Galaxy S10e Review: Why I’m sending it back…

Galaxy S10e review! It’s so close to perfect. A smaller phone without a curved screen, a power button fingerprint scanner, and a wide angle camera. On paper, this phone should be my jam, but a few key issues keep me from using the Galaxy S10e as my daily driver. Let’s take a look at why I’m sending this phone back. Continue reading “Galaxy S10e Review: Why I’m sending it back…”

OnePlus 7 Pro: 3 weeks and a trip to Taipei

Checking in on the OnePlus 7 Pro! Three weeks after launch, and a trip to Taipei for Computex, how has this move into the premium market held up? The phone is crazy powerful. It has a gorgeous screen. But, is anything holding it back? Did it live up to my “all-mobile” travel lifestyle, or did I need to lean on another phone for work? Let’s chat! Continue reading “OnePlus 7 Pro: 3 weeks and a trip to Taipei”

Pixel 3a doesn’t just cover the basics: Your tech elitism costs you cash

Before we get into this, I’d like you to check something on your phone. Look through your app drawer. Look up your battery stats. If you use any kind of Digital Wellbeing tracking, look at the list of services used. I’d like you to look up what apps and services really get used on your phone. I’ll come back to this, but you probably already know where I’m going after reading the title of this editorial.

Quick flashback.

In 2016 I was in Germany covering IFA with Jaime for Pocketnow. We had just finished a Huawei presser, the company showing off a new pair of premium mid-range phones. This was a bit confusing between all the various lines of Huawei and Honor gear, but they sent us away with a Nova and a Nova Plus to demo and review.

I was extremely skeptical. This phone was going to be expensive for its internals, starting at 400. Pricing it above my precious Honor 8 felt “wrong”. I am a professional though, so I popped the smaller Nova out of its box, gave Jaime the larger phone, and we shot a first impressions video from our hotel.

Reading the specs, being concerned about price, and then using the phone, those concerns slowly evaporated. Continue reading “Pixel 3a doesn’t just cover the basics: Your tech elitism costs you cash”

Reverse Wireless Charging is a Silly Gimmick

Is Samsung PowerShare a gimmick? Are you using reverse wireless charging on your Samsung or Huawei? Should you be taxing your phone battery to charge other gadgets? Let’s chat about gimmicks, deal breakers, and getting what we pay for.

When a phone has a feature that consumers might not use often, we call it a gimmick, and then act like it’s a travesty people are paying for something they might not use. How much is wireless charging “peace of mind” worth to a phone’s bottom line?
Continue reading “Reverse Wireless Charging is a Silly Gimmick”

Mrs. GadgetGuy’s First Reaction to the OnePlus 7 Pro, Written as a One-Act Play!

I like to check in with my Wife as a barometer for where “general” consumers might be when it comes to new gadgets. She currently uses a work issued iPhone 8 (which she asked for specifically as she wanted a smaller phone with TouchID), and she still has not given back my LG G7 after breaking her previous phone.

Typically when she buys her own phones, she’s leaned towards the entry level. She was excited by her Alcatel Idol 3, where she got a small phone, with stereo speakers, for less than it cost to replace the screen on her cracked Galaxy S5.

After that she got a Moto G5, where she was stoked to have a metal backed phone for cheap. Both the Idol and the Moto succumbed to the destructive environment of her purse, so she’s “borrowing” my G7, in a rugged armor case.

It’s doing OK…

So, I was curious what she would think about the OnePlus 7 Pro. No prep. No coaching. Just put the phone in her hand, and see how she would react.

Unsurprisingly, she kept it pretty practical. Continue reading “Mrs. GadgetGuy’s First Reaction to the OnePlus 7 Pro, Written as a One-Act Play!”

OnePlus 7 Pro: WORTH IT??? – Can we talk about “worth”?

OnePlus 7 Pro first impressions! Can we talk about value? What happens when a budget brand tries to move upscale? The OP7 Pro offers up a different solution than the OnePlus 6T, so how should we adjust our metrics for grading it? Let’s have a chat about “Worth-It-Ness”…
Continue reading “OnePlus 7 Pro: WORTH IT??? – Can we talk about “worth”?”

OnePlus 6 One Year Later: The Check Up

OnePlus 6 one year later! We’re just a couple weeks away from the OnePlus 7 launch. It’s the perfect time to take a look back at last year’s mid-ranger. The first OP of 2018 was a bit overshadowed by the 6T, so how has this phone held up? Was it well supported? How is the resale value holding up? Let’s take a look back, and also share some thoughts on the future of this brand!

Continue reading “OnePlus 6 One Year Later: The Check Up”

LG G8 ThinQ Camera Conclusion: Master of All (Rounders)

What happens when you cut two cameras off a V40, and spruce the auto modes a little? You get the LG G8! Previous LG’s have been fantastic for pro modes and manual controls, but have often suffered at the friendlier auto modes. Has the G8 fallen into the same trap? Here’s the camera conclusion for LG’s newest phone! Continue reading “LG G8 ThinQ Camera Conclusion: Master of All (Rounders)”