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lundi 31 janvier 2022

Legacy G Suite free users will get a free migration option after all

However, they'll lose access to custom domain and multi-account management features.

What you need to know

  • Google has unveiled a no-cost data transfer option for G Suite legacy free edition users.
  • The legacy free subscription is scheduled to shut down after July 1.
  • Affected users will be able to migrate their non-Google Workspace paid content and most of their data for free.

Google essentially told G Suite legacy free edition users to pay for a Workspace subscription or lose access to their account when it announced the imminent shutdown of the legacy free service. More than a week later, the search giant has introduced a less strenuous option, particularly for those who don't use it for business purposes.

Non-business consumers will have an option to transfer their non-Google Workspace paid content and most of their data at no cost. As spotted by Ars Technica, Google has updated its Workspace support page to walk back on the initial stringent terms, stating:

In the coming months, we'll provide an option for you to move your non-Google Workspace paid content and most of your data to a no-cost option. This new option won't include premium features like custom email or multi-account management. You'll be able to evaluate this option prior to July 1, 2022 and prior to account suspension.

The new option is better than forcing consumers to pay up or removing their account entirely, assuming they don't mind losing access to custom email that allows them to append their own domain to their Google account instead of the regular Gmail address.

Previously, non-business users were upset by Google's initial announcement since they created their free G Suite account more than 10 years ago before the search giant stopped offering the free edition to new customers in 2012.

More worryingly, users who were reluctant to pay up at least a $6 monthly fee per user could only transfer their data via Google Takeout. The problem was they would lose access to paid content in the process.

In late January, Google announced that the legacy free tier will be shut down starting July 1, and urged users to choose a Workspace subscription by May 1.

If you are a G Suite legacy free admin with 10 or fewer users, you'll need to sign in to this form with a non gmail.com email address and fill in the survey to show your interest in the free option.



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Your favorite puzzle game Wordle is now owned by The New York Times

Bet you didn't guess that one.

What you need to know

  • The New York Times announces that it has purchased the popular Wordle puzzle game.
  • The game will "initially" remain free under The New York Times ownership.
  • Wordle was purchased for "an undisclosed price in the low seven figures."

Wordle, the popular puzzle game that has taken over Twitter, has just been purchased by The New York Times "for an undisclosed price in the low seven figures," the publication announced on Monday.

The game, which has players guessing a new five-letter word each day with up to six tries, was first published online in October and has quickly blown up. And while there's no official app, the game is very much playable on web browsers on the best Android phones.

"If you're like me, you probably wake up every morning thinking about Wordle and savoring those precious moments of discovery, surprise and accomplishment," General manager for The New York Times Games, Jonathan Knight, said in a statement. "The game has done what so few games have done — it has captured our collective imagination and brought us all a little closer together."

"We could not be more thrilled to become the new home and proud stewards of this magical game and are honored to help bring Mr. Wardle's cherished creation to more solvers in the months ahead."

The game was created by Josh Wardle simply as a way to entertain his wife during the pandemic, something we could all relate to. This is likely why the game has managed to garner so much popularity over the past several months amid the recent surge.

However, since it's gained popularity, plenty of knockoff versions have shown up on app stores. That said, the official Wordle game can be found here for anyone that wants to give it a go. There is also a version of the game that's playable on Google Sheets called Sheetle.

Wardle posted a statement on his Twitter, saying that he is grateful that the game could bring joy to many. You can read his statement below:

The New York Times says the game will "initially" remain free for new and existing players.



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Bungie joining PlayStation makes more sense than you think

This deal closely resembles Microsoft's purchase of Minecraft in 2014.

Microsoft's seismic efforts over the last few years to shift the gaming industry have not gone unanswered. In an unexpected move, PlayStation announced on Monday that it has acquired Destiny 2 developer Bungie for $3.6 billion. This is, by far, PlayStation's biggest acquisition to date, with the last major one being its purchase of Insomniac Games for $229 million in 2019. That made sense for Sony though, because PlayStation is known for its cinematic single-player games.

What Bungie brings to the table with Destiny 2 is its live service expertise and an avenue for recurring revenue that single-player games can't offer. When you think about where the market is headed — and has been headed for years now — this move makes complete sense on PlayStation's part.

Sony can get out of the single-player mindset

PlayStation's tentpole franchises — some of the best games ever made, mind you — are largely single-player, such as Uncharted, The Last of Us, God of War, and Horizon. As well as they may sell on PS4 and PS5, surpassing upwards of 10 million copies in some cases, it's important to remember that these single-player experiences cost a lot to make and are a riskier investment from the get go. There's a reason you see more publishers moving to a GaaS (games as a service) model.

That's not to say games like Destiny 2 are cheap to produce (the first has one of the highest development costs of any video game), but Sony historically putting all of its eggs in one basket was never going to work out in the long run. The company has long talked about diversifying its assets and portfolio, including strategic investments in live service games, and Destiny 2 is the perfect fit. There's no reason to build a game from the ground up when PlayStation can leverage Bungie's expertise and success a live-service title.

PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan said it best in an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, calling PlayStation and Bungie two pieces of a puzzle. "They make massive, immersive games that have no end. Whereas PlayStation's strength, as you know, is in the single-player, narrative-rich, stories."

Sony can go multiplatform

This also plays perfectly into Sony's desire to develop for multiple platforms. It's already begun branching out into the PC and mobile spaces, and Destiny 2 gives it a path to earn money on Xbox as well. Sony has seen how successful its games can be on PC, with God of War recently even peaking at 74,000 concurrent players on Steam, proving without a shadow of a doubt that PlayStation's future lies beyond a closed ecosystem on a single platform.

"I've been on record talking about increasing the size of the PlayStation community, and expanding beyond our historic console heartland," Ryan said. "We have an aggressive road map with live services. And the opportunity to work with, and particularly learn from, the brilliant and talented people from Bungie... that is going to considerably accelerate the journey we find ourselves on."

Not only does it make sense on the live service front, but it makes sense in terms of first-person shooters as well. With Microsoft's acquisition of Activision, PlayStation could very well be losing one of the most popular franchises in existence: Call of Duty. Though deals remain in place to keep it multiplatform for now, it's possible that Call of Duty could become exclusive to Xbox consoles in the coming years. By purchasing Bungie, PlayStation solidified its access to another highly-popular FPS. The Destiny franchise will have legs for many years to come, and now there's no way PlayStation is at risk of losing it.

Though people will surely compare this deal to Microsoft's purchase of Activision or ZeniMax due to its timing, it more closely mirrors Minecraft's sale in 2014. Microsoft bought Minecraft developer Mojang for $2.5 billion in 2014, and has since pursued publishing that franchise across all platforms possible. Like Destiny 2, Minecraft serves as a live service franchise, regardless of how different the two games are.

PlayStation can take a page out of Microsoft's playbook in this regard.

Despite the sale, Microsoft continues to support Minecraft across PlayStation consoles, including new releases like Minecraft Dungeons. This has proven to be quite successful for Microsoft, and it ensures that Minecraft is as accessible as can be, only increasing its potential revenue. The way forward wasn't by making it exclusive, but by allowing everyone to play it no matter the platform.

