Wednesday, 1 August 2018

Deal: Browse the internet in VR with a $30 Daydream View headset ($70 off) https://ift.tt/2OB2FyQ

Let’s face it: the Daydream View headset is really a fancier version of the original Google Cardboard viewer. The only difference between the two is more comfortable materials and a cool little remote.

Regardless, the Daydream View is a terrific way to get into virtual reality without breaking the bank. At only $100, the Daydream View is a good deal even without any discounts.

But how about getting one for only $30? At that price, buying one is a no-brainer.

Editor's Pick

You can now visit any website using Daydream VR. Even that one.

One thing the Daydream VR platform has been missing since its launch is full access to a web browser. But today, Google is finally bringing the Chrome browser to Daydream VR. Although Chrome on Daydream VR …

Well, we have good news for you: Verizon is currently selling the Daydream View for only $30, a whopping $70 off the list price. What’s more, shipping is free!

This times nicely with the recent news that Google Chrome is finally supported in Daydream VR. That means you can strap the Daydream View to your head and navigate around the entirety of the internet without having to remove the headset at any point. The future is now!

Of course, the one caveat to this deal is you need a compatible phone to use the Daydream VR. Right now, that list is fairly small — click here to see if your phone makes the cut.

Otherwise, click the button below to nab this awesome deal!

get a daydream view for $30


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Deal: This week the 2018 Essential JavaScript bundle is just $29 https://ift.tt/2OBqN4n

2018 Essential Javascript BundleToday’s deal resonated with me, as I have a friend who’s learning JavaScript. He wanted to learn to code so that he could work remotely from random exotic locations, or possibly his backyard.

I asked him why he chose JavaScript over all the other programming languages out there. He said that he did some research by looking at remote coding jobs on the market, and JavaScript was by far the most in-demand. For him it was a no-brainer.

He’s not wrong. There might be slightly easier languages to get to grips with, but remote working opportunities often involve web development. Put simply, JavaScript is the most important language in web development, and has been for years.

Web development is highly dependent on JavaScript.

If you want to want to master JavaScript from the comfort of your own home, all you need is the 2018 Essential JavaScript Coding Bundle.

This huge array of learning kits and eBooks is everything you need to master programming JavaScript. Over 29 hours of tutorials and 900 pages span this enormous package, on completion of which you’re going to have ninja-level coding skills.

It even includes the popular Responsive Web Development with HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript course, which takes you from knowing nothing about HTML to building elegant, responsive HTML5 and CSS3 websites that work on virtually any device. This course is worth $125 alone.

Here’s the full JavaScript line-up:

That’s over $900 worth of hands-on instruction, but it’s always deals day at AA Picks. Until Monday, you can pick up the bundle for only $29. That’s a mere 96% discount. Once you sign up you’ve got the materials for life, so don’t worry if your plate’s a bit full right now. Grab it while it’s cheap and dive in when you’re ready.

If you’re after the flexible and lucrative life of a web developer then hit the button below to find the deal.

Check it out!

The AAPicks team writes about things we think you’ll like, and we may see a share of revenue from any purchases made through affiliate links. To see all our hottest deals, head over to the AAPICKS HUB.

 

Looking for a new phone or plan? Start here with the Android Authority Plan Tool:

This smart tool lets you filter plans by phone, price, data tiers, and regional availability. Stop overpaying for cell service you hate and a phone that you’re tired of. Use our Compare Phones & Plans tool to fully customize your mobile experience and painlessly transition from one carrier to another!


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Sony’s failing smartphone business should come as no surprise https://ift.tt/2vpVSPv

Samsung may not be selling as many Galaxy S9s as it would like, but that situation isn’t nearly as dire as what Sony is going through. Sony’s recently published earnings report shows what happens when a company has no clue what to do in the smartphone market.

Sony managed to sell just 2 million smartphones in the quarter ending in July 2018, which is down 1.4 million from the same period in 2017. You read that right — in one year, Sony’s smartphone division diminished by nearly half.

