Articles by Joe Maring

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 may be more than a couple of years old now, but if you’re still holding on to one, the best Galaxy Note 9 cases will protect your still-stylish Samsung phone from wear and tear as it ages. Whether you need a simple, clear case or something a bit more elaborate and fun, we’ve rounded up all the best choices for your favorite pocket computer!

Slim and rugged

Spigen Rugged Armor

Staff Pick

For those who don’t want to sacrifice pocket space for protection, Spigen’s Rugged Armor case is a great option. This sleek, one-piece case is rugged with carbon fiber accents that look great on all phones, especially big phones like the Note 9. It’s made of rugged TPU material and features a matte finish.

$12 at Amazon

Most rugged

Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro

The Unicorn Beetle Pro is a case you can trust no matter which phone it’s protecting. This rugged-style case is designed to keep your phone well protected all around, thanks to a built-in screen protector for …

True wireless earbuds have come a long way in the few short years they’ve existed, and now with so many options with ANC, it can be tough to decipher which are the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds. Early offerings like the first-gen AirPods were expensive and lacked many features, but as time went on, prices went down, and additional features have been implemented — one of which is noise cancelation. True wireless earbuds that can block out ambient sound are more common than ever before, and today, we’re highlighting six of our favorite ones — including the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds as our top overall pick. Here’s a power-packed list of the best noise-canceling true wireless earbuds you can buy right now.

Best overall: Bose QuietComfort Earbuds

Bose has established a reputation for creating some of the best noise-canceling headphones on the market, and now, it’s brought that same level of prowess to the earbud space. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds have arrived, and t…

One of the biggest reasons to buy a high-end phone is for the camera. Whether through computational processing or the use of as many lenses as possible, phones are taking good enough photos these days that most people don’t even consider a dedicated camera. Luckily, there are plenty of options for people that want effortless point-and-shoot style photography, as well as those who want to go more in-depth or have different needs in a phone beyond the camera. The best Android camera is on the Google Pixel 5 because it’s simple to use yet produces amazing photos in all conditions.

Point and shoot

Google Pixel 5

Staff Pick

If you want the very best camera experience you can get on an Android phone, the Pixel 5 is what you need to buy. The 12MP primary and 16MP ultra-wide sensors might not sound all that impressive, but when combined with Google’s unmatched image processing, you end up with a phone that takes incredible pictures every time you press the shutter button. Day or night,…

Great sound. A lovely design. Excellent price.

The Amazon Echo needs no introduction at this point. What started off as an experimental invite-only gadget back in late 2014 has since become the most popular family of smart speakers on the market, with Amazon crushing competition from Google and Apple without breaking a sweat.

It’s become a tradition that we get new Echo hardware every year, with one of the latest entries in the series being the Amazon Echo (4th Gen). It’s the new middle child in between the Echo Dot and Echo Studio, and with a retail price of just $100, it’s packing a ton of value.

There’s nothing about the Amazon Echo (4th Gen) that’ll make you an Alexa convert if you still don’t like how the virtual helper works compared to something like Google Assistant, but for existing Alexa fans or anyone that’s been wanting to finally jump on the bandwagon, this is one of the best speakers you can buy right now.

Amazon Echo (4th Gen) review:

Price and availability
Wha…

One of the most important features of your smartphone is its storage. It’s how you download your favorite apps, save all of your special photos, download music playlists for long road trips — you name it. The longer you hold onto your phone, the more likely it is you’ll start to run out of space at some point down the road. Should you find yourself in this situation, here are a few tips on how to free up storage space on your Android phone.

Products used in this guide

Pure Android: Google Pixel 4a
Add more space: Samsung EVO Select 128GB microSD Card

We’re using a Google Pixel 4 XL running Android 10 for this guide. Some screenshots may not look 100% the same depending on what phone you have, but the core idea of everything should be the same.

Check how much storage left on your phone

First thing’s first, we should take a look at how much space is left on your phone. It’s a good idea to go through and clean stuff up every now and then regardless of how much space you have, b…

Whatever your fitness goals are, living a healthier lifestyle is easier when you have something to keep track of your activity throughout the day automatically. Fitbits are great tools for this, but with so many to choose from, which one should you buy and why? We think the Fitbit Versa 3 is the best Fitbit you can buy, offering a great blend of features, specs, and design at a price your wallet will love.

