It's Google Fi's birthday (🎉), and to celebrate, the carrier is blowing out Pixel 3 phones. The Pixel 3 and 3 XL are half off for new and existing customers, which means you can snag one for as low as $399 — but the deal is only valid today, April 22.
Fi teased the promotion on Twitter a couple of days ago, basically saying outright there'd be a Pixel deal today. As far as carrier deals go, it's about as flexible as it gets: new and existing customers can get the special pricing, and it's up-front savings, not a bill credit. When you buy a Pixel 3 from Fi today, it'll be half off — you'll just need to activate it on your Fi account within 30 days of its shipping.
Here's what each model costs during the promotion:
Pixel 3 (64 GB): $399
Pixel 3 (128 GB): $449
Pixel 3 XL (64 GB): $449
Pixel 3 XL (128 GB): $499
You can read full terms and conditions for the sale here. Head over to Google Fi to snag your cheap Pixel.
It’s for individuals only, and you can only buy a single phone.
It’s for U.S. citizens only
All good? Check out the one-day prices:
Pixel 3 64 GB is discounted from $799 to $399.
Pixel 3 128 GB is discounted from $899 to $449.
Pixel 3 XL 64 GB is discounted from $899 to $449.
Pixel 3 XL 128 GB is discounted from $999 to $499.
Those prices almost make me want to take another chance on a Google Pixel 3 XL, and I believe these are the prices that Google should always sell its handsets at. But thanks to Huawei, I no longer need to deal with Google’s unreliable hardware, and the Mate 20 Pro and P30 Pro cameras are better than what these latest Pixels offer.
The big new design change is the bigger display with a hole punch for the camera.
Ron Amadeo
The bezels here are pretty minimal.
Ron Amadeo
Here's the back. There's no fingerprint reader, since it now has an in-screen sensor.
Ron Amadeo
There are a lot of cameras. Main, wide angle, and telephoto, followed by a flash and a heart rate sensor.
Ron Amadeo
There is a bit of a camera bump.
Ron Amadeo
The bottom has a USB-C port, a speaker, and a glorious headphone jack.
Ron Amadeo
You can see how the display curves to meet the side of the phone. Why?
Ron Amadeo
The top just has the SIM and MicroSD slot, along with a noise cancelling microphone.
Ron Amadeo
Here are the power and volume buttons.
Ron Amadeo
The always on display. The problem here is there's no fingerprint indicator.
Ron Amadeo
Samsung's flagship Galaxy S smartphone line is back with the Galaxy S10 and S10+. Since the launch of the Galaxy S8 in 2017, Samsung has stuck with the same basic design for two years across four major devices: the S8, Note8, S9, and Note9. The Galaxy S10 firmly fits into the Galaxy S8 family tree, but with new display and fingerprint technology, the S10 represents the biggest design upgrade since that release in 2017.
As usual, Samsung is gunning for the title of "spec-sheet champion" with the Galaxy S10, and the company is turning in devices with bigger displays, bigger batteries, faster SoCs, more RAM, and more storage. This is one of the first devices that gives us a look at the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 SoC, and it's also one of the first devices with "Wi-Fi 6," aka 802.11ax support. The S10 is also the first device with a Qualcomm-made ultrasonic fingerprint reader, and it features Samsung's new "hole-punch" display tech for the camera cutout. If all that's not enough for you, the Galaxy S10+ can hit even more stratospherically high configurations—and prices—that would rival some laptops, topping out at 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for a whopping $1,600.
We reviewed the bigger Galaxy S10+, where even the base configuration results in a $1,000 smartphone. And if spending that much cash, we're not really in the mood for the kinds of excuses and compromises that would be acceptable at a lower price point. When a device manufacturer turns up with sky-high prices like this, it's only fair to go in with sky-high expectations.
Design and build quality
SPECS AT A GLANCE
Galaxy S10
Galaxy S10+
SCREEN
3040×1440 6.1" (550ppi) OLED
3040×1440 6.4" (522ppi) OLED
OS
Android 9 Pie
with Samsung One UI
CPU
Eight-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 855
Four Cortex A76-based cores (One 2.84GHz, three 2.41Ghz) and four Cortex A55-based cores at 1.78GHz
wireless charging, in-screen fingerprint sensor, Samsung Pay, Bixby button, IP68 water and dust resistance
If you've seen a Samsung phone from the last two years, you're already familiar with the basic construction of the Galaxy S10. There's a glass front and a glass back. The long edges of both glass panels curve to meet a shiny metal band around the sides. The display curves along with the glass panel, distorting the edges of the screen somewhat. Like most glass backs, the rear panel is a huge fingerprint magnet that gets slimy pretty much the second you take it out of the box. I briefly considered photographing it while wearing rubber gloves.
