Should you buy the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium?

Best answer: Unless you are a diehard Sony fan, or need the additional low-light performance of its secondary camera, the Xperia XZ2 Premium is an overpriced and poorly-designed premium smartphone that you should pass on. Instead, buy the cheaper Xperia XZ2.

• Amazon: Sony Xperia XZ2 ($700)
• Amazon: Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium ($1,000)

It’s an extremely awkward phone

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is a powerful, capable flagship for 2018 that has much of its desirability stripped away due to its design. Unlike the smaller Xperia XZ2, which negates the impact of its sizeable top and bottom bezels with a narrower, taller 18:9 aspect ratio, the XZ2 Premium reverts to a legacy 16:9 aspect ratio, making it both tall and wide. Its glass back is rounded, which prevents it from sitting flush on a table or desk, and because it’s so heavy, it slides easily off surfaces or out of pockets.

Using the phone in one hand is almost impossible, too, which can lead to frustrating moments of trying to manipulate a very slippery phone without dropping it. Suffice it to say, if you do decide to get the XZ2 Premium, you should pair it with a good case. I like this one from Anccer.

Furthering the awkwardness is the location of the rear fingerprint sensor, which is lower than your index finger thinks it should be. Instead, where your finger immediately goes is right on top of one of the two camera sensors that adorn the phone’s back.

The 4K screen is wasted on Android

One of the Xperia XZ2 Premium’s differentiating features is its 4K screen, which is admittedly beautiful. But it’s also wasted on Android, since so few apps actually support output at that resolution. And when an app does support it, like YouTube, 4K content, while stunningly sharp, does not impact the viewing experience as much as it would on a larger display. I spent quite a bit of time watching well-produced 4K video on the XZ2 Premium and then dropped the resolution to 1080p and had trouble telling the difference unless my face was right up to the screen, which normally it wouldn’t be.

Sony does claim that it upscales 1080p content to 4K, but I’m confident that most people won’t be able to tell the difference between this display and a nice QHD panel for most daily tasks.

That being said, the advantage of a 4K display — if your eyes are good enough — is that you can scale text down to tiny sizes and see everything perfectly clearly. I’ve really enjoyed reading on the Xperia XZ2 Premium because you can just fit so much text on the screen at once.

The camera is Sony’s best

The Xperia XZ2 Premium has Sony’s first dual camera setup, and except for one major omission, optical image stabilization, this is about as thoughtful a setup as you’ll see. The main sensor is identical to Sony’s other XZ2 phones, a 19MP MotionEye that’s proven to be excellent in most situations. The main difference is that the lens is sharper, at f/1.8, compared to the smaller XZ2’s f/2.0 lens.

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium (left) | Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (right)

The other main difference is the secondary camera is a huge 12MP monochrome sensor with an incredibly fast f/1.6 lens. The upside is that the camera performs really well in low light, and features a true depth-sensing portrait mode. You’ll see how well the phone does compared to the Galaxy Note 9 in low light, retaining color and detail in very challenging conditions.

It’s easily the best, and fastest, camera Sony has ever made, but it’s let down somewhat by the company’s terrible camera app, which desperately needs a revamp.

The price isn’t right

If the Xperia XZ2 Premium was $799, my recommendation might be different, but the phone costs a hair under $1,000 and isn’t available on any U.S. carriers, which means you’re paying full price. Given how much more awkward it is to use than the Xperia XZ2, and how similarly the two perform, I feel like the obvious advice is not to buy the Premium and to instead buy the XZ2 itself. Or, if you’re looking to spend a grand on a phone, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 does almost everything better.

Bottom line

I really like the Xperia XZ2 Premium, and would recommend it if it were cheaper. But at $1,000, it’s too expensive, especially for how awkwardly designed it is. If you want a great Sony phone, get the much cheaper Xperia XZ2, or if you want to spend a thousand bucks, upgrade to the Galaxy Note 9.

Our pick

Sony Xperia XZ2

$700 at Amazon

A better Sony phone for most people.

