Smartphones & Gear

FreedomPop Teams Up with Basketball Legend Julius Erving to Bring Attention to Its Senior-Focused Wireless Service

Since its launch in 2011, FreedomPop has offered budget-friendly wireless service everywhere, from Target and Walmart to the internet. But now, they’re exclusively catering to seniors, a move they believe is long overdue. To bring awareness to their service and its features, they’ve teamed up with basketball icon Julius Erving, also known as Dr. J, in their latest campaign targeting seniors.


Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra vs. Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Camera Showdown: Did Samsung Make the Right Move?

Like its predecessors, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra still comes packed with enough camera lenses to trigger someone with trypophobia, but this year, that comes with a pretty major change. Most of the hardware is still the same as the previous generation, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, but there’s one significant change in the telephoto camera. In 2024, Samsung decided to go with a 50-megapixel telephoto sensor with a 5X optical periscope lens. This replaced the 10-megapixel, 10X optical sensor from the Galaxy S23 Ultra.


Best of MWC 2024: AI Takes Focus, but Hardware Still Rules

Mobile World Congress (MWC) – the trade show that’s all about mobile tech – just took place in Barcelona last week, so here’s a recap of the best stuff I saw at the event. Not surprisingly, AI was the buzzword du jour at MWC this year – just like it was at CES in January – but this didn’t detract from manufacturers launching some interesting products and showing off exciting concepts.



OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition: The Perfect Smartphone If You’re a Fan of the Game (or the Color Purple)

If you read Dan’s review of the OnePlus 12R, you already know it delivers a premium experience in almost every way. But if you’re a Genshin Impact fan or the Iron Gray and Cool Blue colorways don’t quite do it for you, you’ll be glad you waited for this. The OnePlus 12R Genshin Impact Edition inherits the OnePlus 12R’s flagship specs, specifically tailored for Genshin Impact enthusiasts.


Xiaomi 14 Series: Flagship Smartphones with Advanced Imaging, Powerful Performance, and Innovative Features

Xiaomi has been collaborating with Leica on their flagship smartphones’ camera optics since last year’s Xiaomi 13 series, and now they have just announced the global launch of the Xiaomi 14 Series featuring Leica Summilux optics. Well, to clarify — it’s a global launch as long as you don’t include the United States, which is, unfortunately, pretty typical with many of the cool smartphones coming out of China these days. So, what does the Xiaomi 14 series bring to the table beyond excellent cameras?




3 Legged Thing WRAPZ Review: A Way to Separate, Shield, and Keep Your Gear Dry Without the Need for Custom Cases

How many times have you started to load a bag with gear for an outing, only to realize that you didn’t have a good way to separate and protect your more delicate items, like cameras, lenses, lights, filters, or, in my case, multiple smartphones when I’m going out for a day of taking comparison shots? 3 Legged Thing WRAPZ is a new, versatile solution that keeps your valuable gear separated, shielded, and dry in any environment.


OPPO Find X7 Ultra Review: A Premium Photography Powerhouse, but You Should Expect a Few Trade-offs, Since It’s a Chinese Market Exclusive

There’s a certain allure to having a different smartphone than anyone else, and there are so many interesting phones with amazing hardware that are only meant for the Chinese or other global markets that far too often do not include the United States. The China-exclusive OPPO Find X7 Ultra is just such a device, but there is still much to admire, even if it isn’t specifically meant for the U.S. market.


OnePlus 12 Review: OnePlus Delivers an Affordable Android Flagship That Should Make Google, Samsung, and You Take Notice

OnePlus blasted onto the scene in 2014 with the tagline “Never Settle” and an invitation-only limited-release of the One, cheekily billed as a “flagship killer.” The One challenged the status quo by delivering quality and performance at a shockingly affordable price that, for all it offered, some considered “ridiculously cheap.” Ten years later, the OnePlus 12 is the brand’s latest flagship, offering excellent battery life, camera performance, speeds, and charging capabilities. If you’re weighing the pros and cons before purchasing a new flagship from Samsung and Google, you should also consider the OnePlus 12.






Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2024 Event Coming Soon, and the Teasers and Savings Have Already Started

Samsung has confirmed that it will host its Galaxy Unpacked 2024 event on January 17th. What can we expect? Well, there’s not a lot of info available yet, but it seems safe to say that, at the very least, the Galaxy S24 series will be announced, and these smartphones will feature new AI camera capabilities. Exhibits 1, 2, and 3: these Samsung teasers that all state, “Zoom with Galaxy AI is coming.” https://image-us.samsung.com/SamsungUS/reserve/02-Eureka-reserve-800×450.mp4


IQOO 12 Legend Edition Review: A Sporty Exterior Hints at the Power Inside

IQOO stands for “I Quest On and On.” Though this emerging Vivo smartphone sub-brand may be unfamiliar to those in the U.S., it’s earning a reputation for combining flagship chipsets with smartphones that emphasize mobile gaming. The iQOO 12 Legend Edition adds a sporty twist to premium styling that will appeal to minimalist design fans as it’s a powerful daily driver with few compromises. Although the iQOO brand is aimed at users in Asia, Europe, and Australia, by the end of this review, I think you’ll agree that it’s too bad iQOO hasn’t yet set its sights on the States.


Got a New iPhone 15? These 6 Incipio Cases Will Protect It in Style!

Did you get a new iPhone 15? As gorgeous as the latest iPhone series is nekkid, you should still consider safeguarding your phone with a protective case. Incipio has got you covered with a diverse range of options that seamlessly combine protection with aesthetics. Whether you prefer a slim profile or something more ruggedly defensive, Incipio Cases for the iPhone 15 will shield your device from accidental drops, scratches, and daily wear while maintaining a sleek design that reflects your style. Let’s look at 6 of their newest offerings for your shiny new iPhone 15!


Dbrand and Zack Nelson of JerryRigEverything File Copyright Lawsuit Against CASETiFY Over Stolen Teardown Designs

It’s not always easy to prove that someone has stolen your work, but that doesn’t appear to be the case (pun intended) here. Dbrand and Zack Nelson from JerryRigEverything have just filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit against CASETiFY, a global smartphone case-making giant. Zack Nelson has laid a compelling outline of how CASETiFY has been ripping off dbrand and JerryRigEverything’s Teardown line of skin and case designs. What’s going on? Read on to find out.