Along the sides there are virtually no changes from past models, which is a good thing. The bottom still has a USB-C port, along with a bottom-firing speaker that teams up with the earpiece for stereo sound. There's still a Bixby-launching hardware button, combo SIM card, and MicroSD slot.
There is, famously, still a headphone jack on the bottom of the Galaxy S10, which makes it one of the only flagship smartphones still packing the universally compatible analog audio port, sparing headphone-jack users from a lifetime of misplaced dongles and the choice between charging and listening to music. On an ultra-premium device like this—which manages to find room for two extra rear cameras, one extra front camera, an extra hardware button for Bixby, and a heart-rate monitor—removing something as useful as a headphone jack would make zero sense. So kudos to Samsung for keeping it.
There is quite an abundance of tweaks to the Galaxy S formula this year. Both devices are about the same size as their Galaxy S9 counterparts (give or take a few millimeters), but Samsung has managed to cram in bigger displays and bigger batteries. The smaller device moves from a 5.8-inch display on the S9 to 6.1-inches on the S10. The S10 Plus is up to 6.4-inches—the same size as the Galaxy Note9—compared to the 6.2-inch display on the S9+. With the S10+ display now matching the Note series, rumor has it the Note10 display will be even bigger in response.
Both the S10 and S10+ come with considerable improvements in battery density. The Galaxy S10 battery grew 400mAh from last year and is now 3400mAh, while the S10 Plus jumps 600mAh to 4100mAh. Samsung's battery capacities have mostly been standing still since the explosive battery problems forced the company to recall and cancel the Galaxy Note 7, with the Galaxy S7, S8, and S9 all clocking in at 3000mah, while the larger versions all hang around 3500mAh. That launch disaster of 2016 is years behind Samsung now, though, and the company finally seems ready to start pushing the battery envelope again.
The hole-punch display
A zoom-in of the hole punch. You can see they actually cut two circles out of the display and then put a cover over the holes.
Ron Amadeo
Here it is with the pixels turned on.
Ron Amadeo
If you're just looking for a front camera with minimal display obstructions, the OnePlus 6T on the right is a better design.
Ron Amadeo
In this iFixit teardown picture of the regular Galaxy S10, you can see windows for proximity and brightness sensors when you pop the display off.
The trademark design feature of the Galaxy S10 is the new display. Like many other phones released in the last year, it comes with top and bottom bezels so slim there's no room for the front components any more. With very little dead space on the front of the device, the front camera and other sensors have to encroach on the screen. Many manufacturers have been using a display with a notch cut out of it to house these components, but Samsung is taking a slightly different approach and cutting a camera hole right out of the display.
Samsung calls this the "Infinity-O Display," but colloquially we've been calling it the "hole-punch display" because it looks like someone took a hole-punch tool to the OLED panel. In reality, Samsung really did take an OLED panel and cut a hole out of it, but because just about any mechanical tool would shatter the wafer-thin OLED panel, the company used a "proprietary laser-cutting technology" to surgically slice away the unwanted pixels. The hard part about cutting a hole in an existing display is that Samsung's laser needs to be tuned to cut away only certain layers of the OLED panel. Since OLED panels need to be airtight to work, some kind of "advanced barrier technology" is placed around the hole perimeter to seal everything up.
While Samsung's hole-punch display is unique and distinctive, if the goal is "have a front camera while minimally interfering with the screen," there are better options out there. Samsung's camera hole goes deeper into the display than a lot of other solutions, so you have less uninterrupted room for apps. Android requires presenting apps with an uninterrupted rectangular area, so the status bar needs to surround any screen blemishes. With the S10 design, this means the status bar needs to be twice as tall as normal. As for the actual icons inside the status bar, they all just start to the left of the camera hole.
