Elvard/Shutterstock Project When you plug in a modern Android phone or tablet, it is normal for the device to vibrate briefly and there may also be a sound accompanying it. This “buzzing” feature exists solely to inform you that successful contact has been made with an active charging source. In other words, the cable you plugged in is working and providing at least a slow supply of power. If your Android device beeps several times after connecting it to a charging source, it’s a red flag. This most likely means…
Author: Alexander Price
The lower monthly payments of leasing your iPhone can be tempting, but it’s not always the cheapest option. Valiantsin Suprunovich/Getty Images If you’re someone who always buys the latest iPhone, there are plenty of payment and upgrade options. Apple’s new program, called Apple Upgrade, lets you lease an iPhone for 12 or 24 months. This poses a big question for annual valuation companies: Is renting really cheaper than buying? With the iPhone 18 Pro starting at $1,199 and the exciting iPhone Duo at $1,999, paying full price for a phone you’ll only keep for a year…
Apple’s AirPods 5 bring active noise cancellation to its $129 earbuds for the first time. The $149 AirPods 5 with wireless charging case adds longer battery life, volume controls on the stems, and a speaker for Find My. The AirPods Pro 3 cost $249. The AirPods 5 arrived in September 2026, a year after the AirPods Pro 3. They continue to narrow the feature gap between the devices, but the Pro model still offers a sealed in-ear fit, significantly better noise cancellation, and hearing and workout features. Our guide helps answer the question of how to decide which of these…
Mamun_Sheikh/Shutterstock Google Photos is now smarter than ever, thanks in no small part to all the nifty tools it’s received over the past year. Just for its tenth anniversary, Google Photos has been upgraded with many AI features. On the one hand, you now receive suggested edits in editor mode. All you have to do is tap on your subject or part of the image you want to edit, and a set of suggestions such as blur the background, sharpen, or move will appear on the screen. If you’re not…
Jajah-sireenut/Getty Images Android has three levels of biometric security. The strength of each tier depends on several factors, including its spoof acceptance rate (SAR), how often users should use their fallback authentication method, and how easily data can be read outside of the runtime environment. The requirements are as follows: Class 1 (formerly Convenience): For users who want a quick way to unlock their device. Requires primary authentication every 24 hours, after four hours of inactivity, or after three unsuccessful biometric unlock attempts. SAR less than 30%. Can only be…
In green/Shutterstock We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. In July 2026, OnePlus officially stopped rolling out products in the United States. This means that new OnePlus phones will no longer be directly available to US consumers. But aside from being a popular phone brand that many consider better than Samsung Galaxy for phone gaming, OnePlus also makes popular headphones, smartwatches, and tablets — and those won’t be coming to the U.S. anymore, either. There are several OnePlus phones with software support until 2029 among those that…
Wongsakorn 2468/Shutterstock When you consider the cost of gadgets compared to what we had ten years ago, it’s almost shocking. Prices in 2026 have skyrocketed; manufacturers have either cut back on hardware upgrades to reduce costs or raised prices to cover inflation. In Samsung’s case, the number of phones has almost doubled since 2016. The Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge cost around $650 and $750, respectively. Now in 2026, the Samsung Galaxy S26 series starts at $900, while the high-end Galaxy S26 Ultra sells for $1,300. Looking at…
Dig out that MacBook and put it to good use. Alexei H/Shutterstock To get the most out of your old MacBook, you may have thought about using it as a home Network Attached Storage (NAS) server. There are several paths to take, from very simple use of the built-in macOS sharing tools to advanced Linux-based solutions. What can you do with a NAS? Most NAS servers exist for one of three functions: as a home media library, for collaboration and sharing, or for storage and backup. Considering the value of data, storage constraints, and the inherent…
You will eventually let it go. Protecting yourself is essential. If you have a fancy new foldable phone like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 or Apple iPhone Duo, perhaps even an older model from Samsung, Motorola, or another brand, you’ll want to protect it. The first accessory you should buy for any phone, foldable or not, is a protective case. But they’re especially important for foldable phones, which tend to be more delicate due to hinge design and often have a lower dust-resistance rating. But you may be wondering what a foldable phone case actually protects, especially since foldable…
A few tips provide a smooth Google Maps experience in your car with CarPlay. Chinnapong/Shutterstock Apple Maps has improved a lot since its rocky launch, but many people still prefer Google Maps. This could be due to traffic data, better business listings, or just out of habit. The good news is that you can use Google Maps in Apple CarPlay like any other supported app. Apple has always been restrictive when it comes to changing the iPhone’s default apps. In the EU and Japan, local regulations allow you to choose your preferred navigation app as the…