samedi 31 octobre 2020

Motorola's next 5G budget phone gets leaked with the new Snapdragon 750G

The phone will reportedly have a 6.6" display and a 5,000 mAh battery.

What you need to know

  • A recently leaked photo shows off the Moto G 5G with a Snapdragon 750G SoC.
  • This could be one of the first phones to use Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 750G.
  • The phone will reportedly have a 6.66-inch display, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 5,000 mAh battery.

A recently leaked photo by Slashleaks has revealed the Moto G 5G, Motorola's next 5G budget phone with Qualcomm's brand-new Snapdragon 750G chipset. This could be one of the first smartphones to carry the Snapdragon 750G SoC, following the likes of Xiaomi and Samsung.

According to XDA-Developers, the Motorola Moto G 5G will have a fairly competitive spec sheet, especially as a budget phone. In addition to the Snapdragon 750G processor, the phone is rumored to have a 6.66-inch display with a 2400x1800 resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate, 6GB of RAM, 128GB of internal storage, as well as a gigantic 5,000 mAh battery.

The phone will also have 3 cameras on the back including a 48MP primary sensor. On the front, there's a minimal hole-punch camera, which is a 16MP sensor.

Interestingly enough, the Moto G 5G will also have a Google Assistant button on the side much like LG's recent devices. However, it seems to be missing on the Verizon-variant intended for the US market.

With all these specs and features in mind, the Moto G 5G seems to be a relatively fully-featured phone. Judging from the leaked photo, it seems to have reduced bezels and a more modern design compared to previous devices in the Moto G series. While it will likely miss out on wireless charging, it doesn't miss out on essentials such as NFC and microSD support.

Although certain details such as the release date and price tag are currently unknown, it's good to see more budget 5G phones coming out of the woodworks. With the ongoing pandemic and economic climate, well-worth budget phones are more imperative than ever before.

Moto G Power

$180 at Amazon

The Moto G Power is one of the best budget phones you can get in the US. With a 6.4" display, 4GB of RAM, a triple camera system, and a crazy 3-day battery life, it's one of our favorite recommendations under $200.



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Pixel 5 has some known problems, but you (probably) don't need to worry

Google addresses a battery indicator bug, while the known screen gap issue gets a teardown.

What you need to know

  • The Pixel 5 has a known battery indicator bug, which shows inaccurate battery percentages.
  • Some Pixel 5 owners have reported a noticeable gap between the display and the frame right out of the box.
  • Google has promised a bug fix for the battery indicator, while a teardown video addresses the screen gap issue.

It's only been about two weeks since the Google Pixel 5 started arriving on people's doorsteps, but early adopters have already found a few notable issues with their units including a battery indicator bug as well as a screen gap between the display and the frame.

In a recent Google support thread discovered by 9to5Google, several users have reported that their battery indicators have been showing inaccurate percentages with unusually slow drain times. A Google product expert has acknowledged the issue.

"The team is aware of this issue and a fix will be rolling out soon in a future Android update. Your battery is charging, but the indicator may be stuck. If you restart your phone and plug it into the charger again, the battery level should quickly rise to the correct level."

Considering that this is a known software issue and Google pushes out monthly updates for Pixel users, Pixel 5 owners could probably rest assured that this particular battery indicator bug will be fixed in a timely manner.

In addition, while the screen gap issue is more of a pressing matter and Google is still investigating the reports, a teardown YouTube video byPBKreviews reveals that the problem may not be widespread.

The video is a full disassembly of the Pixel 5 and shows that there are solid clips and adhesives all around the display panel. He notes that the Pixel 5's design and construction has no inherent flaws. Inferring from this teardown video, the screen gap issue is most likely due to poor quality control for some units, especially in terms of applying the adhesives.

While these issues may be minor or rare, and shouldn't turn you away from buying the Pixel 5, they're definitely things to keep in mind before you make your purchasing decision.