Given the extra-tall status bar, I think a minimal notch design, like what is present on the much less expensive, $629 OnePlus 6T, is a better design. You still get a front camera with all the usual sensors, but OnePlus manages to contain everything in the normal status-bar size. Samsung's design seems to focus just on looking unique rather than fitting functionality in the smallest space possible. Unfortunately for Samsung, competitors like Huawei have already stolen its thunder and beaten the company to market with hole-punch displays.
In landscape, the camera hole is not surrounded by the status bar. But it still gets quarantined by Android with a black box by default, giving apps an uninterrupted rectangular area. Videos from YouTube and Netflix work just fine like this, since there is still enough room to fit the 16:9 videos into the 19:9 display. For landscape apps, Samsung gives you the option to change how apps interact with the hole punch with an "Aspect ratio" setting. "Auto" is the normal option with a black bar, and "full screen" will let apps draw around the camera hole. Just hope it doesn't block anything!
The unique aspect of the hole punch design over a notch is that you get pixels all the way around the camera cutout. Samsung uses this for one unique flare: if you switch to the front camera in the camera app, you'll get a quick swirl of white pixels around the camera hole. Third-party apps have come up with all sorts of cute uses for the camera. There are already varioussites and apps dedicated to cleverly hiding or highlighting the hole punch with various wallpaper designs. There are even apps that wrap a battery indicator or a notification ring around the hole punch.
Samsung gives you two front cameras on the Galaxy S10+, but the second camera doesn't have a whole lot of uses. Like the Pixel 3, the idea behind Samsung's dual front cameras is that one is for normal selfies while the second is for wide-angle selfies, kind of like having a build-in selfie stick. The problem with Samsung's implementation is that there is a barely any difference between the two focal lengths: 22mm and 26mm. The Pixel 3 uses 18mm and 28mm lenses, giving you a more dramatic difference between the two choices.
The camera isn't the only thing Samsung has hidden inside the display. First, as illustrated by iFixit, the proximity and brightness sensors live behind the display, too. Just to the left of the camera hole are three vertical spots in the display where the sensors can peer through the pixels. Unlike the camera, these don't interfere with the display at all, and they are completely invisible while using the phone. Even if you shine a flashlight into the display and go looking for them, they are still nearly invisible. As for the biggest item hidden behind the display....
Samsung is reportedly pushing back its planned Galaxy Fold launch events in China this week – and though a last-minute hitch with venues is being blamed by insider sources, it also gives Samsung a little more time to investigate screen issues with the device.
As SamMobile reports, several events have been postponed, including ones in Shanghai and Hong Kong, although Samsung is promising that the April 26 Fold launch in the US will go ahead as planned.
In response to a number of press review units developing glitches around the display hinge, Samsung previously said it was ready to "thoroughly inspect" the broken units to see what had gone wrong.
Some of the problems seem to have stemmed from the removal of a protective plastic layer on the display – it may look like an optional screen protector but it's actually essential to the smooth operation of the folding screen.
Fold on hold?
Perhaps a few extra days will give Samsung chance to make it clearer that the screen cover shouldn't be removed under any circumstances (don't forget this if you're planning to pick up a Galaxy Fold of your own).
After unveiling the innovative folding phone, Samsung said it had undergone rigorous testing, and that the handset was ready to withstand 200,000 folds – or around five years of regular use.
We'll have to wait and see what Samsung's investigation turns up, but as yet there's no indication that the phone won't go on sale across the world as originally planned.
The Galaxy Fold retails for $1,980 in the US, €2,000 in mainland Europe and £1,799 in the UK. It's just one of several foldable phones we're expecting to see on the market in the next few years.
B&W has launched its long-awaited wireless music system - and it's clear the company means business. B&W Formation is a fully-formed multi-room wireless offering that aims to appeal to those who want the convenience of streaming audio without losing any of the quality. And we mean any.
B&W is promising whole-home audio performance that's a match for the sound quality you can expect from a pair of wired speakers or indeed a separates hi-fi system. At the forefront of the claim will be the B&W Formation Duo, a fully active pair of wireless speakers and the flagship product in the Formation range.
Design
The Formation Duo speakers are instantly recognisable as a pair of B&W speakers thanks to that trademark decoupled tweeter on top of the cabinet and the now familiar Continuum cone, which replaced the previously-used Kevlar models.
