This $13 RavPower wireless charging stand will make up for your iPhone XS's lame 5W plug

The new iPhone XS and XS Max are shipping out tomorrow, but it's not all good news: They still ship with the same 5W charger that takes forever to fill up your phone. That's why you need a wireless charger, and today, RaVPower's Qi-certified wireless charger is an all-time low of $13 so go grab one before they're all gone.
The RavPower charging stand won't charge your new iPhone any faster, but you can't beat the desktop or nightstand convenience. It's equipped with protections to keep your phone safe while charging, with safeguards against short circuits, overheating, and over-voltage, in addition to an 18-month warranty in case anything does go wrong. A built-in LED indicator light will let you know charging status at a glance, while the vertical design means this charger can double as a phone stand. Plus, with wide compatibility, this charger will work with many more devices than just the new iPhone, including fast-charging Android phones.
We haven't tried this charger ourselves, but it has 3.9 stars out of 5 on Amazon over 260 user reviews, with users pointing to the wireless convenience and low price (even before the discount) as reasons to buy.

Galaxy Note 9 or iPhone XS Max? Compare before you upgrade

Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is a business productivity powerhouse that the consumer electronics giant desperately wants to go mainstream. Whether you upgrade depends on whether you're more about work or play. Here's how it compares to the iPhone XS Max.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is designed to be the company's flagship device, but whether you choose to upgrade or not solely depends on whether your device is more about work or play. And your budget, too. If you're a business pro hankering for more productivity and the ability to use your smartphone as a desktop and stylus as a remote control, Note 9 is worth a look. However, Samsung didn't add enough to the Note 9 to become the mainstream flagship that executives so sorely wanted ahead of Apple's iPhone event.
Yes, Fortnite as an exclusive on the Note 9 is an interesting promotion for mainstream buyers, but the device is really about specs and productivity.
And then there's the price. You'll pay for the high-end specs of the Galaxy Note 9. Preorders for the Galaxy Note 9 start Aug. 10 with availability Aug. 24. The 128GB Galaxy Note 9 will go for $999.99 at Amazon, Best Buy, Samsung, Target, Walmart and other retailers. The 512GB Galaxy Note9 will be available at AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Sprint, and Samsung for $1,249.99. For comparison, 512GB SSD laptops can run as much as the Note 9 and Apple's 256GB iPhone XS Max goes for $1,249. The 512GB iPhone XS Max will run you $1,449.
The best deals we could find can save you as much as $450, but the savings are typically tied to bundles. In the end, whether you go all-in on the Galaxy Note 9 may come down to vanity and whether you think bigger (1TB even) is truly better.
DJ Koh, president of Samsung's mobile communications business, said at Unpacked 2018 in Brooklyn that the Note is designed to break through barriers. Koh said the Note 9 is designed to be the "most powerful mobile device."
Viewing the "should I upgrade" question through the use case lens is especially important given the Android competition and a premium price Samsung would argue is reasonable. Simply put, you can get Android devices with more frequent Android updates for much less than the Note 9. To get value out of the Note 9 you have to be a fan of the S Pen, productivity and what it brings to the table. You also have to value those S Pen upgrades enough to swap out last year's Note 8.

THE DETAILS

Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 pops a wallop because it's designed to also power a DeX desktop experience too.
The highlights:

• The Note 9 has an all-day battery at 4,000mAh. That's Samsung's largest battery in its product portfolio. Galaxy Note 9: What does 'all-day battery' mean?
• Samsung doubled storage to 128GB at the base level and available at 512GB. And there's a microSD card slot to add more than 1TB of storage to the device.
• The Note 9 boasts a 33 percent bump in CPU performance and 23 percent gain in GPU performance relative to the Note 8.
• Samsing's DeX platform can connect your phone to a monitor and keyboard via an USB-C to HDMI adapter.
• The intelligent camera includes Flaw Detection and also has a neural network on the Note 9 to recognize context and settings and adjust for scenes. The front-facing camera is 8MP and the dual rear cameras are 12MP each. Samsung opted to improve the software and machine learning behind camera in the Note 9. The cameras in the Note 9 are an improvement on the Note 8, but are largely the same as the Galaxy S9 setup.
• A wireless charging dock uses one outlet and can charge two devices (presumably a Samsung phone and smartwatch).
• The S Pen gets Bluetooth low energy (BLE) so it can function as a remote control within 10 meters. The S Pen charges when you put it into your smartphone and the battery charges fully in less than 40 seconds. BLE enables the S Pen to control the camera by default and other applications based on your preference.
• Available colors for the new phone include Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple, Metallic Copper and Midnight Black.

