Articles by Chris Wedel

For years now, Amazon has made some of the best Android tablets for kids and continuously improves that lineup. Along with hardware enhancements, Amazon Kids+ is the software that not only gives access to over 20,000 books, games, and videos, more importantly, it features excellent parental controls that are always getting better. So, while tablets might be the devices most commonly thought of, there are other great products for kids from Amazon to consider as well. So, here are the best Amazon devices for kids that will help keep the little ones entertained and possibly even learn a thing or two.

Best tablet for younger kids: Fire HD 8 Kids

Though the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids isn’t the least expensive tablet option from the company, that would be the Fire 7 Kids; it is currently only $10 more but offers far more value in its capabilities. Regardless of which Amazon tablet you choose for your child, it will have the same software options. Still, the differences come down to screen s…

Full Google

Pixel 6

From $599 at Amazon
From $599 at Best Buy
From $599 at B&H

Pros

Fantastic camera upgrades
Fast and smooth performance
Powerful AI features
Jitter-free scrolling
Fun color choices

Cons

Slightly higher price
Camera bar is polarizing
In-display fingerprint reader

The Pixel 6 is the first Google phone with a self-designed processor that brings more powerful machine learning capabilities to the overall phone experience. From processing photos from newer, bigger sensors to Google Assistant and more, everything is cranked up to 11. Even the display is faster with a 90Hz refresh rate. Still, the phone is slightly more expensive, and the design of its camera housing could be a turn off for some.

5G for less

Pixel 5a

$535 at Amazon

Pros

Excellent battery life
Rear-mounted fingerprint scanner
Solid cameras
Offers a headphone jack
OK performance

Cons

Boring design and only one color choice
No high refresh rate on the display
Wireless chargin…

At the ready

Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen)

$250 at Amazon
$250 at Best Buy
$250 at B&H

Pros

Excellent sound quality
The rotating display can be beneficial
Great camera
Video call powerhouse

Cons

Takes up a lot of counter space
Some widgets can be hard to see on this screen size
A camera that can follow you may be unnerving to some

The new Echo Show 10 is the ultimate smart speaker for multitaskers. Thanks to an improved camera and a display that can rotate to track you, whether it’s during a video call or following a recipe. With three speakers, it also has excellent sound quality. At 10 inches, the display is large enough when close, but some content may be hard to read at a distance.

Go big

Amazon Echo Show 15

$250 (preorder) at Amazon

Pros

The large display is perfect for multiple widgets
Can be used in landscape or portrait mode
Wall-mountable
Looks excellent in photo frame mode

Cons

Display stands sold separately
Lower quality camera
The speake…

Google Fit is nowhere near class-leading, and it could learn a lot from Fitbit.

Now that Google is bringing Fitbit into the fold, we have wondered what will happen to the Fitbit trackers — especially since it’s been confirmed that there will be a Fitbit watch running Wear OS in the future. Since it appears that for the time being, the Fitbit brand isn’t going anywhere, and it shouldn’t be forgotten about, Google now has two fitness platforms under one roof — Fitbit and Google Fit. It isn’t much different from the dual map services of Google Maps and Waze operating under the Google umbrella.

I have been using Google Fit for years through the Wear OS smartwatches I’ve owned. In that time, I’ve seen the platform improve in many ways and watch services that support other wearables lap Google Fit in features. I’ve used Samsung smartwatches in the past, even as recently as the Galaxy Watch 4, and was impressed by the expansive capabilities of Samsung Health. Though I have never perso…

Black Friday is fast approaching, and that means it’s time to be on the lookout for deals for the things you need to buy. Whether that is for you or someone else, this is the time of year to save some cash. One of the sales worth keeping an eye out for is the Black Friday Chromebook accessory deals. Chromebooks have become very popular over the last few years and really took off in 2020. So getting some accessories for an already great Chromebook will make it even better.

One of the great things in recent years is that in most instances, almost all accessories work with Chromebooks. Versatility is the name of the game with Chromebooks in large part to the wide range of hardware options, but also thanks to the security of Chrome OS. So whether you are buying for a powerhouse like the Acer Chromebook Spin 713 or one of the excellent Chromebooks for kids — there’s sure to be a deal available for it.

