I’ve used virtually every major streaming platform over the years but ultimately I settled on Android TV as my platform of choice. While it isn’t perfect, it suits my needs well, and I love that I can switch between using the streamer with a remote or casting content from my Android phone. For the past few years, we’ve been a Chromecast with Google TV family. That changes with the arrival of the Onn 4K Pro.

The Onn 4K Pro packs a ton of features unavailable on the Chromecast with Google TV, and yet it retails for the same price. But is the Onn 4K Pro really a better deal than the Chromecast with Google TV? Based on my time with it so far, I think that for many, the answer will be yes. But before you run out and buy it, you need to fully understand what you’re getting into with a value brand product like this.

If I only had $300 to spend on a budget smartphone, I would need to get something fairly disappointing. It would likely look (and feel) dated, have abysmal specs, and have few options for accessories — if any at all. That’s why last year’s CMF Phone 1 — a sub-$250 budget phone from Nothing — was such a sensation. It was a phone that pretty much anyone could afford, but it didn’t come with the usual trappings of a budget device.

Now, Nothing is back with the 2025 CMF Phone 2 Pro. It’s got multiple spec upgrades, a new “Pro” name, and some cool accessories for its unique modular system. It also has a slightly higher price, but I think most people will be OK with that once they see what they’re getting. At least, most people outside the United States, anyway.

Everyone loves a good flagship phone — they get the best cameras, the fastest charging, and the best materials that an (increasingly large) pile of money can buy. I’m no different. I love to keep a Pixel 9 Pro or an iPhone 16 in my pocket, and I try to spend a few months of the year with a foldable phone as my primary device. The rest of the time, though, I hop from one budget or mid-range phone to the next, trying to find out how much you can get without breaking the bank.

Sometimes, I’m let down by the experience, but other times, I am ready to recommend a cheaper phone to almost everyone who asks. This is one of those times. The Pixel 9a is Google at its best, and it’s the easiest mid-range phone to recommend in years, so long as you can live without a few things.

Anker’s smart home brand eufy is combining two of the best vacuum designs into the E20 vacuum: a robot vacuum for autonomy and a hand-held/stick vacuum for a high-performance, targeted clean. But how does this novel hybrid stack up compared to the best robot vacuums out there? I tested it in my home to find out.

How does the eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20 work?

While many would love the idea of owning a pool, I have always tried to avoid it for one main reason: maintenance. I know multiple people with pools, and they all agree that they are a pain to upkeep, not to mention expensive. We can’t think of ways to make them cheaper, but robotic pool cleaners are really helping people keep their pools clean without much work. Let’s go over one of the most interesting ones: Let me introduce you to the Dreame Z1 Pro.

Dreame Z1 Pro review: At a glance

Samsung’s Galaxy A series has long been the safe bet among mid-range Android phones for buyers who want something dependable without diving into lesser-known brands. In markets like the US, where mid-range options are surprisingly scarce, that reputation carries even more weight. The Galaxy A36 5G continues that tradition — but only just. It looks the part, ticks most of the usual boxes, and on paper, it sounds like a perfectly reasonable buy for $399. But after using it for a few weeks, I found myself wondering if dependable has quietly become disappointing.

Small but noticeable refinements

While the SNES was the home console that best encapsulates my childhood, the Game Boy Advance was the handheld that really kicked off my gaming addiction. It was revolutionary for teenage me, and I ended up with two standard versions and a GBA SP when it launched a few years later.

But the final iteration, the Game Boy Micro, just never got my attention. By that point, I had graduated to the Nintendo DS (which also played GBA cartridges), so it just never made sense to me.

Everyone loves taking a dip in the pool on a nice summer day, but all that pleasure comes with a cost. That’s why I have never wanted to actually own a pool. They are fantastic, but everyone I know who has one tells me they are also a pain to maintain. However, things are getting much more convenient with the introduction of robot pool cleaners. The WYBOT S2 Solar is especially nice, as it significantly minimizes charging efforts, using a solar panel and pool wall docking. I recently hired a private pool and tested a bunch of the best pool cleaners of 2025 to see which ones stand out the most, and the WYBOT S2 Solar definitely does that.

WYBOT S2 Solar review: At a glance

Robotic pool cleaners seem to be all the hype among pool owners these days. It’s an evolving market, but it’s moving quickly. Options are becoming plentiful, and even more affordable alternatives are getting pretty awesome. This one is not for those who want to save, though. I’ve tested a bunch of the best options in 2025, and I can tell you that the BeatBot AquaSense 2 Ultra is a high-end, expensive pool cleaner that’s ideal for the most demanding users.

Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra review: At a glance

Sometimes, it feels like I’m the only Android user in my friend group. I’m not — there are two or three of us — but it’s still an isolating feeling when you know you’re one of the green bubbles breaking up the iMessage party. Sometimes, that isolation is bad enough that I’m almost willing to switch to iOS until I remember what else I’ll give up. For several years, moving away from Android meant losing color-matched themes, skipping out on the ability to place apps anywhere I wanted, and living without creature comforts like an always-on display or a 120Hz refresh rate.

Now, that gap between iOS and Android isn’t quite as big, and it’s letting some of that temptation creep back in. After all, iOS 18 is more customizable than ever, RCS has made messaging a little less awkward, and Apple Intelligence is on its way (or so we’ve been told). So, I pulled my personal SIM out of my beloved Pixel 9 Pro, downloaded an eSIM into a brand new iPhone 16 Pro while also pocketing a vanilla iPhone 16, both of which we bought for the purposes of this review (we always buy our Apple test devices), and set out to see if the grass is greener on the other side of the 2024 Android vs iPhone divide.

It took years for Google to launch its answer to Apple’s AirTag and its successful Find My network, but now that the Find My Device network is here, a lot of companies are jumping on board to make compatible Bluetooth trackers. Chipolo and Pebblebee were some of the first, but more companies have joined them since, including Motorola with its excellent Moto Tag.

