Last year’s event was in San Francisco (and on October 4), but it’s hard to read too much into a venue switch to NYC — it’s an easy place for press from all around the world to get to, and Google maintains a large presence in the city. Google will be streaming the event live, as well.

August 31, 2018 — Google Pixel 3 and 3 XL swing by the FCC

Before we head out for the week, let’s end our Friday on another Pixel 3 tidbit.

Today, FCC listings A4RG013A and A4RG013C from Google appeared — likely relating to the Pixel 3 and 3 XL, respectively. These numbers line up to last year’s phones where the Pixel 2 was G011A and the 2 XL was G011C.

Although no new information is revealed in these listings, it’s once again confirmed that Foxconn is the manufacturer rather than HTC or LG like we saw with the Pixel 2 series.

August 30, 2018 — Regular Pixel 3 appears in first hands-on photos, might not be a Verizon exclusive

Although the Pixel 3 XL has been leaked to death at this point, we still haven’t seen much on the regular Pixel 3 outside of device renders. However, thanks to a user over on Reddit, that’s now changing.

The photos confirm that the Pixel 3 will not have a notch and instead have slightly thicker bezels on the top and bottom compared to its XL sibling. The screen measures in at 5.5-inches, the resolution is 2160 x 1080, and there’s an aspect ratio of 18:9. The smaller battery also appears to be a 2,915 mAh unit.

Other specs from the 3 XL are carried over to the Pixel 3, including the Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB RAM, dual 8MP front cameras, etc.

Also, in an update to the Reddit post, it’s said that the Pixel 3 in the above photos is part of a carrier testing program that isn’t Verizon. Contrary to reports we heard earlier this year, this suggests that Verizon’s exclusivity of the Pixel line may finally be over.

August 27, 2018 — Unboxing video shows off the Pixel 3 XL and its packaging, October 9 announcement date revealed

It’s pretty difficult to be surprised by a Pixel 3 leak anymore, but that certainly hasn’t stopped them from flowing in.

Most recently, a YouTube channel by the name of In DIGI uploaded a high-res 1080p Full HD unboxing video that shows the Pixel 3 XL being taken out of its packaging in one of the crispiest clips we’ve seen yet.

In addition to the Pixel 3 XL itself, the box is also home to the Pixel Bud-like wired earbuds that definitely appear to be included with the phone, #teampixel stickers, USB-C charging cable, USB-C to USB-A adapter, a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, and AC wall adapter. The video gives us an up-close look at the front and back of the phone, as well as a few camera samples.

Lastly, we also got another hint as to when the Pixel 3 will officially be unveiled. In a Bloomberg article published by Mark Gurman this morning, it’s noted that:

Alphabet Inc.’s Google also plans to debut new Pixel phones on Oct. 9 at a media event in New York City, other people familiar with the plans said.

Google declined to comment on this news, but that lines up with earlier rumors and the press events for the company’s previous Pixel announcements for the past two years.

August 23, 2018 — Pixel 3 XL reported to have new Pixel Visual Core and a wide-angle selfie camera

We’ve known for quite some time that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will have dual front-facing cameras, but up until now, it’s been a mystery as to what the second sensor will actually do. Thanks to a report from 9to5Google, we now have some more info as to what these sensors will be used for.

According to one source the site spoke with, the two cameras will allow for a new “Super Selfie” mode with another mention of there being an “improved Portrait Mode.” A leak from earlier today revealed new Portrait settings in the camera app, so that all lines up quite nicely.

As for the second sensor specifically, another source claims that this will act as a wide-angle lens so that users can fit more people in the frame in a single shot.

Details on the single rear camera are still pretty scarce, but 9to5 also mentions that one of their sources mentioned a “new Visual Core chip” and that Google is “doubling down on making a single camera powerful enough to not need a second camera.

August 23, 2018 — Another Pixel 3 XL leak highlights an updated camera app, included earbuds, and more

Kicking things off with a bang this morning, Russian website Mobile-Review recently published a “first look” at the Pixel 3 XL using a prototype model that was sent to it by “an anonymous well-wisher.” This hands-on is very similar to other ones we’ve seen already, but there are a couple new tidbits worth mentioning — specifically with the Pixel 3 XL’s camera app.

The UI shown here is a bit different from what we currently have on the Pixel 2. Rather than swiping open a hamburger menu to change shooting modes, the app now has them listed above the shutter button. Users can cycle through Panorama, Portrait, Camera, and Video. Tapping the More icon gives options for Google Lens, Slow Motion video, and Photo Sphere.

Portrait mode now allows you to choose between Natural and Soft face-retouching in addition to toggling it off altogether, a new “Google Lens suggestions” mode is featured, and the rear camera is confirmed to be 12.2MP while the front-facing camera is 8MP. For whatever reason, only one front-facing camera is mentioned in the app despite the Pixel 3 XL clearly having two.

As for the included earbuds, the instruction manual that comes with them indicates you’ll be able to use the in-line controls for controlling music, answering calls, and prompting the Google Assistant.

August 22, 2018 — Stolen Pixel 3 XL handsets are apparently being sold on the Ukranian black market

It’s not an uncommon practice for smartphones to be leaked ahead of their official release, but with the Pixel 3 XL, the quantity and quality of leaks we’ve been getting lately has been somewhat staggering. The first hands-on photos of the Pixel 3 XL were shared all the way back in June, and since then, it’s been a nonstop flood of leak after leak.

According to a new report from 9to5Google, a large portion of the leaks have been appearing thanks to a black market dealer over in Ukraine.

