Is Google Home Mini the best speaker for your bathroom?

Best answer: The Google Home Mini is made to blend into your home decor, but it’s not made to stand up to steamy showers and splashy sinks. For a waterproof Google Assistant speaker, you’ll need to look to third-party options, like the TicHome Mini.

• Amazon: TicHome Mini ($100)
• Best Buy: Google Home Mini

The Google Home Mini is made for dry land, not hot showers

It doesn’t take long to look at the Google Home Mini and see that this device was not made for wet environments. The “acoustically transparent” fabric that covers the top of the Google Home Mini may be durable, but the touch sensors below it — as well as the overall wiring and circuitry of this compact speaker — are not protected against water ingress from spills, splashes, and dunks.

The Google Home Mini is a $50 smart speaker with a slim profile; waterproofing it would likely have raised costs, required a size increase, or both. It’s understandable that Google omitted it in its pursuit of a compact and affordable speaker.

That has not stopped many users over the years from sticking one in their bathroom to control music while they shower — and it is an option — but long-term damage from the steam is possible, especially if your bathroom has poor ventilation. If you really want to use a Google Home Mini in the bathroom, there are wall mounts and outlet shelves available to keep it away from your splash-prone sink. You’ll still need to mount your Google Home Mini across the room from the shower, though, and that combined with an echo-y shower can make it hard for Google to make out your commands.

Why not buy a Google Assistant-powered speaker that’s made to be used in the shower? One that is not only IPX6 (resistant to powerful water jets) splash-proof, but portable?

The TicHome Mini was one of the first third-party Google Assistant speakers to hit the market, and it is still one of the smallest in both profile and price that has water resistance and an internal battery for portable listening. It has a handy leather strap for easy carrying and hanging from a shower curtain hook as I shower every morning. The internal battery also lets you keep your music streaming as you bring it from room to room without having to stop the music or reboot the device, allowing me to bring the Mini into the bathroom for my shower and then return it to a Micro-USB charger as I settle in the bedroom or in the living room.

The TicHome Mini is about the same size as the Google Home Mini, but since it packs water resistance and a 6-hour battery into that slightly larger chassis, it it more expensive. For a device that has actual water resistance and the portability to follow you from the kitchen to the backyard during barbecue cookouts and pool parties, I’m willing to pay a little more.

Shower Assistant

TicHome Mini

$100 at Mobvoi

Take Google Assistant from room to room during your morning routine

This stylish hockey puck of a speaker packs IPX6 “splashproof” water resistance, the glorious geekiness of Google Assistant, and a battery for up to 6 hours of portable playback into a petite package that’s easy to carry around the house.

Budget pick

Google Home Mini

$49 at Best Buy

You can’t quite beat Google for an affordable, stylish Google Assistant speaker.

The Google Home Mini is a little donut of sound, smarts, and style, and its color choices help it blend in or stand out with just about any decor in your home. It’s not waterproof, but it is a popular speaker with dozen of wall and ceiling mounts available for it.

Have you downloaded the November 2018 security patch?

The patch is steadily rolling out to users as we speak.

Yesterday was November 5, and in the Android world, that means it was a day for a new security patch.

The November 2018 patch was officially released yesterday afternoon, and with it comes the usual assortment of bug fixes and some Pixel-specific tweaks such as improved picture-in-picture performance and enhanced notification stability.

Looking through the Android Central forums, it looks like most people have already gotten the update.

ptkelly
11-05-2018 02:51 PM

“

Mine is downloading now, too. I don’t know if it matters but I’m in Mexico with a Telmex ISP.

Reply

RedCarp703
11-05-2018 04:15 PM

“

It was 91MB on Verizon. I have a Panda 2XL and it just finished. Took about 20 minutes total.

Reply

Ben_70
11-05-2018 07:13 PM

“

This update changed the look of my home screen just a bit. I use dark theme and the search bar at the bottom used to be a light gray “G”. Now it’s the colored one and the assistant button was added at the right of the bar. Also some old app icons that used to not be round are now in circle icons. (Stock launcher).

Reply

davidnc
11-05-2018 09:59 PM

“

Just started downloading a few minutes ago , on the Pixel 2 XL

This is the first I got the update(OTA) on the day released in a long time

Reply

What about you? Have you downloaded the November 2018 security patch?

Join the conversation in the forums!

