The best screen protectors for the Galaxy S8

Keep it scratch-free — for good.

It can be a little trickier to adhere a screen protector to the curved display of the Galaxy S8 and phones like it, but if you’re worried about a cracked or scratched screen it’s well worth the hassle. We’ve rounded up some of the most highly-recommended screen protectors for the Galaxy S8!

• Whitestone Dome Glass
• i-Blason Tempered Glass Screen Protector
• Spigen NeoFlex Screen Protector (2-pack)
• IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)
• Ringke Invisible Defender Full Coverage Screen Protector
• Armorsuit MilitaryShield Galaxy S8 Screen Protector

Whitestone Dome Glass

Top Pick

The Whitestone Dome Glass screen protector is arguably the best screen protector you can buy for your Galaxy S8. The kit includes a UV light which is used in the curing process to ensure a perfect installation that covers the curved edges of the screen. It’s expensive for sure at $45, but you get what you pay for with quality protection.

See at Amazon

The Whitestone Dome Glass has proven to be a very popular screen protector and is currently on sale for $45, down from $60.

Check out this review and installation guide to get an idea of how this tempered glass screen protector uniquely adheres like no other screen protector you’ve seen before. If the worst case scenario has already occurred and your screen is cracked, think of this as a second chance screen before dropping hundreds of dollars on a proper replacement screen. With a UV light packaged to complete the curing process, this is a pricier option than other screen protectors out there but also more reliable based on user reviews.

i-Blason Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Budget Option

i-Blason makes a tempered glass screen protector that’s designed to conform to the Galaxy S8’s curve display. it’s also slightly shorter than the full height of the phone so that the edges won’t be lifted by a case. Get this case-friendly screen protector for just $10.

See at Amazon

This recommendation came from an AC reader in our comment section and is a great option if you also want to use a case to keep your phone protected. It features everything you’d want from a tempered glass screen protector at a very reasonable price.

Spigen NeoFlex screen protector (2-pack)

Best for Cases

Spigen makes plenty of great cases for the Galaxy S8, so it only makes sense that they’d also offer a screen protector that’s case compatible. Because it’s a flexible film, the NeoFlex can offer full protection for your screen without affecting the touch responsiveness. Get this two-pack for just $9.

See at Amazon

This recommendation also came from the AC community and is a good pick if for a film protector that requires a wet installation. If you’re comfortable with taking the time to properly for a film screen protector with a wet installation, you should be happy dropping $9 for a two-pack.

Spigen recommends installing the screen protector with a case already on, which might be a marketing ploy to get you to buy one of their cases, too, but they make some great cases and paired with a Spigen case, your Galaxy S8 will be protected from drops and also safe from scratches on the screen.

IQShield Case Friendly Film Screen Protector (2-pack)

Best Value

IQShield offers a two-pack of plastic film screen protectors that are compatible with even the most rugged cases. This is a paper-thin screen protector that you will hardly notice after a clean installation. Get your two-pack of case-friendly screen protectors from IQShield for just $8.

See at Amazon

These screen protectors have an oleophobic coating to help prevent fingerprints and smudges and are easy to install. With over 100 5-star reviews on Amazon, you can buy with confidence.

Ringke Invisible Defender Full Coverage Screen Protector

Best Coverage

Ringke makes some quality accessories and their screen protector for the Galaxy S8 stands out from the rest for the wings that wrap around the sides of your phone. Since the film wraps around the edges, you have the button cutouts to help you achieve the perfect fit, even with a case installed. Get a two-pack for just $10.

See at Amazon

The kit includes everything you’ll need for a clean installation, along with an extra screen protector in case your first one takes a beating and needs to be replaced. You can also get a two-pack for the Galaxy S8+, too, if you’re rocking the larger device.

Armorsuit MilitaryShield Galaxy S8 Screen Protector

Best Protection

Made with a durable military-grade film, the Armorsuit MilitaryShield is a thin screen protector that offers edge-to-edge protection. It requires a wet installation, with all the required tools and wipes included in the box. It’s available for just $8.

