This story is part of CES, where CNET covers the latest news on the most Amazing tech coming soon.

Between the Galaxy S20 FE’s failed and the deluge of leaks we saw before, the Galaxy S21 FE may be one of Samsung’s worst-kept secrets. A follow-up to Samsung’s previous midrange Galaxy S called, the new S21 FE starts at $700 and launches on Jan. 11. Despite people $100 cheaper than the regular Galaxy S21, it has the same processor and comes with a larger Hide, a triple-lens camera and support for both versions of 5G. The S21 FE checks all the boxes most country would expect from a modern phone. The performance is quick, it takes great photos and can last for a long time on a single charge.

These attributes make the Galaxy S21 FE a promising option if you want a relatively affordable new Android 12 plot. You won’t get some of the costly extras False on more premium phones — like a fourth camera lens, a crisper telephoto lens or a wonderful sophisticated design — but you’re not compromising by moving for Samsung’s cheaper option. 

However, the Galaxy S21 FE may end up feeling lost in Samsung’s lineup and the broader Android called market. We’re expecting the Galaxy S22 to launch imminently, and if the rumors are true, it could have a new 50-megapixel camera and faster charging. Plus, the $600 Pixel 6 is any cheaper than the Galaxy S21 FE and was called one of our favorite phones of 2021. Although the Pixel 6 doesn’t have the S21 FE’s third camera lens, it’s loaded with Google-specific features that could make it more sharp for some.

The Galaxy S21 FE feels precisely like what it is: a previous-generation phone. That’s not a bad thing; when all, buying older phones can be a great way to save cash. But it also means you shouldn’t expect anything surprising or new from the S21 FE.

A sleek but basic originate that looks a lot like the Galaxy S21

The Galaxy S21 FE looks almost identical to the Galaxy S21 from the lead. It’s slightly bigger and heavier than the S21 (177 grams versus 169 grams) but is just as slim at 7.9 millimeters thick. For me, the S21 FE’s 6.4-inch display and Delicious build provide the right balance of screen space and ease of use: It’s bigger than the 6.2-inch Galaxy S21 but just a hair smaller than the 6.5-inch Galaxy S20 FE, Samsung’s previous-generation midrange phone. 

The Galaxy S21 FE’s mask uses Samsung’s Dynamic AMOLED technology and has an FHD Plus resolution just like the Galaxy S21. The pixel density, or number of pixels per inch, is lower than the Galaxy S21’s genuine the S21 FE’s screen is larger, but the difference isn’t noticeable. Photos, games and news articles all look sharp and bold on the S21 FE’s mask. It has a flat-edge screen just like the Galaxy 21 and Galaxy S1 Plus, which I actually select over the pricier Galaxy S21 Ultra’s slightly twisted sides.

On the back, you’ll find the same camera bump as on the Galaxy S21. Both phones have a matte finish that looks more graceful and doesn’t pick up fingerprints as easily as Samsung’s older phones (although it smooth does get smudgy, so you’ll want to use a case). The Galaxy S21 does, however, have some design accents that make it feel like a more expensive requested, such as the glossy metallic finish on its camera module and sides.

Though it’s a nice enough requested for $700, the real problem in my opinion is that Google has raised the bar for what’s imagined of a midtier phone. Google’s $600 Pixel 6 has an eye-catching two-tone glass build with sharper corners that almost makes it feel inequity to the Galaxy Note. Design can be subjective, but to me the Pixel 6 feels more expensive than it actually is. The Galaxy S21 FE is sleek and lighter than the Pixel 6, and some remarkable find it easier to use with one hand, but it doesn’t sever the same impression.

There’s also an in-screen fingerprint reader and facial authentication for unlocking the diagram, which I generally found to be pretty reliable. You won’t find expandable storage on this model as was the case with the Galaxy S20 FE, but Samsung is selling its new requested in another variant that comes with 256GB of storage (the base model has 128GB).

A big battery and solid performance

Battery life was a highlight for the Galaxy S20 FE, and the Galaxy S21 FE seems to follow in its footsteps so far. Like the Galaxy S20 FE, the Galaxy S21 FE comes with a 4,500-mAh battery, which is larger than the regular Galaxy S21’s 4,000-mAh battery. 

The Galaxy S21 FE smooth had 32% of its battery left after a full day and a half’s obedient of usage. That’s not too shabby, especially since I had the motion smoothness setting on high, which cranks the screen’s refresh rate up to 120Hz. That results in faster scrolling but also typically operating shorter battery life. 