Google Pixel 5

$700 at Amazon

The Google Pixel 5 is Google's back-to-basics and it's one of the best all-around phones for the money. It's got the signature Pixel camera, a cohesive Google software experience, as well as fantastic battery life.



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Optimize your website for search with RankTools: Lifetime subscriptions now $30

Social media gets a lot of attention, but search is still the most important source of traffic for most websites. RankTools helps you earn more clicks, with 20+ powerful SEO analysis tools. You can pick up a lifetime subscription today for just $29.99.

A study by Backlinko found that the first search result on Google gets ten times more traffic than the tenth result. Whether you are just starting up or looking to improve your position, RankTools can help you move upwards.

The platform produces a comprehensive SEO report for any website, complete with pointers on how you can improve. The analysis takes account of Alexa data, backlinks, website ping, social media data, Google page rank, IP analysis, and much more.

RankTools also has powerful features for SEO research, such as a Google Adword scraper and malware check. You can also view any data set within your report, and even compare yourself with competitors.

This deal gets you onto the Basic plan, which includes a monthly allowance for all the tools.

Lifetime access is worth $599, but you can grab your subscription today for just $29.99.

Prices subject to change 



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How to get started streaming with your PS4

Streaming is now a massive part of the gaming experience, and everyone wants to try and be the next Ninja. To make a living at it though, you will need to spend some money to get equipment to help you succeed. We've put together a list of some of the best streaming equipment for the PS4 and PS5 that will help you reach the audience you want while retaining some great streaming quality. Don't worry about compatibility because a lot of these items will also be a great tool to use if you're looking to get started streaming when the PS5 launches next month.

Crystal sound

Blue Yeti Microphone

Staff Pick

The Blue Yeti is the gold standard for USB microphones. Streaming with one of these produces sharp tones and an all-round great sound. It has a gain dial built-in, a mute button on the front, and a jack to put your favorite headphones in to monitor your output. It's a must-have for streaming or recording.

$130 at Amazon

Best 4K streaming

Avermedia Live Gamer 4K

Editors choice

On a hardware level, the Avermedia Live Gamer 4K is the top dog right now for consumer-grade capture cards. Not only will it capture 4K video at up to 60 frames per second (FPS), but it will also allow capture of HDR Passthrough, too. It's an internal capture card (with added RGB, which is terrific) and for folks using it to capture PC footage, the Live Gamer 4K can do 1440p at 120 FPS and 1080p at a whopping 240 FPS.

$250 at Amazon

Broadcast like a pro

Streamlabs OBS

Whether you're streaming straight from your PS4 or PS5, or plan on diving into a more premium setup, one of the things you'll become aware of is Streamlabs OBS. The broadcasting software isn't a necessity if you're streaming live from your console, but you can still utilize the software to monitor things and thank viewers if you're on a laptop or PC while streaming. Should you take your streaming to the next level, Streamlabs is also the go-to software that most streamers use while live on a PC. Best of all, the software is free to use!

Free at Streamlabs

All the control!

Stream Deck 15-button

Almost all serious streamers use the Stream Deck by Elgato. The 15-button programmable console allows you single-touch automation on many of the most critical functions of streaming. It can even show different buttons as different apps launch.

$146 at Amazon

Be seen

Sony PlayStation Camera

Having a camera isn't a necessity to becoming a big streamer, but it certainly doesn't hurt. Getting your face out there and letting your audience know who's behind the personality can be a huge thing. If you're streaming on a PS4, you'll need one of the consoles cameras in order to accomplish this. For those that might own one already and want to use it on their PS5, an official adapter will be required, but if you happen to own a PSVR, you can now request one for free.

$50 at Best Buy

Let there be light!

Razer Kiyo Streaming Webcam

While you want to stream your gaming content in 4K if you can, your face doesn't need that much detail. 1080p is more than enough for a webcam and this Razer model has the massive advantage of an inbuilt ring light. Being lit on stream makes all the difference to the quality.

