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Jumat, 31 Januari 2020

'Super ISO' trademark foretells upgraded night mode for Galaxy S20 series

ISO settings help the camera deal with different lighting conditions.

What you need to know

  • Samsung was recently awarded a trademark for 'Super ISO' by the UK Intellectual Property Office.
  • ISO relates to light capture in cameras, indicating the company is working on an improved night mode for its phone.
  • Rumors from industry insiders suggest the feature is being prepped for the Galaxy S20 series.

Samsung's Galaxy S20 series is reportedly getting a few downgrades in the camera department, but that doesn't mean cameras are becoming less of a priority for Samsung's flagships. Indeed, as new trademark awarded to Samsung indicates, the S20 series' cameras will be one of the phones' most significant distinctions.

The 'Super ISO' trademark that was filed just earlier today by Samsung to the UK Intellectual Property Office suggests the company is working on a souped-up night mode for its phone.

ISO, for those who don't know, is a setting that determines the sensitivity of the image sensor to light. The lower it is, the less sensitive the sensor is and vice versa. As such, amping up the ISO setting can allow you to take shots in darker environments, though the downside is that the resulting image is far grainier than one made with a lower ISO setting.

While we don't know precisely what tricks Samsung has up its sleeve, the term Super ISO almost certainly indicates it has to do with better low-light captures. And if you thought it's maybe just some feature Samsung is cooking up in its labs for future smartphones, prolific Samsung leaker Ice Universe says the feature will actually be found on the S20 series.

Will Samsung finally have something that can go toe-to-toe with a Pixel this year? We certainly hope so.

The phones will officially be unveiled on February 6, while general availability and the delivery of preorders are expected sometime around March 6. And if you preorder either the S20+ or S20 Ultra, you'll also get a pair of Galaxy Buds for free.

The PS5 is on its way, here's everything we know

Sony is gearing up to release the PlayStation 5, its most ambitious console to date.

While development on the PlayStation 5 has likely been going on for years, Sony has officially confirmed that it's in the works and is on its way for the holidays. Here's everything we know about the PS5 so far.

PlayStation 5 What form will it take?

According to a report from the Financial Times, sources familiar with Sony's plans have stated that the PlayStation 5 "might not represent a major departure from the PS4, and that the fundamental architecture would be similar." Mark Cerny, lead system architect of the console, went on to confirm as much in his interview with Wired.

This indicates that Sony is not working on a streaming-only platform, though the future does look to be more streaming-friendly as internet speeds and connections improve around the world. PlayStation has even partnered with Microsoft to further its cloud gaming efforts.

The devkit design resembles that of the Roman numeral for 5, but odds are the final product that ships to consumers will look much different. At the very least, don't expect something like the large box that's the Xbox Series X.

PlayStation 5 What are the specs?

Cerny spoke exclusively with Wired about what fans can expect from the upcoming next-generation PS5.

Category PlayStation 5
Price Unknown
Dimensions Unknown
CPU Based on AMD Ryzen 8-core
GPU Custom Radeon Navi (Unknown TFLOP)
Memory Unknown
Storage Unknown
Storage type SSD
Optical out Unknown
WiFi Unknown
AV out Unknown
Power consumption Unknown
Resolution support 8K
USB Unknown
PSVR support Yes

PS5 CPU

Cerny is, of course, the lead architect on the PS4, so it makes sense that he would lead the design of the PS5. According to him, the CPU will be based on AMD's third-generation Ryzen line, with eight cores of the new 7nm Zen 2 microarchitecture. It will also apparently include a custom unit for 3D audio.

PS5 GPU

The GPU, which is a custom variant of Radeon's Navi family, will support ray tracing, which is a huge win for Sony. Ray tracing is a rendering technique that models how light travels and interacts with virtual objects. Wired notes that this is something Hollywood employs in big-budget movies, but it has not made its way to any video games consoles yet (although it's becoming more common with PC games).

PS5 Ray tracing

To clarify whether or not ray tracing would be achieved on a software level or through built-in hardware integration, Cerny confirmed the latter. "There is ray tracing acceleration in the GPU hardware," he said, "which I believe is the statement that people were looking for."

Ray tracing doesn't just deliver visual benefits, though, according to Cerny. "If you wanted to run tests to see if the player can hear certain audio sources or if the enemies can hear the players' footsteps, ray tracing is useful for that," he said. "It's all the same thing as taking a ray through the environment."