However, the Galaxy Note 9 doesn't look all that different from the Galaxy Note 8. There are a few design changes, notably with the fingerprint scanner, and a slightly thinner frame.
Samsung is keeping its fingerprint scanner and fingerprint sensor, but moving it below the camera. Samsung is also keeping its iris biometric system too.
The Note 8 has the fingerprint scanner and sensor alongside the camera and that positioning can get awkward after repeated use.
The company largely stuck with the same design as the Note 8, which was a big launch that put the Note 7 battery debacle in the rear view mirror. The Galaxy Note 8 was well receivedand even created some flagship device confusion when the Galaxy S9 launched.
The business pro decision
Samsung's Note 9 is primarily designed as a business tool, but is trying to extend its reach. With a memory card, the Note 9 can get more than a terabyte of storage. The device also has 8GB of memory at the high end. The base Note 9 has 128GB of storage and 6GB of memory. Those specs make the Note 9 a mini-laptop.
However, those specs only matter if you require the compute used for DeX, which can now serve up a presentation on the big screen while allowing you to read your notes on the smartphone. Those specs also matter for storing images and PowerPoints. Note 9's storage capability means it can also serve as a portable hard drive in many cases.
The real win for Note 9 is the S Pen. You can now use it as a remote for the camera, gallery, Office and other apps that come with the phone. A software developer kit for the S Pen will enable enterprises to customize the stylus for other applications -- say that Salesforce, SAP or Oracle app.
Samsung's S Pen SDK lands in September and can lead to more work use cases. Should you upgrade? I'm wrestling with that decision now. I'm a Note customer and have theNote 8. Here's what looks enticing on the Note 9.

• The Bluetooth S Pen that enables the stylus to be more than a writing tool.
• Intelligent camera improvements that automatically refine pictures based on context and scenes.
• DeX is advanced a good bit, but the applications with it aren't mature enough for me to replace the desktop or laptop. DeX is getting there though.

Add it up and the Note 9 is worth a look if you didn't get on the Note 8 cycle, deliver a bevy of presentations and like a remote for photography. As a productivity device, Samsung's Note 9 is enticing.

THE PROSUMER/CONSUMER CHOICE

While Samsung's Note 9 offers a lot of enhancements -- you can even talk about Knox 3.2 for the IT department if you'd like -- the mainstream tech buyer has a much harder call to make.
First, let's dispense with the idea that tech buyers as a mass are going to switch platforms. There is a reason platforms scale -- you're locked into an ecosystem. Despite the witty commercials from Samsung, most folks aren't going to jump from Apple's iOS or iPhone to Android and Samsung.
With that reality out of the way, Samsung's Note 9 is a premium device competing with Android rivals that offer strong hardware, pure Android and low prices.
And that's the catch. Samsung executives on the company's recent earnings call acknowledged that the Note 9 launch was moved up to stoke demand from Galaxy S9 sales that were waning. Unless you're in love with the S Pen, it's hard to envision the average person buying the Note over the S9 Plus, which will be discounted.
Generally speaking, the S9 franchise and the Note 9 are running the same software, experience, and hardware. One upgrade is Samsung's intelligent camera, but it's not clear that consumers make smartphone buying decisions based on images alone.
Samsung boasts blue and lavender devices in the US, and maybe that appeals to consumers, but the value equation matters.
Simply put, innovations with DeX and S Pen aren't going to sway non-business buyers. Upgrades to Bixby may entice a bit, but Samsung's assistant competes with Google Assistant and Alexa on its own phone.
Perhaps a short promotion with Fortnite stokes Note 9 consumer interest, but Samsung needs to convince folks to use its app store over Google Play. Samsung executives also noted that they were trying to gain momentum in their services efforts.
Fortunately for Samsung, Apple, Microsoft, and PC makers have popularized the use of pen/pencil/stylus for computing. Samsung helped create the space and could benefit from the S Pen innovations, but the stylus isn't exactly mainstream. There's value in the Note 9, but not enough to land mainstream tech buyers.
Here's a look at the specs in full.

