Month: December 2018

The past year was an important one for smartphone makers. With the handset market saturated with devices from manufacturers around the world, the major smartphone companies had to step up to prove their gadgets were worth the investment.
That included rolling out improved designs, better cameras, and boatloads of performance. These five phones did all of that and more. These are the best smartphones of 2018.
Apple iPhone XR
All the power of the iPhone XS for less
Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone XR gives you practically everything offered in the company’s XS and XS Max without the price tag. The XR features the same processor as the XS and XS Max, the same wide-angle lens rear camera, Apple’s Face ID facial recognition technology and, to top it off, is available in an array of color options.
The key differences between the XR and the XS and XS Max are the fact that the XR uses an LCD display, rather than the more vibrant OLED screens found on the XS and XS Max, and that the XR lacks a telephoto lens. That lens affords the XS and XS Max a 2X optical zoom, which ensures your photo doesn’t turn out pixelated and blurry when you zoom in on a subject.
Still, with a starting price of $749, the XR significantly undercuts the base XS and XS Max, which start at $999 and $1,099, respectively. The XR is easily the best iPhone for the money.
Google Pixel 3
Takes incredible low-light photos
Google’s (GOOG, GOOGL) Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are the ultimate Android smartphones. Sure, there are other Android phones on this list, but the Pixel 3 is exactly what Google believes a smartphone should be. And a whole heck of a lot of that includes the company’s Google Assistant. The AI-powered voice assistant is spread across the Pixel 3, which makes for a more convenient experience for you, and gives Google access to information about how people are using the software, ensuring it improves over time.
The 5.5-inch Pixel 3 is a relatively plain-looking device with its rectangular body and display, while the 6.3-inch Pixel 3 XL features a more modern look complete with a notch at the top of the screen that houses the phone’s front cameras. That larger display will cost you, though. The base Pixel 3 costs $799, while the XL comes in at $899.
Outside of their sizes, the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL are virtually identical. And that includes their spectacular cameras. At launch the Pixel 3’s single-lens rear camera was already on a par with the iPhone’s camera. But when Google released its Night Sight software upgrade for the Pixel 3, the camera leapfrogged every other smartphone on the market. Night Sight can take photos in low-light settings that look so good, it’s almost as if they were shot during the day. It’s an incredible feat that competitors are surely working to counter at this very moment.
Apple iPhone XS Max
he best Apple has to offer
I’m a sucker for giant phones. I hate the fact that I can’t use them with one hand, but being able to watch videos and read articles on a big-screen handset is worth dropping it on occasion. That’s why the iPhone XS Max was the iPhone I fell hardest for in 2018. With a massive 6.3-inch OLED display, the Max provided vibrant colors on a panel that made it easier to watch movies on the go, or while hiding in a conference room to avoid work.
The XS Max has all of the features and functionality of the XR, but adds a second rear camera lens, the option for more storage and improved water resistance. There is one major drawback to the iPhone XS Max: the price. At $1,099, it’s an incredibly expensive smartphone. But if you can get past the sticker shock, the iPhone XS Max is sure to please.
OnePlus 6T
High-end features, at a mid-range price
OnePlus is a smartphone company that built its reputation through word-of-mouth advertising. You won’t see ads on TV or billboards on the highway for the handset maker, and yet OnePlus has an incredibly fierce following. And its latest, the 6T, ups the ante for the firm in a big way, adding an in-screen fingerprint reader and plenty of horsepower.
The 6T also debuted with the latest version of Google’s Android Operating System, Android Pie, and is the first OnePlus phone to launch on a major U.S. carrier: T-Mobile. Then there’s the price. OnePlus’s biggest selling point has always been that because the company doesn’t have to account for an advertising budget, it can charge less for its handsets.
Over the years the firm’s phones have seen their prices creep up ever so slightly, but you can still score a base 6T with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage for $549. Go all-out for the just plain silly McLaren Edition and its 10GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and you’ll pay $699. That’s still less expensive than Apple’s iPhone XR, which is supposed to be the smartphone for everyone.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
A big, beautiful screen and built-in stylus
Samsung’s big daddy, the Galaxy Note 9 is the smartphone giant’s halo phone, and it shows. It packs an absurdly large 6.4-inch display complete with the company’s fantastic Super AMOLED screen technology, as well as the Note line’s S Pen stylus.
The camera is more or less unchanged from the shooter used in the Galaxy S9 Plus, but that’s not exactly a negative, since that phone’s camera captured beautiful images. Samsung also added a new kind of AI feature called Scene Optimization that automatically tunes the camera’s settings based on the type of shot you’re taking.
Naturally, the Note 9 offers all-day battery life to match its enormous size and, of course, Samsung’s fast-charging technology. The Note 9 is an absolutely bruiser.

