The best universal car mounts for your Android phone

Keep your phone safely in sight and secure with a car mount.

When you’re on the go, your phone is more than just a tool for keeping in touch. It’s your road trip playlist and your GPS, too. For safety’s sake, mounting your phone to your dashboard, windshield, or air vents is the best way to keep it in view while keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. We’ve gathered up a list of some excellent options for universal car mounts, and trust us, there’s no shortage of choices out there.

Note: Before you consider a windshield mount for your phone, you should make and check that windshield mounts are allowed in the states you’ll be driving most frequently in. As it stands, most states outlaw windshield mounted GPS or phone holders due to visibility and safety concerns.

• Baseus Gravity Air Vent Wireless Car Charger
• iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Car Mount
• iOttie Easy One Touch Qi Wireless CD Slot
• WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Mount
• Nite Ize Steelie
• Spigen Kuel A201 Premium Magnetic Mount
• Spigen Kuel OneTap Car Mount
• Koomus Eco-CD One Touch Car Mount

Baseus Gravity Air Vent Wireless Car Charger

Baseus’s wireless car charger is powerful enough to fast charge compatible Samsung phones, and clips into your air vent so your view of the road is unobstructed. You can also use the AC coming out of those vents to keep your phone cool while it charges, and the gravity-based clamps allow make it ridiculously easy to get your phone in and out while still keeping your phone secure while you drive.

$28 at Amazon

More and more phones are including Qi wireless charging, so if you’re in the market for a car mount, you may as well get one that charges your phone while you drive. Rather than having a dot on the back of the mount that triggers the spring-loaded clamps, Baseus uses the weight of the phone on the bottom lip of the mount instead. This makes getting your phone in and out of the mount a breeze, but also means you can only use the Baseus in portrait, not landscape.

iOttie Easy One Touch 4 Car Mount

iOttie has been a leading brand for car mounts for years, and their latest dashboard/windshield mount, the Easy One Touch 4, is the best mount they’ve ever made. Simply press the tabs on the side of the mount in then tap your phone to the button in the middle of the mount to spring it closed. It’s easy to use and can accommodate even the largest phones out there with or without a case.

$25 at Amazon

The Easy One Touch 4 can be oriented any way you like in your car thanks to a swiveling telescopic arm. The suction cup mount that’s installed on the mount out of the box is ideal for smooth surfaces such as a windshield, but since that’s illegal in most states, iOttie also includes an adhesive pad to help attach the mount to your dashboard.

iOttie Easy One Touch Qi Wireless Fast Charge CD Slot

Everything we said about how easy iOttie’s One Touch 4 is to use above is just as true with this CD-slot-mounted model, so you won’t have to fiddle with your phone every time you hop in for a drive. Fast wireless charging capabilities double the price, but it also doubles the convenience of charging your phone every time you plop it in the charger.

$50 at Amazon

iOttie gets another mention on our list because they make great car mounts, and this one clips into the CD slot you haven’t used in ten years. This not only takes advantage of an otherwise unused space in your car, but — depending on the layout of your dash — keeps your view of the road unobstructed. Qi wireless charging embedded in this charger supports fast wireless charging on compatible Samsung devices, with an additional USB port for charging your passenger’s phone or your favorite Bluetooth headphones while you drive.

Nite Ize Steelie

This is definitely one of the coolest mounts on this list. The Steelie is a two-piece magnetic mounting system wherein a concave magnet adheres to the back of your phone or its case, and a spherical magnetic base adheres to your car’s dashboard or console.

$18.50 at Amazon

Hop in the car, and your phone mounts in a snap. This is about as minimalist as it gets in terms of car mounts. Making sharp turns and hitting potholes? No worries: The magnet is super strong and the magnetic ball moves with your phone to prevent it from falling off. This beauty of a magnetic mount is small enough to look invisible when in use, but bold enough to stand out on your dash when its empty.