Essentially, this dealer somehow acquired multiple models of the phone and is shipping them from London at a price of $2,000 USD per phone. They’re said to be pre-release versions of the Pixel 3 XL, with it noted that “everything looks and works exactly the same” compared to the final versions that’ll be released in October.

We aren’t sure how many units this seller has or how they obtained them in the first place, but it’s further reported that people are still buying the phones and that more leaks are coming soon.

August 22, 2018 — Pixel 3 XL poses for more hands-on photos, Active Edge appears to be making a return

The Pixel 3 XL has reared its head in a number of hands-on photos at this point, but for the most part, they’ve been pretty low-quality and not the prettiest to look at. Thanks to user @wylsacom on Twitter and Rozetked, that’s no longer the case.

These photos don’t reveal a whole lot that we haven’t seen before, but they show off the Pixel 3 XL in a much more professional manner and, more importantly, a higher resolution.

The notch is as big as ever, the back is definitely all glass, and thanks to a shot of the settings page, it appears that Active Edge is returning so you can squeeze the sides to prompt Google Assistant.

August 22, 2018 — Leaked video confirms wireless charging on Pixel 3 XL; Camera samples shared on Instagram

Thanks to various hands-on photos, we’ve known for a while that the Pixel 3 and 3 XL will come with all-glass backs. However, up until now, it’s been a mystery as to whether or not wireless charging will make its way to the phones.

At least for the larger Pixel 3 XL, a video that was shared by user @khoroshev on Twitter confirms that this feature is, in fact, present.

pic.twitter.com/XtAtAeWreH

— Максим Хорошев (@khoroshev) August 22, 2018

The video above shows the Pixel 3 XL being placed onto a wireless charging pad, and when it makes a contact, a small animation appears on the screen to show the current battery percentage and to indicate that charging has begun. Google’s obviously yet to confirm the legitimacy of this video, but it sure does seem like wireless charging is a go for the Pixel 3 lineup.

Along with the video, that same person also took to Instagram to share a heap of photos that he supposedly captured with the Pixel 3 XL. Just like the Pixel 2 before it, the pictures showcase great dynamic range, excellent colors, and more. We don’t have access to the full-resolution files seeing as how these were uploaded to Instagram, but even so, it’s a great early look at what’s to come.

You can check out all of the photos here and here.

August 17, 2018 — Pixel 3 XL and its unforgiving notch pop up in Toronto

Surprise, surprise — another Pixel 3 XL leak!

A reader of the Canadian tech site MobileSyrup recently snapped the above photo while riding a streetcar in Toronto. As you can see, the phone shown in the picture appears to be none other than the Google Pixel 3 XL.

While Google’s yet to formally unveil the phone, the device lines up with everything else we’ve seen so far. It’s running Android P, has a chin below the display, and its large notch is impossible to miss.

This photo doesn’t reveal anything we didn’t already know about the phone, but the fact that Google’s got people using these out in the wild confirms that we’re not too far off from an official launch.

August 10, 2018 — Another hands-on video shows the Pixel 3 XL in use while also confirming some specs

The same person that shared those Pixel 3 XL photos and unboxing video from a couple days ago has returned with yet another video that reveals even more about the phone.

In this video, we can see the Pixel 3 XL actually being used. It’s running Android 9 Pie (no surprise there) and appears to have the same UI of the Pixel and Pixel 2 running the new software.

A couple benchmarks results are also shown during the video, and as such, a handful of specs have been confirmed. They include:

• 1440 x 2960 screen resolution
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor w/ Adreno 630 GPU
• 3,430 mAh battery
• 12.2MP rear camera
• 8.1MP front-facing camera (x3)

The most interesting of those specs are the front-facing cameras. Antutu lists three 8.1MP sensors up front, although in the video we can only see two. This could be nothing more than a glitch in the app, or Google could have implemented some sort of mystery camera up there. We really aren’t sure about that one.

August 8, 2018 — Pixel 3 XL appears in more hands-on photos and unboxing video

Previous renders and real-world pictures have already given us a clear look at the Pixel 3 XL’s design, and to help make that image as clear as humanly possible, SlashLeaks recently shared three additional hands-on photos and an unboxing video of the phone.

One of the photos shows the back of the white Pixel 3 XL while the other two showcase the front. We once again see that Google will be sticking with just one rear camera and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and unfortunately, that notch hasn’t shrunk at all since the last time we saw it.

Moving over to the unboxing video, it’s apparent that Google’s using very similar packaging compared to the Pixel 2 and 2 XL. The box does contain a pair of wired USB-C earbuds in addition to the Pixel 3 XL, but seeing as how Google experimented with this idea for last year’s release, we aren’t entirely sure if the free buds will stick around for the final retail packaging.

August 6, 2018 — October 4 launch date leaked for the Pixel 3

While we’ve seen plenty of leaked renders and specs for the Pixel 3, talk about its release date has been fairly quiet. That is, up until now. As spotted by Brandon Lee from the YouTube channel This is Tech Today, the Pixel 3 is shown to be released on October 4 according to the website Famebit.

Famebit is a website that allows companies to connect with content creators and work out deals to create sponsored content for YouTube videos, Instagram posts, etc. An ad on the site was recently created by Google and asks for Canadian creators to switch to the Pixel 3 and then making a video talking about their experience.

In this listing, it’s stated that “The Pixel 3 phone is launching October 4, 2018.”

While there’s no way to confirm if this ad really was created by Google, that October 4 date is what we were previously expecting anyways. That’s the same day Google used to announce the Pixel and Pixel 2 before, so it makes sense that it’d keep the trend going this year.