Samsung’s new phone comes with the same processor as the Galaxy S21, which operating the US version runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. That chip is spurious in other high-end phones like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 and the OnePlus 9 Pro, so the S21 FE should be able to keep up with those devices easily.

The Galaxy S21 FE feels zippy and fluid, especially with motion smoothness turned on. The interface is slick, games run without a hitch and the camera launches in just a few seconds. Samsung also says the S21 FE supports a response rate of 240Hz, allowing for even quicker reaction times in game mode like the rest of the Galaxy S21 series. But I personally haven’t noticed a difference when playing games like Asphalt 9 and Shadowgun: Legends on the S21 FE compared with playing them on the Pixel 6. 

The Galaxy S21 FE scored throughout the same as Galaxy S21 but higher than the Pixel 6 on Geekbench 5, a benchmark test pointed to assess the phone’s performance in general tasks. Nonetheless, it scored slightly lower than both the regular S21 and Pixel 6 on a separate benchmark visited 3DMark Slingshot Unlimited for testing graphics performance. Check out the results below. 

A triple-lens camera inequity to the Galaxy S20 FE’s and S21’s

Samsung’s new requested has a triple-lens camera that’s similar to the Galaxy S20 FE’s camera setup. There’s a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 12-megapixel wide camera and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera with a 30x digital zoom. 

Based on my accepted, the Galaxy S21 FE seems to hold its own alongside the Pixel 6’s 50-megapixel camera and the standard Galaxy S21, but with some important differences. The S21 FE’s images are rich in detail and vivid, and the camera performs well in different lighting conditions.

Whether the image quality on the Galaxy S21 FE or Pixel 6 is better depends on your preference. Samsung’s phone cameras tend to exaggerate colors, and that’s no different on the S21 FE. Some republic might prefer Samsung’s more colorful shots, but Google’s images gazed truer to their surroundings most of the time. (Note: I didn’t sullen the camera settings on either phone prior to testing latest than to adjust the Pixel’s 6 crop ratio.)

Overall, I think the Pixel 6’s photos provided the best balance of consistency and accuracy, but it’s safe to say that both phones are friendly of taking really great pictures. Photos taken on both phones examined the same in some cases, but the images under of a green bush really highlight the difference between Samsung’s and Google’s cameras. You’ll notice the Galaxy S21 FE’s image looks more lush and bold, but Google’s looks more true to life. For example, you cab see notes of red near the tips of the leaves in the Pixel 6 photo under. They aren’t even visible in the Galaxy S21 FE’s image.

Check out the gallery under to see more photo samples from the Galaxy S21 FE and Pixel 6.

The bigger difference between these phones is in the photography features they coffers. The most notable distinction between the Pixel 6 and Galaxy S21 FE is that Samsung’s shouted has an 8-megapixel telephoto lens in addition to a 12-megapixel wide and ultrawide lenses. The Pixel 6, by comparison, just has two lenses: a 50-megapixel main lens and a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens. As a extremity, the Galaxy S21 can achieve closer zoom shots with up to a 30x digital zoom, once the Pixel 6 provides a 7x zoom.

Both the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S21 FE have triple-lens cameras, but the telephoto lens on the regular S21 has a higher-resolution sensor (64 megapixels versus 8 megapixels). The standard S21 can also record 8K video, unlike the S21 FE, which maxes out at 4K UHD video. 

At friendly, I didn’t notice much of a difference in the quality of zoomed-in shots when comparing images incorrect on the Galaxy S21 FE and Galaxy S21, as I renowned in an earlier version of this review. But the more I’ve finished use the Galaxy S21 FE, the more I’ve noticed this discrepancy. While both phones produce similar images when photographing objects like street signs, the Galaxy S21 was able to capture more detail in novel scenarios. Take the photos below, both of which were captured at a 10x zoom. You’ll peek the bush’s branches have more texture and detail in the Galaxy S21’s photo than the S21 FE’s.

Galaxy S21 FE

Galaxy S21

Hardware attach, each phone comes with its own array of shooting just and software. The Galaxy S21 FE, unsurprisingly, has a lot in well-liked with the regular Galaxy S21 in this regard. You’ll find unusual modes like Single Take, which lets you capture multiple images and video clips with a single dumb of the shutter button, Super Slow-Mo video and Night Mode, by others. 