If you’re really interested in a 2018 Sony flagship, the Xperia XZ2 gives you nearly everything the Premium version does with a nicer design, less awkward usability, and a fantastic single camera.

For most people, the Xperia XZ2 will be more than enough phone. It’s got a large 5.7-inch display with a narrow body thanks to its 18:9 aspect ratio, and its 19MP camera takes awesome photos in all but the dimmest conditions.

A little bit more

XZ2 Premium

$1,000 at Amazon

Too much of a good thing.

This is Sony’s best phone ever on the inside, but the Xperia XZ2 Premium is bulky, awkward, and far too expensive to recommend to most people.

If you want to spend the money

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

$1,000 at Amazon

The upgrade pick.

If you want to spend $1,000 on a phone, it’s probably a better idea to spend it on the Galaxy Note 9, which provides a better overall experience.

How’s your Galaxy Note 9 battery life?

Here’s what you can expect from the Note 9’s 4,000 mAh battery.

Following the disaster that was the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung decided to play it safe last year with the Note 8’s battery capacity. While the phone was much safer to use, it wasn’t a device you could rely on to last you through an entire day of full use.

This year, Samsung’s regained its confidence in itself and slapped a massive 4,000 mAh battery inside the Note 9. That sounds beyond impressive on paper, but how does it fare in the real world?

Here’s what some of the AC forum users have to say.

kenlundy17
08-28-2018 09:26 AM

“

My note 9 literally loses battery at the same rate as my iphone x did. I usually take the phone off the charger at 6 a.m. Around 12, the battery is down to the 70s. I work from 8 to 11 so no access to the phone at that point. When I do use the phone, I am checking emails, Instagram, FB, and listening to a podcast on soundcloud. Is anyone else seeing their battery life not last “all day”?

Reply

djrakowski
08-28-2018 09:34 AM

“

It’s easily lasting all day for me. It’s at least as good as my iPhone 8 Plus with similar usage patterns (a handful of phone calls, WhatsApp and text messaging, looking things up on the web now and then, and 1-2 hours of Spotify or Google Play Music while paired with Bluetooth headphones).

Reply

andrew_ackley
08-28-2018 09:42 AM

“

Mine has just been so so. I’ve had it since last Wednesday and always have to top off early evening or I will run out. This makes me sad bc I still have it on crappy 1080p resolution. My Huawei phones recently have been way better.

Reply

boufa
08-28-2018 10:45 AM

“

I left it off charge from about 10am yesterday until about 9am today. I still had 15% battery left. I had over 5 hours of screen on time, and did NOTHING to forcable extend the battery life. All features on like normal, allways on display, played games, checked emails, screwed around with new apps, etc.

Sure this was not “power user” level activity, but I would consider it normal for many…

Reply

What about you? How’s the battery life on your Note 9 been?

Join the conversation in the forums!

Samsung Galaxy Note 9

• Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review
• Galaxy Note 9 vs. Note 8
• Where to buy the Galaxy Note 9
• Galaxy Note 9 specifications
• Is the Note 8 still a good buy?
• Join our Galaxy Note 9 forums

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Amazon

Can I use NVIDIA Shield TV Pro as a Plex server?

Best answer: Yes, you can. The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro and Plex is a match made in heaven, with plenty of internal storage (500GB) for all your favorite media.

Amazon: NVIDIA Shield TV Pro (500GB) ($299)

Simply the best TV streaming device you can buy

The Android TV segment is cluttered with cheap devices running outdated versions of Android and limited specs and functionality. Rising above the mess of generic media players is the NVIDIA Shield TV — a supercharged Ferarri in a world filled with clunky beaters.

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is a full-featured streaming box powered by NVIDIA chipsets with support for 4K HDR content, functionality as a Chromecast device, and support for all your favorite media streaming apps. NVIDIA has also implemented great support for gamers — either through the Google Play Store, it’s own GeForce Now game streaming service, or by streaming PC games with NVIDIA Gamestream.

But we’ll save the topic of gaming for later. If you’ve got a massive media collection that you want instant access to in your home theatre setup — as well as across your other streaming devices — the NVIDIA Shield and Plex offer a great solution.

