Don't miss out on this limited-time Chase Sapphire perk increase

Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Android Central may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network. Please note that the offers mentioned below are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.

As the effects of the coronavirus pandemic continue, U.S. spending habits have shifted dramatically from even earlier this year. While road trips are sputtering back to life, travel overall is still dramatically down.

Since April, credit card issuers have been quick to catch on, adding in new limited-time bonus categories, annual-fee reductions, and other credits that could be used from home. These changes were intended to keep certain cards — especially travel rewards cards — to be top of mind for those that hold them.

Just last month, Chase announced a slew of benefit updates for two of its most popular cards — the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and Chase Sapphire Reserve. Those perks included the new Pay Yourself Back program and flexible use of the Sapphire Reserve's $300 travel credit.

Now, Chase is back with yet another round of extras specifically for its Sapphire lineup — and it all starts on July 1.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

Limited-time perks on Instacart through Sept. 30:

• 5x points on Instacart delivery and pickup orders — on up to $3,000 across the three-month promotional period
• Up to $50 in statement credits towards an Instacart Express membership (annual or monthly)

New bonuses categories through Sept 30:

• 5x points at gas stations — on up to $1,500 across the three-month promotional period
• 10x points on select streaming services (such as Spotify or Netflix) — on up to $1,500 across the three-month promotional period

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Limited-time perks on Instacart through Sept. 30:

• 3x points on Instacart delivery and pickup orders — on up to $3,000 across the three-month promotional period
• Up to $50 in statement credits towards an Instacart Express membership (annual or monthly)

New bonuses categories through Sept 30:

• 3x points at gas stations — on up to $1,500 across the 3-month promotional period
• 5x points on select streaming services (like Spotify or Netflix) — on up to $1,500 across the three-month promotional period

Details of the limited-time perks

Chase Sapphire Reserve cardmembers will earn 5x total points and Chase Sapphire Preferred will earn 3x total points on all Instacart delivery and pickup orders – up to $3,000 in spend across the three months. In addition, cardmembers will also receive up to $50 in statement credits towards an Instacart Express membership (annual or monthly) — including $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on orders of $35 or more.

With a new, limited-time bonus on gas, Sapphire Reserve cardmembers will earn 5x total points and Sapphire Preferred cardmembers will earn 3x total points – on up to $1,500 in spend across the three months.

Finally, Chase is also announcing a new bonus on select streaming services including Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Netflix, Sling, Vudu, Fubo TV, Apple Music, SiriusXM, Pandora, Spotify, YouTube TV. Sapphire Reserve cardmembers earn 10x total points and Sapphire Preferred cardmembers earn 5x total points. This also can be used on up to $1,500 in spending across the three-month promotional period.

For all of these offers, no activation is required and they will automatically begin on July 1 and end on Sept. 30, 2020.

*Bonus valuation based on TPG valuation and not provided by issuers.

Delivery and pickup through Instacart open the door to a hefty bonus at a number of retailers, including groceries and other household items. From Costco to Petco to Target and more, it will be easy for many cardholders to maximize this bonus during the three-month span.

Like the previously offered grocery bonus. the increased earnings on gas and streaming are new categories entirely — complementing the existing travel and dining bonuses on the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred.

Finally, with a $50 credit to Instacart Express, you would be able to receive half off of an annual subscription or three months free on a monthly plan.

With an Instacart Express membership, you'll get the following perks:

• $0 delivery fees on orders of $35 or more (typically $3.99-$7.99 for non-Express)
• Reduced service fees (typically 5% for non-Express)
• No busy pricing fees during peak delivery hours

Bottom line

With the limited-time grocery bonus ending on most Chase cards, this is a stellar replacement — as long as you are a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve cardholder. Chase appears to be doubling down on benefits for its most popular cards, which ultimately leaves some Chase cardholders in the dark.

If you're currently a Sapphire cardholder — or interested in applying — these offerings through Sept. 30 can be a lucrative addition to your summer spending. Even if you aren't yet comfortable traveling far from home, you'll be able to maximize these bonuses with delivery and pickup, driving around town, or streaming yet another movie from the couch.

Featured photo by The Points Guy.

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B&H's 4th of July sale is now live with discounts on PCs, TVs and much more

With the 4th of July only a few days away, now's the perfect time to start looking for a deal on a new laptop, 4K TV, or another expensive purchase you've been meaning to make in the last few months. B&H's 4th of July sale is one that's live right now so you can find that new TV or PC you've been looking for and save a few hundred bucks on it in the process. Of course, B&H has plenty of other tech on sale too, from smart home devices to streaming media players, along with tons of cameras and accessories. Plus, standard shipping is free for most items, with expedited shipping free on most orders over $49.