Chipolo is back again with its next-gen tracker, the POP (). This time, it aims to beat both Pebblebee and the Moto Tag at their own game. Like Pebblebee’s latest universal trackers, the POP is compatible with both Apple and Google’s networks, and like the Moto Tag, it offers a standalone app with extra functionality. It doesn’t have an ultrawideband chip (UWB), but it does have Bluetooth 6.0, which opens up the door for more precise finding. I’ve been testing it for over a week, so let me tell you what I think about it.

When it comes to in-ear Bluetooth buds, I’m a very picky person. Most models are too large, cause too much pressure in my ear, and eventually end up being too painful to use for more than 30 minutes. Very few exceptions have eschewed this pattern, namely Nothing’s Ear series and the Google Pixel Buds Pro. So, you can imagine that I was very excited to try out the Pixel Buds Pro 2 when they first launched. With their smaller size and wingtips, would they still be some of the most comfortable buds on the market or not?

But more importantly, it’s Google’s promise of a true Gemini Live companion in my ear that piqued my curiosity. Well, that and the new Tensor A1 chip and its better audio performance and noise canceling.

Google has flip-flopped on Android tablets repeatedly, while Samsung has stayed mostly consistent. Enough so to dominate the ultra-premium tablet market to the extent that the Tab S series is the only Android competitor to the iPad Pro.

The Galaxy Tab S10 series has shaken things up in unexpected ways. There are only two models, the $999 Tab S10 Plus and the $1,199 Tab S10 Ultra, as the smaller 11-inch model has been dropped from the lineup. So, the Tab S10 series starts at $1,000, just like the iPad Pro Samsung wants to compete with. When you’re spending laptop money on an ultra-premium tablet, it should be able to back that up with a flawless experience. No matter how much I love the Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, flawless isn’t a word I can use to describe it.

There is a legitimate cool factor to the E15 robot lawn mower from Anker sub-brand eufy. I am the envy of my neighbors, at least the ones that handle lawn care.

After testing dozens of robot vacuum cleaners for inside the house, I can’t deny that automated lawn care has been the dream for my backyard, and the eufy E15 delivers.

After unpacking it for testing, the first thing I noticed about the Narwal Freo Z10 was its similarities to the top Freo robot vacuums before it. This is for good reason: The Freo bot line is award-winning, and Narwal isn’t re-inventing its platform; it’s just continuing to improve on it.

The Freo Z10 is the best Narwal bot at handling hair, a leader in suction power, one of the best-navigating bots around, and is designed for maintenance-free operation. But coming in $200 cheaper than the flagship Freo Z Ultra — is it worth it?

I have been hooked on telescopic mobile game controllers ever since I got my first Razer Kishi nearly five years ago, but after just a few minutes of testing, I knew the Backbone One Xbox Edition would be stealing the coveted place in my go-bag. Not only is it sleeker, lighter, and more premium, it also harkens back to my teenage years as an Xbox fanboy.

This new edition is essentially just a new colorway of the second-generation Backbone One, similar to the PlayStation Edition from a few years ago. If you’re an Xbox fan like me, the choice is obvious, but the controller is easily the best mobile controller I’ve ever tested.

I like the Nothing Phone 3a — the Phone 3a Pro, too, for that matter. I think they’re the best phones the company has put out in its short history, and I believe they are well worth the price of admission. And, for most of the world, I can say that you should go out and buy one. I can tell you that they make significant improvements over their predecessors, the Phone 2a and 2a Plus, and that they deliver even better value with new triple-camera setups and shiny Qualcomm chipsets.

But I have bad news for US-based Android enthusiasts like myself. Like all of the upstart brand’s recent releases, neither the $379 Nothing Phone 3a nor the $459 Nothing 3a Pro will work properly on major US networks, making this pair of exciting budget phones complete non-starters stateside. Here’s why that decision frustrates me and why I hope it changes really soon.

The Amazfit Bip 6 enters the wearables arena with a compelling offer: a feature-packed smartwatch at an impressively low price. In a market flooded with options, the Bip 6 stands out by delivering tools typically reserved for higher-end models — without the hefty price tag. Its design and functionality are reminiscent of Fitbit’s now-discontinued Versa lineup, offering an Apple Watch-like experience without the Apple ecosystem.

An Apple-like aesthetic

When I moved an ocean away from home, I was fully prepared for a perpetually empty house. But as it turns out, living somewhere tropical means you get a lot more guests than you do in the frozen Midwest. I encourage all of my visitors to make the most of Hawaii’s beautiful weather while they’re here. The Yaber T2 Plus Projector makes my job even easier, providing the perfect way to enjoy an outdoor movie night.

Convenient, compact, and portable

Always on the lookout for a true Oura Ring contender, I’ve been closely following RingConn’s portfolio since its first release in 2023. Last year, I gave the company’s Gen 2 smart ring three and a half stars for its comfortable design, impressive battery life, and competitive price point. The latest RingConn Gen 2 Air drops that price by $100, while still delivering a robust experience.

Introducing a budget-friendly device is a savvy move in a market dominated by high-priced smart rings, making advanced health and fitness tracking accessible to a wider audience. While it sacrifices a few headlining features (I’ll get to my charger woes below), after spending a few weeks with the Gen 2 Air ring on hand (or should that be finger?), I’m even more excited than ever about RingConn’s place in the smart ring conversation.

The first gaming system I poured hours into that I could really call my own (our Amiga 500 was more of a family system) was, like so many of my millennial generation, the original Game Boy. That means I’m old enough to have gone through multiple Nintendo handheld generations, with a few fleeting but notable detours along the way (loved the PS Vita, love my Steam Deck even more).