The Shield pairs perfectly with Plex

Simply put, Plex is one of the most powerful and beautifully designed media players you can use, and the NVIDIA Shield TV has offered great support for Plex users including compatibility as a Plex Media Server since 2016.

Setting up a Plex media server requires you to set up a Plex account and then go through the setup process in the Plex app. Plex has a solid guide for setting up a media server on the NVIDIA Shield TV, which explains how to transfer files over to your Shield’s internal storage and then how to set up the Media Server. The 500GB NVIDIA Shield Pro is the natural choice to store your media collection, but you also have the option to mount an external storage device via USB to use as your internal storage destination — a great option if you’d rather opt for the 16GB NVIDIA Shield TV.

Once you’ve got everything set up, your NVIDIA Shield will act as a Plex Media Server and let you stream content from your library to other streaming boxes or devices with the Plex app installed.

Our pick

NVIDIA Shield TV Pro

$299 at Amazon

Simply the best Android TV device that works with Plex right out of the box

The NVIDIA Shield TV Pro is the best Android streaming box even if you don’t use it as a Plex Media Server. However, if you have a large media library and want to keep it organized and accessible in your living room TV and beyond, the Shield and Plex are a perfect pairing.

You’ll be able to control the new Zipp 2 and Zipp Mini 2 with Alexa or Siri

A brand new Bluetooth speaker.

Libratone has announced a followup to the Zipp and Zipp Mini wireless speakers. The new speakers, the Zipp 2 and Zipp Mini 2, will be very similar but also include Amazon’s Alexa built right in.

These speakers have 360-degree sound and will come in four possible colors: frosty gray, black, cranberry red, and pine green. Having sound in every direction gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to where you’ll place the speaker, and it’s a trend we’re seeing a lot lately with everyone from Logitech to Anker. They have a lot of connection options as well. In addition to Alexa, the speakers also support AirPlay 2 and can be controlled by Siri using Apple’s HomeKit. They have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Spotify Connect, and a USB port so you can connect just about anything and keep the music going. They also have DLNA and a 3.5mm audio jack. You can connect up to 10 of these speakers together for a multi-room audio system.

Both of these speakers will be available on Amazon in October.

Canada Deal: Amazon’s Fire TV streaming stick is $10 off for a limited time

The Basic Edition of the Fire TV Stick offers access to all the streaming services you know and love.

Amazon has reduced the price of its Fire TV Stick (Basic Edition) to just $39.99. Usually $49.99, this is the best price we’ve seen for the streaming device since Prime Day.

The Fire TV Stick connects your HDTV and hooks you up to a wide selection of video content from the likes of Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, YouTube and more, as well as downloadable games and web browser support — check out the full range of apps available in Canada. A dedicated remote is included for easy navigation.

Amazon also announced yesterday that it is bringing monthly pricing for Amazon Prime to Canada, so you can now get access to its speedy delivery options and Prime Video and Prime Music without paying for a year of service up front.

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

See at Amazon Canada

10 Things You Didn’t Know About Lenovo Smart Display

Here are a few things you might not know about the Lenovo Smart Display!

The Lenovo Smart Display has quickly become one of our favorite smart home gadgets in a long time, mostly due to the fact that it takes everything great about the Google Home, slaps on a screen, and costs under $200.

The addition of that screen allows for a lot of neat tricks we’ve never seen before with display-less Google Assistant speakers, and after having a Lenovo Smart Display in my apartment for a few weeks, I’ve come across a lot of things I wasn’t expecting when I ordered it.

Here are 10 things you probably don’t know about the Lenovo Smart Display!

1. It can act as a Chromecast target

Just like if you had a Chromecast plugged into your TV, you can send movies and TV shows from your favorite apps to the Lenovo Smart Display to watch them on it.

Not all apps that support Chromecast work with the Smart Display quite yet (Netflix is currently the biggest omission), but it is compatible with YouTube, Hulu, PlayStation Vue, YouTube TV, and more.

2. The speaker sounds surprisingly great

Whether you’re watching videos or listening to music, the speaker on the Lenovo Smart Display sounds much better than I was initially anticipating.

