Smartphones & Gear


The New Satechi ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger Powers Six Devices While Showing Exactly Where Every Watt Goes

Satechi is back with a bigger, more capable version of one of its more interesting charging ideas. The new Satechi ChargeView 240W Desktop Charger builds on the company’s earlier 140W model, but this time the focus is squarely on users who have gone well beyond charging a single laptop and phone at the same time. For anyone running a desk full of gear, the extra headroom should make this new model a much more compelling option.


RISION Unveils 2 New USB-C Thermal Cameras That Turn Your Phone into an Inspection Device

RISION, a company that specializes in thermal imaging and detection systems, has announced a new family of plug-in thermal cameras that are specifically designed to integrate directly with smartphones, tablets, and laptops. They will offer the new RISION Magic series: the RISION Magic and RISION Magic Pro. The more accessible RISION Magic is designed for homeowners and do-it-yourselfers performing basic household and electronics inspections. The other variant, the RISION Magic Pro, is tailored for professionals, tradespeople, and homeowners alike, performing functions such as investigations of electrical systems and components, HVAC equipment, industrial inspections, and more rigorous mechanical inspections.


BlueParrott Pro B450 Review: A Dream Wireless Headset for Truckers

It is hard to drive and stay connected these days safely. In some states, it’s illegal to have a phone in your hand while driving (which it should be); other states take it a step further and make it illegal to even look at your phone at a red light. While most newer vehicles have an array of screens and other wireless capabilities, most of the larger commercial trucks on the road don’t have that fancy technology. The BlueParrott Pro B450 makes it easy to stay connected hands-free with a customizable button, rotating mic boom, and active noise canceling. The…


Samsung Unpacked 2026 Goes Big on Foldables, AI, and Smarter Galaxy Watches

Samsung launched a gaggle of new devices at its summer Unpacked event in London today. There was a lot of “new” at the event, including some new branding, some new features, and even a new form factor. All told, six new devices are coming in just two weeks at a variety of price points. Samsung is launching the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, the Galaxy Z Fold 8, the Galaxy Z Flip 8, the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2, and the Galaxy Watch 9 in two sizes — 44mm and 40mm. Here are the highlights from the event.


Motorola Razr Fold Review: Big Screen Ambition Meets Battery Life That Means Business

The Motorola Razr Fold is Motorola’s most direct swing at the book-style foldable phone, and that alone makes it a more interesting device than its familiar Razr name might suggest. The Razr name has always kept the memory of a phone that snapped shut with attitude. This one is different. It opens like a small tablet, closes like a large traditional smartphone, and tries to make the case that a foldable can be practical without feeling like a sensitive science project that happens to make calls.


Brain-Body Therapy App Review: A Strong Idea Held Back by Rigid Workouts

I am a firm believer that exercise is a cornerstone of mental health. We are built to move our bodies one way or another. You don’t have to head out for 10-mile runs every day, but even yoga or stretching can help clear the detritus from your mind. So I was super excited to check out the Brain-Body Therapy App, which aims to combine basic therapy with exercise. Is it the path to a clearer mind and healthier body?


OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G Review: The Android Phone That Made Me Question My Loyalty to Apple

I’ve used iPhones since the original model and, despite occasional Android experiments, never seriously considered leaving Apple’s ecosystem. Retirement and a move to a new country changed that, loosening my ties to the workflow that had kept me firmly in Apple’s camp. So when I was offered the OPPO Reno16 Pro 5G, the timing felt right. I expected an interesting detour before returning to my iPhone. Instead, the experience turned out to be far more compelling than I anticipated. That isn’t what happened. While the final jury is still out, I have to say that I’m loving this phone. In…


Time Atlas App Review: Automatically Record Your Adventures to Relive Later

I still have my first diary from the 1970s, and over the past six decades I’ve filled dozens more. I’d actually rather call them journals or life logs, since I’ve never been the kind of person who writes about feelings much. I use a journal to capture everyday activities and adventures so I can relive them years later. There have even been years when I didn’t keep one at all, and I regret that now. Wouldn’t it be great if an app could automatically record your daily activities and travels for you? There is. It’s called Time Atlas.


INIU Cougar P63 Power Bank Review: A Powerful and Handy Little Charger

I’ve used a lot of portable chargers, some great, some good, and some pretty terrible. One consistent problem, though, is that many older chargers I’ve accumulated don’t have the capacity and output power that phones and tablets now require for fast charging. One of the cool things about the INIU Cougar P63 power bank is that it has multiple USB-C and USB-A outputs and can deliver the higher wattage that newer devices crave. The layout and design are very intuitive and easy to understand. The INIU Cougar P63 power bank has a neat little trick. The lanyard loop attached to the…


Xiaomi 17T Smartphone Review: The Imported Android Phone That Made Me Look Like a Better Photographer

My daily phone is an iPhone Air. I love it, but the one area where it falls short is the camera, which is not as powerful as the ones found on more flagship-level devices. So I am always open to having a second phone around that can double as a dedicated photography tool. The new Xiaomi 17T makes a very strong case for itself when it comes to the fusion of smartphone utility and seriously impressive cameras.


Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 Review: Flipping Over This Flip Phone, Until the Camera Zooms In

I’ve reviewed dozens of phones over the years, and a folding phone – the OnePlus Open (check out Judie’s review), but this will be my first flip phone review, and as a bonus, it’s my first official review for Gear Diary! Today, we’re taking a look at the Motorola Razr Ultra 2026 model. Let’s find out if I prefer a phone that easily fits in my front pocket vs my iPhone 16 Pro Max, which I’ve been rocking as my daily driver since it dropped in 2024.