PlayStation can take a page out of Microsoft's playbook in this regard, and likely will. Both Sony and Bungie have committed to keeping Destiny 2 multiplatform, specifically noting that Bungie will remain an "independent and multi-platform studio and publisher." Pete Parsons, CEO at Bungie, said in the announcement, "Like us, Sony believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become."

With both companies consistently emphasizing a multiplatform future and Destiny 2 likely being updated into perpetuity, Destiny still has a long life ahead of it on Xbox. This works out in PlayStation's favor.

What about movies or TV?

Aside from games, Parsons also mentioned bringing iconic franchises to fans across multiple entertainment mediums. That's important because Sony isn't just a game company. It also has an extremely successful television and motion picture arm, Sony Entertainment, along with PlayStation Productions, which focuses specifically on adapting its video game franchises for TV and film. Tom Holland's Uncharted is set to release soon and a series based on The Last of Us is in the works at HBO, among other projects. Expanding the Destiny franchise beyond consoles has been a goal of Bungie for a while now. This makes it and Sony a match made in heaven.

A job listing as recent as September 2021 indicated that Bungie was hiring for a senior executive who would "drive projects that extend the Destiny franchise into new categories including TV, films, books, comics, and audio formats." Interestingly, this didn't seem to be an in-house position. Rather, the executive would "identify, select, guide, collaborate, and provide feedback to third parties and partners enabling them to tell additional myths in the Destiny universe."

Final thoughts

There are certainly other factors involved and many unknowns remain, but it's clear that this acquisition didn't come from nowhere. There are plenty of good reasons that Sony spent $3.6 billion. It's an investment for sure, and one that will likely pay off. Between both companies' strengths and visions for a future, it makes a lot more sense than another acquisition may have.

That won't stop PlayStation, though. Ryan confirmed that Sony is interested in purchasing more studios. "We should absolutely expect more," he said. "We are by no means done. With PlayStation, we have a long way to go. I will personally be spending a lot of my time with Pete and the team at Bungie, helping make sure that everything beds down right and that autonomy means autonomy. But elsewhere in the organization, we have many more moves to make."

Whichever company Sony Interactive Entertainment plans on acquiring next, it'll only serve to bolster its video game business in the future.



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Google Photos drops unlimited 'Original quality' uploads from the Pixel 3

The last good reason to own a Pixel 3 is dead.

What you need to know

  • Support for unlimited Original quality uploads is ending on Pixel 3 devices.
  • The Pixel 3 was one of the last Pixel smartphones to support free unlimited Original quality uploads.
  • Going forward, photos and videos will count towards your storage plan.

Pixel 3 owners should upload everything they can to Google Photos, as unlimited full-quality backups will expire for the device after Monday, January 31. That's today.

While this may come as a surprise for some that are still holding onto the Pixel 3, the writing has literally been on the wall that the deadline was approaching. As 9to5Google points out, Google has previously clarified its support for the Pixel 3, which you can find on the Google Photos support page:

You get unlimited storage in Original quality at no charge for all photos and videos backed up to Google Photos from Pixel 3 through Jan 31, 2022. Photos and videos backed up on or before that date will remain in Original quality at no charge. After January 31, 2022 new photos and videos will be backed up in Storage saver quality (previously named High quality) at no charge. Photos and videos backed up in Original quality will count toward your Google Account storage.

The Pixel 3 was one of the last Pixel phones to feature unlimited "Original quality" uploads after Google dropped support for other Pixel devices over recent years. However, the perk still remains with the original Pixel, while others, including the new Pixel 6, get unlimited high-quality or "Storage saver" uploads.

This also comes as support for the Pixel 3 ends, with only one final update expected to roll out sometime in Q1 2022.

Google has been aggressive in its move to get more people paying for cloud storage ever since the company dropped unlimited high-quality uploads for the best Android phones outside of its own Pixel devices. Aside from additional storage for high or original quality uploads, Google also provides extra features for anyone that subscribes to Google One, making it arguably much more worth it to pay for the additional storage.

More storage

Google One

From $2/mo. at Google

More room for activities

With a Google One subscription, you can keep all your precious memories in the cloud, so no matter if you lose or break your phone, you can be sure that your information in backed up.



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Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Elite 7 Active: Is there a best option?

Keep talking

Jabra Elite 7 Pro

$200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality, including ANC
  • Great fit and comfort
  • Outstanding call quality
  • Reliable button controls
  • Great value for the price

Cons

  • Color options aren't as nice
  • More slippery when wet

Yet again, Jabra finds itself in the conversation with the best wireless earbuds you can get your hands on with the Elite 7 Pro. By getting the fit and comfort down to the best design the company managed thus far, all-around performance speaks for itself, and that includes outstanding clarity on phone calls.

Keep playing

Jabra Elite 7 Active

$180 at Best Buy

Pros

  • Excellent audio quality, including ANC
  • Great fit and comfort
  • Very good durability
  • Reliable button controls
  • Nicer color options
  • Slightly cheaper

Cons

  • Call quality isn't as good
  • Don't submerge them in water

Jabra may not have carved out a different design for the Elite 7 Active, but it did utilize the excellent mold to build a pair of earbuds that fit in perfectly with the workout crowd. While you don't get specialized durability based on numbers, you do get the kind of surface-level stuff better suited for when it's time to break a real sweat.

This is an unusual circumstance where Jabra is concerned. The company that traditionally never launched two similar earbuds at the exact same time broke its streak and doubled up with these two pairs. At first glance, you might think that it just copy-and-pasted, with one pair more ruggedized than the other, but that's not necessarily the case. What matters here is digging deeper to figure out why the Elite 7 Pro aren't the same as the Elite 7 Active, despite how precise they are next to one another.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Elite 7 Active: Are they twins?

Looking at the specs, you'd think we were looking at variants, not mutually exclusive products. The truth is arguably somewhere in the middle because of how closely aligned they are, but as is often the case with consumer tech devices, the numbers don't always tell the full story.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro Jabra Elite 7 Active
Durability IP57 IP57
Bud battery life 8 hours 8 hours
Charging case battery life 30 hours 30 hours
Wireless charging case Yes Yes
Connectivity Bluetooth 5.2 Bluetooth 5.2
Digital assistant support Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri
Supported audio codecs SBC, AAC SBC, AAC
Speaker size 6mm drivers 6mm drivers
Active noise cancellation Yes Yes
Ambient sound mode Yes Yes

For starters, the two are made with different materials on the outside. The Elite 7 Pro have a standard hard plastic veneer that feels a lot like Jabra's previous earbuds. It's smooth and easy enough to handle, and as evidenced by the specs, durable with a solid IP57 rating for water and dust resistance, which the Elite 7 Active also have.

The Elite 7 Active have a rubberized veneer more commonly associated with ruggedized tech devices. It's smooth in a different way, which is to say that it feels softer to the touch, yet actually offers more friction when you add water or sweat to the surface. Workout earbuds usually go this route to maintain stability, unless they have an additional physical element, like an ear wing or hook, to lend support.

