Articles by Andrew Myrick

Finding the best Android Auto USB-C cables is pretty straightforward as you don’t want to use the same one that comes with your phone. The cable needs to be able to withstand bends, sudden removals, spills, and so much more. Whether you are learning how to use Android Auto for the first time, or are a seasoned veteran, everyone needs to get a new cable sometimes. We have found some of the best USB-C cables that you can get for Android Auto.

Perfect option

Anker Nylon USB-C to USB-C Cable

Staff Pick

Anker’s charging cables are practically unmatched in terms of quality and value. This Nylon USB-C cable is extremely impressive with the braided nylon exterior, which is said to last for more than 12,000 bends along with being offered in a few different colors and sizes.

$20 at Amazon

Angled connections

AUKEY Right Angle USB C to USB A Braided Cable

Sometimes you can’t use the traditional charging cable as it sticks out too far, and you need something that can fit into a …

Trying to find the best cheap headphones is already a tough task, and its get more difficult when trying to find the best eaerbuds under $20. A headset — earphones or earbuds (or even a single earbud) with a microphone and controls — is a different beast than a set of earbuds or headphones without a mic. For starters, not every set will work with Android when you need to answer calls and adjust the volume. Plus, when products are cheap, there are thousands of choices to wade through — some not all that great. So we chose the best ones.

Foam fit

KLIM Fusion Earbuds

Staff pick

They handle calls just fine, fit better than average, and aren’t terrible to wear. Best of all, they sound awesome. The Fusion Earbuds also include memory foam ear-tips so that you’ll get the best fit possible, without having to worry about ear fatigue. Plus, KLIM offers a 5-year warranty if anything goes awry with your amazing earbuds.

$20 at Amazon

For the gym

LETSCOM U8I Bluetooth Earbuds

Th…

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6

Best Android tablet

$648 at Amazon

Pros

Better display
More base storage
Built-in fingerprint scanner
More RAM
Includes S Pen

Cons

Higher price tag
Keyboard must be purchased separately

The Galaxy Tab S6 presents the best that Samsung has to offer in the tablet market from 2019. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 855 chipset, paired with up to 8GB of RAM, and has a built-in fingerprint scanner, so it gives you everything you could want. And if you want to get some work done, you can pick up Samsung’s Keyboard case.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Solid for most

$280 at Amazon

Pros

Less expensive
3.5mm headphone jack
Includes S Pen
Better battery life

Cons

Slightly smaller display
Less RAM and storage
No first-party keyboard cover
No Samsung DeX support

While there are a few features that are surprising, like the included S Pen and 3.5mm headphone jack, that’s about it. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite is designed for those who just want an Android …

Samsung is largely considered to be a leader in the smartphone industry, offering one of the best Android phones overall, but when it comes to finding the cheapest Samsung phones, there are quite a few options. With options such as the Galaxy A31, this is still extremely serviceable, and sometimes even great for what you get. These are the best of the best when it comes to the cheapest Samsung phones you can get for under $250 in 2020.

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy A31

If you want a flagship-level experience without paying flagship prices, then the Galaxy A30s is perfect. This handset has up to 4GB of RAM, a beautiful sAMOLED display, and four cameras capable of handling many different shots.

Perhaps even more exciting than the triple-camera setup is the 5,000mAh battery. This huge battery combined with the mid-range MediaTek Helio P65 chipset provides you with up to 20 hours of battery life.

Unfortunately, you’ll be forced to use traditional charging, as there’s no wireless cha…

Best answer: Yes, the Pixel 5 is capable of being charged wirelessly, and even includes reverse wireless charging.

The Ultimate Pixel: Google Pixel 5 ($699 at Amazon)
The best charger: Anker PowerWave Allow ($30 at Amazon)

Pixel 5 has wireless charging with a metal body

After seeing the Pixel 4a, there were some concerns that Google would omit Pixel 5 wireless charging, but that’s not the case. With the Pixel 5, you can wirelessly charge at speeds up to 15W, and Google even threw in an added benefit for Pixel Buds (or truly wireless earbuds) owners.

Reverse wireless charging (Google is calling it Battery Share) is on board, capable of charging some of your accessories at speeds up to 5W. This is a feature we’ve already seen from Samsung flagships like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. However, this is the first time that Google has made this option available on a smartphone, as the Pixel 4 only features wireless charging, and there was no wireless charging on the Pixel 4a.