WizGear Universal Air Vent Magnetic Mount

WizGear produces another magnetic mount we’re a fan of, but this one using flat plates rather than shaped ones so that you can hide the magnetic plate inside a thin case or stick it to the back of your phone case without adding that weird dimple. The magnets here are strong enough to hold your phone fast over your average pothole-riddled interstate while still being easy to pluck your phone from when you reach your destination.

$7 at Amazon

The WizGear’s air vent clips keep your phone highly visible without obstructing your view, and it doubles as a kickstand for your phone if you take it out of the car. Since the WizGear is so compact and easy to transfer between cars, it’s ideal for people who swap vehicles with spouses or children in a multi-car household or frequent travelers who want an easy-to-pack mount to use in rental cars.

Spigen Kuel A201 Premium Magnetic Air Vent Car Mount

Spigen’s Kuel A201 feature the same air vent and hideable flat magnet convenience, but thanks to a 360-degree rotating and tilting magnetic base, the A201 can display your phone at any angle you want inside your car. 6 magnets inside the base instead of the WizGear’s 4 also mean that this mount has a stronger grip to keep your phone secured over rougher drives and sharper turns.

$12 at Amazon

This bumped out air vent holder also makes the A201 compatible with cars that have air vents too recessed to use with smaller air vent mounts like the WizGear. This mount is a bit bigger and a tiny bit bulkier, but that superior grip and adaptability make it more than worth the size bump and price bump.

Spigen Kuel OneTap Car Mount

Like iOttie, Spigen makes a lot of great phone accessories and car mounts, and the Spigen Kuel OneTap gives you the same convenience and grip as the Easy One Touch 4 at only $19, $6 less than the iOttie.

$19 at Amazon

The OneTap is capable of holding even the largest phones securely, and there’s a telescopic arm for orientating the arm precisely where you need it in your vehicle. This mount will not work on a leather dashboard, so keep that in mind. It’s also available in black or white.

Koomus Pro CD Slot Car Mount

Your phone may take care of your road trip tunes these days, but your CD player can still be put to good use. Koomus’s low-profile mount is easy to slip into the long-forgotten disc slot, and your CD player won’t be damaged or even recognize that it’s in use.

$17 at Amazon

The slide-out clamp on the Koomus Pro mount holds your phone easily and securely with or without its case. You can also rotate your phone 360 degrees for better viewing. The Koomus Pro has a maximum phone width of 3.4 inches, so even the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will fit in there with a thin case.

The bottom line

First and foremost, you need to know the details of your local laws, in terms of whether or not you are allowed to mount anything on your windshield. Next, you need to consider how often you’ll use a car mount and where in your vehicle it’s going to be. Each of these car mounts has distinct advantages all their own, but we think that versatility and durability are the most important qualities to look for.

Which universal car mount are you using these days? Tell us about it in the comments!

Update August 2018: I’ve replaced the Spigen Style Ring with the Spigen A201 and updated links so that they’re all taking you to the best listings and prices for our pick.

Harman’s all new audio equipment lineups are taking IFA 2018 by storm

So much new to talk about.

IFA 2018 tech show is currently underway in Berlin. The American equivalent would be the Consumer Electronics Show, so you can imagine a lot of companies use this as a chance to introduce brand new tech lineups. Harman, Samsung’s audio subsidiary, is taking the opportunity to announce several different types of audio products this week.

The first announcement is the Harman Kardon Citation speaker series. This will be a modular home audio setup where you can buy the speakers individually or buy them together and create a surround sound system, which is similar to what Sonos does with its speakers. The entire system will cover four tabletop speakers, one sound bar, a subwoofer, and floorstanding towers. They will also have Google Assistant built in, which is a trend we’ve seen a lot from IFA speaker announcements this week.

The Harman Kardon Enchant series is getting two new versions, the Enchant 800 and Enchant 1300. These sound bars use Harman Kardon’s proprietary MultiBeam technology, which helps them simulate surround sound without a full surround sound setup. They will also have Chromecast built-in for easy access to your favorite apps. While not available for sale just yet, B&H does have the 800, the 1300, and the new subwoofer available for pre-order.