July 30, 2018 — Clearly White Google Pixel 3 XL shows up in new leak

We just got our best look at the Google Pixel 3 XL courtesy of XDA. The images in question show off the Clearly White color option, and the live photos confirm a cutout at the front and a single rear camera. We can also make out a single speaker located below the display.

The XDA leak once again reaffirms the presence of a glass back on the Pixel 3 XL, with the finish alternating between glossy and matte. A glass back opens up the possibility for wireless charging, but for now there’s no further information as to whether the feature will make its way to the device.

July 28, 2018 — ‘Pixel Stand’ could be a wireless charger for the upcoming Pixels

A teardown of the Google app by the folks at XDA has served up interesting information. The code references something called a Pixel Stand, leading to suggestions that it will be a wireless charging dock for the upcoming Pixels.

According to XDA, the Pixel Stand will feature Assistant integration, and will be able to offer personalized suggestions and answer queries when the phone is docked.

June 27, 2018 — Pixel 3 and 3 XL renders show the phones from every possible angle

As if previous leaks of the Pixel 3 and 3 XL haven’t been revealing enough, MySmartPrice teamed up with OnLeaks to share a boatload of both photo and video renders of the two phones.

These renders confirm a lot of what we’ve previously seen, including things like an all-glass back for both phones, single rear cameras, and a notch on the larger Pixel 3 XL.

However, while earlier rumors suggested that only the 3 XL would have two front-facing cameras, these renders show that the regular Pixel 3 will have them, too.

The Pixel 3’s display is said to measure in at 5.4-inches with an 18:9 aspect ratio, whereas the Pixel 3 XL will have a 6.2-inch screen and 19:9 setup. As for the dimensions, we’re looking at 145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm for the Pixel 3 and 158 x 76.6 x 7.9mm for the 3 XL.

June 18, 2018 — Case render confirms Pixel 3 XL design

Ice Universe on Twitter has built up a reputation for being pretty accurate about leaks/rumors in the mobile space, and on June 18, they shared a case render that further confirms the Pixel 3 XL’s design.

Like we saw with the hands-on photos on June 7 and 8, the Pixel 3 XL will have a notch in its screen, dual front-facing cameras, stereo speakers, rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a single rear camera.

It’s peculiar that Google’s choosing to use two cameras on the front while keeping just one on the back, but based on how excellent the Pixel 2’s single rear camera is, I don’t expect this will be a downside at all.

June 8, 2018 — Pixel 3 XL shown off in six more hands-on pictures

Less than a day after those first two hands-on photos of the Pixel 3 XL surfaced, six more have appeared.

These additional photos showcase the Pixel 3 XL from every possible angle, and when XDA Developers reached out to their forum member that shared them, they were able to confirm that the phone has a full glass back. In other words, it’s possible this year’s Pixel line may finally adopt wireless charging.

The front and back photos are pretty similar compared to what we saw yesterday, but the other images showcase a reflective glass frame around the phone, volume rocker and power/lock button on the right side, and a USB-C port and SIM slot on the bottom.

Also, as 9to5Google pointed out, that mysterious logo on the back of the Pixel 3 XL was used previously with old Pixel 2 prototypes.

June 7, 2018 — Hands-on photos apparently showcase a Pixel 3 XL prototype

Out of the blue, XDA Senior Member meraz9000 shared two photos on the XDA Forums showing what’s supposed to be a prototype of the Pixel 3 XL. There’s obviously no way we can confirm whether or not this is the real deal, but it sure does line up with the display panels that were leaked last month.

The photos show the Pixel 3 XL from both the front and back, with the front reiterating the point that the 3 XL will more than likely have a notch in its screen. For what it’s worth, it does look like we’ll be getting two front-facing cameras and a chin at the bottom to retain stereo front-facing speakers.

Around back, this Pixel 3 XL prototype looks nearly identical to that of the Pixel 2 XL. The glass panel seems to be ever-so-slightly smaller, but that could just be the way the photo was taken.

In any case, what do you think about how the Pixel 3 XL is shaping up?

June 4, 2018 — Google’s apparently working on a mid-range Pixel phone

According to one tipster, Google’s in the process of developing a mid-range Pixel phone that’s codenamed “Bonito” and is powered by the Snapdragon 710 processor.

Rumors of a mid-range Pixel first popped up in April, but the old claim of it launching this July has since been replaced with a release scheduled for the first half of 2019.

That would suggest that Google may launch this new Pixel phone during I/O next year, but with so much discrepancy surrounding the release date, it’s entirely possible it’ll be announced alongside the Pixel 3 in October.

May 30, 2018 (part 2) — Verizon is said to be the exclusive carrier for the Pixel 3, again 😕

A report from Bloomberg recently surfaced confirming a few details about Google’s upcoming phones per a source that’s familiar with their production. According to the report:

• The Pixel 3 series will once again be exclusive to Verizon Wireless in the U.S.
• A notch will be present on the larger Pixel 3 XL
• Google will announce/launch the phones in October
• Foxconn will manufacture the Pixel 3/3 XL
• Stereo speakers will be present on both phones
• The Pixel 3 XL will have dual front-facing cameras
• “Both models will include upgraded, single-lens cameras on the back”

May 30, 2018 — LG will reportedly manufacture the Pixel 3 XL’s OLED display

Just a couple days after the Pixel 3 XL’s notched panel leaked, a report’s come out of Korea claiming that Google will once again use LG to manufacture and supply an OLED screen for the phone.

Furthermore, an official from LG Display that remains anonymous said, “We have maintained close ties with Google and the volume will not be much different from the previous one (the Pixel 2 XL).”