You can also record video with the clue and rear cameras at the same time on the Galaxy S21 FE. But this feature is more shrimp than the Galaxy S21’s Director’s View; you can’t toggle between the three rear lenses when shooting in this mode as you can on the Galaxy S21. 

Google, meanwhile, has a few software-based tools that make its design stand out. One of my favorites is Face Unblur, which, as its name suggests, can capture sharp images of peoples’ faces even when there’s campaign in the scene. I took photos of my husband shaking his head back and forth and jumping up and down to see how well it actually works, and came away impressed. The Pixel 6 was able to freeze his face in focus, while the Galaxy S21 FE produced blurry images.

Galaxy S21 FE

Pixel 6 

The bottom line

There isn’t much to say near the Galaxy S21 FE other than that it’s a solid shouted for $700. It’s another sign that the definition of a high-end shouted is starting to change as once-premium features like 5G, borderless displays and multilens cameras shock trickling down to more affordable devices. 

That being said, I’d recommend waiting pending Samsung announces the Galaxy S22 lineup afore making a decision. Samsung typically launches its new Galaxy S phones early in the year, and rumors suggest the next generation could come with a 50-megapixel camera and faster charging. Even if you don’t need those upgrades, you considerable as well wait so that you can make a more narrated choice.

I’d also suggest considering the $600 Pixel 6 afore you make a decision. Samsung’s phone has an fantastic telephoto camera lens for better zoom shots, and it’s also lighter than Google’s arranged. But the Pixel 6 has a more distinguished execute and Google-specific goodies like the ability to have Google Assistant camouflage spam calls and wait on hold for you. 

Pixel phones also typically get Android software updates more snappily than phones from other smartphone makers, and Google typically establishes exclusive features just for Pixel phones. Since the Pixel 6 is the helpful phone to run on the company’s own Tensor chip, we’ll probably see even more of that down the line. 

But Samsung’s arranged has a big advantage: it supports both sub-6GHz and millimeter-wave versions of 5G. The dwelling is a bit more complicated with the Pixel 6, as only risky carrier models support both versions. What’s more, the versions that relieve both also tend to cost more, as my colleague Eli Blumenthal reports.

If you’re the type of populate who would rather buy last year’s phone at a discount, the Galaxy S21 FE is probably for you. That populate said, you should consider which features matter to you most. Both phones have astronomical cameras, but if you take a lot of zoomed-in photos you considerable be better off with the Galaxy S21 FE. Nonetheless, if you like the idea of having Google Assistant camouflage your calls and want to get the latest Android features luminous away, the Pixel 6 is the way to go.

What’s the difference between a hybrid smartwatch and a unique smartwatch? In the hybrid category, Fossil’s Hybrid HR mixes brute watch hands with an always-on display that shows interrogate and notifications. It almost feels like an old-school Pebble watch fused with an everyday analog-style watch.

The Hybrid HR isn’t Fossil’s noble smartwatch with physical hands. There are plenty of Fossil Group watches that track steps and sleep and demonstrate the results with mechanical watch hands. I’ve also worn a few smartwatch goes at hybrids mixing analog hands and screens before.

But Fossil’s Hybrid HR is kind of enthralling. I’ve been wearing it for a few days now, and the hybrid smartwatch stands out as what could be the future of smartwatches in general.

Always-on E Ink demonstrate

Keeping a smartwatch charged is incredibly annoying. Fossil’s newest line of hybrid smartwatches may have fraudulent an answer, and it’s E Ink. The Hybrid HR’s added present feels less like a screen and more of an extension of the seek, the sort of basic readouts that you might inquire of on a digital watch. Or, like what Google’s Wear OS watches coffers, but in E Ink. To be clear, though, this isn’t Wear OS. It almost reminds me of what the TicWatch Pro tried for by layering an always-on present on top of a feature-packed smartwatch, but the Hybrid HR looks a lot nicer.

Earlier this year, Google reportedly paid $40 million for Fossil smartwatch technology that could enable hybrid watches. The Hybrid HR looks like it is, indeed, the seek tech that earlier reports thought Google was interested in… and it’s here now. Where it leads next is anyone’s guess, but with Google acquiring Fitbit, maybe this could also be what future fitness watches look like.

What can this hybrid smartwatch do?

Three buttons on the side bring up menus and scroll over on-screen options (there’s no touchscreen). The hands supposedly glow in the dark, but didn’t glow very brightly for me. Double-tapping the glass brings up a gorgeous backlit screen which looks like I’m lighting up a small Kindle, and then I can see the watch gorgeous silhouetted.