Available in black or white, they put a futuristic spin on that classic design so you know you're not getting a typical pair of passive speakers. The matt black finish was the winner for us, though the white speakers with newly-designed stands looked pretty smart, too. Standing just under 40cm tall and just over 30cm deep, they're no shrinking violets, and at 10.6kg, they're a reassuringly hefty piece of kit.
Inside is the same 6.5in Continuum driver found in the B&W 800 Series and a 1in carbon-domed tweeter, which incorporates B&W's patented tweeter-on-top technology. B&W claims a frequency response of 25Hz to 33kHz. The speakers are driven by two, 125-watt digital amplifiers.
Round the back of the speaker, tucked underneath the wireless module at the base of the unit, is the power connection – all you need to get started. There's also an Ethernet port if you want to be extra sure of the wireless network connectivity, and a USB port for service updates. And that's your lot in terms of connections.
At the base of the front of the speaker you'll see a Formation connection button, plus volume and play/pause controls. These could come in handy when moving from room to room, allowing you to pause in one room and pick-up the music where you left off in another room, though naturally you'll be doing most of your control from your phone, tablet or laptop.
Features
While they look as simple as a pair of speakers can look, with nothing but a power cable required for each to start working, there is a whole host of wireless functionality at your disposal.
Firstly, they work with all the other B&W Formation products, including the Formation Bar soundbar, the Formation Bass subwoofer, the Formation Wedge wireless speaker and the Formation Audio wireless hub.
As with all those other devices, the Formation Duo speakers support Apple AirPlay 2 and aptX HD Bluetooth. They have Spotify Connect and are Roon Ready, so can be controlled straight from the Roon app. There's also a B&W Formation app.
Thanks to all that functionality it should be possible to play music from pretty much any source. Naturally, we're keen to see how it works in reality with a variety of apps, including hi-res streaming services such as Tidal and Qobuz, and whether B&W's app measures up to those from the likes of Bluesound, Sonos and Naim.
Elsewhere, there's also Dynamic EQ, as seen on some of the company's digital subwoofers, which promises to fine tune the sound as you listen. We look forward to seeing how that works.
Sound
We were treated to a sneak preview of the new Formation products, including a listening session with the Duo speakers. As ever, a limited time in a new environment, with a system and songs that aren't necessarily familiar, can only tell you so much.
That said, B&W was clearly confident in the speakers' ability and keen to show what the Duo could do (even if one B&W team member confided that it was far from an ideal listening room, being pretty big and complete with wooden floors).
We were treated to a wide range of styles, from Neil Young to St Vincent, Chris Stapleton to The Chemical Brothers, allowing certain aspects of the overall performance to come to the fore.
The Chemical Brothers' The Golden Path delivered bass that went deep, stayed tight and was packed with detail, driving the track along as it should without dominating the soundstage. There was impressive scale, too, filling a big room with sound without losing control.
Young's guitar strums showed an impressive level of fidelity; the level of detail where every intonation is apparent, helping to deliver that sense of a live performance despite the fact you're sat on your sofa streaming the song. Incidentally, our demo of the Duo speakers was delivered via Roon which, while a solid piece of software in its own right, it did strike us as slightly strange not to be using the B&W Formation app.
St Vincent's Masseducation offers plenty of raw emotion and bare vocals, and it's clear that midrange clarity and stereo imaging should be strong points for these wireless speakers, with voices and instruments placed neatly and cohesively in front of us. It's easy to hear the anger in Clark's voice, such is the transparency on offer.
We're even treated to some vinyl, with Gregory Porter's dulcet tones sent wirelessly to the Duo speakers via the Formation Audio (though you do need a phono stage in there somewhere). As much as anything, it shows the versatility of the B&W Formation system.
Initial verdict
The B&W Formation Duo speakers are the flagship product in the Formation range, with a price tag to prove it. They certainly look good on paper, and in the flesh, and our first impressions are positive.
B&W wants to delver the ultimate level of wireless performance, both in terms of sound quality and functionality. We look forward to finding out if the company has achieved that lofty aim very soon.
Samsung is postponing its China launch event for its foldable smartphone just days after reports of defective screens on the nearly $2,000 device.
