Articles by Joe Maring

As technology advances and matures, it’s only natural for some features to disappear as part of the evolution process. When it comes to Android phones, one thing that used to be an iconic staple that has since become a thing of the past is a removable battery. Few phones are released these days with a battery that can be replaced by the end-user, but if you know where to look, there are still a few options left that are worth checking out.

The ideal choice

Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro

Staff Pick

The Galaxy XCover Pro is a rugged phone that ticks all the right boxes. It has IP68 water resistance, a 6.3-inch Full HD screen, Exynos 9611 chipset — same as the Galaxy A51 — 25MP camera at the back, and a removable 4050mAh battery. The rugged design makes it ideal for outdoor use, and the best part is that the phone is available officially in the U.S.

$425 at Amazon

Best for most

Moto E6 Smartphone

Out of all the phones out there with a removable battery, we think the Moto E6 i…

This is your budget Pixel for 2021.

While it may have taken longer to be released than we initially hoped, last year’s Pixel 4a proved to be one of 2020’s best Android phones. Between its OLED display, reliable performance, amazing cameras, and $349 asking price, it’s a phone that still remains a killer value here in 2021.

As good as the Pixel 4a continues to be, though, it’s time to start looking ahead to what’s next — specifically, the Google Pixel 5a. Whether you’re interested in the latest spec rumors, want to see design leaks, or anything else, here’s everything you need to know about Google’s upcoming Pixel!

Tiny but mighty

Google Pixel 4a

$349 at Amazon
$350 at Best Buy
$349 at B&H

The best camera under $400

Simply put, the Pixel 4a is one of the best values the smartphone market has to offer today. The camera is better than ever, performance is plenty fast, the battery is reliable, and there’s even a headphone jack. Assuming you’re a fan of smaller phones a…

The best cheap true wireless earbuds have become great over the past several years. The ones you typically hear about are super expensive. Still, there are some great budget options out there, such as the Creative Outlier Air V2, which offer fantastic battery life, exceptional comfort, and superb sound quality.

Best Overall: Creative Outlier Air V2

It’s hard to beat the Outlier Air V2 on battery life. Even compared to the best wireless earbuds, they outperform most of them with up to 12 hours of audio playback per charge at default volume. Add another (almost) two charges in the charging case, and you’ve got over 30 hours of total listening time. The only real downside is that the case doesn’t feature wireless charging.

Creative based the design on the Outlier Gold, which used different ear tips than the original Outlier Air did, and that move pays dividends in both fit and comfort. It also gives you a better seal to trap in more of the bass and preserve as much of the soundstag…

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 …

If you want to get the most out of your favorite music or podcast, the best cheap noise-canceling headphones are the way to go. They block out ambient noise around you, making it easy to focus on what’s playing — something that’s especially useful when flying, working at a noisy coffee shop, or just being out in public. We’ve rounded up eight of the best ones you can get for less than $100, including the Soundcore Life Q30 as our top overall pick.

Best Overall: Soundcore Life Q30

Anker’s Soundcore brand has been at the forefront of the best wireless earbuds and best wireless headphones, and the Life Q30 are another reminder of why Soundcore is one of the most compelling players in the game.

When it comes to active noise cancelation (ANC), the Soundcore Life Q30 feature three customizable modes to help you get the perfect listening experience. Transport Mode helps block out things like an airplane engine (remember those?), Outdoor Mode reduces traffic and wind sounds, and Indoo…

Mint Mobile is all about offering great service for a fraction of the price compared to other big carriers. For many, that philosophy also extends to the phone they choose to use. Thankfully, tons of great Android phones embody the same idea: getting a great experience with the latest specs and features while not paying top dollar for it. The best example of this is the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE, which offers a flagship-like experience for less than direct competition. It’s a great phone to pair with the solid-but-inexpensive Mint Mobile service. Here are our top picks for the best phones to use with Mint Mobile.

Best Overall Phone for Mint Mobile: Samsung Galaxy S20 FE

The Galaxy S20 FE is a device that caught us off guard in the best way possible. Samsung set out to create a flagship-like device, sell it at an amazing price, and the result is one of the very best Android phones you can buy today. That idea of getting more for your money lines up perfectly with Mint Mobile, making t…

Android 11 brings much-needed privacy and security features alongside exciting UI changes.

Android 11 continues to push Google’s vision of Android forward. With Android 11, Google is making a few tweaks to refine the platform instead of making wholesale changes. Privacy is a big focus with Android 11, with Google introducing one-time permissions and granular control over what sort of data you share.

There are new features to get excited about as well — the power button menu picked up a massive overhaul, the Conversations view does a great job highlighting your messages, and there are little tweaks throughout the interface that give it an added polish.

Android 11 is powering the best Android phones of 2021, and manufacturers are doing a better job rolling out the update to their 2020 phones. So here’s everything you need to know about all the new features in Android 11 and when your phone will receive the update.

Jump to:

Release date
Custom skins
Review
Messaging features…

You can get a lot of phone for a modest price these days, and to prove it, we’ve rounded up a list of the best Android phones under $300 for your consideration. Motorola has been a leading name in mid-range options for years, and that holds true with its excellent Moto G Power (2020). You get capable specs with a big display and simple software that anyone can figure out for an extremely competitive price. Plus, it has a massive battery and convenient USB-C charging.

Best Overall Android Phone under $300: Moto G Power (2020)

Motorola launched a few different Moto G phones for 2020, but the one that stands out as the best pick for most people is the Moto G Power (2020). This phone nails all the basics, has a very affordable price, and a cool trick up its sleeve — battery life.

A 5,000 mAh battery is crammed inside of the Moto G Power, meaning you can get between two and three days of use out of the phone before needing to charge it up. In a world where a lot of $1,000 flagships…

Whether you’re just starting with your smart home or have been building it up for a while, a smart display (or two) can be the perfect addition. A smart display is essentially a Google Assistant or Alexa speaker with a screen attached to it, allowing you to perform your usual array of voice commands while also watching YouTube videos, following recipes, and more. The Nest Hub isn’t just an incredible smart display. It’s also one of the best Google Assistant speakers around — but if that doesn’t catch your fancy, we have five other options that are also worth a look.

Best Overall: Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

If you want the very best smart display that money can buy, you’ll want to check out the Nest Hub. We still love the original model that launched back in 2019. Still, its successor is available for pre-order now, featuring the same Soli sensor originally found on the Pixel 4, which is being used for sleep tracking by monitoring motion and sound at night.

Right off the bat, th…

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…