I’m also at a point in my increasingly busy middle-aged life where handhelds are increasingly becoming the simplest and quickest way I can play games solo. And yes, the reason I’m so taken with the Steam Deck (particularly the gorgeous OLED upgrade model I picked up recently) is that it fills that gap with very little friction. But I’m also a sucker for exciting new hardware, not immune to the clawing pull of nostalgia, and willing to spend a little extra on a gaming system if I think I’ll get enough enjoyment out of it.

There will be times when new robot vacuums fail to impress me, but today is not that day. The Narwal Freo Pro is an unassuming mid-range cleaning bot with an impressively low retail price of $699, which makes it an instant contender for the best robot vacuum under $1,000.

The Narwal Freo Pro shares more than a few parts and features with the Freo Ultra flagship series, particularly the last-gen Freo X Ultra, and steps it up with newer sensors, anti-tangle brush, and software to ensure the cleanliness of your floors.

I’ve probably spent more time with an iPhone in my pocket this year than ever before, exploring everything from Apple Intelligence to the Camera Control to the new customization options in iOS 18. And while I’m nowhere close to swapping out my daily Android phone for an iPhone, for the most part, I’ve enjoyed my time on the other side of the fence. However, spending so much time with a flagship iPhone 16 Pro in my pocket has also made me realize something else: It’s been a long time since I’ve used a more affordable iPhone — not since the last iPhone SE launched in 2022.

During that time, I tested several generations of the Google Pixel A series and the Samsung Galaxy A series, and I watched Android’s best budget- to mid-tier phones improve by leaps and bounds. So, when Apple announced its return to the affordable smartphone race with the $600 iPhone 16e, it piqued my interest. I wanted to know if its simplified hardware stood a chance against much-improved Android competitors or if it would be left behind like the last iPhone SE.

I am a huge fan of folding phones. There is nothing better than having a phone that you can fold open to transform it into a tablet. Over the last few months, I have tried a lot of folding phones: the HONOR Magic V3, the HUAWEI Mate X6, and my favorite, the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

The OPPO Find N5 is billed as the world’s thinnest foldable phone, and in the hand, this rings incredibly true. It’s almost too thin. It beats Google’s contender, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6, and the previous title holder, the HONOR Magic V3.

The Chromecast is one of Google’s longest-running and most-loved hardware products, having launched all the way back in 2013. Over a decade, it became one of the simplest and best media streamers you could get, capped off with the well-received Chromecast with Google TV (and later an HD-only model). I say “capped off” because, earlier this year, the company unceremoniously announced the end of the Chromecast line. “But don’t worry,” Google figuratively said to the haters, “We’ve got an even better streaming device now.” That better device is the brand new Google TV Streamer.

The Google TV Streamer is very different from a Chromecast. It’s larger, more powerful, and comes with a slew of features the company never could have provided in a tiny dongle. It’s also a lot more expensive. The question then becomes: was the death of the Chromecast worth it? In my opinion, the answer is a resounding “yes.”

I’ve probably reviewed more cheap Android devices over the last few years than anyone else here at Android Authority, so I’ve spent a lot of time exploring what works and what doesn’t work. When something works at this price tier, it tends to work remarkably well, like Motorola’s speedy wired charging or Samsung’s typically rock-solid primary cameras. However, when something doesn’t work, it sticks out like a sore thumb and drags down the rest of the experience. This feels like one of those times.

Even though there are plenty of things about the Motorola Moto G (2025) that I like, the glue that holds them together doesn’t feel quite set. The wired charging, light Android skin, and decent primary camera are all worth recommending separately, yet they don’t quite come together in a way that makes me want to keep using this budget phone. Here’s where I think the 2025 model of the Moto G goes wrong and, ultimately, why I don’t think you should buy it even if you’re after a ~$200 phone.

They launched at the same time, serve the same general purpose, and are even the same price, but the Roborock Saros 10 and Saros 10R have some interesting differences. One has award-winning navigation, one has best-in-class suction power, and they’re both superb, next-gen robot vacuums.

I already gave the Saros 10R a spot on our best robot vacuums list, but after running around my house for over one week, how does the Saros 10 stack up?

When it comes to photography, I’m one of those rare oddballs you’ll still see pointing a bulky mirrorless at things in a vain attempt to capture a snap that my smartphone still can’t. As much as I love them, the iPhone, Galaxy, and even the critically acclaimed Pixel can’t convince me to leave my Fuji at home for two key reasons — tasty natural bokeh and emotive color palettes. Still, the Pixel 9 Pro XL‘s reliable exposure and inoffensive color palette has earned it a place as my go-to when there’s simply no room on my hip for the mirrorless.

However, with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra in my pocket for the past couple of weeks, the Pixel has been relegated to my shelf, and a small layer of dust has started collecting on my overpriced lenses. Is this the smartphone that finally convinces me to ditch my mirrorless? Let’s find out.

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy S25, and it’s one of the few reasonably sized Android flagship phones on the market. However, I’m not alone in thinking it’s a safe, boring, albeit competent upgrade over previous generations. But what if you could get a similarly sized flagship Android device with more exciting features?

That’s where the €999 (~$1,037) Xiaomi 15 comes in. The Chinese manufacturer just launched the phone globally in Barcelona at Mobile World Congress, coming several months after the Chinese release. Can it excite me in ways the Galaxy S25 didn’t? Well, yes… but sadly, I still don’t think it’s enough.

I once watched a video of a herd of cows crossing a street, and as each cow approached a white-painted traffic line, it would do a little hop. Apparently, this behavior is related to poor depth perception, or cattle guards, or leadership issues — I’m not exactly sure. But it’s adorable, and it’s the image that’s been in my mind while testing the OnePlus Watch 3 (stay with me here…).

