Amazon's physical Dash buttons are no more. The e-commerce giant has stopped selling its quirky, tap-to-order Dash buttons as of February 28th. It was an inevitable decision Amazon had to make with the advent of more advanced IoT devices, especially...With new phones hitting shelves every week, it's a gargantuan task to find a device that suits your needs. That's where we come in. Here at Android Central we use dozens of budget phones over the course of a year, and that's why we're here to help you spend your money wisely.
Our pick
The Galaxy M20 is one of the best budget phones Samsung has launched to date. With a new chipset that delivers excellent performance, the M20 is able to handle everyday tasks with ease, and the monstrous 5000mAh battery easily lasts for two days at a time. The design combined with the hardware makes the M20 a great value budget phone.
Recycled specs
The Galaxy M20 is a fantastic device that gets a lot right. The M10 is none of those things. Samsung used whatever parts it could find from the leftover bin, and the result is a device that was outdated even before it hit the shelves. Don't be swayed by the entry-level pricing; pay ₹4,000 more and get the M20.
With the Galaxy M series, Samsung is finally showing that it can tackle Chinese brands head-on in the budget phone segment. Of its two models currently available, there's a clear favorite.
Samsung ceded a lot of ground to Xiaomi in India over the last two years, and the Galaxy M series is the first wave in the South Korean manufacturer's salvo against Chinese brands.
In a lot of ways, Samsung is emulating the same strategy that allowed Xiaomi to dominate the budget segment in recent years: the Galaxy M10 and M20 sport fresh designs, are sold exclusively online, and offer attractive specs on a budget.
With a 5000mAh battery, the Galaxy M20 is a battery leader.
The Galaxy M20 in particular is one of the best budget phones you can buy today. Sporting a modern design with a waterdrop cutout at the front, the M20 offers robust hardware in the form of an Exynos 7904 Octa chipset, FHD+ display, and a humongous 5000mAh battery.
Samsung has clearly paid attention to what Xiaomi and others have been doing in this space, because the M20 holds its own against the likes of the ZenFone Max Pro M2, Redmi Note 6 Pro, and more.
If you're deciding between the M20 and the M10, this is a remarkably easy choice. The M20 retails for ₹12,990 ($185) in India, with the M10 costing a mere ₹8,990 ($125). The ₹4,000 differential may not seem like much, but there's an absolute sea change between the two devices in terms of specs and value.
| Category | Samsung Galaxy M20 | Samsung Galaxy M10 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Android 8.1 Oreo Samsung Experience 9.5 |
Android 8.1 Oreo Samsung Experience 9.5 |
| Display | 6.3-inch PLS TFT 2340x1080 (19.5:9) |
6.2-inch PLS TFT 1520x720 (19:9) |
| Chipset | Exynos 7904 Octa Mali-G71 MP2 |
Exynos 7880 Octa Mali-T830 MP1 |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB | 2GB/3GB |
| Storage | 32GB/64GB | 16GB/32GB |
| MicroSD slot | Yes (up to 512GB) Dedicated slot |
Yes (up to 512GB) Dedicated slot |
| Battery | 5000mAh Non-removable |
3400mAh Non-removable |
| Charging | USB-C 15W |
Micro-USB 15W |
| Security | Fingerprint sensor | Face unlock |
| Rear camera 1 | 13MP f/1.9 PDAF | 13MP f/1.9 PDAF |
| Rear camera 2 | 5MP f/2.2 | 5MP f/2.2 |
| Front camera | 8MP f/2.0 | 5MP f/2.0 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n Bluetooth 5.0 GPS FM radio |
Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n Bluetooth 4.2 LE GPS FM radio |
| Audio | 3.5mm jack | 3.5mm jack |
| Water resistance | No rating | No rating |
| Dimensions | 156.4 x 74.5 x 8.8mm 186g |
155.6 x 75.6 x 7.7mm 163g |
| Colors | Ocean Blue Charcoal Black |
Ocean Blue Charcoal Black |
The Galaxy M10, for instance, has a 6.2-inch 720p panel, which isn't ideal. The M20 offers a 6.3-inch 1080p display, and things continue in much the same vein with the rest of the hardware as well. The Exynos 7904 on the M20 delivers much better performance than the M10's Exynos 7880. The Exynos 7880 has been around for a while now, and in 2019 it's as relevant as Vanilla Ice.
