Hands-on: Best fast charger options for iPhone 8 and iPhone X [Video]

The iPhone 8 and the upcoming iPhone X both support fast charging via Apple’s 29W USB-C adapter and USB-C to Lightning Cable. Apple says that by using fast charging, your iPhone can charge up to 50% in as little as 30 minutes.

Unfortunately, the official first party charging accessories — its 29W USB-C Power Adapter ($49), and its 1-meter USB-C to Lightning Cable ($25) — cost nearly $75 combined. That’s a lot of money to spend on a fast charging solution, especially for one that isn’t exceedingly faster than Apple’s own 12W adapter + a regular USB to Lightning cable.

The good news is that earlier this week Apple noted that third-party power adapters that meet the proper USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) spec would work as well. That means that acceptable third-party power adapters, like Anker’s 30W PowerPort or Aukey’s 29W Amp Duo USB Wall Charger can save you money. In fact, you can buy two of these adapters for less than the price of a single Apple 29W USB-C Power Adapter.

But how do these third-party chargers really stack up to Apple’s own solution? Is it worth going-third party to save $25 or so? The answer, after many hours of testing, is yes. Watch our hands-on video walkthrough for more details. more…

Roku takes on Apple TV with new 4K Streaming Media Stick

September delivered us a handful of new 4K streaming media players from Apple and Amazon both. Today, Roku is kicking off October with a fresh 4K streaming stick alongside a host of other set-top boxes. Roku typically updates its lineup in the fall and continued that trend following its successful IPO last week.

Along with today’s new releases, the top-of-the-line Roku Ultra is getting a fresh price drop along with the unveiling of OS 8. Full details just below.

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Facebook testing face recognition as a way to let you back in to a locked account

If you’ve ever found yourself locked out of your Facebook account while traveling, you’ll know what a pain it can be. The normal two-factor method of confirming your identity is by text message, and if you don’t have roaming on your phone then you’re out of luck.

The company has tried a number of alternatives over the years, and is now adding another – perhaps inspired by Apple’s use of Face ID on the upcoming iPhone X

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Apple wins head-to-head test of video shooting with iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Note 8

With more and more people relying on their smartphone as both their camera and camcorder, the performance of the cameras is ever more important. A video shootout between the iPhone 8 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 8 found a number of interesting differences between them.

The test found that there were areas where Samsung has an edge, but overall it’s clear that the iPhone emerged the winner …

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Samsung will earn around $110 for each iPhone X sold – component analysis

Totting up the cost of the Samsung-made components believed to be used in the iPhone X suggests that the Korean company will earn around $110 for each one sold.

The highest-profile Samsung component in the iPhone X is also the most expensive: the new OLED screen. This is a custom-made display built to Apple’s specifications. But the company also makes a range of other components for use in iPhones …

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