In response to these poor sales numbers, the company revised its estimate for 2018 smartphone sales from 10 million down to 9 million. For comparison’s sake, leaked sales numbers point to Samsung “only” selling around 9 million Galaxy S9 units in Q2 2018. That’s just for one quarter, not the whole year, and that’s just one phone.

Sony has a wide range of smartphones that it sells around the world at all different price points, but the company is clearly having issues moving stock. So, what’s a company to do? Is its dwindling smartphone division too far gone to come back into relevancy, or is there still hope?

Pricing problems and slow development

Sony’s smartphone division has actually been busy in 2018 despite the poor sales numbers. At CES 2018, the company launched three new mid-rangers — the Xperia XA2, XA2 Ultra, and Xperia L2 — followed by the flagship Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact at MWC. Now, there isn’t anything inherently wrong with any of these phones, and they performed well in our full reviews.

Editor's Pick

Sony Xperia XZ2 review: Making a buzz

Sony is a company that likes to stick to what it knows. The Xperia line has had almost the exact same design since the Xperia Acro S in 2012. In the smartphone world, that's an eternity. Over …

So, what’s the problem? We don’t have to look far back into our Sony coverage to find an answer. In May, the company admitted that it’s been failing to meet its smartphone sales goals because it’s not innovating fast enough. Specifically, the company pointed to long development/design lead times for its slow adoption of industry trends. The most obvious example of this is last year’s industry-wide shift to 18:9 displays, which saw just about every phone — including in the high-end and budget-tiers — adopt these thinner, taller screens. Sony didn’t jump on that bandwagon until it launched the Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact — exactly one full year after we saw the first 18:9 screen come to market.

Sony said itself that it's too slow at adopting industry trends.

There have also been a few other curious missteps this year that point to Sony not having a clear focus on what its customers want. First of all, the pricing problem. Let’s get this one out of the way — Sony recently launched a $1,000 smartphone that has a 4K display and not a whole lot else to help it stand out from the crowded premium smartphone market. It comes with a 16:9 screen, no headphone jack, and pretty sizable bezels, too. Basically, Sony hopes the sheer novelty of the 4K screen will entice you enough to drop an insane amount of money on it. That’s not the smartest move the company has ever made.

Next up is the Xperia XZ2, which we praised in our full review for its fantastic audio quality and great display. We thought the $800 price tag was a little much for the States, but then Sony decided to bring it to India for a whopping 72,990 Rs., which translates to roughly $1,062. What? Why?

There's a clear pricing problem, and the lack of advertising doesn't help.

Then there’s the Xperia XZ2 Compact, a wonderful little phone that was subject to very little criticism in our full review. But at $600, it just doesn’t have anything going for it (aside from its compact size) that the competition doesn’t already offer — and most of the time at a lower price.

Even the Xperia XA2 Ultra, which is now somehow diluted with the addition of the XA2 Plus, was priced right around the more powerful OnePlus 5T and Honor View 10 at launch — two phones that arguably offer more for the money.

Pricing is obviously an issue, and Sony’s lack of advertising and carrier partnerships in the U.S. doesn’t help brand recognition either. If people don’t know you’re selling smartphones, you’re not going to sell smartphones.

All of these things combined point to a company that doesn’t have an aggressive enough mobile strategy to stand out from the competition in any meaningful way.

Not all hope is lost

For all the things Sony needs to work on, it sure gets plenty of things right.

I do like the shimmery design of the new flagships (even though I ragged on Sony for copying HTC), and it’s certainly worth pointing out that most recent Sony phones are quite competitive if you take away the high price tags. Plus, the company is doing great things in the smartphone photography space. It just released a new 48MP camera sensor, which could make its way to smartphones in 2019.

Software shouldn’t be understated, either. The Xperia XZ2 is one of a handful of non-Pixel phones to support the Android P developer preview. That shows Sony puts a big focus on software — something other manufacturers should probably do, too.

Sony has what it takes to make its phones relevant again. It just needs to be more creative.