See at Amazon

Armorsuit claims that this protector is virtually scratch-proof, with self-healing technology that will help eliminate any minor scratches from keys or pocket sand. As with most wet install screen protectors, you need to let this thing sit and dry for a good long time (up to 12 hours) to ensure proper adhesion and get a nice clean fit. Attempt to put on a case too soon and you’ll have issues around the edges. If you ever have an issue with it, you’ll want to follow suit and contact Armorsuit’s customer service to take advantage of that lifetime replacement warranty.

Update August 2018: Removed options no longer available and updated formatting and pricing information. These are still your best options for the Galaxy S8!

Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+

• Galaxy S8 and S8+ review!
• Galaxy S8 and S8+ specs
• Everything you need to know about the Galaxy S8’s cameras
• Get to know Samsung Bixby
• Join our Galaxy S8 forums

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Unlocked

The $48 Philips Hue Bloom LED smart lamp adds ambient light to your room

Smart lighting for every part of the house.

The Philips Hue Bloom Dimmable LED smart table lamp is down to $47.89 on Amazon. That price is more than $12 off the street price and the lowest it has reached this year. This matches an all-time low.

The sale on the Bloom is part of a much larger sale on Philips Hue products in general. You can save tons of money on starter kits, bulbs, and other accessories.

The Bloom is designed for indirect ambient lighting in your room. Use it to light up a piece of furniture or something like that. It is just as simple as plugging it in and turning it on, but if you want to add some extra control via your smartphone or a voice control ecosystem like Amazon’s Alexa, you’ll want to add it to a Philips Bridge. If you don’t have one, there are plenty of starter kits on sale right now that have them. The Bloom also works with other systems like Nest and Samsung’s SmartThings. Users give it 3.8 stars based on 177 reviews.

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Every PlayStation VR game compatible with a steering wheel

Get your steering wheel ready, it’s time for the long ride.

So you love racing games in VR but wanted to take things to the next level. Now you’ve scoured up and down Amazon and finally found the best HOTAS controller for your PlayStation VR. You’ve unboxed the beautiful thing, it’s set up at the end of your couch, but now you’re faced with a problem. What games are even comparable with the PlayStation VR?

Well, I’m here to show you them all!

The line-up

• Gran Turismo Sport
• Dirt Rally VR
• Drive Club VR

Best option

Gran Turismo Sport

This racing title has to be one of the most immersive options you can choose. A $41 price tag might seem a little high, but it’s absolutely worth every penny. You can see the absolute dedication put into making this game.

See at Amazon.

Of all the options we have here, Gran Turismo is the best graphics and gameplay options that will definitely take advantage of your 4K and HDR options with your PlayStation 4 Pro. Not only will you be able to race your car around the ring in a seemingly-real simulation, but there are even competitions.

Worldwide competitions that put you up against real drivers from all over the world. So while you’re out there testing your VR driving skills you don’t have to gauge it based on a bot who’s difficulty level you’ve chosen.

Also great

Dirt Rally VR

Dirt Rally VR has made it to the runner-up for being highly immersive but lost a lot of points for not being multiplayer. The new DLC that came out allowed for a two-player mode, but the second player is a “co-driver” and not a separate driver.

See at Amazon.

If you’re looking for a driving game for just you, this is a great choice. And for $29.99 there isn’t a bad price tag either.

Best on a budget

Drive Club VR

Drive Club VR is the best “on a budget” option as it only costs $14.99. Just because it isn’t living up to its brothers listed above doesn’t mean you won’t have a good time.

See at Amazon.

Drive Club is still just as addicting as any other VR game without all the added accessories like 4K, HDR, multiplayer, and so on. But it’s perfect to get for yourself as a first time driving game!

So what game did you go for?

Which game is your favorite game to play with your driving wheel? Is there one that you’d tried, even though it may not have listed compatibility, that worked for you? Tell us about it in the comment section below!

PlayStation 4

• PS4 vs. PS4 Slim vs. PS4 Pro: Which should you buy?
• PlayStation VR Review
• Playing PS4 games through your phone is awesome

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You can use Logitech’s $140 Circle 2 security camera indoors or outdoors

It works anywhere you want it to.

Logitech’s Circle 2 Wired Home Security Camera is down to $139.99 at Amazon for a limited time. Considering it regularly sells for $180, this deal saves you $40 off its normal price. We saw this deal back in July but it only lasted for a couple days. If you missed it, now’s your chance to get it again.