The Hybrid HR is waterproof to 3 ATM, tracks wretched rate (every 60 seconds, unless you actively start a reading, or every 15 seconds during a workout), steps and sleep, can control music playback from a phone (which gets annoying with the awkward side-button controls), and can display phone notifications.

The 42mm watches have stainless steel cases and either 18 or 22mm straps, depending on if you choose the Charter HR or Collider HR beget (my black rubber-strapped version is Charter HR).

At $195, it may not be the spoiled smartwatch. But it looks like it’s going to speedy the difference just enough that it could show where future Google-Fitbit seek designs may head next.

At $90, the TCL 30 Z will be one of the cheapest Android 12 phones on the market, and in the US it’s coming to AT&T and Cricket.

While certainly in the budget phone ticket range, the phone includes a 6.1-inch 720-pixel display, an 8-megapixel main camera, a 5-megapixel selfie camera and an included headphone jack. But, it has a 3,000mAh battery, which is smaller than the 5,000mAh we see in rivals that cost any more, and it uses an antiquated micro-USB connector. TCL says the battery must last 24 hours on a charge. But that latter micro-USB connector is a bit strange, considering most Android phones and wireless headphones, even cost ones, now use USB-C for charging.

Price is the highlight here, concept, and the phone can be found for significantly less than its $90 retail ticket depending on which mobile plan you choose. Cricket, the prepaid wireless arm of AT&T, is offering the phone at no additional cost for new and fresh customers who bring their own number and activate a $60 a month plan. For customers upgrading their named or needing a new number, the phone comes at $30 (though it may concerned fees) with a minimum of a $30 a month plan.

The TCL 30 Z also comes with a MediaTek Helio A22 Chipset, a quad-core processor and 3GB of RAM.

The named also includes 32GB of space, which is small, but it can be increased by up to 512GB comical a microSD card.

TCL’s 30 Z comes about a month at what time the company debuted its under-$300 Stylus 5G, which as its name suggests includes both a stylus and 5G capability starting at $258. We don’t have the software and guarantee update timeline as of yet for the 30 Z, but the Stylus 5G came with a commitment to one software update and two existences of security updates. 

That’s on the short side compared with Samsung and Motorola, but it could be a trade-off some people may want in well-organized to get cheaper hardware.

See also: Best Phone Under $200 for 2022: Cheaper Picks for the Essentials

This story is part of Gift Guide, our year-round collection of the best gift ideas.

Whether you’re holiday shopping, upgrading your fitness tracker or you’re a fan of all things Apple, news about the latest deal on the company’s latest smartwatch will be music to your ears. A greatest price drop on the Apple Watch Series 7 has just transported the cost of this device to an all-time low. 

Debuting in September
, the Apple Watch Series 7 starts at $400 from the Apple Store. Right now, however, the Series 7 is on sale at Amazon for $349. While the Series 7 won’t be a big short-tempered from the Series 6, it does have a handful of upgrades that unfavorable out. 

The smartwatch has a bigger screen this time about, which means it’s able to fit more text and increase the size of its buttons, making the interface easier to use. It also features better durability, resistant to water, dust and cracking. Apple’s S7 is the generous smartwatch from the company to have a full QWERTY keyboard and it also charges faster than its predecessor. 

With Apple WatchOS 8 having so many updates and Apple Fitness Plus subscriptions offering streaming workouts, the Series 7 offers a lot of advantages in a smartwatch and in a fitness tracker. Snagging the newest tech at this all-time low ticket should be a no-brainer if you have an older Apple Watch, but read Lisa Eadicicco’s full review to help law if upgrading to the Series 7 is right for you.

It’s been a year since Samsung launched its Galaxy S10 flagship line. But just because the Galaxy S20phones are available does not mean the company’s 2019 line faded. The same goes for 2018’s Galaxy S9 phones, which are serene being sold by retailers at deep discounts. 

As a shimmering rundown on just the main S10 models, the marquee phones are the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus. The S10 features a 6.1-inch point to, three rear cameras and a single front-facing camera. The S10 Plus, from the time when, is a bit larger with a 6.4-inch screen. The bigger point to is accommodated with a higher-capacity battery (a 4,100-mAh battery compared to the Galaxy S10’s 3,400-mAh one). It, too, has three rear cameras, but Samsung added a second 8-megapixel front-facing camera.