$87 at Amazon

Hide the mess

Emart Collapsible Chromakey Panel

Unless you have a dedicated streaming space or office, it's hard to make sure everything is clean and tidy around your stream. This green screen will let you hide the mess and use custom graphics for your background.

$149 at Amazon

It's red so it's better

HyperX QuadCast USB microphone

Outstanding audio makes the difference between bad streamers and good streamers. This mic from HyperX has superior sound quality to a lot of microphones out there. Plus, it's red and black, which looks cool.

$140 at Amazon

USB streaming

Elgato HD60 S

The streaming cards that you put in your PC are a great option, but if you're running your stream from a laptop, then you won't have that option. TheHD60 S streams your console at 1080p 60 FPS, which is a great starting point for most people.

$158 at Amazon

External lighting

SUPON LCD Display Lighting

If you want to be a personality when streaming, then people need to see you in the best possible light — literally. This LED is adjustable to give you the best lighting for your space.

$44 at Amazon

The sound of streaming

InnoGear Heavy Duty Microphone Stand

Having control is important. This microphone stand, with a pop guard, will help you adjust the distance you are from the mic without having to make yourself uncomfortable while gaming. This one goes well with the Blue Yeti we listed earlier.

$17 at Amazon

Release the Kraken!

Razer Kraken

Having a good set of headphones is essential when you're streaming or gaming especially if you are playing in a team. The Razer Krakens are a reasonable price for a great product. They also come in bright colors, too.

$66 at Amazon

A beginner mic

Blue Snowball microphone

While the Blue Yeti microphone has quickly become the go-to mic for streamers these days, Blue does offer some more affordable options for those just stepping into the streaming world. The Blue Snowball is the perfect example, acting as the younger brother to the Yeti and giving users great audio quality at a low cost.

$50 at Amazon

Primal streaming

Streaming is simple once you've figured out what you want to do and which products you need. A video card is a great first step, and if you want the best-looking footage possible, you'll want something like the Avermedia Live Gamer 4K. You can use it with your PC and it'll stream your PS4 or PS5 games in great video quality and it connects to all the major streaming services. The card has an excellent passthrough system so that you can connect your PlayStation through it and into your monitor with no lag on the original video and no loss of quality.

Your audio is the next most significant area for you to concentrate your efforts. If you can, don't skimp on the microphone you use. I have the Blue Yeti, and it produces some of the best audio around. Podcasters around the world use the Yeti, and it's easy to see why.

If you're serious about community and want to interact with your audience a little more, the Stream Deck Mini is an excellent choice. The six-button layout is perfect for small streams, and those buttons change dynamically depending on your screen. If you need tweets, you can open Twitter, and the Mini will load up the six tweets you programmed in. It's so helpful!



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These are the best Samsung solid-state drives you can buy

Choosing the right solid-state drive (SSD) for your PC is vital, especially if it's to be the drive that contains the operating system. SATA SSDs took storage to the next level compared to mechanical drives, but NVMe PCIe SSDs like the Samsung 970 EVO Plus catapult flash storage to a new dimension with fantastic read and write speeds at a reasonable price. It's the best SSD in terms of performance and value for your PC. These are the best Samsungs SSDs.

Best Value SSD

Samsung 970 EVO Plus

Staff pick

Most modern motherboards have an M.2 slot, which is required for this SSD, but if you manage to install this module, you'll be enjoying read and write speeds of 3500 MB/s and 3300 MB/s, respectively. It's insanely fast, and the included five-year warranty only adds to the list of factors that make you disbelieve the price. Like most SSDs available, the higher the capacity, the more you'll be paying out, but it's worth it.

From $70 at Amazon (250GB)

Best SATA SSD

Samsung 860 EVO

The 860 EVO is Samsung's best-selling solid-state drive (SSD) family, and rightfully so since you get so much for your money. There's a 5-year warranty on each 860 EVO, and new owners will be able to enjoy up to 550MB/s read, and 520MB/s write speeds. That's not bad for a SATA interface.