If this turns out to be true, one can only hope that LG’s improved the quality of its mobile panels since last year. The LG-made Pixel 2 XL display was the center of a lot of controversy for the phone’s first few weeks out in the wild, and Google really can’t afford to go through that again with gen-three.

What do you think about LG making the Pixel 3 XL’s display?

May 28, 2018 — The Pixel 3 goes 2:1 and the Pixel 3 XL gets a notch

Here’s an interesting leak that, while not necessarily all-telling, gives us an indication of where Google is taking the series in 2018. Specifically, the larger Pixel 3 XL looks to have a notch while the smaller Pixel 3, though moving to a 2:1 aspect ratio, will lack one. At the same time, we see some sensors that may indicate Google is adding either a second front camera to the phones or, more likely, some sort of dedicated biometric sensor for faster/more reliable face unlock.

The leak comes from Weibo (by way of Slashleaks) and reportedly shows two front glass panels for the new phones. Given that we’re almost in June, this would be the time for accessory makers to begin testing products for the final phone design. It’s also good to see Google maintaining dual front-facing speakers for the lineup.

What do you think of this latest leak?

May 10, 2018 — The Pixel 3 could be joined by second-gen Pixel Buds and a Pixel Watch

Google’s hardware events surround the Pixel phones with a heap of other product announcements, and this year, it’s reported that we’ll see a second-gen version of Pixel Buds and Google’s first Pixel-branded smartwatch.

Specifics on these gadgets are still up in the air, and as excited as I am to see how Google improves its wireless earbud game, I’m beyond ecstatic to see how the company’s first smartwatch turns out.

Wear OS is in an awkward stage right now, but a proper Pixel Watch and new silicon from Qualcomm could bring it back into the limelight. Assuming Google handles this right, the Apple Watch may soon be faced with some of its stiffest competition yet.

When will the Pixel 3 be released?

In 2016 and 2017, Google held its hardware event on October 4. We don’t have a concrete date for this year’s event quite yet, but there’s no reason to believe Google will deter from this pattern.

A Bloomberg article reports that the event will be held on October 9, and while that’s a few days later than the past two announcements, is still within the general ballpark we were expecting.

Pre-orders for the Pixel 3 will likely open shortly after it’s announced that same day with shipments going out at least a couple of weeks later.

How much will the Pixel 3 cost?

Over the past couple years, pricing for Google’s Pixel phones has remained mostly the same. The MSRP for the Pixel and Pixel 2 series is as follows:

• Pixel w/ 32GB — $649
• Pixel w/ 128GB — $749
• Pixel 2 w/ 64GB — $649
• Pixel 2 w/ 128GB — $749
• Pixel XL w/ 32GB — $769
• Pixel XL w/ 128GB — $869
• Pixel 2 XL w/ 64GB —$849
• Pixel 2 XL w/ 128GB — $949

I imagine we’ll see similar numbers with the Pixel 3, but don’t be too surprised if we get a Pixel 3 XL variant that crosses the $1000 threshold.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

Canada Daily Deals: Amazon Echo, Ring Alarm System, and more

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

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on Amazon Echo 2nd-Generation, Ring Alarm Home Security System, portable hard drives, and much more!

View the rest of the deals

Each day, the Thrifter Canada team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.

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

Here’s everything you need to know about the LG V40

Read all about LG’s most impressive phone of the year.

2018’s proven to be one heck of a year for premium, flagship smartphones. The Galaxy S9 series is a force to be reckoned with, the Note 9 is the ultimate phone for power users, the upcoming OnePlus 6T is shaping up to be mighty exciting, and even the iPhone XS has us yearning for what’s going on at Camp Apple.

To go out of 2018 with a bang, LG’s releasing the V40 — another no-nonsense flagship that aims to take the best bits of the G7 from earlier in the year and improve upon them in every way possible.

The V40 has a tough road ahead if it wants to stand out, but if you give the phone a chance, you just might be impressed with what you see.

Here’s everything you need to know about the LG V40 ThinQ!

Check out our written and video reviews

Before you do anything else, make sure to check out our written and video reviews of the V40. Spoiler alert — it’s a really, really good phone.

LG does a lot of things right here, offering a truly beautiful display, fast internals, great cameras, and an exquisite design. The small(ish) battery and high price tag are definitely downsides to keep in mind, but even so, this is a phone that should absolutely be on your shortlist this holiday shopping season.

LG V40 ThinQ review: Five cameras aimed straight at Samsung

Here are the specs

What sort of specs can you look forward to with the V40? How’s a Snapdragon 845, three rear cameras, and 6GB of RAM sound?

Almost all of the V40’s specs are what we’ve come to expect from flagship phones this year, but some aspects (such as battery life) do give us pause.

Check out the full list below 👇

LG V40 specifications: 6.4-inch OLED display, 3300mAh battery, five cameras

The display is a lot better than the V30’s

The V40 uses an LG-made OLED display, and while past LG panels on the V30 and Pixel 2 XL have left us yearning for more, that’s not the case with the V40.

Here’s what Andrew had to say about the screen in his review:

It’s crisp and colorful, with only mild color shifting at tight viewing angles. And it now has a proper auto-high-brightness mode that can enable by default in sunlight and doesn’t need to be triggered manually. The max brightness is good enough to easily see the screen in bright sunlight, and it also gets really dim at night.

Here’s how the five cameras work

Perhaps the biggest feature of the V40 is its five-camera setup — three sensors on the back and two on the front.