The newest model offers significant improvements and is a powerful Wear OS smartwatch that excels against the competition in one key way: phenomenal battery life. However, for North American shoppers, it’s tripped up by regulatory limitations that make some key features unavailable at launch. The cows eventually make it across the street, and the OnePlus Watch 3 will likely end up on plenty of wrists (and it should!), but the device faces a few hurdles.

When the Steam Deck launched in 2022, it was hardly the first PC gaming handheld to hit the market. The Nintendo Switch had already categorically proven that large-screened handheld gaming systems were what people wanted five years prior, and other manufacturers had seen minor success with Windows-based devices. However, the Steam Deck was the first thing to come along and set the bar for what a PC gaming handheld could and should be. Now, all other gaming handhelds must meet that bar, or they will be dead in the water.

Keeping that in mind, Lenovo is in a unique position with its line of Legion handhelds. At CES earlier this year, the company announced the market’s first true Steam Deck competitor, meaning third-party hardware running the same Linux-based Steam OS that comes with the Steam Deck. It is officially called the Lenovo Legion Go S — Powered by Steam OS. That device has yet to hit retail, but in the meantime, Lenovo has a stop-gap product that is almost the same but running good ol’ Windows 11. That’s the one this review is about.

It’s tough to make a truly exciting budget Android phone. After all, there are only so many ways to balance camera sensors, materials, and clever wrinkles while sticking to a strict price point. And, when that price point is a mere $200, finding that balance is even harder. So, instead of giving its Galaxy A16 5G one standout hardware feature, Samsung has done something else for its entry-level smartphone: It’s given it a flagship-grade update commitment, and I think that’s much more valuable. Here’s why.

The Galaxy A16 5G’s design is comfortable but forgettable

A $300 phone that looks like it costs way more, comes packed with flagship-level conveniences, and still nails the basics of an affordable phone — that’s the Moto G Power 2025 in a nutshell. It’s the premium pick in Motorola’s G series lineup this year, and I have to admit, it surprised me with just how much it delivers for the price. But, as with most budget phones, it still carries some familiar compromises that remind you of its place in the smartphone hierarchy.

A budget phone that’s ready for everything… AND the kitchen sink

Most premium smartphone gimbals available today have a tracking feature. This allows you to center on a subject and then move around it (or have it move around you) while always keeping it in frame automatically. This is great, but it requires you to use a camera app made by the gimbal manufacturer. This means you do not get the same quality/features you would if you could use your phone’s default camera app. It’s a considerable compromise: if you want tracking, you must sacrifice using the camera you know and trust. Thankfully, the new DJI Osmo Mobile 7P doesn’t have this problem, making it one of the most exciting gimbals on the market right now.

Of course, the new Osmo Mobile 7P also has all the features you love from the Osmo Mobile 6 and some additional new tricks that put it head and shoulders above most competitors. It still treats Android as a second-class citizen, but the good stuff might outweigh that for most buyers. Clearly, there’s a lot to talk about, so let’s jump in!

If you’re like me, you can’t handle being out in public without something to occupy your mind. Ever since I was a kid, that’s been games. It started with handhelds like the Game Boy and PSP, then mobile games and emulators once they matured on Android, but as soon as I got my hands on a cheap gaming handheld, all the pieces fell into place.

But when it comes to taking one with me outside of the house, most are too big or too expensive. I’m already carrying a phone that costs nearly a month’s rent, so I don’t need the extra stress of breaking another pricey gadget. But there’s one handheld with the right mix of size, features, and price to earn a spot in my bag every time I leave the house. That handheld is the TrimUI Brick.

You know that feeling when something comes out and you know that you should love it? Like when your favorite author drops a new title out of nowhere, even if it’s not their typical genre, or your favorite football team signs a promising but injury-prone young player? On paper, you know that there’s a ton of potential there, and your hopes should be sky-high. In reality, though, the experience isn’t always what it’s made out to be.

For me, that’s what has happened with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra after testing it for a couple of weeks. Even though I know I should be impressed by its new slate of Galaxy AI features, overclocked chipset, and flexible cameras, I can’t help but think that Samsung’s most expensive candy bar flagship falls a little flat. Here’s why I feel somewhat let down — but why you might feel differently.

Samsung, home of the powerful Galaxy Watch series and the small-form Galaxy Ring, recently launched the Galaxy Fit 3, a budget-friendly fitness tracker. The $60 device works with any Android phone, and has a decent amount to offer; it’s not unattractive, either, especially at such a low price point. Yet, I can’t help but wonder what sparked this product development. The Fit line felt all but abandoned, considering we hadn’t seen an upgrade since September 2020.

I assumed the integration of Wear OS on Samsung’s smartwatches had triggered a pivot that left the Fit line in the dust. But here we are, and here I am with a Fit 3 on my wrist, left to determine the little guy’s place in the world.

Whenever a new Galaxy S phone comes out, everyone focuses on the Ultra model. It’s the biggest and best, so it’s just Ultra Ultra Ultra. However, we shouldn’t forget about the two cheaper models. In 2025, that means the Samsung Galaxy S25 and the Galaxy S25 Plus.

The problem, though, is that Samsung itself seems to have forgotten about these phones this year. Both devices are barely upgrades over their predecessors, which begs the question: should these phones even exist?

When I finally started to jot down my thoughts on the new ASUS Zenfone 12 Ultra, I couldn’t help but feel a creeping sense of déjà vu. Then I checked last year’s Zenfone 11 Ultra review and sighed in relief that I haven’t yet gone completely bananas from reviewing phones for a living. I thought I’d reviewed this phone before because I basically have. Between the increasingly obvious similarities between ASUS’ ROG and Zenfone series, perhaps I’d even written about it two or even three times by now.