Oh, and remember that 5000mAh battery on the M20? The M10 has a more modest 3400mAh battery, but the real downside is that it charges over Micro-USB. The M20, meanwhile, has USB-C. Thankfully, both phones offer 15W fast charging.
What's even more egregious is that the M10 doesn't even have a fingerprint sensor. Samsung is instead pushing face unlock as the de facto means of authentication, with the feature not as secure as the traditional fingerprint reader.
Both phones feature Samsung Experience 9.5 out of the box, and they're still on Oreo. Samsung says it will deliver the Pie update sometime in Q2, so regardless of whatever device you pick up you're going to be on Oreo for a while.
Both phones have the same software skin — and are still running Oreo.
That said, the interface itself feels faster than you'd imagine, and that's because Samsung cut out a lot of the extraneous features. The result is that even on the M10, the UI feels relatively bloat-free most of the time.
The lightweight skin combined with the hardware on offer with the M20 makes the device an absolute delight to use for everyday tasks. And even with the Pie update hitting later in the year, Samsung won't switch the devices to One UI — both phones will continue to be on Samsung Experience 9.5.
Given that there's just ₹4,000 between the two devices, it's an easy decision to make here. The Galaxy M20 is the clear winner here, and the higher-res screen combined with better internal hardware and massive 5000mAh battery make it a standout in the budget segment.
Our pick
One of the best budget phones around
It took Samsung several years, but it finally created a budget phone that can hold up to the best that Xiaomi has to offer. The Galaxy M20 ticks all the right boxes for a device in this segment, and the performance here combined with the two-day battery life makes it a great choice for under ₹15,000.
Recycled specs
Do yourself a favor and get the M20
The Galaxy M10 doesn't fare nearly as well as its sibling, and that's down to the outdated specs. Even though it costs just ₹8,990, you're much better off spending a little extra to get your hands on the M20. If nothing else, do so for the fact that the M20 has a fingerprint sensor.
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Hotels don't always make it easy to use your Chromecast. They use complicated network access management tools to govern guest connections, and they'll often limit rooms to one device per connection for technical and economic reasons. These things are especially problematic for a Chromecast because it can't handle the typical hotel Wi-Fi setup. But don't fret because a simple travel router can make your Chromecast work just the way Google intended no matter what hotel you're at.
More and more, folks are looking to take their streaming devices on the road as hotels refuse to budge on bloated movie rental prices. The Chromecast is a great little tool for this purpose considering how small it is and how easy it is to use.
Unfortunately, hotels also want to sell expensive Wi-Fi, or they'll use network management tools for security and performance reasons. These measures work in ways that make devices like Chromecast fail to work properly. If you find yourself in that predicament, a travel router is what you want.
The reason this is the perfect tool to get your Chromecast up and running is that while your router is using the hotel's network, it's taking that connection and using it to create a wider network that doesn't have messy access management tools that can cause your Chromecast to trip up. To the hotel, you're still just using one device on that one connection.
Your life will be much easier if you begin this setup process at home before getting to the hotel. We'll look to set up the travel router and get the Chromecast connected to it, that way all you'll need to do when you get to the hotel is plug it up and log in.
Find the default Wi-Fi network name and password on the TP-Link travel router and use the credentials to connect via your smartphone, tablet, or PC.
Your network is now set up, but while you're in your router's settings, we strongly recommended going to the Access Point settings page and changing the network name and password. Memorize it or write it down so that someone can't get into your router with the default login information.
With the router setup, we now have to get it talking to the Chromecast. We'll show you exactly how to do that, but first, if you're a new Chromecast owner, you'll need to go through the initial setup process. Even if you already have Chromecast set up in Google Home, you'll want to go through the setup process again to add it to a new "Hotel" profile that you'll only use whenever you're traveling.
Switch your TV's source signal to the HDMI input that has the Chromecast on it. You should see a setup screen.
Tap the New devices option with the Google Home icon next to it.
Tap Yes to confirm you're on the right device. (Tapping "No" takes you through troubleshooting steps to get your Chromecast and phone talking.)
Tap Continue.
Tap Next to dismiss it.
