Articles by Ara Wagoner

It’s hard to make a power bank stand out today, but Chargeasap did the best it could.

After years of being a nitpicky snob about what makes the best power banks, I’ve finally hit a point where I can start to relax. Sure, there are a few cheapo packs that still try to get away with piddly speeds or a ridiculously large size for their output, but high-quality power banks are more plentiful than ever. Because of Power Delivery, high-speed portable chargers can be used for laptops and tablets instead of just phones, and phone-focused 10,000mAh power banks have gotten wonderfully small. Gallium nitride allows manufacturers to shrink the size of their power banks while also lowering the amount of heat generated.

This maturity means that enterprising accessory makers have to go further and further outside the box to turn heads and sell their chargers. Chargeasap’s Flash Pro is the self-proclaimed “World’s Fastest Power Bank” thanks to a total output of 190W between the four ports and wire…

CEED by Almarinov from Facer ($1.99)

There’s always a bumpy transition, and you better buckle up for this one.

After waiting and waiting and waiting, my Galaxy Watch 4 is finally on my wrist! I’ve been breaking it in over the last 48 hours, finding the cracks and crannies where problems are sneaking through that squeaky clean look Samsung showed off at Unpacked.

Most of my grievances are the usual stumbling blocks of a new generation — the senseless lack of Google Assistant, notifications still take too many taps, and the lack of non-Samsung tiles — but the most irksome problem smacks me in the face every time I lift the watch to my eye line. Watch faces on Wear OS have long been diverse and customizable, but once you step outside Samsung’s curated collection, you’re going to find plentiful frustrations.

Actually, even with Samsung’s watch faces, there are frustrations.

Now, don’t get me wrong, Samsung actually makes some pretty great watch faces. I’m fond of the My Photo+ …

It seems the Pixel 5a has inherited the Pixel 5’s old thermal issues

What you need to know

Multiple Google Pixel 5a users (including myself) have experienced overheating when using the camera.
The bug can also disable the flash at a much lower temperature before the cameras start shutting down.
These thermal issues are very similar to those on the Pixel 5 — and they can also be triggered by gaming or intensive use.

I’ve been very much enjoying my Google Pixel 5a since it arrived three weeks ago, but the honeymoon period is over and some issues are starting to rise: the phone easily overheats when using the camera for a prolonged time. HotHardware and Android Police both focused on this happening when shooting 4K video, but on my own Pixel 5a, I didn’t even have to bother with video to a get heat-related warning.

Just taking a bevy of photos and some short 1080p videos on an 80-degree Florida morning (can summer end already?) had it slow down and eventually stop working in und…

The best cases for the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra need to balance protection and profile, style and substance — and do it all without breaking the bank. The Note 20 Ultra is one of the most cutting-edge phones on the market, but it’s also one of the largest and heaviest phones released in 2020. Combine that with the luxury price tag Samsung demands, and you have a recipe for disaster if you dare take your new phone out into the world naked. Skip the public smartphone indecency and get yourself a great case. Here are the best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra cases to keep it like new for years to come.

Slim and sublime

Ringke Air-S

Staff Pick

If you don’t want to bulk up your Note 20 Ultra but need to add some grip, the Air-S is a minimalist case that will give your fingers more purchase than expected while guarding against scratches.

$9 at Amazon

Rough and tumble

ArmadilloTek Vanguard Series Case

I have loved the Vanguard Series for the last couple of generations of Galaxy phones because…

Web apps are great, but you know what’s really cool? Offline access.

What you need to know

Microsoft is planning to remove Chromebook support from the Office for Android apps.
The transition takes place in September, with Microsoft pushing users to use the 365 web apps instead.
It’s unclear if the web apps will be upgraded to PWAs that can be used offline since currently, Office 365’s web apps cannot.
Office for Android won’t be going away for phones or tablets, just for Chromebooks.

One of the earliest complaints about Chromebooks was that “you couldn’t do anything offline,” but those times have long since passed. Android apps, Progressive Web Apps, and Linux apps allow the best Chromebooks to stay productive when away from the comforts of Wi-Fi, and Microsoft’s 365 suite had used Android apps for this for years. However, it seems those days are coming to an end.