From $50 at Amazon

Best NVMe SSD

Samsung 970 PRO

To say the Samsung 970 PRO is a fast NVMe PCIe SSD would be an understatement. With read and write speeds of 3,500MB/s and 2,500MB/s, respectively, it's a force to be reckoned with. Ideal for loading the OS, games, and software, the 970 PRO from Samsung will also last longer with a 5-year limited warranty and a solid endurance rating of 1,200 TBW. (That means you can write 1,200 TBs worth of data to the drive before encountering issues.)

From $170 at Amazon (512GB)

Best Budget SSD

Samsung 870 QVO

The QVO is an odd bag from Samsung. You get the same 560MB/s, and 530MB/s read and write speeds you'd find in the 860 EVO, but there are a few drawbacks that make this more budget orientated. You'll also see just three on the warranty compared to the 860 EVO, but the endurance rating is identical, making it a solid overall choice on a budget.

From $108 at Amazon (1TB)

Best Portable SSD

Samsung T7

The Samsung T7 is an external, portable SSD that has a robust, metal enclosure to protect it from the potential shatter damage. Although it is a SATA SSD, the T7 has read and write speeds of 1,050MB/s and 1,000MB/s, respectively, and the portability allows you to take it with you anywhere you may go, making it particularly helpful in business circumstances or when you need to transfer some data fast.

From $80 at Amazon (500GB)

These are the best Samsung SSDs in 2020

Solid state drives (SSDs) can be just the thing you need when it comes to storing data. If we were to make a single outright recommendation, it would be the Samsung 970 EVO Plus, offering immense value and high levels of performance, with a strong warranty to back it. So long as you have a spare M.2 slot, this SSD will deliver read and write speeds up to 3,500MB/s and 3,300MB/s, respectively.

The rather enticing price of the Samsung 970 EVO PLUS is for the 512GB version. If you need more storage, you'll either have to pay out considerably or plan ahead and pick up more budget-friendly options like a mechanical drive. If you want an SSD-only setup, throwing in a 1TB Samsung 870 QVO would add considerable storage capacity without destroying your available budget.

If you're in the market for portability, the Samsung T7 is a fantastic choice. You can easily connect the portable drive to any Android phone and transfer data from your phone to the SSD. Although devices like the Galaxy Note 20 come with 256GB of storage by default, it's good practice to back up the data on your phone to an external source, and the T7 allows you to do that with ease.



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Here's where to find Clorox wipes in stock online right now

2020 has been quite the year so far. Store shelves have become routinely empty of certain essential items that one might need while they're staying at home for weeks at a time. If you've been trying to get your hands on disinfecting wipes without searching every local store within a 20-mile radius, you've come to the right place.

Where to find Clorox wipes in stock

The Best


The Rest

The key to finding wipes in stock is to keep looking. Stock levels are always changing, and while they may be unavailable at some places right now, that doesn't mean they won't be back before the day is out.

How to find disinfecting wipes in stock

Amazon is pretty well-known for having just about anything whenever you want it, but that hasn't exactly been the case during 2020. Lately finding clorox wipes in stock seemed like a miracle, and that applies to other online retailers as well. With so many places to search, finding stock is inevitable, but it can take some time and effort too.

We've searched sites like Walmart, Home Depot, Staples, Lowe's and more, but some are stocking this item a bit quicker than others. Many times your best bet is to consider local in-store items that you can purchase online. Buying online for curbside pickup or even with grocery delivery services like Instacart could mean the difference between getting your order today and receiving it a few weeks from now.

Best stores to shop for Clorox wipes

Disinfecting wipes at Target

Target restocks quickly, has name-brand and store-brand options, and even lets you shop for curbside pickup at a local store near you. Use a Target RedCard for 5% off the purchase.

Shop at Target

Cleaning wipes at Amazon

Wipes are becoming a bit easier to find in stock at Amazon lately, though you'll have the best chances by shopping Amazon Fresh.

