Articles by Marc Lagace

New and improved

NVIDIA Shield TV (2019)

$150 at Amazon

Pros

Best support for Google apps and services
Works with Alexa voice controls
Supports Dolby Vision and Atmos
Expandable storage via microSD
Supports 4K and HDR content with AI-enhanced upscaling

Cons

Doesn’t ship with an HDMI cable
Gaming accessories are extra

The NVIDIA Shield TV (2019) has been redesigned to be more compact and easier to hide behind your TV setup while continuing to deliver the best Android TV experience. The new Shield remote is a significant upgrade, and NVIDIA offers support for Google Assistant, which is baked into the software. It can also be controlled via Alexa.

Fresh Hot Fire

Amazon Fire TV Cube (2019)

$100 at Amazon

Pros

Improved processor and specs
New features like Local Voice Control
Best in class voice control for entertainment
Acts as Echo speaker and smart home hub when TV off
Support for Dolby Vision and Atmos
Supports 4K Ultra HD and HDR10+

Cons

Limited sup…

The Pixel 3a has been available for more than a year now, but you can still find some of the best Pixel 3a accessories despite the 4a now being available. There are a lot of great options to pair up with your 3a, ranging from cases and screen protectors to getting some snazzy new headphones that work perfectly.

Always reliable

Spigen Rugged Armor

Staff pick

Spigen is one of the most trusted names in case makers on the market, and its Rugged Armor is one of our go-to single-layer cases for slim protection. While I wish it came in multiple colors, black really does go with everything.

$12 at Amazon

Clearly a good choice

Totallee Thin Case

If you’re getting that nifty Purple color, this ultra-thin, ultra-clear case is perfect for showing off that beautiful shine without exposing it to shatters. Totallee’s cases are the thinnest of the thin and are branding-free. With the combination of thin and ultra-clear, this makes the Totallee Thin Case one of the best Pixel 3a acces…

Considering that it’s been more than three years since its release, you’re probably looking for the best portable chargers for Google Pixel. The battery is not where it used to be, so you’ll want to keep your phone going through the day with a battery pack. With the right power pack, you’ll be able to keep all your devices charged, too!

It’s all built in

Zendure A3PD

Staff Pick

With Power Delivery, Quick Charge 3.0, and a 10,000mAh capacity, the Zendure A3PD packs an impressive punch. This kit also includes a USB-A to microUSB/USB-C cable, perfect for any situation. Plus, when the juice runs out, you can plug it into a wall charger and get back to 100% in about three hours.

$20 at Amazon
$80 at Best Buy
$60 at Walmart

Popular choice

Anker PowerCore Slim PD

Anker is a big name in the charging space and when you see options like the PowerCore Slim PD, you’ll understand why. There are three different charging modes built-in, with the Power Delivery USB-C port and the PowerIQ…

The largest phone in the S20 lineup absolutely deserves the rugged protection of a heavy duty case — but that doesn’t mean you need to add an inch of opaque plastic to make it even more unwieldy. These days, you can find rugged clear cases and other sleek designs that add extra functionality to your phone. Here are our picks for the best heavy duty cases for the S20 Ultra.

Clearly rugged

Ringke Fusion X

Staff pick

From $12 at Amazon
$13 at Walmart

The Ringke Fusion X is the perfect blend of function and style. The rugged TPU bumper protects along with the rigid backplate, which is crystal clear to let the S20 Ultra’s design shine through.

Heavy-duty hybrid

Spigen Tough Armor

From $16 at Amazon

Spigen makes some outstanding cases that are sleek and rugged. The Tough Armor style is the best of the bunch with dual-layer protection and a built-in kickstand around the back.

Texas-proud protection

ArmadilloTek Vanguard Series

From $19 at Amazon

The Van…

Speaking as a passionate mobile gamer, the pain points I deal with most often involve bad controls, a dying battery, bad audio, and the lack of enough internal storage. With cloud-based streaming platforms on the rise, having the right Android gaming accessories on hand can make or break a gaming session. We’ve rounded up the best controllers, battery packs, and headphones that you should consider if you want to step your game up.

One size fits most

Razer Kishi

Staff pick

Built to slot in almost any Android phone with a center USB-C port, the Kishi runs off your phone battery and supports passthrough charging. Unlike most Bluetooth controllers, you’ll never have to charge it, it collapses into a convenient travel size, input lag is never a problem, and it’s less conspicuous than a gaming-clip controller when playing on the go.