PS5 Solid-state drive

The crème de la crème is that the PS5 will come packed with a solid-state drive (SSD) as opposed to an hard-disk drive (HDD). SSDs are historically more powerful, faster, and make for a much better gaming experience. Cerny demonstrated what took 15 seconds to fast travel in Spider-Man on PS4 took only 0.8 seconds on a next-gen devkit. It will even support 8K graphics, though most people will likely have TVs that only deliver up to 4K resolution.

Because more simplified game data is possible through the use of an SSD, the way that game downloads work will differ from the PlayStation 4. On the PS5, downloads will be more configurable, and parts even removable. "Rather than treating games like a big block of data," Cerny said, "we're allowing finer-grained access to the data."

This means that players could choose to download either the single-player or multiplayer portion of a game depending on what they wanted to play, or they could download the entire game and delete one part of it, like the single-player.

PS5 Specs compared to Xbox Series X and PS4 Pro

We still don't have exact number details on the PlayStation 5 specs, but we'll keep you updated on all new info. Here's how it stacks up against the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 4 Pro based on what we know so far.

Category PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X PlayStation 4 Pro
Price Unknown Unknown $399
Dimensions Unknown 11.81in x 6.30in x 6.30in (estimate) 11.61in x 12.87in x 2.17in
CPU Based on AMD Ryzen 8-core Custom AMD Zen 2-based CPU (8x @ 3.6 GHz) AMD Jaguar 8-core (x86-64)
GPU Custom Radeon Navi (Unknown TFLOP) Custom AMD Navi (12 TFLOPs) AMD Radeon (4.2 TFLOPs)
Memory Unknown 16GB GDDR6 RAM 8GB GDDR5 + 1GB
Storage size Unknown Unknown 1TB / 2TB
Storage type SSD SSD HDD
Resolution support 8K 8K 4K
USB Unknown Unknown USB Type A 3.0 (x3 )
VR support Yes (PSVR) Yes (No dedicated headset) Yes (PSVR)

PlayStation 5 Backward compatibility

Both Cerny and PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan have stated that the PlayStation 5 will be backward compatible. Ryan even went so far as to see that the company plans to offer cross-generational play, where players can start a game on PS4, pick up where they left off on PS5, and hop back to PS4 if they wish.

"Whether it's backwards compatibility or the possibility of cross-generational play, we'll be able to transition that community to next-gen," Ryan said. "It won't be a binary choice about whether you have to be either on PlayStation 4 or next-gen to continue your friendship."

The Xbox One already has remarkable backward compatibility support, and it's something that PlayStation fans have been wanting from Sony. If Sony wants to stay relevant, it's the type of technology the company should invest in. It is unclear if Sony has a plan in place that allows players to access their digital PS4 library on PS5.

A patent has also led people to believe that the next PlayStation may offer backward compatibility with PS3, PS2, and even original PlayStation games. The patent appears to be for an emulation software that would allow the PS5 to mimic older consoles through the use of multiple processors. At this time however, PS3, PS2 and original PlayStation support remains unconfirmed.

PlayStation 5 Next-generation controller

Wired broke that the next-generation PlayStation controller, or at least the current design being used with its devkit, looks like a DualShock 4 controller, through Cerny would not reveal if it was called the DualShock 5, stating "it doesn't have a name yet." It features haptic feedback technology and adaptive triggers.

To that end, there are two key innovations with the PlayStation 5's new controller. First, we're adopting haptic feedback to replace the "rumble" technology found in controllers since the 5th generation of consoles. With haptics, you truly feel a broader range of feedback, so crashing into a wall in a race car feels much different than making a tackle on the football field. You can even get a sense for a variety of textures when running through fields of grass or plodding through mud.

The second innovation is something we call adaptive triggers, which have been incorporated into the trigger buttons (L2/R2). Developers can program the resistance of the triggers so that you feel the tactile sensation of drawing a bow and arrow or accelerating an off-road vehicle through rocky terrain. In combination with the haptics, this can produce a powerful experience that better simulates various actions.

There's a little hole on it that looks like it could be used for the voice-driven PlayStation Assistant, which was recently uncovered in a patent, but a Sony representative told Wired that the company files patents all of the time, with only some making it into finished products. Cerny said that they'll discuss the purpose of that on the controller at a later time.