Harman is also announcing a follow-up to the JBL Charge 3 portable Bluetooth speaker called, unsurprisingly, the Charge 4. It will have 10 different color options, 20 hours of play time on a single charge, and the ability to connect to up to 100 other JBL Connect+ devices at the same time for real ragers. Like previous Charge speakers, you’ll be able to plug in and charge your mobile devices using the built-in battery.

Other JBL gear includes the true wireless earphones the JBL Endurance PEAK. These earbuds are designed for working out with water-resistance, tech called TwistLock and FlexSoft designed to ensure they never fall out, and PowerHook, which will turn them off automatically when you take them out of your ears. With a four-hour battery in the headphones and 24 more hours in the carrying case, you’ll go a long time without ever needing to plug in.

JBL’s Link Bar is a new sound bar with Android TV, Chromecast, and Google Assistant. Not only will it enhance your speakers with JBL’s sound, but you’ll also be able to access all your favorite Google Play apps, stream content, and control it all with your voice. It will come out in October for $400, although B&H does have a pre-order page up.

The JBL Link View is very similar but seems more like a competitor for the Amazon Echo Show. It includes an eight-inch touchscreen, 5MP front-facing camera, and all the Google stuff built right in. You can order it for $250 on JBL’s site because it looks like it’s coming out very early in September.

Under Armour is teaming up with JBL to release a lineup of wireless Bluetooth headphones for gym goers called the UA Sport Wireless React and Wireless Pivot, which are building on the success of Under Armour’s previous headphone models. Similar in design to other headphones we’ve seen, like the Anker SoundBuds Curve, these will be lightweight, aluminum headphones with rugged cables, water-resistance, unique ear tips so everyone can wear them comfortably, and up to nine hours of battery life. These will also come with a free one-year membership to Under Armour’s MapMyRun, which allows you to track and analyze your runs over time and normally costs $30.

AKG has four new wireless headphones coming out. The N700NC over-ear headphones will be the flagship pair with adaptive noise-cancelling, tech for taking calls on the go, a 23-hour battery life, and more. The N200, Y500, and Y100 headphones will also feature exceptional sound with Bluetooth Apt-x technology, magnetic ear buds that snap together for easy management, and auto-play features that can detect when you’re wearing the headphones or not.

Canada Deal: Samsung’s Galaxy S9 and S9+ are $200 off right now

Don’t pass this deal up!

Amazon currently has both the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ on sale for $760 and $900 respectively. These are both the unlocked versions, meaning you’ll be able to just take your existing SIM card and pop it in and start using it. Normally, both phones sell for around $200 more and considering they were only just released a few months back, this is a great offer that you won’t want to miss out on.

The discount only applies to the Titanium Grey Galaxy S9 and Lilac Purple Galaxy S9+, though odds are you’ll pop a case on it anyway, so the color shouldn’t matter too much.

Read all about the Galaxy S9 on Android Central through the original review and followup articles. This model has a 5.8-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 1440p resolution, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, the most recent Android OS, and 64GB internal memory.

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Lenovo’s first Yoga Chromebook launches this October for $599

There are also two cheaper Chromebooks priced at $249 and $279.

Lenovo’s no stranger when it comes to Chrome OS, but if you’ve followed the Chromebook’s the company’s released, you’ll know they’ve all mostly been focused on the budget and education markets.

At IFA 2018, Lenovo announced that it’s now ready to create a Chromebook that can compete with the likes of the HP Chromebook X2, Pixelbook, and more. Its name? The Lenovo Yoga Chromebook. This is the first time Lenovo’s Yoga brand has been attached to a Chromebook, and looking through the gadget’s specs, the wait appears to be well worth it.

The Yoga Chromebook has a sturdy metal chassis and is available in a vibrant Midnight Blue color. The keyboard is fully backlit, the display is a touchscreen, and as you’d expect with the Yoga branding, you can fold the hinge up to 360-degrees and instantly transform it into a tablet.