I think Sony has what it takes to bring its smartphones back into relevancy. This is not a new company, and, perhaps most importantly, not a company that relies on its smartphone brand for much of its income. What if Sony tried a little harder to differentiate itself? Take some risks, you know? That way it can keep the high price tags while offering users a little more than what the competition is doing.

Maybe it could try integrating its PlayStation brand into its smartphone line. Could we see an Xperia Play revival? What about a true PlayStation-branded phone? With all the new gaming smartphones coming out, it’s not too farfetched an idea.

Listen, I don’t dislike Sony. For as many negative comments as I might receive for writing this, I don’t. I just want the company to succeed, and right now I see it making a lot of bad choices that don’t make much sense. If Sony can start lowering the prices of its flagships, start adopting industry trends quicker, and maybe take some more risks, the company’s smartphone business wouldn’t be in as dire shape as it is now.



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Samsung launches Galaxy Tab S4 with DeX support, aiming to replace your Surface https://ift.tt/2vsaXjP

 

  • Samsung announced the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 today.
  • The tablet is the first to support DeX hardware and seems to be aimed as a replacement for your Surface.
  • The tablet goes on sale on August 10 for $650 without the cover, which costs $150 on its own.

The rumor mill has been churning for a while now surrounding the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. Today, Samsung launched the latest-and-greatest in its tablet lineup, and it comes with a few new features that make it a viable replacement for your laptop.

Most notably, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is the first tablet to support Samsung’s DeX hardware, which makes it incredibly easy to use the tablet as a full desktop computer. Simply attach the tablet to a DeX dock, and you can work with a desktop-style OS experience along with monitors, keyboards, and a mouse.

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Check out the teeny tiny bezels of the Galaxy Tab S4 in this brief video

Android Headlines The upcoming Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is one of the small group of tablets that will see a release this year. Judging from the rumored specs and the leaked images we've seen …

The first thing you’ll notice about the Galaxy Tab S4 physically is that it has some seriously thin bezels, at least when compared to other tablets in its class (including the previous Samsung Galaxy Tab S3). Those thin bezels surround a 10.5-inch Super AMOLED display, an 11 percent increase of viewing area over the Tab S3 – but in the same form factor.

The display’s resolution is 2,560 x 1,600 with 287 pixels-per-inch, in a 16:10 ratio.

The next thing you’re likely to notice is that the physical home button that’s usually on the front of Samsung tablets is missing. That’s because the tablet will unlock using facial recognition technology combined with an iris scanner. This enables you to unlock your tablet by merely looking at it, although a PIN or password unlock is still available as a fallback. There is no fingerprint sensor.

An image of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 with keyboard cover and stylus.

Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S4 sports four speakers tuned by AKG and Dolby Atmos immersive sound technology. Samsung claims this will deliver crisper dialog, enveloping sound fields, maximized loudness without distortion, and consistent playback volume.

Samsung is really selling the audio and video capabilities of the Tab S4.

The display and audio capabilities of the tablet are supported by a Snapdragon 835 Octa-Core processor, 4GB of RAM, 64GB or 256GB of storage, and a 7,300mAh, fast-charging battery. The tablet will ship with Android 8.1 Oreo out-of-the-box.

There’s a USB Type-C port at the bottom of the device for charging and connections, a microSD slot for adding up to 400GB of extra storage, and an 8MP front camera with a 13MP camera on the back.

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Best tablets for business

This is an increasingly mobile world, and many companies are turning to the tablet to satisfy their business needs. Tablets have responded with enterprise level apps and power to allow for companies to keep their …

As with the Galaxy Tab S3, the Galaxy Tab S4 comes with a Samsung S Pen stylus, which allows you to draw and write text on the tablet with high accuracy. However, the tablet still doesn’t have a slot to hold the S Pen (as the Galaxy Note line does), which is a bit of a disappointment.

The stylus also does not connect to the tablet via Bluetooth, which the S Pen on the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is likely to do.

An image of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 with keyboard cover and stylus.