In practical situations, the fit can change based on what the earbuds come into contact with.

Despite this difference, each pair fits about the same since they both have the exact same molding. But in practical situations, the fit can change based on what the earbuds come into contact with. In the immediate proximity, sweat and heat would likely be the first, and when you have those two in play, things start to get slippery. While the Elite 7 Pro don't use the kind of glossy plastic that offers less resistance to wiggling or movement in and around the ears, they still have a slicker surface.

You could realistically work out or run with either of Jabra's earbuds here, but if you're coming from a previous pair of buds, regardless of which brand made them, you probably have a good idea as to what you liked or didn't like about how they felt.

One thing is for sure, don't use either of them in saltwater. The IP57 rating is good enough for submersion in shallow water for up to 30 minutes, but it's a risky thing to do for anything beyond the odd splash in freshwater. The Elite 7 Active may have an easier time repelling water, but both the Elite 7 Pro and 7 Active need the same care. Wipe them down and keep them clean to keep them going. Jabra offers an extra two-year warranty against damage from water or sweat when you register either of these earbuds, but beware that the company doesn't cover all circumstances.

The color options are also worth mentioning, subjective as they may be. Jabra left its more vibrant colors for the Elite 7 Active, especially mint, which really stands out. Navy is also back, keeping in line with the Elite Active 75t. They contrast with the Elite 7 Pro, which have more muted choices, unless you look at the gold beige variant as a standout.

As of launch, the Elite 7 Pro come in black, titanium black, and gold beige, whereas the Elite 7 Active come in black, navy, and mint.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Elite 7 Active: Say it loud and clear

Neither pair has an edge on the other key things that matter, like sound quality, battery life, and app support, among others. Even the controls are physical buttons on both pairs, where you might've thought Jabra might go with capacitive touch controls for the Elite 7 Active if they were to wrap the buds with rubberized skin. But no, the buttons work really well, adding to the convenience and flexibility they always have.

A key feature the Elite 7 Pro have that the 7 Active don't is Jabra's MultiSensor Voice Technology. It makes phone and video calls clearer, which has pretty significant implications if you talk to people a lot and want to ensure everyone is heard. Jabra's heritage in hearing aid technology shows itself with the Elite 7 Pro, and MultiSensor Voice is probably the biggest discrepancy between these two pairs. If calls matter to you, the Elite 7 Pro will always do better than their Active siblings can.

The improved mic functions also pay dividends when it comes to using voice assistants, sending voice messages, or recording voice notes. The Elite 7 Active aren't incapable of doing those things well, it's just that the extra layer of obvious clarity isn't going to be there. That's why if you don't tend to use rugged earbuds to routinely take calls, the Elite 7 Active should suit you just fine.

Jabra Elite 7 Pro vs. Elite 7 Active: Which should you choose?

This isn't a choice between which pair performs better since they both sound and function the same in all the fundamental ways. So long as you get a comfortable fit and good seal, you will benefit from all the wonderful qualities these respective earbuds deliver. Jabra also supports them in the same way, whether it be the two-year warranty or planned firmware updates. If one is getting something, it's likely the other one is, too. The only thing that might not transfer to the other would be MultiSensor Voice, but that would be it.

The decision is more about when and where you're most likely going to use either of these earbuds. Are you an active person who prefers earbuds that are more likely to stay put? The Elite 7 Active may be the way to go for that. If you need to be on calls a lot and want clarity every time you make or take a call, the Elite 7 Pro were built to handle those instances. If you happen to need both of those things, then lean toward the Elite 7 Pro, simply because you still get the same durability, and with a little effort, you may find ways to ensure they don't move out of your ears at all.

Slick finish

Jabra Elite 7 Pro - In-ear Bluetooth earbuds

An Elite performer

$200 at Amazon $200 at Best Buy

The Elite 7 Pro are Jabra's best combination of all the features and functions that make wireless earbuds great.

Rougher edges

Jabra Elite 7 Active -In-ear Bluetooth Earbuds

An active player

$176 at Amazon $180 at Best Buy

The Elite 7 Active have all the trappings you'd want in a pair of durable earbuds, even if a couple of things aren't there.



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Hopes and dreams for the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

Where the Galaxy Watch 4 faltered, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 can soar.

It's 2022, and many of us are either looking for fresh starts or improvements to various areas of our lives, including the tech we use. Of course, Samsung is one of the largest technology companies in the world so, and there are high hopes for it. We've already lined out 5 things Samsung needs to do better in 2022, but I'm going to go at the company in a bit more detail with improvements that I want to see in the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5.

With the Galaxy Watch 4 ushering in a new era for Samsung in its wearable lineage by dropping the homegrown Tizen OS in favor of Wear OS 3, of course, there's going to be some bumps in the road. However, there are many reasons why the Galaxy Watch 4 series are some of the best Android smartwatches available. Thanks to excellent build quality, some of the most advanced health monitoring sensors, and many more reasons. However, these are perfect devices. I could only make it two weeks before returning mine, and I have some areas of improvement I'd like to see from the next version.

Give us Google Assistant

Perhaps one of the most disappointing aspects of the Galaxy Watch 4 is that it launched without Google Assistant and still doesn't have it after nearly four months. When Samsung was still putting Tizen on its wearables, we expected that we would have to do without the digital assistant — but the Galaxy Watch 4 and future models will run Google's Wear OS. So there is no excuse for Google Assistant to be missing now or in the future.

Samsung needs to fully embrace Wear OS by bringing Google Assistant to its smartwatches.

Though Google Assistant hasn't always been the most responsive feature on Wear OS devices in the past, with watches like the TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra running modern hardware, the voice assistant became a viable option on a smartwatch. Sure, you can use Samsung Bixby on your Galaxy Watch 4, but it's a Wear OS device and should have the option of Google Assitant too.

Putting Google's voice assistant on the Galaxy Watch 5 would bring not only the watch into parity with wearables years older but the convenience of all the helpful features Google Assistant offers to our wrist. We've seen how powerful the Galaxy Watch 4 is, and Samsung isn't one to sit idly by and not improve on previous models. So, to continue its stranglehold on the Android smartwatch world — it needs to bring Google Assistant current and future wearables.

Better battery life and faster charging

Longer-lasting batteries aren't a wishlist item for Samsung alone. It is something we want across the board in terms of smartwatches. But, we're talking about one of the most advanced technology companies globally, and we expect more from it. It shouldn't be too much to ask that our smartwatch gets at least two-days of use between charges while using the device to its full potential — yet here we are.

Along with extending battery life, Samsung needs to up its charging game.

If you use a Wear OS watch, you know that you'll need to charge it every night. Because unless you use one of Mobvoi's TicWatch Pro devices, you won't be able to utilize your watch for sleep tracking — assuming it supports it — without charging it. To be fair, the TicWatch Pro watches achieve a long battery life by employing dual-layer screen technology.

