Smartphones & Gear

MediaTek Dimensity 9200 Shows They're Ready For the Future

Gear Bits

MediaTek Dimensity 9200 Shows They’re Ready For the Future

I recently explained to my son that once upon a time, phones didn’t fit in our pockets; instead, they were mounted on the wall. He was incredulous and seemed to think I had grown up in the stone age. I don’t blame him since he’s growing up in a world where every phone he encounters has a fair amount of power. We’re at the point where every phone can handle the things only a flagship handled in the past, and we have MediaTek to thank for bringing so many high-end processing features to many phones. But they’re still not resting;…

Stock photo of the MediaTek Dimensity 1080

Gear Bits

MediaTek Dimensity 1080 Chipset Provides Upgraded Cameras and Performance to Next Year’s Mid-Range Android Smartphones

Do you know what processor is powering your smartphone? Chances are that you don’t, and that’s okay, but I find processors fascinating because they control everything from your phone’s responsiveness to how many megapixels the cameras on your phone can be. With the new MediaTek Dimensity 1080 5G chipset, we’re promised upgraded camera features and a performance bump compared to its predecessor, last year’s Dimensity 920.

Two Months with the OnePlus 10T 5G: Power and Speed Make for an Excellent Experience

Reviews

Two Months with the OnePlus 10T 5G: Power and Speed Make for an Excellent Experience

In August, I posted a first look at the OnePlus 10T that covered the OnePlus 10T 5 G’s design, features, and hardware. In this follow-up, I’ll cover the smartphone’s cameras, battery life performance, carrier compatibility, and other things I’ve noticed while using it for the past couple of months. If you haven’t already, read the first part of this review, and then come back to read the rest of the story.

Vivo V25 Pro Review: UV-Activated Gimmicks Aside, It's a Great Phone for Less than $450 (If You Live in India)

Reviews

Vivo V25 Pro Review: UV-Activated Gimmicks Aside, It’s a Great Phone for Less than $450 (If You Live in India)

Vivo may be an unfamiliar smartphone brand to many in the United States. Still, as of August this year, it is the sixth largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide with a 4.29% market share¹ and 149 million smartphones shipped². Since 2011, Vivo has made a name for itself by creating smartphones that offer high-end features at mid-range prices. Available now in India, the Vivo V25 Pro is their latest model, and it happens to be the first Vivo product I’ve ever tried. Let’s take a look.

Nomad iPhone 14 Cases Will Protect Your New Phone with Style

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Nomad iPhone 14 Cases Will Protect Your New Phone with Style

A few months ago, I was out riding my electric bike. My iPhone was in a cradle attached to the bicycle; after hitting a bump, it went flying. Thankfully, my phone was in a Nomad Sport Case, and it was fine. Needless to say, when my new iPhone arrived, it went right into a Nomad case; as you’ll see, there are some great Nomad iPhone 14 cases from which to choose.

OneAdaptr OneWorld 65 Review: With 6 Different Ports, This Could Be the Only Travel Adapter You Need to Bring

Reviews, Travel

OneAdaptr OneWorld 65 Review: With 6 Different Ports, This Could Be the Only Travel Adapter You Need to Bring

If you travel internationally, you know the #1 rookie mistake is arriving at your destination and finding that you either forgot that country’s correct adapter or you didn’t bring enough adapters for all of your gear. I recently traveled to Berlin for IFA, followed by a week in Spain. I only brought two adapters with me, the OneAdaptr OneWorld 65 for charging all of my gear and a basic US to EU adapter that was kept attached to my curling iron’s US plug. Thankfully, this proved to be the perfect setup.

Honor Magic4 Pro in Judie's hand

Reviews

Honor Magic4 Pro Review: Flagship Hardware, Cameras, and Price

A few years ago, I reviewed a budget-friendly phone from Huawei’s sub-brand, the Honor View10. I loved it, and while Honor was meant to be a lower-priced option than Huawei, I didn’t find the phone lacking in the least; it looked, felt, and functioned beautifully. Honor is now a standalone company, completely separate from Huawei, and they’ve released the Honor Magic4 Pro. It’s a big deal, and we’ll talk about why in this review.