This wired camera is Wi-Fi enabled allowing it to upload footage to a secure, private cloud. It can also connect with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, and Google Assistant. It records in full 1080p HD with its 180-degree wide-angle lens and includes night vision which is visible up to 15-feet. It begins recording when motion is detected and will then send the footage to the cloud for up to 24 hours where you can view it or save it. You can also buy a subscription which will keep your recordings for longer starting at just $3.99 per month. A membership includes additional advanced features too such as Motion Zones.

The camera will send a screenshot to your mobile device when motion is detected so you can see what’s going on even while you’re away. It also includes a built-in speaker and microphone and is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Logitech also offers a Plug Mount for $29.99 which allows you to plug this camera into a wall outlet.

See at Amazon

Can this tabletop Krups keg really deliver a perfect pour? We asked beer snobs

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Riley Young/Digital Trends

The Krups SUB Home Beer Dispenser ($180) is an in-home mini draft system, letting you enjoy your favorite local beer from your kitchen. It’s like a growler, but one that will keep your beer drinkable, and more importantly carbonated, for more than just a day.

KRUPS has partnered with HOPSY, a growler shop-turned-beer delivery service, to bring craft beer directly to your home. It’s unbelievably easy to use, and their website boasts that the device keeps your beer fresh for up to 14 days after you tap it.

Sure, it’s Pretty

The dispenser is sleek and compact, weighing just 15 pounds, and fits anywhere on your kitchen counter. It has the look of a barrel put on its side, but classy. The SUB fits a two-liter mini keg, also known as a Torp, that holds about four full pints of your favorite beer. The beer is supplied by local breweries who have partnered with HOPSY — you can get an IPA brewed in the Bronx or a Lager from Pottsville, Pennsylvania. If you’re not feeling like drinking, they also offer kegs filled with cold brew and kombucha.

How does it work?

It’s unbelievably easy to use, especially with the simple diagram directions that the system includes. Once you get your mini keg in the mail — we had to wait one week before it arrived at the office – you insert it into the dispenser. Attached to the top of the keg is a built-in hose that you run through the device’s tap handle, then close and lock the door. You have to wait until the keg gets cold enough and the green light turns on. When we went to pour my first beer, it was a bit alarming to hear a weird machine noise, but that’s normal.

How does it stay fresh?

It’s important to note that there is no CO2 involved, which seems a bit confusing since CO2 is what keeps beer carbonated. Krups actually uses air to keep the beer fresh. When it’s time to pour, the tap pushes air into the plastic bottle, this puts pressure on the bag inside, squeezing the beer out through the tap and into your glass.

The Taste Test

We ordered the Cool Down IPA from Gun Hill, a brewery in the Bronx, New York, and had a little tasting around the office. It was a mixed bag. While some said that the beer was super chilled and had good flavor, others thought it was under carbonated and a bit oxidized. Everyone thought that the dispenser itself was easy to use and agreed the beer wasn’t too foamy. Some would have preferred the beer a little bit colder, but thought the overall taste was good.

We had a little tasting around the office. It was a mixed bag.

The freshness of the beer didn’t last as long as we hoped it would, though. One person in our office tasted the beer a week after it was first poured and said it was so bitter that he couldn’t drink it. Another person who tried the beer after a week said it was skunky and didn’t seem cold enough. We’re not sure that the company’s claim that the beer will last for up to 14 days is true

To Buy or Not to Buy?

To be frank, the Krups SUB is a bit of a novelty item. At a price of $180 and mini kegs going for $20 plus shipping, the whole system can cost a pretty penny. That being said, it does exactly what it says it’s meant to do: it serves as an in-home beer dispenser. Enjoying a cold crisp beer from the comfort of your home is obviously convenient. It might also be nice if you are someone who likes to try different beers from around the United States. Overall, HOPSY does a great job of offering a variety of beer choices. Maybe you know someone who would prefer beer tapped in their own home, but we’ll be sticking to refilling our growlers or going down to the local brew pub.

Editors’ Recommendations

• A craft beer dispenser in your own kitchen? We’ll drink to that!
• How to download movies from Netflix for offline viewing
• The best coffee makers of 2018
• Celebrate dad on Father’s Day with the help of Alexa and Google Assistant
• How to make cold brew coffee at home

LG G7 One hands-on: The G7 sold its soul for great Android One software

Take a few hardware compromises to get the software you really want.

