Articles by Andrew Martonik

The same great performance and software you’d expect, now available at an irresistible price.

OnePlus 8 review

Price and availability
Hardware, screen and specs
Software, battery life and performance
Cameras
Should you buy it?
Review changelog, April 2021

OnePlus 8 Pro

OnePlus 8 Pro review

OnePlus had a rather confusing 2019, launching five different phones in various pairings around the world, in a staggered release that was tough to keep up with. The first half of 2020 smoothed things out considerably, with the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro launching simultaneously.

But these phones launched at a higher base price than ever before, with the entry level OnePlus 8 running $70 more than the highest-spec model of the OnePlus 6T from 18 months prior, begging the question: are OnePlus phones still worth the money, as prices have continued to rise?

Thankfully, now that its successor has arrived, the OnePlus 8 is available with steep discounts that make it practically an impulse b…

T-Mobile has a good lineup of phones at a variety of price points, ranging from the top of the line all the way down to affordable entry-level phones that you might not even need to finance monthly. Samsung makes some of the best T-Mobile phones, but it’s far from your only option.

Best overall

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 128GB

Staff Pick

The Galaxy S21 Ultra pretty much does it all. It has the latest and greatest specs, 5G support, an industry-leading curved display, amazing rear cameras that let you get a closer or wider shot at the touch of a button, and up to 100x zoom. Best of all, it even supports Samsung’s S Pen for precise, pressure-sensitive input.

$1,200 at T-Mobile

Affordable alternative

Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 128GB

Even though Samsung now offers a cheaper S21 model, the Galaxy S20 FE is still a great option for people who value features like microSD expandability. With regular sales, you can pick up the S20 FE for half the price of the S21 Ultra and get a largely …

Stadia on your TV

Chromecast Ultra

$100 at Google Store

Pros

Enables Google Stadia on TV
4K HDR support
Includes ethernet adapter
Faster startup and streaming

Cons

No Google TV
Only available in Stadia Premiere Edition bundle
Expensive

The Chromecast Ultra remains the only device that lets you stream Stadia games on your television. It can also cast any content in 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. Unfortunately, this device doesn’t support the new Google TV platform and is also no longer sold on Google’s website, making the Stadia Premiere Edition the only way to get ahold of one.

Cheap 1080p casting

Chromecast (3rd gen)

$30 at Amazon
$30 at Best Buy
$30 at Walmart

Pros

Solid 1080p picture
Can be powered by your TV USB port
The cheapest Chromecast available

Cons

No 4K or HDR support
No Ethernet port
No Stadia support
No Google TV support

The standard third-generation Chromecast is effectively the same device as the Chromecast Ultra, but it loses 4K streaming c…

True flagship

OnePlus 8 Pro

$700 at OnePlus

Pros

Bigger, better display at 120Hz
Wireless charging
Better cameras

Cons

Tougher to use one-handed
$200 more
Same front-facing camera

OnePlus put together all of its strengths in hardware, specs, and software and finally added in missing features like water resistance, wireless charging, and a top-notch screen. It also has a fantastic quad camera setup, and while it is one of the costliest phones OnePlus has ever sold — it is worth it.

A real bargain

OnePlus 8

$500 at OnePlus

Pros

Less expensive for same core features
Easier to use with one hand
Same great specs
Strong battery life

Cons

Weaker rear cameras
Smaller, lower-res screen at 90Hz

The OnePlus 8 follows more of the traditional OnePlus model: deliver a flagship-like experience with top-end hardware and specs for hundreds less. Even with a higher price than the 7T, you can still see great value in the 8. You just lose out on the top-end cameras, sc…

The best Android tablet available right now is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. It has a big screen, high-end specs, tons of features, a stylus, and support for a full keyboard. It’s pricey and not the right pick for someone who prefers a smaller, more portable tablet. Still, as an all-around device, it can’t be beaten. For those who have different needs (or budgets), there are a few other picks that work just well for media consumption and won’t break the bank.

What are the best Android tablets?

There’s a lot more to a tablet than just its display, but it’s hard to deny what an important role that particular spec plays. The Galaxy Tab S7 has one of the most impressive displays on any device we’ve used. It’s able to get extremely bright and even bears support for Samsung’s S Pen stylus. Of course, the Tab S7 also packs incredibly powerful specs elsewhere, and you can even buy a 5G-capable variant for a bit more money.