Unlocked smartphones are on sale during B&H's 4th of July sale too. For instance, this OnePlus 6T device is not only $200 off right now but also includes a Ting Sim Card Kit that gives you $60 worth of prepaid phone service free-of-charge.

Anyone looking for a new TV should consider the Samsung TU8000 75-inch 4K Smart TV. This is the latest model to come from Samsung and today's deal brings its cost down to $997.99, saving you $200 in the process.

Another discount you shouldn't overlook is on the GoPro Hero7 Black Action Camera. At $100 off, you'll pay $229.99 for this mini camera that is designed to capture all the action wherever you bring it. It includes a full 1-year warranty with the purchase, along with a few helpful accessories and free expedited shipping.

B&H's 4th of July sale is just one of many that is live right now. If you don't find anything at B&H worth picking up right now, we have a whole guide comprised of the best 4th of July sales to give you some other options.

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Bring the arcade to your counter with $100 off Arcade1Up machines

Arcades may be a relic of the past in 2020, but that doesn't mean arcade-style gaming is dead. Arcade1Up machines bring the fun of arcade games to your home with mini cabinet designs that are reminiscent of popular arcade cabinets yet in a smaller size that makes it possible for anyone to own one. Thanks to a limited-time sale at Walmart, the price on two of these machines is much lower than usual. While supplies last, you can pick one up for as low as $99.99 and save $100 off the regular price. Shipping is free.

Two different models are on sale at Walmart today, and it's likely these prices won't last long at all. The first is this Space Invaders Arcade1Up Machine. At $100 off its normal cost, that marks one of the lowest prices we've ever seen on one of these machines. The second model, Centipede Arcade1Up Machine is on sale for the same price of $99.99.

Arcade1Up's Countercade machines measure 18 inches high and are best suited to be placed on a counter or table of some sort. Unlike the usual arcade machines we think of, these machines don't require a quarter to start playing. They feature original artwork from the games, along with full-color high resolution displays and speakers. There are full-size joysticks and control buttons as well, so you don't have to worry about playing with minature controls even though the machine is smaller than traditional models.

Best of all, these machines come with two games in one. While the Space Invaders cabinet includes Color and B&W versions of that popular game, the Centipede cabinet includes the game Centipede as well as the game Missile Command. Just plug the cabinet into an AC outlet and you can begin playing wherever you bring it.

Walmart offers free shipping on orders of $35 or more.

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Moto G 5G with dual hole-punch selfie cameras shown off in leaked render

The phone will have a 48MP main camera at the rear.

What you need to know

• A press render of Motorola's upcoming 5G-enabled G series phone has surfaced.
• The render reveals a quad-camera setup on the back and two hole-punch cutouts on the front.
• It is possible that the phone will use Qualcomm's recently announced Snapdragon 690 chipset.

When Qualcomm announced its new Snapdragon 690 earlier this month, Motorola confirmed that it is working on an affordable 5G phone powered by the chipset. Reliable leaker Evan Blass has now shared the first render of the company's upcoming budget 5G phone, which will likely debut sometime later this year.

The render reveals a phone with dual hole-punch cutouts on the top-left corner of the display. Unlike other phones with dual hole-punch displays, however, the "Moto G 5G" will not have a pill-shaped cutout but two individual cutouts. On the back of the phone, we find a quad-camera setup with a 48MP resolution primary sensor. The render also suggests the phone will have a side-mounted fingerprint sensor.

At this point, the key specs of the upcoming Moto G 5G phone remain a mystery. However, it is likely that the phone will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 690 chipset, which has been designed to bring 5G to affordable phones. Apart from Motorola, other Android OEMs such as HMD Global, LG, and TCL are also expected to launch 5G phones powered by the Snapdragon 690 chipset later this year.

Moto G Power

$250 at Amazon $250 at Best Buy $249 at Walmart

The Moto G Power is among the more impressive budget phones that Motorola has launched this year. It offers excellent battery life, a triple-camera setup on the back, and great software experience.

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Motorola Edge confirmed to be unlocked in the U.S. and cost $700

It's also getting more RAM and storage than initially announced.

What you need to know

• The Motorola Edge will cost $700 when it launches later this summer.
• It'll also be available universally unlocked, unlike the Verizon-exclusive Edge+.
• Motorola is equipping the phone with 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

Back in April, Motorola announced two new smartphones — the Edge and Edge+. The latter of those two devices was made available for purchase shortly after, but the former has remained something of a mystery. We learned about all of its specs and features, but availability and price were kept under wraps. That's finally changing.

On June 30, Motorola confirmed that the Motorola Edge will be available universally unlocked in the United States — a huge improvement over the Edge+'s exclusivity to Verizon. Motorola is still touting a "summer" release date, but we also now know it'll cost $700 whenever that does happen.