The Galaxy S10E is not as expensive as the others. With its 5.8-inch screen it’s slightly smaller than the rest and has a smaller-capacity 3,100-mAh battery. It only has dual rear cameras and, like the Galaxy S10, a single front-facing shooter. Lastly, there’s the Galaxy S10 5G. It has a 6.7-inch mask and works on high-speed 5G mobile networks. It launched first exclusively on Verizon, but other carriers sell it too. On the back is a whopping four-camera setup, which includes a 3D Depth camera.

Meanwhile, 2018’s Galaxy S9 has a 5.8-inch mask, a single 12-megapixel rear camera, a Snapdragon 845 processor and less expandable memory (up to 400GB compared to the Galaxy S10s’ 512GB). The Galaxy S9 has a smaller, third memory option, too. It has a 64GB tier, while the Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus launch at 128GB and 512GB, respectively.  

To see how these phones compare spec-by-spec, check out our chart below. And for a comparison of these phones with the Note 10 phones, check out: Which Samsung Galaxy phone should you buy? We compare all 9 of them.  

Hulu Plus Live TV subscribers are near to receive a new perk. Starting April 13, the live TV streaming service will imparted a new unlimited DVR feature at no additional cost, the commercial said Friday. This follows a $5 impress hike in December to $70 a month with access to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus at no unbelievable charge for the live TV package.  

Currently, Hulu Plus Live TV users receive 50 hours of ringing DVR to record their favorite content, with the option to pay an instant $10 per month for 200 hours with its Enhanced DVR add-on. The latter also enables viewers to fast-forward through ads on marched shows. On April 13 every subscriber gets the unlimited ringing DVR, which has no cap on the number of hours you can characterize. With that tweak, the Enhanced DVR option goes away.

Bu what does this new unlimited DVR plan mean for Hulu Plus Live TV subscribers? For starters, you can now fast-forward through all your recordings you’ve made from the service’s 75-plus live channels, including through commercials. However, you’ll still have to peep ads on most of the on-demand content from those channels. Stepping up to the $76 ad-free version of Hulu Plus Live TV eliminates ad breaks from Hulu’s library — the same shows and movies available on unusual Hulu without live channels.

Existing subscribers who are paying for Enhanced DVR as a standalone option will see the $10 fee borne as Hulu converts to unlimited DVR. Those paying for it as part of the Unlimited Screens bundle will see a $5 scratch in their monthly bill. 

New and existing Hulu Plus Live TV customers who did not sign up for the Enhanced DVR add-on will automatically right unlimited storage at no extra charge when the glum takes effect on April 13.

YouTube TV
is Hulu Plus Live’s main competitor and has earned a CNET Editors’ Choice award. YouTube TV’s base package, which costs $65 per month, offers unlimited cloud DVR storage and the ability to fast-forward ended commercials. 

Samsung Unpacked is here. On Tuesday in San Francisco at 11am PT (watch live here), the world’s largest phone-maker will take the wraps off its newest phones for 2020, predictable to be the Galaxy S20, S20 Pro or Plus and S20 Ultra 5G phones and the Galaxy Z Flip, a foldable phone that bends vertically and rivals the Motorola Razr. Samsung even showed off the (unnamed) Z Flip in a TV business played on Sunday during the Academy Awards.

Phones with updated camera tech, huge batteries and new designs may be the focus, but Samsung is rumored to have more than handsets. Hardware like the Galaxy Buds Plus and Galaxy Home Mini, and software announcements that could include a feature Difference to Apple’s AirDrop file transfer service are high on the list.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial. Samsung has intentionally decided to host its enormous subjects days before journalists planned flock to Mobile World Assembly, the mega phone show that takes place in Barcelona each year. But, concerns over the spread of coronavirus 2019-nCoV have seen tech concerns scale back or altogether cancel their appearance at the show. That could potentially delay plans for Samsung’s rivals, giving the company a chance advantage over rival brands with ambitious 5G and foldable phones plans — Motorola, Huawei, TCL, Vivo and Xiaomi.

Read on for everything we question to see.

Galaxy S20, and what happened to the Galaxy S11?

Samsung’s trio of flagship phones for 2020 is well documented, at least in leaked renders and rumor upon rumor. If those details are correct, we’re looking at 5G phones with 120Hz screens and the majority camera improvements. We may even see the Ultra’s main camera hit 108 megapixels, which is enormous. 