The real fe…

Best answer: No, there is no Pixel 5 Neural Core chip which was found on Pixel devices starting with the Pixel 2 and going to the Pixel 4, but that shouldn’t impact speeds or other benefits.

The latest Pixel: Google Pixel 5 ($699 at Amazon)

What is Google’s Neural Core?

Whenever you think about a Pixel smartphone, chances are that it has something to do with how great the camera(s) are. Google began including the Pixel Visual Core in the Pixel 2, which was a custom processor built with eight cores capable of running three trillion operations per second.

Originally, this was disabled on the Pixel 2 and 2 XL before Google decided to enable it throughout the Android 8.1 Developer Preview. Essentially, this custom SoC processes every image taken on the device to provide the stunning images that we became accustomed to seeing. The real power with the Pixel Visual Core, however, was that it was capable of running five times faster than the image processor found on the Snapdragon 835 …

The Samsung Galaxy A20 is a contender for one of the best cheap Android phones thanks to how great Samsung’s hardware is, paired with the best software features. While the company does have a heavy focus on offering one of the best Android phones, Samsung also has its devices at a bunch of different price points. After you get your hands on this fantastic device, you’ll want to make sure that it stays protected and we have found the best cases for your A20.

Trusted brand

Spigen Rugged Armor

Staff pick

Everyone has heard about Spigen in some capacity, and for good reason as the company offers some of the best cases and accessories around. The trend continues with the Spigen Rugged Armor, thanks to the company’s Air Cushion technology for improved shock absorption, along with spider-web interior pattern and raised edges.

$11 at Amazon

Soft and hard

Otterbox Commuter LITE

When it comes to protection, Otterbox makes some of the best Galaxy A20 cases available. The case …

Chromebooks have come so far from where they used to be, that many folks are beginning to use them as their only computer you’ll want to be sure you have one of best Chromebook backpacks for it. Whether you are a student or not, you want to have something to safely carry your Chromebook with you, and we have found some of the best options for you here.

Simplistic versatility

Herschel Retreat Backpack

Staff pick

Simplicity cannot be understated in the backpack world, and the Herschel Retreat is a perfectly-simple backpack. The Retreat sports a padded sleeve for your Chromebook, along with a dedicated media pocket with a hole to use your headphones.

From $36 at Amazon

Classic design

Kensington Triple Trek Slim

Kensington has been in the bag game for a long time—and the Triple Trek Slim is a fantastic option. There is a fleece-lined compartment for your Chromebook, along with hidden pockets for your valuables and so much more.

$50 at Amazon
$50 at Walmart

Camer…

Gorgeous picture with a few caveats

Ever since moving into my new apartment, I have been on the hunt for a new television to grace my living room. There have been the usual suspects, including Samsung and Sony, but Hisense is a brand that I’ve seen in my local Best Buy and it seemed like a pretty solid option.

Before continuing, there’s a major feature of the Hisense H65 that I had never experienced before — Android TV. For someone who has written about Android for years, there just has not been much of a desire to use an Android TV when my Chromecast makes it easy to cast whatever I want. But, it was one criteria I was looking for on the hunt for a new television because I’ve grown tired of Amazon’s Fire TV interface.

Bringing it back to the H65, this is a TV that checks almost all the boxes you could want, with a few caveats. Truth be told, even with the shortcomings, the Hisense H65 could very easily mix it up with the other best Android TV options out there.

Hisense H65 S…

The chances are if you’re in need of a webcam, you’ve hit up your usual stores and have come up empty due to overwhelming current demand, but there are still some great webcams available on Amazon. Slowly but surely, webcams are coming back in stock, so we have rounded up the best webcams that you can get right now from Amazon.

Flexible and solid

AUKEY FHD Webcam

Staff Pick

AUKEY’S FHD Webcam will get the job done admirably for those who need a new webcam for video conferencing or some live streams. This 1080p camera records at 30fps, and with the “Fixed Focus” feature, you’ll be in focus even if you are a few feet away from where the camera is mounted. Speaking of, the camera clips onto the top of your monitor or laptop screen, but there’s also a mount for those who have a mini-tripod.

$55 at Amazon

Built-in ring light

Vitade 960A

Trying to get the right lighting can be tough, because you don’t want to look washed out, nor do you want to look like a Sith Lord. The …