Review

Update, 2018 The Galaxy Note 8 proved that Samsung could once again make a safe Note phone. Almost a year on, it's still an excellent device that lets you take portrait photos and use the stylus for writing, drawing and navigation. But Samsung is set to oust the Note 8        with the 2018 model. Rumor points to August 9 as the Galaxy Note 9 launch date (the 9 on 9, get it?), though we're still waiting for the official word.Even when the Note 9 does eventually come out, the Note 8 will likely still be a good option, especially if you're hoping for a stylus-toting phone that costs a little less. Samsung and retailers will almost certainly drop the Note 8's price after the Note 9 goes on sale. LG is also readying a more basic stylus lineup, the LG Stylus Q family of phones.Meanwhile, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, which don't have the embedded stylus, are now on sale.Read the original Galaxy Note 8 review below.After testing it from San Francisco to Los Angeles and … [Read more...] about Galaxy Note 8 review: Powerful, pricey and soon-to-be-replaced

Editors' note: This review was originally published Oct. 17, 2017 at 6 a.m. PT. It was updated on Oct. 23 detailing the Pixel 2 XL's screen burn-in issue, on Oct. 25 with further observations and Google's initial remarks, and on Oct. 26 with the company's follow-up statement detailing a software fix and extended two-year warranty. When it comes to the camera, processor and software, the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL are both identical and fantastic. The differences between the two come down to price (obviously), size, bezel width and screen technology. We loved our early experience with the Pixel 2 XL, but any potential buyers need to know about some problems with its screen that have come to light since we first reviewed the phone, and the upcoming software fix Google says will address it. 28 Pixel 2 and 2 XL photos: Feast your eyes Wait, what's happening? The Pixel 2 XL has a bigger 6-inch display and a higher resolution than the 5-inch Pixel 2. But it also … [Read more...] about Google Pixel 2 XL review: Promising phone with new caveats

Whether you think Apple's AirPod headphones make you look goofy or not, here's the bigger question: Are they actually good headphones? And are they worth buying versus other "true wireless" models, with separate left and right earpieces, let alone versus "regular" Bluetooth in-ear headphones, those quaint old-fashioned wireless models that connect the two earbuds with an actual cable?The short answer is that these $159 Apple headphones (£159 in the UK and AU$229 in Australia) are better than you'd expect, especially for owners of Apple products. That general sentiment has led to them being the runaway hit that they are today. It also helps that they're comparably well priced, particularly when you consider that such competitors as the Jaybird Run and Bose SoundSport Free cost more (in the case of the Bose, significantly more).But if there's one thing I've learned from using them for several months -- and from hearing from other people who've used them -- is that a … [Read more...] about Apple AirPods review: Apple’s AirPods have improved with time

Microsoft began shipping the newest and least expensive member of its Surface family, the Surface Go, on August 2. I didn't receive a review unit from Microsoft; the official word was there just weren't enough of them to go around. (See my ZDNet colleague Ed Bott's initial impressions of his review unit here.) I decided, given the 30-day return policy on Microsoft devices, to buy one from the NYC flagship Microsoft Store on August 2.Three weeks in, I'm on the fence about whether or not I'll return the Go or keep my purchase. If I do keep the Go, it will be the first Surface device I'll have decided to be worth owning since the original Surface RT. (I really want a truly portable PC and am a glutton for punishment, what can I say?)If you want speed tests and benchmarks, this is not your review. In this post, I'm doing my typical 'non-reviewer's review' of the device for "normal" users like me.I didn't go for the lower-end Go model. Instead, I bought the $549 8 GB RAM/128 GB SSD storage … [Read more...] about Review: Surface Go running Windows 10 Home in S Mode

The Yakuza series combine deep melodrama with exploration through vibrant city streets. Yakuza Kiwami is a remake that recreates the feeling of the original game, adding new features to streamline the experience. It’s a glorious crime story that benefits from a fresh coat of paint. Heather and Luke are big fans of Yakuza and decided to shake up the review format with an in-depth discussion of what they loved and what they’d rather kick to the curb. Luke Plunkett, Kotaku: Yakuza games have become renowned lately for telling their story from the viewpoint of multiple characters. Yakuza Kiwami, out this month on PS4, doesn’t have this feature, so we thought we’d implement it for the review of the game instead. Heather Alexandra, Kotaku: Which one of us is Majima? Keep reading to find out! Plunkett: Joining me for this review will be Heather Alexandra, who is as much a fan of smashing dudes over the head with bicycles as I am. Alexandra: It’s true. Give me a … [Read more...] about Yakuza Kiwami: The Kotaku Review