Getting long battery life from a small computer on the wrist is s tough task, but along with solving that puzzle — please give us faster charging. While wireless charging is a great feature, Samsung's implementation is slow. To go from 0 to 100, you'll need about two hours to reach that point. Though it's a different technology, the Fossil Gen 6 can get a full day's use with less than 30 minutes on the charger — there's no reason Samsung can't at least match this on the Galaxy Watch 5.

Open up health monitoring features outside of Samsung phones

For years, Samsung wearables have required a plethora of separate apps to function on phones not made by Samsung. So while you could use your Tizen-based watch on any Android smartphone, it would work better, and in some cases, have more features on Samsung branded devices. Unfortunately, that didn't get resolved entirely with the Galaxy Watch 4 running Wear OS — and that needs to change.

Samsung watches have long offered advanced health monitoring features, and the move to Wear OS should bring that to everyone.

To take advantage of the ECG or blood pressure monitoring if available in your country, you need to be using a Samsung phone. There's no reason that a feature with the potential to save someone's life should only work with a particular brand of phone. When the FDA approved ECG monitoring for Samsung watches in September 2020, it required a separate app for this feature, and there are no reasons why this app and feature can't work on any Android phone.

In addition to opening up these features to be accessed by all Android phone users, it would be great to see the Galaxy Watch 5 be the device that finally brings blood pressure monitoring to the US. This, of course, isn't entirely up to Samsung as it requires FDA approvals, but it's a feature that can have a significant impact on people's well-being. By combining it with heart rate, blood oxygen, and the BIA sensor from the Galaxy Watch 4, the next iteration of Samsung's smartwatch could be incredible.

Cohesive app design language

Yes, I know that this is an issue with Wear OS and not the future Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. But, Samsung is co-developing the operating system with Google, and if it wants to have its smartwatches in the same conversation as what Apple offers — this needs to happen.

Wear OS has offered a relatively robust app catalog, but the quality and style of those apps are all over the place.

Samsung smartwatches reside in the premium tier, and users should expect a premium experience. One that users of the Apple Watch have enjoyed for years. Samsung nailed hardware long ago, and even its Tizen OS had some premium aspects. Unfortunately, one of those wasn't the apps.

By creating a cohesive app design language, Samsung and Google can offer users and developers the chance to use applications that perform and look great. For example, apps on the Apple Watch complement the hardware and provide consistency across the catalog. Wear OS watches come in various shapes and sizes, but by creating a common language and setting app standards, watches like the Galaxy Watch 5 can further improve their premium stance.

Offer an LTE version that actually works

One of the main reasons I returned my Galaxy Watch 4 LTE was because it, like many prior Samsung cellular watches, was a disaster when the LTE radio was active. These types of watches are supposed to offer the ability to leave our phone behind and still be able to receive notifications, calls, track workouts, and more. But Samsung has had a history of its LTE smartwatches struggling in several ways.

When paying a premium price to have the luxury of a cellular connection on a smartwatch, it's a feature that should be accessible.

When I tried to use my Galaxy Watch 4 on a run, it couldn't stay powered on long enough to track my workout. Powering off multiple times due to overheating, eventually, I left the watch off. That is unacceptable. Unfortunately, even when trying to leave my phone behind, not during a workout, and utilize a feature I bout the watch for, it would overheat. The Galaxy Watch 5 needs to resolve this issue.

Samsung develops the impressive hardware that we see and the internal parts that run the devices. There are many factors that come into play when dealing with cellular radios. Still, Samsung can achieve a smartwatch that can offer proper LTE connectivity should it be a priority. If Samsung doesn't, and it chooses to continue down the current path, just leave LTE out of the Galaxy Watch 5 entirely.

The first try was good, but the second will be better

Forgetting why the Galaxy Watch 4 didn't work out for me, Samsung makes fantastic smartwatches. It gives other brands something to shoot for just as they continue to push Samsung. Wear OS gained a lot of mindshare when Samsung switched to it, and both are better for it. But the Galaxy Watch 5 has plenty of room for improvement.

Samsung's first swing at a Wear OS watch went very well in many ways. It didn't just slap on a different OS with the Galaxy Watch 4; it also brought in improved health monitoring features along with some new ones. The second attempt for its Wear OS 3 smartwatch needs to push the envelope in some areas and enhance the basics like battery life. Whether we get a glimpse of the future wearable with the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S22 announcement or not, the Galaxy Watch 5 will be one to keep an eye out for.



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The S22 Ultra could launch with less RAM than the S21, but it's okay

Maybe Samsung is catering to an audience who doesn't care about power but wants a premium phone

If Samsung decides to launch the Galaxy S22 Ultra phones with less RAM (random access memory), it won't be a "deal-breaker" for consumers, despite it being a "straight downgrade" to the S21 Ultra devices, experts say. They add that it would be disappointing, but Samsung has a clear reason for targeting a specific demographic who want a premium phone without having too much power.

Samsung is expected to launch the S22 series on February 9, and while the standard and Plus models aren't expected to change too much, the S22 Ultra may see the most drastic change of the series.

Rumors and leaks have pointed to Samsung lowering the base RAM of the S22 Ultra to 8GB, down from 12 GB on the Galaxy S21 Ultra. RAM would top out at 12 GB instead of 16GB. Yet rumors indicate that the phone will arrive with the same launch price as its predecessor.

One reason why Samsung might have chosen to go this route could be because it is still dealing with the effects of the global chip shortage, which has impacted the availability of many of the best Android phones. Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC's worldwide device tracker, says this is likely what has impacted Samsung's specs decision.

But he adds that for the average consumer, the replacement cycle for a phone tends to be above three years, "so realistically those who purchase the S22 Ultra would be upgrading from an S9 or S10 era phone and back then it was still common to have 6GB RAM."

If the S22 launches with less RAM, it's not a deal-breaker

He adds for most average consumers, RAM as a spec is "far less important than other features such as camera, processor, screen, and battery life."

"Assuming that the S22 Ultra launches with less RAM than the S21 Ultra, it won't have a huge impact on [Samsung's] sales," he says.

Mishaal Rahman, senior technical editor at Esper and former editor-in-chief of XDA Developers, agrees, adding that it's not a "deal-breaker" if the S22 Ultra had less RAM than its predecessor.

But in saying that, he notes that a consumer willing to spend upwards of $1,200 on one of Samsung's premium flagship devices will "expect nothing but the best."

He notes that while it might be too soon for the company's next-generation LPDDR5X module to be included in the S22 series, he expects the series to feature Samsung's slower LPDDR5 modules.

"That means that assuming the rumors are true, the base model S22 Ultra is a straight downgrade compared to the base model S21 Ultra when it comes to RAM capacity," he says.

Do we actually need more RAM in a phone or is less RAM okay?

Rahman explains that for most phones there should be a bare minimum of 6GB of RAM, and anything beyond offers minimal benefits.

"The last time I used an Android phone with 4GB of RAM, I had a miserable experience when trying to replicate my workflow on a phone with 12Gb of RAM. Apps would frequently be unloaded from memory after putting them in the background. This was especially noticeable when playing music in the background, leaving multiple Chrome tabs open, or opening the camera app to take a photo," he says.

