Smartphones & Gear



Nomad’s Having a Flash Sale; Go Shopping Before It’s too Late!

Our friends at Nomad woke up this morning, realized it was Labor Day, and decided that their day off would be made even better if they held a flash sale. So that’s what they are doing! Nomad makes some of the best cables, charging hubs and phones case. We’re fans; that’s especially true when they are on sale.


A Review of the Cleer Ally Truly Wireless Earbuds

There’s certainly a lot of competition in the truly wireless headphone market, but a lot of the latest have attempted to up the ante in terms of features, more specifically battery life. But the Cleer Ally True Wireless Headphones are doing just that, and more.




Android Q Welcomes Pixel Users to the Dark Side with Gestures

Google recently released the latest and final beta of Android Q (version 10 for those keeping track at home) for Pixel devices to test drive prior to the general production release in the coming weeks. I decided to take the plunge with this final beta (Beta 6), and it’s been marvelous!



Casely Brings Subscriptions and Style to Phone Cases

Some people buy a case with their phone, and never take it off. Others see a case as a fashion statement and swap them based on mood, needs, and what matches. Casely has a plan for the case-swappers, offering a new case every 1 or 3 months. We tested their cases to see if they’re worth a rotating spot on your phone!



InvisibleShield Glass Elite Offers Superior Protection for Your Google Pixel 3a

InvisibleShield describes their Glass Elite for the Google Pixel 3a, and I assume other smartphones, as, “Our strongest screen protection ever.” I don’t know if that is true, but I do know that it is the easiest screen protector install I have ever done. The $39.99 screen protector is also crystal clear and maintains the screen’s touch sensitivity.


Samsung Launches Note 10 Reservation Page with $600 Trade-Ins!

It is hard to believe that my Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is nearly a year old already, and it’s still my main daily driver due in large part to the awesome S-Pen. In case it isn’t obvious – I have long since decided I would upgrade to the Note 10 based on the many rumors of enhanced performance, upgraded cameras and AI, and of course the all-new S-Pen features.



Mophie Powerstation Hub Is My New Go-To Travel Companion

When I used to travel, I would take numerous power adapters and cables so I could make sure my gear stayed charged. I moved to carrying an adapter with multiplied inputs, but the new mophie powerstation hub has taken things to a new level. It’s great for home but awesome for travel. Here’s why.




Nomad’s New Cables Are Kevlar-Strong

Wireless charging has finally taken but cables for charging and syncing devices are still a necessary evil of modern life. My cables of choice come from Nomad. They are the most durable I’ve found and are pretty much the only ones I use. Now Nomad has rolled out a new line of cables that are even better.




Satechi’s Prime Day Deals!

Satechi is a favorite brand here at Gear Diary, from everything including their aluminum peripherals down tot heir travel chargers that charge everything from a MacBook to a Google Pixel, the popular brand is announcing quite a few deals for Prime Day this year.


The Pixel 3a Is a Problem…

Judie has a Google Pixel 3XL and loves it. And why wouldn’t she? The phone is fast, has a gorgeous screen and, by all reports, has the camera to beat. Currently $699, that’s a good $200 less than it was initially. The Pixel 3a has a similar design, costs just $399, and it is a problem.