• Display: 6.4-inch Quad HD+ Super AMOLED, 2960x1440 (516ppi)
• Camera Rear: Dual Camera with OIS (Optical Image Stabilization)-Wide-angle: Super Speed Dual Pixel 12MP AF, F1.5/F2.4, OIS Telephoto: 12MP AF, F2.4, OIS-2X optical zoom, up to 10X digital zoom X
• Camera Front: F1.7 8MP AF
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845; 10nm 64-bit Octa-core processor (Max. 2.8 GHz + 1.7)
• Memory: 6GB RAM, 128GB + MicroSD up to 512GB
• 8GB RAM, 512GB + MicroSD up to 512GB
• Battery: 4000mAH with wireless charging and fast wireless charging
• OS: Android 8.1 Oreo. Upgrade to Android 9 Pie at future date to be determined.
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5GHz), VHT80 MU-MIMO, 1024QAM, Bluetooth 5.0 BLE, ANT+, GPS, NFC
• Network: Enhanced 4x4 MIMO, 5CA, LAA, LTE Cat.18

COMPARING THE NOTE 9 TO APPLE'S IPHONE XS MAX

Since the Galaxy Note 9 launched, Apple rolled out three new iPhone models: XS, XS Max, and XR. The iPhone XS Max is the most direct comparison for the Galaxy Note 9 and Samsung offers better value.
For instance, the 512GB Galaxy Note 9 will run you $1249.99 excluding promotions. Apple's 512GB iPhone XS Max, with a 6.5-inch screen, will run you $1,449. Apple's 256GB iPhone XS Max matches the Galaxy Note 9 in price and rest assured there won't be any discounts or bundles to alleviate the hit.
Apple, unlike Samsung, rolls out its smartphone portfolio in one big event in September. Samsung has a Galaxy event and then a separate one for the Note franchise. Apple's iPhone XR, which has an LCD screen, gives the company an iPhone for every price point.
Should a power user get the Note 9 or the iPhone XS Max? The answer is harder than you think, and much of the decision depends on whether you value a stylus and expansion slot for storage. Otherwise, the devices rhyme a lot.
Some points to ponder:

• The camera bake off between the Note 9 and iPhone XS Max can make your eyes glaze over. Apple talked Bokeh effects, computational improvements and using AI to improve photos. Samsung said the same thing a month earlier. What device you choose is largely based on personal preference.
• Expandable storage matters and Apple won't go there. Samsung will get you to 1TB with an SD card. Fun fact: Buying an SD card for your Note 9 will basically cost the same as the iPhone XS Max at 512GB. Either way, Samsung gets you twice the storage for less.
• Apple was rumored to have Apple Pencil support, but those guesstimates were off. Note 9's big selling point is its S Pen. If you want the S Pen you really didn't have to read this far.
• Add it up and both the iPhone XS Max and Note 9 are fine devices. Ultimately, the decision may come down to what you're used to: Android folks tend to stay with that platform, and Apple iOS fans typically stay in the ecosystem.

