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The best smartphones and tablets to give as gifts
Let's be real: Smartphones are pricey and as far as gifts go, they're hard to keep a surprise. But there's also a good chance someone in your life is due for an upgrade, and as the holiday season approaches, you're likely to spot some good deals. For Engadget's 2017 holiday gift guide, we recommend four phones: the iPhone 8/8 Plus, the Google Pixel 2 and 2XL, the older-but-still-good Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus, and the Moto G5 Plus, for the budget conscious. We also threw in some tablets for good measure: the basic iPad for Apple fans and the Galaxy Tab S3 for Android users. Certain folks requiring more power might be better served by the 10.5-inch iPad Pro or Microsoft's Surface Pro, but unless your giftee also needs a laptop replacement, you can easily get by with something less expensive.
Samsung trolls every generation of the iPhone in one video
If you want to start your week with a little bit of tech shade, check out Samsung's new Galaxy commercial. The ad follows a young man through the years as he meets and falls for a young woman. However, the focus of each touching moment in their blossoming relationship is how his iPhone is inferior to her Samsung Galaxy and Samsung makes sure to put every single downside of owning an iPhone on blast. That includes waiting in lines for the new model, inadequate photo storage space, lack of water resistance and, of course, the headphone dongle. There's even a not-so-subtle swipe at the iPhone X's notch. And if all of that wasn't enough, there's the ad's title -- "Samsung Galaxy: Growing Up."
Apple lists the cars that can wirelessly charge your iPhone
Sure, you know that most wireless charging pads will top up the iPhone 8 or iPhone X, but what about the pad in your car? That's a little more complicated, but Apple is willing to help out. It just posted a list of manufacturers whose vehicles can charge the latest crop of iPhones, and it's mostly good news... mostly. Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo and the PSA group (Citroen, DS, Peugeot, Opel and Vauxhall) all have cars that will charge at least the iPhone 8 (and likely X), and can charge the 8 Plus if there's enough room. Be careful if you're a GM fan, though, as you'll have to be extra-picky about your driving machine.
Engadget UK giveaway: Win an iPhone 8 courtesy of Mobilefun.co.uk
You lucky devils, you. No sooner have we shipped one iPhone 8 off to a lucky competition winner than we have another one up for grabs. This week, we're giving away a silver iPhone 8 (256GB) courtesy of our chums at Mobilefun.co.uk. Whether a prize or a purchase, the accessory retailer has all manner of cases and covers to protect your coveted iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus or the incoming iPhone X. You probably know the drill by now already: Parse the rules below, enter up to three times and then keep those fingers crossed.
A 'new' version of iTunes brings back apps and ringtones
Still need a way to manage your applications and ringtones in addition to your music, movies and other media on your iPhone? Well, there's an app for that. Following iTunes' massive overhaul (version 12.7 if you're keeping track at home), the company has since released a version of the software that will let you continue to download and install apps to your handset via a desktop computer.
Engadget UK giveaway: Win an iPhone 8 courtesy of Casetify
Even the sweet scent of autumn rain can't beat that new iPhone smell, and that's exactly what we're giving away this week. And not just that, but an actual gold iPhone 8 (64GB) to go with it, thanks to our friends at Casetify. They've also been kind enough to bundle that with a £35 voucher for the winner to put towards one of their standard or personalised cases. If you've got your heart set on an iPhone X, you can prepare for its arrival with one of Casetify's covers for that device, too. As always, you can enter the competition up to three times, but not before you give the rules a once-over, capiche?
The Google Pixel 2 vs. the competition: Small packs a punch
Today Google gave us our first official look at its new Pixel phones, with both handsets sharing major features like 12.2MP cameras and Snapdragon 835 chips. Your main reason to pick up a 5-inch Pixel 2 over its bigger brother is probably that hand-friendly screen size or the "kinda blue" color, though we're curious how it measures up against some of the competing "small" phones on the market. To start we've lined up the specs of similar devices like the Galaxy S8 versus the Pixel 2 in the chart below, while our full review for the pair of Pixels will come later this month.
Engadget giveaway: Win an iPhone 8 or 8 Plus courtesy of Caseology!