Intel’s 8th-gen Core i5 Kaby lake processor is at the heart of the Yoga Chromebook, in addition to 8GB of RAM and 64 or 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage. The screen measures in at 15.6-inches and is available in either Full HD (1920 x 1080) or Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) configurations. There’s also an estimated 9-10 hours of battery life, two USB-C ports, one full-size USB-3.0 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and microSD card slot.

The Lenovo Chromebook C330 (left) and S330 (right)

In addition to the Yoga Chromebook, Lenovo also announced two new budget-focused Chromebooks — the C330 and S330. Both machines are powered by MediaTek processors, have 4GB RAM, and promise 10 hours of battery life.

All three Chromebooks will be available this October with the Yoga Chromebook coming at a starting price of $599. As for the C330 and S330, these cost $279 and $249, respectively.

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Lenovo’s Jedi Challenges headset is getting a Dark Side update

Finally, we can be bad guys.

Disney and Lenovo are pushing out the biggest update to the Jedi Challenges experience yet, and releasing some new hardware to accompany the release. The Dark Side Expansion is a free update for existing Jedi Challenges owners, and as the name suggests it allows you to fight and train as the only living wielder of that power in the Star Wars universe today. But since it would be weird to fight as Kylo Ren using Rey’s weapon, Lenovo is also making his now infamous cross-guard saber available as a limited edition upgrade you can buy.

Jedi Challenges owners have been asking about playing as the baddies from day one, and this new content pack gives you the whole experience. As Kylo Ren, you’ll be able to fight Rey, Yoda, Luke, and many more as you climb through a similar difficulty tree as the original game system. Also found in this update is a new PvP gameplay mode, called Ship Battles. Like the original map-based strategy game included int he headset, you control troops in the form of starships and wage intergalactic war against a human opponent with a matching fleet.

You can expect the Dark Side content update to be available for new and existing Jedi Challenges owners this October, but the limited edition Kylo Ren lightsaber for the game will be available for $99 later this winter. Jedi Challenges was already well worth the money you pay for it, and with this new content expansion you can expect not only hours more unique gameplay but also a new way to play with others who own the headset.

Augmented Reality

Lenovo Jedi Challenges AR headset

$200 at Amazon

Easily the best augmented reality headset you can buy today.

Lenovo and Disney teamed up to make a headset you can put on and live out your fantasy of being a Jedi in the real world, complete with returning blaster fire and cutting down your opponents with your very own lightsaber. It’s a game unlike any other.

Lenovo Yoga Chromebook hands-on: $599 gets you a whole lot of laptop

A great upgrade pick for people who value size and screen quality over weight and portability.

After making plenty of successful Chromebooks in the cheaper price segment, Lenovo is stepping up to something a bit more premium with the launch of the new Yoga Chromebook. That “Yoga” name means this is, of course, a convertible laptop with a 180-degree rotating hinge, but it’s also a sign that Lenovo is willing to position a Chromebook with the more premium-focused Yoga brand. And the price fits — the Yoga Chromebook starts at $599 and can go up a couple hundred dollars from there depending on how you spec it out.

So what do you get for the price tag that’s over double the other two Chromebooks Lenovo just announced? For starters, you get physically more computer: the Yoga Chromebook is a 15.6-inch machine, which is bigger than most mainstream Chromebooks out there. Then, there’s how it’s made. This is a solid, all-aluminum build that feels sturdy and looks great with its subtle angular lines and tight tolerances. It looks every bit worth the asking price, and is accompanied by nice features like dual USB-C ports for charging and data.

With the big screen, Lenovo is positioning the Yoga Chromebook as a media-focused “around the house” computer rather than one you’d carry with you or even take to/from work on a daily basis. The base model has just a 1080p display, but you’ll want to opt for the 4K model if at all possible — it’s gorgeous, and the small bezels give it a modern look. Both variants are touchscreens as well. You also get a big, comfortable trackpad and backlit keyboard under the screen with all of that extra deck space, though it’s odd that the pair of speakers are down-firing considering the room available up top.