These are the best Android phones for playing Fortnite

Fortnite is an intense game that needs a pretty capable Android phone run it properly. A multiplayer match involving up to 100 unique players is bound to be a bit glitchy at times, but for the
As of November 2018, the Galaxy Note 8 offers the best value for .

Our Pick

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

$513 at Amazon
$899 at Samsung

Best phone for Fortnite.

Sure, the Galaxy Note 8 has been dethroned by the Note 9, but if we’re looking at things from the perspective of an obsessive Fortnite player, it might not be really worth upgrading to a massively expensive new phone when last year’s model has got so much going on. It’s got more than enough RAM to give you top performance when playing Fortnite, and the big display and battery mean you can see more and play longer.

Why you should buy the Note 8

With 6GB of RAM, a brilliant 6.3-inch Infinity Display, and all-day battery life, the Note 8 has all the specs you need to get the most out of Fortnite. You won’t get much use out of the S-pen or the excellent dual-camera setup playing the game, but those uniquely awesome features simply make the Note 8 a great phone to use when you’re not gaming.

Of course, the reason the Note 8 is deeply discounted is that its successor, the Galaxy Note 9, is now available. If your wireless contract is up soon and you’re able to get the cost spread out over the length of your new contract, the Note 9 is a pretty compelling phone, which offers upgraded specs across the board along with a redesigned S-pen. The Note 9 was specifically launched alongside Fortnite for Android along with an exclusive skin and complimentary V-Bucks for preordering customers. If you missed out on that pre-order deal, getting the Note 8 at a lower price will be just as good for any Fortnite player.

Is it a good time to buy a Note 8?

Unless you’re keen to splurge on the Note 9, it’s still a great time to buy the Note 8. You can buy a Note 8 outright from carriers like T-Mobile for around $700, or on contract for $30 a month, and Amazon has Certified Refurbished Note 8 phones available for around $500

Reasons to buy

• Big, bright display is beautiful
• A great phone with plenty to offer
• 6GB of RAM is ample for Fortnite
• Cheaper than Note 9
• Headphone jack

Reasons not to buy

• Underwhelming speakers
• Somewhat disappointing battery life for size

Advertisement

The Next Note

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

$820 at Amazon

For those who want the best.

Is the Galaxy Note 9 Samsung’s best phone to date? It’s pretty easy to argue yes. Does the Note 9 have improved specs over the Note 8? Yep, pretty much across the board.

But is it worth spending a ton of extra money for the purposes of playing Fortnite? Probably not. Still, it’s obviously a great phone that might be worth getting if your wireless contract is up for renewal and you can snag a sweet trade-in deal with your wireless carrier.

This phone has great specs for gaming and the 6.4-inch display makes it a fantastic device for playing Fortnite, but it also includes some other great hardware features including a headphone jack, a microSD card slot, and support for wireless charging.

Gamer Phone V2.0

Razer Phone 2

$799 at Amazon

The best phone for gamers… for now…

For anyone who owned and loved the first Razer Phone, there’s a lot to love about the Razer Phone 2.

Razer went ahead and made the screen brighter and focused on improving the camera with better sensors and processing software, and added in water-resistance, wireless charging, and a customizable RGB logo on the back that can be set up for app notifications. Performance-wise, you get the top-end specs for the best gaming experience and the 120hz display refresh rate for buttery-smooth action like you’ve never seen before.

The Razer Phone is a powerful device with a Snapdragon 835 processor and 8GB of RAM. It also has good software features such as Game Booster which blocks notifications and lets you prioritize game performance or battery life when you’re gaming. And there’s something to be said about Razer’s decision to keep a light touch the on software side — The Razer Phone 2 ships running Android 8.1 Oreo with Nova Launcher as the default launcher.

Bottom line

Fortnite has proven to be one of the biggest Android releases of 2018 — but it’s not exactly a game that you need

But if you want the best of all worlds, the Galaxy Note 8 has everything you need to slay in Fortnite.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Marc Lagace is the Apps and Games Editor at Android Central. He’s been a gamer for most of his life and actually took a university course on Video Game Theory — which he aced! You can reach out to him on Twitter @spacelagace..

Save big on Logitech mice, keyboards, webcams, and more today only

Make the most of this one-day sale.