The next-gen controller will also use USB-C charging and will be slightly heavier than the current DualShock 4, though it will still weigh less than the current Xbox One controller with batteries.

PlayStation 5 User interface

The user interface on the PlayStation 4 is fast and works well, but it's also static and can not provide a ton of information. The PS5 is set to change this.

"Even though it will be fairly fast to boot games, we don't want the player to have to boot the game, see what's up, boot the game, see what's up," Cerny said. "Multiplayer game servers will provide the console with the set of joinable activities in real time. Single-player games will provide information like what missions you could do and what rewards you might receive for completing them—and all of those choices will be visible in the UI. As a player you just jump right into whatever you like."

PlayStation 5 Virtual reality compatibility

Though you shouldn't expect a new VR headset to launch alongside the PlayStation 5, Sony has big plans for virtual reality going forward. Sony Global Head of R&D for PlayStation Dominic Mallinson wants the next headset to be lighter, easier to put on, and have fewer cables. A fully wireless headset is difficult to put on the market right now because it would be more expensive for consumers, but he believes that is the way the market is trending.

Mallinson is excited about the possibilities of eye-tracking, and stated that he expects the resolution to almost double in future VR headsets, with FOV increased to over 120 degrees.

Cerny has also said, "VR is very important to us and that the current PSVR headset is compatible with the new console."

Sony has patented a new, wireless VR headset however you should still not expect this headset at launch alongside the PlayStation 5.

PlayStation 5 What will it be named?

Sony has confirmed that the next PlayStation will indeed be called the PlayStation 5. No funky naming conventions here.

PlayStation 5 What are the launch games?

Right now, only one PlayStation 5 launch title has been confirmed, a console exclusive game called Godfall. We know Bluepoint Games is working on a PlayStation 5 title but we don't know what it is or if it'll be a launch game.

PlayStation 5 What will it cost?

Again, we don't know for sure, but it's safe to say the PS5 will likely cost $400 or more given the technology that may be utilized and the prices of previous hardware.

PlayStation 5 When will it be revealed?

It's unknown when Sony plans to fully show off the PS5, but there is speculation that an event will take place in February 2020, the same month the PS4 was revealed seven years ago.

PlayStation 5 When will it release?

The PlayStation 5 will release Holiday 2020. This coincides with the release of Microsoft's next Xbox console, Xbox Series X.

Updated January, 2020: Added the latest information.

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order now aiming to sell 10 million copies by March

Respawn Entertainment's new Star Wars adventure is busting predictions.

What you need to know

  • Electronic Arts held its Q3 earnings call with investors.
  • During the call, Electronic Arts confirmed that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has sold around 8 million units.
  • The company's predictions have been beaten and revised, now expecting to see the game to sell 10 million copies by March.
  • You can grab Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on PlayStation 4 for $45 at Amazon.

Electronic Arts (EA) recently held its Q3 earnings call after releasing the latest quarterly report, with some interesting results for one of its big 2019 titles. EA confirmed that Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has sold beyond the company's predictions for the quarter.

Considering that EA's predictions were somewhere between 6 to 8 million copies, it's safe to say Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is now north of 8 million copies sold. Since it has surpassed EA's expectations in such a manner, the company has updated its predictions and is now forecasting Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order to sell 10 million copies by March 2020.

Jennifer Locke, one of our staff writers, wrote in her review of the game that "This is the Star Wars game we've all been waiting for. It takes the best elements of Tomb Raider, Metroidvanias, and a dash of souls-likes to create a memorable and fun experience with amazing combat that makes you feel like a true Jedi."

Become a Jedi

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order box art

$45 at Amazon $60 at Walmart

Respawn nailed it

This is the Star Wars game we've all been waiting for. It takes the best elements of Tomb Raider, Metroidvanias, and a dash of souls-likes to create a memorable and fun experience with amazing combat that makes you feel like a true Jedi.

Get More PlayStation

Sony PlayStation

Playstation 4 Pro From $400 at Amazon Playstation 4 Slim From $300 at Amazon

Earn up to 100,000 miles on these new limited-time offers from Delta

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.

Grab up to 100,000 bonus miles with Delta's new offer.