The amount of physical memory, or the RAM, that is available plays a huge difference in performance, Rahman explains, adding that the more memory available the more processes that can run in the background.

But most average users rarely notice a difference, he adds.

"The RAM capacity is not a figure that most consumers care about, and it's not a specification that will appear on most of the marketing material for the S22 series. Samsung will undoubtedly target as many different audience segments as possible, however, and mobile gamers are more likely to pay attention to the amount of RAM in a device. To those consumers, Samsung may choose to market its higher RAM [stock keeping units] and its 'RAM Plus' feature, which reserves space on the devices' internal flash storage for additional swap space," — Mishaal Rahman, senior technical editor at Esper

Neil Shah, vice president of research at Counterpoint Research, says the users that really care about more RAM are the "premium power users" who look to invest and get the latest and greatest. He adds that they understand that 4K video recording and size of images for 108MP camera warrants a higher RAM + ROM configuration."

But perhaps, with a premium phone with less RAM, Samsung is catering to "less power users who don't look at memory configurations but look at just sporting the latest premium device from a design and brand's aesthetic perspective."

"We will have to see if this happens, what is Samsung's explanation with respect to 8GB+128GB entry-tier version if it is certain market-specific or demographic-specific," he says.

While having 8GB might be enough for most use case scenarios, Anshel Sag, a senior analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, believes that "12GB should be the standard for flagship devices and 8GB should be table stakes."

"I think that if the S22 Ultra has less RAM than the S21 Ultra it won't necessarily appear as premium without some added features," he says.

Will consumers care that the S22 Ultra's RAM is potentially smaller?

Rahman reiterates that for most average users, less RAM won't impact them.

"Apple, for example, never advertises the amount of RAM in its iPhones. When targeting those consumers, Samsung has no need to advertise the RAM capacity of its phones, because it's not a figure that those consumers care about," he says.

Android Central recently conducted a poll asking readers if they cared that Samsung may lower the RAM.

Out of more than 1,100 votes, 54% said they would prefer that Samsung keep the same RAM configurations as last year or increase it. Of the total votes, 36% say that the rumored 8GB base RAM is fine, but Samsung should offset the downgrade by lowering the cost of the phone or at least increasing storage memory.

Only 8% say they are okay with the rumored base RAM.

One reader, Steelatx, isn't too happy given the compromises Samsung has made with recent flagships:

"I didn't get the s21 because of the downgrade in screen resolution, lack of SD card, reduction in RAM, and the change in mobile payments. It seems that this iteration of the S22 (base) is going to be similar or more compromised.

However, I got to thinking, what if Android 12 is a better more efficient OS with better memory management? Could this be a reason to cut RAM? Because the OS is no longer hogging it? Law of diminishing returns, right? If 8 gigs performs optimally, why do we need 12 or 16? Increased cost is all we'd be facing. I am in desperate need of a new phone, my s20s battery is shot, but not quite sure what to think. I need a small phone and even the s20 is too big :(."

And perhaps for users like Steelatx, the rumored smaller size of the regular S22 might be more attractive than choosing a model with more RAM.

There is also the potential that the 8GB Ultra model could convince buyers who have other priorities, including the fact that there is likely an S Pen support, a great battery life, and the promise of a high-quality camera.

Would it make more sense to have more storage if there is less RAM?

Ubrani says that storage is more important for many users rather than RAM and "storage tends to get more important over time as many phones don't offer expandable storage anymore leaving users with limited storage over the lifetime of the phone."

He adds that it might be worth it for Samsung to explore focusing on larger storage options as a way to ease long-term concerns that users run into.

Sag is less convinced of this argument, adding that RAM is a commodity item and has a pretty stable price structure for manufacturers, especially for one like Samsung, which manufactures its own RAM and could use its own RAM at cost.

"It would be disappointing to see Samsung move away from providing more RAM considering it is one of the world's leading producers of RAM. It's a differentiator and to back away from that seems like a mistake," he says

In the same vein, Rahman agrees. He notes that past a certain threshold of RAM, increasing the RAM won't yield many benefits, while with storage, over time consumers require more.

"A few years ago, 64GB of storage space would have been adequate, but it's far too low today. Having adequate RAM and storage is necessary for a good user experience, but you can't supplement a deficiency in one by increasing the capacity of the other, because they serve very different purposes," he says.



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Despite early successes, I'm not convinced Google is good for AR or VR

It will take a lot of rebuilding to fix these burned bridges.

Google's storied history in both the AR and VR markets is a long and devastating one. As is the case with many different kinds of mobile technology, Google was way ahead of the curve on these technologies. The company's rumored upcoming AR/VR headset, Project Iris, has all the trappings of becoming one of the best XR — that's the bridged definition of a device that can do AR and VR together — headsets ever created.

The problem is, I don't trust Google to stand behind whatever it builds, and I'm willing to bet plenty of other folks don't, either.

Google Glass was the first pair of AR glasses most people had ever heard of or even seen — outside of sci-fi movies, of course — but the public resentment against wearable cameras caused Google to kill it early.

Similarly, the Lenovo Mirage Solo — which was built upon Google's Daydream VR platform — was the first standalone VR headset to market, beating the original Oculus Quest by a few weeks. That headset, too, died prematurely due to Google's problem with long-term commitment for most of its experiments.

Cue Project Iris, a new rumored XR headset that looks like to blend both AR and VR worlds into one cohesive product. Project Iris promises to take the lessons Google learned from its past mistakes with AR and VR products and combine them with the experience gained from its purchase of North last year into a hero product that fulfills both goals.

The Stadia effect

Project Iris has a lot more in common with Google Stadia than it does with Google Glass, Daydream, or even Focals by North. That's because of what I'd like to coin as The Stadia Effect.

When Google Stadia was first announced, it heralded in the next generation of "consoles" a full year before Sony or Microsoft could launch the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S. So the platform wasn't revolutionary, necessarily, but it aimed to do things better than any of the best game streaming apps before it.

Stadia is extremely good, and its back-to-the-drawing-board design could have worked very well if Google hadn't built it.

In reality, that's the case. Stadia is extremely good, and its back-to-the-drawing-board design could have worked very well if Google hadn't built it.

From the moment Stadia was announced, the talk of the town was whether Google would abandon the project in two years or less. Turns out, that was a self-fulfilling prophecy. Almost exactly two years after it was initially announced at GDC 2019, Google closed its first-party Stadia Studios, taking a slew of incredible talent that now has to find a job elsewhere.

It would be hilarious if it weren't so darn tragic, and this is far from the first time Google has done something like this. There's a website that tracks things killed by Google that now totals nearly 250 apps, services, and pieces of hardware over the years.

Google is great as a research and development company, and they're regularly ahead of the curve with new concepts and implementations. But they're rarely good at supporting and growing those concepts beyond the initial stages. Projects like Android and Chrome OS and services like Gmail and Workspaces are the exception, not the norm.