Once you're checked in and unpacked at your hotel, setup should be a breeze. All we're doing now is connecting the travel router to the hotel's Wi-Fi network. Once you have that going, you're golden.
On your smartphone and while connected to the travel hotspot, try and navigate to a reliable webpage such as Google.com. If you're able to get there, no further steps are needed. Otherwise, read on.
The beauty of this setup is that you don't have to do anything differently for each hotel you go to except log into its unique session portal. There's no messing with MAC addresses or using your phone's mobile hotspot as a Wi-Fi sharing point or anything else. And you don't even have to talk to hotel staff if you don't want to.
You'll need a Chromecast if you don't already have one, as well as the travel router we discussed. If you want to be on the safe side, picking up an ethernet cable will cover those weird hotels who have yet to step out of the dark ages.
One of the most versatile streaming sticks ever
Chromecast can make dumb TVs smarter, and they don't cost all that much. Plus, the small size makes it perfect for traveling.
While some people have resorted to using other devices for travel entertainment, the Chromecast is still a workhorse when paired with the right equipment. If you don't mind adding one to your bag, a portable travel router is inexpensive and removes all the headaches associated with hotel Wi-Fi.
Your own personal Wi-Fi network
This travel router fits into any pocket or compartment of your bag and makes life on hotel Wi-Fi pain-free.
With the ability to turn almost any hotel internet connection into a private Wi-Fi access point, TP-Link's N300 nano travel router eliminates the technological weirdness that causes your Chromecast — and potentially other devices — to fail to work.
It's small and light, so finding room for it in your travel kit is not an issue. It also has functionality for using both ethernet and Wi-Fi connections to create your private network, so it should work for virtually any hotel room you go to. Set all your gadgets up with it at home before heading to the hotel for the best experience.
Some hotels may still only provide ethernet access. If so, you'll need a cheap ethernet cable to go with your travel router.
This standard cable delivers gigabit speeds across a reliable hard line.
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Tesla is splitting its self-driving function into two tiers -- Autopilot and Full Self-Driving Capability -- and charging a few thousand extra dollars for Navigate on Autopilot, Autopark, Summon and other features coming out later this year.Heads up! We share savvy shopping and personal finance tips to put extra cash in your wallet. Mobile Nations may receive a commission from The Points Guy Affiliate Network.
Summer travel planning season (at least for the northern hemisphere) is upon us, which means it's time to think about how to get the most out of the money you spend on travel. Of course, new credit cards are one of the best ways to do so, and Delta has just launched some limited time offers on their Amex co-branded cards. From now until April 3, you might qualify for the following offers:
So what can you do with your new batch of SkyMiles? First of all, Delta is known for having frequent flash sales for domestic travel, sometimes with round-trip economy awards starting at 10,000 SkyMiles. With 60,000 miles, an entire family of three could theoretically book 2 round-trip vacations within the US. Or perhaps you want an easy way to take care of your travel to a few summer weddings. Either way, the 60,000 miles and waived first year fee on the Gold card will help you out significantly. To see all current deals, visit Delta's SkyMiles Deals page. In addition to a trove of miles, welcome bonuses for Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express and Delta Reserve® Credit Card from American Express also include 5,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) which help you achieve Medallion Status more quickly.
On the topic of international destinations, perhaps you're eager to boost your mileage accounts at SkyTeam partners. Your new SkyMiles will be redeemable on all SkyTeam partners, including Air France and Korean Air.
If you opt for the Platinum card, just remember that you will have an annual fee of $195, and it will not be waived in the first year. However, there are some additional perks that might make the card worth it:
If you opt for the Reserve card, you'll be able to get that companion certificate for first class instead of main cabin, and your Sky Club access will be free. However, the annual fee will be a whopping $450, which may not make sense for those who aren't road warriors and Delta loyalists. The true value of the Reserve card is the ability to waive the Medallion Qualifying Dollars (MQD) requirement for Diamond Medallion status, Delta's highest level. However, to achieve that waiver, you'll have to spend a crazy $250,000 in a calendar year. Count me out.
If you're like me, you're mostly interested in the sign on bonus. In that case, I'd recommend the Gold version. It's a great way to boost your SkyMiles account without an upfront fee. In a year's time, you can decide if priority boarding and a free checked bag are worth $95.