What you need to know

  • Delta has launched a new welcome offer for its consumer credit cards.
  • New cardholders can earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles.
  • All four offers are for a limited time until April 1, 2020.

If you are a fan of Delta, we have four offers for you. The company has just announced four new limited-time welcome bonus offers for four of their consumer-focused credit cards.

The offers span across Delta's credit card lineup, and welcome bonuses range from 15,000 bonus miles all the way up to 100,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles. Here is a quick breakdown of each card and the offer attached to it:

Delta's range of card offerings fit almost anyone who frequently flies their airline, and they make a card for almost any kind of traveler. Whether you are an occasional traveler who wants to be rewarded with flights when it comes to your credit card rewards, all the way to the frequent traveler who is traveling Delta and no one else, there is a card to fit almost any need.

Some cards will earn you miles on food and even bonuses if you purchase food mid-flight. Others will guarantee you priority boarding and offer a free checked bag on every flight for your entire family. No matter what kind of perks or rewards you are looking for (and perhaps an annual fee you are looking to avoid), the following credit cards will meet your needs. Plus, they are all offering some of the best welcome bonuses we've ever seen for all of them.

All of these offers expire on April 1st, 2020, so make sure you grab one before it is gone.

Gold for you

Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

See at The Points Guy

Earn up to 70,000 bonus miles. Here's how: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 10,000 bonus miles after your first anniversary of Card Membership. Offer Expires 4/1/2020. Earn 2 miles on every eligible dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar spent on purchases. Check your first bag free on Delta flights – that's a savings of up to $240 for a family of 4 roundtrip. Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on Delta flights, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner. Annual fee is $99. Terms Apply.

Platinum record

Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

See at The Points Guy

Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles. Here's how: Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 20,000 bonus miles after your first anniversary of Card Membership. Offer Expires 4/1/2020.Check your first bag for free and save up to $60 on a round trip Delta flight. Find room for your carry-on and settle into your seat sooner with Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding. Enjoy 20% savings on eligible in-flight purchases in the form of a statement credit with the American Express Delta Card. Earn 3x miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on purchases. Miles don't expire. Terms and limitations apply.

Reserved

Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express

See at The Points Guy

Earn up to 100,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs). Here's how: Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend $5,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Plus, earn an additional 20,000 bonus miles after your first anniversary of Card Membership. Offer Expires 4/1/2020. Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile for every eligible dollar spent on other purchases. Enter Delta Sky Club® at no cost and bring up to two guests for an exclusive rate of $29 per person per visit. Starting 1/30/2020, the exclusive per-visit rate to access the Delta Sky Club® will be $39 per person. Receive Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding on your Delta flights, stow your carry-on bag and settle in sooner. Check your first bag free on Delta flights – that's a savings of up to $240 per round trip for a family of four. $550 Annual Fee. Terms Apply.

Blue but good

Blue Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express

See at The Points Guy

Earn 15,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 3 months. Offer Expires 4/1/2020. No Annual Fee. Earn 2 miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide. Earn 2 Miles per dollar spent on purchases made directly with Delta. Earn 1 mile on every eligible dollar spent on other purchases. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets. Terms Apply.

Happy Wheels has finally rolled its way onto the Play Store

It's pretty ridiculous how long it took Happy Wheels to be ported to Android. The mobile versions for both Android and iOS were announced back in 2015, with the iOS version released shortly thereafter. Five years later, it's finally found its way to the Play Store. Then again, ridiculousness seems to be a big part of the Happy Wheels brand, so I'm inclined to give the developers a pass.

Either way, the wait was well worth it because this game is perfectly optimized for mobile and is stupid-fun to play.

Happy Wheels is a 2D side-scrolling racing game that features physics-based obstacle courses punctuated by moments of extreme ultra-violence. There are currently four characters to choose from — a businessman on a Segway, a father and son pair on a bicycle, a man strapped into a rocket wheelchair, and a woman riding a mobility scooter — with 15 levels for each that are designed to troll you at every turn. Two more characters are also features as coming later, so you can expect more content to be added to this game over time.

Each level is designed with a series of deadly traps that you must deftly maneuver your character through. The controls stay the same but each vehicle has unique physics that add a nice extra layer of difficulty to contend with.

