Anker Powerbank Portable Charger Comparison (Pocket size 3350 to 6700 mAh)

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Anker is a brand that designs and sells consumer electronics. Their mobile charging products such as portable chargers and wall adapters are famous and popular.

PowerIQ is an Anker’s exclusive technology, which automatically optimizes the flow of current depending on connected devices.

VoltageBoost is another Anker’s exclusive technology. A cable resistance reduces the charging speed. VoltageBoost is the technology that smoothes the voltage output and lessens the effect of cable resistance.

Thanks to these technologies, you can charge your devices at highest possible speed. Their products can also be recharged quickly by using wall chargers equipped PowerIQ and VoltageBoost. Anker has released many portable chargers. Even for pocket-sized (less than 3350 to 6700 mAh) portable chargers, there are many. Here is the post for Anker Pocket Size Portable Chargers Comparison.

PowerCore+ Mini 3350

  • Capacity: 3350 mAh / 12.06 Wh
  • Output: 5V / 1A
  • Input: 5V / 1A
  • Dimension: 3.7′ x 0.9″ x 0.9″
  • Weight: 3 oz
  • Recharging time: 4 hours with 1 A or higher output charger
  • Features: PowerIQ, VoltageBoost
  • In the box: PowerCore+ Mini, Micro USB cable, Travel pouch, Welcome guide
  • Price: $19.99

PowerCore+ Mini is the Anker’s smallest portable charger. The lipstick-size charger is easy to carry around in a pocket, bag, purse, etc. A color LED indicator light shows the status of the charger. When recharging, it stays Yellow. When it turns Green, it’s recharged fully. When connecting and charging mobile devices, Green means 50% to 100%, Yellow means 20% to 50%, Red means 5% to 20%, and flashing Red means less than 5%. Its 3350 mAh capacity may not be enough to charge recent smartphones from 0% to 100%. For example, it can charge only 80% of Samsung Galaxy S6. You may want to consider the charger as an emergency or backup until you will be able to access to wall outlets. Click here to see the latest price.

PowerCore 5000

  • Capacity: 5000 mAh / 18.5 Wh
  • Output: 5V / 2A
  • Input: 5V / 2A
  • Dimension: 4.25″ x 1.3″ x 1.3″
  • Weight: 4.7 oz
  • Recharging time: 2 to 3 hours using a 2 A or higher output charger
  • Features: PowerIQ, VoltageBoost
  • In the box: PowerCore 5000, Micro USB cable, Travel pouch, Welcome guide
  • Price: $21.99

PowerCore 5000 is a cylindrical charger. I don’t mind the 4.25″ length, but 1.3″ diameter is a little too fat for a stick-shape charger. It’s not comfortable when I put it in a front pocket of jeans. You can check the remaining charge on 3-dot led indicator. Its capacity is large enough to charge most smartphones from 0%. Although the capacity is larger than PowerCore+ Mini 3350, you can recharge PowerCore 5000 faster when using a 2 A or higher output charger. It’s suitable for those who go home every night, but not sure if a smartphone’s battery lasts until you get home. Click here to see the latest price.

PowerCore Slim 5000

  • Capacity: 5000 mAh / 19.25 Wh
  • Output: 5V / 2A
  • Input: 5V / 2A
  • Dimension: 5″ x 2.5″ x 0.4″
  • Weight: 4.2 oz
  • Recharging time: 3.5 hours using a 2 A output charger
  • Features: PowerIQ
  • In the box: PowerCore Slim 5000, Micro USB cable, Travel pouch, Welcome guide
  • Price: $29.99

It’s another 5000 mAh charger, but it has an entirely different design. According to Anker, this flat charger uses the same technology as iPhone’s internal batteries. The overall size is almost the same as a smartphone. And, it uses an anti-slip silicone on a rear panel. It grips your phone with no rubbing or scratching when you put together in your back pocket. It has the 3-dot LED indicator to show the remaining power of the battery. It can charge most smartphones fully. If you are looking for a 5000-mAh-charger, you can pick one between this slim and cylindrical version to your preference. Click here to see the latest price.

