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More Android phones are getting modern wireless charging this year.
Samsung Galaxy phones will finally support Qi2 in 2025, according to the stewards of the standard, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Qi2 wireless charging was supposed to bring the convenience of the iPhone’s MagSafe to any phone that supports it, but the vast majority of Android phone makers failed to to do anything with it in 2024. That set to change in 2025.
“The exceptional Qi2 growth story will continue in 2025,” Samsung shared in the WPC’s press release. “You can expect to see Android devices supporting Qi2 from Samsung Galaxy devices in 2025.” Besides requiring the inclusion of magnets to make it easier to align smartphones with wireless chargers, Qi2 also supports up to 15W charging, which means Qi2 devices should charge faster than before, too.
Alongside Samsung, Google is also throwing its hat in the ring for Qi2, specifically by contributing “its own high-power wireless charging technology to WPC” for the development of Qi v2.2. Notably missing from Google’s quote is a commitment to actually using the standard in its own Pixel devices however. The Pixel 9 was inarguably the best Android device the company has shipped to date, but it notably doesn’t support Qi2.
In the more immediate future, WPC says that Qi v2.1 will include a new design for wireless car chargers with a moving charging coil that can adjust and seek out a phone regardless of its size or how awkwardly it’s thrown on a charger.
The Inspiron Plus series has been replaced. Now, the lineup is simply called Dell Plus. This rebranded laptop series has two new entries. Both are available with Intel Lunar Lake CPUs, and the 16-inch model can be equipped with a mini-LED display.
Both Dell 14 Plus and Dell 16 Plus are available in 2-in-1 versions (Image source: Dell)
Dell has bid goodbye to its Inspiron Plus series, and the lineup is now replaced by Dell Plus. This new series has two initial entries, the 14 Plus and 16 Plus. While the naming has been simplified, the laptops in the range remain versatile, and one big highlight is that among the two additions, the 16-inch model brings very decent specs for being a mid-range offering.
Both the two Dell Plus 14 and Plus 16 are powered by the Intel Lunar Lake series of CPUs, with the top-end configuration featuring the Core Ultra 9 288V. The entry-level option, on the other hand, packs the Core Ultra 5 226V. Depending on the configuration you choose, you can get these laptops with up to anArc 140V iGPU, 32 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and 2 TB of storage.
These two Dell Plus laptops also come with a decent selection of ports, including HDMI 2.1, Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, and USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports. The design is geared towards beingtravel-friendly, with the 14 Plus weighing as low as 3.42 lbs.
As for the display, the Dell 16 Plus steals the spotlight because it offers the option to configure it with a QHD+mini-LED panelthat features 600 nits of advertised brightness rating and 90 Hz refresh rate. The 14 Plus, on the other hand, can be configured with up to a 2.5K display.
Other highlights of the two new laptops include a speaker setup with Dolby Atmos, a 2-in-1 option for both, and a 64 Wh battery. The 14 Plus and 16 Plus are set to launch on February 18 with a starting price of $1,099 and $1,149, respectively. As for the 2-in-1 models, they will start at $999 and are planned to launch on the same date. You can learn more about them from the spec sheets attached below.
Over the past 30 years, Dell’s XPS brand has grown into one of the most respected and well-known in the industry — often home to some of thebest laptopsyou could buy. In its latest iteration, it was a name that represented top-of-the-line Windows laptops thatcould go toe to toe with MacBooks. But now, the XPS brand is gone. Or, at least, it will be very soon.
I attended an event for journalists ahead ofCES 2025to hear Dell announce the grand plans of its rebrand. It was such a big deal, in fact, that Michael Dell himself took the stage to introduce the idea. The company is shooting for a simpler brand across its entire ecosystem of products that leans on the Dell name and unifies every product in its vast lineup under it.
But the question remains: Will the rebrand actually help potential buyers sort through Dell’s catalogue of products? Or is this change just another example chasing the latest trends in attempts to stay relevant?
Dell is the brand
I won’t bury the lede any further. Dell has announced that the XPS brand — and nearly every other sub-brand of Dell — is getting jettisoned. XPS? Out. Latitude? Nope. Inspiron? Precision? Optiplex? G-series? All gone. In name, they’re all being replaced throughout 2025.
Instead, the company’s future product lines will be split into just three buckets: Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max. And yes, that should sound eerily familiar.
It’s hard not to see the Apple of it all, sure. Apple began adopting terms like Pro, Plus, and Max in its iPhones, as well as in its Apple Silicon naming. But it’s not just Apple using those terms, and it certainly wasn’t the first to. They seem to be everywhere these days, and to be fair, Dell is using them in a different way than other companies. “Pro” does not mean premium or extra performance, and “Plus” and “Max” don’t mean physically larger. You’ll need to throw out all those naming conventions to understand what Dell is doing here.
Consumer PCs, which were previously divided into sub-brands like XPS and Inspiron, will now all fall under just the Dell name. Commercial PCs, meanwhile, will be in the Dell Pro category. And finally, the Dell Pro Max is for workstations, with the “Max” referring to performance. In theory, that means that no, the Dell Pro should not be considered a competitor to the MacBook Pro.
That sounds fairly straightforward, but here’s the thing: The company isn’t dialing back the sheer quantity of laptops, desktops, monitors, and other products in its ecosystem. Except that as you might have guessed, fitting every Dell product into one of those three brands isn’t possible without any extra designation.
That’s why under each brand, there are three more tiers of products names: Base, Plus, and Premium. These not only represent a scale up in terms of performance but also high-end features, materials, designs, and price. To put it as simply as I can, it’ll look a bit like this once it’s all rolled out:
Dell (consumer)
Dell Pro (commercial)
Dell Pro Max (commercial)
Base
Dell
Dell Pro
Dell Pro Max
Plus
Dell Plus
Dell Pro Plus
Dell Pro Max Plus
Premium
Dell Premium
Dell Pro Premium
Dell Pro Max Premium
Dell hasn’t sketched out how all of these will work yet, nor has it indicated exactly where each brand had previously fit. And, of course, within each of those labels, whether it’s Dell Plus or Dell Pro Max Premium (sigh, I know), there will be multiple size options, configurations, and upgrade options. It’s going to get messy.
We do know, however, that what used to be XPS, will now be Dell Premium. So, theXPS 13, 14, and 16, will be renamed the Dell 13 Premium, Dell 14 Premium, and Dell 16 Premium. To show the direction it was heading, Dell had some very familiar XPS laptops to show with the new Dell logo on the lid, even though these devices won’t actually be refreshed (and renamed) until later in 2025.
Meanwhile, XPS laptops will still be sold over the next few months under its current name until the Dell Premium refresh happens. But soon enough, they will be the Dell 13, 14, and 16 Premium.
I have also received confirmation that the XPS design ethos and the team itself isn’t changing either. This won’t be a year where the XPS laptops get a major redesign, since that happened just last year. So for 2025, it’s really just a new name. The only change is that now, they will all fit somewhere under these three headings.
The change feels drastic, and yes, it strikes me as a bit generic. One thing I do like, however, is that it puts the “XPS” designs more in the enter of the lineup, no longer feeling relegated as a side project under the XPS banner. It’s just the Dell 14 Premium. I also appreciate moving from the Dell Plus to the Dell Premium no longer feels like entirely switching brands — and based on what we saw, some of that XPS DNA might be carrying over further down the stack.
While XPS replacement is still a ways out, Dell is starting its initiative in the consumer space with a replacement of the Inspiron Plus, now known as just Dell Plus. The Dell 14 Plus and Dell 16 2-in-1 Plus are the two new laptops in the lineup, refinements over last year’s models.
The 16-inch Plus model comes with an upgraded screen option — a glossy, 600-nit mini-LED panel with a 90Hz refresh rate and QHD resolution. It also comes in a new darker color option that looked quite sleek. The 14-inch model starts with a more basic 1920 x 1200 IPS panel, but can at least be upgraded to a 2560 x 1600 resolution.
