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• [Deal Alert] Essential Phone in Halo Gray down to $280 ($220 off) on Amazon
  

  Aside from its incredible build and lightning-quick updates, I’d argue that the most interesting thing about the Essential Phone is how low its price dropped in such a short time; this once-$700 phone hit an all-time low of just $249.99 on Amazon last…

• Google’s new drill sergeant: Coach takes Wear OS to new heights
  

  Wear OS, a platform that has so far been singing songs of departure. Now Google wants to up its game with an extensive fitness coach and improved quality. Will it still be farewell for the smartwatch OS?(This is a preview – click here to read the entir…

• Slip an unlocked Halo Gray Essential Phone into your pocket for $280
  

  One of the best prices we’ve seen.

  We’ve seen deals on the Essential Phone in the past, and while this isn’t quite as good as Prime Day pricing, it’s still a heck of a deal. Right now you can get the phone in Halo Gray (the best color) for just $279.99.

  It comes with 128GB of internal storage, a dual camera system on the back, and it’s powered by the Snapdragon 835 processor. You can also add the exclusive Essential 360 camera. Essential has already released the Android Pie update for the device as well, so you’ll be able to install that as soon as you receive yours!

  See at Amazon
  …

• A mouse pad, portable SSD, and more are discounted today
  

  Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

  We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on the Essential Phone, the SteelSeries mouse pad, a portable SSD, and more!

  View the rest of the deals

  If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!
  …

• Galaxy Note 9 display: Samsung has some tricks up its sleeve
  

  The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has the best display in the world, and it’s hard to imagine anything otherwise. It’s the small details, however, that make the difference in comparison to other displays on the market. These are differences that you can’t real…

• Upcoming Chromecast refresh will have Bluetooth and improved Wi-Fi reception
  

  The second-generation Chromecast, which is still the current model, was released in 2015. There hasn’t been much of a need for hardware refreshes, especially since the original model still works just fine. It was already known that Google was working …

• [Deal Alert] T-Mobile Galaxy S8 down to just $350 from Samsung
  

  Last-generation phones are expected to depreciate, but Samsung phones typically retain their value better than many of their competitors. It’s pretty surprising, then, that Samsung is currently offering the T-Mobile Galaxy S8 for only $350, around $40…

• It’s OK not to be hyped about 5G
  

  You may have heard that 5G is going to change everything. That it’s going to enable the next 10 years of wireless innovation and completely upend how we use our mobile devices. That everything from watches to VR headsets to cars and even hospital operating rooms will be powered by ultra-low-latency wireless networks with enough bandwidth to negate the need for wired connections.

  5G is coming, but it’s less about phones than the sensors phones communicate with.

  If you’ve been following along with the 5G hype narratives from companies like Qualcomm, Huawei, Ericsson, Nokia, Verizon, T-Mobile and others that have considerable skin in the game, once the standard becomes ubiquitous, our lives will never be the same.

  Much like the change from analog to digital networks, or from 2G to 3G, which introduced high(er)-speed mobile data to smartphones, 5G is expected to initiate a sea change of new technological possibilities when it arrives next year.

  According to Qualcomm, the company …

• Stay on schedule with these Google Calendar alternatives
  

  Google Calendar is a solid default calendar app, but if you’re looking to get more out of your scheduling and planning, we’ve got some great alternative apps lined up for you to check out.(This is a preview – click here to read the entire entry.)

• The best cases for the Moto G5 Plus
  

  Because metal scratches too easily.

  Motorola’s 2017 budget phone, the Moto G5 Plus, is a great option if you’re looking to get a metal phone at plastic prices. (In other words, it’s a great product.)

  If you recently bought a Moto G5 Plus at a discount, you should reinvest some of that money you saved on a case to keep it in tip-top condition. We’ve rounded up a wide variety of cases here —from heavy duty and rugged to slim and sleek — so you can find the one that fits your lifestyle best!

  Ringke FUSION case
  Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro
  Spigen Rugged Armor case
  Incipio NGP case
  TUDIA Ultra Slim case
  Cimo clear case
  Poetic Revolution rugged case
  LK Leather Wallet Flip case
  Ringke FUSION case

  See at Amazon

  Striking the right balance between protection and thickness, the Ringke Fusion series is one of the most popular for a reason. Get the Moto G5 Plus version in three colors for just $10.

  Ringke has a good reputation as a solid case manufacturer, and for good reason: i…

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