But who are we kidding? People love to play Happy Wheels because of the gruesome deaths that you can put these hapless characters through. If things are a bit too gruesome for your sensibilities, you can turn off the blood particle effects in the settings. That won't stop your riders from getting absolutely torn to shreds with limbs flying every which way, but at least there's a bit less blood involved.

I played this game on the Razer Phone 2 and oh boy does this game really fly on phones with a higher display refresh rate. A game like Happy Wheels is just perfect for mobile, because you can enjoy it in quick bursts and it's a great way to waste some time.

There are a few missing features that I would have liked to see included here, especially since we've had to wait five years. There's no level editor, and while you can view replays there's no integration for sharing those replays on social media. Then again, this is a free app we're talking about so I really can't complain.

Game of the week

Happy Wheels

Free at Google Play Store

Happy Wheels challenges you to survive the most diabolical and brutal obstacle courses with physics-based traps that will literally blow you away.

See previous Android Games of the Week

Some Motorola RAZR pre-orders are already on their way

It was expected to begin shipping on February 6.

What you need to know

  • Motorola has started shipping out some RAZR pre-orders early.
  • The Lenovo-owned company had previously announced that pre-orders would start shipping on February 6.
  • It was made available for pre-order in the U.S. earlier this week.

After a four-week delay, pre-orders for the foldable Motorola RAZR were finally opened in the U.S. earlier this week. The company had said that the phone would go on sale in the country on February 6, although shipping dates were pushed back to February 18 soon after the pre-orders went live, owing to high demand. Surprisingly, however, some Motorola RAZR pre-orders have started shipping today.

If you were among the first people to pre-order the Motorola RAZR on January 26, it is likely that you will have the foldable phone in your hands as soon as tomorrow. However, if you pre-ordered one after the shipping dates were changed, you may have to wait at least two weeks more for your RAZR to arrive.

The current expected delivery date on both the Motorola U.S. and Verizon websites is February 25. Depending on the demand, it is possible that the expected delivery date may be pushed out further.

While the RAZR is currently the only clamshell foldable on sale in the U.S., it will soon have to take on Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip. Rumors suggest Samsung's first clamshell foldable phone will be released in the U.S. on February 14 for $1,400.

Motorola RAZR

$1500 at Motorola From $62.49/mo. at Verizon

Motorola's RAZR reboot may not be affordable, but it is undoubtedly a very exciting foldable phone. Unlike Samsung's Galaxy Fold and Huawei's Mate X, the Motorola RAZR is a much more compact device and folds into a square. It also offers a clutter-free Android experience, without any heavy skin running on top.

How to watch Super Bowl LIV live in VR

You can sit back, relax, and watch the big game on a giant virtual screen.

The Super Bowl is one of the biggest events of the year, and virtual reality is one of the biggest trends in tech right now, so they should pair perfectly together, right? Watching the Super Bowl in VR has improved over previous years, but it's still not quite where it needs to be. Depending on where you live and what services you subscribe to, you'll need to use either a dedicated app or your VR browser to watch the big game this weekend. Some areas might not have a way to stream the Fox broadcast of the game, but here are the options you should look at.

Straight from the source

Fox will broadcast Super Bowl LIV. That means that Fox's apps and website, which allow you to stream live TV, will let you watch the big game. If you're on an Oculus Quest, you can use the FOX NOW app to watch. You can also watch the game on Fox's website if you're in a supported area.

FOX NOW

Free at Oculus

Since Fox is broadcasting Super Bowl LIV, you can watch its broadcast in the FOX NOW app. You'll need to sign in with a supported account, but you'll be able to enjoy the big game on your VR headset.

Sling TV

Sling TV is another one of the only dedicated apps available in VR that can stream live television. Sling's app is available on the Oculus Go and Oculus Quest. The channels you can view will depend on your area and the package you purchase, but you should be able to watch the Super Bowl live from many areas in the U.S. Fox will broadcast Super Bowl LIV, and Fox is included in the Sling Blue package in select areas and costs $30 per month. Sling Blue also gets you access to NFL Network so you can watch the coverage leading up to and following the big game.

Super Bowl 2020 live stream: Start time, what channel, & how to watch free

Live TV in VR

Sling TV

From $20/month at Sling

Sling TV is a great service to catch your favorite live shows. In addition, the free VR app allows you to extend this service to the comfort of your headset.

