Smartphones

screen time Dec. 6, 2023

Is Your Phone the Reason You Feel Broke?The smartphone economy is booming — and it also feels awful.

By John Herrman

screen time Sept. 21, 2023

Why Upgrading to the iPhone 15 Is Like Buying a New CarWelcome to a world where next-generation smartphones have become classic depreciating assets.

By John Herrman

Sponsor Story

Why We Should All Embrace Digital MinimalismIt’s time disconnect within reason and streamline everything else.

surveillance June 11, 2019

Your iPhone Is Listening to You (If You’re a Spanish Soccer Fan)Facebook isn’t spying on you. Spain’s top professional soccer league is, though.

By Max Read

folding phones Mar. 7, 2019

Here’s What Will Determine If Folding Phones Are a Fad or for RealThe milestones to look for to figure out if folding phones have a future.

By Jake Swearingen

cracking up Mar. 6, 2019

Fancy Fingerprint Scanners Mean Cracking Your Smartphone Screen Will Get PricierUnder-screen fingerprint scanners are very cool and very expensive if you end up dropping your phone on the sidewalk.

By Jake Swearingen

cybersecurity Feb. 28, 2019

Cops’ Favorite Phone Hacking Tool Is Being Sold on eBayThe Cellebrite UFED promises to help law enforcement crack into suspects’ phones. If you have $100 and an eBay account, you can now do the same.

By Jake Swearingen

dumbphones Feb. 28, 2019

Motorola’s Foldable Phone Has Me Nostalgic for My Pink Razr DaysThe greatest phone ever made.

By Madison Malone Kircher

the cut opinion pages Feb. 28, 2019

Break Your PhoneIt’s the only way to be acceptably disconnected.

By Edith Zimmerman

what’s next Feb. 21, 2019

5G Is Going to Transform Smartphones — EventuallyOver the next few years, the smartphone — and everything else connected to mobile networks — is going to be revolutionized.

By Jake Swearingen

oops Jan. 30, 2019

Apple Disables Facebook Apps Following News of Shady Research ProjectFacebook used its privileged iOS access to distribute a “research” app that could collect tons of sensitive data from consumers’ phones.

By Brian Feldman

the future is foldable Jan. 29, 2019

How Much Would You Pay for a Foldable Smartphone?Phone manufacturers hope the answer is a lot.

By Jake Swearingen

i turn my camera on Jan. 11, 2019

Apple Crams Another Camera on iPhone (and That’s a Good Thing)Why a third camera isn’t just a marketing gimmick (though, to be clear, it’s definitely a marketing gimmick).

By Jake Swearingen

sex math Jan. 2, 2019

Should You Really Have Sex 16,000 Times a Year?A recent New York Times op-ed says giving up your smartphone will free up enough time to do this. Should anyone … want that?

By Amanda Arnold and Katie Heaney

iphone Dec. 17, 2018

Apple Could Be Putting Face ID and Touch ID in the Same iPhoneA patent suggests Touch ID may reappear in future generations of the iPhone.

By Jake Swearingen

smartphones Dec. 13, 2018

The Chinese Smartphone Manufacturers That Will Make Your Next Next PhoneA guide to the Chinese smartphone companies you’re going to be very familiar with soon.

By Jake Swearingen

billion dollar ideas Dec. 11, 2018

If You Invented the Headphone Jack in 2019, You’d Be a Billionaire“No more charging, no more pairing, no lost signals. Just pure sound.”

By Jake Swearingen

the cut opinion pages Dec. 5, 2018

Apps Can Take a HikeIt’s been long enough — they’re just not working out.

By Edith Zimmerman

smartphones Dec. 4, 2018

We’re No Longer in the Smartphone Plateau. We’re in the Smartphone Decline.Growth in smartphone sales stopped surging years ago. In the next decade, they’re likely to decline. What does that world look like?

By Jake Swearingen

artphone Nov. 14, 2018

Here’s How You Can Easily Make Music on Your PhoneFor like zero dollars!

By Eric Renner Brown

the internet is for porn Oct. 25, 2018

How Smartphones Got a Conservative Nation Hooked on PornIn 2012, three Indian politicians were forced to step down after they were caught watching porn during a session of Parliament.

