Articles by Joe Maring

It started as a small enthusiast brand back in 2014, but OnePlus has quickly exploded into a mainstream hit that’s responsible for making some of the best Android smartphones every year. If you know you want to buy a OnePlus phone but aren’t sure which model to get, we’ve got a quick list to help you decide which one is right for you!

Best of the best

OnePlus 8 Pro

Staff Pick

With the OnePlus 8 Pro, OnePlus finally released a phone without holding back a single feature. All of the OnePlus essentials are here, such as a gorgeous 120Hz display, Snapdragon 865 processor, a huge 4,510 mAh battery, and up to 12GB of RAM. The 8 Pro has the best camera setup we’ve ever seen on a OnePlus device, in addition to 30W wireless charging and an official IP68 dust/water resistance rating.

From $689 at Amazon

Familiar formula

OnePlus 8T

If you like what the OnePlus 8 Pro has to offer but just can’t justify its steep price, it’s worth checking out the OnePlus 8T instead. The display is lo…

Having a chat with the AC forums.

While 2020 may have been a dumpster fire in almost every regard, it was honestly a pretty fantastic year when it comes to Android. We saw many excellent Android phones released this year, ranging from jaw-dropping foldables, high-end flagships, and impressive budget options.

Recently in the AC forums, one user reached out to the community asking what phone they should buy. There are so many great options to choose from, making it difficult to decide on just one when it comes time to pay up.

Many of our members were quick to jump in with their thoughts, with the conversation going as follows:

frederickdawg
12-04-2020 11:50 PM

“

One plus 8 pro would be a solid choice. I owned one briefly and it was solid. Issue for me is that I unfortunately have a samsung note fettish.
Reply

B. Diddy
12-04-2020 11:22…

The Pixel 2 lived a long, complicated life.

What you need to know

Google is now rolling out its December 2020 security patch for Android.
As per usual, it contains an assortment of bug/vulnerability fixes.
This also marks the final update Google is releasing for the Pixel 2.

We finally did it — we almost made it through 2020. There’s just one more month left to go, and to kick things off, we have yet another security patch from Google.

The December 2020 patch began rolling out on December 7 alongside a new Pixel Feature Drop, and as far as security patches go, it’s pretty basic. There’s an assortment of framework, media framework, system, and other bug fixes across the board, ensuring your Android device is running as smoothly and securely as possible.

Pixels are first-in-line to get the new patch, though Verizon models will have to wait a bit longer. If you have a Pixel 3/3XL, 4a 5G, or Pixel 5, the patch won’t hit your device until the week of December 14. Yay for carrier …

The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra has a curved AMOLED display covered with Gorilla Glass 6, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a great screen protector. Curved glass is inherently more vulnerable than flat, and the Note 20 Ultra’s massive screen leaves many opportunities for scratches and potential cracks. That’s why you should buy one of the best Galaxy Note 20 Ultra screen protectors for your new, expensive phone.

The glass way

Venoro Tempered Glass Screen Protector

Staff Pick

Venoro is a name we often rely on for quality screen protectors for all major phone releases, and with the Note 20 Ultra, it’s showing up to the plate yet again. This single-screen protector is of the tempered glass variety, offering incredibly scratch resistance, a 99.99% transparency rating, and a super slim design at just 0.2mm thick.

$12 at Amazon

Combo

BAZO Soft Screen Protector (2-Pack)

If you’re looking to stretch your dollars a bit more, you can’t ignore this package from BAZO. It …

It’s no secret that Android tablets are a lot less popular today than they were a few years ago. Despite that, Samsung continues to be one of the few companies that still releases new tablet options regularly. That’s a good thing for you and me because Samsung knows what it takes to create a killer tablet. Whether you get our top overall pick — the Galaxy Tab S7 — or anything else mentioned in this roundup, here are the best Samsung tablets you can buy in 2020.

Best Overall: Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

You have a large number of Galaxy Tabs to choose from, but above everything that’s on offer, the Galaxy Tab S7 stands out as our go-to recommendation. It’s one of the newest tablets in Samsung’s lineup, and for most folks, it’ll be the best one you can buy.

The most important aspect of any tablet is its display, and in these regards, the Tab S7 has a lot going for it. You’re treated to an 11-inch LCD panel with a 2560×1600 resolution and a buttery smooth 120Hz refresh rate. Whether …

Samsung has big shoes to fill in 2021.