I was personally hoping for something closer to the $600 marker, but Motorola is equipping the Edge with more RAM and storage than what we were expecting. The phone was initially said to come with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, but now it'll offer 6GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.

The rest of the Edge's specs remain unchanged, meaning it'll still have a Snapdragon 765 processor, a 6.7-inch OLED display with a Full HD+ resolution and 90Hz refresh rate, a 4,500 mAh battery, and four rear cameras — including a 64MP primary camera, 16MP ultra-wide camera, 16MP macro camera, and an 8MP telephoto camera.

Rounding out the spec sheet is support for expandable storage, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and 5G connectivity with the sub-6 standard. Wireless charging would have been great to see at this price, but regardless, it seems that you'll be getting a lot for your money.

Now that pricing is official, the Motorola Edge is shaping up to be an interesting alternative to the OnePlus 8. It should also compete well with the upcoming Pixel 5, which is also expected to use the Snapdragon 765 chipset.

Given how impressed we were with the higher-end Edge+, we can't wait to get our hands on the Motorola Edge and put it through its paces. Now, if Motorola would only give us a release date to look forward to.

Motorola Edge+ review: Slippery slope

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These are the best Galaxy Note 10+ screen protectors

For the first time, Samsung is releasing a Plus-sized version of its larger Galaxy Note phones. This release means an even larger screen option for those interested in the latest in the Note series. That also means more display real estate to protect from scuffs and scratches. Don't let your display get damaged by your daily use; keep your Note 10+ protected with a screen protector!

Trusted wrapper

IQ Shield Screen Protector

Staff pick

IQ Shield is well-known for its super thin smart film that blends into the screen almost imperceptibly. This two-pack comes with everything you need to install the screen protector onto your Note 10+ without bubbles or hassle.

$9 at Amazon

Trusted tempered glass

Whitestone Dome Glass

The Whitestone Dome Glass is a premium option for protecting the display of your Note 10+. This kit includes a phone holder that ensures a perfect installation and acts as a guide for the UV light that cures the screen protector to the display. Whitestone Dome Glass offers full coverage for the entire curved display surface and won't pop loose over time.

$50 at Amazon

Cured with UV light

amFilm Ultra Glass Screen Protector (2-pack)

The more premium tempered glass screen protectors use UV lights to cure adhesion gel to the display, and that's just what you get with this two-pack from amFilm. The tempered glass design allows for maximum durability, along with no loss in display quality and full compatibility with the Note 10+'s in-screen fingerprint sensor.

$40 at Amazon

Case friendly design

Spigen NeoFlex TPU Film (2-pack)

Spigen only offers a film screen protector for the Note 10+, but it's a sound investment if you also plan on buying a case for your phone. A flexible film can be better for installing because you're able to bend it to cover the curved edge of the display. Spigen recommends using a case to get the perfect fit with no raised corners.

$10 at Amazon

Film protector multipack

IVSO TPU Film Screen Protector (3-pack)

As great as tempered glass is for protection, I've found a film screen protectors to be the better choice for larger phones. It's because they're easier to install and position correctly, and will still defend against daily wear and tear. This three-pack of film screen protectors will serve you well and offers the best overall value on the market so far.

$6 at Amazon

Designed to work with cases

Ferilinso PET Film Screen Protector (3-pack)

A screen protector can only protect so much, and with a phone that starts at well over a grand, you're going to want all the protection you can get. These film screen protectors from Ferilinso are your best bet for PET film and are designed to be fully compatible with most cases.

$5 at Amazon

Keep that Note 10+ looking fresh

Don't risk scuffing up your brand new Galaxy Note 10+ by forgoing a screen protector. All it takes is one little scratch, and suddenly it's all you'll see when you use your phone. It's super distracting and more than a little depressing when it inevitably happens, but there's a simple fix. Use a screen protector as soon as you pull your phone out of the box.

Our top pick is the IQ Shield Screen Protector. This easy-to-apply smart film keeps your Note 10+ screen looking fantastic, and the best part is that you'll hardly notice it at all!

You also can't go wrong with Whitestone Dome's excellent tempered glass screen protector. It may be expensive, but it's worth it to ensure a clean install and long-term protection.

For those interested in film screen protectors, I would recommend the Spigen NeoFlex 2-pack. Spigen is a trusted brand, and it designed its screen protectors to be fully compatible with cases. And let's be real, if you're using a screen protector chances are you're also going to use a case for your Note 10+.

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The OnePlus Nord is coming — here's everything we know so far

The spiritual successor to the OnePlus X is coming soon.