$80 at Amazon
$80 at Best Buy

Built for phones, tablets and PC

SteelSeries Stratus Duo

The Stratus Duo uses Bluetooth to sync with Android and a Wi…

It can be a little trickier to adhere a screen protector to the curved display of the Galaxy S8 and other phones like it than with a standard flat-screened phone. But if you’re worried about a cracked or scratched screen, it’s well worth the hassle. We’ve rounded up some of the most highly-recommended screen protectors for the Galaxy S8 if you still have one as your primary or secondary device.

Best for edge-to-edge protection

Whitestone Dome Glass

Staff pick

The Whitestone Dome Glass screen protector is arguably the best screen protector you can buy for your Galaxy S8. The kit includes a UV light, which is used in the curing process to ensure a perfect installation that covers the curved edges of the screen.

$45 at Newegg

Great budget pick

i-Blason Tempered Glass Screen Protector

i-Blason makes a tempered glass screen protector that’s designed to conform to the Galaxy S8’s curved display. It’s also slightly shorter than the full height of the phone so that a case won’t l…

Why would you need a game controller for your Samsung Galaxy phone? Samsung hasn’t explicitly jumped into the world of gaming-specific smartphones, but since you’re provided with some of the best specs to go along with amazing displays, Samsung smartphones, like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, make for a perfect gaming experience. In order to make the most out of xCloud and other games on your phone, you’ll need a great game controller to pair with it.

Versatility at its finest

Razer Kishi

Staff pick

Razer’s Kishi controller is quite impressive. It not only fits just about every smartphone, but the USB-C port ensures low-latency gaming. When not in use, the two sides slide together, making for easy portability or storage.

$80 at Amazon
$80 at Best Buy
$80 at Walmart

Not just for Android

SteelSeries Stratus Duo

The Stratus Duo is the latest great Android gaming controller from SteelSeries. Once again, the company has designed a comfortable controller — this time with a recharg…

The Galaxy Note 10+ was designed to be a big workhorse of a smartphone, but it’s far from being a rugged phone with all that glass on the front and back. No matter what job you work for a living, phone drops can and will happen. You’re better off to be prepared for when the inevitable happens with a heavy-duty case.

Multilayered protection

SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro

Staff pick

The SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro style of case is one of the most ruggedly designed smartphone cases around. From its front plate that helps to protect the screen to the built-in kickstand and optional belt holster and clip, this case pretty much offers it all.

$20 at Amazon
$20 at Walmart

Most trusted brand

Spigen Tough Armor

Spigen has always taken a measured approach to its phone design, going for a more clean look even for its more rugged phone case offerings. The Tough Armor series offers dual-layer protection reinforced with great shock absorbing technology and a pop-out kickstand that lay…

The OnePlus 7T is still a compelling phone for 2020. Of particular note is the 90Hz refresh rate display that, honestly, once you’ve experienced it first hand, you won’t want to go back to anything slower. Given that, you’ll want to protect your phone’s display so you’re never distracted by a pesky scratch or crack. We’ve rounded up the best OnePlus 7T best screen protectors designed exclusively for the OnePlus 7T.

Best value for tempered glass

Mr.Shield Tempered Glass Screen Protector (3-pack)

Staff pick

Mr.Shield offers a three-pack of tempered glass screen protectors that feature a little swoop cutout at the top around the selfie camera. This kit includes everything you need for a clean installation and adheres to your screen with a special silicone adhesive.

$5 at Amazon

Trusted brand

Supershieldz Tempered Glass Screen Protector (3-pack)

Supershieldz is known for creating reliable screen protectors for most phones. For the OnePlus 7T, it offers a three-pack of t…

Best answer: The NVIDIA Shield TV is still the best Android TV box you can buy in 2020. NVIDIA has done a great job offering software updates that continually make the Shield TV better than before, and the 16GB is a great option for any habitual streamer. So yes, it’s absolutely your best bet for an Android TV box.

Get the best: NVIDIA Shield TV (2019) ($150 at Amazon)
Expand your storage: Samsung Evo Select 512GB MicroSD Card ($90 at Amazon)

NVIDIA is still king of Android TV

The NVIDIA Shield TV is a full-featured streaming box that runs on the latest Android TV software. That means it has both Google Assistant and 4K Chromecast functionality built right in, along with a host of other great features. All of that makes the Shield a stand out product.

It also offers the best internal specs and features on a TV streaming box and comes packaged with a sleek remote that includes a built-in microphone for use with the Google Assistant. You can also plug in a keyboard and mouse or c…