If you really want to go the extra mile, Samsung’s larger and pricier G…

The best Android tablet available right now is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. It has a big screen, high-end specs, tons of features, a stylus, and support for a full keyboard. It’s pricy and not the right pick for anyone who wants a smaller and more portable tablet, but as an all-around device, it can’t be beaten. For those who have different needs (or budgets), there are a few other picks that work just well for media consumption and won’t break the bank.

What are the best Android tablets?

There’s a lot more to a tablet than just its display, but it’s hard to deny what an important role that particular spec plays. The Galaxy Tab S7 has one of the most impressive displays on any device we’ve used. It’s able to get extremely bright and even bears support for Samsung’s S Pen stylus. Of course, the Tab S7 also packs incredibly powerful specs elsewhere, and you can even buy a 5G-capable variant for a bit more money.

If you really want to go the extra mile, Samsung’s larger and pricier Galax…

The best Android tablet available right now is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7. It has a big screen, high-end specs, tons of features, a stylus, and support for a full keyboard. It’s pricy and not the right pick for anyone who wants a smaller and more portable tablet, but as an all-around device, it can’t be beaten. For those who have different needs (or budgets), there are a few other picks that work just well for media consumption and won’t break the bank.

The best Android tablets at a glance

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 — Best Overall: An incredible display and equally impressive specs.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ — Best Upgrade Pick: An even larger AMOLED display and all-day battery.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite — Productivity for Less: Buy it when it’s on sale.
Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e — Midrange Option: An even more accessible tablet for tighter budgets.
Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 — Low-Budget: A great option for first-time buyers with basic needs.
Amazon Fire HD 10 — Big on a Small Budget: …

One of the best parts of owning a Google Pixel like the latest Pixel 5 and affordable Pixel 4a is its regular software updates. Google releases an update every month for its Pixel phones, and supports them for at least two years with full platform updates as well, with the latest being Android 11. The updates don’t happen completely automatically, though — you still need to be involved to accept the update.

How to update the software on your Pixel via OTA

Open your Settings.
Scroll down to the bottom to tap System.
Tap Advanced.

Tap on System update.
Tap Check for update in the bottom-right corner and wait for the check.
Your system will report back as being up to date, or with an update pending.

If you’re on Wi-Fi, the update will download automatically. You can pause it at any time.
If you are on mobile data, you’ll have to opt-in to download the update immediately.

Once an update is downloaded and installed in the background, you will receive a notification to reboot you…

Among the best Android phones with headphone jacks, you’ll find plenty of last-gen and budget-lineup phones. Phone manufacturers frequently ditch 3.5mm jacks for their flagship phones, despite it being one of the most-requested features from smartphone buyers. So it isn’t a given that your next Android phone will have one. Thankfully, some companies have heard the call and kept the headphone jack around. These are the best Android phones with headphone jacks available today.

Feature-packed

Samsung Galaxy S10+

Staff Pick

Samsung held onto the headphone jack for its high-end phones longer than most, but the streak ended with the Galaxy S20 series. Thankfully the Galaxy S10+ is still a great phone, and a good value now that it’s over a year old. If you need a headphone jack, it’s a good compromise.

$600 at Amazon
$850 at Walmart

Great audio quality

LG V60

The V60 continues LG’s commitment to offering great audio quality, both with speakers and its headphone jacks. Just like …

Over the years, water-resistance in phones has gone from being a luxury reserved only for top-end phones to a standard feature that’s expected of any even remotely expensive gadget. We’ve rounded up the best waterproof phones In 2020, lead by the fantastic Samsung Galaxy S20 FE.

Best Overall Waterproof Phone: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE emerged toward the end of 2020 as our consensus choice for the best Android phone most people should buy. That doesn’t mean that it had the best specs overall or was the best-priced phone. No, we love this S20 variant because of how well it balances price, features, and built quality, and part of that build quality is its IP68 water and dust resistance.

Unlike its higher-priced siblings in the S20 and Note 20 lineup, this phone has a plastic, or rather, “glasstic” rear panel, but that doesn’t make it feel cheap or less premium to us. It actually makes the phone considerably more resistant to damage from accidental drops. The g…