Google's name, like Meta (and Facebook before it), are names that have become poisoned over the years. The circumstances are quite different, but the outcome is the same; unless it's particularly ground-breaking, people tend to shy away from hardware products from the two companies.

From the moment Stadia was announced, the talk of the town was whether Google would abandon the project in two years or less.

That's certainly not because either company makes bad products. Google's Pixel series of phones is regularly chosen as the best Android phone in any given year, and Facebook-made products like the Oculus Quest 2 and Facebook Portal are phenomenal products that beat the competition in most ways.

I think Anshel Sag, a senior analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy, hits the nail on the head when he told Android Central, "the biggest problem I believe Google has in this space is that the company has simply burned too many bridges with developers, OEMs, and users."

Rebuilding the bridges

So, where does Google go from here? By all accounts, Project Iris is still at least two years away from commercial release. That's certainly enough time to try to convince at least a few key developers that Google is really, truly serious about its view of the future of XR devices.

Closing Stadia Studios was easily the single worst thing Google could have done to its reputation in recent memory. When the announcement hit, the company cited "the time needed and expensive nature of new games" as the reason for the closure. To say this is absurd doesn't quite skim the surface of how much damage this has done to Google's reputation in the long term.

Closing Stadia Studios was easily the single worst thing Google could have done to its reputation in recent memory.

As Sag says, "Google's attitude towards XR in the past has not instilled much confidence that it will stick with it and not burn everything to the ground again."

Daydream had a ton of potential, mainly since it worked with millions of existing phones that could have easily become a quality VR device with the simple purchase of a pair of controllers and a headset. After all, the original Oculus Quest was — in a very simplified sense — little more than off-the-shelf smartphone parts, including the same Snapdragon 835 chipset that powered the best Android phones in 2017.

Similarly, Sag notes, "Glass was one of the first AR headsets, and now it's an enterprise-only play, and I'm not even sure it's doing much in that space today."

Google relaunched Glass as Google Glass 2 a few years ago and aimed it squarely at the enterprise market, hoping that its more industrial look and feel would better fit that type of customer. We have heard very little of its success or failure since then. It is still available for sale, though, which defies expectations at this point in the game.

Enter Clay Bavor, the person at the helm of Project Iris and current VP of Labs at Google. Previously, Bavor was VP of Google's AR/VR division from 2015 until November 2021, when he was promoted to the Labs division. Per his LinkedIn profile, Bavor specialized in "forward-looking efforts like AR/VR, Project Starline, Area 120," showing that Google's rekindled interest in XR is a bit wider spread out than it previously was.

Clay Bavor could be the key to helping Google rebuild its reputation among consumers and developers.

Now, I have faith in Bavor. His past projects have proven that he can manage a team capable of making amazing products. With his and his team's expertise — especially since that team is likely comprised of folks that have worked on past Google XR projects, as well as the Focals by North team — Project Iris will, doubtless, be an amazing and maybe even ground-breaking product to challenge both Meta and Apple in the future.

Clay Bavor could be the key to helping Google rebuild its reputation among consumers and developers.

But, as Sag points out, "If Google wants to be successful with Project Iris, it needs to behave differently and show that the company is invested in XR for the long haul and not just appeasing investors by re-entering XR to say that it has a Metaverse play."

The privacy conversation

There's little doubt that many people don't trust Facebook — or Meta — to some degree. No matter where you sit on the American political spectrum, no matter how tech-savvy you are (or aren't), everyone has an opinion on the company and its issue with user privacy.

Given that Meta is the leading authority in the VR space with over 10 million Quest 2s sold — that's roughly 2 million more units than all combined Xbox units sold in 2021 — Google and Apple will have a lot of catching up to do not just in raw tech, but also content libraries.

"Remember Glassholes? Yeah, we didn't like them either." There's a bone for you, Google. Go ahead and take it.

But both companies can use the topic of privacy to promote their products over Meta's.

Apple has the better track record of the three for protecting user privacy, but Google has a special place in this conversation in which it can use its expertise (and past mistakes) to drive the conversation.

Back when Google Glass first debuted, the inclusion of cameras on a pair of glasses worried more than a few people. Some particularly annoying users were even deemed "Glassholes." Urban Dictionary accurately defines the term as: "A person who wears Google Glass and refuses to remove it when directly interacting with other people, private gatherings, or public events."

But society has evolved since then — for better or worse — and having cameras on glasses or smartwatches isn't taboo in the way it once was.

Still, Google could make plenty of humorous anecdotes about how it learned from the situation, even when it had less to do with its products and more with its users. "Remember Glassholes? Yeah, we didn't like them either." There's a bone for you, Google. Go ahead and take it.

At the end of the day, Google Glass was an incredible product that did everything it promised. Not only that, but it did these things incredibly well and did them years before other companies could even get around to designing a proper competing product.

Whether or not Google's Project Iris is a pair of smart glasses, a VR headset, or an ingenious mix of the two is anyone's best guess. But I know one thing: No matter how good it is, Google has a lot of work to do to convince everyone it actually cares about XR and will support this product long term.



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Here's how much the OnePlus Nord 2T might cost in India

The Nord 2T may not debut alongside the rumored Nord 2 CE 5G.

What you need to know

  • A new rumor claims the OnePlus Nord 2T may not debut before April.
  • It is tipped to be priced in the ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 (about $402 to $536) range in the Indian market.
  • The phone is expected to be a follow-up to last year's Nord 2.

Last week, a report from Digit shed light on the specs sheet of OnePlus' upcoming Nord 2T. While it was rumored that the phone could launch in India in February, tipster Yogesh Brar claims the Nord 2T will only be released in the second quarter of the year.

According to Brar, the OnePlus Nord 2T will debut in India in April or May. Additionally, the tipster claims the phone is going to be priced in the ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 (about $402 to $536) price bracket. The Nord 2T will succeed the Nord 2 — which is still among the best budget Android phones on the market.

The mid-ranger is tipped to feature MediaTek's Dimensity 1300 chipset and support 80W wired charging speeds. Aside from these upgrades, however, the phone may not be all that different from the Nord 2.

The Nord 2T isn't the only mid-range phone that OnePlus is currently working on. It is also expected to soon unveil the Nord 2 CE, which will be a follow-up to the Nord CE 5G. As per Brar, the Nord 2 CE is likely to be priced in the same ₹25,000 to ₹30,000 (about $335 to $402) price bracket as its predecessor. Rumors suggest the phone will launch in India on February 11.

OnePlus Nord 2

₹29,999 at Amazon India £399 at OnePlus UK

The Nord 2 is an impressive mid-range phone with a smooth 90Hz AMOLED display, a great 50MP primary camera, and support for 65W fast charging. You also get a great software experience with the promise of three years of security updates.



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The best Verizon cell phone plans to sign up for, or switch to, in 2021

Welcome to our guide to the best Verizon cell phone plans available to buy right now. We've spent time comparing the various offers available from Verizon today and can tell you what you'll get across a range of budgets. If you're looking to pick up multiple lines you'll get discounts on each line, whereas prices are highest for those of you looking for a single line.