The fact that you can flip that massive screen over into various convertible modes doesn’t seem all that useful at first in a laptop this big, but when you think about getting the keyboard out of the way to enjoy some TV episodes or movies on that excellent 4K screen, it makes sense. It’s downright comical to try and it up even with the firm grasp of two hands, but just because you fold over the screen doesn’t mean you have to keep it up in the air in your hands. Flipping it into the display or tent modes, this will be a great Netflix machine for people who don’t have any other computer, giving you a comfortable viewing size compared to traditional 11- and 13-inch Chromebooks.

This thing is great — I just wish it came in a smaller size, too.

With all of that case size and an increased price, Lenovo filled the Yoga Chromebook with specs far above what you find on the cheaper models. It comes standard with an 8th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM an 64GB of storage — with an option for 128GB in addition to a microSD slot. The 56Wh battery inside isn’t particularly large, but considering this isn’t a super-portable machine it isn’t surprising. And because it’s already north of 4 pounds as it sits, adding in more battery would make it even more immobile.

For as nice as this machine is, I sure wish Lenovo would’ve paired it with a release of a smaller model in this exact same design, materials, and specs. The fact that this is a big, heavy machine with a 15.6-inch display designed primarily for home use severely limits its potential market, and clouds its many redeeming qualities and desirable features. I know some people are looking for this type of larger laptop and don’t need the portability — but Lenovo can (and does) make more than one size of each laptop model.

The best Chromebooks you can buy today

The hardware is efficiently designed and extremely well executed, the specs are wonderful for a Chromebook, and the screen looks really good. I just wish it was also available in a 12- or 13-inch version that I could carry with me every day — even if the price was roughly the same. But if this is the type of laptop for you, and you like the simplicity of Chrome OS, you can get one starting in October for $599 and up, depending on the spec.

ZTE Axon 9 Pro officially announced with no plans for a U.S. release

Pricing is set at €649 in Europe.

Following a teaser from the company earlier this month, ZTE’s officially unveiled the Axon 9 Pro at IFA 2018 in Berlin.

The Axon 9 Pro is the long-awaited successor to the Axon 7 from 2016, and if you live in a market where the phone’s being sold, you’re in for a real treat.

At first glance, the Axon 9 Pro has all the makings of a typical 2018 flagship. There’s a 6.21-inch AMOLED display with a notch and 18:9 aspect ratio, dual 12MP + 20MP rear cameras, 20MP selfie camera, Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB RAM, 128GB of internal storage, a 4,000 mAh battery, and Android 8.1 Oreo.

None of that is particularly exciting on its own, but the Axon 9 Pro manages to stand out for two main reasons — a new feature called Axon Vision and its price.

Axon Vision is making its debut on the Axon 9 Pro, and according to a hands-on from Engadget, this system uses the phone’s screen and an RGB sensor to enhance the color and sharpness of anything that’s on the display based on the color temperature of the environment around you. In addition to making everything look prettier, Axon Vision can even add frames to videos so that 24 and 30 FPS content is turned into a much smoother 60 FPS.

As for the Axon 9 Pro’s price, it’s going to cost €649 when it goes on sale this September. That’s not the most affordable Snapdragon 845-touting phone, but it’s considerably less than the €999 Galaxy Note 9.

Unfortunately, while the Axon 9 Pro will be making its way to Europe, there aren’t any plans to bring the phone to the United States.

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FIFA 19 vs. Pro Evo 2019: How do the two best soccer games compare?

Two juggernauts of video game soccer, compared.

There are few video game battles like the one between FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer. This decades-long rivalry is not slowing down in 2018.

Both titles have benefited from the stiff competition, with each company working tirelessly to prove their vision of what the game of soccer should be is the best one. Wondering what makes these two games just as different as they are alike? We’ll jump into the comparison right here.