Shop at Amazon

Lysol wipes at Staples

Surprisingly, disinfecting wipes pop up in stock at Staples more than many other online retailers. This store not only stocks up often but also offers a lot of different options to keep your eye on.

Shop at Staples

Clorox wipes at Instacart

Instacart lets you search local stores in your area for disinfecting wipes, from Publix and Aldi to Costco, Target, and more. Delivery or pick-up is an option here, and usually you'll get the best results by choosing store pick-up.

Shop at Instacart

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Where to find affordable disinfecting wipes

There have been numerous tales of sellers price-gounging others on essential items like clorox wipes and toilet paper during the past few months, and that's something you'll want to watch out for online as well. Plenty of stores allow third-party sellers to offer items on their sites, so you might find single packs of disinfecting wipes for as much as $20 each on sites like Newegg or Sears. These packs don't include many wipes either, so it's something to certainly keep an eye out for when ordering.

Amazon's Fresh grocery service offers some of the best prices, but it's also dealing with some of the highest traffic currently of all the stores, meaning it will be even harder to find Clorox wipes available there. With that in mind, Instacart becomes the next best option. You'll see items available at stores in your area and at similar prices as you'd see in-store. Instacart lets you shop at various retailers including Target, Publix, Aldis, Costco, CVS, Kroeger, PetSmart, and more for grocery delivery or store pickup.

Target is a great option too, especially if you have a Target RedCard. The store is one of the quickest to restock these items and gives you the ability to have your order shipped to your home or picked up at the store. With a Target RedCard, you'll save 5% off your order and score free 2-day shipping on eligible items as well. There's a debit card option that's completely free and doesn't have any fees attached, unlike the credit card version.



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Will the Oculus Quest 2 have a physical IPD slider?

Best answer: Yes, the Oculus Quest 2 features manual IPD adjustment via sliding lenses, but it relies on three presets — a change from the original Oculus Quest.

A trifecta bet with the Oculus Quest 2

The Oculus Quest 2, thankfully, still features physical IPD (inter-pupillary distance) adjustment for its lenses. Unlike the original Oculus Quest, however, the Oculus Quest 2 relies on three presets to get the job done. Users can easily slide the lenses themselves between presets simply labeled 1, 2, and 3 before placing the Oculus Quest 2 on their heads.

By default, the Oculus Quest 2 sits at the 2 preset, which should cover the average person's IPD between 62-65mm. Sliding the lenses inward toward each other will move them to preset 1, which should cover folks with an IPD between 58-61mm. Subsequently, sliding the lenses away from each other to the furthest point, labeled 3, should cover users with IPD between 66-70mm.

Physically adjusting the lenses should mean users are less prone to accidentally adjusting the IPD while fitting the Oculus Quest 2 to their heads.

Alienating wider IPD on the Oculus Quest 2

Facebook utilizes a single high-res LCD panel, which is a big change from the dual-OLED displays on the original Oculus Quest. Having a single display means the Oculus Quest 2 cannot be finely tuned to different IPD like the original Oculus Quest since a single display can't be spread apart. Facebook has developed an industry-first physical IPD adjustment for the Oculus Quest 2's single display, but the display advantages come with some negatives for users with a wider IPD.

Users with IPD over 69mm will have difficulty using the Oculus Quest 2 at all. All faces are different, so that some users may have IPD higher than 70, and, for these folks, motion sickness is likely to occur while playing. That's because your eyes will have to look further apart than it is natural to see the virtual world properly, eventually resulting in headaches or other unpleasant effects.

Available now

Oculus Quest 2

From $299 at Amazon From $299 at Best Buy From $299 at Walmart

A whole new experience

Facebook has improved seemingly everything with the second-generation Oculus Quest, making this the VR console to get.



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LG phones would be so great, if LG finally made software that doesn't suck

LG makes some of the best phones money can buy — as long as you leave the screen off.

LG makes a lot of different products and almost all of them are best-in-class. Whether it's a washing machine or a television, you owe it to yourself to check out what LG has to offer. The same thing could be said about the company's phone business, if only it could fix its horrible software.