If you're looking to check out alternative options, then be sure to check out our wider best cell phone plan guide. Verizon is massively popular though, especially with its nationwide 5G network that's now available in over 2,700 cities. Verizon cell phone plans offers four unique unlimited plans to choose from, as well as several prepaid options. Play More Unlimited, will give you an exceptional experience. With this plan, you'll have access to Verizon's 5G network, 50GB of premium data, 15GB hotspot data, as well as some serious entertainment perks. Here are some of the best Verizon plans to consider right now.

Best overall: Play More Unlimited

Verizon's Play More Unlimited plan is like the more expensive Get More Unlimited plan but at a slightly lower cost, making it the perfect Verizon plan. It's a great option if you're looking for a new 5G cell phone plan or even a family plan because the plan comes with a ton of entertainment perks along with HD streaming. For instance, you'll get the Disney bundle, six months of Apple Music, and a free year of discovery+, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass.

With this plan, you'll have all the high-speed data in the world, including 50GB of premium data, as well as access to Verizon's 5G Ultra-Wideband and 5G Nationwide networks. Mobile hotspot access includes 15GB on Verizon's 5G Nationwide or 4G LTE network, which is a solid amount of hotspot data to last you through the month.

Play More Unlimited also has international benefits, including unlimited Mexico and Canada talk, text, data, and international texting. For one line on this plan, you can expect to pay $80 per month (assuming you've signed up for paper-free billing and AutoPay). For three lines, you'll pay $55 per line ($165 total), and for four lines, you'll pay $45 per line ($180).

Despite multi-line discounts, you'll still pay quite the sum if everyone in your family gets this plan. Thankfully with Verizon, you can mix and match plans, so everyone gets what they need, and there's also a Just Kids plan that'll cost you a maximum of $50 per month as long as you have one line on an Unlimited plan. The good news is that the more lines you add, the cheaper the plan gets. Parents will be grateful to manage screen time, filter content, track location, and get unlimited data (capped at 5Mbps) for their kids.

Pros:

  • 5G total access
  • Unlimited talk, text, and data
  • 50GB premium data
  • 15GB mobile hotspot (5G Nationwide/4G LTE)
  • Includes entertainment perks
  • HD streaming

Cons:

  • Pricey for an entire family
  • International features are limited
  • Taxes and fees aren't included

Best overall

Play More Unlimited

Streaming for everyone

If you like streaming and watching TV with your family, Verizon's Play More Unlimited is the best plan you can get. It comes with a bunch of entertainment perks to keep families happy, as well as 50GB of premium data, 5G total access, and 15GB mobile hotspot data.

Best data: Get More Unlimited

If you're looking for the most premium plan Verizon has to offer, look no further than Get More Unlimited. The number of impressive features this plan includes can almost feel overwhelming, but you won't be left wishing for more when you experience Verizon's ultimate performance. With this plan, you'll get total access to Verizon's 5G network, including 5G Ultra-Wideband (available in select cities) and its broader 5G Nationwide network. Along with unlimited talk, text, and data, you'll have 50GB of premium data, meaning that you likely won't see your data speeds slow down anytime soon.

This plan includes a generous 30GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data on Verizon's 5G Nationwide and 4G LTE network (the most of any plan), allowing you to use your smartphone as a hotspot and work or be entertained even when WiFi isn't an option. But once you've reached 30GB, data speeds will slow to 600Kbps for the remainder of the month.

When it comes to international features, Verizon includes unlimited texting from the U.S. to 200+ countries. You're also able to talk, text, and use unlimited data when traveling in Mexico and Canada, but if you plan on going anywhere else, you'll need to buy a TravelPass to be able to use your phone. Where this plan's perks really shine, though, is when it comes to entertainment. Verizon's Get More Unlimited plan comes with HD streaming, and to go along with that, a subscription to the Disney bundle (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+) that everyone on your account can use. You'll also get Apple Music included along with a free year of discovery+, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass. Top that off with 600GB of Verizon Cloud storage and discounts on other connected device plans.

The main drawback of this plan is its price, which is higher than what you would get from T-Mobile or AT&T's top plans. For one line with Get More Unlimited, your monthly bill will be $90, and that includes a $10 per month AutoPay and paper-free billing discount. For three lines, you'll pay $65 per line ($195 total), and for four lines, you'll pay $55 per line ($220 total). Though there's a multi-line discount, it's not a plan that everyone needs. But if you're someone who consumes data like water, watches a lot of high-quality videos, frequently uses their smartphone as a hotspot, and wants the very best coverage, then you just can't find a better plan with Verizon.

Pros:

  • 5G total access
  • 50GB premium data
  • 30GB mobile hotspot (5G Nationwide)
  • Entertainment perks
  • HD streaming

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • International features are limited
  • Taxes and fees aren't included

Best data

Get More Unlimited

Not your average cell phone plan

Verizon's Get More Unlimited plan comes with more perks than you can count on one hand. Not only will you get access to Verizon's entire 5G network, but you'll have 50GB of premium data, at least 30GB of hotspot data, HD streaming, and subscriptions to the Disney bundle, Apple Music, and more.

Best MVNO: Visible

Not interested in signing a contract and eager to avoid hidden fees? Verizon-owned Visible is one of the best MVNO carriers you can get. For only $40 a month, you'll get Verizon's 5G and 4G LTE coverage, as well as unlimited data, calling, and texting. It's a fantastic offer at an almost unbeatable price. Visible's plan even throws in unlimited mobile hotspot data, which is extremely convenient if you like to use your smartphone as a hotspot when WiFi is shaky, or you're not at home. Though hotspot speeds are capped at 5Mbps, you should be able to stream SD videos, listen to music, and do your regular browsing.

Where Visible falls short is international use. You're able to call Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, but sadly your phone just won't work abroad. There's also no domestic roaming with Visible, so be sure that you get great coverage before joining. It's a plan that's perfect for someone who consumers a lot of high-speed data and doesn't plan on traveling much. It's also great for anyone who doesn't care that Visible's customer service is online only.

If Visible sounds as great to you as it really is, then "Party Pay" is something to consider if you want to reduce your monthly bill. By starting a "party" with four people, your monthly cost will come down to only $25 per month. Fortunately, everyone pays their bill separately, so this is an amazing option for friends, roommates, and families. And if you're not satisfied, Visible promises that you can cancel anytime. It's that simple.

Pros:

  • Verizon's 4G LTE and 5G coverage
  • Affordable
  • Unlimited data, calling, texting, and hotspot
  • Party pay savings
  • No contracts or hidden fees

Cons:

  • Mobile hotspot speed capped at 5Mbps
  • SD streaming
  • Limited international features
  • Customer service only online
  • Data slowed in times of congestion

Best MVNO

Visible

Simplicity is bliss

Visible is a breath of fresh air that makes phone plans feel easy. With no contracts or hidden fees, you'll get unlimited data, calling, texting, and mobile hotspot (capped at 5Mbps) for $40 per month. Though you won't get much international use with a Visible plan, you'll get great access to Verizon's massive 4G LTE and 5G network.