LG used the IFA 2018 trade show to announce its first-ever Android One phone — and it did so with the least amount of fanfare possible, simply dropping a press release. That’s mostly because the LG G7 One is … kind of an odd phone. Ostensibly it’s an LG G7 — except in a handful of places where it definitely isn’t.

The LG G7 One has the exact same dimensions as the standard G7. It has the same 6.1-inch display, and same hardware features in terms of its headphone jack and DAC, BoomBox speaker system, 3000mAh battery, IP68 resistance, fingerprint sensor and buttons. But the changes are in the details — the metal frame has a slightly textured matte finish, not unlike the the Galaxy Note 9, and the glass back is frosted for a soft texture as well. It’s a classy, understated look — which is decidedly different from the regular G7. It feels great, too — but it’s definitely lost all of the LG flair that made the G7 stand out from the crowd a little bit.

You keep a surprising amount of the unique hardware features, and lose LG’s software.

I love that LG has retained most of the G7’s core features for this Android One version, but you do have to take a few annoying spec shortcomings in order to get the nice hardware and software combination. The lack of a secondary wide-angle camera is the biggest one — our friend MrMobile is right when he says that one of the main reasons to buy a G7 for its unique wide-angle shots. The processor steps down to a Snapdragon 835, but I’m not worried about performance with Android One in tow — the same could be said for the 32GB of internal storage, but I sure wish it was 64GB like the standard G7.

But in return for losing some of what gives the G7 its soul, you get Android One instead of LG’s software. For as much as that software has improved over the past two generations, many will say they’d just prefer LG get out of the way and let Google handle that part — and that’s what you get here. You get the necessary bits to interact with LG’s hardware features — like the Quad DAC — and that’s it, the rest is Android One like any other phone with the brand. You also get guaranteed security and platform updates, which you definitely can’t count on with LG’s own support.

It’s frustrating to lose some features, but this could still be the best Android One phone.

It’s tough to fully evaluate the LG G7 One right now, because pricing and availability information is going to make or break it. On one hand, it’s disappointing that the couple of spec drops and the loss of the wide-angle camera make this a pretty generic device rather than one that builds on LG’s few unique strengths by being “a G7 with cleaner software.” But at the same time, the LG G7 One could easily be the best Android One device yet, as a majority of the phones with Android One software land in the mid-range price segment or have many more compromises.

It’s pretty clear what LG’s attempting to do with the G7 One. It’s inexpensive to keep making G7s, swap out a few components and put Google-provided software on them in order to expand its phone sales and address a different price bracket. But in doing so, it clearly made deliberate decisions to remove things that would’ve made the G7 One more desirable. LG kept most of what makes the G7 unique, which is why this is such a nice phone, but dropped a few key parts to make sure the Android One version doesn’t outshine the ThinQ model.

LG G7 ThinQ

• LG G7 ThinQ review: Wide angle, narrow appeal
• LG G7: Review, Specs, Availability, Problems and more!
• LG G7 Specifications: Everything you need to know
• Join the LG G7 forums

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Apple offers free repairs for owners of defective iPhone 8s

Does your iPhone 8 sometimes freeze up, restart, or refuse to power on? If so, the device might be eligible for Apple’s new repair program. The company has announced that a small percentage of iPhone 8 devices suffer from defective logic boards and has offered free repairs to affected customers.

This program only includes the basic version of the iPhone 8, so owners of the 8 Plus or X who are suffering similar problems are not eligible for the free repairs. Beyond that, the repair program is limited to customers in the U.S.,  Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau,  and New Zealand.  The program will extend to devices that were sold for up to three years after the original retail date of November 2017. If you have questions about whether or not your iPhone qualifies for this program, you can simply enter the serial number on Apple’s website and it will let you know.

Those who do qualify for the repair program have three options available to them. Their first is to contact Apple’s support team and arrange to have the phone mailed to the company’s support center, where the device will be repaired and then mailed back to you. Affected consumers can also opt to make an appointment at an Apple retail store or go through an authorized third-party. However, the website does specify that, regardless of which method is chosen, the device will still be sent to an Apple Repair Center.