Astro E1 (Upgraded version 6700 mAh)

  • Capacity: 6700 mAh / 24.79 wh
  • Output: 5V / 2A
  • Input: 5V / 1A
  • Dimension: 3.8″ x 1.7″ x 0.9″
  • Weight: 4.4 oz
  • Recharging time: 5.5 hours using a 1 A output charger
  • Features: PowerIQ
  • In the box: Astro E1, Micro USB cable, Travel Pouch, Welcome guide
  • Price: $19.99

Astro E1 has upgraded from 5200 mAh to 6700 mAh. The previous version is no longer available to purchase. This candy size portable charger has enough to charge smartphones 1.5 to 2 times, and it may give a full charge to a tablet. The 4-dot LED indicator shows the status and the remaining of the battery. If you are looking for a 6700-mAh-charger, you may want to consider the next one shown below. Click here to see the latest price.

PowerCore II 6700

  • Capacity: 6700 mAh / 24.79 Wh
  • Output: 5V / 2A
  • Input: 5V / 2 A
  • Dimension: 3.8″ x 1.7″ x 0.9″
  • Weight: 5 oz
  • Recharging time: 3 hours using a 2 A output charger
  • Features: PowerIQ
  • In the box: PowerCore II 6700, Micro USB cable, Travel pouch, Welcome guide
  • Price: $25.99

PowerCore II 6700 has the same capacity as Astro E1. The design is almost identical except for the battery indicator. It has the 6-dot LED to show the battery status which can give you more detailed information than the 4-dot. As another advantage, it takes a 2 A current when recharging. As a result, PowerCore II 6700 can be recharged around two times faster than Astro E1. So, if the prices are not much different, you should choose PowerCore II 6700 over Astro E1. Click here to see the latest price.

PowerCore Fusion 5000

  • Capacity: 5000 mAh / 18.5 Wh
  • Output: 5V / 2.1 A (when plugged into AC), 5V / 3 A (when not plugged into AC)
  • Input: 100-240 V / 0.5 A 50-60 Hz (AC input), 5V / 2A (micro USB input)
  • Dimension: 2.8″ x 2.8″ x 1.2″
  • Weight: 6.72 oz
  • Recharging time: 2.5 hours using AC outlet
  • Features: PowerIQ, VoltageBoost
  • In the box: PowerCore Fusion 5000, Micro USB cable, Travel pouch, Welcome guide
  • Price: $29.99

PowerCore Fusion 5000 is not only a portable charger but also a wall adapter with two USB output ports. You can recharge it directly from a wall outlet by using a fold-able plug on the back. You can connect and charge your mobile devices when it’s plugged into a wall outlet. If you do so, connected devices are getting charged first, and then the Fusion starts getting charged when connected devices are at 100%. You can also recharge in the same way as portable chargers using the Micro USB input port on the front. The 3-dot LED indicator shows the remaining power of the battery. As long as the capacity of 5000-mAh is enough for you, PowerCore Fusion 5000 is the best portable charger for travelers. Click here to see the latest price.

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How to choose a portable charger for your devices

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Mobile devices like smartphones and tablets make our lives much more convenient. Manufacturers of these devices consider and weigh battery life and size and then create a design which is supposed to be compact enough to make overall design attractive while it has enough capacity for average use. For those who spend their time indoor such as home, office, cafe, and school, you may have no problem to find a place to charge your devices. But, while you go traveling, camping, or other outdoor activities, a portable charger is a must. Although they go under different names such as Battery Parks, Power Banks, Portable Charger, or Backup Charger, they are all the same thing. Here are some things to consider when you choose a portable charger.

Your mobile devices’ capacity

When you choose a portable charger for your devices, the first thing you need to know is the capacity of the batteries in mobile devices. The capacity is usually shown in the unit of mAh (milliamp hour). It’s labeled or printed on the battery. For the devices you can’t access to the battery, just google “device name + battery + mAh” or “device name + battery specs” For example, iPhone X is powered by a 2716 mAh battery while Samsung S9 is powered by a 3000 mAh battery.

Portable charger’s capacity

The capacity of portable chargers is also shown in mAh. It’s commonly ranging from 2000 mAh to 20000 mAh. The more capacity, the larger and heavier. If you need to charge iPhone X with 0% battery, you will need at least 3000 mAh portable charger. But, after charging the iPhone X from 0%, there is no juice remaining in the portable charger. If you go camping in the back-country for three days, you will need a portable charger with a capacity of 10000 mAh or more. And, keep in mind that larger devices like tablets or laptops contain a much larger battery. So, you will need a portable charger with a larger capacity accordingly.