Samsung moved up the Galaxy Note 9 launch to bolster sales and get a jump on Apple's iPhone update. More worrisome for Samsung is low-cost Android rivals and maintaining premium prices in the smartphone market.
Samsung's challenge will be threading the smartphone pricing needle between being premium and fending off low-end Android competitors.
Most major flagship smartphones are now on a fairly regular release schedule and leaks are a part of this cycle. It is rare for a phone to be released today with any surprises so let's take a look at what is coming soon.
Samsung's launch of the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus at Mobile World Congress just five months after the Galaxy Note 8's release sets up a nice debate over how the company should approach its innovation cadence.
Samsung Electronics has released three 30-second videos with the moniker 'a lot can change in a day' to tease the long-lasting battery, processing power, and high memory of the upcoming Galaxy Note 9.

This Alleged Nokia Leak Has Me Eager for Five-Lens Smartphones

Based on all the recent Pixel 3 leaks, we’ve gotten a pretty clear picture of Google’s next phone. And with Apple’s big fall launch event scheduled for next week, we’ll finally have official details about the rumored iPhone Xs family as well. But today a leaked image appearing to show Nokia’s next phone hit the net, and it’s looking like an entirely different beast.
For some people, just looking at the back of this phone may be enough to evoke some uncomfortable trypophobia vibes. It’s like a wild, techno-spider head is staring back at you, comprised of five separate camera lenses, what is almost certainly a flash, and one spot left over for who knows what (laser autofocus, perhaps?).
But after you shake off the heeby jeebies, the thought of equipping a phone with five cameras isn’t actually that ridiculous. Huawei already put three cameras on the back of the P20 Pro, which resulted in some pretty impressive shots, and with five cameras, Nokia would have even more flexibility over what kind of photos its next smartphone can take.
On the P20 Pro, each camera has a different purpose: a monochrome sensor for capturing extra detail, a 3x zoom lens for extra reach, and a 40-MP RGB sensor for handling everything else. With two extra cameras, Nokia could have one dedicated to wide-angle shots, while another could be reserved specifically for low-light photos—something OnePlus has experimented with on the OP5T.
But the most tantalizing prospect is if Nokia can combine the data from all of its camera sensors to achieve results similar to the Light L16, which enables users to adjust the focus and depth of field of their photos long after a shot has been taken. Nokia explored similar tech through its Refocus app back in 2013, but the addition of multiple cameras could give Nokia the ability to capitalize on the promise of a multi-lens camera setup in a way that Light’s 16-camera device never really achieved.
When you combine this leak with Nokia’s re-acquisition of the PureView trademark, it seems like Nokia may have some pretty major camera enhancements in store for its upcoming phone. That is, just so long as Nokia doesn’t scare everyone off with that bug-eyed camera arrangement first.

Huawei’s Honor 8X Max has a 7-inch screen and a tiny notch

Huawei is announcing two new Honor phones today, the 8X and 8X Max, and both of them are huge. The 8X has a 6.5-inch screen, while the 8X Max jumps up to an even bigger 7.12-inch screen, putting it into what used to be small tablet territory. For comparison, the phone’s predecessor, the Honor 7X, had a large but manageable 5.93-inch screen.
While those dimensions will absolutely make for a pair of big devices, they may not be quite as giant as they sound: the 8X and 8X Max both use wider than normal aspect ratios, which should make them taller than a typical phone.
The other highlight feature here is the addition of a notch on the front, which means that both phones’ displays wrap up into each corner of the device. The notch is actually a bit different on each phone: the standard 8X has a more traditional trapezoid-style notch, and the 8X Max has a much smaller one that just barely outlines a front-facing camera. Each phone has a chin at the bottom, but they don’t appear to be particularly thick.
Otherwise, the phones are very similar to last year’s 7X. They’re big, they have a fingerprint sensor on the back, and they have dual rear cameras. They’re even sticking with Micro USB, which is too bad. Though I’m happy to see that both phones have been upgraded to support 5GHz Wi-Fi networks, which was a huge miss in the past. They each run Android Oreo with Huawei’s iOS-like customizations on top.
There are a few interesting spec differences between the two: the 8X comes with Huawei’s Kirin 710 processor, while the 8X Max uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 636. The smaller 8X also has higher-resolution cameras and a higher-resolution screen — which doesn’t seem great for the 8X Max, since it has a slightly lower-resolution display at an even larger size. The smaller 8X can also be upgraded to include 6GB of RAM, whereas the 8X Max is stuck at 4GB. In the Max’s favor, it has a much larger 5,000mAh battery.
Right now, it sounds like only the smaller 8X may expand outside of China where it’s launching this month. Its price converts to just over $200 USD, which sounds about right. (The Honor 7X sold for $200 as well.) The low price, modern design, and solid specs should make for a capable midrange phone, though in my testing of the Honor 7X, specs and price were never what held it back. The phone was difficult to hold and had a poor speaker. It’s not clear if either of those will be fixed this time around, but the new model certainly sounds compelling.