Samsung is launching the Galaxy Tab S4 with a keyboard cover (sold separately) that will help you type faster and more efficiently than with the on-screen keyboard. When you combine the tablet with the keyboard cover and the stylus, it’s hard to not view the Galaxy Tab S4 as Samsung’s answer to the success of the Microsoft Surface tablet.

Would you replace your laptop or Surface with a Samsung tablet? Samsung seems to think you will.

The tablet will come in two varieties: a Wi-Fi version and an LTE version. We know that the LTE version will work on Verizon, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular at some point this year. However, Samsung says Verizon will get the tablet first as a temporary exclusive.

Editor's Pick

Samsung Galaxy Note 9: All the rumors in one place (Updated July 27)

In this post, which will be updated regularly, we take a closer look at the latest rumors surrounding Samsung's upcoming Galaxy Note 9 smartphone. Update (07/27): It looks like several Galaxy Note 9 cases and flip …

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 Wi-Fi version will go up for sale on August 10 and cost a pretty penny: $650. The next Samsung Unpacked event – where the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will launch – is happening on August 9, so the Galaxy Tab S4 will be available the following day.

However, if you’re committed to buying the tablet, Samsung is giving you a sweet incentive: reserve the tablet between now and August 9, and you can get 50 percent off a compatible keyboard cover. Normally $150, you’d pay $75 for the keyboard cover, bringing your total price for the tablet to $725.

Click the button below to reserve your tablet now!

reserve a galaxy tab s4


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RED Hydrogen One: What we know so far (Update: Launch delayed again?) https://ift.tt/2rwSCTU

The RED Hydrogen One promotional poster

Update, August 1 at 11:41 a.m. ET: According to new statements made by Red’s founder Jim Jannard on the H4Vuser.net forums, there seems to have been a delay in the Hydrogen One’s certification process. Carriers are apparently allocating a new launch window, and, in the words of Jannard, “[it is] not likely to be pretty.”

It sounds very much like the Hydrogen One won’t meet its targeted August 2018 launch date. We’ll be sure to let you know any details as we learn more.

What we know currently about the Red Hydrogen One

We first heard about the Red Hydrogen One back in January. Ever since, news of the ambitious and innovative new smartphone from Red, an American company well known for its professional cinema cameras, had been dripping out slowly.

A few months ago, CNET and The Verge got to go hands-on at Red Hollywood Studios, giving us a look at the Red Hydrogen One, but not the display. Turns out, it isn’t so much a screen but a holographic display.

There is no way to describe or show the 4 view (4V) display other than seeing it in person. There’s just no way.

Said Red founder and CEO Jim Jannard, speaking to the crowd gathered in Hollywood to see the phone.

Display: “4 View” is at least half the pitch

First of all, Red Hydrogen One isn’t a smartphone in the conventional sense. It’s described as one part of a range of cameras and specially created media that can display via a multi-dimensional display. It’s not a totally new concept in the mobile space. The Amazon Fire Phone offered a 3D display experience criticized for being both bad and without purpose. The LG Optimus 3D and the HTC EVO 3D offered something similar in 2011. They might’ve been too early, with limited viewing angles and depth of field. The Nintendo 3DS also did 3D earlier, though CNET claims the Red Hydrogen One does it better.

red hydrogen one 4 view hologram display

The 3D effect worked in real-time via video calling, which surprises

CNET was pretty bullish on the “4 View” display actually, describing it as adding depth to a normal 2D display. That might be expected when watching pre-produced clips from movies, but it apparently even worked when video calling someone, using Skype or Messenger or what have you — the live image also had the 3D effect. Some trolls called it a high-res Nintendo 3DS, which is probably not all that far from the truth, but being able to capture footage or stream it live could be cool — at least if both parties own a Red Hydrogen One to see it.

The screen will be a 5.7-inch LCD display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution. The Verge mentioned a layer beneath the LCD display that can “direct light in multiple directions instead of the standard two that happen with lenticular displays.” That’s where the depth comes from.