In terms of cost, the repairs to the logic board will be free of charge.  However, Apple does warn that hardware issues, such as cracked screens, may need to be fixed before the company can work on the logic board. If the company has to fix one of those issues, then users may incur extra fees. In such cases, it might be better to get any outstanding hardware issues fixed first as to avoid any unexpected charges.

As is always the case before sending your phone off for repairs, Apple advises that users back up their data through iTunes or iCloud. Otherwise, there is a risk that their phone’s data may be wiped during the repair process and won’t be salvageable.

Editors’ Recommendations

• MacBook DIY keyboard repairs don’t void your chance of a free replacement
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• How to unlock a phone on each and every carrier
• The best phones for kids
• The best Apple Watch accessories

What you missed this week on CordCutters.com

Hype. You missed the hype. Or, maybe there’s been no way to avoid it.

Hype is a funny thing. It’s almost impossible to live up to, and yet it’s also impossible to avoid.

Amazon has been hyping Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan for what seems like forever. Months and months. And now it’s finally here, available for binging on all the platforms that support Amazon Prime Video. (Which is pretty much everything.) And the while I’m not usually a fan of blasting through series so fast it’s almost impossible to do so with any real enjoyment, Jack Ryan didn’t once slow the pace. At only eight episodes — with the longest coming in at barely over an hour, and the shortest clocking in at 42 minutes — it’s a quick, easy watch.

And the series was good. Maybe not great, but definitely watchable. John Krasinski is a pretty benign Jack Ryan — a character who perhaps is rivaled only by Jack Bauer when it comes to one person finding himself in the middle of all sorts of terrorist hijinks. Wendell Pierce is great as Jim Greer (with a spoiler-riffic — yet ultimately superficial secret, and his expletives remain in the caliber of Mr. Samuel Leroy Jackson.

But after digesting things for a bit, I think maybe it was Ali Suliman — as terrorist mastermind Mousa Suleiman — who brought the best performance to the series. It’s too easy for the terrorist storyline to employ the usual tropes. And while some of that is unavoidable, he still brings a human aspect to the role — and that humanity plays an important twist later in the series.

So does Jack Ryan live up to the hype? Maybe not. But then again maybe there’s no way it could. It’s good. I’ll watch the second season, for sure. But ultimately it’s a decent action series in the same vein as Jack Bauer and Jason Bourne, borrowing the characters from Tom Clancy’s world.

Check out Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan on Amazon Prime Video and let me know what you think.

Here’s what else you missed this week on CordCutters.com:

• The IFA conference in Berlin brought a few announcements that cord cutters can can about: mostly 8K televisions from the likes of LG and Samsung. Plus, Sony’s AF9 and ZF9 TVs are soon hitting Europe.
• The college football season is official underway, and FuboTV is streaming a few games in 4K resolution.
• The fourth season of Mr. Robot will be the last. And I’m sure Elliott won’t go quietly.
• Roku already powers one out of every four smart TVs — and now it’s got JVC as a new partner.
• Amazon is rumored to be working on a ad-supported service for older TV shows.
• PlayStation Vue added a bunch of local channels. But you can’t DVR them.
• The creator of Gravity Falls is joining up with Netflix for new animation projects.
• The third season of True Detective gets its first trailer.

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Predator Helios 500 vs. Alienware 17 R5

Picking a gaming laptop is a more intense decision than picking a desktop or individual components. You can’t just throw in a new graphics card or CPU in a few years to improve performance. Outside of RAM and storage, what you pick now will be what you game for years to come.

To that end, we’ve pitted two gaming laptops we very much like: The Acer Predator Helios 500 and the Alienware 17 R5. Both are serious gaming laptops with impressive performance, but only one can be your next gaming laptop. Here’s how they stack up.

Design

Jayce Wagner/Digital Trends

Unlike some streamlined gaming laptops like the Razer Blade, both the Predator Helios 500 and Alienware 17 R5 are very much typical gaming laptops. They’re big, heavy, and have that military, metallic styling that is so common in gamer-aimed products. The Helios 500 does come in a little lighter at 8.8 pounds (versus the 17 R5’s 10 pounds), though neither is going to be something you’ll want to play with on your lap. We do like the boxier look of the Alienware from a purely aesthetic standpoint though.