By Ravi Agrawal

tech boot camp Oct. 17, 2018

How to Use Your Phone to Use Your Phone LessThe “hair of the dog” method for screen addiction.

By Jake Swearingen

smartphones Oct. 15, 2018

Steph Curry Has Resurrected the PalmPilotThe new Palm is a phone for your other phone.

By Brian Feldman

select all Sept. 13, 2018

Your iPhone Is Just Another Household Appliance NowWhy a newer, slightly faster smartphone really isn’t news anymore.

By Jake Swearingen

select all May 22, 2018

Will These Glasses Save Me From a Lifetime of Staring Into Screens?Blue light–blocking computer glasses claim to help out screen-addled eyes. Do they?

By Jake Swearingen

select all May 16, 2018

Spam Robocalls Aren’t Slowing Down. Here’s the Tech That Could Stop Them.In the not-too-distant future, endless robocalls may be eradicated, thanks to something called STIR/SHAKEN.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Mar. 9, 2018

Should You Buy the Samsung Galaxy S9?The questions to ask yourself before laying out for Samsung’s newest flagship phone.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Feb. 27, 2018

All the Ways to Make Using Your Phone Slightly InconvenientYou don’t have to go cold turkey. Maybe just lukewarm turkey.

By Brian Feldman

select all Jan. 8, 2018

Investors Push Apple to Study the Effects of Smartphones on ChildrenThey want to head off a growing panic.

By Brian Feldman

select all Jan. 4, 2018

Personal Phones Are Now Banned From the White HouseThe network is overloaded, and it’ll probably stop some leaks, too.

By Brian Feldman

select all Nov. 27, 2017

One of 2017’s Best Phones Is Under $600 TodayGrab the Samsung Galaxy S8 unlocked for just $575.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Nov. 7, 2017

The Best Touchscreen GlovesYour guide to gloves that’ll keep your hands toasty, fashionable, and smartphone-friendly.

By Paris Martineau

select all Nov. 1, 2017

Can Razer Sell a Phone Made for Gamers?Razer is making a ridiculously overpowered phone for gamers.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Nov. 1, 2017

The Best Cases for Your Shiny New iPhone XIf you just dropped $1,000 on a new iPhone X, you’re gonna need a case.

By Jake Swearingen and Paris Martineau

select all Oct. 17, 2017

Pixel 2 Review: The Best Smartphone Camera Got Even BetterIf you really care about getting great photos with your phone, the Pixel 2’s camera deserves a spot in your pocket.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Oct. 4, 2017

Everything You Need to Know About Google’s Pixel 2The new phone starts at $650.

By Madison Malone Kircher

select all Sept. 20, 2017

Pics of the Google Pixel 2 Have LeakedA look at Google’s second attempt at making a flagship phone.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Sept. 5, 2017

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Review: The Best Phone Around — for NowSamsung made a really, really nice phone. And it doesn’t blow up!

By Jake Swearingen

select all Aug. 29, 2017

Nobody Wants a Windows Phone — Not Even the NYPDThe force will be tossing 36,000 Nokia Windows phones after less than a year.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Aug. 23, 2017

Samsung Galaxy Note 8 Preview: After the Smoke ClearsAfter last year’s disastrous Samsung Galaxy Note 7, the company attempts to right the ship.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Aug. 18, 2017

What Reviewers Are Saying About the New Essential PhoneIs the $699 Essential Phone essential?

By Jake Swearingen

select all Aug. 7, 2017

How to Nurse Your Phone’s Battery When It’s About to DieHow to eke a few more minutes out of your battery before everything goes dark.

By Jake Swearingen

select all May 12, 2017

Dear Select All: How Do I Speed Up a Slow Smartphone?Teaching an old phone new tricks.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Apr. 26, 2017

Why Do I Hate Talking to My Phone?What’s the reason I loathe talking to Siri, but chatter away happily to Alexa?

By Jake Swearingen

select all Apr. 21, 2017

The Samsung Galaxy S8: Beauty Comes at a PriceThe most gorgeous smartphone available — but get ready to pay.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Mar. 29, 2017

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Looks Like the Best Phone You Can Buy (for Now)Samsung’s stunning new phone is enough to make you forget that whole exploding-battery thing. Almost.

By Jake Swearingen

select all Feb. 15, 2017