Use your browser

Just because a service you subscribe to doesn't have a VR app doesn't mean you can't watch it through your headset. Many services can be viewed through a browser. If you subscribe to YouTube TV or Hulu Live TV, you should be able to pop open the VR browser of choice and watch the big game.

VR headsets come with a built-in browser that will allow you to watch videos and streams, but you can always grab a third-party browser like Firefox Reality, which is available on the Oculus Go, Oculus Quest, HTC Viveport, and the Google Play Store.

Firefox Reality

Free for Oculus Go Free for Oculus Quest Free for HTC Viveport

Mozilla built this browser with VR in mind. It can switch seamlessly between 2-D and 3-D content, supports 360 videos, and works with voice commands. You can view video content in full screen, focus view, or theater mode.

Get to streaming

While the NFL isn't as VR-friendly as leagues like the NBA, there are options to watch the biggest game of the year in VR. Even if your VR platform of choice doesn't have a dedicated app that streams the game, you can open Fox's website and check out the Super Bowl in your browser.

More: How to watch the Super Bowl on PlayStation 4 More: Everything you need to know about watching the Super Bowl live

AmazonBasics Ultra-Light True Wireless Earbuds review: Nope

I can't recommend these with so many other good low-cost options.

I've been ordering products from Amazon for 20 years now and have always had good experiences when it came to price, selection, and customer service. I can't remember a time when I purchased a first-party Amazon item (Kindle, Echo, etc.) or something from one of the company's sub-brands (AmazonBasics, Happy Belly snacks, Amazon Essentials clothing, etc.) that I wasn't at best pleased with, and at worst indifferent to.

That record has suffered a bit after trying the AmazonBasics Ultra-Light True Wireless Earbuds. I decided to give these a fair shake, I mean I really tried, but I just couldn't do it. Maybe that's because my expectations were too high from my recent flings with more premium Bluetooth earbuds like Apple's everpresent AirPods or Amazon's excellent Echo Buds, but I came away supremely disappointed.

Actually, my positive experience with the Echo Buds and a fortuitous advertisement on my Amazon homepage are what prompted me to give these a try. I thought, these are about $100 less than the Echo Buds and have some of the same features.. how bad can they be? Silly, silly me.

A pain in the buds

AmazonBasics Ultra-Light True Wireless Earbuds

Bottom Line These true wireless earbuds hit a great price point and promise many desirable features, but can't quite deliver on those promises. If there weren't already a ton of other good, cheap earbuds, I would tell you to try your luck with these. As it stands, I don't think you need to (or should).

Pros

  • Inexpensive
  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Can be worn individually
  • Smaller, more manageable case than many other buds
  • IPX4 splash-resistant

Cons

  • Slow to charge
  • No hands-free access to assistants
  • Cheap-feeling case
  • Weak Bluetooth
  • No app controls

$40 at Amazon

Okay, so now you know how I really feel about these earbuds, so let me explain why I feel that way.

Basic buds The good

On paper, there is a lot to like about these earbuds. They come in at a great price, and they are available in either white or black color options. The case is smaller enough than the Echo Buds case to make a noticeable difference in the hand or in my pockets, though like the Echo Buds, it still feels pretty cheap. Scratch that, it feels really cheap. Like almost Tic Tac container cheap.

The earbuds themselves look and feel quite nice, and I found they fit in my ears just fine. They are lightweight to the point that I didn't really notice that I was wearing them after a while. I also liked that I could just press on the clicky surface buttons to turn them off and that I could use them one at a time if I wanted to. Plus, when they're turning on and pairing, they flash a cool red and blue led light around the rims, which makes me feel like I'm that Lobot dude from Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back.

The pulsing LEDs on setup make me feel like a cyborg.

The sound coming from the earbuds is pretty good — not the best, not the worst. I wasn't expecting a miracle, but I was pleasantly surprised by the sound quality, especially at the gym. They're obviously not as good at blocking out sound as the Echo Buds with their Active Noise Reduction feature, but they're entirely usable in this regard.

Speaking of the gym, I wore these earbuds for several weight training workouts, as well as some hiking and trail running, and not once did they fall out of my ears. They sport IPX4 water resistance, which is supposed to protect against light splashes, and they held up to my perspiration with no problems.

Basic buds The bad and the ugly

The first impression with these earbuds was great, but every use after that was a total crapshoot for me.