Number of USB ports

If you have multiple mobile devices and need to charge them simultaneously, you will need to make sure how many USB ports a portable charger has. In general, the larger portable charger is, the more USB ports it has. A small stick charger with around 2000 mAh capacity usually has only one. A charger with a capacity ranging from 5000 to 15000 mAh typically has two. A charger with 15000+ mAh has three or more. Think about the situation you are charging the devices. For example, when you go hiking with a smartphone and GoPro. A GoPro’s battery probably runs out first. You take a rest and charge the GoPro, but it’s a good time to charge your smartphone as well although it’s not dead yet. In short, it’s better to choose a portable charger with the same numbers of USB port as numbers of devices you carry.

Charging Time (power output)

Any portable charger has a USB port or multiple ports to output the power to your mobile devices, but the amount of juice provided through it varies from model to model. Most smartphones require a 1 A (=1000 mA), but a 2.4 A is ideal for charging most smartphones at the fastest possible speed. It’s called Optimal Charging. Larger devices like tablets can be charged via a 1 A USB port, but it’s slow. It’s ideal to use the charger with at least 2 A USB port. The 2 A USB ports can charge two times faster than the 1 A USB port.

Charging Time (power input)

A charging time here is mentioning about the time required to charge a portable charger itself. The amount of input also varies from model to model. It’s ranging from 1 A to 2.4 A. Simply, the larger number input, the faster it will charge. Most wall outlet can deliver 2.4 A. So, it’s better to choose a portable charger with a larger number input, especially a portable charger with high capacity. For example, RAVPower 26800 mAh battery pack requires 14 to 15 hours to charge with a 2.4 A input, but 23 to 24 hours with a 1 A input, which means you can’t fully re-charger overnight.

Anker, a famous brand for electronics accessories, made a unique approach to shorten the recharging time in their products, PowerCore with Dual Input 20000 mAh and 26800 mAh. These products have two micro USB ports for a recharge. It allows you to recharge for around 6 hours which is two times faster than a single input. Please note that they don’t include a wall adapter. To recharge at the best possible speed, you will need a wall adapter with two USB outlets, and both ports should provide 2.4 A.

If you want to cut more time for a recharge, you should consider Anker PowerCore with Power Delivery wall adapter 20000 mAh or 26800 mAh. The including wall charger allows you to recharge for around 4 hours. It’s three times faster than competitors.

Wall Adapter (wall outlet to USB)

With a USB cable, you can recharge a portable charger from any USB port. However, USB ports on the computer don’t output much amount of juice. It’s ranging from 500 mA to 1 A. On the other hand, most wall outlet can deliver up to 2.4 A, but it requires a wall adapter to convert power from wall outlet to USB outlet.

Most portable chargers don’t include a wall adapter. You may keep many wall adapters come with electronics you purchased, but are they suitable for the portable charger you’re going to buy? See the output spec printed on wall adapters. You can use any wall charger for a recharge, but the larger number a wall charger output, the better (faster) especially for a high-capacity portable charger. As a tip, try to find a wall adapter come with the larger device you purchased the most recently. For example, iPad Pro includes a 2.4 A wall adapter. Samsung Galaxy Tab S3 includes a 2 A wall adapter. If you don’t find one, you can buy separately. It’s not expensive.

Size and Weight

If you need to carry around a portable charger in your pocket all day, its design and weight would be significant factors when you choose a portable charger. Since portable chargers are trending more and more stylish and slimmer, you will be able to find your favorite design easily.

If you are a minimalist traveler, weight is probably the most important to you. Avoid one with extra features like a built-in flashlight, panic alarm, built-in speakers, solar panel, and so on.

Conclusion

As you see, the first thing to do is to determine the capacity of a portable charger based on the capacity of your mobile devices. Then, make sure that it has enough USB ports to charge your multiple devices at the same time. 2.4 A USB outputs are favorable to charge any modern mobile devices. If you buy a portable charger with a large capacity, it’s important to know how long it takes to recharge because it varies significantly from model to model.

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Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+ What’s New?

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The new Samsung S9 and S9+ don’t look much different from the previous model, S8, and S8+. But, there are many changes and new features that may be worth considering for those who are thinking of an upgrade or a purchase.

The design on the front

The infinity display was introduced along with the S8’s release. The S9 continues to have an infinity display. They look alike, but when you compare S9 and S8 side by side, you will notice some differences. The S9 is slightly shorter, but thicker and heavier than the S8. These changes come from improvements in durability. There is stiffer aluminum in the chassis which offers 20% greater drop protection. And it uses a thicker glass for the display.

