Articles by Joe Maring

Chatting with the AC forums.

Samsung’s Galaxy S21 series has been the talk of the town for the past couple of weeks, but among all of that excitement, we also saw reports of something not nearly as uplifting. Reliable Samsung leaker Ice Universe shared an ominous Tweet saying “Galaxy Note” with a picture that says “The End” — strongly suggesting that there won’t be a Note 21 this year.

There have been substantial rumors and reports hinting at the Note line being done for, and especially with the S21 Ultra shipping with S Pen support, a future without a Note seems more likely than ever before.

A few of our AC forum members got to talking about this, saying:

mustang7757
01-20-2021 09:42 AM

“

If this year the last Note , I’ll get it , keep my Note 20U also and will always have a Note ? ?
Reply

wookiee2cu
01-20-2021 04:00 PM
…

In a world where most people in the United States buy smartphones through carriers like Verizon and AT&T, it’s important to highlight the market of unlocked phones. When you buy a phone unlocked, you have the freedom to use it on any carrier you want (so long as it’s supported) and often save money in the long haul compared to purchasing it on a contract or installment plan. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is the best unlocked Android phone you can buy in 2021, but it’s not the only one we recommend checking out. Here’s a list of our favorites!

Best Overall Unlocked Phone: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

By now, you’ve probably seen quite a bit of positive praise for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE — in fact, we’ve even gone so far as to name it as the best Android phone of 2020! But why all the accolades? Put simply; there isn’t a phone out there right now that offers the balance of high-end specs and affordable pricing.

Released approximately six months after 2020’s flagship S20 lineup, the S…

If you are looking for an affordable, mid-range smartphone, we think the Google Pixel 4a is the best Android phone you can get for under $400. That’s because it offers the same core experience as the higher-end Pixel 4 that preceded it. You get the same software and features and the same camera experience. The only shortcomings come in the hardware and a couple of the specs — a fine trade-off to save hundreds of dollars.

Best Overall Android Phone Under $400: Google Pixel 4a

The Pixel 3a from 2019 stood out as one of the best Android values for well over a year, and to fill its impressive shoes, we now have the Pixel 4a. Google took what worked about the 3a, kept it in place, and added a few improvements to make the Pixel 4a as fully-featured as possible — all while selling the Pixel 4a for less than what the 3a cost.

As with any Pixel phone, the best thing about the Pixel 4a is its camera. The 12.2MP single rear camera certainly isn’t impressive on paper, but it’s outstandi…

Samsung’s kicking off 2021 with a bang.

There are some things in the mobile tech space that are a given every single year, one of which is that we get a new Samsung Galaxy S release pretty early on. That’s no different for 2021, but rather than waiting until March or April like it usually does, Samsung’s launching its next big flagship right now.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 brings a mix of expected and drastic changes compared to last year’s S20 family, including things like spec upgrades, a refreshed design, and all-new camera tech. Whether you’re in the market for a price-conscious flagship or something that goes all-out, the S21 series has something for you.

No matter if you’re looking for pricing information, details on where you can buy the Galaxy S21, or anything else in between, here’s everything you need to know!

Killer flagship

Samsung Galaxy S21

From $800 at Samsung
From $800 at Amazon

More phone, less money

The Galaxy S21 series has arrived, and for a lot of shopper…

Best for most

Moto G Power (2020)

$220 at Amazon

Pros

Three-day battery life
Ultra-wide camera for photos and videos
Capable processor
Clean and fun software
Super competitive price

Cons

64GB base storage
No NFC

Even though it isn’t the “flagship” Moto G, we think the Moto G Power (2020) is the better of the two phones for most people. A vast majority of the specs are identical across the board, with the G Power (2020) getting the same display, processor, and RAM as the G Stylus (2020) for less money. It also benefits from a seriously massive 5,000 mAh battery and an ultra-wide camera that’s potentially more useful than the Stylus’s Action Cam.