The early Black Friday deals from Amazon continue with Logitech offering a wide variety of its PC accessories, including keyboards, mice, webcams, and more with 35% or more off their regular prices.

The hugely popular MX Master 2S wireless mouse is down to a new all-time low price at $55.99. It usually sells for nearer $90 and features an ergonomic design, has the ability to connect to up to three Windows or Mac computers at once and can last for 70 days between charges.

You can also grab the Logitech K810 Wireless Multi-Device keyboard for $57 — around $13 off its average price. It features the same multi-device smarts and supports tablets and smartphones, too. It’s well-reviewed by existing users with an average rating of 4.1 stars from over 1,700 reviews.

Some of our favorite deals include:

• Logitech G502 Proteus Spectrum Gaming Mouse – $38.75 (Was $85)
• Logitech MX Master 2S Wireless Mouse – $55.99 (Was $90)
• Logitech C310 HD Webcam – $19.36 (Was $50)
• Logitech Z625 THX 2.1 Speaker System – $109.99 (Was $170)
• Logitech K400 Plus Wireless Touch TV Keyboard – $17.98 (Was $40)

Most of the products included in the promotion are highly reviewed by existing users and we know from our own experience that Logitech tends to offer great value for money — especially so when its products are on sale. Be sure to check out the whole promotion and grab what you want now before the sale ends tonight.

See at Amazon

Nokia 9 renders showcase the phone’s five rear cameras

This is shaping up to be the most exciting Nokia Android phone yet.

As much as Nokia’s been killing it in regards to mid-to-low-range Android smartphones, the company’s flagship devices have been few and far between. The Nokia 8 Sirocco was the last real flagship we got from the company, but now thanks to @OnLeaks and 91 Mobiles, we have our first official look at the Nokia 9.

Without a doubt, the biggest draw to the Nokia 9 is going to be its rear camera package. Taking a look at the back of the phone, we can see five standalone camera sensors, a proximity detection sensor, and a dual-tone LED flash. The renders don’t show any “PureView” branding on the Nokia 9’s body, but it’s expected that the name will be revived with the phone considering its big focus on photography.

We don’t have any specifics as to what those five cameras will entail, but we’ll likely see the usual assortment of a main sensor, wide-angle lens, a telephoto one, and more.

Other reported specs for the Nokia 9 include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, up to 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a large 4,150 mAh battery. We’re also looking at an 18:9 display, USB-C for charging, and no 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Nokia 9 is expected to launch in early 2019, and at this time, there’s no word on expected pricing.

Are you excited for the Nokia 9?

Nokia 6.1 Plus review: HMD’s best budget phone yet

Grab the ecobee4 Alexa-enabled Smart Thermostat for $209

It’s learning.

Smart thermostats are awesome and honestly, you should have one in your home. This Alexa-enabled ecobee4 is one of the best on the market currently, and this discount is only a few bucks more than a previous low. Right now you can pick one up for just $209, which is $50 lower than it normally sells for.

You can control it with just your voice or through the free ecobee iOS and Android app, and the included room sensor helps keep an even temperature throughout your whole house. If you’re looking to save a few bucks while keeping your house cool this summer, this is a perfect way to do it. Be sure to grab one now, before you miss out on the savings.

Depending on where you live, you may qualify for some additional rebates, making this an even smarter investment.

See on Amazon

The Spire Stone stress management and activity tracker is down to $104

Chill out.

Amazon is offering the Spire Stone Stress Management and Activity Tracker for $103.96 right now. This usually costs $130, and it works with both iOS and Android.

This little stone has a respiration sensor to measure your breathing patterns. If your breathing becomes tense or erratic, a gentle notification helps you remember to relax, and gives you actionable ways to do so. Visual exercises, guided meditations, and more will help you stay calm.

You can also track activity levels, steps, calories burned, and more. The Spire Stone will help you learn where and when these moods hit, too, so you can be better prepared. It’s washer-resistant, charges wirelessly, and lasts up to 10 days before needing to be recharged, meaning it won’t add something meddlesome to your daily routine.

See at Amazon

EMUI 9.0 will begin its global rollout on November 10

A new version of Android means it’s once again time to peer into my crystal ball.

Latest Updates

November 6, 2018 — EMUI 9.0 will begin its global rollout on November 10

EMUI 9.0 is Huawei’s custom Android skin that’s based on Android 9 Pie, and according to a post from the company on Chinese social network Weibo, the update will begin rolling out to select Huawei and Honor phones starting on November 10.