  • Galaxy S8 – 148.9 x 68.1 x 8.0 mm ( 5.86 x 2.68 x 0.31-inch), 155g (5.36oz)
    Galaxy S9 – 147.7 x 68.7 x 8.5 mm (5.81 x 2.70 x 0.33-inch), 163g (5.75 oz)

The design on the rear

The S8 has one on the right side of the camera, and this location causes you to touch the camera with your finger accidentally and leave your fingerprint on it. The fingerprint reader is now positioned below the rear camera. This location is less likely to smear the camera lens with your finger.

New Color

There is a new color, Lilac Purple in addition to Midnight Black and Coral Blue.

Display

The size of the display and its resolution hasn’t changed, but the S9 has improvement such as a 20% increase in brightness and class-leading color accuracy.

Landscape Mode

The home screen can rotate to landscape mode when you hold the phone sideways. But, it doesn’t happen by default. You need to configure. Press and hold any empty space on the home screen > tap Home screen settings > find Portrait mode only and turn it off

Dual aperture

There are numbers of new features in the S9’s camera. The 12MP rear camera has Dual aperture system which can switch between f/1.5 and f/2.4 depending on brightness in the surroundings. The aperture f/1.5 is relatively wide for smartphone’s cameras. It allows you to take a picture in low-light condition. By default, it automatically switches based on the brightness of the surroundings. But, with Pro mode, you can control manually.

Super Slow-Motion Video

Super Slo-Mo shooting is another significant addition. This shooting mode stretches 0.2 seconds to 6 seconds when the resolution is set at 720p. The camera starts shooting the Slo-Mo video automatically when it detects motion.

Dual Lens camera on the S9+

The S9+ has dual lens camera on the rear. This secondary telephoto lens offers portrait effects using Live Focus and 2x optical zoom. Dual-lens cameras are equipped on the S9+ only. The S9 has a single lens.

Related post: Samsung Galaxy S9 Camera Tips andTricks

AR Emoji

You can create a 3D character based on your face and use it an avatar for messages apps and social networks. You can even create a video of the 3D character copying your facial expressions. To be honest, videos are kind of weird and creepy, but I found avatars useful. They would enhance the message apps and your social media pages. Click here to see more details.

Live Translation

You can translate languages by using phone’s camera. It’s one of the Bixby’s features with Augmented Reality technology. Open the camera app and point the camera to a sign, menu, or anything written in a language you don’t understand. Then, tap the eye icon in the lower left-hand corner and the T on the bottom of the screen. You will see the translated text on the phone. Please note that translations are not always accurate, but it’s helpful for a menu at a restaurant or street signs. And it requires an internet connection. Especially when you are in foreign countries, remember that you need to get either a SIM card or portable WiFi router to access the internet.

Bixby Vision

Live Translation is not the only feature that is using Augmented Reality with Bixby. In the same way as Live Translation, you can also view calorie counts of various foods or even apply makeup to your face. Virtual Reality is used mostly in the entertainment industry, and it requires at least a headset. It means you need to buy something to get started. On the other hand, Augmented Reality is getting into your life inconspicuously.

Intelligent Scan

The S8 has three methods to authenticate your identity. They are Iris Scanning, Facial Recognition, and Fingerprint Sensor. The S9 has the same. However, the S9 introduced Intelligent Scan, which utilizes Facial and Iris Scanning. The benefit of it is that you don’t have to pick one of them to unlock your phone. According to Samsung, Iris Scanning is difficult in direct sunlight, and Facial Recognition can be erratic at night. Thus, Intelligent Scan works throughout the day. Please note that Intelligent Scan can’t be used to authenticate payments. It’s for unlocking your device only.

Stereo Speakers

The S9 has stereo speakers tuned by AKG. One speaker is located on the top, and the other is located on the bottom of the device. According to Samsung, the new speakers are 1.4 times louder than ones in the S8. And the S9 also has Dolby Atmos technology. When you play Atmos-optimized contents, you feel the audio is surrounding you.