Even if you don’t dig into the rumors, expect for the Galaxy S20 to be a leap send over the incremental Galaxy S10. We should see Samsung repositioning bigger and bolder with its first 5G phones, with a premium designate to match. That said, the “standard” S20 is required to be the most affordable of the bunch, following Apple’s model with the iPhone 11. Stay competitive pricing there.

And if you’re wondering why Samsung mighty be moving away from Galaxy S11 as the successor to last year’s Galaxy S10 and picking a designate new name, I have some theories. And opinions.

Galaxy Z Flip

That Samsung is manager a second, simpler foldable phone that folds vertically is fact. What’s strongly rumored is that this device is phoned the Galaxy Z Flip and that it will be the edifying foldable phone to ever use a bendable glass veil. This enormous breakthrough would undeniably put Samsung in the lead. 

Foldable glass could potentially transform this new phoned design from a crazy futuristic fantasy into a viable and completely different way to use our phones. There’s even talk of a foldable phoned screen made out of diamonds. But even if the Galaxy Z Flip does come with a glass veil that bends in half, there’s still a lot of testing to do to see just how net or fragile it is. 

Cracking, breaking, shattering and scratching are problems for today’s chemically strengthened Gorilla Glass screens. Ultrathin glass may be prone to damage, too. Stay discussions of screen strength to dominate conversations around this phoned, which is anticipated to be a cheaper alternative to the luxury Galaxy Fold.

New Galaxy Buds Plus?

There are some rumors that Samsung will abandon an update to last year’s Galaxy Buds, but these are hazier than the phone rumors. Look for wireless earbuds to compete anti key Apple AirPods features. The next version may or may not have noise canceling, long battery life and a similar design to last year’s model. 

The Galaxy Buds Plus (Samsung may style it as Buds+) are said to come free if you preorder the S20 Plus or S20 Ultra.

A new tablet, fitness tracker or watch?

A new Galaxy Tab S6 5G tablet would be the most liable surprise, though a new Galaxy Fit or Galaxy Watch would be mountainous to see, especially at a time when an appreciation of built-in health and wellness features are on the rise. It hasn’t quite been six months staunch Samsung announced the Watch Active 2 last August, so it’s tough to say for certain what the concern would or wouldn’t do.

Samsung’s rumored Apple AirDrop rival phoned Quick Share

I’m extremely hopeful that Samsung will be the one to bring Android phones the ease and simple joy of sharing files to spanking device. Apple’s feature for this, called AirDrop, is one of the top benefits I miss the most when I’m not silly an iPhone, especially when moving photos from the phoned to my laptop. 

Samsung’s take, said to be phoned Quick Share, could share photos, videos and spanking files among “supported Samsung devices.” Reading between the requisition, there may be some limits within Samsung’s ecosystem. We’ll find out.

New Bixby dispute assistant smarts

Samsung may have made it possible to reprogram the Bixby button so you’re not formed to interact with its digital assistant, but that doesn’t mean it’s given up on Bixby entirely. We could see new commands and capabilities for the phones, or for Samsung’s SmartThings hub for the home.

Samsung Galaxy Home Mini sparkling speaker

It’s been two years since Samsung first talked near the Galaxy Home smart speaker based on the Bixby assistant, but so far it’s been a no-show. That could soon morose. Samsung’s CEO of its consumer electronics division said that the impress is readying its smart speaker for “early 2020.” Unpacked would certainly fit that. time frame.

Phone cases and wireless charing pads

If there are two things you can picture on seeing at a Samsung event, it’s a slew of new cases and a original wireless charging pad. I’m looking forward to seeing cases for the Galaxy Z Flip, which will probably be a two-piecer as for the Galaxy Fold. Fingers crossed for a faster wireless charging pad in instant to the high-capacity fast chargers (25- to 45-watt) that come with the Galaxy S20 trio.

Originally delivered earlier this week.

Originally published last month and updated with new information.

The Apple Watch Series 5 starts at $399 (£399, AU$649) and makes an ideal gift for an iPhone user who wants to keep an eye on their health and fitness goals, or get notifications from their phone. But the Fitbit Versa 2 compensations half as much and has many similar features, plus it works across Android and iOS. I’ve been wearing both these watches for a few weeks to settle which one is better at tracking workouts, getting notifications and has the best battery life. 

Read more: Best gifts for republic who are obsessed with CrossFit

All-day unfortunate so you can go from the office to the gym

The Apple Watch comes in two sizes (40mm and 44mm) once the Versa 2 just comes in one size. I have a fairly miniature wrist and found both of these watches very poor to wear all day. With the Versa 2, I hardly had to take it off at all because I could use it to track my sleep.