Design: Robust is putting it mildly

The Red’s design philosophy is all over this Android smartphone, so think industrial. It’s not a petite thing, described as like an iPhone in an Otterbox, and it has various metal fins over it for grip. The edges have a wavy shape for better grip. Sticking with that industrial style, Red is offering it either aluminum (preorder price: $1,195) or titanium (preorder price: $1,595). We don’t think you’ll need a case for it, at least — it’s a pretty chunky device.

red hydrogen one held in hand back side camera red button

The design is modular in nature, with connector pins on the back to snap in modules. While we’ve seen that more or less fail in the past, the phone will be part of Red’s existing ecosystem, rather than one that doesn’t exist yet, like with Essential. It appears the one module Red will start with is a bolt-on giant image sensor that allows DSLR size-factors and has connectors for Red’s other cameras, along with lens mounts for existing professional lenses from the likes of Canon, Nikon, Leica, and so on. There may be more modules down the line.

Read next: Here’s how LG V30’s camera compares with $50,000 RED Weapon

The phone can apparently be plugged into existing Red cameras such as the Epic-W or Red Weapon as part of the display. Peter Jackson used a Red camera rig to film The Hobbit trilogy, just so you know.

Specs: Not great, but not the focus

We know it will be an Android smartphone powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, which was the top of the line last year. There are also stereo speakers, a USB-C connector, hybrid SIM tray (dual-SIM or SIM and microSD card), a headphone jack, and a hefty 4,500mAh battery. It will also, intriguingly, have the fingerprint sensor on the side connected to the power button.

What we don’t know is a much longer list. RAM, internal storage, Android OS, sensors, battery size, and so on, are a mystery for now. We saw Phil Holland, a Director in LA, release a shot of the front display at least, although of course, not on:

Red Hydrogen One front display

Phil Holland/PHFX.com

We also don’t know much about the camera. We know it can shoot video for the Red Hydrogen One display via a front-facing two-lens setup, as well as normal 2D shots and video as well. Given it’s Red, we expect something decent, though the full power will likely be unlocked by adding professional lenses. Aspects like megapixels and pixel size, along with the quality of the provided dual rear-cameras, and details for things like f-stops, OIS, focusing methods, built-in flash, bokeh mode, and so on, are unknown. The same goes for the front dual camera as well.

What we expect from the Red Hydrogen One

What we don’t expect is a bestseller that will climb to the top of Android charts. It’s too expensive for that, running at $1,195 for an aluminum preorder or $1,595 for titanium. A first device has a long way to go to generate any significant momentum, even as a niche product in the movie-making business.

We’re hoping for a device that might give 3D displays a fresh life, after the disaster that was the Fire Phone. It’s pretty rare that something radically different enters the smartphone market, but the Red Hydrogen One might just be that. Part of the problem is you won’t know if it’s good until you see it yourself.

When we expect the Red Hydrogen One is another good question. The phone slipped from a Q1 2018 release after Red decided to stick tight with U.S. carriers and go for a simultaneous release date. It was scheduled for an August 2018 launch, but according to recent statements from Red’s Jim Jannard, it looks like that release time frame is not going to happen after all.



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Best Android phones (August 2018): Our picks, plus a giveaway https://ift.tt/2gv2iWG

With Android thoroughly dominating the mobile industry, picking the best Android smartphones is almost synonymous with choosing the best smartphones, period. While Android phones have few real opponents on other platforms, internal competition is incredibly fierce. From sleek devices that impress with premium design, to powerhouses brimming with features, to all-around great devices, and affordable phones that punch above their weight, the Android ecosystem is populated by a staggering variety of attractive phones. But which of them are the best smartphones of 2018?

Related: Refurbished phone guide | Best Android tablets | Best Android watches

“Greatness” is subjective, and sometimes spec sheets and feature lists are not enough to make an idea of how good a phone really is. In this roundup, we’re looking at the absolute best — the Android phones of 2018 you can’t go wrong with.

Updates:August 1, 11:30 a.m. ET
We made no changes to our list this month.