Leading up to the OnePlus 8 and 8 Pro launch, the rumor mill was strongly suggesting that the two phones would be joined by a budget-focused OnePlus 8 Lite. As time went on, that name went to the wayside and it was starting to be referred to as the OnePlus Z. The product unveiling came and went, and there's still no OnePlus 8 Lite/OnePlus Z in sight.

The phone is still coming, it'll actually be called the "OnePlus Nord," and we just have to wait a little while longer before we can get our hands on it.

Based on what we know so far, the OnePlus Z/Nord should carry the same ideals of 2015's OnePlus X. In other words, we're expecting a phone with great build quality, good specs, and a super low price. Interested in learning more? Let's dive in!

Nice balance

OnePlus 8

From $699 at Amazon $608 at Walmart $788 at Newegg

Right in the middle

If the OnePlus Nord is the most affordable new OnePlus phone for 2020, the regular OnePlus 8 sits right in the middle between it and the OnePlus 8 Pro. This is a device that boasts a 90Hz AMOLED display, three rear cameras, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor. We expect the OnePlus Nord will have a more competitive price than it, but if you have some additional cash to spare, the OnePlus 8 is a solid pickup.

Jump to:

• What we know about price
• It should be announced soon
• Here's what the phone looks like
• Let's look at the specs
• The start of a new product line
• It's a sequel to the OnePlus X
• Don't forget about the OnePlus 8

How much is the OnePlus Z/OnePlus Nord going to cost?

First thing's first, let's talk about the elephant in the room — price.

The big draw to the OnePlus Z/OnePlus Nord is that it'll mark OnePlus's return to truly affordable smartphones, and thankfully, the latest reports have us excited.

On June 19, OnePlus co-founder Carl Pei shared an old Tweet from the official OnePlus account that was highlighting the OnePlus One from 2014. He commented "It's been a while...," and that's it.

It's been a while... https://t.co/O61EoIa3Gc

— Carl Pei (@getpeid) June 19, 2020

What does any of this mean? If you ask us, it's a secret indicator of the OnePlus Nord's price. The OnePlus One cost $299 for its 16GB configuration, or $349 if you wanted 64GB of storage. Both of those price tags would make the OnePlus Z very interesting, especially if it can go all the way down to $299.

Prior to that tweet, a customer survey inadvertently leaked the OnePlus Z as costing ₹24,990 in India (around $330 USD).

When will the OnePlus Nord be announced?

In a perfect world, the OnePlus Nord would have been released back in April alongside the OnePlus 8 series. Unfortunately, live in a perfect world we do not.

Thanks to the ongoing pandemic that's wreaking havoc in more ways than one, OnePlus reportedly had to delay the launch of the OnePlus Z until this July.

We've been able to confirm that OnePlus is planning to unveil the phone on July 10 in India, though it remains unclear how availability will play out for other countries.

What does the OnePlus Nord look like?

The front of the phone is home to a 6.55-inch Full HD+ display, slim bezels, and a hole-punch cutout in the center near the top. The display also isn't curved at all, which is something you do get on the 8 and 8 Pro.

Around back, you'll see that there are three rear cameras and an LED flash to the right of the camera bump. That's one of the more recent renders that we've seen, but prior to it, the render below is what was being shared. It looks mostly the same, save for the fact that it only shows two rear cameras.

Additional leaks have basically confirmed that three cameras will be present, but as always, nothing is official until OnePlus says so.

On June 26, we were able to confirm some details about the OnePlus Nord's front-facing cameras. That's right, this is the first OnePlus phone to have more than one selfie shooter — specifically, it'll offer a 32MP primary camera and 8MP ultra-wide camera. A source of ours has confirmed that the arrangement is final, and this could make the OnePlus Nord the new phone to get if you're serious about selfies or vlogging.

Rounding out the design of the OnePlus Nord, it looks to have the iconic OnePlus alert slider and a USB-C port for charging. Just like the last few OnePlus phones, there's no 3.5mm headphone jack.

What specs does the OnePlus Nord have?

On June 6, we got a massive leak regarding the OnePlus Z/OnePlus Nord's specs. According to a user survey gauging people's interest in a budget-minded OnePlus device, the following specs were revealed:

Category	OnePlus Nord
Operating System	Android 10 OxygenOS
Display	6.55-inch Super AMOLED Full HD+ 90Hz refresh rate
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G
RAM	6GB
Storage	128GB
Rear Camera 1	64MP primary camera
Rear Camera 2	16MP ultra-wide camera
Rear Camera 3	2MP depth or macro camera
Front Camera 1	32MP primary camera
Front Camera 2	8MP ultra-wide camera
Security	In-display fingerprint sensor
5G	✔️
Battery	4,300 mAh
Charging	30W Warp Charge

Looking at that spec sheet, one of the more interesting tidbits is the OnePlus Nord's processor. For the longest time, it was looking like the phone would get the MediaTek Dimensity 1000 chipset. However, the conversation has now shifted to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 765 — the same processor that's in the LG Velvet and rumored for the Pixel 5.