Once November 10 rolls around, the following phones will start to receive EMUI 9.0 around the world:

• Huawei Mate 10
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro
• Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design
• Huawei Mate RS Porsche Design
• Huawei P20
• Huawei P20 Pro
• Honor 10
• Honor View 10
• Honor Play

In addition to the regular Pie goodies, EMUI 9.0 also comes with improved smoothness/responsiveness and a GPU Turbo 2.0 mode that delivers increased performance when playing games.

October 17, 2018 — Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1, and XZ1 Compact getting Android 9 Pie on Oct 26

Earlier in the month, Sony began rolling out Android 9 Pie to the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact. Now, we have official dates for when Pie will make its way to the company’s other handsets.

Starting first with the Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1, and XZ1 Compact, these phones will receive their update on October 26. The XZ2 Premium will follow them on November 7, and if you have an Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, or XA2 Plus, you can expect Pie to land on March 4, 2019.

October 12, 2018 — Android 9 Pie rolling out to Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact

On October 12, reports started coming in to show that Pie is making its way to Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact handsets. The update changes the build number from 51.1.A.11.51 to 52.0.A.3.27 on both phones and weighs in at around 1.059 GB. In addition to the usual Pie goodies, there’s also a new camera app and the October 2018 security patch.

The full roundup

Did you hear? Android Pie is a thing now. And we know that everyone will want it and want it as soon as possible. That’s how it works and that’s how we are wired. We want updates, we want them to be spectacular and we want them right now.

The reality of the situation is a bit different. Most phones made in the last 18 months will see Android Pie, but some of them will only get updated when we see the first developer preview for Android Q (Quince Jelly or gtfo, Google!) come along. It’s a lot easier for manufacturers to update their phones to a newer version, but it’s still not any better. That’s another article for another time, though. This one is where I guess which phones will get updated sometime in the next 12 months.

Predicting anything Android-related is 10% science and 90% interpretation.

It’s not as easy as you think and many sudsy cold beverages worth of thought goes into my guesses each and every year. About one-third of them are no-brainers, but some of the others are basically the same odds as a coin flip. It seems like manufacturers only care about a few models that get a lot of press time. But I do have to toot my own hat (or something) and say I have a pretty good track record. Luck or skill? You decide. (It’s totally skill.)

Let’s break it down by the major manufacturers of the phones we love and make a few predictions. Remeber, these are just predictions and not any official word on anything from any company unless otherwise noted.

• Google
• Android Beta Program Partners
• Samsung
• LG
• Huawei
• Motorola
• OnePlus
• Nokia
• HTC
• Sony

Still waiting for Oreo? Check to see whether your phone will be upgraded!

Google

I always start with Google because it’s easy and I’ll get it right every time. That’s what I want at the top of the page. I say it’s easy because Google has already told us which phones get updated and which won’t.

• The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL have already been updated to Pie.
• The Pixel and Pixel XL have already been updated to Android Pie.
• While not actually from Google, any Android One phones manufactured since October 2017 will also be updated to Pie “later this fall.”

And that’s it. Prior to the Pixel, Google promised two years of full support and three years of security updates for phones they sell under their own brand. The Nexus 6P and Nexus 5X are just about three years old. Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu, Adios, Good Bye. They were great phones.

More: It’s time to say goodbye to the Nexus program for good

Android Beta Program Partners

For the first time ever other companies have joined Google in supporting the Android Beta Program. When it was started for Android Pie (then known simply as P) the following phones joined Google’s Pixel and Pixel 2 family in supporting it:

• Sony Xperia XZ2
• Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S
• Nokia 7 Plus
• Oppo R15 Pro
• Vivo X21
• OnePlus 6
• Essential PH‑1

That means that every one of these phones should see a full-on update to Android Pie in the very near future. In fact, the Essential PH-1 is saw its update at the same time the Pixel and Pixel 2 did.

We’re proud to bring Android 9 Pie to Essential Phone the same day it’s released! Check your phone now for the update. 🥧 pic.twitter.com/pniUDl9yr8

— Essential (@essential) August 6, 2018

Samsung

Samsung makes more models of a single flagship line like the Galaxy S each year than Google has made in total, but it’s also pretty easy to know which phones Samsung will update because they’re predictable. Samsung offers four “premium” models each year. like 2018’s Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+, the Galaxy S9 Active that we all know is coming, and the Galaxy Note 9. Even when Samsung sold 15 different models of the Galaxy S6, they were all treated the same when it came to expecting an update.