While Elon Musk just announced that Tesla's Model 3 is available for the $35,000 price he's been promising for years, the plan isn't to stop there. On a call with the media to announce the move, as well as its new policy of selling cars exclusively o...This system lets you listen up to 328 feet away.
Sennheiser's RS 175 Wireless Headphone System drops to $149.95 at Newegg Flash when you enter promo code NEFPBG35 during checkout. With today's deal, you're saving over $40 off its average cost at Amazon where it sells for up to $280. Shipping is free.
The RS 175 Wireless Headphone System comes with wireless headphones featuring a closed, circumaural design and a multi-purpose transmitter that offers audiophile-worthy levels of digital audio clarity and a range of over 300 feet. The transmitter also allows you to connect wired devices like your TV, a soundbar, or your phone to listen wirelessly with the headphones. There are various listening modes including Bass Boost and Surround Sound, along with on-board controls on the headphones. They're also comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time too, which is noted by several of its nearly 1,300 reviews at Amazon. It's garnered a high rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars there.
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Crash Team Racing is the next of our childhood classics to be remastered.
After successfully releasing the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy, Activision is back at it again remastering another classic Crash title. It's been nearly twenty years since Crash Team Racing first released for the original PlayStation in 1999, and though the Mario Kart series has dominated the kart racing scene for those two decades, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled looks to give it a run for its money.
Originally developed by Naughty Dog, Crash Team Racing is a kart racer featuring a bunch of characters from the Crash Bandicoot series. The evil boss, Nitros Oxide, is the self-proclaimed fastest racer in the galaxy, and he looks to turn Crash's earth into a concrete parking lot. The only way to save it? For Crash and pals to beat him at his own game. Because don't ever let anyone say a racing game can't have a plotline.
Taking the reins from Naughty Dog, developer Beenox has now been tasked with remastering the game and releasing it as Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled. If the name Beenox sounds familiar, that's because it's the same studio that developed Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.
According to Thomas Wilson, creative director at Beenox, the team's main goal was authenticity. As such, you can expect a game that delivers a similar experience to the original. Back in 1999, Crash Team Racing featured five game modes: Adventure, Time Trial, Arcade, Versus and Battle. These should be making a return with some minor adjustments, one being the inclusion of online multiplayer. In Wilson's words, "Playing split screen is a lot of fun, but racing online is awesome!" After all, what good is a remaster if the experience isn't modernized a bit? If online multiplayer isn't your thing, you'll be happy to know that it still offers local 4-player split screen.
On top of that, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled will still retain its traditional kart racing feel. From official screenshots that have already been released, it looks like crates are making a return, meaning that you'll be able to access a variety of power-ups and weapons to give you an advantage while on the track. Essentially, Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled will have everything from the original (characters, power-ups, tracks, modes) with a few new features thrown in. Beenox teases that even more has been added to the experience like new karts and tracks, and the ability to customize your kart.
Confirmed characters include:
Developer Beenox has confirmed that Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled will run at 4K on PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. Presumably the standard PS4 and Xbox One will run at 1080p.
Frame rate is harder to guess at this point. For comparison, the Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy runs at 30FPS on consoles, but PC supports 60FPS. We'll need to wait and see just how well Beenox can optimize the game.
As for the design and aesthetic itself, Wilson said, "We established very early on that we wanted CTR Nitro-Fueled to be brimming with personality both from an environmental and character stand point. Fans will see this attention to detail shine through in every part of the game from the camera work, to the characters' quirky animations, to the lush environments you're racing in."
You can expect the same level of care that Activision's previous remasters, Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy and Spyro Reignited Trilogy, received.
Crash Team Racing Nitro-Fueled is set to release on June 21, 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
You can pre-order the Standard Edition right now for $40. A digital-only Nitros Oxide Edition can be pre-ordered from the PlayStation Store for $60, and it includes a few additional character skins, Nitros Oxide as a playable character along with his kart, and more content to be announced at a later date. (Nitros Oxide and his kart can also be unlocked in-game for players who do not purchase the Nitros Oxide Edition.)
Updated February 2019: We've added a list of playable characters, details on which systems support 4K resolution, and gameplay footage that Activision has released.
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