Mophie Powerstation Plus and XXL portable batteries: One Lightning cable to rule them all

Mophie makes some great portable batteries for mobile devices, but for iPhone owners it has always been a bit of a pain to carry around a microUSB or USB-C cable to charge up the battery to then charge up an iPhone with a Lightning cable. These new products charge up via a Lightning cable.
Using a Mophie battery pack used to require that you always carried a microUSB cable in your pack, in addition to your Apple Lightning cable. Its new Powerstation collection supports charging the batteries via a Lightning cable so no you only need one cable to do it all.
Batteries are getting larger in smartphones and processors are getting more efficient, but people are also using their smartphones more so battery life is an important factor. External battery packs are capable of providing a significant portable power source to keep you charged up for days.

MOPHIE POWERSTATION PLUS

While I was sent two batteries to test out with my iPhone X, the Powerstation Plus was my favorite because of the blue fabric covering, integrated Lightning cable, and ability to charge up battery pack wirelessly.
The Powerstation Plus has a 6,040mAh capacity and weighs in at just 180 grams with a size of 130 x 69 x 15 mm. Mophie states it can add more than 20 hours to your iPhone X or five hours to your iPad 10.5. I used it to keep my iPhone X charged up for a couple of days while traveling for business.
There is a USB-A port on the top that you can use to connect your charging cable for your iOS, or other, device. Next to that is the Lightning input port that is used to charge up the battery pack. There is also an integrated Lightning cable that is stored around the outer edge of the battery so you can charge up the Powerstation Plus and use it for days without ever having to pack a cable along. You can charge up two devices at once by using the USB-A port and integrated Lightning cable.
Once you have devices with wireless charging capability, it is easy to place wireless chargers around your office or home and simply set and forget your phone on a charging pad. For extra convenience, Mophie added the ability to set the Powerstation Plus down on a wireless charger to recharge the battery pack.
The top and bottom of the Powerstation Plus is covered in fabric material. You can choose from heather gray, slate, and black. The fabric protects your desktop and also makes it easier to hold the battery pack. While I tested the Powerstation Plus, you can also find the larger Powerstation Plus XL with 10,000 mAh capacity and an additional deep blue color offering.
The Powerstation Plus is available from Apple stores for $79.95 while the large capacity Powerstation Plus XL is $99.95.

MOPHIE POWERSTATION XXL

We have seen the Powerstation XXL before with USB ports, but the new Apple-exclusive Powerstation XXL incorporates Lightning port charging using the cable provided with your Apple device.
The Powerstation XXL has a Lightning port on the side to make it clear that this is used to recharge the battery pack itself. On the top, USB-A ports are provided. One is an output port with 1.0A rating and another is an output port with a 2.1A rating. The third USB-A port is also rated for 2.1A, but it also serves as an input port so you can use it to charge up the battery pack as well. Priority+ charging is also supported on this battery pack.
The $99.95 Powerstation XXL has a 20,200 mAh rechargeable battery with a weight of 420 grams and a size of 155 x 92 x 20mm. Mophie states it can add more than 70 hours to your iPhone X or more than 18 hours to your iPad 10.5. You can charge up three devices at once if you like with this battery pack.
The white LED indicator lights are postioned on the side opposite of the Lightning input port. The black aluminum finish of the Powerstation XXL feels durable and looks professional. There is no integrated cable on this battery pack as it focuses on providing lots of battery capacity through the three ports.
These two battery packs are more expensive than some others you can find online. However, Mophie is a trusted name in battery technology and today's modern electronics can be sensitive to questionable power sources. There are not many battery packs that support Lightning cable input and iOS users will appreciate not having to carry around extra cables.
Over the past few years I've purchased a few Mophie products at the airport when I needed to make sure I had power to carry me for a couple of days with limited access to AC outlets. Both battery packs are very well constructed, have all the capability you need in an external battery, and have solid customer reviews.