This isn’t the first time we’ve seen an Android phone with this many cameras, but that doesn’t take away from LG’s implementation whatsoever. Here’s what all of those lenses do:

• Rear camera 1 — 12MP main sensor with OIS and f/1.5 aperture
• Rear camera 2 — 16MP wide-angle lens with f/1.7
• Rear camera 3 — 12MP telephoto 2x zoom lens with f/2.4
• Front camera 1 — 8MP main sensor with f/1.9
• Front camera 2 — 5MP wide-angle shooter with f/2.2

The back has a soft finish that feels incredible

The back of the LG V40 is made out of glass, and while just about every Android flagship has this same construction, LG’s done something unique to make the V40 stand out.

Except for the Aurora black color, every other finish of the V40 features a soft, grippy finish that’s “amazing to hold.” Here’s what Andrew had to say in his review:

The frosted glass finish is easier to grip, collects fewer fingerprints and offers a neat color-shifting look that makes the black version even more boring by comparison.

When and where can I pre-order it?

Pre-orders for the LG V40 are open now with full retail availability coming on October 18. The phone ranges from $900 to $980 depending on where you buy it, making it one of the most expensive flagships of the year.

To help soften the blow, LG’s including a free DJI Osmo Mobile 2 and 256GB microSD card with all pre-orders — a normal retail value of $260.

Here’s where you can pre-order the LG V40, and how much it’ll cost

LG V40

• LG V40: Rumors, news, specs and more!
• LG V40 wish list
• Do you think you’ll get an LG V40?
• Join our LG V40 forums

How well does Adobe Premiere work on a Chromebook?

Best answer: You cannot install and run Adobe Premiere Pro on a Chromebook, but you can download video editing apps from the Play Store. PowerDirector by CyberLink is a great option for Chromebooks.

Play Store: CyberLink PowerDirector (Free!)

No Premiere Pro

Unfortunately, Adobe hasn’t quite got round to developing Premiere Pro for Chrome OS and I doubt we’ll see it arrive anytime soon as Chromebooks are viewed as less powerful and more portable PCs. That said, if you own a Chromebook and desperately need to edit some videos on the device, there are options out there on the Play Store.

I’ve highlighted CyberLink’s PowerDirector as the best choice for Chromebook video editing thanks to the familiar UI you’d find on the PC version, as well as support for video up to 4K — yes, you can edit video in 4K on a Chromebook. And because it’s developed for Android, you’ll find it to be very touch-friendly too.

Most of the features are available for free, including various effects and functions. The only downside to PowerDirector (and the Chromebook) is the lack of power and hardware acceleration. When exporting a 1080p or 4K video, you’ll want to leave your Chromebook plugged in and go do something else for a day or two.

Our pick

CyberLink PowerDirector

Free at Play Store

The best video editor available on Android and Chrome OS

When you need to do some video editing on your Android tablet or Chromebook, CyberLink’s PowerDirector is a solid choice that offers a similar experience to that you’d find on PC.

LG V40 ThinQ review: Five cameras aimed straight at Samsung

LG basically made its own version of a Galaxy S9+, and that may just be enough.

From the start, LG’s V series has been about content creation and offering more ways to capture the world around you. But over the years, the G and V series have to converged to the point where they’re nearly identical. Not unlike Samsung’s Galaxy S and Note lines (go figure), the G and V series are basically the same aside from slightly different sizes and some key feature advancements that a staggered release cycle affords.

In a world where the LG G7 hasn’t garnered the mind share of Samsung’s Galaxy S9+, that leaves the V40 in a tough spot considering how much it shares with LG’s attempt from earlier in the year. The “hook,” if you will, is a five-camera setup that’s backed up by neat camera software. But the V40 has more to offer, as the rest of the phone is filled with appealing specs and features lifted directly from Samsung’s playbook.

Here’s how it all comes together in the LG V40.

Five camera fun

LG V40 ThinQ

$900+ at Amazon

A great all-around high-end phone, with a price tag to match.

LG managed to make a top-notch phone by following Samsung’s lead. The V40 is a beautiful and solid phone that’s filled with must-have and nice-to-have features, with top-end specs and a large high-quality display. The software is quick and relatively simple, choosing to lean toward Google’s ecosystem more than ever. The triple camera combination is a treat to shoot with and provides both unique and good-looking photos. The only potential shortcoming is underwhelming battery life that isn’t as good as you’d expect for the V40’s size.

Pros:

• Big, beautiful screen
• Triple camera is a treat
• Solid and beautiful hardware
• Headphone jack and good DAC
• Wireless charging
• Simpler software than before

Cons:

• A phone this big should have more battery
• Secondary cameras missing OIS
• No higher storage option available
• Aurora Black model is slippery

About this review

I’ve been using a U.S. unlocked LG V40 for 6 days, initially in San Francisco, CA and then in Seattle, WA. The phone’s software updated 2 days into the review period to build OPM1.171019.026 with the September 1, 2018 security patch. It was provided to Android Central for review by LG.

Solid

LG V40 Hardware, display and features

The V40 generally follows the industry trend of being a rounded metal-frame phone with smoothly sculpted glass and a typical layout of buttons and ports. The 6.4-inch display is notably larger than the G7, and is ever-so-slightly larger than the Galaxy S9+ — less than 1mm taller, and 2mm wider. It has a notch, of course, but LG made a subtle change to make the bottom bezel the same thickness as the top — and despite the notch up there it has a very nice sense of symmetry when you look at the screen.

This is a really nice OLED screen you’ll enjoy looking at, but it isn’t quite as good as Samsung’s.