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

best smartphones 2018

See more Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL photos

The Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are Google’s latest and best flagship smartphones, and they’re great at just about everything. They don’t have as many bells or whistles as some of the other entries on this list, but if you’re in the market for a simple Android phone, the Pixel 2 and 2 XL are great options.

The Pixel 2 and 2 XL have 5- and 6-inch OLED displays, front-facing speakers, and top-of-the-line specs under the hood — a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM, as well as 64 or 128GB of on board storage.

They also have two of the best Android smartphone cameras available. Not only have these phones been named two of the best smartphone cameras on the market according to DxOMark, we found the Pixel 2’s main camera to be incredibly impressive in most situations. There’s even a portrait mode on the front and back cameras, even though the phone doesn’t have a dual-camera setup.

Despite the handful of issues with the Pixel 2 XL’s display, we’d still happily recommend either phone to anyone looking for the best Android phones of 2018 out there.

Read more

Buy now from the Google Store
Buy now from Verizon

Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus

See more Galaxy S9 photos

The Galaxy S9 is all about refinement. Design, display, photography, and performance were all strong areas for the Galaxy S8 line, and the S9 does all of them better.

The biggest improvements in the Galaxy S9 have to do with the camera. The S9 sports a single Dual Pixel 12MP autofocus sensor with OIS, along with support for two apertures at f/1.5 and f/2.4. This mechanical iris lens is able to switch between apertures depending on the lighting conditions. If you need something even more powerful, the Galaxy S9 comes with a dual-camera setup on the back.

Samsung also included its own creepier version of Apple’s Animoji, called AR Emoji, allowing you to make GIFs and send cartoony videos to your friends.

These are new Samsung smartphone flagships, so it’s no surprise that they feature the most top-of-the-line specs currently available. They come with 5.8- and 6.2-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED displays, 4 and 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and both are powered by either the Exynos 9810 or Snapdragon 845 SoC depending on your region.

Read more

Buy Galaxy S9 from Samsung

Huawei P20 Pro

See more Huawei P20 Pro photos

Huawei’s new P20 and P20 Pro are finally here, and they’re both huge steps up from their predecessors. They are the best Android phones coming from China.

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Here are the best Huawei phones you can buy right now

China-based Huawei makes and sells a lot of different smartphones, and it can get quite confusing for consumers who might want to buy one for themselves. There are plenty of choices for people who want …

For starters, these are some of the most eye-catching devices we’ve see so far. Both models are available in a few different colors, but the P20 Pro comes in a unique twilight edition that features a glossy blue-to-purple gradient that changes tone depending on the lighting condition. That’s not the only reason the P20 Pro will be a head-turner, either. The higher-end model comes with three rear-facing cameras at 20, 8, and 40MP. The 20 and 40MP cameras do lack OIS, but Huawei says its AI-assisted stabilization will make up for users’ shaky hands.

These are Huawei’s first 2018 flagships, so both phones have some killer under-the-hood specifications, too. The P20 comes with a 5.8-inch Full HD+ LCD display, 4GB of RAM, and a 3,400mAh battery, while the P20 Pro sports a 6.1-inch Full HD+ OLED display, 6GB of RAM, and a 4,000mAh battery. Both devices are powered by Huawei’s Kirin 970 SoC, which can also be found in the Mate 10 and Mate 10 Pro.

Read more

Buy Huawei P20 Pro from Clove

OnePlus 6

See more OnePlus 6 photos

The OnePlus 5T is still a solid smartphone by today’s standards, but that’s not stopping OnePlus from pushing the smartphone boundaries even further. The OnePlus 6 is all about refinement.

OnePlus introduced an all-new, all-glass design with the OnePlus 6. The back is sleek — almost resembling the Galaxy S9 — and the front houses the 6.28-inch AMOLED display. Yes, there’s a notch, but you can basically turn it off in the settings menu.