I've seen enough Candy Crush players skimming their fingers over fractured displays to know that if you've snagged one of Apple's new iPhone 8 handsets, a case is highly recommended. That's why Caseology has launched a new line of phone protection modules to keep your smartphone looking sexy for the duration. This week, the company has provided us with both an iPhone 8 and an iPhone 8 Plus to get two lucky winners fast-tracked into the world of Apple's latest pocketable computer. You'll also get six new Caseology cases to help keep those things cozy. The Parallax and Apex lines boast geometric styling along with shock-absorbing protection. The Legion puts its military-inspired design to work, while framing your logo for all to see, whereas the Coastline case exposes your entire handset through a clear cutout framed by an edge-defending border. All you need to do is head down to the Rafflecopter widget below for up to three chances at winning one of Apple's latest iPhones along with an assortment of protective cases courtesy of Caseology! Additionally, readers can get 30 percent off any Caseology case for iPhone X, iPhone 8 and iPhone Plus at Amazon with this code: LKCOQVPP Winners: Congratulations to Mitchell S. of Dubuque, IA and Chris R. of Oakdale, PA!
FCC Chairman wants Apple to enable FM in iPhones for emergencies (update)
You might think of radio as an archaic form of listening to music, but it's still one of the more effective ways to get information to people, especially when cell networks go down. Most smartphones already have an FM chip baked right into the chipset, but they tend to be inaccessible, especially in the US. Now FCC Chairman Ajit Pai is asking Apple to activate these FM chips already in iPhones. "Apple is the one major phone manufacturer that has resisted (activating the chips)," said Pai in a statement. "But I hope the company will reconsider its position, given the devastation wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria."
Apple's former GPU maker Imagination agrees to £550 million sale
Losing Apple as a customer can be rough for a supplier, as Imagination Technologies found out. In April, the UK chipmaker announced that the folks in Cupertino planned to develop their own mobile GPUs and would no longer rely on its PowerVR tech for iPhones and iPads. The A11 Bionic chip inside Apple's new iPhone 8 series and upcoming iPhone X is the company's first-ever self-designed GPU. While still in dispute with Apple over the breakup plans, Imagination lost over 70 percent of its value and put itself up for sale. Now, it has found a buyer in Canyon Bridge Capital Partners, a China-backed fund. Recently, Donald Trump used his presidential power to block the fund from completing a $1.3 billion buyout of a US chipmaker, Lattice Semiconductor, over security concerns. Canyon Bridge is snapping up Imagination (minus its MIPS arm, which is being sold to other investors for $65 million) for £550 million ($743 million) in a move that it says will not cut staff or move the company's headquarters.
The iPhone 8’s glass back costs way more to repair than the front
Over the last couple of weeks, the price of AppleCare+ has gone up for Plus model iPhones and screen repair for the 6s and newer models has gotten $20 more expensive. However, while screen replacements for phones under AppleCare+ warranty are still $29, that's not the case for replacing the back glass of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, according to AppleInsider.
The Engadget Podcast Ep 43: Hits, misses and leaks
If last week's episode was overwhelmingly about Apple, this week's episode includes some partial respite, in the form of another tech titan: Google. For the first half of this episode, senior editor Chris Velazco and I recap his review of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, which posted on Tuesday. We also get into the Apple Watch Series 3's LTE connectivity issues, and reminisce about other Apple product launches that haven't gone quite as planned. Then, in the second half of the episode we talk about the implications of Google buying HTC's Pixel team, and finish up by running through everything that's been leaked about Google's upcoming hardware announcement. (And my, there have been a lot of leaks.) Enjoy! Relevant links: iPhone 8 and 8 Plus review Apple Watch 3 struggles to connect to LTE Apple TV 4K hands-on Google is buying HTC's Pixel team for $1.1 billion Google's next Chromebook Pixel is reportedly called... the Pixelbook Google's mini Home speaker and Pixel 2 XL leak ahead of October event Subscribe on Google Play Music Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Pocket Casts
There's something called 'Enhanced HD Voice' and EE supports it
Most weirdos people that actually use their smartphones to make calls will be aware of the eerily crisp connections of HD Voice. All major carriers in the UK support the standard at this point, which is technically known as Voice over LTE (VoLTE), since 4G frequencies are responsible for the improved call clarity. But apparently, there's something better. It's called Enhanced HD Voice, and EE is today boasting it's the first network in the UK to support it.