When to expect it is just as predictable, and it will happen about a year from the date this was first published (March 2018). Some models in Europe will see it first, about a month later it will show up somewhere else, and once Samsung is satisfied it’s not going to totally wreck about a gazillion phones they will give it the green light. Add in whatever time your carrier needs and the final result is just about a year from its initial release.

• The Galaxy S9 and S9+ (and any S9 Active that comes in the future) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 9 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy S8 and S8+, and the Galaxy S8 Active, will be updated to Android Pie.
• The Galaxy Note 8 will be updated to Android Pie.

Here’s where it gets interesting. there are a handful of other Galaxy phones that have a huge regional fanbase. In India, for example, the Galaxy J models are huge hits because they offer most of the same experience you find in a Galaxy S at a lower price. Samsung will give them the same treatment the Galaxy S and Note lines receive. That’s not the most interesting part, though. That would be the seemingly random phones that Samsung decides to update. We don’t know why we see this every year (Carrier requests? Developer favorites? Aliens?) we just like seeing it. And we all wish we saw more of it.

LG

LG has always been a wildcard when I write this post every year. Like Samsung, there are a few “important” models that get all the press coverage and plenty of other more inexpensive models that most of us aren’t talking about.

LG also mentioned some streamlining in the release cycle, which hopefully gives the development teams time to get an update out the door and have it be a good update.

• The LG G7 ThinQ will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V30 (including the V30S or whatever models we have seen or will see) will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG V20 will be updated to Android Pie.
• The LG G6 will see Android Pie.

Older models like the G5 and V10 are done seeing any attention and won’t see any updates. LG makes a handful of phones that aren’t quite flagship material, and we know it is willing to spend the time and money on updating some of them even if your carrier isn’t and you never see it. That means nothing is a given.

I also think LG consolidating things and releasing phones when they think it’s time for a new model rather than by looking at a calendar will make a difference here and lead to longer support.

Huawei

Huawei is tough to read. It hasn’t abandoned the Asian way of doing smartphones like LG and Samsung have for their U.S. divisions and sometimes that means the things the company does can be puzzling to those of us used to the Western way of thinking. Just when I think I have figured out exactly which phones are the company’s flagship models that will get the lion’s share of time and money spent, they change it all up. That’s a good thing.

Something made Huawei change the way it redistributes and maintains phones running the EMUI operating system (Huawei’s version of Android) in 2017 and I think that’s going to be reflected when it comes to Android P updates.

Per an update from the company on November 6, the following phones will begin to receive the EMUI 9 / Android Pie update starting November 10:

• Huawei Mate 10
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro
• Huawei Mate 10 Porsche Design
• Huawei Mate RS Porsche Design
• Huawei P20
• Huawei P20 Pro
• Honor 10
• Honor View 10
• Honor Play

Motorola

Motorola had a weird 2017. That’s putting it mildly. They released like 100 phones in the Americas and Western Europe (Editor’s note: it was actually 9) and they ranged from the surprisingly great $100 Moto E4 to the Moto X4, the first of hopefully many non-Google phones you can use on Project Fi, and all the Z and Force you can handle in between.. And they did it without compromising the G series which has been a company staple for years from the smartphone division.

Moto phones under Lenovo are slowly becoming like the Thinkpad — quietly chugging along in the background doing their thing. And doing it well.

On August 15, Motorola published a blog post outlining the handsets that’ll receive the official Pie update starting this fall. They include:

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

While that’s a strong list, the notable omissions include the Moto E5, E5 Plus, and E5 Play.

OnePlus

OnePlus is on the verge of becoming more than just a niche brand. But it won’t forget where its early success came from — providing fast updates because its customers wanted them. And just because it is never as fast as we wanted doesn’t mean it wasn’t as fast as possible. Sometimes, too fast even …

Here’s the list of phones OnePlus is going to update to Android P.

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

Nokia

Hi, Android Pie will be available for the Nokia 3, 5, 6 and 8. Roll-out will be phased as usual to secure quality delivery. Nokia 7 Plus is part of the Android One program, which guarantees two years of software updates, including Pie.