Which game has the best soccer licenses?

If you’re after some of the most powerful licensed authenticity in a game, there is no longer any choice but to grab FIFA. The FIFA license already gave EA’s game a massive edge over Pro Evolution Soccer over the years, and the latest swap tips the scales heavily in their favor.

EA has secured both major UEFA licenses, including the Champions League and the Europa League. This means the world cup and Europe’s biggest competition can only be experienced in FIFA.

Pro Evolution Soccer hasn’t lost out on all its licenses just yet. It still boasts direct club deals, as well as licenses for the top regional competitions and leagues in several major countries, including Portugal, Turkey, Belgium, Argentina, Scotland, and Russia.

FIFA 19 clearly dwarfs Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 in the authenticity area, and that alone will be the biggest point of contention for most who are on the fence.

Do these games play similarly?

When it comes to actual on-field stuff, FIFA and Pro Evo both offer compelling gameplay experiences, which make the game of football feel fun.

In FIFA’s case, the gameplay is a bit more streamlined and easily approachable for an average gamer. This series was mocked for its arcade-style gameplay for years until EA made a huge effort toward improving its realism. It’s probably not the most painstakingly accurate game in this regard, but it does feel damned good to play.

Pro Evolution Soccer, meanwhile, has built up a reputation for providing the deepest soccer gameplay you’re going to find. This actually works a bit against their favor, as the mechanics and controls needed to get the most out of the game will take quite a bit of practice to master and is known to scare newcomers off. If you put in the time to learn it, however, Pro Evolution Soccer offers a more satisfying translation of the game from real life to digital form.

How do they compare graphically?

Both FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer look absolutely stunning. The beauty of these games is most apparent when they get a chance to cut to broadcast-style shots of players, coaches, and referees throughout the match.

FIFA will get the edge when it comes to things like broadcast graphics and commentary. Having the rock-solid commentary team of Derek Rae and Lee Dixon going as the FIFA and UEFA banners transition in and out of the frame is a game changer. Having a brand new version of the Champions League’s iconic theme song as you look to fight for the great prize in Europe is a game changer.

Both Konami and EA will take advantage of the PS4 Pro (or Xbox One X for our Microsoft-owning friends) to offer up their idea of the perfect afternoon at the pitch in glorious 4K + HDR.

Which gameplay modes are available?

Noticing a pattern here? FIFA simply has too much licensing power for Pro Evolution to compete with. Thanks to EA having the rights to likenesses for all major football players, FIFA’s Ultimate Team mode gives you a massive roster of both former and current stars to build a fantasy squad. Being able to run the Champions and Europa leagues in their own dedicated mode will be quite the treat. The Journey continues to offer a cool sports story. And FIFA’s career mode, while not seeing massive improvements this year, is still top notch.

That’s not to say Pro Evo 2019 won’t have its own goods. Its Master League mode still offers deep club management gameplay, with the addition of team roles for this year’s release. And while it won’t have the big swatch of licenses it had before (notably missing several Spanish, English, and Italian leagues), a community assets feature will let you fill in the blanks however you see fit.

Which one will you buy?

FIFA 19 is out September 28, 2018, and will be available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for $59.99.

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Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 is out now for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One for $59.99, giving it a bit of a head-start to have a better chance up against FIFA.

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The New 3DS XL, gaming mice, and more are discounted today

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 the Amazon-exclusive New 3DS XL, TP-Link’s Kasa security camera, a SteelSeries gaming mouse, and more!

View the rest of the deals

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!

What’s new in the Destiny 2 2.0 update?

This is the big update before the big update

With Destiny 2: Forsaken just around the corner Bungie is front-loading a lot of changes this week so we can all be a little more prepared for the rest of the changes coming on September 4. While there is a lot happening on the back end with balancing weapons and armor there are some obvious changes to the system UI as well with a new planet select screen in the Director and changes to the way the Subclasses look.