Unfortunately, as of now there’s no longer a discrete GPU option in this line though, which is a bummer, because the previousInspiron 16 Plushad options for an RTX 4050 and 4060. The biggest change for the positive, however, is in portability. Both the 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, however, are quite a bit thinner than they were before, down to just 0.67 inches from the 0.75 inches of last year’s model. That brings it a little closer to the MacBook Pro in thickness.
Then again, these aren’t the XPS laptops we all point to high-endMacBook Pro alternatives. They exist more in the mid-tier, though they certainly aren’t bad-looking laptops.
We’ll have to wait and see until we get them in for testing when they launch on February 18. Both sizes of the 2-in-1 models start at $999, while the clamshell Dell 14 Plus starts at $1,099 and the 16-inch model starts at $1,150. Both models start with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, however. That means the Dell 14 Plus is $200 cheaper than theM3 MacBook Airwhen similarly configured.
Dell
Dell also had some Dell Pro laptops to show, but remember, Dell isn’t using the “Pro” term in the way the rest of the industry does, as set by products like the MacBook Pro. Here, the “Pro” in the name refers simply to business laptops. In this case, as replacements for the Latitude brand.
That means the base Dell Pro laptops are affordable business laptops, while the Dell Pro Premium ones look to be top-of-the-line commercial laptops for executives, sporting features like an 8-megapixel webcam and an option for a tandem OLED display — and the Dell Pro 14 Plus sits in between. So, although the Premium ones look nice, you’re likely only going to get one of these if they’re issued by your company’s IT department.
Unfortunately, we’re still not seeing any discrete GPUs being offered outside of the Dell Pro Max line. These are the chunky fellas meant to replace the Precision workstations. They push performance above all else, but use commercial parts. It’s not something the average consumer really needs to even concern themselves with. But that means for now, Dell won’t have a compelling option for creators in the business world, perhaps for those who would prefer a MacBook Pro as their work machine anyways.
Does it work?
Dell
But the big question is about whether this whole rebrand was a good idea. It might sound simpler to say the Dell 14 Premium instead of the Dell XPS 14, but things quickly get a little absurd the further you get away from these mainline products. One product being announced, for example, is the Dell Pro Max Micro, which is a small, commercial desktop, but man, that is the opposite of clarity.
The “Pro Max” in the name refers to commercial PCs with extra performance, and the “Micro” refers to the size of the tower, but yeah, having the word “Max” and “Micro” next to each other in a product name is… kind of insane. Because remember: Trying to reduce the complexity of buying Dell products is the stated goal of this redesign, and when you end up with product names like that, I think that’s a sign you may have taken things a step too far.
That one is a good example, too, because this rebrand does apply to all of Dell’s products, even to desktop PCs and monitors. Although — one of the only sub-brands that is sticking around is UltraSharp on the monitor side — outside of Alienware, of course.
I’m not saying companies like Apple or Samsung are any less egregious with these nonsensical names, and look, no one owns the words “Pro,” “Plus,” or “Max.” No one gets to define what they mean in a product. But deciding to use those terms and redefine them for Dell’s own purposes may end up confusing buyers more than helping them. I’m just glad they didn’t manage to squeeze “Ultra” into the equation somewhere.
One other thing to mention is that Dell is actually not the first PC brand to do this recently. Last year,HP announced its own rebranding, ditching Spectre, Envy, and Pavilion in favor of the new “Omni” brand. HP didn’t take it as far as Dell, though, keeping around the EliteBook line to distinguish its commercial business.
And let’s not forget Intel’s move away from Core i5 and i7 to Core Ultra. There’s no question that this is the direction the entire industry is moving. I’ll need to wait and see how this affects the actual products in the lineup.
For now, let’s pour one out for XPS — a brand that grew into a beloved commodity through its over 30 years of business. That’ll cause some sadness, no doubt. But here’s the question: Did you even know what the acronym stood for? If not, maybe Dell has a point.
Counting steps has become a universal way for most people to measure their daily activity – probably because it’s simple, accessible and easy to fit into daily life. But with a plethora of apps and gadgets promising accurate results, it got me thinking: are all step trackers created equal?
To put this to the test, I tracked a 10,000-step journey using four different devices, all running on different, renowned platforms. I armed myself with (a pretty retro)AppleiPhone 7 running the Apple Health app in my left trouser pocket and, in my right, one of thebest Samsung phones, the Galaxy S23 Ultra with the Samsung Health app installed. On my wrists, I sported two ofthe best running watches: the new Polar Vantage M3 smartwatch on my right and the Garmin Fenix 7 on my left. My goal was simple – to see how their step counts stacked up across a brisk 9km walk through Wellington city centre and back.
Would the fitness-focused smartwatches – which also track heart rate and other vitals – outshine the trusty smartphones that merely sat in my trouser pockets? Or would this experiment show that you don’t need fancy tech to track your steps accurately? Here’s what I discovered after using all four devices at the same time.
My 10,000-step walk was fairly straightforward: I covered 4.5km from my home to the other side of Wellington city centre, took a short break and walked back – a total of roughly 9km. All devices were set to zero before I set off to ensure a fair comparison.
After 1.5 hours of brisk walking, I paused (read: had a sit down in a café with pastry in hand) to check the halfway point readings. These were as follows:
Halfway point results:
Apple Health app:5,003 steps
Samsung Health app:5,022 steps
Polar Vantage M3:5,276 steps
Garmin Fenix 7:5,120 steps
There were already small, but notable discrepancies between the different platforms. The step counts on the two phone apps were closely matched, with just a 19-step difference, which isn’t bad for non-fitness focused gadgets shoved in pockets. The smartwatches, however, varied more – the Polar clocked in 273 steps higher than the iPhone, while theGarminwas more middle-ground at 117 steps above the Apple count.
On the return leg, I took extra care in ensuring my pace was consistent, sticking to well-trodden paths and keeping my stride as steady as possible. By the time I got home, here’s what the final step counts looked like:
Final results:
Apple Health app:10,102 steps
Samsung Health app:10,142 steps
Polar Vantage M3:10,479 steps
Garmin Fenix 7:10,305 steps
Unsurprisingly, none of the devices reported the exact same total. However, the Apple andSamsungphone apps proved to be remarkably consistent with one another, both at the halfway point and at the end, with less than a 1% variance.
The Polar Vantage M3, meanwhile, consistently overshot the mark, adding an extra 379 steps by the end of the walk compared to the iPhone. That’s roughly a 3.8% difference – enough to slightly skew fitness goals over time, especially if you’re relying on exact data for training, assuming this is the most inaccurate by nature of being the outlier.
The Garmin Fenix 7, while slightly overcounting compared to the phones, was less dramatic than the Polar, adding just over 200 steps above the Apple tally. It seemed to strike a balance between sensitivity and accuracy, which doesn’t surprise me–Garmin has a reputation for reliability among fitness enthusiasts.
Which gadget is the most accurate?
Determining “accuracy” is tricky without knowing the true step count–a problem that plagues all step trackers. Factors like stride length,armmovement and even how a device is worn can influence readings. That said, my takeaway is this: phones are surprisingly accurate for everyday step tracking.
The Apple and Samsung apps, nestled safely in my pockets, kept pace with each other consistently, even when compared against the two top-tier smartwatches. This suggests that if you’re using your phone to track steps, you’re probably getting a solid estimate – and it won’t cost you a penny beyond the device itself.
The Polar’s higher step count could stem from its sensitivity to wrist movements, especially since it was strapped to my right wrist on my dominant arm. This might interpret extra steps during non-walking activities like turning corners or gesturing. The Garmin, on the other hand, seemed to lean more conservatively but still edged over the phone tallies.
Do you need wearables to track steps?