Both chipsets bring a lot to the table, but with the Snapdragon 765, OnePlus can deliver fast processing speeds and sub-6 + mmWave 5G connectivity.

It's also great to see that the OnePlus Nord will retain a 90Hz refresh rate despite its low price, and with a beefy 4,300 mAh battery, battery life should be quite swell.

Is the OnePlus Nord part of a new product line?

Back when the OnePlus Nord/OnePlus Z was thought to be the "OnePlus 8 Lite," we were expecting it to be a typical release for the company. It would obviously traget a lower price than we'd seen from past OnePlus phones, but at the end of the day, that's all it would be — another OnePlus phone. Now, we know that this will be a much bigger deal.

On June 23, OnePlus CEO Pete Lau shared a post on the OnePlus forums to announce the creation of a new "affordable smartphone product line."

As we have always done when we try something new, we are going to start relatively small with this new product line by first introducing it in Europe and India. But don't worry, we're also looking to bring more affordable smartphones to North America in the near future as well.

This new product team is led by Paul Yu, who has headed product hardware development for many of our previous flagship devices over the past 5 years. We've also assembled a team of young, creative and enthusiastic OnePlus staff from all over the world, who have been working tirelessly over the past few months to bring this product line to life.

The "new product line" is more than likely referring to the OnePlus Z, and a day before this post was published, Pete Lau shared a teaser image on Twitter. It's a photo of the OnePlus logo in a new blue color, along with the text, "Who's ready for something new from OnePlus?".

Who's ready for something new from @oneplus? 😎 #NewBeginnings pic.twitter.com/EOCiJZVrTU

— Pete Lau (@PeteLau) June 22, 2020

There's been talk of this new product line being called "OnePlus Nord," and on June 26, we confirmed with our sources that it is the final name for the device. Shortly after that on June 30, OnePlus made the name official via a video on its OnePlus Nord Instagram page. In the video, OnePlus CEO and founder Pete Lau says:

Launching the OnePlus Nord product line marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for OnePlus. The 'Never Settle' spirit is centered around sharing the best technology and products with the world, but it is also about challenging ourselves and going beyond our comfort zone. We are immensely proud of our flagship products and will continue to create more tech-leading flagships for our users. Now we are excited to share the OnePlus experience with even more users around the world through this new product line.

Exclusive: Carl Pei on OnePlus' new beginnings with the OnePlus Nord

Is the OnePlus Nord a successor to the OnePlus X?

Unless you've been following OnePlus from the very beginning, there's a good chance you don't remember the OnePlus X. Honestly, we don't blame you.

The OnePlus X was released in October 2015, just a few months after the OnePlus 2 hit the scene. The idea behind the OnePlus X was to deliver the OnePlus experience at the lowest price possible, resulting in a $249 phone that offered a 5-inch Full HD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 801 processor, 3GB of RAM, and a 13MP rear camera. At the time, those were great specs for a phone so cheap.

Unfortunately for OnePlus, the phone was plagued by poor camera performance, weak battery life, and just never captivated a similar audience that its other phones had.

The OnePlus X remains as the cheapest handset OnePlus has ever sold, and seeing as how it's getting close to five years since it released, there are a lot of expectations for a successor to it. Especially with the baseline OnePlus 8 costing $699 and the OnePlus 8 Pro costing as much as $999, a truly low-cost OnePlus device is just what we need right now.

Should I just get the OnePlus 8 instead?

We can't wait to see what OnePlus delivers with the OnePlus Nord, but if you want a new phone right now and don't feel like waiting, you should consider picking up the OnePlus 8.

It is a lot more expensive than what we're expecting the OnePlus Nord to cost, but it's still a pretty good price considering everything it brings to the table. Some highlights for the phone include a 6.55-inch AMOLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, Snapdragon 865 processor, up to 12GB of RAM, and a 4,300 mAh battery.

The OnePlus 8 isn't the absolute best value we've ever seen from the company, but if you're shopping for a new Android handset, it's definitely one of the top ones you should consider.

Nice balance

OnePlus 8

From $699 at Amazon $608 at Walmart $788 at Newegg

Right in the middle

If the OnePlus Nord is the most affordable new OnePlus phone for 2020, the regular OnePlus 8 sits right in the middle between it and the OnePlus 8 Pro. This is a device that boasts a 90Hz AMOLED display, three rear cameras, and Qualcomm's Snapdragon 865 processor. We expect the OnePlus Nord will have a more competitive price than it, but if you have some additional cash to spare, the OnePlus 8 is a solid pickup.