Cutting right to the point, not much has changed since 2024’s Zenfone, at least in terms of the hardware. Yes, there’s a faster Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, eSIM support, and some nice color options (I’m a big fan of the Sage Green), but the battery, charging, camera (save an improved gimbal), display, and all the rest are unchanged from last year.

I owe Roborock a tiny bit of an apology. Based on my past experience with pre-LiDAR robot vacuums, I assumed the worst when they told me the brand new Saros 10R lacks a 360-degree LiDAR turret on top of the device, as we see with most top-end bots. Surely this thing would just run into walls and wreak havoc across my home? I was wrong. Roborock’s AI-powered StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 offers some of the best navigation I’ve seen, and the lack of the turret means this ultra-premium robot vac is Roborock’s thinnest yet, with a height of just 3.14-inches.

The Saros 10R is doing a wonderful job at cleaning my floors, it navigates as well as any bot out there, it has enough suction power to get all the dirt, and the mop heads are managed second to none on the market today.

The vivo X100 Pro and X100 Ultra were two of my favorite camera phones released in 2024. Both phones offered plenty of premium bells and whistles, too, such as fast wired/wireless charging, robust IP ratings, big batteries, and bright screens.

But they were really all about the fantastic camera hardware, with the X100 Pro featuring a versatile 50MP 4.3x periscope lens while the X100 Ultra delivered a frankly ridiculous 200MP 3.7x periscope camera. Unfortunately, the Ultra phone was limited to China. There’s good news, though, as vivo has just launched the X200 Pro and it packs the same crazy telephoto camera. So is this a contender for best camera phone once again? It’s time to find out.

These days, new GPS watches (and smartwatches in general) seem to be all about more, more, more. If they’re not adding something new like better battery life, new activities to track, or upgraded smart assistant features, why waste your time? I know that to be true, partly because I’m guilty of it, too — look at my recent Garmin Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 reviews. I praised Garmin for finding ways to add new wrinkles, and I am perfectly happy to brush off their nearly $1,000 price tags.

And yet, ever since I strapped on the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED, I’ve seen things differently. I’ve been adapting to life without a touchscreen or a smart assistant and loving it. It’s the opposite of the Garmin experience I’m used to, yet one that I’ve enjoyed far more than I thought I would. In some ways, the Instinct 3 has put the adventure back into my adventure watch, which makes its main flaw that much more frustrating.

We’re only weeks into 2025, but it’s quickly feeling like we’re spoilt for choice for new flagship Android phones. I’ve spent a couple of weeks in the company of the new HONOR Magic 7 Pro, which aims to stand out from the growing crowd with a sumptuous combination of hardware and AI innovations.

What’s particularly interesting about HONOR’s latest flagship is that it runs on-device AI photography models. AI models have previously been confined to text and image generation, but running a model to enhance the photos you take is a pretty new and potentially exciting concept. And if you know me, you’ll know I’m eager to investigate anything related to the latest and greatest mobile camera tech. So, let’s see if the HONOR Magic 7 Pro can live up to its promise.

Should you buy the HUAWEI FreeBuds Pro 4?

The best thing I can say about the iRobot Roomba Combo 10 Max is that its mapping and cleaning of your home are very thorough, straight out of the box. By that, I mean that its default configuration is designed to reach every nook and cranny of your floors at least once. It maps every square inch it can access and cleans just as well, with very little tinkering required.

But there’s a reason for this, and it’s not necessarily a good one. You see, without the benefit of LiDAR sensing for navigation and 3D mapping like so many top robot vacuums, the Roomba Combo 10 Max has no choice but to roll over every spot in your home. No errors from misinterpreted radar scans, no missing spots because the camera was blinded or didn’t have enough light; it rolls everywhere, using the physical bumper sensor to help identify walls and obstacles. And I’m not sure this is the best solution for a vac that costs this much…

The OnePlus 13 series is the first major launch of 2025 and feels like the start of something new for both Android phones and OnePlus itself. For Android devices, this is one of the first times that flagship phones are embracing massive 6,000mAh batteries, signaling that 2025 might finally be the year we achieve the norm of true multi-day battery life. For OnePlus, the 13 series represents a major design refresh as the company pushes its phones closer to true flagship status, leaving behind the ‘flagship killer’ label.

While the OnePlus 13 grabs the spotlight this year (and for good reason — we loved it), the OnePlus 13R aims to deliver much of the same OnePlus DNA, rapid performance, and polish at a more accessible price point. After using it as my daily driver for nearly two weeks, I can confidently say it’s as good as a $600 phone can get — but it did remind me why flagships still serve a purpose.

Let’s face it: tablets have been stuck in an awkward limbo for years now. Ever since smartphone screens grew big enough to handle most of our on-the-go needs, tablets have been desperately trying to prove they still matter. For years, the industry has been trying to keep them relevant by turning them into laptop alternatives, tacking on detachable keyboards and stylus pens.

But what if tablets don’t need to be productivity machines? That’s exactly the question the Lenovo Tab Plus dares to ask. It’s like someone at Lenovo said, “Hey, what if a tablet was just a giant phone with an awesome speaker built-in, had a neat kickstand so you don’t need a cumbersome case, and it doesn’t cost a fortune?” And you know what? I think they might be onto something.

What’s in a name? We’ve asked it probably a hundred times in the last year with the way terms like Pro, Max, Active, and Plus get added to tech products, but what do those names really mean? Sometimes, they mean quite a lot, like giving you an additional sensor, a bigger display, or better materials. Other times, however, those names add confusion to an otherwise simple set of devices.

Xiaomi’s Smart Band 9 series (also known as the Mi Band 9 in some markets) has become one of those cases. Its affordable fitness tracking lineup has grown to include three wearables — the Smart Band 9 Pro, Smart Band 9 Active, and the standard Smart Band 9 — and all three cost well under $100. So, with little room to differentiate between the three, how are you supposed to know which one to buy?