While the Polar and Garmin offer plenty of advanced metrics and features that go beyond step tracking – like heart rate, GPS routes and workout summaries – my walk experiment has shown that they’re not strictly necessary if your goal is simply to hit your 10,000-step target each day.
That said, smartwatches do have their perks. They’re great for those who want a more comprehensive picture of their fitness, including calorie burn, sleep tracking and VO₂ max measurements. Plus, they’re often more convenient to glance at mid-walk than pulling out a phone. There are discrepancies from unit to unit because each watch uses different algorithms and technology, but they’re generally in the right ballpart. We found similar differences betweenpremium Garmin and Apple Watches when testing them against each other during a marathon.
However, if you’re just looking to monitor your movement and improve daily activity, a smartphone app will do the job perfectly well if that’s all you intend to do. As my test proved, they’re more than up to the task, and you can save yourself hundreds of pounds in the process. You certainly don’t need to splash out on fancy gadgets to track your steps accurately – your pocket companion can do the job just as well.
Treat yourself with one of these eye-friendly e-paper devices.
If you want the best e ink tablet today, you’re no longer restricted to choosing from kindles. Although Amazon did democratize this product segment, there are dozens of players offering a wide range of devices these days. Over the last few years, e ink technology (and by extension, the devices that utilize it) has improved by leaps and bounds. We’re talking about faster page refresh times, larger screen sizes, and even color displays!
My top vote goes to the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro, which comes with a big color display, incredible battery life, and Android 12 with full support for Play Store apps. The 10.3-inch screen even works with a stylus and gives you the feeling of writing on a piece of real paper. You also get a 16MP rear camera, dual-speakers, and much more. Then there’s the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024), which is perfect if you just want a well-rounded tablet for reading and don’t really care about fancy extras. It comes with a high-resolution panel, full Audible integration, as well as an IPX8 rating.
My love for this product segment and my hands-on experience testing numerous models from many brands, are two very good reasons for you to trust my expertise. With that said, here are some of the best e ink tablets worth checking out.
Best for reading
(Image credit: Amazon)
1. Amazon Kindle Paperwhite (2024)
The best E Ink tablet for reading, especially poolside
Specifications
Screen:6.8 inches
Storage:8GB/16GB
Battery:Up to 10 weeks
Audio:Via Bluetooth accessories only
Stylus:Not included
Reasons to buy
+IPX8 waterproof rating +300ppi E Ink screen +8GB or 16GB of internal storage +Audible integration +Unbeatably good battery life +20% faster than before
Reasons to avoid
-Base model has ads -No Play Store or third-party apps -No physical buttons
For many years now, Amazon has dominated the e-reader market with its Kindle line of reading tablets, and for a good reason: Kindle e-readers are excellent devices, and many of them have displays with LED backlighting. The new Kindle Paperwhite (2024) takes over from the 11th-generationKindle Paperwhite, and it is arguably thebest Amazon Kindle e-readerout there.
This 12th-generation Amazon Kindle Paperwhite has many of the same features from before, like an IPX8 waterproof certification and five adjustable LED backlights. There’s a faster processor which enables up to 25 percent quicker page turns, and a new oxide thin-film transistor in the display for richer contrast levels.
Its 6.8-inch 300ppi E Ink screen is a delight to look at and replicates paper very nicely. Audible integration makes it the ideal companion for lazy beach days when you want to sunbathe with your eyes closed. You can also connect a pair of Bluetoothwireless earbudsand listen to audiobooks in peace.
There’s just one 16GB model now of the 2024 Paperwhite, which is enough to store thousands of e-books. The battery life is still excellent, and you get a USB-C charging port. Amazon sweetened the deal by setting a low price, but you’ll need to spend a little extra cash for the ad-free version. In a nutshell, if you’re an avid reader, you’ll love Kindle Paperwhite. Some file formats aren’t supported, althoughAmazon did introduce EPUBcompatibility a while back.
+10.3-inch Kaleido 3 color display +Stylus and keyboard support +128GB expandable storage +Android 12 with Play Store +Fantastic battery life +USB Type-C fast charging +Unbelievably slim body +Fingerprint sensor and 16MP camera
Reasons to avoid
-No IP resistance rating -E Ink display isn’t bright under the sun -Keyboard case needs to be bought separately -Expensive
While most E Ink tablets tend to focus on doing the one thing they’re meant for, the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro does it all. Successor to theTab Ultra C, the Tab Ultra C Pro can display 4,096 colors on its 10.3-inch Kaleido 3 screen, which is quite unusual for most E Ink tablets. Thanks to the included stylus, you can even draw, highlight, or jot down notes in different shades. The Tab Ultra C Pro’s touch functionality for the stylus is powered by Wacom, the company that makes thebest drawing tablets. It imitates the traditional feel of writing on paper with a pen, making for an awesome experience.
Onyx Boox has really taken things to the next level by adding more under the Tab Ultra C Pro’s hood. This stunningly slim tablet runs Android 12 out of the box, so you can install and use apps from the Google Play Store. It also comes with 6GB of RAM, 128GB of onboard storage, a microSD slot, a 16MP camera, stereo speakers, a mic, and a USB Type-C port that supports fast charging. Amazingly, the 4,600mAh battery can last for a week or two with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth in full use. The Boox Tab Ultra C Pro is the complete package; it’s almost comparable to some of thebest Android tablets, except for a few limitations.
Unfortunately, if you want the complete package, you’ll have to pay for it since this thing isn’t exactly cheap in comparison to “regular” tablets. It also lacks any IP rating water and dust resistance, which is a bummer, and E Ink displays are famously dim under the Sun. We believe you can live with these shortcomings, as the combination of features in the Tab Ultra C Pro is just too good. Unlike competitors like the Kindle Scribe, it provides more value and has a lot more to offer.
Best mid-range
3. Onyx Boox Note Air4 C
The best E Ink tablet for $500
Specifications
Screen:10.3 inches Kaleido 3
Storage:64GB, microSD, USB-C OTG
Battery:3,700mAh
Audio:Speaker, Microphone
Stylus:Included
Reasons to buy
+Extremely thin and lightweight +Battery-free stylus included +Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity +Runs Android 13 and has Google Play Store +Weeks of battery with Type-C charging +Improved display with quicker response time +Supports a wider range of file formats than Kindle e-readers +Keyboard support and color display
Reasons to avoid
-No IP rating -Keyboard case comes separately
At $500, the Onyx Boox Note Air4 C improves upon the awesomeBoox Note Air3 Cby retaining its value-packed features but bumping up the processing power for better response and a brighter display. Boox tablets beat Amazon, Kobo, and every competitor easily because they all have the Google Play Store support and Android 13.
The Boox Note Air4 C has a 10.3-inch E Ink Kaleido 3 display that can produce 4,096 colors and has excellent contrast and a lovely crispness to it. It comes with a battery-free stylus that can register up to 4,096 levels of pressure, and you get native optical character recognition (OCR). This is such a vital feature for any tablet, whether it’s an E Ink device or a full-blown traditional Android or iOS tablet. You also get native OCR or handwriting recognition and conversion with the Note Air4 C.
Apart from the stylus and excellent e-paper display, the Note Air4 C has all the advantages of E Ink tablets and e-readers, and some extra goodies. Its 3,700mAh battery provides weeks of battery life, and you get a USB-C port with OTG support as well. Other additions include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth connectivity, support for loads of file formats, built-in speakers, and even a microphone. You can also get a keyboard case separately to enable typing input. There’s now 6GB of RAM instead of 4GB, and the tablet is 10g lighter.
When looking for a writing tablet with an e-paper display, the Onyx Boox Note Air4 C is easily the winner. This is saying something, considering the rivals include devices like theAmazon Kindle Scribe and the ReMarkable 2. If you don’t mind the lack of water resistance and the need to buy the keyboard case separately, this is the E Ink tablet to get for $500.