I actually tested two different sets of earbuds, as my first pair mysteriously died after only eight days of use. One earbud stopped working entirely on day seven, the other on day eight. I will give Amazon customer service their due, as they quickly shipped out a replacement pair and a free return slip. I was able to resume testing less than two days later, but unfortunately, the experience didn't improve a whole lot.

When it comes to wireless earbuds, there's almost nothing worse than being in the middle of an hour-long run only to have your music continue to cut out, and then drop-off altogether. Talk about frustrating! I don't need to hear myself panting; give me Pantera (or something to that effect).

Bluetooth woes were my Achilles heel.

While the second pair I received are still alive and kicking, they continuously struggle to maintain a reliable Bluetooth connection to my devices. For the sake of thoroughness, I tested these earbuds on an iPhone, Android phone, and even the Mighty Vibe MP3 player. The supposedly simple task of unpairing from one device and re-pairing to another gave me fits for some reason. Sometimes they refused to work at all, or one would pair but not the other. It was so exasperating that I finally just gave up.

Aside from these frustrations, the earbuds are lacking in a few key areas that I find important. For starters, the battery life never seemed to last near the seven hours that was promised, and the charging case gave me mixed results as well. I learned after a few days that I shouldn't leave the case plugged in and that you should only charge every three months. Really? Who does that — and how?

Conveniently, you can summon the Google Assistant or Siri at the press of one of the side panel buttons, but there is no hands-free summoning of your personal voice assistant (to be expected at this price point). There is also not an accompanying app to mess with EQ controls or settings, so you're stuck with what your phone can do.

Not the right fit

There is nothing wrong with wanting an affordable pair of true wireless earbuds, and even though I wouldn't put these at the top of any list, you can find a lot of good options for cheap true wireless earbuds if you know where to look.

2 out of 5

I recommend that you look past the AmazonBasics Ultra-Light True Wireless Earbuds in favor of something like the Aukey EP-T21s that my colleague Joe Maring recently reviewed. Alternatively, if you can stomach a higher price, Amazon's Echo Buds are superb, and they recently were put on sale for $40 off. Bottom line, don't resign yourself to a crummy experience just because you don't want to spend a lot.

How low can you go

Aukey EP-T21

There are a lot of true wireless earbuds that target affordable price points, but few go as low as the Aukey EP-T21. You'd be right to assume that earbuds this cheap wouldn't be worth the time of day, but the EP-T21 somehow manage to offer a tremendous all-around user experience. Build quality is top-notch, there's an IPX4 rating for water-resistance, and everything sounds as good as you could ask for.

$30 at Amazon

Solidly smart earbuds

Echo Buds

$130 at Amazon $130 at Best Buy

Alexa breaks out

These wireless earbuds by Amazon are a solid first swing at a new product category and form factor for Alexa. The fit and sound are surprisingly good for the price, and the convenience of hands-free Alexa and Google Assistant/Siri at a tap is a really useful combination.

New Final Fantasy 7 Remake trailer gives us a glimpse of Red XIII

The very definition of a glow up.

What you need to know

  • Final Fantasy 7 Remake releases in April.
  • A new trailer was released with the theme song.
  • This trailer gives us our first look at Red XIII.

Despite the delay, Final Fantasy 7 Remake is only a few short months away from finally being in our hands. Square Enix decided to release a new trailer with the theme song for the game, and people have been quick to point out how awesome Red XIII is looking now. Aged like a fine wine for you furries out there.

Nothing else might as well have happened in the trailer because Red XIII appears to be all the internet can talk about this morning. But for anyone interested, we got to see a bit more of the returning cast and Cloud wearing his infamous dress disguise at the Honey Bee Inn. The end of the trailer also showed off some gameplay footage.

The theme song "Hollow" is composed by Nobuo Uematsu. Square Enix also released a short behind the scenes video where you can see the composers at work.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake releases on April 10, 2020 for PlayStaion 4 and PC.

Complete remake

Final Fantasy 7

$60 at Amazon

Midgar never looked so good

One of the greatest games of all time is finally getting the treatment it deserves. Join Cloud on his quest to stop the evil Shinra corporation and save the planet. Also try not to cry at that one scene. You know the one.