Normally, this is not a problem I would waste any internet bandwidth on. Lots of companies make phones that very few people buy for one reason or another, but with LG, things are different. LG makes really excellent phones that look good and are built extremely well. And every one of them is spoiled by the software running on them.

LG has never been afraid to make quirky phones that were beautiful and well-built.

I'm not going to be shy — LG is my favorite phone manufacturer when it comes to quality. The company also isn't afraid to keep doing something different, like tiny ticker-style windows on the original V-series phones, cases that also hold a second screen on the G8, or even a swiveling phone that unfolds into some sort of tomahawk on the Wing. Some of these ideas are well-received, others not so much, but LG keeps on trickin' and the next thing we'll see is a screen that rolls up according to the internet rumor mill. Compared to an army of black slabs, this is what innovation looks like.

Samsung does the same thing. I remember when everyone was trying to figure out why Samsung would build a phone like the first Galaxy Note. It had a big screen and came with a stylus, but it was basically just a Galaxy S phone. Fast forward to today and everyone loves the Note series. The same will happen with foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 — questions today will turn into purchases in the future.

There's one big difference between Samsung and LG though: Samsung put in the hours to make the software on its phones really good and LG hasn't.

You might be thinking that I'm just some sort of hater and nobody should bother taking this idea seriously. But spend a few hours reading reviews of LG phones and you'll find that almost everyone takes issue with the software. That's because it is not great at all, and when you compare it to any other company which takes the time to rewrite Android into something more custom, it looks even worse.

Phone makers should build custom versions of Android, but they should do a good job, too.

I think it's great that LG wants to turn Android into something custom and self-identifying instead of leaving it generic and boring. I know a lot of enthusiasts like generic and boring Android (me, too) but that doesn't mean companies like LG or Samsung or Oppo shouldn't be doing something more. Android was designed to be customized and even Google is all for doing it.

But you have to do it right. If you've used any recent LG phone like the V60 or the sexy little Velvet (seriously, this thing is a work of art) or even the LG Wing, you know LG's software looks a lot like Samsung's One UI, but it lacks the same level of polish and user-friendliness Samsung offers. It also gets oddly sluggish at times, gets jumpy when scrolling, has a horribly slow fingerprint scanner, and gestures can be hit or miss. This is unacceptable.

You also can't ignore LG abysmal track record when it comes to updates. You will probably see a major update and some security fixes, but don't count on getting either very quickly. When a company is unable to update its software in a timely manner, the software needs to be really great to start with. LG's software definitely is not really great.

The only phone that can drive those headphones properly.

This seems to have been the LG story since forever. Classic LG phones like the G2 or the Optimus V were wonderful in terms of build but the software was janky as hell. There have been some issues — the whole motherboard issue that caused a ton of phones to bootloop comes to mind — but people still stuck with LG because the hits were good enough to put up with bad software. That was at a time where most third-party versions of Android were bad though. Today things are different, and we see LG's market share slipping lower and lower.

We need a phone manufacturer to compete with Samsung so the competition makes both work harder.

I'm not just being nitpicky here; I honestly want LG to succeed. Two of my favorite Androids were the V10 and Optimus Black and both of them were amazing phones with cringeworthy software. I can't deal with that today and don't have to because other companies like OnePlus and Samsung make great phones with great software. Their software might not be my style, but everything runs really well.

I just want LG to do the same and start to compete, at least a little bit.

Something different

LG Wing

$1000 at Verizon

A completely new kind of smartphone

The LG Wing is not a perfect device, but even so, there's no denying just how unique and creative its design is. You can use it as a regular phone whenever you want, but in the blink of an eye, the secondary screen allows for all-new possibilities not found on any other device. If you can deal with software that needs a lot of spit and polish it's a pretty cool phone.



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Got a Pixel 5? Here are 10 tips you should know

Get the most out of your new Pixel.