Microsoft has long allowed 365 subscribers to access its services on Chromebooks in two ways: the Android app and …

The Galaxy S21 Ultra is one of the biggest and most powerful Galaxys ever and the first to work with the S Pen, traditionally reserved for the Note line. Given its size and heft, you need to protect your investment with a secure case that adds grip and style. The best Galaxy S21 Ultra cases are right here, whether you’re after a clear case to show off the Ultra’s design or a durable tank to keep it safe and secure.

Colorful and durable

Caseology Nano Pop

Staff Pick

After two years of the Nano Pop being exclusive to iPhones, it’s finally coming to Samsung devices with the S21 series. The Blueberry Navy with its yellow accents is striking and classic, and the impact-absorbing pattern embedded in the back gives you slim protection. I wish the Ultra also had the Violet shade the smaller S21s have, but these colors are still fun.

From $16 at Amazon $17 at Walmart

Ready to work hard

ArmadilloTek Vanguard Series for S21 Ultra

The S21 Ultra is made for productivity, so it should …

Better battery and value

Google Pixel 5a

$449 at Google Store

Pros

Same processor/specs as Pixel 5
Same solid cameras
Lower price tag
Much longer battery life
Finally has water resistance

Cons

Only available in U.S. and Japan
No wireless charging

The Pixel 5a is a phone ready to head out on a chargerless weekend or an all-day Reddit and reading marathon, packing the same Pixel 5 performance into a much more affordable package. This will be the best mid-range phone of 2021 — at least in the U.S. and Japan.

On its way out

Google Pixel 5

$699 at Amazon

Pros

Smaller screen and profile
mmWave support
15W wireless charging
Available in more countries

Cons

Much more expensive
About to be replaced with Pixel 6
Average battery life

Last year’s Pixel is easier to use one-handed and supports faster wireless charging than Samsung’s latest phones, but who wants to pay 2021 prices for a 2020 phone? Well, at least the Pixel 5 is widely available (for now).

Th…

The Google Pixel 5a packs a big battery into a very familiar design, and while it might look a little boring on its own, that’s what cases are for: protecting your phone and making it look even better! The limited release of the Google Pixel 5a had me concerned we wouldn’t see many big-name, high-quality cases, but those fears were unfounded. We’ve got the best Google Pixel 5a cases right here to help you protect your new phone, whatever your tastes prefer.

Be bold and sustainable

Google Pixel 5a 5G Case

Google’s best known for its iconic fabric cases, but I’ve rocked this case for the last week, and I’m in love. There’s good grip, it’s got precise margins around the ports and screen, and the neon accents let the Google G pop. I paired my Likely Lime with a Neon Yellow PopSocket for added flair.

$29 at Google Store

Grippy and understated

Spigen Liquid Air Armor

If you want grip without a case that glows like a rave, Spigen’s Liquid Air Armor is grippy, understated, and ski…

“Why does this phone exist?” To prove Pixels can actually do battery right.

The Google Pixel line has suffered from fatal flaws in previous generations, but the one that crops up time and time again is short battery life. The Pixel 4 was essentially killed by its own small battery, and the Pixel 3 was barely any better. Last year’s Pixel 5 had a good enough battery to get through a good day, and that was a banner achievement for Google after years of battery woes.

Last year’s Pixel 4a 5G was in the same boat: it could get through the day with its battery, but it was too expensive to compete with the mid-range phones and too underpowered to fight with some of the best Android phones in the $500-$700 range last year — like the Pixel 5 once it got down to $600. Performance was fine, but it just didn’t fit anywhere in the United States market.

This year’s Pixel 5a is only launching in the United States and Japan, so Google had to ensure that it could properly compete on both feature…

Keep your folding phones and give me that wonderful watch.

Samsung Unpacked has come and gone, dropping the next generation of foldable phones on us, but like most of you, $1,000 to $1,800 is still too rich for my blood — no matter how awesome and pocket-friendly the Galaxy Z Flip might be.

No, what I was waiting for with bated breath and an open wallet was the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, because it combined the two halves of my ideal smartwatch experience: stupendous hardware with a slim, easy-to-sleep-in design, plus the convenience of my Google apps and all my notifications on my wrist.

Since last Wednesday, as more information gets sought out and more people start spending actual time with these watches, the news has been lukewarm at best. Apps are missing, and compatibility issues are hidden in the fine print. Still, I couldn’t snap up my preorder fast enough, and I’m not alone in my Galaxy Watch 4 excitement.

Here are the big drawbacks around the Galaxy Watch 4 series, an…