Cut the cord with these small wireless chargers for true wireless earbuds

Charging true wireless earbuds usually involves placing them inside their included charging case, but how do you charge the case itself? Usually, it's via microUSB or USB-C cable but did you know that some true wireless earbuds cases can be charged wirelessly? Charging works using virtually any small wireless charger: just place the buds atop the charging surface and it will recharge without wires. If you want to go truely wireless, here are the best small wireless charger for wireless earbuds.

Extra-long cable

Ventev Qi Chargepad+

Staff Pick

This small, circular-shaped wireless charger offers rapid charging for most wireless devices. Place the true wireless earbuds case in the center and it will charge it up in no time. The stylish design, including a cloth covering, means you can place it anywhere in the home and it won't stick out like a sore thumb, like on your bedroom nightstand, side table, or kitchen countertop. MFI-certified for use with Apple devices, what really makes this stand out is the long 5-foot charging cable that gives you the freedom to place it anywhere and tuck the cord out of sight. Plus, it comes with a lifetime warranty.

$38 at Amazon

Stand up!

Belkin BoostUp Wireless Charger 10W

Optimized for Qi devices, this charger can charge at 5W of power for devices like true wireless earbuds, including the Apple AirPods 2, or 7.5W for the iPhone and 9W for Samsung devices. With a 4-foot cable included along with a two-year warranty, you can grab the wireless stand as well for charging smartphones upright. It's a great option for charging both phones and earbuds that will adjust the wattage based on the device that's placed atop it. It comes in black or white.

$38 at Amazon

Check your status

Anker PowerWave Pad

With this wireless charger, you can check charging status from the LED indicator. If it's flashing blue, an object might be in the way of successful charging. If it flashes green, you might not be using a compatible 5V/2A or higher adapter. With a 4-foot cable and 10W max charging power, it comes in cool color options like black, white, and navy. But if you want to get multiple chargers to place throughout the house, this one is super affordable.

From $11 at Amazon

Super pocketable

Spigen SteadiBoost

Super compact, this wireless charger can fit in the palm of your hand and can easily be tucked away on your office desk, nightstand, or even in your backpack or purse. It is Qi-certified and supports up to 10W charging, which is more than you'd possibly need for true wireless earbuds. The charger itself charges via USB-C and has useful Control Heat Technology that will prevent it from overheating.

$20 at Amazon

Two-for-one

Samsung DuoPad Fast Charge 2.0

Using this convenient wireless charger, you can charge two devices at the same time, like the true wireless earbuds and a smartwatch. It offers Fast Charge technology for Samsung Galaxy smartphones so Galaxy S10 and newer devices can charge at up to 12W. But while it's designed mostly for phones and smartwatches, it is Qi-certified to charge any Qi-enabled product. It comes with a one-year warranty, and you can get it in black or white.

From $59 at Amazon

Cut the cords to charge your buds

If you want to fully cut the cords and be able to plop your wireless earbuds case down on a wireless charging surface when they need a boost instead of fumbling for cables, any of these small wireless chargers will do. If you travel often, go with the Spigen SteadiBoost as its ultra-portable design make it a perfect travel companion. It's super small, literally able to fit in your pocket. And the price is right.

If you want to charge two things at the same time, the Samsung DuoPad is the better way to go. It's especially a good option if you own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone as well as Galaxy earbuds since it can fast charge the phone.

But overall, the Ventev Chargepad+ is versatile for placement anywhere at home with a super-long cord you can more easily tuck away and attractive design that will look good anywhere.

Have you reserved your Galaxy S20 pre-order?

Chatting with the AC forums.

Ready or not, the Galaxy S20 will be here before you know it. We've been following rumors and leaks for the S20 for months at this point, and yesterday, Samsung officially opened reservations for the phone so you can be among the first to pre-order it.

We're stoked to see what Samsung has in store for us with the S20 lineup, and looking through the AC forums at how many people are already registered, it looks like the interest is building.

buzzy3970
01-30-2020 04:05 PM

Surprisingly Samsung has decided to open up reservations already. Guessing to see whose interested in the new devices. Here's the link for anyone interested https://ift.tt/2OgWQIb

Reply
Kilroy672
01-30-2020 05:37 PM

I was able to sign up for this a few hours ago and got an email to confirm it.

Reply
jlangner
01-30-2020 10:25 PM

Signed up as well!

Reply

What about you? Have you reserved your Galaxy S20 pre-order?

Join the conversation in the forums!