Sound comes through nice and clear, there’s a respectable bass-y punch, and I’ve not once dared to turn this thing up to max volume — it gets loud.

You’ll still find an overall better audio experience with something like a Sonos One or Google Home Max, but considering the $199 starting price and the fact that there’s a screen in addition to the speaker, Lenovo did a great job here.

3. You can make regular phone calls

It’s no surprise that you can make video calls via Google Duo with the Lenovo Smart Display, but did you know that you can also make regular, audio-only phone calls?

You can ask the Smart Display to make a call to one of your contacts just like you would with Google Home, and thanks to the display, there’s an on-screen keypad you can use during a call, too.

In other words, this just might be the most convenient way to call the customer care team for your cable or phone service provider.

4. Support for audio groups is currently missing

There’s plenty to love about the Lenovo Smart Display, but one thing I wasn’t aware of before using the gadget was a less than pleasant surprise.

While audio groups in the Google Home app can be used to simultaneously play music on multiple Google Assistant speakers at once, the Smart Display cannot be added to these groups for whatever reason.

It’s unclear if this is something that’ll be changed down the road, but for the time being, it, unfortunately, makes the Smart Display feel like a separate beast compared to other Assistant speakers when it should feel like an extension of them.

5. There’s a lot to customize with Ambient Mode

When you’re not using the Smart Display, it’ll go into something called “Ambient Mode.” There are a few different ways you can configure Ambient Mode, including:

• Photo frame — Your favorite albums from Google Photos
• Art gallery — Beautiful images and artwork
• Clock — Any Ambient Mode can show the time, but this one has a choice of clock faces
• Experimental — Try out new sources and content (currently Facebook and Flickr)

6. The camera can be hidden with a physical cover

The addition of the camera on the Lenovo Smart Display allows it to be an excellent Google Duo device for video calls, but if you’re someone that’s concerned about your privacy and don’t like the idea of another camera in your home, Lenovo’s made it easy to completely cover it up.

On the right side of the Smart Display is a physical switch that you can move up to completely hide the camera with a physical cover. When you want to make a video call, just move the cover back down and it’ll work like normal.

Well done, Lenovo.

7. Google Express lets you shop with your voice

Amazon might be the leading site for online shopping, but Google’s been steadily building up its own alternative with Google Express.

On the Lenovo Smart Display, you can say something like “buy juice” or “I need to buy paper towel” and you’ll be shown results of items you can buy on Google Express. You can tap “add to cart” on an item if you find something you like, and at any time, just say “show me my cart” to see what you’ve added.

When you tap the “checkout” button, you’ll receive a notification on your phone to complete the purchase.

The interface could use a bit of work, but even in its current form, is still a great way to quickly add things to your cart as you think about them without having to go to your phone and open an app.

8. The quick settings menu is really helpful

Although you won’t find a full settings page for the Smart Display like you will on an Android phone, there’s still a handy little bar at the bottom that can be used for controlling some simple items.

No matter what you’re looking at on the Smart Display, do a swipe up from the bottom of the screen and you’ll get a small black bar for adjusting the Smart Display’s brightness and volume. There’s also a settings cog that shows your Wi-Fi network, device info, a tab for sending feedback to Google, and a toggle for Do Not Disturb.

9. You can send recipes to it from your phone

Like we’ve already talked about before, the Lenovo Smart Display works great for finding and following recipes in the kitchen. This is never not useful, but you can also find recipes on your phone and then send them to the Smart Display.

While looking at recipes on Google Search, supported sites will show a “Send to Smart Display” button at the bottom of their cards. Tap this, say “start recipe”, and you’re ready to start cooking.

10. Weather info comes with adorable sound effects

This last one’s pretty small, but it’s something that always puts a smile on my face.

When you ask about the weather on the Smart Display, certain weather conditions come with adorable sound effects. For example, sunny days are accompanied by chirping birds and stormy days play thunder in the background while the Google Assistant reads off the forecast.

What else have you found?

If you have a Smart Display, what other little nuggets have you found while using it? Let us know in the comments below!