China's Huawei pulls ahead of Apple to become number-two smartphone seller in the world

• Multiple analyses show that Chinese smartphone maker Huawei overtook Apple as the world's number-two phone company.
• According to preliminary IDC data, Huawei shipped about 54.2 million handsets for the quarter, registering 40.9 percent on-year growth.
• Apple shipped about 41.3 million units and saw a 0.7 percent annual growth, IDC said.

Apple reported strong results for its fiscal third quarter on Tuesday but the iPhone-maker lost its position as the world's number-two smartphone vendor, according to multiple analyses.
Research firms International Data Corporation (IDC), Counterpoint Research, IHS Markit and Canalys all reported that Chinese smartphone maker Huawei leapfrogged Apple to second place, based on the number of devices both firms shipped in the quarter that ended on June 30.
According to preliminary IDC data, Huawei shipped about 54.2 million handsets for the quarter, registering a 40.9 percent on-year growth. Meanwhile, Apple shipped about 41.3 million units for 0.7 percent growth against the comparable year-ago period.
The iPhone-maker missed Wall Street's estimate of 41.79 million devices for the quarter.
Those numbers put Huawei with 15.8 percent share of the market and Apple with 12.1 percent, according to IDC.
Analysts said that Huawei was adding more top-end features into its flagship smartphones. For example, the company added three cameras on its P20 Pro device. As a result, Huawei is getting "increasing brand recognition in Europe and Asia" that is allowing the company to challenge the likes of Samsung in many price tiers, according to Gerrit Schneemann, senior research analyst for smartphones at IHS Markit.
Research firm Canalys also attributed Huawei's performance for the quarter to strong sales of the P20, as well as the success of its Honor brand. The company said Huawei shipped close to 4 million Honor-branded smartphones outside of China for the quarter, representing a 150 percent increase from the same period last year.
"Despite its failure to strike a U.S. carrier partnership earlier this year, (Huawei) has turned around quickly, moving away from its drive for profitability and focusing instead on finding volume growth at the low end," said Mo Jia, a Shanghai-based analyst at Canalys. "Honor, which has long been a major brand in China but relatively small overseas, has taken a pivotal role in this strategy."
The smartphone maker, which also makes telecommunication network equipment, has been trying to enter the U.S. market, first through a partnership with AT&T that was ultimately called off. A top Huawei executive raged against American carriers, accusing them of depriving customers of choice. Reports said U.S. lawmakers urged AT&T to pull out of the deal.
Earlier this year, top U.S. intelligence officials said they would not advise Americans to use products or services from Huawei, implying that it may have ties to the Chinese government that posed cybersecurity risks to the United States. The company responded by saying it posed no greater cybersecurity risk than any other tech vendor. More recently, the company said it does not see itself becoming the target of U.S. sanctions and will keep buying U.S. chips this year.

Samsung still in the lead

Samsung remained the market leader with 20.9 percent market share after shipping out 71.5 million devices for the quarter, according to IDC data. That said, the South Korean tech giant saw a 10.4 percent annual decline in its smartphone shipments and will likely face difficulties in its mobile business in the coming quarters.
IDC noted that it was the first time Apple had not been the number-one or number-two smartphone company in terms of market share since the second quarter of 2010.
"It is worth noting that Apple moved into the top position each of the last two holiday quarters following its product refresh, so it's likely we'll see continued movement among the top ranked companies in 2018 and beyond," said Ryan Reith, program vice president at IDC's Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers.
Overall, the smartphone market saw a 1.8 percent annual decline for the June quarter, according to IDC figures.