After quickly releasing iOS 12.1.2 to the public just days after developers had a brief period to beta test the software update, user reports have trickled in about a bug which kills cellular data. While the issue is by no means widespread — no one from the 9to5 team has experienced it — it’s serious enough to merit a range of Twitter complaints and a Forbes article detailing the bug.
Interestingly, iOS 12.1.2 release notes are paper-thin, only mentioning two fixes — one related to eSIM functionality and the other, you guessed it, cellular connectivity issues. Specifically, the issues only seemed to ail Turkey, though now, the problems are more widespread.
From the iOS 12.1.2 release notes:
Addresses an issue that could affect cellular connectivity in Turkey for iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max
The complaints from Twitter are far and wide however, with users seeing issues all across the globe.
Interestingly in one case, a user reported that only a data connection to Facebook was successful, with Safari and other apps registering no connectivity.
While it definitely seems like there’s something to this story, the rhyme or reason as to why these data errors are occurring remains a mystery. However, if you’re having issues — don’t fret! We have a solution. Here’s how to fix iOS 12.1.2 cellular data connectivity issues.
The first possible solutions comes way of disabling Wi-Fi Calling via the Cellular menu within the Settings app.
If that doesn’t work, head to Cellular Data Options on the same screen and change Enable LTE from Voice & Data to Data Only.
A video tutorial from zollotech walks you through the simple process.
Ultimately though, this is a band-aid fix to cellular data connectivity problems. Other users from Twitter are complaining of numerous Wi-Fi issues ranging from failure to auto-join a network or connection to the internet entirely.
As for a permanent solution regarding the matter, Apple has stayed tight-lipped as usual, however iOS 12.1.3 is already in developer beta testing.
Have you experienced these issues since updating to iOS 12.1.2 yourself? Let us know in the comments down below!

While SSDs bring significant loading time improvements, the premium is hard to justify for some. HDDs are a capable alternative, with average speeds and an accessible price.
HDD vs. SSD: What’s the difference?
When upgrading your Xbox One storage capacity, an external hard drive is the best choice. With the console’s internal hard drive built-in firmly, support for external USB 3.0 drives makes for an easy plug-and-play solution. However, you’ll need to choose between two drive types.
Hard disk drives (HDDs) are the “traditional” storage solution, commonly present in entry-level PCs, games consoles, and other budget devices. Data is stored on a spinning disk inside, with transfer speeds determined by its revolutions per minute (RPM). Solid-state drives (SSDs) are quickly gaining traction as a preferred alternative, boasting superior drive technology. With no moving parts, SSDs mean improved performance and faster boot times, although at a significantly higher price tag.
During past tests with Seagate’s official Xbox One SSD, loading times were roughly cut by 20 percent, with similar results in future revisions. The fast loading time isn’t game-changing, but those seconds soon accumulate over extended periods of play. Without moving parts, SDDs generally present fewer hardware issues and run quieter.
Despite superior internals, HDDs are still appealing to most Xbox One user. Their low price undercuts all SSDs, granting more storage for your cash. The drives also commonly offer the choice of higher capacities, hitting 4TB, 8TB, 16TB configurations.
Should I buy an HDD or SSD?
For most Xbox One owners, an HDD offers excellent value for money, upping your storage beyond the base configuration. You’ll miss the benefits of faster drives, but still get strong performance and more room for games. There are some great cheap external drives available and recommended for most.
However, if you demand the most from your console, an SDD offers an unbeaten blend of expansion and speed. You’ll experience reduced load times across all games, as long as you can justify its premium rate.
Which Xbox One hard drive is best?
If wanting to expand your Xbox One storage for cheap, there’s a growing range of Xbox-compatible HDDs available. Toshiba leads with its 1TB Canvio Basics drive, tripling your base storage for just $48. Alternatively, the 2TB WD Elements drive packs even more room for only $60.
Jumping over to SSDs means parting with more of your cash. Samsung drives start at $95 for a 500GB variant, while increased capacity usually costs more than $200. The price outweighs the benefits for many, with few bytes per dollar.