The Alienware machine has a lot of ports filling its flanks, with two USB-A and a single USB-C connector alongside an Ethernet port, headphone jack, Thunderbolt port, HDMI port, and mini-DisplayPort. That offers lots of options for running larger, external displays, with many of those ports located on the back, so they’re well out of the way when you’re gaming on a desk. In comparison, the Helios 500 has more USB ports, with three USB-A and two USB-C. It also has HDMI and DisplayPort connectors, as well as an ethernet connector, and a headphone jack. There’s a little more versatility there, especially when it comes to external USB accessories, but there’s not a huge difference between the two.

The keyboard on the Helios is fantastic and has been for a few generations, though it does not feature per-key backlighting like the Alienware system does. That platform also comes with its own Tobii eye-tracker, which is a nice touch, but it has limited usage in most games at this time.

Performance

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There are only a couple of options for configuring the Acer Helios 500, but both are monstrously powerful. For $2,000 you can have an eighth-generation Intel Core i7-8750H CPU paired up with 16GB of memory (with space for up to 64GB), a GTX 1070 graphics chip, 256GB of PCIExpress SSD storage, and a 1TB hard drive. Microcenter even has that configuration at $300 off at the time of writing. If you want more for (more of) your money, you can spend $2,500 for the same configuration but with a Core i9-8950HK CPU and 512GB of SSD storage instead.

The Alienware 17 R5 has a similar hardware selection, but a broader price range. Starting at $1,500, it comes with a Core i7-8750H CPU with 8GB of RAM, a GTX 1060 graphics chip, and a terabyte of hard drive storage paired with an 8GB caching SSD. For a couple of hundred dollars more, you can upgrade that to a 256GB SSD instead. Options for more RAM and expanded storage give you some flexibility throughout the price range, but if you spend the maximum $3,900 you can upgrade to a Core i9-8950HK CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a GTX 1080 graphics chip.

A big part of that configuration and its cost though is the 4K display it comes with. There are options for a 1080p and 1440p panel in the price range, while the Helios 500 is limited to a 1080p display, but it is 144Hz — compared with the 120Hz refresh rate of the Alienware laptop at 1440p. Although the Acer laptop is a lower resolution, we found its visuals to be stunning in comparison to the Alienware alternative, and that’s thanks to its use of an IPS rather than a TN panel. Its color accuracy is noticeably better, and its contrast ratio is greater for deeper blacks and whites.

While the Helios 500 might be the slightly weaker system in terms of overall hardware, the end result simply looks better thanks to the higher quality, faster panel, even with a lower resolution. For 1080p gaming, the Helios 500 is more than enough power than what most gamers will need. However, if you plan on hooking up to high-resolution monitor, the Alienware 17 R5 will certainly produce better framerates.

Portability

Jayce Wagner/Digital Trends

Neither of these systems is one you’ll want to lug around all day, but that’s to be expected. The 17-inch form factor is not designed with portability in mind. Still, at 8.8 pounds, the Predator Helios 500 is noticeably lighter than the Alienware counterpart and will strain your back less during transit. The Helios is a little thicker, but shallower than its Alienware counterpart, measuring 16.85 x 11.73 x 1.52-inches, versus the 17 R5’s 16.7 x 13.1 x 1.18-inches.

The size differences between the two aren’t large enough to make them a deciding factor and battery life doesn’t do much to change that either. The heftier hardware in the Alienware laptop meant that it drained its battery faster in our video viewing test, lasting just under four hours, while the Helios 500 managed five and a half hours. However, the 17 R5 did last two and a half hours in our Basemark test, while the Helios 500 only offered an hour and a half of battery life.

Neither laptop is portable in any sense of the word and though in certain settings each has a battery life advantage, we would expect the slightly lower spec Helios 500 to outlast the Alienware system in most scenarios if the latter sports a 4K display.

Fast gaming trumps power

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Both the Alienware 17 R5 and Acer Predator Helios 500 are fantastic gaming laptops. They’re supremely powerful, beautiful to look at and play on, and unsurprisingly, don’t last long when away from a power socket and comfortable desk. Picking one over the other is hard, but the Helios 500 will be better bang for your buck for most people.