Best budget: Single Basic Phone

Verizon's Single Basic Phone plan is as basic as can be. If you're someone who relies on WiFi most of the time and rarely uses data, then this plan is worth considering. For only $30 per month, it's extremely affordable, and you'll get 500MB of data along with unlimited talk and text as well as unlimited international messaging from the U.S. However, taxes and fees aren't included, so sadly, your monthly bill will be more than $30.

If you happen to use more than 500MB of data in a month, you'll be charged an extra $5 for every additional 500MB you use. It's a great plan for someone who only uses their data to shoot a few WhatsApp messages or Google something. But if you like to stream YouTube videos during your morning commute, this is absolutely not the plan for you. You're better off going with Verizon's MVNO Visible, which offers unlimited data for just $10 more.

Pros:

  • Very affordable
  • 500MB of data
  • Unlimited talk and text
  • Unlimited international messaging

Cons:

  • Price doesn't include taxes and fees
  • Not enough data for most people
  • Limited perks

Best budget

Single Basic Phone

Back to basics

Verizon's Single Basic Phone plan is ideal for someone who only needs one line and doesn't need much data. For only $30 per month, it's a highly affordable plan that will give you the essentials: 500MB of data, unlimited talk and text, unlimited international messaging, and light browsing.

Best prepaid: Prepaid Unlimited Plus

If you prefer to go prepaid, then Verizon's Prepaid Unlimited plan is the best one to get. You'll get 5G total access (5G Ultra-Wideband and 5G Nationwide), unlimited calling and texting, as well as discounts to help bring the price down—including a loyalty discount of $5 per month that kicks in after three months of service (and increases after nine) and an AutoPay discount of $5 per month. It's an especially great plan if you're in a 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area since you'll be able to stream in 4K UHD, and you'll get unlimited 5G Ultra Wideband mobile hotspot data—yes, that's right, unlimited.

When you're not in a 5G Ultra Wideband coverage area, you'll still get 10GB of mobile hotspot data on Verizon's 5G Nationwide and 4G LTE networks. After you've used up that amount, speeds will slow to 600Kbps for the rest of the month. You'll also get SD streaming, and when it comes to international use, you'll have unlimited calls, texts, and data when traveling in Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as unlimited text to 200 international destinations.

Prepaid plans let you save some money, but luckily you'll have the same Verizon coverage as everyone else who's paying more. For one line on this plan, you can expect to pay $70 per month (including the AutoPay discount), and the price will continue dropping until it reaches $60 per month (after 10-plus months) and includes all discounts.

Pros:

  • 5G total access
  • Loyalty and AutoPay discounts
  • Unlimited mobile hotspot (5G Ultra Wideband)
  • 10GB mobile hotspot data (5G Nationwide and 4G LTE)
  • International perks

Cons:

  • No multi-line discounts
  • No entertainment perks
  • Doesn't include premium data

Best prepaid

Prepaid Unlimited Plus

When prepaid plans pay off

Verizon's Prepaid Unlimited plan comes with its own set of perks, even if you won't get a subscription to the Disney bundle or premium data. You'll get access to its entire 5G network, unlimited mobile hotspot with 5G Ultra-Wideband, and a bunch of discounts that will bring your monthly bill down.

Best value: Start Unlimited

Not sure where to start when it comes to cell phone plans? Start Unlimited. This is one of Verizon's most straightforward unlimited plans. It may not come with premium data but will give you everything that you need. This means 5G Nationwide and 4G LTE unlimited data, text, and talk. If you want access to 5G Ultra-Wideband (Verizon's fastest 5G network), you can pay $10 extra per month, but most people will be happy with what the plan already offers. You'll get a lot of the same features with this plan as you would with other core Verizon plans, making it a perfect choice for someone who really just wants unlimited data at a better price.

With Start Unlimited, you'll still get international benefits, including talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada and international texting. You'll even get many entertainment perks that Verizon's more expensive plans offer, such as six months for free with Disney+, Apple Music, discovery+, Apple Arcade, and Google Play Pass. Unfortunately, this plan will only allow you to stream in SD, so you'll have to upgrade if HD streaming is a dealbreaker. What you also won't get with this plan is mobile hotspot access, but if you're someone who never relies on their hotspot in the first place, then this won't be an issue. However, if this bums you out a little, you should consider upgrading to one of the higher-tier plans.

At the end of the day, Verizon's Start Unlimited plan comes at a more affordable price than other Verizon plans. For a single line, you'll pay $70 per month (after the paper-free billing and AutoPay discount) plus taxes and fees. The price gets better when you add more lines; for three lines, you'll pay $45 per line ($135 total), and for four lines, you'll pay $35 per line ($140 total). The monthly cost drops down to as low as $30 per month, which is a pretty great deal when you think about it. It's a fantastic plan to consider if you can get over not having access to Verizon's 5G Ultra Wideband network or premium data as well as unlimited mobile hotspot and HD streaming.

Pros:

  • Affordable price
  • 5G Nationwide and 4G LTE unlimited data, talk, and text
  • International benefits
  • Entertainment perks
  • Multi-line discounts

Cons:

  • No mobile hotspot
  • 5G Ultra Wideband is $10 extra
  • SD video streaming
  • No premium data

Best value

Start Unlimited

Unlimited data

If you're looking for high-speed data, talk, and text with no limits, look no more. Though you won't get premium data with this plan, access to mobile hotspot, or Verizon's fastest 5G network, you'll still get great coverage with Verizon 5G Nationwide and save some money at the end of the month. If you sign up for multiple lines, your monthly bill goes as low as $30 per line per month.

Bottom line

Though Verizon offers excellent coverage to a lot of Americans, don't forget to check out its coverage map before signing up. If you decide Verizon is the carrier for you, the Play More Unlimited plan is the best choice for most people. It's not the most expensive plan (nor is it the cheapest), but it offers everything that you need out of a cell phone plan and more. With Play More Unlimited, you'll have 5G total access (aka the best speeds you can get), as well as 50GB of premium data, so you're guaranteed not to be slowed down. Along with unlimited data, text, and talk, and international features, you'll get the Disney+ bundle and several other perks to try out.

If you're looking for a plan with a better price, then Visible stands out amongst the crowd. This MVNO is owned by Verizon, so you'll have the same great coverage (that includes 5G), along with unlimited data, text, and talk for only $40 per month. The best part is that there are no contracts or hidden costs or fees as you'll find with other plans, and you can even lower your monthly bill to $25 per month by joining a "party" of four lines. But with Visible, your phone won't work abroad, and there's no domestic roaming, in which case you could consider one of Verizon's prepaid plans or a cheaper core option. Whichever plan you get, you'll be with one of the nation's best wireless carriers and can count on reliable performance.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Olivia Lipski is a freelance writer for Android Central and loves testing out the latest smart home tech and discovering the best cell phone plans. When she's not busy running around NYC trying to find great food or coffee, she's in her kitchen trying to make it herself.



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