These Google Pixel 6a Accessories Will Keep Your New Phone Protected and Covered

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These Google Pixel 6a Accessories Will Keep Your New Phone Protected and Covered

Without a case, the Google Pixel 6a is a very stylish and slick little smartphone. If you’re rockin’ a nekkid 6a — all the better to admire its distinctive style, I get it — then you should know that all it will take to tragically end this love affair is the wrong drop on a hard surface. With the longevity of your pocket communicator in mind, we’ve rounded up a few Pixel 6a accessories for your consideration that will protect your phone and its screen.

SnapCam Creator Kit

Reviews

ShiftCam SnapGrip Creator Kit Review: 3 Components Take Your iPhone Photos and Videos to the Next Level

A few years ago, I backed a Kickstarter project that was a photography grip for the iPhone. With the phone in the grip, using the iPhone felt more like using a DSLR. Now, thanks to the iPhone’s MagSafe, connecting a grip to the iPhone is easier than ever, and the ShiftCam SnapGrip Creator Kit takes full advantage of it. The kit includes the SnapGrip, SnapPod, and SnapLight; let’s take a look.

A First Look at the New OnePlus 10T 5G: Consistent 10-Series Style and Plenty of New Features to Explore

Reviews

A First Look at the New OnePlus 10T 5G: Consistent 10-Series Style and Plenty of New Features to Explore

This morning, OnePlus announced its latest flagship, the OnePlus 10T 5G. With up to 16GB RAM and 256GB storage, the brand’s first-ever ultra-thin vapor cooling system, a top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 Mobile Platform, a 4,800mAh battery, and up to 125W fast-charging in the US, the 10T sounds like an impressive device on paper. Like every other US reviewer, I’ve had mine in hand for almost a full week. Figuring there will be at least one more update before it starts shipping in September, it seems irresponsible to do a full review now, so please enjoy this first look.

Google Pixel 6a Review: Not Too Big, Not Too Expensive; It Might Be Just Right!

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Google Pixel 6a Review: Not Too Big, Not Too Expensive; It Might Be Just Right!

Google introduced the Pixel 6 series last October. The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro flagship smartphones debuted upgraded designs with a distinctive new camera module. Rather than their usual Qualcomm system on a chip, the Pixel 6 series launched with the new Google Tensor SoC, an in-house mobile processor focused on AI and machine learning for even better Pixel device experiences. If you were intrigued by the Pixel 6 series but would prefer something smaller and a bit less pricy without feeling a “that’s all I could afford” let-down, the Google Pixel 6a may be just right.

Anker GaNPrime Chargers

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6 Next-Gen Anker GaNPrime Chargers Revealed; Here’s Why You’re Going to Want (At Least) One

Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology is the most significant improvement to hit mobile device chargers in recent years; it offers more efficient, faster-charging speeds in a smaller-sized charger than traditional silicone chargers. Anker was one of the first companies to incorporate GaN technology into their chargers; now, they’re the first to introduce a charger line that uses GaNPrime. Coupled with PowerIQ 4.0, Anker GaNPrime chargers will do something that, until now, no other GaN charger’s been able to do — dynamically adjust power distribution to release any extra power output from one USB port to the other devices being charged.

Infinix Rolls Out 3D Vapor Cloud Chamber Liquid Cooling to Keep Phones Chilled and Happy

Gear Bits

Infinix Rolls Out 3D Vapor Cloud Chamber Liquid Cooling to Keep Phones Chilled and Happy

As of the writing of this post, a big chunk of the United States is encountering a massive heat wave. It’s rough, and you know who hates heat almost as much as you do? Your smartphone. Just like computers need cooling, so do phones, and they don’t have the benefit of fans or a large amount of space for venting. Infinix says they’ve found a way to dissipate more heat more efficiently with their new 3D Vapor Cloud Chamber Liquid Cooling Technology.