See at Best Buy

Soundcore by Anker announces the Flare S+, an Alexa-enabled speaker

You’re going to want one!

Anker has announced its latest Bluetooth speaker under the Soundcore branding, the Flare S+. The company has been making great smartphone accessories for years and continues to branch out and expand beyond just cables and chargers, and one area that people love is their speakers. The Flare S+ will feature the lineup’s signature 360-degree sound and is covered by a resilient cloth that houses full range drivers, dual tweeters, and bass radiators. You’re going to get some great sound out of this package.

In addition, this speaker utilizes Anker’s charging technology to allow it to provide power to other mobile devices while on the go and has a beat-synced LED at the base. As though that wasn’t enough, the Flare S+ will also have Amazon’s Alexa built-in, so when you’re speaker is connected you can use it to control your smart home devices, answer your deepest questions, and more. The speaker is IPX7, so you’ll be able to use it by the pool, at the lake, on the boat, and more without worrying about ruining it.

There is no word on pricing or availability just yet, but Anker sells its original Flare speaker for $59.99 at Amazon, where it’s received a 4.5-star rating on nearly 200 reviews. If you don’t want to wait for the new speaker to release and don’t need Alexa built-in, we’d recommend considering the original Soundcore speaker which is down to $24.99 with the on-page coupon. It has over 12,000 reviews and a killer 4.5-star rating.

Protect your Moto G6 with this slim and colorful case for just $12

Want to spruce up your Moto G6 while also protecting it from regular wear and tear? Anccer’s got you covered.

Thanks to its glass back and slim profile, the Moto G6 is undoubtedly one of the better-looking budget phones you can buy right now. In fact, if you didn’t know any better, it’d be easy to confuse it for a phone that costs hundreds of dollars more.

However, as nice as the G6 looks, there are a couple areas that could be improved — its durability and the choice of available colors.

Anccer hopes to remedy these two pain points with its Colorful Series case, and for a little under $12, it’s definitely worth adding to your Moto case collection. Here’s why!

Looking good

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6

$11.99 at Amazon

An affordable way to spruce up your phone

Anccer’s case gives the Moto G6 a colorful pop and decent protection without adding any bulk.

The Good

• Keeps the Moto G6 slim
• Feels great in the hand
• Lots of available colors

The Bad

• Not as durable/protective as other similarly priced cases

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6 What I like

As a big fan of slim cases, the Anccer Colorful Series Case instantly won me over as soon as I slapped it on my Moto G6.

Virtually no extra thickness/bulk is added to the phone when the case is on, and since the power button and volume rocker are left exposed rather than having a cover over them, pressing them doesn’t require any extra force like we see with some cases.

Something else that caught my attention is the feel of the case. Anccer uses a soft-touch plastic here, and while I don’t have any complaints with the Moto G6’s glass back, the soft plastic is considerably more comfortable.

I personally opted for the stunning red color, but if that’s not your style, Anccer also sells this case in black, blue, gold, gray, green, pink, and silver.

And, as a nice bonus, Anccer also includes a free phone grip — something that’d usually cost another $10 or so on its own!

Read more: This is the first and best reason you should use a phone grip

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6 What I don’t like

Like we see with many slim cases, the Anccer Colorful Series does leave a bit to be desired from a durability point of view.

Since the top, bottom, and part of the right frame of the phone are left uncovered, there’s a good chance of these areas getting damaged in the event of a fall. Also, while there is a small lip that comes up over the front to protect the Moto G6’s screen, it’s not nearly as pronounced compared to competing cases.

Anccer Colorful Series Case for Moto G6

If the Anccer Colorful Series Case doesn’t protect the Moto G6 as well as other cases within the same price range, why are we rating it so high?

Similar to other slim cases we’ve reviewed, this isn’t a product that was designed to offer maximum protection. Instead, it was made with the sole purpose of making your phone look good while keeping it slim — the added protection you get is just a nice bonus.

4
out of 5

If you know what you’re buying with the Anccer Colorful Series Case, it’s absolutely worth a look. For just $12, it makes the Moto G6 look great, feel extra comfy in the hand, and gives you good coverage against regular wear and tear.