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Samsung Galaxy S9 Camera Tips and Tricks

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Customize your shooting modes on the camera

You can switch between different shooting modes like Auto, Pro, Super slo-mo, and so on. Swithing modes can be done by swiping the screen, and the order and placement of these modes are customize-able. You may want to keep the one you frequently use close to Auto and the ones you don’t use often further away or completely disabled. (You can’t disable Auto.) It’s worth noting that Auto is always there when you open the camera app. And swiping in either direction switches the modes you configure. So, place two frequently using modes next to Auto (one above Auto and the other below Auto in the settings), and you can change them conveniently and quickly. Open Camera > Camera Settings > Edit camera modes

Turn on viewfinder grid lines

The viewfinder grid lines help you improve your photography. You can easily align an object horizontally or vertically. The object is set right where you want it to be. So are the things in the background. Open Camera > camera settings > Grid lines

When shooting in low light condition…

Samsung S9’s camera has a dual-aperture system. There are f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture. The f/1.5 can take a picture in low-light condition. However, the wider the opening for light to enter, the harder it is to shoot the entire scene looking crisp and sharp. Sometimes, the camera focuses on something you don’t want it to, and the main object is out of focus. To deal with the problem, all you need to do is tap on the portion of the scene which you want to focus before shooting. It’s important especially when you shoot in low-light condition.

Slide the shutter button to zoom

You can zoom in and out by moving the shutter button back on forth. When you hold the camera in landscape, sliding the shutter button up to zoom in and down to zoom out. In portrait, sliding to the right to zoom in and to the left to zoom out. It’s efficient and useful. Thanks to the feature, you don’t have to take one hand off to hit the screen for pinch-and-zoom. You can keep holding the phone steadily the whole time.

Tips for capturing Slo-Mo videos

Let enough light in– Slo-Mo video captures nearly one thousand frames per second. It means that the amount of light getting into the camera is significantly reduced. Thus, you should consider shooting outside or well-lit room when you capture Slo-Mo’s 960 fps videos.

Auto or Manual – You can choose between Auto and Manual for Slo-Mo video capture. With Auto, it automatically captures a Slo-Mo video when the camera detects motion. With Manual, you can start it for yourself at the moment. However, since the duration for capture is only 0.2 seconds, it’s extremely hard to take that moment. For that reasons, you will probably end up using Auto mode most of the time.

Multi-take or Single-take – You can choose between a single Slo-Mo video or multiple Slo-Mo videos to be captured in the same clip. The single-take is simple enough to manage and edit. And the multi-take is useful if there are moments you want to capture in a short time. You don’t have to stop and start a new recording for each Slo-Mo video.

Edit after capture – Auto mode doesn’t always go well. If it’s slightly off the moment you wanted to capture with Slo-Mo, you can edit it later. You can trim the portion of Slo-Mo video.

Drop to 240 fps – 960 fps videos are dramatic, but the drawback is that it needs a lot of light and limits to 720p resolution. If you don’t need that vivid Slo-Mo effect, you can lower the setting to 240 fps. As a benefit, you can record for a longer time at a higher resolution.

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Samsung Galaxy S9 AR Emoji

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An earlier than a release of Samsung Galaxy S9, Apple’s introduced Animoji along with a new smartphone iPhone X. Animoji is one of the new features on iPhone X. It creates animated emoji that mimic your facial expressions. Samsung has introduced a similar feature called AR Emoji along with a release of Galaxy S9. Both Animoji and AR Emoji allow you to create 3D characters based on your face, but there are many differences.

AR Emoji uses animated human characters while Animoji uses animated animal characters. AR Emoji have a few animal characters, but they are not cute.

How to create AR Emoji

To create your Emoji, you need to take your photo either the front or rear camera. And then, the S9 analyzes your photo to create a 3D cartoon-like character. The S9 also automatically creates 18 GIF stickers. You can record a video of you in the animated character copying your facial expression. You can also share the stickers and videos in messages or on social networks.

A talking your 3D character is a little weird

It’s great to use or share these Emojis on social networks, but a recorded video of talking your 3D character is not cute but bizarre and weird. You may change your Emoji’s hairstyle, color, and clothing, but it doesn’t help much to look more attractive and make you want to use it on social networks. However, the GIF stickers are cute, and you may want to use it on social networks.

Dislikes about AR Emoji

After taking your photo, the phone even prompts you to select male or female to outfit for either gender. That’s what I don’t like. If it’s called AR (Emoji), why doesn’t it create a 3D character base on the photo without having to choose hair, color, and clothing? Some people like to select and change these stuff, but the selections are less than Bitmoji on platforms such as Snapchat and Viber.

AR Emoji is less sophisticated technology than Animoji. The difference comes from the hardware. The camera of iPhone X has a feature of TrueDepth imaging system, which consists of the array of sensors to capture more information like movements of facial muscles and depth sensing.