In more ways than one, we are in the golden age of gaming controllers. Whether you want a controller for your PC, PS5/Xbox/Switch, emulation system, or need something specifically catered to your motor impairments, there is a controller out there for you. One thing that hasn’t been available, though, is an all-in-one solution to the fact that there are predominantly two types of face buttons: Western (A on the bottom, B on the right) and Japanese (B on the bottom, A on the right). Up until now, you would need to mentally “move” those buttons to use one controller for both situations, or go through the arduous process of swapping them around — though that’s not even an option on most gamepads.

However, thanks to the new GameSir Tarantula Pro, this is all now a thing of the past. The Tarantula Pro has an innovative system that physically moves the face buttons instantly.

Should you buy the Botslab G980H?

Ever since features like replaceable batteries disappeared from smartphones, we’ve been begging for someone to bring them back. Some have tried, like the LG G5 with its Friends modules or the Fairphone 5 with its ten interchangeable parts, but neither made a lasting impact. Now, a new device has entered the modular market: Nothing’s budget-friendly CMF Phone 1.

On the surface, it seems like a no-brainer — pack a budget Android phone with some decent specs and make it stand out with interchangeable back panels and accessories like a kickstand. In practice, the CMF Phone 1 doesn’t make life so easy, at least not for someone like me in the US. It’s a phone I’d love to recommend to absolutely anyone looking for a fantastic budget phone for less than $200, but there are some things you need to know before picking one up.

What I like about the OPPO Find X8 Pro

I’ve never considered myself the biggest mobile gamer. Sure, I’d jump into a few reliable titles while reviewing a phone, but I just hadn’t found a game that made me come back over and over. Or, if I did, I’d play it to death right up until I hit a paywall and then put it down, never to be touched again.

Then, Pokemon TCG Pocket came along, and like my colleague Nick Fernandez, I was hooked. Not necessarily hooked on the gameplay itself, but on the nostalgia that opening packs of Pokemon cards brought and the want to catch ’em all — or, rather, pull ’em all. It was the same type of nostalgia I remembered getting each time I went home for the holidays and dusted off my slowly dying GameBoy Advance to play titles from when I was ten.

Should you buy the Botslab Video Doorbell 2 Pro R811?

I’ve owned a few Amazon Kindle devices over the years. Generally, each one is the same: a small e-ink tablet with the most basic of features needed to buy an e-book and then read it. Sure, I know you can do a lot more with a Kindle, like listen to audiobooks, browse the web, and even play games, but come on: I would use my Android phone for any of those things. Because I treat a Kindle as a way to look at text and nothing else, I’ve never thought much about upgrading from my current Kindle Paperwhite 4 from 2018.

However, I had the chance to try out two of the 2024 Kindle models — the 2024 Amazon Kindle (11th gen) and the 2024 Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 6 (12th gen) — and I have changed my mind. At this point, pretty much every Kindle owner should upgrade this year by splurging on the newest Paperwhite.

I’m no stranger to iPads. I won the iPad Mini 2 in a contest in 2014, bought the Air 4 in 2020, and used both extensively over several years. But my favorite tablets have and will always be Android tablets. From my Acer Iconia A100 to my Nexus Tablet 7, HUAWEI MediaPad M5 Pro 10.8, and finally, the Google Pixel Tablet, I have seen first-hand Android’s progression on larger screens, and I appreciate where we are now.

So when the latest iPad Mini — a.k.a. iPad Mini 7, iPad Mini A17 Pro, or iPad Mini (2024) — landed in my hands, I almost had my mind made up. Prejudice is funny like that. I knew I’d like the hardware and I predicted the A17 Pro processor would be a bit much for my daily needs, but a welcome bonus when editing batches of photos in Lightroom. I would’ve also signed and notarized a document telling you that none of that mattered for my personal use because I still prefer Android over iPadOS. Yes, the iPad has more high-quality apps, more polish, more gestures — just more of everything — but I feel at home with Android, and you can’t easily manufacture or buy that.

As someone who grew up playing retro games, I was over the moon when I first found out I could install emulators on my Android phone years ago. What could possibly be better than playing the classics on the same device I use dozens of times a day for every other task?

Well, it turns out that a smooth rectangle isn’t the best for gaming. I still dabbled in emulation, but in general, I found myself favoring native Android games over my favorite retro titles.

To this point, I’ve been a pretty loyal laptop guy. No matter my needs, I’ve reached for my spacious 15-inch MacBook Air with its M2 chip, knowing that it had me covered. And it’s true — I haven’t encountered a spot where Apple’s light, thin laptop has struggled. The only problem is that it can be a pain to travel with, as the sizable footprint takes all of the flexibility out of my backpack. So, with a few fall trips lined up, I thought I’d try something more portable: A Chromebook. I left my trusty MacBook at home in favor of Lenovo’s new Chromebook Duet Gen 9 (seriously, we’re on the ninth version of this little two-in-one), and I’ve found my new travel companion.

Portability over powerhouse

Affordable flagship phones are still a thing, with devices like the Galaxy S24 FE and OnePlus 12R offering a ton of horsepower and plenty of features for the price. However, it’s starting to look like the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor could seriously shake up the “flagship killer” landscape. Qualcomm already confirmed that this chip is more expensive than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, but that hasn’t stopped realme from launching a Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered affordable flagship phone in the form of the realme GT7 Pro.

Does this new phone make for a great flagship killer, or are fans paying a steep price for more performance? Let’s find out.

I’ve had one Eureka robovac or another running around my house every day for months now, and there’s no question the J15 Pro Ultra is the best of the bunch. In just a few short months Eureka has iterated quickly, culminating in vastly improved navigation and more reliable operation.