Best small
4. Onyx Boox Palma 2
The best pocket-sized e-paper tablet
Specifications
Screen:6.13 inches E Ink Carta Plus
Storage:128GB, microSD, USB-C OTG
Battery:3,950mAh
Audio:Speaker, Microphone
Stylus:Not included
Reasons to buy
+Positively tiny and splash-proof +Fingerprint reader built-in +Runs Android 13 and has all Play Store apps +Lovely E Ink Carta Plus B&W display with no ghosting issues +Lots of onboard storage, USB-C OTG, and a microSD slot +Unbeatable battery lasts for months
Reasons to avoid
-No stylus support -No SIM slot
The Onyx Boox Palma 2 is an iterative update to theOnyx Boox Palmaand is more of an E Ink smartphone than a tablet. Its compact form factor enables you to carry it around anywhere in your pocket. The sub-$300 price tag might feel a bit high for the size, and you could easily get a basic entry-level Kindle for less than half that money. However, no Kindle comes with Google Play Store support, and that’s just one of the many enticing draws of the Boox Palma 2.
The Onyx Boox Palma 2 has a microphone, speakers, and all modern connectivity options thatfull-fledged Android tabletshave, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The only connectivity option missing is cellular support. The new version does come with a fingerprint sensor for added security.
You get Android 13, and the Google Play Store pre-installed, granting you access to millions of apps. And because the device uses a B&W E Ink display, the battery lasts for months! The 128GB of native storage is insane, but if that somehow isn’t enough for you, you alsoget a microSD cardslot and USB-C OTG support forUSB-C thumb drives.
It’s hard to find another handheld e-ink device that’s this capable because honestly, there isn’t one! The Palma 2 is one of a kind.
Best entry-level
(Image credit: Amazon)
5. Amazon Kindle (2024)
A great budget e-reader
Specifications
Screen:6 inches
Storage:16GB
Battery:Up to six weeks
Audio:Via Bluetooth accessories only
Stylus:Not included
Reasons to buy
+Adjustable front light +300ppi display is a joy to read +Immortal battery backup +USB-C port +16GB of internal storage +Very affordable
Reasons to avoid
-No IP rating -Doesn’t support third-party apps -Ads in cheaper model
E Ink tablet lovers out there on a budget can still get one for a nifty price. The entry-level Amazon Kindle (2024) is a budget e-reader sporting a 6-inch 300ppi e-paper display. It doesn’t have many funky features like a waterproof rating or Sudoku, but it can support a healthy number of file formats and looks brilliant too.
It isn’t that bright in sunlight, but the adjustable front light comes in quite handy for reading at night. The basic Amazon Kindle has some more no-nonsense specs such as 16GB of storage, fantastic battery life, Wi-Fi, and audiobook support. If you don’t want to use the Kindle app, you can transfer files to the Amazon Kindle (2024) e-reader from your PC too.
In comparison to almost every other e-paper device out there, the Amazon Kindle is the winner, hands down, when it comes to price. The base model Kindle performs a tad bit slower, and it doesn’t have waterproofing, but it is still the best E Ink tablet for reading on a tight budget.
+Impossibly thin and lightweight for the size +Premium E Ink Mobius display is a delight to the eyes +Smooth performance +Weeks of battery life +Stylus support and USB-C OTG
Reasons to avoid
-Insanely expensive -No color output -No microSD card slot
Onyx Boox has ventured into all corners of the e-paper tablet world, giving us the tiniest of devices like the Boox Palma and the biggest of slabs with theOnyx Boox Tab X. This gigantic 13.3-inch E Ink tablet doesn’t display color, but has a viewing experience that’s sublime nonetheless. This is the most premium Android tablet with an E Ink display made by the brand.
I tested the Tab X and was very impressed by its thin profile and lightweight yet solid build quality. The tablet is quite literally as slim as a tea biscuit! And this narrow waist does not impede the tablet’s performance in any way. Apart from that, the Tab X has all the signature features of Onyx Boox devices like Android, the Google Play Store, a speaker, a mic, and even a stylus.
If the 128GB of onboard storage isn’t enough for all your files, e-books, mangas, and apps, then the USB-C OTG feature should help you expand the storage even further. There’s no microSD slot, but that shouldn’t be a big issue, all things considered. The one major drawback here is the extremely expensive price tag. But if you can afford it, you won’t have much to complain about.
How to choose
After staring at bright screens day in and day out, your eyes really need a break. The best E Ink tablet not only provides relief but also lets you carry out various tasks. Pick one based on your specific needs. If you intend to read basic e-books, an entry-level e-reader should be fine. But if you intend to do more like drawing and taking notes, take those use cases into consideration before making a final choice.
The Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro is the best E Ink tablet due to its fabulous soft colors, extremely sleek and lightweight build, and multitasking capabilities. It isn’t limited to just being an e-reader, but if you want, you can use it for that purpose. However, if the need be, you can also use it to take down notes, sketch some lovely drawings, or underline passages of text.
Let’s also not forget that you get native optical character recognition with the Onyx Boox Tab Ultra C Pro, enabling you to convert your handwriting into digital text in real-time, whether it’s to use the search bar in the Google Play Store or to use the search function in your handwritten notes. This alone is a remarkable feat for any decent tablet with a stylus.
The Tab Ultra C Pro accommodates office use as well as home use. You don’t have to sacrifice battery life or connectivity. It even has stereo speakers and a mic, which no other electronic ink tablet on this list offers. What’s even more brilliant is its ability to run almost anyAndroid app. You can actually use it as a full-blown tablet for most tasks related to reading and writing. The Tab Ultra C Pro pushes the boundaries of an E Ink tablet in the best sense, which is why it’s the best one to buy right now.
CES 2025 officially kicks off in Las Vegas on the morning of Tuesday, January 7 and runs through the end of the day on January 10. The “official” dates are specific to when the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center is open to attendees, and ultimately belie the show’s true duration. A pair of press days kick off Sunday with a few smaller events leading up to a scrum of press conferences on January 6.
Press conferences
AMD(Monday at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET): AMD has its work cut out for it at CES 2025. Competitor Nvidia has been sucking the oxygen out of every room it graces, as the chipmaker remains at the forefront of the AI boom. So, how will AMD compete with Nvidia’s reported RTX 5000 announcement? The company should show off its own next-gen GPU. As part of an ongoing rebrand, the RDNA 4 cards could arrive as either the RX 8000 or RX 9000 series.
Toyota(Monday at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m ET): We expect Chairman Akio Toyoda to go all in on Woven City, the carmarker’s “living laboratory.” Our automotive editor Kirsten Korosec adds: “Details are slim about exactly what will be revealed. TechCrunch, which was at the initial announcement in 2020, will be watching to see how startups will be incorporated into Woven City and whether Toyota followed through on its plans to build a fully connected ecosystem powered by hydrogen fuel cells.”
Samsung(Monday at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET): Samsung’s CES presser is always an odd duck. The Korean electronics giant generally keeps its powder dry when it comes to consumer electronics. After all, it’s expected to announce its latest flagship handset — the Galaxy S25 — toward the end of January. CES 2025 is going to continue the company’s tradition of TVs and appliances. There are also odds and ends like consumer robots that will most likely never see the light of day. Samsung has adopted the tagline “AI for All: Everyday, Everywhere” for the presentation.
Nvidia(Monday at 6:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. ET): Nvidia will no doubt have the biggest CES 2025. After all, the company has pretty much the biggest everything nowadays. The chip giant is sporting a $3.4+ trillion market cap, due largely to its foundational position in the ongoing AI boom. Companies like OpenAI and Meta have purchased Nvidia processors by the boatload, and that’s unlikely to change in the new year. Founder and CEO Jensen Huang will help kick off CES 2025 “with his trademark leather jacket and an unwavering vision,” per Nvidia.
