Skip to main content

Latest by C. de Looper

samsung galaxy upcycling at home ces 2021 smartthings

Samsung’s new upcycling program turns your old phone into a SmartThings device

Samsung has announced the new Galaxy Upcycling at Home initiative, which is aimed at helping users use their old phones as SmartThings devices.
tcl 20 series ces 2021 news 5g

TCL’s new 5G phones are the most affordable yet, but U.S. buyers have to wait

At CES 2021, TCL took the wraps off of the new TCL 20 series, currently made up of the TCL 20 5G, and the TCL 20 SE. Both are only available in Europe for now.
motorola moto g family 2021 news series 1

The new Motorola Moto G family brings camera upgrades and enticing prices

Motorola has launched a revamped Moto G family for 2021, bringing minor improvements, new cameras, and more. There's also a new Motorola One 5G Ace.
iPhone 12 Mini screeen.

I actually use all of Apple’s preinstalled iPhone apps — here’s why

Apple's stock apps aren't quite as great as some third-party options. But I actually rely on them more than most. Here's why I use Apple's stock apps.
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra S Pen Back

Adding the S Pen to the Galaxy S21 only complicates Samsung’s lineup

The Samsung Galaxy S21 is almost here, and it's rumored that the Galaxy S21 Ultra will support the S Pen. That, however, is a bit of a weird idea.
qualcomm snapdragon 480 5g news

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 480 finally brings 5G to budget phones

Qualcomm is making 5G even more accessible, and to that end has launched the Snapdragon 480. The new chipset is likely to feature in low-end phones in 2021.
apple ipad pro 2020 six month review 2 1

We’re well past the point where Apple should have multi-user support on the iPad

The iPad is no longer strictly a personal device. With more people stuck at home, and sharing their iPads, it's time for multi-user support on the iPad.
iphone ios 14 widgets still arent good

iPhone home screen widgets just aren’t very useful — here’s why

With iOS 14, Apple completely revamped how widgets work -- but while they look pretty great, they aren't the most functional out there. Here's why.
OnePlus 8T Concept

OnePlus 8T Concept uses mmWave to track your breathing, and looks good doing it

The OnePlus 8T Concept uses mmWave radio waves to track objects around it -- and it can even track your breathing. Of course, you can't actually buy the phone.
iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro

How are we supposed to care about MagSafe if Apple doesn’t?

Apple has brought back MagSafe for the iPhone 12, and it offers a way to magnetically attach chargers and accessories to the device. But it's a bit unfinished.
galaxy s20 plus ultra fe buying guide late 2020 range screen

Google and Qualcomm are making Android updates faster, supporting them longer

Google and Qualcomm are making Android updates a whole lot easier for device manufacturers. Devices will now get chipset-level updates for four years.
samsung galaxy note 20 ultra review camera pen top

7 features we want to see in every 2021 smartphone

Phones are getting a whole lot better, but there is still work to do. There are a number of features we'd like to see standardized in 2021. Here are some.
magsafe wallet is actually good iphone cases 202010

OK, I actually like the absurdly expensive iPhone 12 MagSafe Wallet accessory

With the iPhone 12, Apple has brought back the MagSafe brand. But while some tech press were quick to dismiss the MagSafe Wallet, I actually kind of like it.
Pixel phone with five icon at the bottom of the display.

Android 11 hits Samsung devices; here’s how to download Android 11

Android 11 is finally here for certain devices. Here's how to download and install Android 11, and if you can't get it yet, the Android 11 public beta as well.
iPhone 12 mini in hand

2020 showed us you don’t need to spend $1,000 to get a great phone

Phones have gotten a little more expensive over the years, but prices are balancing out a little. And 2020 proved you don't have to spend $1,000 on a phone.
Google Pixel 5

The latest Pixel feature drop includes Adaptive Sound and enhanced battery management

Google has released the latest Pixel feature drop, which includes better battery management and smart features like Adaptive Sound and Adaptive Connectivity.
trick charge iphone battery faster charging