In one of my favorite upgrades, Eureka is taking a barber shop approach to tangled hair, adding a hair-cutting system inside the J15 Pro Ultra to literally cut out hair from the main roller. Let’s take a look at how well it works and everything else Eureka’s ultra-premium robot vacuum can do.

Parting with the cash for a premium phone is a tough call in today’s economy, especially with hardware advancing at a relatively slow pace. It’s even harder for gaming phones to justify that extra cash, given other Snapdragon 8 Elite phones will be on the market soon enough, even if they’re not quite as fast. Not to mention that there are often so many more compromises in the gaming phone niche.

Thankfully, the ASUS ROG Phone 9 series bridges the mainstream gap better than most, and while I definitely missed a few familiar Pixel features during my time with the ROG, I wouldn’t say that the latest iteration of ASUS’ experience felt miles behind. ASUS has two models on sale this year. The ASUS ROG Phone 9 costs $999, while the Pro model starts at $1,199 and hits $1,499 for 1TB storage and a bundled AeroActive Cooler X Pro — I’ve been testing out the Pro version for over a week now. Let’s get our game on and see if I can be convinced that the promise of higher frames and peak mobile gaming features is actually worth the cash.

When you see the word ultra in the name of, well, anything, you attach a particular set of expectations. You expect whatever it is to go above and beyond an average threshold and enter into some form of rarified air. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, for example, packs more cameras than any other Samsung device, and it’s the only one to come with an integrated S Pen. Another, perhaps more fitting, example is the ultramarathon — a race that’s longer (sometimes much longer) and more grueling than your standard 26.2-mile marathon. It’s with that race in mind that the Ultra moniker made its way to top-end smartwatches from both Apple and Samsung, promising the ability to do more and last longer for the hardest of adventures.

And it’s true — the Apple Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch Ultra are the biggest, longest-lasting wearables their respective companies have ever produced. They let you go days without charging and offer a mountain of features to keep you feeling connected. However, one watch embodies the Ultra spirit better than any other, and it does so without even mentioning the name. In my opinion, the best ultra watch that money can buy (because, yes, it’s quite pricey) is the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED.

It’s hard to make a great Android flagship but even harder to make a great mid-range Android phone. With a flagship, you can let your mind run wild, combining a powerful chipset with high-end cameras and setting a price that bumps right up against the $1,000 mark without anyone batting an eye. As soon as you limit yourself to a cost of, say, $600 or $650, you realize just how many sacrifices you have to make. For a while, that’s where Samsung struggled — its Fan Edition launches always made cuts, but we were never sure if they were the right ones.

Now, though, Samsung might be turning a corner. It’s packed more power into the Galaxy S24 FE, seemingly with fewer omissions, and it’s put me in a tight spot. As much as I want to continue to beat the drum for the pocket-friendly Galaxy S24 that I carried in early 2024, I’m coming around to the idea that Samsung’s latest upper-mid-ranger might be one of the best values on the market. Here’s why I might stick with it for a bit longer.

Should you buy the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra?

You have to hand it to Samsung. Even during the darkest days of Android tablets, when Google itself saw no value in the form factor, Samsung kept pumping out slates every quarter. In fact, it eventually started making ultra-premium tablets to compete with Apple’s more expensive iPads. In some ways, it’s paid off now that Google has at least started offering lip service to large-format devices, but at least until we see the rumored pro-grade Pixel Tablet, if you want a premium Android tablet, Samsung is really your only choice.

Samsung is now on its third generation of Ultra tablets with the $1,200 Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra — the top slate in the Tab S10 series. This device looks like a carbon copy of 2023’s Ultra tablet with an identical 14.6-inch OLED and slim aluminum body, but the S10 Ultra has gotten an internal remodel featuring a MediaTek processor. Still, this extra-large, extra-powerful, extra-expensive tablet, clearly designed for power users, feels a bit lacking as a professional tool when there are almost no apps that take advantage of all it offers.

As the bots continue to battle for victory, Narwal has reentered the arena with the best robot vacuum I’ve tested to date. The Narwal Freo Z Ultra is a robovac and mop that has been an absolute pleasure to have in my home.

For this generation of bot, Narwal has added a feature that has become standard in the industry, whether it needed it or not. A vacuum bag now resides within the base station to extract dry debris from the bot. The previous model, the Freo X Ultra, compressed several weeks’ worth of debris into the onboard storage. You can now get several months of vacuuming without interaction with the Freo Z Ultra.

I’ve been testing out various smartwatches for over five years now, and my work has provided me the opportunity to try out a wide range of makes and models. In all that time, I’d never personally used a smartwatch that could give me a whole weekend’s worth of battery life, nor had I used a watch with two displays. That all changed with the TicWatch Atlas from Mobvoi, the brand’s ruggedized take on the  Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra formula.

After spending two weeks with it, I have to say I genuinely enjoyed having it on my wrist. However, I’m still hesitant to recommend it as a top pick for most people due to a persistent issue we’ve seen with Mobvoi’s TicWatch line for a while now. If you’re considering the TicWatch Atlas, here’s what I think you need to know before buying one.

I’ve been testing a wide variety of smartphone gimbals for some years now as a tech critic and pro photographer, and save for some small pros and cons, ultimately, they all offered about the same functionality. After all, these accessories are meant for one primary purpose: to reduce shake and smooth out videos. It was a bunch of the same, really… until recently. AI is entering the smartphone gimbal realm, and this was my first time trying these novel capabilities. Enter the Hohem iSteady V3, the first smartphone gimbal to get me excited in years.

Artificial intelligence aside, the Hohem iSteady V3 actually has much to offer. It’s a great gimbal in every other aspect, with plenty of modern features, a versatile design, awesome portability, and a focus on becoming “your personal videographer.” Not to mention, it is actually priced very competitively for what’s on offer. I’ve been putting the Hohem iSteady V3 through the paces for a couple of weeks now, and am ready to give you my two cents on it.