Netflix adds HDR support for iPhone 8, iPhone X and iPad Pro
Netflix is adding high dynamic range (HDR) support to more mobile devices. A handful of Android handsets are already benefitting from the picture upgrade, including the LG G6, Sony Xperia XZ Premium, and Samsung Galaxy Note 8, among others. Now, thanks to the release of iOS 11, iPhone users suffering from FOMO can get in on the action too. You'll be able to binge watch in Dolby Vision HDR on the newly launched iPhone 8, 8Plus, and the upcoming iPhone X. Along with Apple's new smartphones, iPad Pro (2nd-gen) owners will also receive the bump in picture quality -- that goes for both the 10.5 and 12.9 inch models of the tablet.
Belkin's iPhone dongle helps you listen while you charge
Last year's Belkin Rockstar dongle was a lifesaver for iPhone 7 owners who wanted to charge their device while doing just about anything else, but it had a problem: with two Lightning ports, you still had to add a second adapter to plug in your favorite pair of 3.5mm headphones. Thankfully, those days are over. Belkin has introduced a new version of the Rockstar with a 3.5mm jack in place of one of the Lightning connectors. This still won't change the clunkiness of your setup, but at least you won't have to explain why you carry two dongles with your iPhone 8.
iOS 11 is here with improved multitasking and AR
With multitasking, ARKit and more AI smarts, iOS 11 is one of Apple's biggest iOS updates yet. It just started rolling out around the world, so don't be surprised to see a message on your iPhone or iPad soon. If you've been procrastinating, now would be a good time to backup your photos, videos and other precious data -- in the past, iOS updates have been buggy, gone less than smoothly and eaten up precious storage.
iPhone 8 and 8 Plus review: Change in small doses
It's no secret that smartphones have tended to get sleeker and less obtrusive over time. Screens are growing, but bezels are shrinking. In a very real way, the boundaries between us and our information -- our apps, our contacts, our very desires reproduced in pixels -- are melting away. Apple has sensed the industry shifting around it, and it made the iPhone X in response to that. But, in a bid to make the transition less jarring, Apple also made the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus. They're familiar-looking phones that mostly operate the way people expect them to. They're conventional. But that doesn't mean they're inherently lacking -- far from it, in fact. While I suspect all iPhones will look like the iPhone X soon enough, the 8 and 8 Plus are expertly built, high-performance devices for people who want to ease into Apple's vision of the future. And who knows? These just might be the last conventional iPhones Apple makes.
Apple's iPhone screen repair prices are now $20 higher
Some Reddit users reported yesterday that Apple has increased its screen repair prices for certain iPhone models. Fixing a broken iPhone 6s or 7 screen will now cost $149, up from $129. And repairs for iPhone 6s Plus and 7 Plus screens has increased from $149 to $169, according to Apple's service pricing page.
Sprint's updated deal gives you a 'free' iPhone 8 with a trade-in
Sprint's initial iPhone 8 offer was fine, but nothing special: you could get half off the price of an 18-month device lease. It's ready to sweeten the pot, however. It just launched an updated promo that gives you a 64GB iPhone 8 for free with a trade-in and an 18-month lease. You still have to hand in a high-end device like one of the iPhone 7 models, a Galaxy S8 or a Galaxy Note 8, so this is more for frequent upgraders or those with a serious case of buyer's remorse. It's better than before, though, and you can apply the $29.17 monthly credit toward the 64GB iPhone 8 Plus if you crave a larger screen.
The Engadget Podcast Ep 42: Everything Apple
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that Apple held a keynote at its glass-empaneled new "spaceship" campus this week, during which it announced a boatload of stuff. So much stuff, in fact, that my colleague Chris Velazco and I devoted an entire episode of the Engadget Podcast to it. Join us as we talk about the new iPhones (all three of them), plus the Apple TV 4K and LTE-enabled Apple Watch Series 3. Relevant links: Live from Apple's iPhone X event! Our first look at Apple's new 'spaceship' campus iPhone X hands-on The iPhone X vs. the competition iPhone 8 and 8 Plus hands-on Apple TV's 4K movie pricing is exactly what the 4K world needs Apple Watch Series 3 hands-on The iPhone 8 won't get lost in the shadow of the iPhone X When there's the iPhone X, why bother with the iPhone 8? The iPhone X leaves a home-button-shaped hole in my heart Subscribe on Google Play Music Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Stitcher Subscribe on Pocket Casts