Ugreen Nexode 200W GaN Charger Review: Plenty of Power to Charge Up to Six of Your Devices Simultaneously

Travel, Reviews

Ugreen Nexode 200W GaN Charger Review: Plenty of Power to Charge Up to Six of Your Devices Simultaneously

Playing the equivalent of musical chairs with your wall chargers and cables can become the norm, especially when your everyday carry includes multiple power-hungry devices like laptops and tablets. The Ugreen Nexode 200W GaN Charger puts four USB-C ports and two USB ports at your disposal; with its GaN technology, you can fast-charge up to three 65W laptops simultaneously or charge up to six smartphones and tablets simultaneously.

TCL Stylus 5G Review: An Integrated Stylus Sets This Affordable Option Apart

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TCL Stylus 5G Review: An Integrated Stylus Sets This Affordable Option Apart

While introducing the iPhone in 2007, Steve Jobs famously asked, “who wants a stylus?” In 2022, a surprising number of people still do! While not as common as they used to be, smartphones with built-in styli have remained popular among those who prefer the accuracy that comes from using a stylus. The alternative, of course, is the imprecise fingertip smudges and swipes the rest of us encounter while using our devices. If you’re seeking a budget-friendly smartphone with a built-in stylus and you’re a T-Mobile customer, the new TCL Stylus 5G is worth considering.

The capacitive area on the AXS Audio Professional Earbuds stem

Reviews

AXS Audio Professional Earbuds Review: Fabulous Sound and Excellent Battery Life

True Wireless Earbuds are becoming so common that it’s no longer a question of whether you can find a great pair of TWE that will work for you; it’s what one particular pair does to set itself apart from all other brands and how much they cost that matters now. AXS Audio Professional Earbuds won’t win any awards for original style, but at $149, they offer quite a few features that punch well above their price.

Infinix Announces Super Fast 180W Thunder Charger

Gear Bits

Infinix Teases Super-Fast 180W Thunder Charger: Yet-To-Be-Announced Flagships Will Never Run Out of Juice!

Infinix makes impressive phones that offer significant bang for your buck, but they’re not settling for that. They’re rolling out a new 180W Thunder Charger with select Infinix flagship phones later this year. These phones’ charging times won’t just be a few minutes faster; they’ll be shockingly faster —as in getting a 50% charge on a 4500mAh battery in just four minutes!

People having wayyy to much fun while gathered around a phone that may be running the MediaTek Dimensity 9000+

News

The MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC Will Efficiently Power and Boost the Performance of this Fall’s Flagship Phone Elite

If you thought that the Dimensity 9000 system-on-chip (SoC) has impressive specs, you’ll want to pay attention to the upcoming MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ SoC. If you’ve been hoping for phones with an even more powerful and efficient chip than the Dimensity 9000, the new top-of-the-line Dimensity 9000+ will should fit the bill. And if the last thing you’ve ever thought about was whether or not a smartphone’s SoC sounded impressive, read on, and I’ll give you a few reasons to care.

Yamaha TW-E5B True Wireless Earbuds Review: They Live up to the Yamaha Name

Reviews

Yamaha TW-E5B True Wireless Earbuds Review: They Live up to the Yamaha Name

Yamaha has always been known for quality audio-visual equipment, and these new wireless earbuds don’t break from that mold. The Yamaha TW-E5B True Wireless Earbuds offer great sound detail, crystal-clear calls, IPX5 water (and sweat) resistance, and 30 hours of total battery life. Retailing at $149.95, they’re a great option if you’re in the market.

Xreart original iPhone teardown art

Reviews

Xreart Studio Review: Give the Gift of Upcycled Gadgets with Unique Teardown Art

Art is subjective. What speaks to one person might not strike someone else in the same way. However, if you’re reading Gear Diary, you probably have a strong appreciation for technology, especially the devices that impacted your life. Maybe your gateway to geekery was a Game Boy, an original iPhone, or your first smartwatch; Xreart takes that love for gadgets and turns them into works of art!