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Would you buy a phone that doesn't come with a charger in the box?

Let's have a chat with the AC forums.

Love it or hate it, there's no denying the impact Apple has on the entire mobile tech industry. When it dropped the headphone jack from the iPhone 7, just about every Android phone maker was quick to follow. The iPhone X popularized the infamous notch, and once again, the Android market followed.

There's a new report that Apple will not include EarPods or a charging adapter in the iPhone 12's box, with this being an attempt to save money given the iPhone 12's increased production costs compared to past models.

Not including a charging adapter would mean the iPhone 12 comes with no out-of-the-box way to refuel the battery — something we've come to expect with every phone that's released. We recently asked our AC forum members what they think about this, and this is what they had to say.

L0n3N1nja

06-29-2020 03:30 PM

“

It's beyond stupid not to include a required charger, as it is their cords are low quality and prone to failure, just another way for them to make cash and sadly it won't hurt their sales. If this is true I'm sure fan boys will proclaim it's a great thing to buy the charger separate and all Androids should do the same.

Reply

B. Diddy

06-29-2020 03:57 PM

“

I guess I can kind of understand the reason for this, since so many people have mountains of chargers and charging cables at home. I think it'd make more sense if Apple gave consumers the option to get a charger/cable with their phone (for free) or not. Just have the charger in a separate package and hand them to the consumer if they request it. But don't charge for it -- that's tacky.

Reply

Mooncatt

06-29-2020 06:11 PM

“

I haven't used an OEM charger in years. Even with my new LG V60, it's only seen the OEM charger and cable once, just to see what it would do. It wouldn't bother me if those were no longer included. I would throw the caveat in that I would expect that cost cutting to translate to a lower phone price, but it's such a cheap accessory that there's no way to tell unless they offer a version with the...

Reply

bembol

06-30-2020 12:27 AM

“

One word. Courage. FML I guess they're finally coming out with some wireless charger like no other, that's just simply amazing. What I hate even more is, Samsung and the rest will make this move as well.

Reply

This got us to wondering — Would you buy a phone that doesn't come with a charger in the box?

Join the conversation in the forums!

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Amazon's one-day sale on WD and SanDisk storage offers huge savings

You can never have enough space for data these days! Whether you're building your own media server, need a microSD card for a security camera, or want something for transferring files from one machine to another, today's Amazon daily deal featuring sales from SanDisk and WD has got you covered. In this sale, you will find thumb drives, portable hard drives, solid state drives, microSD cards, and more all ranging from a few gigabytes to multiple terabytes. And all going for super low prices.

Prices for microSD cards have been continually dropping over the past several months meaning they are never that expensive these days, but with this sale you make the most of excellent deals on microSD cards from 128GB to 400GB in size. The models on sale today are SanDisk's Ultra line which will work great in all manner of devices, from security cameras to phones, tablets, and the Nintendo Switch. There's a 256GB card down to $31.99 which is a great value or, if you want something larger, the 400GB SanDisk Ultra microSD card is down to $47.99 which is just a couple of bucks more than its lowest ever price.

Flash drives are also super affordable in this sale with options for USB, USB-C, and Lightning ports from $16. Some of these drives, like the 256GB SanDisk Ultra Fit, are down to their best prices ever so you definitely want to grab anything you need while you can.

There are also great deals on high-capacity portable hard drives at up to $50 off and discounts on portable SSDs, personal cloud storage, and more.

These types of sales don't come around all that often, but when they do you should absolutely take full advantage of them and load up on everything you need. There are a bunch of options available right now, though the selection will dwindle as the day rolls on and things start to sell out so be sure to order anything you want before it's too late.

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Get two months of Amazon Kindle Unlimited for free

If you're looking for more ways to stay entertained in self-isolation, then you can't go wrong with Amazon Kindle Unlimited. Especially if you can try it out for free. A two-month trial of the all-you-can-read eBook service is yours for the low, low price of $0 for a limited time giving you endless reading material for the next several weeks stuck indoors. The deal is only available for new or former Kindle Unlimited users and expires at the end of August.

The subscription service normally costs $9.99 a month, so you're saving $20 with this deal. Last July, Amazon gave away three months of the service to its Prime members but unlike that offer, this deal does not require you to be a Prime subscriber so anyone can get in on it.

Kindle Unlimited gives you access to over a million titles, spanning from technical documents to cookbooks to fantasy novels to nonfiction. Even some audiobooks are included. Need a self-help book? Want to re-read the Harry Potter books for the seventeenth time? It's all there, and it's all free with your membership. You don't need a Kindle or Fire tablet to read, either. Amazon makes it easy to read thanks to its free Kindle reading apps for iOS, Android, PC, and Mac.