Notable keynotes from the following day include Twitter/X CEO Linda Yaccarino at 1:30 p.m. PT and Delta CEO Ed Bastian at 5 p.m. PT. The latter, notably, will take place at jam band hot spot the Sphere. Both will be available to stream at the officialCES YouTube page.
Trends
The show’shot topicwill almost certainly be the only thing anyone in tech seems to talk about these days: AI. That’s nothing new for CES, of course. The category has been at the forefront for years now, with 2024’s show delivering some of the earliest generative-AI-powered consumer devices.
TheRabbit R1was, perhaps, the most notable from last year’s show. The handheld generated a lot of buzz at the event, though as with other AI devices likeHumane’s AI Pin, the product failed to live up to any expectations.
The subject won’t be limited to this manner of product, however. This year, any product thatdoesn’tmention AI in some form will be in a small minority. As mentioned above, Nvidia and AMD will be going head-to-head on the chip front. Nvidia will be a particular focus, as the chipmaker sets the stage pace for AI in 2025, including the release of the much anticipated GeForce RTX 50 GPU. The company will also touch on other key categories, including robotics and transportation.
AI will grace everything from cars to refrigerators this year. Some applications will prove genuinely useful, but many — if not most — will be a solution in search of a problem. This is always an important thing to keep in mind at an event like CES. It’s a huge show — last year’s eventhosted4,300 companies and nearly 140,000 attendees. There’s a lot of noise, and plenty of AI “applications” exist in attempt to rise above it.
Over the past decade, CES has transformed into one of the year’s top automotive shows. This has primarily been driven by automotive manufacturers’ bids to become bleeding-edge pioneers: Where better to showcase that than the year’s biggest consumer tech show? The 2021 addition of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s West Hall has facilitated that expansion.
Questions remain about whether CES can maintain its status as a major car show. Anecdotally, fewer large names appear to be participating in a meaningful way, including U.S. manufacturers like Ford. This is likely due, in part, to Detroit’s North American International Auto Show returning after a year off. That event is set to kick off January 10, overlapping with CES.
That’s not to say that there won’t be big headlines out of Vegas next week. In addition to Toyota’s participation, Sony’s press conference should once again feature Afeela, the company’s collaboration with Honda. Firms like Hyundai —which now owns Boston Dynamics— will likely showcase its focus on humanoid and other robotics.
Robotics have increasingly become a focus point for CES in recent years. I anticipate most transportation companies discussing the topic, from manufacturing to eVTOLs. The car industry has been the tip of the automated manufacturing spear for years, a fact accelerated by various employment and supply chain crises since the pandemic. Meanwhile, eVTOLs scored a majorFAA winlate last year.
CES continues to be a major launching pad for computer monitors. In fact, Samsung, ASUS, and MSI all announced the addition of“the world’s first” 27-inch 4K OLED monitorswith 240Hz refresh rates. Smart appliances always get a lot of love at the show as well.LG has already revealeda bunch of news on that front. Samsung should follow suit at its press conferences on Monday.
After an extended lull, I anticipate a new wave of smart home devices. Between interoperability through theMatter standard, the explosion of generative AI platforms, and a second wind for smart assistants from Google, Amazon, and Apple, companies will be showcasing how these devices might excel where their predecessors failed.
After its latest hype cycle, extended reality still has a lot to prove. The Vision Pro hasn’t taken off as Apple had hoped, and competitors are struggling to compete with Meta’s ability to subsidize the cost of the Quest. Big names in the space like HTC and Magic Leap have largely pivoted to enterprise applications. Chipmakers like Qualcomm, however, are still very much focused on making a splash.
It’s still investigating what led to Nest products becoming suddenly unhelpful.
What you need to know
Google Home and Nest products experienced an issue that led speakers and displays to become unresponsive this week.
The problem specifically affected verbal commands, even those as simple as “What’s the weather?”.
Google says the issue should be resolved for most users now, and is investigating what caused the problem.
Google said today it resolved widespread issues withGoogle Homeand Nest products not responding to commands that plagued users for nearly a week. First reported byAndroid Authority, the problems left Home and Nest speakers and displays incapable of answering even the most basic questions, like the time or the weather. The company is still investigating what caused the problems, but confirmed most users shouldn’t experience the unresponsiveness now.
“The team is still investigating the root cause but have resolved the issue, so all users should be up and running now,” a Google spokesperson explained.
The problems, which specifically affected voice commands, can be traced back to at least Dec. 30 as evidenced bypostson Google’s support forum (via9to5Google). Although the Nest Hub displays in particular showed the correct weather and time, the voice assistant requests would hang up when asking for the same information. The displays showed a perpetual loading screen and couldn’t respond to basic requests.
Certain requests, like smart home or media control, were still functional. However, anything that required a Home or Nest speaker or display to fetch a response would fail. Luckily, it appears that the issues are resolved. Android Authority reported that its issues were no longer affecting its units, and Android Central tested that itsGoogle Home HubandNest Hub Maxwere both able to respond to requests.
It’s unclear what caused the speakers and displays to become unable to respond to requests over the last week or so. The bug could be related to how Google Home and Nest products decide which one will respond to requests, assupport posts indicatepeople with multiple speakers or displays were adversely affected.
The best computing devices that Samsung has to offer.
Samsung doesn’t have a massive portfolio of laptops the way others like Dell and HP do, but the handful of models that it does offer are pretty great. There is the best Samsung laptop for everyone, especially with some of the new Copilot+ models it has introduced in 2024.
These laptops tend to be a bit pricey though, with most of them starting at roughly $900. Luckily, deals aren’t uncommon, especially during sale events and major holidays.
Of course, picking the right Samsung laptop for you is going to depend on your own personal needs, but if we had to select one device for most people, the Galaxy Book 4 Pro is still a great choice. That being said, every laptop has its pros and cons, so keep reading to find what is the best Samsung laptop orbest Chromebookthat will fulfill all your needs.
+Very affordable +Fan-less +Snapdragon processor +Plenty of ports, including USB-A
Reasons to avoid
-Battery life isn’t great -Doesn’t match Lenovo IdeaPad Chromebooks
Although it’s a few years old at this point, the Samsung Galaxy Book Go continues to be a solid option if you need an affordable laptop that you can count on. Typically retailing for less than $300, the Galaxy Book Go hits that delicate balance between budget-friendliness and quality specs. The laptop comes with the solid Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c processor built right in, making it fast and entirely fan-less.
The ultra-thin Samsung laptop measures just 14.9mm in height, plus you get a nice 14-inch HD display and a full-size keyboard. Dual Dolby Atmos speakers deliver surprisingly crisp and clear sound quality, plus you get all the ports you need, including two USB-C, one USB-A, a headphone jack, and a microSD slot.
At this price point, don’t expect to be blown away by the performance or battery life, but if you’re looking for a Samsung laptop that’s thin, cheap, and quiet, the Galaxy Book Go is tough to beat.
Audio:AKG Quad Speaker (Woofer Max 5W x 2, Tweeter 2W x 2), Dolby Atmos, 3.5mm jack
Camera:1080p, dual mics
Dimensions:(14-inch) 312.3 x 223.8 x 11.6 mm / 355.4 x 252.2 x 12.8 mm
Weight:2.71 lbs / 3.44 lbs
Reasons to buy
+Intel Core Ultra processors +Super thin and lightweight construction +Plenty of ports +Sturdy construction
Reasons to avoid
-No touchscreen -Expensive
Sleek and lightweight, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Pro ticks all of the boxes if you’re looking for a new, do-it-all laptop. It comes with a vibrant 3K AMOLED display and utilizes Intel’s latest Core Ultra processors to deliver consistently excellent performance, regardless of the task.
This latest CPU also features a dedicated co-processor (NPU) for accelerating AI tasks, making it future-ready. Dolby Atmos and AKG speakers provide great sound, and you get plenty of ports on both sides of the laptop, including HDMI, two USB-C ports, amicroSD slot, and even a USB-A port, which is a rarity these days.