See at Amazon

Sony’s WH-1000XM3 are a new generation of ANC Bluetooth headphones

Packed with features.

Sony has launched a new pair of headphones called the WH-1000XM3 along with two new speakers, the SRS-XB501G and SRSXB01. The unfortunately named WH-1000XM3 are a follow-up to the WH-1000XM2, and those headphones are considered one of the best around for active noise-cancelling. They rival the Bose Quiet Comfort 35 Series II, which are currently $50 off, and the XM3 plan to improve on the formula.

Features for the new WH-1000XM3 include USB-C charging, atomic pressure optimization that can adjust for noise-cancelling at higher altitudes, a 30-hour battery life, a quick-charging feature that will give you five hours of playback after 10 minutes of charging, and multiple microphones. The Adaptive Sound Control will allow you to adjust just how much ambient noise you want to hear, especially if you’re in a case like walking down the street where you might want to hear the vehicles barreling down on you.

The new QN1 HD noise-cancelling processor is supposed to work four times faster than the XM2. The Dual Noise Sensor technology will work with the QN1 to weaken ambient noise. You can also add a DAC and amp for 32-bit audio signal processing.

The new SRS-XB501G speaker will be a followup to Sony’s successful SRS-XB41. It will include an integrated Google Assistant, Sony’s Extra Bass feature, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, water and dust resistance, USB-C charging, and a 16-hour battery life.

The SRS-XB01 speaker will be the budget version, retailing for just $34.99 instead of $299.99. Much like the XB501G, it will have Extra Bass and Live Sound, which is meant to replicate “festival vibes” according to Sony. It will also have a built-in mic for hands-free phone calls, a six hour battery life, and water resistance. The only ways to connect to this one will be Bluetooth or the manual headphone jack.

See on Amazon

Which Limited Edition PS4 Pro should you buy?

Best answer: You’ll want to get the best limited edition PlayStation Pro, and that means you want the one that’s the top of the line right now, the Star Wars edition. You can find this gem on Amazon for $568.

Amazon: Star Wars limited edition console ($568)

Why go for a customized console?

Just about everyone has the base edition of the PlayStation Pro console. The plain black design certainly makes it easier to match the styles of your other devices on your entertainment center, but what if you’re looking for a little more spice for your gaming station? Most of the time, when a popular new title is released, a brand new limited PlayStation will come out as well so you can show off your collection like trophies. If you’re the type that already has the custom skins and limited edition sets for your other consoles it’s always good to keep coming back to see if you’ve got more to match.

Why the Star Wars edition?

Right now the Star Wars edition is the most popular release that hasn’t been discontinued, and it’s got its own console designed for die-hard fans. After checking out the killer design, I’d say it’s worth every penny to see it displayed beautifully in your entertainment center. Especially if you’ve already got a decent amount of Star Wars memorabilia decorated around the house!

Plus, it comes with your own copy of Battlefront 2. So if you’re new to the PlayStation family and a fan of Star Wars this console isn’t just something that looks pretty on a nightstand. You’ll get your first game with it as well. Considering that you can find Battlefront 2 on Amazon for about $40, that means this entire bundle is only an extra $10 for the limited edition console!

What other kinds of limited-edition consoles have come out?

There have been quite a few limited-edition PlayStation Pro consoles to release with major games, but they aren’t something that happens all the time. The value of the limited edition consoles isn’t just with the unique designs, but the collectors’ value of it as well. If for every massive title there was a console to match then the limited editions would start losing that sparkle-eyed effects they have on their buyers. While most of the limited edition consoles have now been discontinued, you might still be able to find them from a private seller on websites like Amazon or Ebay.

If you want to check out every limited edition console that’s ever come out click here to see the magic.

Our pick

Star Wars limited edition console

$568 at Amazon

Add some decoration to your collection

With 1TB of memory and a beautiful console to represent your love of Star Wars, this is the right console for you. For about $50 more than the standard edition of the PlayStation, you could be rocking a customized one instead!

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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