That display is an OLED panel, which marks a move away from the G7’s LCD and hasn’t exactly been a point of strength for LG phones. You may recall the furor over the Pixel 2 XL’s LG-made panel being so bad, but thankfully the V40’s panel looks nothing like that. Actually, it looks really good. It’s crisp and colorful, with only mild color shifting at tight viewing angles. And it now has a proper auto-high-brightness mode that can enable by default in sunlight and doesn’t need to be triggered manually. The max brightness is good enough to easily see the screen in bright sunlight, and it also gets really dim at night. I won’t say it’s as wonderful as Samsung’s latest screens — which are just amazing — but it’s darn close, and good enough that I haven’t found any reason to complain about its characteristics.

The phone is solid, but the matte glass finish is what really takes it over the top — don’t get the Aurora Black color.

Because it’s relatively light, the V40 doesn’t seem quite as solid or substantial. At 169 grams it’s 10% lighter than the Galaxy S9+ and 16% lighter than the Note 9 — it’s also over 1mm thinner. But most people will find the reduction in quality heft a fine trade-off for being able to use the phone in one hand more comfortably. The V40 is still awkwardly tall and a little slippery when it comes to adjusting your hand to reach the top third of the display, but the lower weight helps with usability regardless.

The slippery finish is actually exclusive to this Aurora Black V40 that I’ve been using, because LG has an altogether different finish for its other colors. Moroccan Blue, which is the only non-black option in the U.S., and other international options have a softer matte finish to the glass that is amazing to hold. The frosted glass finish is easier to grip, collects fewer fingerprints and offers a neat color-shifting look that makes the black version even more boring by comparison. It’s a shame LG didn’t apply this “soft” finish to all of the colors — a big missed opportunity to differentiate entirely from Samsung’s glossy backs. The black one looks and feels fine, and has a subtle color-shift effect to a more blue-green in the right lighting, but as soon as your see Moroccan Blue you’ll want it — and sadly, it’s exclusive to Verizon for some unknown period.

LG took Samsung’s lead and simply offers every spec and feature the competition has.

Elsewhere, LG’s done a darn good job of filling the V40 with the features people are clamoring for. It’s water resistant, of course. The 64GB of storage is typical, but the SD card slot is a nice bonus for many people. There’s also a headphone jack, which is appreciated, and LG continues to get plaudits for including a nice DAC to help it out. LG’s so-called “BoomBox” speaker system is an attempt to skip dual speakers in favor of using the whole phone as a resonator for the single speaker at the bottom, and for the most part it works well. When you set the phone down on a table it really helps amplify the sound, and it sounds pretty good — but when you crank up the volume a bit when watching or listening to something as you hold the phone, it feels … odd. The whole phone vibrates, which isn’t pleasing, and you can still run into the age-old problem of blocking the single bottom speaker with your pinky finger.

Triple treat

LG V40 Cameras

We’ll eventually reach the point of diminishing returns with the number of cameras on smartphones — but right now, having three distinct sensors and lenses on the back of a phone seems totally normal. LG’s marketing talks about a “penta” (five) camera setup on the V40, but of course, only three are on the back with the other two on the front. The set of three breaks down like this: a 12MP main sensor with a standard-view lens, a 16MP sensor with a wide-angle lens, and another 12MP sensor (different from the primary) with a 2X telephoto lens.

The main camera took a step up, and the two supporting lenses just add to the experience.

The wide-angle sensor and lens are the same as the LG G7, which is fine, but the main sensor and lens have thankfully been upgraded. The main sensor has 1.4-micron pixels, much larger than the G7’s 1-micron, and the lens is now a little brighter at f/1.5. There are also purported upgrades to the photo processing, including smarter HDR that chooses how many frames to process based on what’s in the scene and specific changes to improve low-light photo quality overall.

I’m so glad LG made the sensor and lens upgrade to get more light in. It really shows in the final product, whether you’re shooting in low light or not. Shooting in auto mode it seems pretty clear when the multi-frame HDR mode kicks in and really bumps up the colors, but even without it the V40 takes pleasing and natural-looking photos. My only complaint is in the fine details, where LG’s processing lands in a weird middle ground between Samsung and Google. It isn’t super-smooth like Samsung, nor is it natural like Google — when you zoom in you’ll see blotchy chroma noise on occasion, and oftentimes sharp edges come out soft. It looks just fine on a phone or even a computer screen, but zooming in reveals displeasing defects in some photos.

Photo quality is good, but the prevailing feeling is that the V40’s camera is fun to shoot with.

LG’s wide-angle camera continues to be a unique treat. I love taking these wide-angle shots, and they just offer a nice change of pace to mix up the kinds of photos I share with people. Not all scenes call for it, but going back to a phone without a wide-angle camera feels like a limitation. The telephoto camera isn’t such a great success. A sensor with 1-micron pixels behind an f/2.6 lens without OIS is a recipe for poor photos in anything but perfect lighting, as so many other manufacturers have found. It’s useful for zooming with less resolution in daylight, and facilitates a proper portrait mode with faux bokeh, but it isn’t nearly as good as the Galaxy S9+’s better sensor and OIS.

The combination of three sensors and really good camera software make the V40 a downright fun phone to shoot with, and also has the quality to back it up. LG’s software makes switching between the three cameras seamless and even offers options to preview all three views at once or capture photos sequentially each one. There’s a robust manual mode if you want it, but the automatic mode absolutely gets the job done with no fuss. LG may not be winning the camera battle with absolute quality and accuracy when you nitpick the details, but the whole experience is right up there with the competition.

