Articles by Andrew Myrick

Sony WH-1000XM4

New kid

$350 at Amazon

Pros

Industry-leading noise cancellation
Built-in sensor for wearing detection
Connect two devices at the same time
Adaptive Sound Control enhances listening experience

Cons

Heavier design
Touchpad controls are still odd

The Sony WH-1000XM4 provides the best Active Noise Cancellation on the market, and have been improved in all the right areas. Despite the heavier design and the sometimes-wonky touchpad gesture controls, these are the best in the business.

Bose QC35 II

Old head

$279 at Amazon

Pros

Customizable Noise Cancellation
Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa built-in
Up to 20 hours of battery life
Less expensive

Cons

Can only connect one device at a time
MicroUSB Charging

While these are three years old now, the Bose QC35 IIs still offer a great value with pretty good noise cancellation and built-in smart assistants. But you’ll miss out on multi-device connections and have to dig out that old MicroUSB cable f…

Sony WH-1000XM4

Better than ever

$350 at Amazon

Pros

Industry-leading noise cancellation
Built-in sensor for wearing detection
Connect two devices at the same time
Improved padding provides better comfort for long listening periods

Cons

Dated design
Touchpad controls are still odd

Sony has taken a great design and continued to iterate while adding user-requested features such as Multi Device Connection. Noise cancellation has been incrementally updated, and there’s now a built-in sensor for the XM4 to detect when it has been removed, automatically pausing the music.

Sony WH-1000XM3

Still great, but wait for a sale

$348 at Amazon

Pros

Noise Cancellation is great
USB-C for charging
Customizable EQ (via app)
30-hours of battery life

Cons

Can only connect one device at a time
Padding is slightly thinner than XM4 version

The Sony WH-1000XM3s are no slouch despite being succeeded by the XM4. There’s still fantastic noise-cancellation, customizable EQ and 30…

Whether you’re planning on restoring your phone or performing a software update, you should always be backing up your smartphone. With devices like the Pixel lineup, you can take advantage of Google Drive, but with Galaxy handsets, Samsung Cloud is where you’ll need to go. Samsung offers 15GB of cloud storage for free, making this a no-brainer solution for some of your most important information.

How to back up your data with Samsung Cloud

Open the Settings app on your Samsung phone.
Scroll down and tap on Accounts and backup.
Select Samsung Cloud.

Under Backup and restore, tap Back up data.
Confirm that data to be backed up.
Tap Back up at the bottom of the page.
Once the backup has finished, tap Done at the bottom.

Now that your backup has been completed, just about all of your pertinent and personal information will be in Samsung Cloud, including call logs, Messages, Contacts, Calendar, and even your clock preferences and alarms. If you run out of storage, you can ei…

Best answer: Yes, the Galaxy Buds Live feature a water/sweat resistance rating of IPX2. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough for getting caught in the rain, and there are better options for workouts.

All the beans: Samsung Galaxy Buds Live ($169 at Amazon)
For the gym: Jabra Elite Active 75t ($200 at Amazon)

You’ll need to be careful with the *Galaxy Buds Live *

When you’re looking at a new set of headphones, then one of the obvious questions is whether they are sweat and/or water resistant. Whether it’s because you’re someone who runs and gets caught in the rain, or just live at the gym, you want a set of headphones that can keep up with you.

Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds Live don’t fall under the category of “workout buds” due to the IPX2 rating. This means that you’ll be able to take them with you on that run or trip to the gym, but they may not withstand a passing shower or the enormous amount of sweat that should come with a gym visit. They’re sweat-resistant to a point, but not …

After months of anticipation, Samsung’s latest Unpacked event provided us with the brand-new Galaxy Note 20 lineup, along with other devices. But with handsets that start at $1,000, you’ll definitely want to get a case for your fancy new phone, and luckily Samsung has a slew of options to choose from.

Just the basics

Silicone Cover

Staff Pick

The Galaxy Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra are already large and bulky, so you may not want to get a case that adds too much bulk. That’s where the Silicone Cover comes in. It measures in at just 1.6mm, adding minimal bulk, while the soft-touch finish makes it easy to hold.

$30 at Samsung

Show off the bronze

Clear Cover

Where’s the fun in getting either the Mystic Green or Bronze color options, only if you’re going to be hiding them behind a case? The Clear Cover ensures that you can show off your phone all of the time, proudly confirming your Note fandom without popping the case on and off all the time.