Best Fitbit overall: Fitbit Versa 3

Fitbit makes many fantastic fitness wearables, but if you ask us, the best one you can buy right now is the Fitbit Versa 3.

Combining the best bits of a smartwatch and fitness tracker into one, the Versa 3 is lightweight and slim enough to fit onto even the smallest of wrists and not look obnoxiously big the way competing watches can. It has a gorgeous AMOLED display on the hardware side of things, a battery that lasts over six days on a single charge, and it’s waterproof up to 50 meters. Compared to the Versa 2, Versa 3 has a much-improved …

Great coverage, prices, and features for less.

Tello Mobile is known for having some of the best wireless prices around with a ton of flexibility but probably isn’t the first carrier that comes to mind when shopping for unlimited data. Wireless providers are a dime-a-dozen these days, especially MVNOs that piggyback off of larger networks and deliver their same coverage for less money each month.

Tello promises to offer “unbeatable prices” with no contracts, fast LTE coverage, and more, but is it really worth joining? Here’s our full AC review!

Tello review:

Plans
Coverage
Data speed
Phone selection
Competition
Should you join?
Changelog, May 2021

Great choice

Tello Mobile

Bottom line: If you’re in an area with great T-Mobile coverage, Tello is certainly worth a look. The plans are incredibly affordable, you won’t have …

There are plenty of ways to stream content on your television, and if you get one of the best Android TV boxes, you can make sure that the experience is as fast, seamless, and enjoyable as possible. Android TV boxes allow you to instantly access all of your favorite video and music apps, along with some light games, without going out and buying a completely new TV. There are a few different options to choose from, with these being the best of the best.

What are the best Android TV boxes?

Our overall pick has to be the Chromecast with Google TV when it comes to the best Android TV boxes. In almost every regard, the new Chromecast is basically perfect. It has 4K HDR streaming with support for Dolby Vision/Atmos, a great remote that’s easy-to-use, and comes in at an incredible price. The star of the show is the special Google TV software that’s layered on top of Android TV, offering new features and an upgraded design that we think you’ll love.

If you aren’t thrilled with what Chromeca…

Our pick

Fitbit Versa 2

$149 at Amazon

Pros

Comfy, lightweight design
Waterproof up to 50 meters
Built-in Amazon Alexa
Fitbit Pay is included
Over five days of battery life

Cons

Doesn’t have GPS

Released nearly two years ago, the Versa 2 is one of Fitbit’s best smartwatches. It has a fantastic design, a sharp AMOLED display, and offers 24/7 heart-rate monitoring. Compared to the Versa Lite, the Versa 2 has considerably more smarts with the inclusion of bonus perks such as Amazon Alexa and Fitbit Pay.

Best for less

Fitbit Versa Lite

$200 at Amazon

Pros

Same exact design as the Versa
Available in more vibrant colors
Waterproof
Heart-rate sensor

Cons

Lacks on-screen workouts
No local music storage
Doesn’t track floors climbed

If you really like the Fitbit Versa 2 but don’t need all the extras, the Versa Lite is a perfect alternative. It has the exact same design, a great display, and solid battery life. It’s lacking a few fitness features, such as on-screen wo…

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re shopping for the best Android TVs the market currently has to offer. Lucky for you, you’ve come to the right place! We spent our time and effort researching the most popular Android TVs you can go out and buy, with the result being these top six picks that stand out as the best of the best. Each Android TV on this list made the cut for one reason or another, so whether you have a large, medium, or small budget, there’s an Android TV here with your name on it.

What are the best Android TVs?

Overall, the Hisense H9G Quantum Series stands out as the best Android TV you can buy in 2021. The television has an excellent 4K ULED display, HDR and Dolby Vision support, and a modern design with plenty of HDMI ports. Even better, you get all of this for an outstanding price.

The Sony X800H is a fantastic alternative for the best Android TV. Sony’s X-Reality PRO technology backs the crisp 4K picture for upscaling content, along with the company’s prove…