With its myriad of titles, Kindle Unlimited could keep you reading non-stop if you wished. You can keep up to ten titles at a time, and when you feel like swapping them out, the process is seamless. After the two months are up, it will renew automatically for the normal rate. You can cancel at any time with no penalties for doing so, though you might find that $10 per month is a great value for all that Kindle Unlimited offers.

Looking for more ways to stay entertained from the comfort of your own home? Various streaming services are offering free trials and free access right now to keep you busy and informed during the next few weeks. Check them all out here.

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Xiaomi's new Redmi 9A and 9C are sub-$100 phones with 5000mAh batteries

Both phones come with a single 13MP camera on the back.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi's entry-level Redmi 9A and 9C smartphones are now official.
• The Redmi 9A comes with a MediaTek Helio G25 chipset, a single 13MP rear camera, and a 5000mAh battery.
• Redmi 9C features a slightly more powerful Helio G35 chipset and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Xiaomi Malaysia today quietly announced the Redmi 9A and Redmi 9C entry-level phones. Both phones are powered by MediaTek chipsets and promise excellent battery life.

The new Redmi 9C comes with a 6.53-inch HD+ display featuring a waterdrop notch cutout with a 5MP selfie camera. It is powered by a MediaTek Helio G35 octa-core chipset, paired with 2GB RAM and 32GB storage. The phone has a single 13MP camera on the back and packs a massive 5,000mAh battery. It also comes with a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.

Redmi 9A, on the other hand, runs on a slightly less powerful MediaTek Helio G25 chipset, clubbed with 2GB of RAM and 32GB storage. Like the Redmi 9C, the Redmi 9A has a 6.53-inch HD+ display with a 5MP selfie camera housed within the waterdrop notch at the top. The rest of the phone's key specs are also identical to the Redmi 9C. The only notable difference is the omission of the fingerprint sensor.

The Redmi 9A has been priced at RM359 ($85) in Malaysia and will be available through Lazada starting July 7. Redmi 9C will be going on sale in the country by the end of July for RM429 ($100). While Redmi hasn't confirmed any details yet, the Redmi 9A and Redmi 9C are expected to soon make their way to a few other markets such as Europe and India.

Best Xiaomi Phones in 2020

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Google is holding its first ‘Smart Home Virtual Summit’ on July 8

You can look forward to some "exciting new and upcoming features" for smart home devices.

What you need to know

• Google will be hosting a "Hey Google" Smart Home Virtual Summit next week.
• The search giant will be diving into some new and upcoming features for both smart home developers and users at the event.
• The "Hey Google" Smart Home Keynote will begin at 13:00 ET on July 8.

Google has announced that it will be holding a "Hey Google" Smart Home Virtual Summit next week to share new and upcoming features for smart home developers and users. Since the Google I/O had to be canceled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the summit will provide an opportunity to the company to be able to engage with developers and users "in person."

Michele Turner, Product Management Director of the Smart Home Ecosystem, will be sharing Google's recent smart home product initiatives in the keynote, which is set to begin at 13:00 ET on July 8. Turner will also share new tools that have been designed to make it easier to develop with Google Assistant.

Google will host a "Hey Google" partner panel as well, where several industry leaders will talk about the impact of COVID-19 on their business and the overall state of the Smart Home industry.

As announced by Google earlier this month, Smart Displays will soon be able to access AMP web content. More web content categories are expected to be enabled for Google Assistant Smart Displays later this year. The Assistant has also gained the ability to save session information for multiple users on a single device, which means users can resume playback of podcasts and videos across compatible devices.

Here's how Google is succeeding at making Assistant think like a human

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From the DS220+ to DS920+, these are Synology's 2020 NAS enclosures

Looking to buy a NAS in 2020? Start here.

What you need to know

• Synology is rolling out four new models in its Plus series: DiskStation DS220+, DS420+, DS720+, and DS920+.
• All four models feature upgraded hardware and two Gigabit Ethernet ports.
• The DS420+, DS720+, and DS920+ also offer two M.2 slots for SSD caching.
• All four models are now available.

If you're in the market for a new network-attached storage (NAS) enclosure, Synology is the ideal place to start. The brand offers everything from budget options aimed at home users to enthusiast models designed for small businesses, and now Synology has unveiled its 2020 portfolio.

The brand is launching new variants of four models in the Plus series, with the DS220+ a particularly great option for first-time buyers, and the DS720+, DS420+, and DS920+ targeted at the enthusiast segment. All models include upgraded connectivity options and huge performance upgrades, so if you already have a NAS enclosure and are looking to upgrade or are interested in getting started with your own media server, let's take a look at Synology's latest products.