While it might lack a UHD display, its 144Hz, 1080p IPS panel is prettier and smoother than the Alienware alternative. The Dell-built system might be more powerful if you opt for the higher specification version, but it’s also a lot more expensive too. When you’re paying as much as an extra thousand dollars for a screen that doesn’t look as good in games, it’s hard to argue it’s not wasted money.

Acer’s Predator Helios 500 gives you exactly what you need for high-speed, 1080p gaming and keeps the extras to a minimum to remain cost-effective. The Alienware system, in comparison, feels bloated for its task, as much as it’s great at completing it.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Digital Storm Equinox review
• Alienware 17 R5 review
• Razer Blade 15 (2018) review
• The best gaming laptops
• Lenovo revamps Legion brand with affordable gaming laptops and desktops

Temi is your personal robot butler, like an Amazon Echo Show on wheels

While popular culture has consistently served up a vision of the future that features robot servants at our beck and call, they’ve been slow to infiltrate our homes so far. Despite the development of increasingly sophisticated robotics and artificial intelligence, domestic robots have yet to take off.

Temi could be in the vanguard of a new wave of robot butlers designed to cater to our whims, or it could be a glorified smart speaker on wheels. We took it for a spin at IFA in Berlin to find out exactly what it’s capable of.

Standing just over 3 feet high, Temi has an Android tablet for a head, with a 10.1-inch screen. Behind that and a little lower there’s a kind of shelf that also works as a wireless charging pad for phones. The main body is curved with a couple of midrange speakers in the chest area and then a subwoofer built into the base.

There’s a lot of clever tech inside Temi.

There’s a lot of clever tech inside Temi. Cameras, sensors, microphones, and more enable it to hear you and track your movements, tilting its head up and down and turning around. Temi can also navigate around using lidar to detect and avoid any obstacles. Tap it on the head or ask it, and it will track and follow you around, turning as you do to ensure that it’s always facing you.

You can use a range of voice commands with Temi. Just like any other voice assistant it can answer basic questions, tell you about the weather, and play music and video. There’s support for a few major apps such as Google, Reddit, YouTube, CNN, Yelp, Deezer, and Uber, but because Temi runs a modified version of Android, developers have to add support.

If you’ve ever used an Amazon Echo Show, then the tablet portion of Temi will be easy to understand. While it currently uses a proprietary voice assistant, there are strong rumors that the final product will have Google Assistant on board. That would be a good thing because, even allowing for a noisy show floor, we weren’t too impressed with its voice recognition during our demo – it frequently misunderstood commands, even from the makers.

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Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

We’ve seen telepresence robots before, but Temi is quite sophisticated in that department. We tried out a video call and it worked very well, although it doesn’t show you from a very flattering angle unless you sit down because it’s only 3 feet tall.

You can chat as you walk around with Temi following you, but the caller on the other end can also swipe left or right to turn Temi, or tap and hold on spots in your room to command Temi to go there. They don’t have to be too precise, as Temi will plot its own route to avoid obstacles.

If you did buy a Temi, one of the first things you would do is set up a map of your home for it, so you can tell it to go the kitchen or the dining room, for example. It will remember the rooms you define and they can also be used during video calls.

Temi comes with a charging base station and will keep itself charged up so you don’t have to worry about plugging it in. Apparently, it will decide when to charge based on your schedule and remaining power to ensure it’s ready to go when you need it.

For all its sophistication, Temi is essentially offering a smart speaker experience in mobile form.

It has Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity you have the option of adding cellular data support.

For all its sophistication, Temi is essentially offering a smart speaker experience in mobile form. It works well as a telepresence robot, and it might be nice sometimes to have your music follow you from room to room, but you’re going to have to pay a big premium for that mobility.

If you consider that the base model costs $1,500, then there’s a good chance it would be cheaper to fit our every room in your home with a mix of Amazon Echo Shows and other speakers. It wouldn’t be as cool as having a robot that can follow you, of course, but all you’d really miss out on is the telepresence functionality and that remote-control element.

It’s also worth noting that Temi can’t climb stairs, so it will work best in homes that are on one level.

There is going to be a higher end model of Temi available for $1,900 which adds a 4K display, more powerful Harman Kardon speakers, and a more luxurious finish.
Ultimately, we’re not sure Temi is worth the investment unless the telepresence feature is something you would use a lot or you have another specific use case in mind. Temi will be available from October this year.

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