With the Pixel 5, Google's tried something a bit different than it has in years past. Rather than attempting to create the most powerful and technically impressive phone on the market, the company instead focused on delivering a high-end smartphone at a competitive price. The end result is a smartphone that's considerably cheaper than options from Samsung and Apple, and especially during this year, that's something we're happy to see.

Something that hasn't changed with the Pixel 5, however, is its focus on delivering unique and helpful features not found on any other phone. No one makes smartphones the way Google does, and similar to past releases, the Pixel 5 has a few tricks up its sleeve that really add to the overall user experience.

If you've purchased the Pixel 5, here are a few tips and tricks to help you get the absolute most out of it.

Master the on-screen Google Assistant gesture

Ever since the Pixel 2, Google has offered its Active Edge feature that allows you to squeeze your phone to prompt the Google Assistant. With the Pixel 5, however, Active Edge is no more. While I know a lot of people weren't so keen on it in the first place, I am sad to see it go. You can still say "OK Google" or "Hey Google" at any time to get the Assistant's attention, but if you want to start talking to the Assistant without saying those words, you'll want to make sure you master the Pixel 5's on-screen gesture.

No matter what you're doing on the Pixel 5, you can swipe up from the left or right corner of the screen to initiate a Google Assistant command. You'll feel a small vibration, see a pop-up with the Assistant asking how it can help, and you're ready to start talking.

This is something that's existed in Android for some time now, but with Active Edge no more on the Pixel 5, it's a gesture you'll want to make sure you're familiar with if you aren't already.

Check out Extreme Battery Saver

We've all been there before. Your phone is running out of juice, you need to keep it on for a while longer, and you're nowhere near a power outlet. What's a person to do? With the Pixel 5, these situations are a lot less stressful thanks to the new Extreme Battery Saver mode.

With this enabled, Google says you can expect up to 48 hours of total use before your battery dies. Extreme Battery Saver helps conserve energy by only allowing you to use select apps that you've approved, with everything else being disabled until the mode is turned off.

You aren't going to want to use Extreme Battery Saver all the time, but when you really need to stretch out your battery life for as long as possible, it can be immensely helpful.

Pick up a wireless charger for easy refueling

Pixel phones have always had a weird relationship with wireless chargers. The Pixel 3 was the first phone in the series to support the feature, but it only got max 15W charging speeds with the Google Pixel Stand and a handful of other options. The Pixel 4 expanded fast wireless charging to work with more third-party options, but only if they supported the specific EPP standard, and even then it wasn't always guaranteed togive you the full 10W speeds.

With the Pixel 5, Google got rid of all the compatibility headaches. (Mostly.)

No matter which of the wonderful wireless chargers you purchase for your Pixel 5, so long as it uses the same 15W EPP profile that LG and other manufacturers have used for years, you'll get full speed wireless charging. It's kind of hilarious that it took three generations for Google to figure this one out, but regardless, it's a good thing to know if you plan on using the feature.

Use it to charge your other devices

Speaking of charging, the Pixel 5 is the first in the entire series to support reverse wireless charging. In other words, you can place your other Qi-supported devices on the back of the phone and use its battery pack to juice them up.

The 5W charge speeds you get from the feature isn't the fastest out there, but for those times when you need to quickly juice up your wireless earbuds or other accessories, it can be rather convenient.

Always know what song is playing

One of the best Pixel features Google's ever released is Now Playing. First ushered in back in 2017 with the Pixel 2, Now Playing constantly listens for any music playing in the background, identifies it, and saves the record for later so you can go back and reference it at any time. The best part? This all works 100% offline.

Now Playing has returned to the Pixel 5, and while that shouldn't come as much of a surprise, we're thrilled that Google continues to offer the feature. It's one of those things that's hard to live without once you've used it for a while, so whether you're a longtime Pixel owner or new to the series, it's definitely something to check out.

