When the Nvidia Shield was announced and subsequently released in 2015, it probably didn’t quite justify the initial high price-tag for a base Android TV streaming box — at least in my opinion. Despite that, the updated 2017 model proved to be a very different story thanks to a combination of exceptional hardware and updated Android TV software.
There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps to choose from the Google Play Store, the issue is that most of these are downright terrible. For that reason, we’ve collated a few core apps that you need to really kickstart your 2019. Some you might already have or heard of and with good reason, many are near the top of the download charts because of just how good they are. But even with that said, there are bound to be some that you may never have even considered.
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Hopefully, you’re enjoying your brand new Pixel 3, had one for a while or are thinking that you might get one soon, for that reason we’ve compiled a few of our best tips and tricks for any potential Pixel 3 user out there.
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The Google Home Hub is one of the best Smart Display options on the market, albeit there are very few options. It might not have a camera, however, oddly, makes it one of the best options available especially as you have fewer privacy concerns.
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After the Pocophone F1 nearly came out on top in a blind social media camera shootout in a video by YouTuber Marques Brownlee (aka MKBHD), we thought it might be worth comparing the budget flagship against the superb Google Pixel 3 XL to see if our actual perception of the Google camera was really pixel perfect.
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The Pocophone F1 is clearly Xiaomi’s way of hacking the budget market with a device that packs in high-end specs and an experience that matches (and in some cases betters) their own Xiaomi Mi flagship lineup.
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The TicWatch C2 from Mobvoi is yet another solid smart wearable from the brand, who are really carving out a name for themselves as one of the best smartwatch makers on the market. That said, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows and the Ticwatch C2 isn’t a massive leap over other smartwatches a) on the market, and b) in the TicWatch line-up.
It’s nice to get a bargain on a phone case, especially when your device costs upwards of $500. Although it’s equally nice to have a premium case keeping your pristine Pixel safe and sound.
The Honor Play, simply put, is a cheap gaming-focused smartphone that looks good and comes in at under $300. Beyond that, it packs in some serious specs and performs superbly for the entry cost. Honor has a good record with making good quality, affordable devices and, to be honest, the Honor Play is no different.
The annual Google Year in Search gives us an indication of our search habits over the course of 12 months, with 2018 being the year of the World Cup in our search bars.
Wired audio still matters. We’re just in a transition phase from 3.5mm headphone port to a singular digital Type-C listening future. There are very few affordable USB Type-C headphone options available but the OnePlus Type-C Bullets genuinely offer quality audio in a cheaper package.
After Huawei announced the Mate 20, it was soon overshadowed by the more appealing Mate 20 Pro. It’s literally that fact that makes you wonder why this smartphone exists in a world inhabited by the Pro version. In boxing terms: the standard Mate 20 feels like a preliminary fight before the main event.
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Accessories for the Pixel 3 XL don’t come much pricier than the Whitestone Dome glass. We have spoken at length on the quality that they offer over traditional cheap tempered glass screen protectors, and their latest version is no different.
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When you consider that many smartphone manufacturers are trying to do what Apple and Google are capable of with single and double camera setups, it stands to reason that we would compare two of the best single lens setups on the market.
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Google’s new Pixel 3 family isn’t particularly cheap. While there’s affordable insurance available, odds are you’ll want to protect your investment – especially looking at repair costs. If you’re on the hunt for Pixel 3 accessories, here are a few great options to get started with.
Huawei has made some superb smartphones this year, with the Huawei Mate 20 Pro being one of the standout devices on the market. Smartwatches are another area the company has doubled down in, but not with our preferred Wear OS. Instead, the Huawei Watch GT has gone down the Samsung route, favoring its own LiteOS smartwatch operating system.
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We’ve seen the leaked promo video for the Nokia 8.1 merely hours before the official launch, but if you want to tune in live, here’s where to watch the Nokia event livestream from Dubai.
After the surprising excellence — at least on my part — of the Nokia 7.1, we’ve been eagerly awaiting the next Nokia flagship. We haven’t had to wait too long as the Nokia 8.1 is set to launch in Dubai on December 5 with three devices expected to be unveiled. We’re just hours ahead of this global launch, and a promo video for the yet unannounced Nokia 8.1 has leaked.
Android TV is a fantastic platform that is growing quite well, but consumer hardware is surprisingly tough to find. The Nvidia Shield TV is still the best Android TV set-top box, but for a more affordable price, the best option is the Xiaomi Mi Box S. Here’s what you need to know.
Arguably two of the very best night photography modes on any devices currently available are Google’s Night Sight and Huawei’s Night Mode. The people’s champion has to be Night Sight on the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL, but that doesn’t mean the Huawei Mate 20 Pro’s camera is a slouch. Night Mode on the Mate 20 Pro is very impressive in its own right.
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For years now, Samsung’s software has been a point of pain on its various Android smartphones. Slowly but surely, things have been getting much better, though. Now, with Samsung One UI, we’re seeing some big updates and great changes. Here are our top 5 favorite updates so far.
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Fitness trackers come in a great range of shapes and sizes, with many offering a complete package at a much more complete price. Xiaomi is most definitely one of the brands that we associate with affordability and that continues with the Mi Band 3.
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Google has enlisted the help of a whole host of prominent YouTube stars to highlight the benefits of the Google Assistant Routines feature. The videos include some of the biggest names on the website including Todrick Hall, TheSorryGirls, Jackie Aina, Lele Pons, Katrina Garcia, and The Action Lab.
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Thanks to some enterprising developers over at XDA, a modded Google Camera .apk file can be sideloaded onto OnePlus 6 and OnePlus 6T devices to give you a rudimentary experience of the Pixel 3 XL Night Sight on Oxygen OS. So with that in mind, we headed out into the freezing cold streets to see just how two of the newest specialist night-time camera modes fare against one another.
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