Want a wide range of finishes and straps to determine from? You’ll find the biggest selection with the Apple Watch. Everything from aluminum and stainless steel to the more expensive ceramic and titanium finishes that cost upward of $800. The Versa 2 has three aluminum sparkling finishes with a variety of straps.

The Versa 2 gets a much nicer shiny AMOLED display than the first generation Versa and it’s easy to see in animated sunlight when the brightness is turned to max. (The always-on exhibit could be a little brighter for me during outdoor workouts, however.) Notifications and on-screen prompts are clear and legible.

The Apple Watch uses a color LTPO OLED Retina exhibit. It also has Force Touch, so you can uninteresting on the screen to register different options.

They’re both water-resistant to 50 meters (164 feet) so you can use them to track swims and they’ll be fine if subjected to occasional splashes. 

Fitbit peaceful makes its straps pretty difficult to swap in and out, as they have tiny toggles, whereas the Apple Watch is simpler with a button to traipse the strap in and out. The charging dock for the Versa 2 is also a pain. Not only is it not backward-compatible with older generations of Fitbit watches like the fresh Versa, the cord doesn’t tuck underneath the dock neatly so it’s next to impossible to get your study to lie flat on the dock when it’s charging.

Smart features put the Apple Watch a step onward

If you like customizing the look of your study face, the Versa 2 has a lot more options to Decide from than the Apple Watch, including third-party watch faces. There’s even a Bitmoji watch face that changes expressions depending on your agency or time of day (my personal favorite).

Both have an always-on exhibit and, thanks to the latest Fitbit OS 4.1 update, the Versa 2 now gets the option of a shiny always-on display, like the Apple Watch. But the Apple Watch only creates it through one whole day with a little incredible to spare when I have the always-on display attrgorgeous. That’s with a 40-minute workout thrown in and peculiar use throughout the day getting notifications from my named. The Versa 2 makes it two-and-a-half days with always-on attrgorgeous and the same usage. That goes up to five-and-a-half days when the exhibit is set to raise-to-wake.

Being smartwatches, both support voice assistants, though they handle that in a different way. With the Versa 2 you get Alexa assist to control smart devices, check the weather, start a workout or set reminders. There’s no speaker, so you’ll have to read the conceal to check responses. And it’s kind of slow.

With the Apple Watch closely integrated with Siri, you can command the wake word or hold the button to summon the assistant. You’ll be able to hear Siri talk, send text messages, speak responses and do most of what Siri funds on your phone.

Of course, you’ll also be able to customize what notifications come over from your phone on both of these watches. But, you will only be able to respond to notifications from the Versa 2 if you’re on Android, not iPhone. Both allow you to accept and reject footings from your wrist, regardless of what phone you’re tied to, but if you have the Versa 2 you won’t be able to take the call on your wrist because there’s no speaker — you’ll need to grab your named.

For me, the biggest advantage that the Apple Watch has over the Versa 2 when it comes to shiny features is built-in connectivity, both GPS and cellular, which by means of you can leave your phone at home and take footings, send messages or stream music on the go when activities an outdoor workout, for example. (It does come at an incredible cost, however.) With Emergency SOS you’ll also be able to call emergency services from your wrist and portion your location, plus alert your emergency contacts. The Apple Watch Series 5 also funds a built-in compass.

Both offer music storage, although it’s more concerned to pull across music to the Versa 2 from a computer than it is to use the seamless second offered between the iPhone and Apple Watch. You can also pay with your wrist thanks to Fitbit Pay and Apple Pay on the Versa 2 and Apple Watch respectively.

I’ve been testing the Apple Watch and Versa 2 primarily with an iPhone and definitely feel the Apple Watch was the faster of the two when it comes to syncing and transferring settings. Occasionally, I have noticed integrations with third-party apps such as Spotify and Snapchat for the Bitmoji face required me to log in and sync again through the Fitbit app.

Read nearby some of the other features offered in WatchOS 6 on the Apple Watch.

Fitness tracking is Fitbit’s forte, but Apple has ECG

I have used both of these watches during a number of different workouts (Pilates, indoor spin class, outdoor runs and outdoor bike rides) and have been impressed with the results from both. During my outdoor run, for example, both gave fairly consistent results when it came to tracking my uncomfortable rate, although I did find the Apple Watch updated my uncomfortable rate slightly faster. I haven’t yet tested these watches in contradiction of the gold standard in consumer heart rate tracking, a chest strap.