Although all of this sounds great as it is, the specs become even more exciting when you consider the laptop’s remarkably thin and lightweight design. The 14-inch version of the Galaxy Book 4 Pro clocks in at just 11.6mm tall and weighs a mere 2.71 pounds, despite the fact that the laptop also boasts a durable, all-metal construction.
The 14-inch model typically retails for around $1,450, while the 16-inch variant is priced at $1,750. Neither option is exactly cheap — plus you don’t get a touchscreen — but if the Book 4 Pro falls within your budget, you’re in for a powerful laptop that should work well for just about anyone.
+The thinnest and lightest Chromebook +Beautiful and massive display +Quick Insert Key is convenient when you find a use for it +Intel’s Raptor Lake chip is a welcome addition +The keyboard is excellent and comfortable to type on +Includes a surprising number of ports
Reasons to avoid
-Limited to one configuration -Might be too expensive for some -Battery life needs to be better -No touchscreen or convertible design -Lacking a fingerprint scanner -Offset keyboard and trackpad isn’t for everyone
When you’re looking for the best Chromebooks in any category, it’s important to find laptops that have a nice value-to-performance ratio. In other words, Chromebooks don’t need to blow you away with premium performance, they just need to be reliable, versatile, and powerful enough to handle most of your daily tasks. Suffice it to say, the latestSamsung Galaxy Chromebook Plusgets the job done with flying colors.
The Galaxy Chromebook Plus features a thin and lightweight design, but it doesn’t compromise on performance. Compared to our previous pick, the Galaxy Chromebook 2 360, the new Chromebook Plus loses the convertible design and touchscreen but I don’t think that should be a deal-breaker. In fact, it gains a gorgeous 15.6-inch AMOLED with slim bezels. The processor is also from the newer Intel ‘Raptor Lake’ series, but there’s just one configuration on offer.
It’s pricier than the outgoing model at roughly $700, but you’re also getting a much more premium experience. We found the keyboard to be excellent for typing, and the Galaxy Chromebook Plus has a surprising number of ports given its slim size. A few annoyances aside, like the lack of a fingerprint sensor and the average battery life, it’s a great package overall. Once you have it in your hands, these are thefirst things to do on your Chromebook.
Best premium laptop
(Image credit: Samsung)
4. Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra
Best premium laptop
Specifications
Display:16.0-inches (16:10), 2880 x 1800
Processor:Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
Graphics:Intel Arc Graphics + Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070
RAM:16GB / 32GB LPDDR5
Storage:1TB NVMe (plus expansion slot)
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3
Ports:1x USB-A, 2x USB-C, HDMI, microSD, 3.5mm
Battery:76WHr
Audio:AKG Quad Speaker (Woofer Max 5W x 2, Tweeter 2W x 2), Dolby Atmos, 3.5mm jack
If money is no object, you can’t do much better than the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra. This laptop is the brand’s most premium flagship yet, and it doesn’t disappoint when it comes to unique features and top-of-the-line performance. This laptop brings together all of your Galaxy devices to form a cohesive ecosystem, but that barely scratches the surface of everything the Ultra can do.
The Galaxy Book 3 Ultra boasts a vibrant 16-inch 3K AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, plus you get a 1080p webcam with a two-mic system and AKG Quad speakers with Dolby Atmos. It also boasts of the latest Intel Core Ultra processors, but unlike the other laptops in the Book 4 series, the Book 4 Ultra can be kitted with up a Core Ultra 9 processor and up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card, making it very powerful for professional content production or even gaming.
Not everything is rosy with the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, however. With a starting price of around $2,400, the laptop may be out of reach for many people. There’s also no touchscreen or S Pen support. Despite these shortcomings, if you’re already a Samsung user and you want the most premium laptop that the brand has to offer, the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra is certainly worth checking out.
+Convertible design +Touchscreen display is compatible with an S Pen +Thin and lightweight +Large battery capacity
Reasons to avoid
-No smaller display option
The new Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 comes in at a slightly higher price than the Book 4 Pro 360, but it’sthemodel you should be considering. The main reason being this is a Copilot+ PC, which means you’ll have access to all the exclusive Windows 11 AI features just like the Snapdragon Samsung laptops. The other big reason is that it has Intel’s latest Core Ultra (Series 2) processor which delivers vastly better computational and graphical performance than Series 1.
You’ll also be able to use Samsung’s excellent S Pen which will let you take advantage of the native Windows Ink functionality. But, since this is a Samsung device, the company has baked in the same Air Actions menu that you’ll find on thebest Samsung tabletsand phones. The rest of the specs are similar to the previous model.
The Book 5 Pro 360 only comes in a single display size of 16 inches. It’s a brilliant 3K AMOLED touch panel, but it’s also quite large so it might not be the best choice if you travel a lot. You also get ample RAM and storage, and an excellent set of physical ports. If you want a premium 16-inch Samsung laptop that has most of the features of the Ultra model but with a lower sticker price, the Book 5 Pro 360 fills that need perfectly.
Best Windows on Arm
(Image credit: Samsung)
6. Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge 14″
Best Windows on Arm
Specifications
Display:14-inch, AMOLED display (2,880×1,800)
Processor:Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite
RAM:16GB
Storage:Up to 1TB
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.3
Battery:61.8WHr
Audio:Quad Stereo Speakers, Dolby Atmos
Camera:2MP
Dimensions:325.4 x 226.4 x 14.9 mm
Weight:3.4 lbs (1.54g)
Reasons to buy
+Impressively slim design +Integrates well with Galaxy AI and Samsung ecosystem +Benefits of Copilot+ AI features +Brilliant 3K AMOLED screen +Snappy performance
Reasons to avoid
-Non-native Windows on Arm apps might have compatibility issues
The Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Edge series of Copilot+ PCs is your best bet if you’re looking for zippy Windows 11 performance, but with the instant reponse that typically comes with Arm-based devices. The Galaxy Book 4 Edge 14″ and 16″ are the premium models with the top-end Snapdragon X Elite SoC and 3K AMOLED displays, while the Galaxy Book 4 Edge 15.6″ is an affordable option with the Snapdragon X Plus SoC and a FHD LED display. In reality, the premium Edge 14″ is often priced lower than the budget Edge 15, which makes it better value.
Our friends over at Techradar.com havereviewedthe 16-inch model, and have praised the portability of this laptop thanks to its super-slim design. The Snapdragon X Elite chip also delivers excellent performance and there’s deep integration with other Samsung devices and Galaxy AI, making it a great addition if you already own one of thebest Samsung phones. The two things going against it are the average battery life and the fact that you could face compatibility issues with apps that aren’t designed to run on Arm natively. While Windows 11’s built-in Prism emulator does its best to run x86 apps on Qualcomm’s silicon, it can be a hit or miss at times.
You get plenty of ports, storage goes up to 1TB, and there’s 16GB of RAM on all the variants. Plus, you get to use all of the exclusive Windows AI features like automatic live captions when watching videos, Windows Studio Effects, Cocreator in Paint, and lots more.
How to choose
Just like any other major device purchase, choosing the best Samsung laptop is going to come down to your budget and individual needs as a user. When you take a look at something like the Galaxy Book 4 Pro or the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra, there’s really no wrong choice, as it just depends on your budget.
With the combination of the latest processors from Intel and an ultra-slim and sleek design, the Galaxy Book 4 Pro makes for an easy choice. This latest version is even more powerful thanks to Intel’s Core Ultra processors. If you have a smaller budget or you simply want something a little different, there are plenty of great Samsung Chromebooks and tablets to choose from. The Galaxy Book Go is an old model now, but it works if all you’ll be doing is basic work like checking mails or watching videos. The Galaxy Chromebook Plus is a good choice for students too, or if you’re someone that primarily uses web apps.