The South Korean electronics giant had scheduled an event in Shanghai for April 24 to launch the Samsung Galaxy Fold. A spokesperson confirmed that had been canceled but had no official statement to give. It's unclear for when that event will be rescheduled or when the phone will be available in China.
Samsung's Galaxy Fold, unveiled in full in February, is slated to go on sale on April 26 in select markets including the U.S.
CNBC has asked Samsung to clarify whether the postponement of the China event will affect when the device goes on sale in other markets, but the company has yet to answer that query.
The screen on Samsung's device can fold in half and open up again to give users a large display. However, journalists who reviewed the product over the past few weeks reported issues with the screen. Some of the reviewers removed a protective film which covered the screen, which appeared to result in some problems with the display. But CNBC's Todd Haselton did not remove that film during his review and his screen ended up flickering and turning off and on at a rapid pace.
In a statement following the reports of damaged screens, Samsung advised users not to remove the protective film and said it was looking into the issue.
"We have received a few reports regarding the main display on the samples provided. We will thoroughly inspect these units in person to determine the cause of the matter," the company said.
Despite what I tell my son, I really don't have eyes in the back of my head. But I do have Wi-Fi security cameras with smartphone apps, which allow me to keep tabs on him, as well as my dog, my car, the front door, and the yard. And like me, cameras aren't perfect at all tasks. Picking the right one (or two, or three) depends on what you want to do with it. Outdoor cameras can withstand the elements but may need an electrical outlet or periodic battery recharges. Indoor cameras can keep an eye on things in your home but are limited when it comes to catching package thieves. And doorbell cameras let you pretend to be home when you're not. Here are some of our favorite ways we use security cameras, and how to pick the best camera for your needs. (Note that a few states restrict the use of biometric technology such as facial recognition, a feature in some cameras, so be sure to confirm your local laws before making a purchase.)
Deterring crime
If you're worried about what's going on in your neighborhood and around your property, get an outdoor camera. Look for a camera that can capture lengthy recordings and doesn't leave gaps in between clips—a common pitfall. Clear night vision is also a must, and adjustable motion sensitivity will cut down nuisance smartphone alerts triggered by every passing car. If you don't have an outdoor outlet or a large yard, look for a camera with a rechargeable battery, which makes placement easy—just know that if there's a lot of activity, you will be charging the camera often.
Keeping a watch on pets
Some pets have separation anxiety when their owners are away, and some just like to eat socks, trash, and anything else that isn't encased in concrete. An indoor security camera with a wide viewing angle allows you to watch what Fido and Fluffy are doing while you're away. Most cameras also have two-way audio, which is useful for yelling at them to get off the sofa.
Tracking the kids
Although it may sound Orwellian, indoor cameras can help you monitor your kids by notifying you (via smartphone alerts) whenever the cameras detect motion, such as when the kids are coming and going. Just aim the camera at the door. Cameras with two-way audio allow you to greet them (and remind them about homework and other chores), while cameras with facial recognition can distinguish between family members and the dog walker. Also, consider some type of video-clip storage, unless you plan on watching for alerts 24/7.
Monitoring remote locations
For people who own a vacation or rental home, an outdoor camera can alert you in real time to prowlers, raccoons, or storm damage. An elderly parent's home is also a good place for a camera (with their consent, of course); for that situation, choose an indoor model that supports live viewing and two-way audio, so you can chat with your parent or a caretaker.
Screening guests
Want to know who goes there? A doorbell camera can show you who's on your porch whether you're right behind the door or thousands of miles away. Doorbell cameras can also send alerts when they detect motion or if someone rings the bell, allowing you to answer accordingly—the visitor has no idea if you're home or not. If you're worried about who you might miss if you can't answer the smartphone alert, look for a camera that saves recordings to the cloud so you can access them remotely.
Nabbing porch pirates
A doorbell camera is ideal for keeping tabs on deliveries to your front porch because you can get notified when a package arrives or even converse with the delivery person. Pick a camera that has motion detection (and a way to adjust it to prevent nuisance alerts), since delivery drivers don't always ring the bell. The main drawback to this style of camera is a relatively limited view, since they are intended only for patrolling your front-door area. For a wider viewing angle or coverage of a specific spot like the driveway, the back door, or the side of the house, consider adding an outdoor camera as well.
If you think your home monitoring needs go beyond just a few cameras, read our guide to the best do-it-yourself security systems.
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