If you are interested in all the minutiae of the changelog it can be found at bungie.net but I will try to give you the most important points here so you can know what to expect moving forward.

More: Everything we know about Destiny 2: Forsaken

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Weapon changes

This is the biggest and most important change to the 2.0 update before the release of Forsaken. The weapon slots have been completely altered, bringing them more in line with the original Destiny system while maintaining a level of choice from the original Destiny 2 loadout.

The weapon slots have been completely altered, bringing them more in line with the original Destiny system

The change seems to be focused on the ammo and the way it used by the assorted weapons, so instead of Kinetic, Energy, and Heavy you now have Primary, Special, and Heavy, much like you did in Destiny 1 but the big difference is those ammo types are not tied to the same slots as they were before.

Heavy is still tied to heavy but the rest of the ammo is now tied to specific weapons rather than slots. So snipers can once again be used as your secondary weapon and have plenty of ammo to boot while some snipers, exotic ones mainly like the Whisper of the Worm, will keep using Heavy ammo to maintain their balance?

The new ammo system opens up more avenues to play differently.

It feels like it could be confusing but really it just opens up more avenues for people to play differently. Do you enjoy playing like Destiny 1 with specific types of weapons in specific slots? you can do that now. Do you like the Destiny 2 style of having two auto rifles in your arsenal and a sniper in your heavy? you can do that too, this system really does give you the best of both worlds.

Bungie has given us a list of which weapons types fit in which slots and it may take getting used to, but with everything else happening in Forsaken one more thing isn’t going to make to much difference. The list is as follows:

• Primary Ammo Weapons
• Hand Cannons
• Scout Rifles
• Auto Rifles
• Pulse Rifles
• Sidearms
• Submachine Guns
• Special Ammo Weapons
• Fusion Rifles
• Shotguns
• Sniper Rifles
• Trace Rifles
• Single-Shot Grenade Launchers
• Heavy Ammo Weapons
• Drum-Loaded Grenade Launchers
• Rocket launchers
• Linear Fusion Rifles
• Swords

Interestingly, Bungie made no mention of the new weapon type, bows. I assume they are holding that back for the 2.0.0.1 update that will arrive on September 4 with all the new content though it would be nice to know where they fit in the new hierarchy.

Small changes

As I said earlier there are lots of small changes in the 2.0 update that don’t make a huge difference but are noticeable. The planet UI has been shifted around to allow for the reef to take over the right-hand side of the map. Guessing by the amount of room they have given it, I think the Reef will have multiple entry points, perhaps the Reef proper and the Prison of elders again.

The other UI change is how the Subclasses are laid out, again because of the introduction of new supers and new subclasses, though whether they are fully new subclasses remain to be seen, they have shifted all the information over to the left side of the screen to make some room.

The former residents of the Prison of elders are loose though they do not, as yet, drop any loot.

There also new enemies roaming the world that can appear at any time. They are the former residents of the Prison of elders though they do not, as yet, drop any loot. When Bungie says the former residents I don’t know if they mean Skolas and his friends or the new barons that Cayde-6 put away. I’m sure one of you guardians will have spotted one by the time this article goes live though so let me know.

The final noticeable change is the retiring of the Tokens used by each of the planet vendors. Now you seem to use just the planetary consumables you find in the world to level up your guns and pay for the unique armor and weapons the planetary vendors like Ana Bray give you. This seems to be a complete reworking of the way we buy and sell in the game so I will definitely be looking into this in much more depth as the days count down to Forsaken.

Final thoughts

This is an unusual step for Bungie. By bringing about some of these changes before the main update on September 4th Bungie is giving everybody a taste of what is to come. They are even opening up the Gambit game mode on September 1st for us all to try out. This is a good move as they need people to want to buy forsaken and invest in this next year of Destiny 2.

How do you feel about these changes Guardians? I know a lot of people have wanted a return to form for the Destiny team but is this just going backward for fanservice? let me know in the comments?

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