What are you hoping for from the Samsung Galaxy S10 next year? An improved camera? Even thinner display bezels? A fingerprint scanner built right into the screen? One of the upgrades tipped to be on the way is a boost to wireless charging speeds.
Reputable tipster Ice Universe has tweeted that “Samsung smartphone 15w charging will become history” – apparently referring to the wireless Quick Charge 2.0 technology used on the latest Samsung handsets. It’s a figure that other handset makers have improved massively on recently, with the Huawei P20 Pro(for example) charging at 40 watts.
The latest version of the Qualcomm tech that Samsung adapts for its own wireless charging purposes can now run at a maximum of 27w, so it’s possible that Samsung’s 2019 phones will hit this level or get somewhere close to it.
Smartphone specs appeal
Wireless charging speed is one of the few areas where Samsung is currently lagging behind the competition, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the feature get a boost when the S10 and S10 Plus phones appear – which should be around the end of February.
With only a couple of months to go before the official launch, we’ve already heard plenty of rumor and speculation about what’s in store from Samsung. The new handsets are being tipped to bring with them an improved display with even thinner bezels, as well as a quad-lens rear camera on the Galaxy S10 Plus model.
Throw in the very latest in wireless charging technology and it’s difficult to see how Samsung could make the phones any better – at least until Samsung’s long-rumored folding phone hits the market, which we’re also expecting to be in 2019.
Related product: Samsung Galaxy
Our Verdict:
This is a strong phone from Samsung indeed, although a lack of upgrades to the camera and battery do slightly irk. However, the rebooted screen is very attractive, and really makes a big difference to this phone – Samsung has ticked most of the boxes we were hoping it would here.
FOR Great screen
Slick new UI
Powerful
AGAINST No camera upgrade
Battery same size

Basic functions of a smartphone should include the ability to make and receive phone calls, use messaging services, and have access to high speed internet via cellular networks. Apple’s latest iOS update has broken those key features for many users.
Last week Apple released iOS 12.1.2 for the iPhone, but had some trouble along the way. Just days after releasing the initial build, a second build was pushed out to replace the first, changing only the build number, not incrementing the well recognized version number.
The main fixes of iOS 12.1.2 are intended to solve problems associated with eSIM support on the iPhone XR, XS, and XS Max. Ironically, the update is also supposed to resolve issues with cellular connectivity for residents of Turkey. However, users across the world have been reporting issues with cellular data following the update.
iPhone owners located in Europe, Asia, and South America have all taken to Twitter to tell Apple their phones are no longer able to use LTE data. In North America, United States residents have been heavily affected.
Many users have reported that they are unable to make phone calls and some have been unable to send or receive text messages. A select few iPhone users have also had problems with WiFi connectivity as well running iOS 12.1.2.
Quite frankly, the roll out of this latest rendition of iOS to iPhone owners has been a bit of a mess. Apple Support has not yet publicly acknowledged the problems that prevent iPhones from being used as actual phones.
For those affected by issues with calling, messaging, and cellular data use of any kind, rest assured that iOS 12.1.3 is not far away. Even though another revision is likely more focused on avoiding further iPhone bans internationally than fixing user issues, Apple will hopefully toss in some patches as well.
If you have not upgraded to iOS 12.1.2 yet, it would be best to sit this one out until Apple decides to acknowledge or at least fix the problems.