The Galaxy Book 4 Edge series is also an option if you’re looking for a bit more versatility and want to take advantage of all the best Windows 11 AI features. There are multiple models and variants to choose from, that should satisfy most users.
For more serious users who don’t mind loosening the purse strings, the Galaxy Book 4 Ultra is splurge-worthy, offering incredible power for heavy work apps and gaming. If you want something of its similar calibre but at a more approachable price, the Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360 is a great convertible for you to consider.
Here’s the lowdown in the next generation of wireless charging
(Image credit: Anker)
Qi2 wireless chargingwas first announcedall the way back inCES 2023, promising that something akin to Apple’s MagSafe would come to Android phones in the near future. So far there hasn’t been much progress in making that promise a reality. But rumor has it that 2025 could be the year that Qi2’s magnetic wireless charging could finally go mainstream.
It’s claimed that Samsung could be including Qi2 on theGalaxy S25series, which may make it the first major Android phone to feature the new technology. Considering Samsung probably won’t be the last phone maker to adopt Qi2, it’s somethingI am very excited about seeing. There’s improvements to wireless charging speed and efficiency, opportunities to exploit the magnets in other ways, and more.
Here’s everything you need to know about Qi2 wireless charging — and why I’m so excited to finally see it arrive.
What is Qi2?
Qi2 wireless charging is the second generation of the Qi wireless charging standard. Like Qi1, which is more or less ubiquitous now, Qi2 was developed as an open standard by the Wireless Power Consortium.
The idea behind Qi2 is to improve upon what wireless charging already offers in a bunch of different ways. This includes adding magnets, with the help ofMagSafedevelopers Apple, while also offering big upgrades to the charging itself. Upgrades like faster speeds, better power efficiency and improved safety. All so that the wireless charging experience is better for everyone involved.
While Qi2 was first revealed by the WPC atCES2023, the standard wasn’t finalized until January 2024. This meant phone makers, barring Apple who had MagSafe, couldn’t implement the technology for at least a year after its initial reveal.
What are the benefits of Qi2?
(Image credit: Anker)
The major benefit to Qi2 is the ring of magnets in the back, positioned around the wireless charging coil. These are designed to connect to other magnets in Qi2 wireless chargers, ensuring that the coils in your device and the charger are perfectly positioned every single time. Anyone that’s ever had to shift their devices around to start wireless charging will know how frustrating that process can be.
That instant positioning also ensures that your phone is able to wirelessly charge more efficiently. Because the coils are in perfect alignment, it means that more power goes into your battery and less power is wasted as a result. Not only does this prevent the lost power turning into heat, which is pretty bad for your phone and battery in high-enough doses, it has the added benefit of speeding up your charging session.
Speaking of which, Qi2 offers noticeably faster charging speeds.Normally Qi1 has a maximum charging speed of 7.5W, which isn’t all that great. Qi2 ups that number to 15W, allowing all Qi2-certified phones to charge at double the speed than before using any Qi2-certified charger.
This speed pales in comparison to some wireless charging speeds, some of which can hit speeds of 80W. However, those speeds are only accomplished by proprietary wireless charging technology, meaning they rely on specialized chargers made by the phone’s manufacturer. Qi2 can’t replace that, but it will ensure faster speeds for all those times where you can’t use the official charger.
Qi2 also offers adaptive charging speeds, which is new for wireless charging, rather than fixed power output. This allows your phone and charger to communicate, ensuring that no unnecessary power is sent through. Not only does this boost efficiency, it’s another feature that helps prevent excess heat build-up. Again, that’s bad for the long-term health of your phone — and potentially a safety hazard.
Finally, the magnets in the back of the phone opens up the opportunity for non-iPhones to use magnetic accessories. Many iPhone-compatible options are on sale and we’ve seen the likes of magnetic phone stands, grips and tripods already. I’ve also seen magnetic wallets, and wireless charging batteries that snap to the back of your phone. Since MagSafe and Qi2 are compatible, it means all those iPhone accessories will work with Qi2 phones.
How is Qi2 different from MagSafe?
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple’s involvement in the development of Qi2 means that it bears a striking similarity to Apple’s MagSafe. The two are close enough that a casual observer could consider Qi2 as the “MagSafe for Android phones”. But it’s important to remember that they are not identical.
MagSafe is a proprietary standard owned and operated by Apple, and means Apple can do whatever it likes with it. MagSafe phones are Qi2 compatible, but the opposite isn’t necessarily true.Apple increased MagSafe charging speedsforiPhone 16, allowing up to 25W speeds — so long as you buy the new, faster, MagSafe charger. Slap those same phones onto a Qi2 charger, and the most you’ll get is 15W.
MagSafe also features an NFC chip that can communicate with MagSafe chargers. This allows the phone to remember chargers, and any setting you may have set up. For example, if you have specific Standby mode widgets and settings on one charger, but want things set up differently for another, MagSafe can remember this and act accordingly. Qi2 can not.
MagSafe and Qi2 also have different requirements and certification processes. Typically, Apple is a lot more restrictive about what third-party developers are allowed to do if they want to be certified and able to use Apple trademarks — and that’s before you bring up the associated costs. So expect officially-licensed MagSafe accessories to be more expensive than Qi2.
So while MagSafe iPhones are compatible with Qi2, the opposite isn’t true for Qi2 Android phones. Unfortunately, the lack of Qi2 phones on the market means we don’t really know what happens if you try and charge a Qi2 phone with MagSafe. Android phones can wirelessly charge with a MagSafe charger at Qi1 speeds, so there shouldn’t be an issue of compatibility. We just don’t know if Qi2 phones will get a Qi2 experience or if the charger will default to Qi1.
Which phones actually support Qi2 right now?
(Image credit: HMD)
There aren’t many phones that support Qi2 right now, and the overwhelming majority of them are MagSafe iPhones. Qi2 chargers will still wirelessly charge phones that support Qi1, but your experience will be identical to using an ordinary Qi1 charger — unless you’ve invested in amagnetic phone case that ensures perfect alignment.
Here are all the phone that can charge with Qi2 wireless charging.
That’s right, currently the only Android phone that supports Qi2 is the HMD Skyline, a mid-range $499 phone that’s been built for DIY repairs. While not a bad phone, it’s certainly not the kind of place you’d expect to see brand new technology debut.
Rumor has it that theSamsung Galaxy S25could feature Qi2, so hopefully this list gets to expand a little bit over the next 12 months. But until that happens, this is what you’ve got.
You can increase your internal storage on these Android phones.
Whether you carry your media library with you, shoot a lot of 4K videos, or are looking to download a few movies ahead of a long commute, having a phone with expandable storage is essential for lots of users.
Thankfully, plenty of options are still available, although most of them are budget phones or mid-rangers with a few compromises here and there. Still, you might be surprised by the quality of the phones I’ve gathered for this guide. Some of these devices may even come with features you didn’t expect, such as 3.5mm headphone jacks and 120Hz displays.
For thebest Android phoneswith expandable storage, all you need is a stellar microSD card and you’ll be all set to store as much data on your device as needed. With theright memory card, you can even store your apps on the external storage.
Main camera:50MP, ƒ/1.8, EIS, 79-degree FoV, Ultra XDR
Front camera:16MP
Battery & charging:5,000mAh, 33W wired charging
Water and dust resistance:Dust and splash resistant
Reasons to buy
+Bright and beautiful AMOLED display +Hardware can be customized +Quick processor +Three years of software updates +Excellent cameras
Reasons to avoid
-No NFC -5G support isn’t great in the U.S. -No headphone jack
Expandable storage has been relegated mainly to budget-tier phones in the past few years which normally means boring designs with disappointing performance, but withNothing CMF Phone 1, you can get microSD expansion in a phone with a flashy and unique design, great cameras, solid performance, and a nice AMOLED display. With a MediaTek Dimensity 730 SoC you’d be forgiven for thinking performance will struggle, but performance is solid with little lag, and even solid gaming performance. It’s not the fastest chip you can get, but it’s more than powerful enough for average day-to-day usage.
