5G is real when ALL knew phones support it! Republic Wireless sent over this Moto Ace for me to test drive.
You can get a LOT of phone for NOT a lot of cash… Continue reading “Moto One 5G Ace on Republic Wireless: Cheap 5G!”
Galaxy S21 Camera Conclusion: Where does it win?
The Galaxy S21 is a “very good” shooter in most situations, but does it win any significant battles in this premium smartphone market? Does it improve on the photography experience over last year’s Galaxy S20? Who is the right fit for this phone?
Here are my final thoughts on the S21 cameras! Continue reading “Galaxy S21 Camera Conclusion: Where does it win?”
Galaxy S21 By the Benchmarks: The performance plateau…
Samsung was early to market with the S21 this year.
In a move to reduce prices over last year’s S20, the new S line from Samsung is a less feature rich offering than its predecessor. While those compromises are debatable, and are certainly more a conversation about personal preferences than objective improvements, the main touted improvement for the phone has been the top of the line Snapdragon 888.
This chip marks a change in SOC from Qualcomm, including one larger CPU performance core along side three more powerful CPU cores, in addition to a quartet of lower power CPU cores. The SD888 is also packing the latest and greatest GPU from Qualcomm, and as expected, our synthetic benchmarks show generational improvements.
That’s only the beginning of a conversation about performance though. How does the S21 stack up against last year’s handsets? How should we feel about a Galaxy S which is pre-throttled out of the box?
Performance testing is more involved than running a synthetic bench and comparing who’s number is bigger. Let’s dig a little deeper than that. Here’s the Galaxy S21: By The Benchmarks! Continue reading “Galaxy S21 By the Benchmarks: The performance plateau…”
Sony XPERIA 1ii on Android 11: 4K Slow-Mo, Monitor Mode, FASTER Performance! The Check Up!
Sony XPERIA 1ii Android 11 First Look!
It’s FINALLY here! Sony’s smartphones were strong performers in 2020, but the USA was one of the last regions to land the Android 11 update. What’s changed? What’s improved?
And how harsh should we judge those early benchmarks? Continue reading “Sony XPERIA 1ii on Android 11: 4K Slow-Mo, Monitor Mode, FASTER Performance! The Check Up!”
Android 11 on LG V60: Better Late Than Never! (Desktop Mode, Camera, Dual Display updates!)
The LG V60 has Android 11!
Totally fair to be concerned about the recent software support on the V60. Hardware this good, but the phone still needed some polish. Bringing some of the features we liked on the Wing and Velvet, the V60 got a NICE shot in the arm!
Here are the major updates I could find in under 48 hours! Continue reading “Android 11 on LG V60: Better Late Than Never! (Desktop Mode, Camera, Dual Display updates!)”
Samsung Galaxy S21: A Poor Value
Galaxy S21 first impressions? Do not buy the Galaxy S21.
I’m early days into testing this phone, and it’s making me a little nervous. This year’s new Galaxy seems like a VERY poor value compared against last year’s Galaxy phones. Features, performance, and price. I think you’re better off shopping something else…
How I benchmark phones https://somegadgetguy.com/2020/10/15/how-somegadgetguy-tests-phones-with-real-world-apps-for-benchmarks-and-reviews/ Continue reading “Samsung Galaxy S21: A Poor Value”
If Sony Should Stop Making Phones, at LEAST Tell Us Why?
We can always count on techies to “punch down” on brands with smaller marketing departments.
Sony is now apparently one of the targeted brands, falling into the techie “common knowledge” net of a company that ‘just can’t do anything right’.
It’s not enough to make videos celebrating Samsung and Apple on their own merits. We also need there to be phone “losers”, so Samsung and Apple can be seen ‘winning’.
Whether it’s refusing to include a Pixel in a camera comparison, or highlighting a Galaxy Fold in a Sony editorial. It seems we’re just going to keep reinforcing the same tired tropes that get our community mocked ruthlessly on Reddit.
It’s fine. This is fine.
Continue reading “If Sony Should Stop Making Phones, at LEAST Tell Us Why?”
Use Face Unlock With a Mask on ANY Phone!
Apple is adding an option to help people unlock their phones while wearing masks. We’ve had features like that on Android for YEARS now. Here’s a quick reminder, how to use Smart Lock on your Android phone! Continue reading “Use Face Unlock With a Mask on ANY Phone!”