The dual front-facing cameras don’t change the game much from the LG G7. The main camera is the same 8MP sensor with fixed focus, an f/1.9 lens and 80-degree field-of-view. It’s paired with a 5MP sensor with fixed focus and an f/2.2 lens, but a slightly wider 90-degree lens. This gives you some flexibility for a tighter selfie with the main camera or a larger group shot with the secondary, but we’re talking about 80- vs. 90-degrees here, which is small. The main camera captures much more detail in your face, but either one will be good enough for social media and messaging. The wide-angle shooter is near-necessary for group shots, but I still wish at least the main sensor had auto focus, as that’s a premium feature I expect on a high-end phone like this.

Going simpler

LG V40 Software, performance and battery life

I stopped using the LG V30 before its Oreo update and didn’t spend much time with the LG G7, so this is my first time really getting in deep with the company’s latest software offering. The V40 is launching on Android 8.1, which in itself isn’t disappointing except for the fact that LG made a grandiose announcement that its “Global Software Upgrade Center” would be improving its update cadence and stability. Where’s Android 9 Pie at?

Even though we’re looking at Oreo, LG has made a concerted effort to streamline and simplify its software. In my time speaking with LG representatives, they specifically called out the reduced amount of bloatware and duplicate apps on the V40. LG no longer ships its own calendar or calculator apps, for example, and defaults to Google’s instead. This is one of the main benefits of LG’s software over Samsung’s — it’s at least somewhat self-aware of the fact that very few people want its apps, so it’s cutting back on the offerings. There are still a few that can’t be disabled, but there’s far less app cruft to deal with than in the past.

Feature creep has been reduced, as has bloatware and duplicate apps. LG is going simpler.

The feature creep has also been reduced, with fewer unnecessary whizz-bang things popping up and distracting you. I still had to spend the typical couple of hours going through settings and turning off things that I don’t want, but it can all be turned off, which I really appreciate. There are still baffling omissions like not having a fingerprint swipe gesture for the notification shade and having an app drawer that doesn’t auto-sort alphabetically, but on the whole, I’m finding LG’s software to be quite pleasant.

If you’re a fan of Google’s services you’ll be fine with LG’s integration of the Google Assistant, Google Feed and Google Lens as well, which replaces any sort of LG-specific “AI” you’d expect. The Feed is found as part of the default launcher, the side-mounted Assistant button auto-launches the service and Google Lens is baked right into the camera app. You can just as easily ignore it all, but I find it much less intrusive than Samsung’s Bixby push, and the hardware button placement is low enough that it isn’t accidentally pressed every single day.

Performance and stability are both great — now, how about that Pie update?

Performance and stability have also been excellent, which I’d completely expect for this class of phone with these internals. The only sluggishness I’ve seen has been with opening the camera after a handful of hours of not using it, which is disappointing. I want that camera to always be available, and sometimes it takes a few beats to get going with a double-press of the power button. The rest of the experience has been a treat, no matter what I’ve thrown at the phone.

So how long does the performance last? Unlike the Galaxy Note 9, the V40 doesn’t have an impressively sized battery, at just 3300mAh, considering the overall footprint of the phone. That’s considerably less than the Note’s 4000 and even Galaxy S9+’s 3500mAh. As you can see in the above screenshots, battery life can obviously vary based on how hard you hit the phone. I don’t do anything to “save” battery on my phones — I use auto brightness, let all of my apps sync and use the phone whenever (and however) I need it. On a heavy day I was able to kill the V40 in under 14 hours with over 4 hours of screen-on time, tons of Bluetooth audio, lots of time on LTE and about 30 minutes of driving with navigation Android Auto. On easier days, I went to bed with over 30% battery remaining despite my typical usage and over 3 hours of screen-on time.

The V40 will handle a full day of use no problem — the question is how much reserve you’ll have left at the end of the day.

These numbers are very much in line with my Galaxy S9+ battery life history: the V40 will handle a full day of typical use with plenty to spare and no battery-saving tricks; but if you hit it hard, you may be looking at a late-evening top-up or very little left in the tank at the end of the day.

When it comes to recharging, the V40 is really quick. That smaller capacity paired with Quick Charge 3.0 leads to fast top-ups over USB-C, which you may need if you hit the phone hard. It also has wireless charging, and worked perfectly with my Samsung wireless chargers.

I know most people won’t need more battery capacity than the V40 offers, and I certainly appreciate the lighter overall weight of the phone. But LG could’ve really stuck it to the competition by getting this capacity up above 3500mAh just to give a bit more longevity confidence to potential buyers.

Conclusion

LG V40 Review

As I used the LG V40 for the past week, I wonder why interest in LG’s latest phones isn’t higher. A few years ago, LG was doing pretty quirky stuff with its phones that was polarizing (and sometimes objectively bad). Now, it’s making darn good phones that match the competition spec-for-spec and feature-for-feature, and have a couple neat differentiators — and the V40 is a perfect example. It’s not weird or compromised, it’s just a top-end flagship with everything we expect in that class. It effectively lands between the Galaxy S9+ and Note 9, but offers just a little bit of LG flair to stand out. That’s a fine recipe.

Purely phone versus phone, I actually like the V40 more than the Galaxy S9+ — but you have to look at the price differential.

The hardware is very similar to the Galaxy S9+. The display, too, is approaching Samsung’s greatness. It has effectively the same hardware features in terms of battery, wireless charging, SD card slot, speakers, a headphone jack and IP68 resistance. The main camera isn’t quite on Samsung’s level, but the addition of a wide-angle shooter and neat camera software may make up for it in some people’s eyes. I actually feel like LG’s software is comparable to Samsung’s as well — it has a little less polish, but much less bloatware and fewer odd quirks. And yeah, it focuses on Google Assistant instead of Bixby.