Motorola Edge 2026 Puts Durability, Cameras, and Faster Charging into a Smaller Midrange Phone

The motorola edge 2026 is arriving as Motorola’s newest midrange phone for North America, and its pitch is less about chasing flagship excess than making the everyday stuff feel less fragile. It has a compact 6.3″ display, a triple 50-megapixel camera system, faster wired and wireless charging, and a tougher build than many phones in its price range. At $599.99 unlocked, it’s aimed at people who want a phone that can handle travel, kids, commutes, spills, and too-full tote bags without demanding full flagship money or treating durability as an optional personality trait when it arrives in June.


CRKD ATOM Keychain Gaming Controller Review: A Tiny but Functional Controller for Fun and Travel

If you like mobile gaming but don’t want to carry a full-size controller everywhere, a keychain gaming controller like the CRKD ATOM is a fun idea. It’s tiny, Bluetooth-enabled, and small enough to slip into a pocket or bag when you’re traveling or just heading out to an appointment. I took a look at what comes in the box, how the controller is laid out, how pairing works with an iPhone, and whether this miniature controller is actually usable in a real game.


The KeySmart SmartCard Pro Tracks Your Wallet for up to Two Years on a Single Charge

The $49.99 KeySmart SmartCard Pro is a wallet tracker built for people who don’t want their missing-card anxiety tied to a single phone ecosystem. Instead of choosing between Apple Find My and Google Find Hub compatibility, this credit-card-style tracker is designed to work with either network, though you’ll pair it with one at a time. It’s thin enough to slip into a wallet, rechargeable over Qi wireless charging, rated for up to 24 months of battery life, and dressed in a polished aluminum frame with a transparent shell that shows off the hardware inside.


UGREEN Shrinks Its Apple-Friendly Charging Gear with New Nexode and MagFlow Air Editions

UGREEN’s Nexode and MagFlow Air Editions arrive with a simple pitch: Apple gear shouldn’t require a brick-sized charger, a cable nest, and a separate battery just to make it through a long day. The new lineup includes the $39.99 UGREEN Nexode Air 65W Charger, the $39.99 Nexode Air 45W Charger Slim, and the $79.99 MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 15W, all aimed at people who want smaller charging gear without giving up useful speed, safety checks, or enough flexibility to cover a MacBook Air, iPhone, iPad, and AirPods on a desk, plane, or commute.


Motorola’s Razr Deals Put Foldables Back in the Graduation Gift Conversation

Motorola’s latest Dads & Grads promotion puts the motorola razr FIFA World Cup 26™ Edition and the new 2026 motorola razr family in the deal spotlight, with discounts, bundled accessories, and trade-in offers aimed at anyone shopping for a more memorable tech gift than another Bluetooth speaker. The limited-edition razr is now $100 off at $599.99, and Motorola is also adding a free pair of moto buds loop earbuds, a moto watch, and a moto tag with purchase. For foldable-curious shoppers, the preorder bundles on the 2026 razr lineup may be the more interesting part.


The Motorola 2026 Razr Lineup Wants Foldables to Feel Less Fragile and More Useful

The Motorola 2026 razr lineup wants to make a familiar argument: foldables don’t have to be fragile little novelty phones you baby through the day. The family includes the motorola razr ultra, motorola razr+, and motorola razr, with the motorola razr fold sitting above them as a larger book-style foldable. There are bigger outside screens, sturdier hinges, faster chips, larger batteries, new camera tools, and a few Google Photos tricks that could be useful, provided you’re comfortable letting your phone rummage through your closet. Also arriving are the moto buds 2 plus, Motorola’s new Bose-tuned earbuds.


Poco F8 Ultra Review: They Put a Subwoofer in a Flagship Phone, and Somehow That’s Not Even the Wildest Part

In Xiaomi land, Poco and Redmi generally focus on making excellent mid-range and budget phones, while parent company Xiaomi focuses on making great flagships. This is the way. But every now and then, Poco and Redmi crank things up a notch and release a genuine flagship. Behold the Poco F8 Ultra, an affordable flagship with a metal frame, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, triple 50MP rear shooter, a 6,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, and 50W wireless charging. Oh, and did I mention it comes with a Bose-branded subwoofer? Madness!


The OPPO Find X9 Ultra Is the Flagship Phone Built Around the Most Interesting Camera in the Room

Most flagship phones now arrive with the same familiar promise: faster, brighter, smarter, thinner, more powerful, and somehow always “professional” at everything. Before long, the category blurs into one glossy slab of titanium, glass, marketing language, and camera bumps large enough to demand their own zip code. The OPPO Find X9 Ultra cuts through that sameness almost immediately. It is a flagship smartphone, certainly, with a sharp display, a current-generation Qualcomm chip, a very large battery, quick charging, generous storage, and the polished hardware you expect at this level. But none of that is the real headline.


TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro Is Easy on Your Eyes and Your Budget

When you’re in the market for a new phone, you have a lot of choices. Do you go Android or iOS? What’s your budget? Sure, you can get seduced by high-end flagship devices, but if you’re looking for a phone that will handle entertainment, photos, and everyday needs while also being gentle on your eyes and your wallet, the new TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro is calling your name.