This phone also has the latest and greatest specs available: a Snapdragon 845 SoC, 6 or 8GB of RAM, and up to 256GB of storage. The cameras have been improved this time around too. It comes with dual 16 and 20MP sensors around back with f/1.7 apertures, along with a 19-percent larger pixel size than the 5T. There are also slow-motion video modes that allow for 720p footage at 480fps and 1080p at 240fps. You can also shoot 4K video at 60fps.

Also, this is probably one of the first devices that will receive Android P when it launches. For all you folks who aren’t a fan of the Pixel but still want quick updates, the OnePlus 6 may be just for you.

Read more

Buy OnePlus 6

LG G7 ThinQ

See more LG G7 ThinQ photos

The new LG G7 ThinQ is an amalgamation of last year’s V30 and G6… with a little iPhone X thrown in.

On top of that super bright 6.1-inch display, you’ll find the oh-so-2018 notch cutout. If you aren’t a fan, you can “turn off” the notch in the settings menu.

LG phones have always provided a solid audio experience, and the G7 ThinQ is no different. The phone actually uses its inner space as a resonance chamber to boost bass and deliver all-around louder audio. It also comes with a 32-bit Hi-Fi Quad DAC and DTS:X 3D Surround Sound support.

This phone also comes with some of the best specs you can find on any smartphone out there: a Snapdragon 845 SoC, dual 16MP wide-angle cameras, as well as IP68 and MIL-STD 810G certifications. As an added bonus, there’s also a dedicated Google Assistant button that lets you talk to the voice assistant like a walkie-talkie. It’s pretty neat.

Read more

Buy LG G7 ThinQ from Best Buy

Samsung Galaxy Note 8

best android phones

See more Galaxy Note 8 photos

After a controversial 2016, Samsung’s Galaxy Note line is back in full force. With top-of-the-line specs, a stunning design, a dual-camera setup, and new software features, the Galaxy Note 8 is still one of the best Android phones you can buy right now.

Editor's Pick

Best Samsung phones you can buy right now – flagship, mid-range and budget models

Samsung is without a doubt the biggest name in the Android world, and so if you are considering purchasing a new phone, logic dictates you may be looking to pick up a phone made by the …

The Note 8’s near-bezel-less 6.3-inch Quad HD+ Infinity Display with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio is one of our favorite parts about this phone. DisplayMate agrees with us too. It’s big — maybe too big for some people — but at least the company puts that screen to good use. There’s a new App Pairing feature that allows you to open up two favorited apps in multi-window at the same time, and there are a few new S Pen features that will satisfy the stylus users out there.

What’s more, the dual-camera setup on the back performs incredibly well. While picture quality isn’t a huge step up from what we saw on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, the extra 12MP sensor with OIS allows you to take clear, concise photos and impressive bokeh shots in just about any situation.

No, it’s not perfect, but no phone is. Samsung’s fingerprint sensor placement on the Note 8 is still super annoying (luckily it’s been fixed with the S9), and this phone is expensive. If those things don’t matter to you though, the Note 8 might be the right phone for you. Check out our full review below!

Read more

Buy now from Verizon

Cast your vote, and participate in our giveaway!

There you have it — our picks from the best Android phones of 2018. Out of those listed, which do you feel is the very best smartphone of 2018? Be sure to sound off in the poll below. Each month we will also be conducting a giveaway, giving our readers a chance to win the phone with the most votes.

Winner, July 2018: Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (4,292 total votes)
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Congratulations to Ridhu C. (India), winner of our July 2018 giveaway!

Best Android phones (August 2018) Giveaway

More: Android Authority international giveaway FAQs

Looking for something more specific than just the best phone of 2018? Maybe the best cheap phone, a dual-SIM phone, or something specific to your carrier? No matter what you’re looking for, we have you covered:

The BEST from each category



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Is this the LG V40 ThinQ firmware? Or is it something else entirely? https://ift.tt/2AvAJJL

  • The folks at XDA Developers found some firmware that seems to be for the LG V40 ThinQ.
  • However, there’s an aspect of the firmware that points to it being for a wholly different device.
  • If it is for the LG V40 ThinQ, it suggests the device will have a POLED, a notch, and a Google Assistant button.