Conclusion

Despite some dislikes about AR Emoji, I found GIF Stickers attractive and useful. Because of difference of camera’s features, AR Emoji can’t compete Animoji. And software and firmware updates won’t change the gap between them. However, there are many improvements and new features on Galaxy S9’s camera from the predecessor. I believe that next model may be going to have brand new features that surprise you.

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Samsung DeX Pad preview

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Samsung DeX Pad will be released on April 30th, 2018. It turns your latest Galaxy smartphone S9 and S9+ into a PC environment. It uses USB-C connector to dock your smartphone. And it can use a connected smartphone as a touchpad and keyboard. Samsung Dex Pad is backward-compatible to S8, S8+, and Note 8.

Design

The designed has been changed a lot from the DeX Station. The Pad and connected smartphone sit flat on the desk while the Station holds the smartphone up with an awkward angle. With the Pad, you can use the display of phone as a touchpad.

No Ethernet

Both the Station and Pad charge your phone during operation via USB-C port. And they both have two USB ports and one HDMI port and USB-C port for power. But, Dex Pad has no Ethernet port which exists on the back of the Station. A smartphone can get access to the internet via WiFi, so Ethernet may not have been necessary since Dex Station in the first place. Thanks to not having Ethernet, the device can be compact and light.

Despite the lightweight and small size, the Dex pad has a cooling fan to keep a smartphone cool while in use.

2K resolution

Pad is compatible with a 2K monitor. As for Station, it is 1080p maximum

You can also access to your smartphone during operation. The virtual screen allows you to reply a message, open an app, or whatever you usually do on the smartphone.

Things to know before purchasing

As a disadvantage, Dex Pad can’t use fingerprint scanner because of the orientation. The iris scanner works while in use, but you may need to lean over to the display of the smartphone or lift up the smartphone connected to Dex pad or type PIN or draw a pattern. For Dex Station, the display of the smartphone is facing you. You only need to take a look at the display to unlock. Dex Station was released along with S8. And S8 is the first Galaxy smartphone to have a feature of iris scanner. Dex Station takes advantage of the new feature and gives you more futuristic experience.

The Dex Station also has a similar problem because of its orientation. There is no way to use the 3.5 mm headphone jack on the phone to use a headphone or PC speaker because the headphone jack is blocked when you plug the smartphone in the Dex.

There will be more the Dex optimized apps and games that support keyboard and mouse play. You can now play Final Fantasy XV pocket Edition with the Dex pad.

The Dex Pad will be available on May 13th, 2018 for regular price of $99.99.

Related Post: Samsung DeX Pad Review use full features of Galaxy S8, S9, Note 8 with DeX

 

Samsung Galaxy S9 S9+ Deals and Carriers comparison

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If you are a student..

If you are students with a valid edu email address, you can get a 7.5 percent discount on the unclocked S9 and S9+. You will need to sign up Samsung’s Student Discount Program with your edu email address with Samsung’s Student Discount Program unless you already have an account. It’s one of the easiest ways to get the price lower. And, you can combine the other deals like Trade-in to get an even lower price on the new Samsung Galaxy phones.

Switching Carriers

AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon offer a $150 prepaid Visa/MasterCard if you open a new line of service. Plus, these carriers also provide up to $350 in credits when you trade-in an old smartphone. So, you may get up to $500 off on a new Samsung smartphone.

Monthly payment with an installment plan

You can get a new Samsung Galaxy smartphone via a carrier’s installment plan. A duration and monthly payment vary from carrier to carrier. Please see a chart below for more details. Trade-in can be stacked with this offer.

CarrierS9 PriceS9 Monthly PaymentsS9+ PriceS9+ Monthly PaymentsTrade-In Rebates
Verizon$799.99$33.33 / 24mo$929.99$38.74 / 24moUp to $350
AT&T$790.20$26.34 / 30mo$915$30.50 / 30moUp to $350
T-Mobile$720$30 / 24mo$840$30 / 24mo +$120 down paymentUp to $360
Sprint$792$33 / 18mo$912$38 / 18moUp to $350

Other Options

Samsung

You can purchase a new smartphone directly at Samsung.com. You may choose your carrier and have it activated through Samsung.com. There is also an unlocked smartphone. The price is the same, and monthly payments are available as well. The trade-in is also available.

Best Buy

Like Samsung, Best Buy offers an unlocked, activation of major carriers through their website, monthly payment, and trade-in.

Amazon

Amazon has only unlocked S9 and S9+. You may be eligible for special financing (12 months 0% APR) or 5% statement credit if you have an Amazon store card or credit card.