These handy computers have evolved from a basic internet browsing machine to essenti…

Even without Wear OS 3 at launch, the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra is still a winner.

When it comes to current Wear OS smartwatches, picking which one to buy can be tricky unless the product’s name is Samsung Galaxy Watch 4. Because Google and Samsung have partnered up to develop a new version of the wearable platform, currently, only Samsung has access to Wear OS 3. But, it doesn’t mean it’s the only watch worth considering. In fact, I returned my Galaxy Watch 4 for many reasons, one being that I liked my TicWatch Pro 3 so much. Still, the new TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra has me changing devices once again.

Mobvoi, the company behind the TicWatch brand, is known for making small incremental changes year over year to its product line — the Pro 3 Ultra is no different. However, just because these are small changes, doesn’t mean that they aren’t quality improvements. Where the Pro 3 made meaningful refinements to the overall design of the Pro 4G, the Pro 3 Ultra keeps those changes and adds some n…

Skullcandy’s latest wireless earbuds pack high-end features into an affordable package.

There are a lot of excellent wireless earbuds these days. While many of the top options out there are quite expensive, there are still some pretty great cheap wireless earbuds too — but not all cheap earbuds are good earbuds. Many have poor sound quality and lack modern features we have come to expect from our tech. The new Skullcandy Grind Fuel and Push Active are looking to break that stigma and offer great sound and a host of high-end customization, but at an affordable price.

Skullcandy has been making audio accessories since 2003, and though the brand isn’t new to the headphone or earbud game — its new Skull-IQ Smart Feature is. The introduction of Skull-IQ brings a custom voice assistant as well as some audio personalization options to the Grind Fuel and Push Active. Skullcandy is doing this while keeping the price of these new earbuds under the $100 mark — is it worth it? Let’s find…

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 series offers users a complete package when it comes to smartwatches. There’s a lot to like, from running the latest Wear OS 3 software to the durable, well-designed hardware. In fact, you may love wearing this watch so much that you never want to take it off — except to charge, of course. But when you wear the smartwatch so much, it’s bound to collect some grime on it, especially when you get in a good sweat during workouts. This means you’ll want to be able to clean it really well, but how to clean the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 may not be clear to you. Not to worry — we’ve got you.

How to clean the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4

The Galaxy Watch 4 has vaulted onto the list of best Android smartwatches and is getting a lot of wrist-time. Unfortunately, while there are some really great UV sanitizers, those won’t get the dirt or other debris that may accumulate in some of the nooks and crannies of the watch.

As for the steps to clean the smartwatch, the process…

Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 4 series launched chock-full of features. From the new processor to the BIA sensor, Samsung held very little back from its first Wear OS smartwatch. A new feature was just added after the devices launched, and it’s the ability to use your Galaxy Watch 4 just like a walkie-talkie. The Apple Watch has had this option for years now, and finally, Android fans are getting a watch that offers this fun element through a first-party app. So let’s get into how you can start using the Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch 4 walkie-talkie feature.

How to use a Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 as a walkie-talkie

Do you remember using a walkie-talkie as a kid or maybe even as a grown-up? If so, then you know how easy and fast communication can be with one. Before you can begin using the new feature, you’ll want to install the Wear OS app on your watch called WalkieTalkie and make sure you’re signed in to your Samsung Account on your phone. Now, with that out of the way, let’s get you chat…

The ColorBuds2 are more than just one more pair of cheap wireless earbuds.

In case you haven’t checked in a while, there are a lot of wireless earbuds on the market these days. 1MORE is trying to make finding a set a bit easier by offering earbuds that combine as many desirable features into a bank account-friendly package — and the 1MORE ColorBuds 2 are an excellent example of that goal.

The first round of the 1MORE ColorBuds from 2020 got a lot of things right. There wasn’t much that needed to be changed in a second version with a good price, very comfortable to wear, and solid battery life in tow. So, 1MORE kept the fan-favorite parts of last year’s model and made a few key adjustments to give even more bang for the buck in the ColorBuds 2. How do these changes pan out in everyday usage? Let’s get into it.

1MORE ColorBuds2 review:

Price and availability
What’s good
What’s not good
The competition
Should you buy?

1MORE ColorBuds2

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