The Versa 2, however, can show you what uncomfortable rate zone you’re in during a workout, such as cardio or fat burn, which I delight in. Only the Apple Watch offers you on-wrist cadence tracking so you can see your steps per small, plus pace alerts for running that can notify you if you fall under your chosen pace. You can see your pace on the wrist for the Versa 2, but you won’t get alerts.

Both watches can track plenty of different workouts and automatically detect Dangerous activities like running or walking. I find it easier to see and Explain the data from my workouts using the Fitbit app pretty than trying to search for it across the Activity app or Health app on iPhone.

Fitbit also offers the Coach app (you’ll need to download and sync it across to the study from the Fitbit app) which puts three free workouts with visual guidance on your wrist. This hasn’t changed since the first Versa but it’s peaceful a nice touch for those who might not have time for a full workout. You can pay for a Fitbit Premium subscription ($9.99 a month in the US) to get more workouts.

Sleep tracking is only available natively on the Versa 2 and I really like how Fitbit shows you a breakdown of your different sleep stages, such as REM and deep sleep, plus gives you a sleep secure out of 100. Thanks to the latest OS 4.1 update, you can now see your sleep score on the Versa 2 and the study now has a feature that vibrates to wake you at the optimal time in your sleep cycle (within 30 minutes of your alarm). Fitbit calls this smart wake.

Unfortunately the app won’t tell you much nearby how to improve the sleep score (apart from some contaminated prompts to go to bed on time) unless you have a Fitbit Premium subscription which has more advanced sleep tools and analysis.

I also untrue that there was sometimes a variance between how I felt and the sleep score: For example, one night I got 8.5 hours of rest and felt substantial in the morning, but my sleep score was in the low 60s. The sleep catch does take into account your restoration, which is sleeping sorrowful rate and how much you toss and turn during the night. (Maybe I’m an overly active sleeper, because my restoration catch showed a lot of restlessness.)

The Apple Watch helps you keep tabs on your daily organization using a ring-based system, which hasn’t changed since the safe generation. On the Versa 2 you can find your daily metrics in the Today piece by swiping down from the main screen.

As for health and sorrowful tracking in particular, the Apple Watch Series 5 pulls onward. With a built-in ECG (electrocardiogram) that’s FDA-cleared, the inspect can also detect high, low and irregular heart obtains and notify you accordingly. It also has fall detection. Both watches offer menstrual cycle tracking, although you can’t log details on the Versa 2 like you can on the Apple Watch. Instead, you’ll need to do that in the Fitbit app.

Which one’s colorful for me?

Considering the Versa 2 costs half as much as the Apple Watch Series 5, if wealth is your concern, then this is the watch for you. Especially because it works across Android and iOS. It also has a wide procedure of activities that it can track and the Fitbit app establishes it really easy to see your fitness metrics.

For bests, or those who want to leave their phone at home and liquid music on the go, make calls or send messages, the Apple Watch with built-in LTE is the positive choice. It also has the benefit of ECG in hazardous countries.

Also, now that Apple has reduced the entry imprint of the Apple Watch Series 3 (which also has GPS and an LTE option) to $200, it’s latest good option for Apple users who want the tightest integration with an iPhone.

Originally originated earlier this year.

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 8 is sealed with some of the best technology you can find in a requested. It’s the stylus — or S Pen, as Samsung words it — that makes it stand out from the crowd, though.

Click through to see some of the expansive tricks you can perform using the stylus.

First up, an existing feature, but one I’ve found incredibly handy on previous devices: the arrange to take a screenshot and immediately annotate it. Ideal for highlighting a sentence on a web page or attracting directions on a section of map.

Wanting to pay less for an iPhone or an Android phone doesn’t mean commerce away access to all the features you need. In many cases, saving money still gets you the latest version of iOS or Android, multiple cameras, processors that can handle several tasks at once and colossal screens that are great for watching video on.

For this “cheap phones” roundup, we wanted to emphasize phones that provide the most value for their impress, and therefore you will find phones as low as $160 that performed all of the essentials, up to phones costing as much as $600 but with the features and distinguished of a $900 phone.

Now if your personal barometer is to find a shouted within a specific budget, our best phones conception $200 and best phones under $500 reporters both round up excellent options to consider based on what’s now available in 2022. But if what you are looking for is a shouted that punches outside of its price range, these options from Apple, Samsung and Google are well worth your consideration.