Get creative

Moto G Stylus (2020)

$256 at Amazon

Pros

Comes with a free stylus
48MP primary camera
Unique “Action Cam”
128GB internal storage
Mystic Indigo color looks great

Cons

20% smaller battery
Lacks NFC
More expensive

If you have a bit more cash to spend, it may be worth taking a look at the Moto G Stylus…

Buying a smartphone doesn’t have to be expensive — seriously. If you need a new device but don’t have a lot of cash to spend, our top picks for the best budget phone prove that you can get a quality gadget without going broke. Whether you buy our top pick of the Google Pixel 4a or any of the other choices on this list, you can’t go wrong with any of these phones.

Top 6 budget phones at a glance

Google Pixel 4a — Best Overall: An amazing camera, great specs, and a seriously competitive price make the Pixel 4a a winner.
Google Pixel 5 — Best Upgrade: If you have a more flexible budget, the Pixel 5 delivers meaningful upgrades for a bit more cash.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE — Best Value Flagship: Want a full flagship experience without going broke? That’s exactly what the S20 FE delivers.
Moto G Power (2020) — Best Battery: Thanks to 3+ days of battery life per charge, you never have to worry about running out of juice with the Moto G Power
iPhone 12 mini — Best Compact: With a …

120Hz displays are in, the headphone jack is out.

Every year sees a heap of various Android phones released into the market. Some are good, some are bad. Some are really exciting, whereas others are a bit boring. Among all of the handsets to come out during a given year, one release that’s continually met with a lot of excitement and fanfare is Samsung’s Galaxy S series.

One could argue that Galaxy S phones aren’t always the most interesting, but there’s no denying how much more attention they get compared to much of the competition.

For 2020, Samsung launched a trio of phones with the Galaxy S20, S20+, and S20 Ultra. These are very technically impressive gadgets with high prices to match, and if you can afford what Samsung is asking for the phones, they’re bound to be some of the best the Android landscape sees all year.

From hands-on coverage, detailed specs, accessory recommendations, and so much more, here’s absolutely everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy S20 …

New phones, earbuds, smart trackers, oh my!

Despite just being a few days into 2021, the year is already shaping up to be a really fascinating one for the mobile tech space. Amidst all of the announcements coming out of the virtual-only CES 2021 spectacle, Samsung is getting ready to unveil its latest batch of Galaxy S flagships earlier in the year than ever before.

The next Samsung Unpacked officially kicks off on January 14 at 10:00 AM ET/7:00 AM PT, and in addition to Samsung’s next entry in the Galaxy S family, we’re also expecting a few other gadgets to make an appearance.

From the Galaxy S21, Samsung’s next wireless earbuds, and more, here’s everything we’re expecting to see at Samsung’s big S21 event later this week!

Galaxy S21 series

Out of everything to be announced at Thursday’s event, most of the focus will be on the Galaxy S21 family. Lucky for us, we already have a pretty good idea of what to expect from the phones thanks to endless leaks and rumors over the last …

If you’re still rocking a Fitbit Charge 2, chances are you’re getting tired of the band that came in the box. Thankfully, replacing it with a new one is both easy and affordable. No matter what color, material, or style you prefer, there are plenty of options out there. Here are some of the best Fitbit Charge 2 replacement bands!

Just like the original

POY Replacement Band

Staff pick

This silicone band from POY looks a lot like the official Fitbit Charge 2 band that comes with your tracker. The good news? It’s wonderfully affordable and available in a ton of different colors. Don’t forget that they’re also waterproof and sweatproof, so you can spend as much time outdoors or at the gym as you’d like!

From $4 at Amazon

Get fancy

iGK Stainless Steel Bracelet

If you’re eager to spruce up the look of your Charge 2, this fancy stainless steel band from iGK will do just that without causing you to break the bank. This is the best pick for those who have a formal occasion to atte…

Credit cards are so last year.

Like many of the best Android smartwatches, the best Fitbit wearables are chock-full of helpful features, with one of my personal favorites being Fitbit Pay. Fitbit Pay allows you to use your smartwatch to pay for things at stores that accept NFC, and it’s an incredibly useful trick.

Fitbit Pay is supported on older models like the Ionic and Charge 3, and newer wearables such as the Charge 4, Versa 2, Versa 3, and Sense.

Not as many banks support Fitbit Pay compared to the likes of Google and Samsung Pay, but the list is growing all the time.

Following is a list of the banks and cards currently supporting Fitbit Pay worldwide.

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