Synology DiskStation DS220+: The ideal two-bay NAS for beginners

The DiskStation DS218+ turned out to be a best-seller in Synology's portfolio for its affordability, and the DS220+ retains that particular trait. The two-bay NAS is available for $299, and you're getting upgraded hardware in the form of an Intel Celeron J4025 chipset with 2GB of DDR4 RAM (the DS218+ had a Celeron J3355 chip and DDR3 memory).

You can add a further 4GB of memory to the NAS, and each drive bay can facilitate up to a 16TB drive — with total storage up to 32TB. Another key change with the DS220+ is the addition of a secondary Gigabit Ethernet port that offers link aggregation and failover. You also get two USB 3.0 ports at the back.

The hardware is just one part of the story here; Synology's excellent DiskStation Manager (DSM) web-based OS has an exhaustive list of features, and you can set up your own media server and access it from anywhere in the world. Synology Drive also makes it incredibly easy to sync files across various platforms and machines, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS.

The DS220+ is now available for $300.

Synology DiskStation DS220+

$300 at Amazon $300 at Newegg

The DS220+ is the ideal option if you're new to the world of NAS enclosures. With two Gigabit Ethernet ports and upgraded internals, the DS220+ will handle anything you throw at it, and it is the easiest way to build a reliable media server in your home.

Synology DiskStation DS720+: The upgrade option

The DiskStation 720+ is also a two-bay NAS — like the DS220+ — but you get a beefier Intel Celeron J4125 chipset. There's 2GB of DDR4 RAM that can be upgraded to a maximum of 6GB, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, and the NAS can slot in up to 16TB drives in each bay. There's also two USB 3.0 ports at the back along with an eSATA port.

Interestingly, the DS720+ has two M.2 slots for SSD caching, so if you use a lot of I/O intensive tasks, the feature is going to be handy. There's also the option of attaching Synology's DX517 expansion bay and adding five additional drive bays to the NAS.

The DS720+ is now available for $400. The $100 differential between the DS220+ is down to the extensibility and SSD caching. If you're interested in either of those features, the DS720+ is a great option to consider.

Synology DiskStation DS720+

$400 at Amazon $400 at Newegg

The DS720+ shares the same foundation as the DS220+, but you get the ability to expand the drive bays to seven via the DX517. There's also SSD caching via two M.2 slots, making the NAS a decent option for small businesses that rely on real-time collaboration.

Synology DiskStation DS420+: A great option for a four-bay NAS

The DiskStation DS420+ has the same set of features as the DS220+, but with double the number of drive bays and M.2 slots for SSD caching. The NAS is powered by an Intel Celeron J4025 chip and comes with 2GB of DDR4 RAM (with a DIMM slot to add 4GB more), two Gigabit Ethernet ports, two M.2 slots, and two USB 3.0 ports.

With four drive bays that can each accommodate a 16TB drive, the DS420+ is a great way to future-proof your investment, particularly if you want to build your own media server. I started out with a four-bay DS414 five years ago, and it has served me very well for over four years, after which I switched to a DS918+.

The DS420+ is available for $500.

Synology DiskStation DS420+

$500 at Amazon $500 at Newegg

The DS420+ has the same internals as the DS220+, but you get four drive bays that let you add up to 64TB of storage. You also get two M.2 slots for SSD caching and two Gigabit Ethernet ports with link aggregation.

Synology DiskStation DS920+: A fantastic enthusiast option

As the name suggests, the DiskStation DS920+ is the beefiest option of the lot. It is the only model to offer 4GB of RAM out of the box, and you get two Gigabit Ethernet ports, two USB 3.0 ports, two M.2 slots, and an eSATA port.

Like the DS720+, the DS920+ features an Intel Celeron J4125 chip. By itself, it can accommodate up to 64TB of storage across the four drive bays, and you can expand storage by attaching a DX517 storage unit to the NAS.

The DS920+ has a single DIMM slot for memory upgrades, and you can slot in an additional 4GB of RAM in the NAS enclosure. That's down from the two memory slots in the DS918+, which let you add up to 16GB of RAM. That said, 8GB of RAM should be more than enough for most users.

You can now buy the DiskStation DS920+ for $550. For what's on offer, you're getting an incredible value with the DS920+.

Synology DiskStation DS920+

$550 at Amazon $550 at Newegg

The DiskStation DS920+ has 4GB of RAM and features a Celeron J4125 chipset, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, and two M.2 slots for SSD caching. If you want the extra RAM out of the box, it is a better option over the DS920+ for just a little bit more money.

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