Putting aside LG’s clear disadvantage of momentum and branding, the V40 is every bit as nice a phone as the Galaxy S9+. But that’s really the issue for LG: it’s making a phone that, on the whole, is comparable to Samsung’s, rather than objectively better. In that case, what’s the real draw for someone to try out an LG phone rather than stick with the Samsung brand they already know and trust?

4
out of 5

Well, it really comes down to a handful of choices on marginal differences — primarily, in the camera and software experience. You have to want the wide-angle lens on the back and fun camera software. You could also desire a phone that has a flat display rather than a curved one. Or you just don’t enjoy Samsung’s software. The soft matte finish on the back glass (except for the black model) is a small point of differentiation as well, but not a game-changer. Aside from those small areas, the V40 simply mirrors the Galaxy S9+ — and most people will be looking to Samsung by default. Particularly when the Galaxy S9+ is $100-150 less at retail.

Making a decision in a vacuum purely phone versus phone, I actually like the V40 more than the Galaxy S9+. I land on LG’s side with the cameras and software, and find the other small differences to be inconsequential. But give me a $150 discount, and it’s near-impossible to turn down the Galaxy S9+ in that scenario. Up against the Note 9, LG matches Samsung on price but loses out in battery and doesn’t offer a stylus — a different scenario, for sure. Perhaps LG can truly compete in a month when the inevitable price cuts arrive.

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LG V40 challenges Galaxy S9+ with 6.4-inch display, five cameras

New OLED display, penta-camera combination and high-end specs make a great package.

We already had a darn good idea of everything the LG V40 ThinQ was going to offer, thanks to leaks and LG’s own pre-announcements, but it’s all official now. (And yes, this is a “ThinQ” phone officially, but I’m just going to mention that here once and move on.)

LG V40 ThinQ review: Five cameras aimed straight at Samsung

LG did all it could to make a modern high-end flagship phone.

LG’s story with the V40 is essentially that it’s a big, powerful flagship-level phone with a new camera setup and all of the hardware features you want. The cameras are indeed the differentiator. As some companies have done, there are three rear cameras: a 12MP main camera, 16MP wide-angle camera and 12MP 2X zoom telephoto camera. The standard camera is a notable upgrade from the LG G7, with 1.4-micron pixels and an f/1.5 lens. The wide-angle is the same as the G7, which is great because of the unique field of view but somewhat disappointing because it doesn’t have OIS and the sensor quality is just average. The telephoto camera enables portrait mode shots and lossless zooming at 2X, which is basically table stakes for phones nowadays.

The LG V40 offers a typical high-end spec sheet. It has a Snapdragon 845 processor, supported by 6GB of RAM across the world with no restriction to any sort of “plus” variant. There’s 64GB of storage as well, again worldwide. The battery takes a bump up from the G7, now 3300mAh, underneath a larger 6.4-inch display. Yup, it has a notch, but it’s also a different display from the G7 — this one’s OLED, with a 3120×1440 resolution (and super-tall 19.5:9 aspect ratio). The brightness doesn’t quite match the G7 in raw nits, but it can max out its brightness automatically as ambient conditions require, rather than being triggered for a short time manually.

LG V40 specifications

The V40’s hardware is effectively a scaled-up G7 … except for that amazing matte glass finish.

The design of the V40 is effectively a G7 scaled up to fit the larger screen. Even still, this isn’t a huge or particularly unwieldy phone compared to the Galaxy S9+ and Note 9 — dimensions land within 1-2mm. It’s tall, for sure, but importantly it’s narrow, thin and light. The metal frame has a high-gloss finish on its rounded exterior that flows directly into the glass curves on the front and back. LG has also deployed a fantastic new matte finish on the V40’s rear glass, which reduces fingerprints and adds grip. It’s a frosted-style finish that’s gorgeous — but disappointingly, it isn’t available on the Aurora Black color, which is one of two options in the U.S. You’ll also have the choice of Moroccan Blue, which I will instantly recommend to anyone over black purely based on the feel.

LG basically made its own Galaxy S9+ — and that’s probably a fine strategy.

The rest of the hardware rounds out just like the G7 — but that’s a good thing. It has the same button and port layout, BoomBox speaker, headphone jack with 32-bit Quad DAC, IP68 resistance and wireless charging. The phone’s launching on Android 8.1 as well, which is unfortunate with many manufacturers getting Pie out the door — and LG isn’t giving a timeline for the Android 9 update. But for what it’s worth, LG’s making a concerted effort to limit the amount of bloatware and duplicate apps on the V40, which I can always applaud. LG’s integration with Google services continues to run deep, with the Google Feed on the stock launcher, Google Assistant button, Google Lens in the camera, and Google Calendar taking over as the sole calendar app on the phone.

Rather than the month (or more) we’ve waited for so many other LG flagships, the V40 is available for pre-order right away and will release fully on October 18 — an excellent improvement. In the U.S. it will be available from all major carriers, but we don’t yet know unlocked availability. Pricing will give many of you sticker shock: the LG V40 starts at $900, varying between carriers, with Verizon coming in the highest at $980. Pre-orders will receive a DJI Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal and a SanDisk 256GB microSD card, a $260 combined value, which could ease the blow for potential buyers.

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Regardless of any pre-order incentives, that pricing competes directly with the Galaxy Note 9, and gets undercut by the Galaxy S9+ by $100-150. That may make it a tough sell for a V40 that is closer-matched to the less expensive (and extremely popular) Galaxy S9+. Given LG’s history of quickly dropping prices after launch, though, the V40 could be extremely enticing at the $800 mark in a month or so.

LG V40

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