Summerly

You will see the price comparison between carriers on the chart above. After you determine your carrier or purchase an unlocked phone, the price will be the same no matter where you buy. But, if you have store credit like gift cards or membership points, you can take advantage of stores like Samsung, Best Buy, or Amazon.

Related post: Samsung Galaxy S9 / S9+ preview and deals

Samsung Galaxy S9 / S9+ preview and deals

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Design

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ have the same size as S8 and S8+ respectively. The S9 has a 5.8-inch screen, and the S9+ has a 6.2-inch display. You may notice that they are slightly heavier than the predecessors, probably because of the additional components which offer the new camera features.

The same displays as the predecessors mean that you will have the same Infinity Display on S9 and S9+. 1440p Super AMOLED displays with an 18.5:9 aspect ratio hasn’t been changed. However, Samsung says that it’s brighter than the S8 and S8+.

There are noticeable changes on the back. The fingerprint sensor has been moved from the right of the rear camera to below the rear camera. As a result, you may be less likely to touch the camera lens and put your fingerprint on it.

The camera of S9 and S9+ has a new feature, and it’s elaborated in the Camera section. Aside from the feature, the S9+ has a dual-lens camera on the back, while the S9 has a single camera on the back.

Camera

While the 12-megapixel rear camera has continued since 2016’s Galaxy S7, Samsung introduced a new Super Speed Dual Pixel camera, and the S9+ has a second camera lens. The main 12-MP lenses have a variable aperture that can switch between a f/1.5 and f/2.4 aperture depending on brightness in the environment. The S8 has a fixed aperture of f/1.7. The wider aperture can help letting in more light so you can take pictures in dark environment. The second camera lens on the S9+ is a 12-MP telephoto lens which offers 2x optical zoom.

Another new and significant camera feature is Super Slo-Mo video capabilities. It can slow down to 960 frames per second at 720p resolution. You can make a setting for this feature kicking in automatically or manually. The automatic mode detects a motion to start Slo-Mo recording. But, because of the sensitivity of motion sensor, the automatic mode is not always successful. If you know the moment to capture Slo-Mo video like blowing birthday candles, throwing a surprise party, or playing a prank on your friend, it’s better to use manual mode.

Processor and Storage

The new Snapdragon 845 powers the S9 and S9+. The new processor offers a 25 percent boost in performance and a 30 percent improvement over the Snapdragon 835, which powers the S8 and other top Android phones came out in 2017.

The S9 comes with 4 GB of RAM, and the S9+ comes with 6 GB of RAM. Both devices come with storage of 64 GB. And there is a slot for a microSD card to expand the storage to a maximum of 400 GB.

Software and Other Features

The S9 and S9+ will run Android 8.0 “Oreo.” Bixby digital assistant was introduced with the S8’s release. And, it remains on the new S9. Samsung has improved Bixby and added new features like real-time translation by using the camera. When you point the camera at a sign or menu, it translates to the language you configure. It’s worth noting that it won’t change any other objects than foreign characters on the screen. It’s one of Augmented Reality features.

Another feature using Augmented Reality coming with S9 is AR Emoji. It’s similar to Apple’s Animoji. While Animoji turns your face into animal characters, AR Emoji turns your face into animated human characters.

The battery capacities are the same as S8 and S8+. It’s 3000 mAh for the S9, and 3500 mAh for the S9+. However, the battery life has improved thanks to the new Snapdragon 845 processor. According to Qualcomm, the new processor improves the power efficiency by up to 30 percent for some tasks.

Price and Deals

The unlocked S9 costs $719.99, and the S9+ costs $839.99. They are lower than the S8 ($750) and the S8+ ($850.) If you make a contract with or switch carriers, you may get a lot of discount combining with other options like a trade-in. Click here to see details of S9/S9+ pre-order at Best Buy.

Preview of Oculus Go, All-in-One Stand-alone VR headset

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In late 2017, Facebook announced a new virtual reality headset that was positioned in the middle between Oculus Rift and Gear VR regarding price and feature. It’s called Oculus Go. It’s an entirely stand-alone device meaning that doesn’t require a PC to be hooked up or a smartphone to be slipped into the headset.

Date of release

At the time of writing, it hasn’t been released. And according to the website, the date of release is “early 2018.”