$20 at Samsung

All-in-o…

For years, the Moto E has been a fan-favorite for offering a decent smartphone experience for just a fraction of the cost of the flagships. The Moto E (2020) is no different, as you’ll get an additional camera sensor paired with a great display and a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. With a phone this feature-rich, it’s important to keep it protected. These are the best Moto E (2020) cases you can get right now.

Classic look

Dzxouui Shockproof TPU Case

Staff Pick

The Dzxouui Shockproof TPU Case may be tough to pronounce, but the case works perfectly for protecting your new Moto E. The case gives you precise cutouts for all of your ports, including the rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. And since it’s made from a TPU material, this case is sure to keep your Moto E chugging along even after a drop.

$7 at Amazon

All the armor

Tekcoo Dual Layer Armor Case

It’s important to protect your investment, and some folks are more clumsy than others. That’s where the Tekcoo Dual L…

The best soundbars have come a long way in the last few years. While full-sized speakers will still sound better — sound needs space, after all — soundbars are great for their size. That size also requires a smaller footprint in your living room, so it’s great for people who want to save space. With something like the Sonos Beam, you’ll get great sound without a head-scratching installation process, and more. There are other great soundbars available, and we have detailed some of the best soundbar options for your home.

Best Soundbar Overall: Sonos Beam Smart TV Sound Bar

With the Sonos Beam, you get a superb TV soundbar with some basic smarts. The Sonos Beam connects to your TV with HDMI-ARC, or with the included HDMI-to-Optical adapter. A recent update has brought the ability for integration between Sonos products and Google Assistant. You can control your TV with your voice if your TV supports HDMI-CEC, which most modern sets do. Controlling your TV with your voice isn’t a…

The Moto G Stylus is finally here, and the chances are that you’ll want to take advantage of everything this new phone has to offer, especially with the included stylus. However, you don’t want to take a chance on a potential disaster happening, leaving you to get your G Stylus replaced. Here are the best cases that you can get for the new G Stylus!

Matte and rugged

Spigen Rugged Armor

Staff Pick

Spigen is arguably the best in the game when it comes to making a low-profile case that is sleek and offers excellent protection. With the Rugged Armor, you’ll get a flexible TPU case with a spider-web pattern on the inside to provide better shock absorption. And all four corners are reinforced, as that’s usually the first point of impact if your phone falls.

$13 at Amazon

Lightweight and rugged

UAG Scout

The UAG Scout is a great option for those who want a rugged case that is both protective and lightweight. UAG states that this meets the MIL-STD 810 Military drop-test sta…

Samsung’s Galaxy S10 Lite gave us an early look at what the design of the Galaxy S20 lineup would look like with the camera hump on the back and Infinity Display. The real story here, however, is that this smartphone shows that Samsung knows how to provide a flagship-level experience without breaking the bank. Even so, you’ll need to keep your investment protected because this phone just looks that amazing. These are the best cases to choose from!

Tested and true

Spigen Rugged Armor

Staff Pick

Spigen’s been in the case game forever, and the Rugged Armor is the de-facto choice for many. The case offers Spigen’s “Air Cushion” technology, along with a slim TPU design and interior spider-web pattern for improved shock absorption. With raised edges, your Galaxy S10 Lite is sure to withstand any scratches that could potentially be caused if you didn’t use the Rugged Armor.

$13 at Amazon
$16 at MobileFun

Four different materials

Cocomii Luxe Armor

Those wanting a unique ca…

Your Chromecast, small as it is, can do a lot thanks to a plethora of available apps. Play games with your friends in the living room, compete in dance competitions against people around the world, stream your latest vacation pictures to your big-screen, and keep up with the latest and greatest TV and music. There are a ton of apps to use with Chromecast in the Play Store; here are the best for whatever you’re looking to do.

Apps to get started
Streaming services
Media servers and advanced streaming
Music and video streaming

Just getting started

Regardless of what device or service you sign up for, there’s a jumping-off point. Whether it’s to get your Chromecast set up, or just a super-basic app that everyone should have, you’ll need to get started. These are a few apps that we suggest, and one that you definitely need.

Start here

Google Home

Before you can even really enjoy a Chromecast, you’ll need to get it set up. In order to do so, plug in the device, fire up the G…