— Nokia Mobile (@NokiaMobile) August 8, 2018

Nokia seems to understand that a substantial portion of its own customer base wants fast updates. Like OnePlus, they should listen to their current customers while trying to find new ones if they are to be successful. Here’s a list of phones expected to see Android Pie from Nokia.

• Nokia 3
• Nokia 5
• Nokia 6
• Nokia 6.1
• Nokia 7 Plus
• Nokia 8
• Nokia 8 Sirocco

HTC

Disappointing sales have left the future of HTC’s smartphone business in uncertainty, but assuming the company doesn’t go under in the next few months, it’s announced that it’ll be updating four of its smartphones to Android 9 Pie. The list is as follows:

• HTC U12+
• HTC U11
• HTC U11+
• HTC U11 Life (Android One version)

We’re pleased as pie to confirm updates to Android Pie for the HTC U12+, U11+, U11, and U11 life (Android One). Timeframes for roll-out will be announced in due course. We can’t wait to know what you think of Google’s freshest slice of Android! pic.twitter.com/mPJePFegne

— HTC (@htc) August 10, 2018

Annnnddd…that’s it.

HTC says that it’ll release timeframes for its Pie updates “in due course”, and as those announcements are made, we’ll update this article accordingly.

Sony

Sony announced its Pie update plans on August 16, 2018, and as expected, the phones that’ll be the first to get the new software treatment are the company’s high-end flagships. So far, the following phones have been confirmed to get an Android Pie update.

• Sony Xperia XZ2
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
• Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
• Sony Xperia XZ Premium
• Sony Xperia XZ1
• Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
• Sony Xperia XA2
• Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra
• Sony Xperia XA2 Plus

On October 12, reports started coming in to show that Pie is making its way to Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact handsets. The update changes the build number from 51.1.A.11.51 to 52.0.A.3.27 on both phones and weighs in at around 1.059 GB. In addition to the usual Pie goodies, there’s also a new camera app and the October 2018 security patch.

But wait, there’s more!

The Xperia XZ Premium, XZ1, and XZ1 Compact will all receive their update on October 26. The XZ2 Premium will follow them on November 7, and if you have an Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, or XA2 Plus, you can expect Pie to land on March 4, 2019.

Must mentions

These may be the companies we’re most familiar with in the west that sell Android phones, but they aren’t the only companies doing it. Out of the literally hundreds of models available, a few stand out and need mentioning.

• Any phone running the Android Go version will probably see an update once Google gets Pie optimized for the meager specs these devices have.
• The BlackBerry KEYone probably won’t be upgraded to Android Pie, but we know the KEY2 will be.
• Someone at XDA will update their Nexus One to Android Pie and I am going to do my best to get Google to send that person a brand new Pixel 3 NotchXL.

Like mentioned earlier, these are just educated guesses at this point. but one thing I know for certain is that no matter what the phone, any updates will feel like they took too long to make it into our hands. That’s just how we’re wired.

Android 9 Pie

• Android 9 Pie review: Greater than the sum of its slices
• Everything you need to know about Android 9 Pie!
• Will my phone get Android Pie?
• How to get Android 9 Pie on your Pixel right now
• Join the Discussion

Google Pixel 3 vs. Google Pixel 2: Should you upgrade?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. With years of experience testing hundreds of Android phones, we’re here to help you make an informed decision when considering an upgrade.

Google Pixel 3

Compact powerhouse

$799 at Google Store

Pros

• Fantastic cameras
• Gorgeous OLED display
• Wireless charging

Cons

• No headphone jack
• Average battery life

Google hasn’t changed a lot of hardware elements on the Pixel 3, opting instead to focus its attention on improving the camera. The main difference from an aesthetic standpoint is the switch to an 18:9 screen, which allows the phone to pack in a larger 5.5-inch display while retaining the same size.

Google Pixel 2

Still great

$632 at Amazon

Pros

• Robust hardware
• Same software as Pixel 3

Cons

• Huge bezels
• No headphone jack
• Battery doesn’t last an entire day

A year on, the Pixel 2 is going strong. It’s running Pie, and while some of the software features may be missing from the Pixel 3, Google is working toward bringing a lot of the latest camera tweaks to the phone. Design is one area where the Pixel 2 hasn’t aged well, however, as those bezels look huge in 2018.