2020 has seen the release of some truly impressive Android phones, one of the best being the Galaxy S20 from Samsung. The S20 set out to deliver on every front that it could, and for the most part, it succeeded with flying colors.

It’s now been a few months since the S20 came out, though, which means it’s time to start looking ahead. The smartphone industry moves at a rapid pace, and before you know it, it’ll be time for the Galaxy S21.

We’re using this article to round-up all of the latest Galaxy S21 rumors, reports, and leaks, so if you’re at all interested in learning about the phone, this is where you want to be.

Unmatched

Samsung Galaxy S20

$790 at Amazon
$800 at Best Buy
$790 at Walmart

One of the best Android phones you can buy in 2020

We’re just as excited about the Galaxy S21 as you are, but if you need a phone right now, don’t feel like you have to wait months for it. The Galaxy S20 that’s currently available is excellent…

Chatting with the AC forums.

With Cyber Monday officially behind us, we can put the deals behind us (for now) and focus on stuff that matters — such as debating light mode vs. dark mode.

This is a timeless point of contention in the Android space. Some users adore the stark, clean nature of light mode, others love living that dark mode life 24/7, and some switch back and forth between the two. Personally, I’m a switcher.

Some of our AC forum members recently got to talking about this subject once again, with the conversation going as follows:

Smokeaire01
11-30-2020 03:59 PM

“

I have dark mode set for everything in Developer Mode.
Reply

eric002
11-30-2020 04:01 PM

“

yep yep, myself as well. The only thing about light mode is that maybe it’s just me but when you pull down the notification shade f…

Amazon’s new fourth-generation Echo Dot is quite the smart speaker. It has a completely new design compared to past versions, has upgraded sound quality, and all of the same Alexa features you know and love.

The Echo Dot has seen some pretty good discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and we’ve just found the best one yet. You can currently buy the Echo Dot (4th Gen) with a Sengled smart light bulb for a total of just $29. When you consider that the Sengled bulb retails for $10 on its own, that’s like getting the Echo Dot for less than $20.

That’s an amazing deal for a device that just launched a few weeks ago, so if you’re an avid Alexa/Echo user, this is a perfect deal to take advantage of.

Bundle it up

Echo Dot (4th Gen) + Sengled Bluetooth Bulb | $31 off at Amazon

$29 at Amazon

There are tons of smart home deals available for Cyber Monday, and this is one of the best. You can currently buy the all-new Amazon Echo Dot (4th Gen) and a Sengled smart light bulb tog…

Smart home technology is more prevalent than ever these days, and as things like smart speakers and displays have continued to rise in popularity, we’ve also seen massive growth for home security technology. It used to cost an arm and a leg to outfit your house/apartment with security equipment, but in 2020, that’s no longer the case.

The Kami brand of home security gadgets has gotten a lot of attention for offering smart security cameras at some of the lowest prices around, and during Cyber Monday, the Kami Mini Camera is made even more affordable than it already was.

You can currently save 30% on the gadget, bringing your final price down to a little over $20. If you’ve been searching for a convenient and affordable way to protect your home, this is it.

Always watching

Kami Mini Smart Home Security Camera | 30% off at Amazon

$21 at Amazon

In 2020, it’s easier and cheaper than ever to outfit your home with reliable security cameras. If you want to add some safety to your h…

We’ve seen countless Android phones released throughout 2020, with a lot of them coming from Samsung. One of the company’s best releases this year was the Galaxy S20+, and it just hit its lowest price ever thanks to a new Cyber Monday discount.

The Galaxy S20+ normally features a retail price of $1,200, but for a limited time, you can buy it for $842. That comes out to a total discount of over $350, meaning it’s a deal you absolutely cannot refuse if you’re in the market for a new phone.

Full-on flagship

Samsung Galaxy S20+ | $358 off at Amazon

$842 at Amazon

Samsung’s Galaxy S20+ is one of the very best Android phones you can buy in 2020 — and it just got an all-new low price thanks to Cyber Monday. With a 120Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 865, and excellent cameras, the S20+ has it all. Buy the phone now to take $358 off its retail price!

Buying a new Android phone can be a challenging task, simply because there’s so much to choose from. Making the decision to buy …