These days, most newer cars will have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay built in. Support for wireless connectivity prevents you from fumbling with a cable, which is always welcome. Fancy new cars will even have wireless charging pads in the center console, allowing you to simply drop your phone on it and start driving. But what do you do if you have an older car without any of these wireless features? Are you stuck using a cable forever? Thankfully, you’re not: that’s where devices like the AAWireless TWO come to the rescue.

As the name suggests, this is a follow-up to the original AAWireless, launched just over four years ago. It has a few notable upgrades and a slightly lower price, which is always nice to see. But all I care about is whether or not it works: does it work just as well as when I connect my phone to the car with a cable, and does it work as well as those cars with wireless Android Auto built in natively?

Should you buy the Eureka E20 Plus?

At CES 2024, Lenovo surprised us tech journalists with a brand new machine we weren’t expecting: a Windows laptop that’s also an Android tablet. The Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid (yes, it’s a ridiculous name) was impressive at first glance, not just to us but also to you: our hands-on video with the ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid we filmed in Las Vegas is filled with excited comments from viewers talking about how much they would love to get one.

There were also comments from folks who remembered that devices like this were available many years ago. Some dual-booted Windows and Android, like the ViewSonic ViewPad 10, while others had dedicated hardware for both operating systems. Lenovo itself made one in the early 2010s: the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid. It’s interesting that the company should try now, in 2024, to bring that idea back. The question then becomes, was that a good idea?

The smart ring arena seems to be at a tipping point. Shoppers have more options than ever, yet the majority of them flock to the recently established brands that have led the way in the still nascent product category. Oura continues to win users over with a reliable platform and trusted hardware, while Samsung has immediately started to build a loyal user base with, well, its name mostly.

Despite these looming giants, the developers at RingConn have every intention of keeping a seat at the table. The company is already on its second generation device, building on what I liked about the original model to produce a well-priced sleeper pick. It’s not a perfect health and fitness tracker, but I think it does deserve consideration from potential smart ring adopters.

About a year ago, Google announced a new subsection in the world of Chromebooks: Chromebook Plus. The “Plus” moniker lets consumers know that those machines meet certain spec and feature criteria, guaranteeing a premium experience. This solved the long-running problem of companies creating Chromebooks that looked really nice (and cost a pretty penny) but lacked essential specs that would actually make the Chrome OS experience a good one. Now consumers know that if they want something that really makes the operating system shine, all they need to do is look for that Plus wording.

Since the launch of the Chromebook Plus line, one significant brand has been absent from the family: Samsung. That changed at the beginning of October when we saw the debut of the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus, which is not only the company’s first “Plus” model, but also its first Galaxy Chromebook in about three years. So what’s this new device like? I got the chance to take it for a spin for a few days and have some thoughts, particularly on the ongoing debate between top-quality specs and top-quality design.

First, let me preface this review by saying I am neither especially fashion-forward nor someone who enjoys spending money. Most often, I can be found in a T-shirt and gym shorts, rummaging through Bulleye’s Playground (the dollar section at the front of every Target). Yet, when this year’s Apple Watch Series 10 landed, I found myself attracted to a somewhat pricey upgrade. After more than a week with the FineWoven Magnetic Link band, I have absolutely no remorse.

Having worn the Oura Ring 3 for well over 18 months now, I’ve been champing at the bit, waiting for its successor to land. In these same 18 months, smart rings have gone from an obscure wearable category to a mainstream accessory thanks, in no small part, to Samsung’s Galaxy Ring. But I stuck with my Oura ring because it still offered, in my opinion, the best experience. I’ve been curious, though, to see Oura’s response to this onslaught of competition.

Would the Oura Ring 4 propel it so far ahead that it would take the others a couple of years to catch up, or would this new ring be nothing but a simple nudge forward?

My ideal bedtime routine is for my teeth to brush themselves as I stumble into pajamas and curl into a ball among an excess of pillows. In other words, I hit the sack hard, so if I am going to track sleep, it needs to be simple, comfortable, and easy to initiate.

The Philips Sleep Headphones with Kokoon introduce a unique sleep-tracking experience that stands apart from traditional methods I typically spend my nights testing like those you’ll find on smartwatches and smart rings. The headphones pack meditative experiences, sleep guidance, and the ability to keep tabs on your bedtime data. Above all, though, they offer the opportunity to tune into whatever you want to hear as you pass out. If you are only after truly base-level sleep specs and audio ambiance, they’re a pretty clever product. I don’t know that they are the best choice for me, but I am definitely more impressed than I expected.

Should you buy the dbrand Grip Case for the Pixel 9 series?

Sometimes, all you need is a cheap and cheerful phone case. And that’s precisely what the Ringke Onyx for the Pixel 9 series is.

It’s nothing special, but it ticks all the boxes you’d expect from a case while hitting a price point well below most alternatives. But should you buy it? Here’s what you should consider.

Even with positive developments like growing Matter and Thread adoption, the modern smart home is still plagued by incompatible standards, expensive subscriptions, and discontinued products. Nest, under the stewardship of Google, is responsible for its fair share of those annoyances, but the original Nest product line continues to be the gold standard: the Nest Learning Thermostat. Perhaps the best thing I can say about the new 4th generation model is that it works every bit as well as the 3rd generation Nest it replaced in my home.

The Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen) is emblematic of the promise of smart home tech. Like its predecessors, this smart thermostat is easy to install, includes useful automation features, and it can even save you money. If you can get over the high price tag, you’ll probably love this device, especially if you’re deeply embedded in the Google smart home ecosystem.

For all the years I’ve been reviewing phone cases, one constant has remained: I do not like clear TPU cases.

Despite being the most common type of case you find on the market, I can’t stand them. They look cheap, fit poorly, and worst of all, collect fingerprints like crazy.