The main 50MP camera on the back and the 16MP front camera both punch above their weight with a responsive app and overall good quality. The battery is also good at 5,000mAh with quick 33W charging. The phone is also set to receive two Android updates with three years of security updates, which is solid for this price.
One thing to keep in mind, especially if you’re in the U.S., is that this phone isn’t really designed for the Big Three carriers, but will work on T-Mobile if you don’t mind a few connection drops here and there. The problem is, that the phone just doesn’t support all of the bands common in North America and is more suited to the European market. Still, if you’re looking for something unique and have a carrier using T-Mobile, the CMF Phone 1 is an impressive device.
+6.5-inch 90Hz AMOLED screen +Samsung’s usual five-year promise regarding updates +5,000mAh battery with 25W fast charging +Decent main camera
Reasons to avoid
-So-so performance -Lacks any IP rating
Craving that signature Samsung look and feel but can’t afford much? Don’t worry, the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G is a fine choice when hunting for phones with expandable storage. The Galaxy A25 gives you a FHD+ Super AMOLED panel that measures 6.5 inches wide and has an impressive 120Hz screen refresh rate.
Now this is nearly an entry-level device, but it has just enough going for it that it sits a notch above that banner. For instance, theSamsung phoneis kept alive by a gigantic 5,000mAh cell. You also get a headphone jack and a 50MP main camera, even though it doesn’t hold a candle against the photographic capabilities of the Galaxy S series of Samsung phones.
You get the Exynos 1280 chipset from the oldGalaxy A53 5G, which is okay for everyday usage and light multitasking but stutters during intensive gaming sessions. Still, if you must have acheap Samsungwithin a very tight budget, the A25 5G is a decent option.
+Nice 120Hz OLED screen +Solid camera performance for the price +Outstanding battery and fast charging +Comfortable feel with vegan leather
Reasons to avoid
-Only water-repellent, no IP rating -One platform update -Fingerprint sensor can be slow
TheMoto G Stylus 5G (2024)is a popular budget phone thanks to its solid performance with a Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM. This phone has a nice AMOLED display with up to 120Hz refresh rate and 1,200 nits of peak brightness so you can see it outdoors. This phone comes with a 5,000mAh battery pack that can charge at up to 30W wired and 15W wireless.
The camera system is also solid with a 50MP main shooter and a 13MP ultrawide camera. You can take some nice pictures in good lighting, but keep an eye on storage. You can get it with either 128GB or 256GB of storage, so expanding this phone with a microSD card will be a must for some. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack so you may also want the storage to hold your favorite music so you can save some data.
This phone ships with Android 14, and its performance is solid, however, Motorola is only planning to give this phone a single Android version update. With phones from Samsung and Google offering much longer support, it’s a bit disappointing that Motorola is sticking to just one. Still, if you don’t mind the older operating system, strong 5G band support makes this a great phone to bring to other carriers.
Memory & storage:12GB RAM, 256GB or 512GB, expandable
Main camera:48MP wide,12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto
Front camera:12MP
Battery & charging:5,000mAh, 30W wired charging
Water and dust resistance:IP65/IP68
Reasons to buy
+The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is still fast +Strong sub-6 5G support +Water and dust resistant IP65/IP68 +Large 5,000mAh battery with 30W charging
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive -Software support could be better
Memory card expansion and 3.5mm headphone jacks have become all but extinct in high-end Androids. Good thing Sony doesn’t seem to be bothered by what the rest of the industry is doing and has release the Xperia 1 V with both. This phone comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC that was common in flagships from 2023, but it’s still plenty powerful for any app you’ll find on the app store. It’s got 12GB of RAM and ships with 256GB of built-in storage.
Available in either green or black, this is a sleek phone with three cameras on the back. It has a 48MP main cameras with a 12MP telephoto and 12MP ultrawide camera playing backup. Another rarity this phone ships with is a 3.5mm headphone jack. Headphone jacks aren’t necessarily a budget feature and many of the best Sony headphones ever made use a wire, so it’s nice that Sony has kept it around.
Software support could be better on this phone, though it has been updated to Android 14 already. Sony’s phones are often targeted at creators, and if you want to get high-quality video off of your memory card in a hurry, you’ve also got a USB-C 3.2 port with 5Gbps speeds supported.
+Three years of security updates +Superb 50W wired fast charging +120Hz LCD screen feels good +Great build quality
Reasons to avoid
-108MP camera is gimmicky -Only one major platform update
Like so many of the best budget Android phones, theOnePlus Nord N30 5Gsports the 6nm Snapdragon 695 5G chipset. You can insert a microSD card in the slot and add more storage in a jiffy. It’s an oldie, but a goldie.
The Nord N30 5G has a lot of neat features, but the coolest one of them all is the 50W SUPERVOOC charging. Now that’s an incredibly fast charging speed that you certainly won’t find on any other phone with expandable storage.
The 108MP camera sounds amazing, but it’s actually more of a buzzword. As per our testing, the picture quality could be better. You will appreciate the snappy 6.27-inch 120Hz IPS LCD display though.
OnePlus only promises one OS update for this model, but you get three years of guaranteed security updates. Since Android 15 is on the horizon, you won’t get anything beyond Android 14 on the Nord N30. But the phone is still a worthwhile purchase in 2024.
+Low cost or free with a plan +Large 5000mAh battery with 30W charging +Support for 5G on T-Mobile +Repairable with parts at iFixit
Reasons to avoid
-Fairly slow SoC -Not Android 14
HMD, the company that makes Nokia phones, has stayed focused on budget-friendly Androids and it continues to make some of the cheapest new phones available. The G310 is exclusive to T-Mobile carriers in the United States and comes in at well under $200. The Snapdragon 480+ 5G chipset not only gives the phone enough power for social media and messaging apps but also full 5G connectivity on T-Mobile’s sub-6 5G network.
It has a 50MP main camera on the back for decent pictures in well-lit environments. and a 5,000mAh battery that can easily make it to the end of the day. The screen is also a plus with a 6.56-inch IPS LCD running at up to 90Hz. If you like music, you’ve got a 3.5mm headphone jack as well as Bluetooth. You can even repair this phone withparts available at iFixit.
Keep in mind that this phone is only designed to work with T-Mobile, so bringing it to a Verizon or AT&T-based carrier likely won’t work out. Still, for the low price, this phone is a good fit for T-Mobile.
How to choose
With most of thebest Android phonesmoving away from expandable storage, you might think the format is becoming a dying breed, but don’t panic just yet. There are still plenty of great phones with microSD support, though the vast majority of them are budget offerings. Grab some of the best microSD cards, and you’ll be able to expand your storage with ease.
While its limited availability and carrier support mean its not the right pick for everyone, the CMF Phone 1 is a surprisingly great phone, especially when your remember it’s $200. The phone has a quick MediaTek SoC, a strong camera, and solid battery life. With three years of updates planned with two Android updates, this phone punches above its weight in several categories.
In terms of full-blown flagships that offer expandable storage, you’re out of luck with the latest releases. You won’t find a microSD slot in the Galaxy S24 lineup or the Pixel 9 series. You’re better off with mid-range value phones such as the Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) or the OnePlus Nord N30 5G. You’ll find the internals to be solid in both phones, pushing out smooth performance consistently. Both devices are great hits in the camera and battery departments, too.
Not everyone that wants expandable storage is shopping for acheap Android phone. The Sony Xperia 1 V is an expensive phone that’s hard to recommend over the like of Samsung Galaxy and OnePlus, but it’s one of the few high-end phones to keep the memory card expansion around. It also has a 3.5mm headphone jack making it a strong pick for content creators, or headphone enthusiasts.