The Pixel 2 has plenty going for it in 2018. The phone continues to be one of the first to receive software updates, and Google has mentioned that new camera features that debuted on the Pixel 3 — like Night Sight — will be coming to the Pixel 2. So should you upgrade to the Pixel 3 or pick up last year’s phone? It’s time to find out.

Should you upgrade from a Pixel 2 to a Pixel 3?

Right now, the main reason to upgrade to the Pixel 3 from last year’s phone is the bezels. Google finally made the switch to an 18:9 form factor with the Pixel 3, resulting in a larger 5.5-inch display while retaining the same dimensions.

Get the Pixel 3 if you don’t like the bezels on your Pixel 2.

If anything, the Pixel 3 is 0.1mm shorter and 1.5mm narrower than the Pixel 2, so if you were worried that the larger screen would increase the size of the phone, that isn’t the case.

The reduced bezels makes the Pixel 3 look much more modern, and Google hasn’t sacrificed the stereo speakers up front either. You still get great sound from the Pixel 3, and it also has two cameras up front, with the primary shooter joined by a wide-angle lens.

Operating system	Android 9 Pie	Android 9 Pie
Display	5.5-inch OLED2160x1080 (18:9)Gorilla Glass 5	5.0-inch AMOLED1920x1080 (16:9)Gorilla Glass 5
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845Pixel Visual Core	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835Pixel Visual Core
RAM	4GB	4GB
Storage	64GB/128GB	64GB/128GB
Expandable	No	No
Rear camera	12.2MP, 1.4-micron, PDAFf/1.8, OIS	12.2MP, 1.4-micron, PDAFf/1.8, OIS
Front camera 1	8MP, auto focusf/1.8, 75-degree lens	8MP, f/2.4, fixed focus
Front camera 2	8MP, fixed focusf/2.2, 97-degree lens	NA
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, NFC, GPS
Audio	Stereo speakersUSB-C	Stereo speakersUSB-C
Battery	2915mAhNon-removable	2700mAhNon-removable
Charging	18W USB-C PDQi wireless	18W USB-C PD
Water resistance	IP68	IP67
Security	Fingerprint sensor	Fingerprint sensor
Dimensions	145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9mm148g	145.7 x 69.7 x 7.8mm143g
Colors	Just Black, Very White, Not Pink	Just Black, Clearly White, Kinda Blue

Even though the Pixel 2 comes with last year’s Snapdragon 835, there’s no noticeable difference in performance next to the Pixel 3. Both phones have 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, and 18W fast charging. The Pixel 3 does come with wireless charging as well, and there’s a $79 Pixel Stand that unlocks new functionality.

The Pixel 2 will get a lot of the latest camera features that debuted on the Pixel 3.

The Pixel 2 is also slated to pick up a lot of the new camera features that were introduced on the Pixel 3. Night Sight will be coming to the device, along with the new augmented reality features — including the Marvel and Childish Gambino partnerships.

The Pixel 2 didn’t suffer from any of the screen issues that plagued its larger sibling, so there really isn’t a reason to upgrade to the Pixel 3. The Pixel 3 has significantly thinner bezels and much better front cameras, but that isn’t enough to justify making the switch.

Google Pixel 3

Compact powerhouse

$799 at Google Store

The Pixel 3 offers an even better camera and a sleeker design.

With the Pixel 3, you’re getting a larger screen with thinner bezels, wireless charging, and better front cameras. The overall experience itself hasn’t changed significantly from the Pixel 2, so if you’re already using the phone, you can hold off from upgrading for another generation.

Google Pixel 2

Still great

$632 at Amazon

Pixel 2 has larger bezels, but it’s still a solid phone.

The Pixel 2 is still one of the best phones in the market, and if you’re looking to pick up a new phone and are deciding between the two, it’s an easy choice. If you can get the Pixel 2 for anywhere around the $500 mark, you should pick up last year’s phone.

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The big shopping event is right around the corner.

Don’t panic, but Black Friday and Cyber Monday are not all that far away, and it’s time to start getting prepared. We’ve already started to see some big retailers release ads and begin some deals early, and the team at Thrifter (the one who powers all the great deals you see on Android Central) will be covering all of it. These big events can be a bit daunting, everything appears to be on sale and all the retailers are trying to lure you into the store to buy stuff that you may not necessarily need.

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