Amazon recently launched a seemingly endless array of new Echo, Ring, and Fire TV products, with new AI capabilities and services, including a new cloud gaming service. Amazon is deepening its platforms – Alexa, Fire TV, AWS – and extending them throughout the home, to the car, and the neighborhood beyond.
Read MoreApple updated its iPhone line with new processors and 5G, which should help Apple compete in China. The iPhone 12 mini keeps the starting price point around $700 and provides the first premium small smartphone in years. The HomePod mini is not fully competitive with Amazon but it should give Apple an installed base to grow from.
Read MoreThe Surface Pro X2 is more interesting from a tech perspective, but the $550 Surface Laptop Go is the more impactful announcement. [Updated with hands-on impressions of the Surface Laptop Go]
Read MoreGoogle launched a new TV device, smart speaker, and a pair of new smartphones. All appear to be solid values, but just catch Google up to where the competition already is.
Read MoreAnalysis of Apple’s services, Apple Watch, and iPad launches.
[Updated Sept 23 and Sept 29 with hands-on experience with Apple Watch Series 6 and iPad 8th gen]
LG announced the swiveling dual screen WING smartphone, but before turning to phone itself, this report focuses on LG’s Explorer Project strategy and the challenges of new form factors. [Updated 9/29/20 with initial pricing/availability]
Read MoreWith the Galaxy S20 Fan Edition, Samsung hits the $700 price point that consumers need, keeps the flagship features consumers want, and cuts costs in ways that most will not mind.
Read MoreSamsung released pricing and more details on features; we cover the context, what has changed, competition, and market success factors.
Read MoreTechsponential has previously written about Microsoft’s platforms strategy with Duo; this report provides analysis on Surface Duo’s interface, use cases, and market impact after multiple discussions with Microsoft and two full weeks of hands-on experience.
Read MoreMotorola is back with an updated razr, adding 5G and doubling down on its key feature differentiation, the exterior display. While Samsung took an early lead in the vertical folding phone market, the razr is doing exactly what Motorola needs it to do: expanding consumer awareness and driving carrier wins.
Read MoreSamsung’s wearables are competitive and give the company ways to monetize its smartphone installed base, even if consumers are not ready to upgrade their phones yet. This report covers the Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Watch3, including extensive hands-on with both.
Read MoreMicrosoft designed the Surface Duo’s hardware and software to work in concert to improve mobile productivity. While the Duo is based on Android 10, it is a showcase for Microsoft365, which is a software platform independent of Windows. The price is high and it won’t appeal to everyone, but you can’t fault Microsoft for creating a me-too product.
Read MoreConventional wisdom says that premium Android tablets make no sense, but my first impressions of Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S7+ far exceeded expectations. The hardware is beautiful, and, with the right use cases, the software works well, too.
Read MoreAt its first virtual Unpacked event, Samsung introduced two new Notes and updated both its folding phones (plus tablets and wearables). This report focuses on how the new phones fit into Samsung’s market segmentation.
Read MoreCanalys reports that Huawei is the leading smartphone seller in the world as of Q2 2020, but its designation on the U.S. Entity List means that this may not last. However, Huawei clearly isn’t collapsing like Windows Phone, either, so what’s going on?
Read MoreT-Mobile’s discounted multi-line plan has limitations, but it is competitive. The device add-on, however, is a minefield of fine print and gotchas that runs counter to T-Mobile’s brand.
Read MoreScam Shield is constructed out of parts that have previously been announced, and, in some cases, are not at all unique to T-Mobile. However, the act of putting them together as a package and marketing them as free to consumers is brilliant.
Read MorePanasonic has dabbled with small Android Toughbook tablets, but is committing to the category with the 10.1” Toughbook A3. Pros: flexible hardware, a commitment to support, and the Android Enterprise Recommended designation; Cons: high price points, strong competition from Samsung.
Read MoreOn paper, the iPhone SE looks impossible to compete with: it has a faster processor than any Android phone at a price of just $400. However, there are also compromises. After testing a review unit for several weeks, this report provides a clearer idea of where it fits in the market, how it will help Apple in different geographies, and how rivals can compete with it.
Read MoreThis report explains why the U.S. has never had a mid-tier smartphone market, how that is changing, and provides recommendations for smartphone vendors, carriers, and retailers to thrive in a challenging environment. [updated May 14, 2020 with additional recommendations]
Read More
![[Updated] Microsoft Updates Surface Pro X with SQ2 Processor; New $550 Surface Laptop Go is Going to Go Fast](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c6477c5f4e5311f5b1ddba5/1601623943974-2N22GO0PLW3PZ157IO2Y/Screenshot+2020-10-02+033138.png)
![[Updated] Apple “Time Flies” Event: Big Services Push, Incremental Improvements to Smartwatches and Tablets](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c6477c5f4e5311f5b1ddba5/1600467581111-37V067RH312JWBC0OFX1/timeflies.png)
