OnePlus 6 on Android 10: A High Water Mark

The OnePlus 6 is one of my favorite phones from 2018 to revisit. The last offering from OnePlus with a rear fingerprint sensor and a headphone jack, this phone STRONGLY tested my theory on waiting for the “T” version.

The OnePlus 6T was an exciting phone. It came in a gorgeous purple shell. It got a carrier deal with T-Mobile. However, the farther we get from 2018, the OnePlus 6 is the phone I hold closer for its practicality.

Over a year from its initial launch, how well is OnePlus keeping up with support for the 6? Pretty stinking well…

Continue reading “OnePlus 6 on Android 10: A High Water Mark”

Nokia 9 PureView on Android 10: A Beautiful, Wonderful, Mess…

The Nokia 9 has been updated to Android 10, but that’s only a small part of this long-term review story.

I tend to slow-play my reviews. I don’t think you can really share the experience of using a smartphone when you’ve only used it on pre-release software a week before the phone is officially announced. Some manufacturers update faster than others.

I gave the Nokia 9 a little extra leeway because of the crazy camera experiment on the back of the phone. Getting the software right for that much hardware is a difficult challenge.

From March to December, I think we’ve given Nokia a fair window of software support. Continue reading “Nokia 9 PureView on Android 10: A Beautiful, Wonderful, Mess…”

Pixel 4XL Review: Where we accept it’s a REALLY good phone!

At some point we need to acknowledge that the Pixel 4 is a good phone. A REALLY good phone. The healthy debate isn’t “winner or loser”. Instead, the tricky question for Pixel fans:

How large is the audience for THIS phone, who won’t be satisfied by a Pixel 3A?

Can we make it a rule? That we don’t take Pixel reviews seriously until we see the fabric case is messed up? I mean, like someone actually used the phone enough to get a LITTLE life on it… Continue reading “Pixel 4XL Review: Where we accept it’s a REALLY good phone!”

OnePlus 7T Review: You KNEW I was going to like it!

It’s one of the best phones of the year at any price. I’m not going to shock anyone by sharing my mostly positive experiences.

Still, we should chat about this phone, a CONFUSING year of product releases, and what people MIGHT want if they decide to shop upscale.

Does the 7T still hang against MUCH more expensive handsets?

Continue reading “OnePlus 7T Review: You KNEW I was going to like it!”

Google Pixel 4XL Benchmarked! The FASTEST phone of 2019!

Pixel 4XL performance!

Benchmarking a phone is tricky. Synthetic scores only tell PART of the story. If you’re shopping a premium phone, we should be looking at MUCH more aggressive use than just “covering the basics”. Let’s run the Pixel 4 through some tests that can make decent laptops struggle!

Also, the Pixel 4XL totally destroys the competition in these tests. It’s not even close… Continue reading “Google Pixel 4XL Benchmarked! The FASTEST phone of 2019!”

Google Pixel 4XL: 4 Hopes and 4 Fears for a Future Review…

Pixel 4XL First Impressions! I’m less than a day into using the Pixel 4, but I’m building a plan for how I’m going to review this phone! What are some of my early hopes for this gadget? What are some concerns worth examining? Sharing some thoughts with a preview of coverage to come! Continue reading “Google Pixel 4XL: 4 Hopes and 4 Fears for a Future Review…”

Android 10 on the Google Pixel 3a – Living up to Promises and Expectations

Yesterday was Android 10 day! A flurry of podcasts, articles, and videos hit the web showing off the official release of Google’s newest phone operating system. I joined the fun talking about Android’s native Desktop Mode on a OnePlus 7 Pro Open Beta, but yesterday was all about Google’s Pixel. Very few other manufacturers can match the update speed of a first party Hardware + Software solution.

Lot’s of manufacturers make promises about support, and few live up to those promises. Google has had a solid track record with support so far, we all remember the Nexus too, but this year represented two important milestones for the brand.

Judging a manufacturer by its claims, it’s refreshing when those claims are realized. Continue reading “Android 10 on the Google Pixel 3a – Living up to Promises and Expectations”

Android 10 Desktop Mode! First Look on the OnePlus 7 Pro! Can our phones replace laptops?

Android 10 is here! The finished update is heading out to Pixels, but what about desktop mode? Conneting our phone to an HDMI cable? Here’s a first look at Google’s Android 10 Desktop Mode, running on a BEAST of phone. Can the OnePlus 7 Pro replace your laptop? Continue reading “Android 10 Desktop Mode! First Look on the OnePlus 7 Pro! Can our phones replace laptops?”