This one trick will charge your iPhone’s battery faster

The iPhone employs some fancy tech to keep its battery healthy for longer -- but if you need to quickly top up, you may want to turn this tech off.
Samsung Galaxy S20 range

Android 11 is now rolling out to some Samsung Galaxy phones, if you’re lucky

Samsung has finally revealed its road map for the rollout of Android 11 to Galaxy devices, with the Galaxy S20 set to get the update right away.
qualcomm snapdragon 888

Five reasons to be excited about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888

Qualcomm's next-generation chip, the Snapdragon 888, is here. From performance gains to better 5G support, here's everything you need to know.
qualcomm snapdragon 888 image processing

A deep dive into the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888’s photo-processing tech

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 offers a step up in image-processing tech over previous-generation chipsets. Here's what's new in the Snapdragon 888.
A Snapdragon 7C processor held between fingers.

Samsung notably missing from list of companies set to use the Snapdragon 888

Qualcomm has announced that its next chipset is called the Snapdragon 888, but Samsung was strangely absent from its list of companies using the new chip.
samsung galaxy note 20 ultra review side camera module

Samsung launches new Galaxy Note 20 5G and Galaxy Z Flip 5G colors

Samsung has announced new colors for two of its phones, including a Mystic Red color for the Galaxy Note 20 5G and Mystic White for the Galaxy Z Flip 5G.
Google Photos

Google Photos won’t be free for much longer, but it’s well worth paying for

Google recently announced that it will no longer offer unlimited free storage for Google Photos. But it's a service that's easily worth paying for.
Nokia 8 V UW

Nokia 8 V 5G UW review: Just too expensive

Nokia is bringing the Nokia 8.3 to the U.S. in the form of the Nokia 8 V 5G UW, which is a Verizon-exclusive device. But at $700, is it worth considering?
iCloud storage on the iPhone

Apple’s 5GB of free iCloud storage is pitiful, but you should still happily pay for more

Apple offers 5GB of free iCloud storage to all users, and that's a little limited. That said, if you do pay for more, you won't regret it.
Google Photos

Google Photos is killing unlimited free photo storage

Google has announced that you'll have to start paying to use over 15GB of storage in Google Photos, ending its original stance of offering unlimited storage.
apple ipad pro 2020 six month review 1

Putting a new chip in the Mac didn’t hurt the iPad one bit

Apple has finally taken the wraps off of its ARM-based Macs, including a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini. But don't forget about the iPad yet.
nokia 8 3 review 83 back

Nokia 8 V 5G UW supports Verizon’s mmWave, faces stiff competition at $700

Nokia is bringing the Nokia 8.3 to Verizon's 5G network with the new Nokia 8 V 5G UW. The device supports mmWave but faces stuff competition from Google.
oneplus nord 10 5g review 4

OnePlus Nord N10 5G review: Bringing 5G to the masses

The OnePlus Nord 10 5G offers a reasonably modern design and a very modest price -- but how many corners are cut to reach that price?
apple ipad pro 2020 six month review 2 1

Apple iPad Pro 2020 six-month review: The tablet that replaced my laptop

The iPad Pro is a little overshadowed by the iPad Air these days -- but it's still the best tablet you can buy. Here are my thoughts after months of using it.
ipad air better than pro 2020 1

The iPad Pro is a near-impossible sell now that the iPad Air is here

The iPad Pro is an awesome tablet. But the new iPad Air takes everything that was great about the Pro, and makes them all cheaper. Is the Pro worth considering?
iPhone 12

5 reasons to upgrade to the iPhone 12, and 2 reasons not to

The iPhone 12 is here, and you might be wondering whether or not you should upgrade. Here are five reasons to upgrade to the iPhone 12, and two reasons not to.
iPhone SE

Apple iPhone SE (2020) vs. iPhone XR

The new iPhone SE has a lot going for it -- but it has a decidedly dated design. Can its stellar performance make it a better smartphone than the iPhone XR?
scribble handwriting recognition 1

How good does your handwriting have to be to use Scribble on the iPad?

iPadOS 14's Scribble feature means that you don't have to be a graphic designer to make use of the Apple Pencil. But how good does your handwriting have to be?