Record cinematic videos

If you want a phone that can take incredible pictures, it's no secret that you should get a Pixel. When it comes to recording video, however, that's a different beast entirely. Video has never been a strong suit for the Pixel lineup, but the Pixel 5 has started to change that conversation with its new Cinematic Pan feature.

Utilizing Google's ever-impressive processing and machine learning, Cinematic Pan allows for ultra-smooth panning shots when you're recording video. Google says it's "inspired by the equipment used in Hollywood movies," so all of your shots should look buttery smooth.

Whether you're recording family videos or plan on using the Pixel 5 as a creative tool, it's definitely a feature to have in your arsenal to make your shots look as smooth as can be.

Set up the Safety app

Features like Now Playing and Cinematic Pan are a lot of fun to play with and show off, though that's not something we'd say about Google's Safety app for Pixel phones. It isn't something that's overly flashy or an app you'll use every single day, but there's also no denying its importance.

As the name implies, the Safety app is all about keeping you safe in a variety of situations. You set it up by entering emergency contact info and medical information, all of which can be accessed in a time of need by just holding down your phone's power button.

Once you're in the app, you can set up features like Safety check, Emergency Sharing, Crisis alerts, and Car crash detection. Should you find yourself in a bad spot and need assistance, the Safety app is there to lend a hand.

Automatically screen spam calls

Getting calls from unknown numbers is annoying — mostly for the fact that the vast majority of them are spam calls. Lots of companies are trying to combat this unending annoyance, but we think Google's approach is one of the best yet.

In the Google Phone app, there are a few handy settings that you'll absolutely want to turn on. These include:

  • See caller and spam ID — Identify business and spam numbers
  • Filter spam calls — Prevent suspected spam calls from disturbing you
  • Verified calls — See caller ID and call reason for incoming calls from businesses

With all of these enabled, you'll be able to see who's calling you, why they're calling you, and (hopefully) never have your phone ring from most spam calls. If an unwanted call does get through, you can have the Google Assistant answer on your behalf and see if it's worth your attention. These may all sound like small features, but in day-to-day use, they're beyond useful to have.

Let the Google Assistant wait on hold for you

Speaking of having the Assistant help out with phone calls, it can also be used when waiting on hold.

When you call a company on your Pixel 5 and are asked to wait for the next available agent, you'll see an option to have the Assistant hold your call for you. Once you enable this, you can set your phone down, go do anything else, and rest assured that your spot in line is safe.

When someone on the other end finally picks up, the Assistant springs into action. It alerts you that you need to pick up the phone, tells the customer service agent that you'll be on the line soon, and this all happens automatically for you. We've all been through long wait times to talk to someone at a massive company, so anything to make this process less terrible is something we can get behind.

Turn your conversations into chat bubbles

The Google Pixel 5 ships with Android 11, and out of all the features Android 11 brings to the table, one of the most interesting is the ability to move your conversations into chat bubbles.

Similar to what Facebook offered for a while with its chat heads feature, chat bubbles are easily accessible anywhere on your screen and offer quick access to your ongoing conversations. Since this is now a system-level feature and not restricted to a specific app, however, chat bubbles work with any messaging app that supports it — including the likes of Google Messages, Facebook Messenger, Telegram, WhatsApp, etc.

It isn't something that's exclusive to the Pixel 5, but if you're coming from an older phone that's not yet running Android 11, it's a fun thing you'll want to check out.

Get the most out of your Pixel 5 experience

Whether you're a longtime Pixel fan or are just coming to the series for the first time, hopefully, you learned something new on this list that'll help make your Pixel 5 experience just a little bit better. It may not have the same specs as some of the other devices we consider to be the best Android phones, but it certainly makes up for that with unique experiences and features.

Smart phone

Google Pixel 5

$700 at Amazon $700 at Best Buy $699 at B&H

So much to check out

Pixel phones always tend to be some of the smartest and most helpful, and with the Google Pixel 5, that's not changing. With features like Extreme Battery Saver, the Safety app, and so much more, it has ample ways to make your life easier.



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