Price of Oculus Go

While the date of release hasn’t cleared yet, the price is shown on the website. It’s USD 199. Facebook and developers emphasize that Oculus Go will be the more affordable VR device than ever. And it’s definitely true. As compared with headset alone, Oculus Go is less expensive than Oculus Rift but more expensive than Gear VR. However, these two headsets require either a high-end PC or a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Considering costs of all these, either Oculus Rift or Gear VR is not budget-friendly unless you already have either a high-end PC or Galaxy smartphone. Oculus Go, on the other hand, is literally a stand-alone device. It contains all necessary components such as display, battery, even speakers. And, a wireless controller comes with the headset.

Built-in Speaker

The headset is super lightweight. The new, soft, and breathable fabric is used for the facial pad. Build-in speakers are another benefit that makes Oculus Go as a stand-alone VR headset. For those who want to use their headphones, there is a 3.5 mm audio output.

The difference from Gear VR and Oculus Rift

As mentioned above, Oculus Go is a stand-alone device. You don’t need a smartphone inserted into a slot, or a PC hooked up to the device. Unlike Oculus Rift, there is no positioning camera to track your location. This characteristic makes Oculus Go very similar to Gear VR. But, when you use Gear VR, you need headphones to enjoy an immersive experience. Otherwise, the sound comes from a phone’s speaker which can’t provide real immersion. On the other hand, Oculus Go has a spatial audio built right into the headset. If you need privacy or want to use your headphones, you can plug it into 3.5 mm audio output.

The Controller

There is no touchpad on the side of the headset. Gear VR has one because it was released in the early stage of VR development. Playing VR games with the touchpad on the side of the headset ruins an immersive experience. After the release of the Gear VR’s controller, fewer people use a side touchpad for VR games. Thanks to the controller, new Oculus Go doesn’t need a side touchpad.

The controller is very similar to that of Gear VR. It has orientation tracking feature to use as a pointer to choose and select in a menu screen or interact in VR games. Just like Gear VR controller, it has a touchpad and a trigger button on the tip. There are two more buttons, Home and Back, but no volume buttons. The volume buttons are on the top of headset next to a power button. The overall design of Oculus Go’s controller is thicker and fatter than the Gear VR’s controller.

Conclusion

The VR market is believed to set to grow in coming years. An easy application and affordability of Oculus Go will be an essential role for the growth of the VR market. Check availability.

Wemo Bridge makes it compatible with Apple HomeKit and Siri

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The Belkin, Wemo’s manufacturer, first promised Apple HomeKit support for their Wemo smart home devices back in May 2017. After a delay, Wemo bridge is now available to purchase.The bridge is simple enough. It connects to your home WiFi network using an Ethernet cable and then allows you to control Wemo devices with the Home app and Siri.

Read Also: Wemo Mini works with Apple HomeKit without Wemo Bridge

Setting up is a breeze, just like other Apple HomeKit compatible devices. With everything plugged in (ethernet and micro USB for power), open the Home app. Tap + to add a new accessory. The camera turns on automatically. Point it at the code on the back of the bridge. Now, the bridge is added to your Apple HomeKit. Proceed to the next screen. It shows all Wemo devices in your WiFi network. You don’t need to add individual Wemo devices into the Home app. The bridge automatically imports them for you. You can configure each device, rename, or make a group to assign it to each room.

Now, you can control Wemo devices with the Home app and Siri. HomeKit support means you can not only control Wemo devices alone but also make them work with any devices from other brands you may have been using in your home. Wemo devices can be a part of HomeKit scenes or schedule along with other smart home devices.

If you are an iOS user and already purchased Wemo devices, there is a no-brainer of buying the bridge so you can control them with the Home app and Siri. However, it’s worth noting that Amazon Alexa and Google Assistance don’t require the bridge to control Wemo devices in the first place. And, the inexpensive smart speakers, such as Echo Dot, Google Home mini cost almost the same price as the bridge. If you don’t have any Wemo devices yet, there is also an option to choose iDevices, Koogeek, or Elgato smart WiFi devices which are originally designed to work with Apple HomeKit. They don’t require a bridge.

Apple HomeKit compatible smart plugs and switches comparison

BrandWemo (Bridge required)iDevicesKoogeekElgato
Smart Plug$39.99* (Standard)
$34.99* (Mini)
$49.99* (w/Energy Monitoring)		$29.95* (Mini+w/Energy Monitoring)$34.99** (w/Energy Monitoring)$49.95* (w/Energy Monitoring)
Light Switch$49.99*$99.95*$42.99*$49.95*
Dimmer Switch$79.99*$99.95*$47.99*n/a
*Click to see the latest price.