This year, LG has released four devices with confusing names and similar specs. What’s worse, the devices are coming at a rapid-fire pace that even has us scratching our heads as to which device is which and the timeline of it all.

This strategy also doesn’t seem to be helping LG’s mobile division much.

Things might get even more confusing in a month or so when LG announces the LG V40 ThinQ, the follow-up to the LG V35 ThinQ, which was a beefed-up version of the LG V30S ThinQ, which itself is a beefed-up version of 2017’s LG V30 ThinQ.

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Whoa.

But, to make things really confusing, there’s now a rumor that there might be yet another device that could be released around the same time as the LG V40 ThinQ. This rumor is based on firmware that XDA Developers discovered.

Using data in the firmware files, XDA thinks that the software is linked to the LG V40 ThinQ. But one major discrepancy is making the team think that it might instead be for another, yet-unknown device.

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Here’s the timeline of the announcements of flagship LG devices this year:

  • February, 2018 – LG V30S ThinQ
  • May, 2018 – LG G7 ThinQ
  • May, 2018 – LG V35 ThinQ
  • May, 2018 – LG V35 Plus ThinQ

Now, we don’t know anything for absolute certain about the rumored LG V40 ThinQ, but we have a pretty good idea that LG will launch the device about a month after Samsung launches the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

With the expected launch of the LG V40 ThinQ, that will bring LG’s flagship lineup to a hefty five devices in one year. But now there’s a possibility that there might be a sixth.

The firmware doesn’t give firm information

XDA Developers found some LG firmware with the codename “judypn.” You may recognize the “judy” portion of the codename, as the internal name of the LG V35 ThinQ is “judyp” and the code for the LG G7 ThinQ is “judyln.”

Judging from the codenames, this is what we think each name stands for:

  • LG G7 ThinQ is “judyln” and is an LCD phone with a notch.
  • LG V35 ThinQ is “judyp” and is a POLED phone with no notch.
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If that’s the case, then the LG V40 ThinQ (“judypn”) could be a POLED phone with a notch.

Another aspect of the firmware that suggests it might belong to the LG V40 ThinQ are the model numbers, which all seem to match up to the “V” line:

  • LM-V400N
  • LM-V405N
  • LM-V409N

The LG V35 ThinQ’s model numbers are LM-V350 and LM-V350N, so it’s all lining up here.

Finally, “judypn” has a Google Assistant button. XDA knows this because the firmware makes reference to “hot1_key defined” which is how the LG G7 ThinQ refers to its Google Assistant hotkey. The LG V35 ThinQ does not have a Google Assistant button, and also doesn’t make any reference to the hot1_key.

In other words, there is a lot of evidence to point to the firmware with the codename “judypn” belonging to the LG V40 ThinQ, and that the device will have a Google Assistant button, a POLED screen, and a notch.

But something doesn’t add up…

There is one piece of info that the mystery firmware tells us that doesn’t line up with the LG V40 ThinQ, and that’s the number of cameras. The firmware definitively references a dual camera on the rear and a single camera on the front, just like the LG V35 and LG G7.

But the rumor mill points to the LG V40 ThinQ having five cameras: three on the rear and two on the front.

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This is a pretty huge discrepancy. The way we see it, there are three possible explanations:

  1. The mystery firmware file is for the LG V40 ThinQ, but is not a final version and will eventually get an update to include the two extra cameras.
  2. The mystery firmware file is not the for the LG V40 ThinQ, and LG actually has two devices it plans to launch this year: the V40 and a yet-unknown device.
  3. The mystery firmware file is for the LG V40 ThinQ, and the device will only have three cameras.

What do you think? Is LG really going to push six devices over the span of a few months, all with the silly “ThinQ” branding? Or does this firmware belong to the LG V40 and simply need a camera update? Let us know in the comments what you think!

NEXT: You asked, we answered: Why don’t we talk more about LG?



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