The first (more) affordable foldable smartphone is here - Is it worth $1K?

Though technology is ever-improving, developers will find what works in the market, blurring the lines between comparable products. This one is slightly faster, this one comes in different colors, this one has a slightly better camera, and it comes down to personal choice.

When the market is saturated, it’s prime time for a gimmick, and today we’re talking about flexible/folding screens. Though this bendy feature has a long way to go and may never catch on, it’ll be interesting to see what comes of it. We recently had a hands-on experience with the world’s first foldable PC. Tap or click here to get our take.

Manufacturers have attempted to introduce smartphones with foldable screens in the past, and the results haven’t been promising. They are expensive and do you really need a bendy screen? One company hasn’t given up, and there may be more to this novelty than you think.

Galaxy Fold makes the scene

Samsung teased the first foldable phone, the Galaxy Fold, in 2018. The following year it sent units out to a handful of tech reviewers, and the response was not great. The phones cost $2,000, and some of them suffered broken screens when reviewers tried to fold them. There were also display issues.

RELATED: LG has a $100K rollable TV – or you could buy all this stuff instead

Samsung pushed back the release date of the Galaxy Fold while it worked out the kinks. It seems that the tech giant is ready to give it another go and is debuting a new, affordable model.

Welcome back to the Fold

The latest version of Samsung’s foldable phone is the Galaxy Z Fold3. This phone sees many improvements over its predecessors. It’s waterproof, more durable and has a superior display, not to mention better specs. The Fold3 looks for all the world like a small tablet.

The Galaxy Z Flip3, on the other hand, waxes nostalgia while sporting new tech. It opens and closes like an old-school clamshell flip phone but with a foldable screen.

Samsung

One major selling point here is that you can run two apps simultaneously, one on the top and one on the bottom. Take selfies while browsing social media or play a game while waiting for your Uber.

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Have an older Kindle? It will lose access to the internet soon

Amazon’s Kindle eBook reader has been a huge success since its launch. No longer having to carry hefty books with you on vacation, you can cram thousands of electronic versions onto a small device.

When they first launched, the Kindle connected to the internet through mobile networks. This allows you to purchase and download more books from the Kindle repository. As newer and more technologically advanced mobile networks emerged, so too did the Kindle.

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5G and your front lawn

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Imagine this: You walk out the front door. You see an unsightly box plopped upon your property — and there’s no way you can get rid of it. Here’s how 5G boxes are taking over one Texan city.

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Tech on a budget: 6 solid smartphones under $500

When you’re in the market for a new smartphone, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the brands, options and steep prices. Thankfully, there are several devices available that are capable of meeting your expectations and budget.

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Is 5G hazardous to your health?

Social media is a fertile breeding ground for lies. When misinformation explodes in popularity, it spills into the real world, spreading chaos in the form of fires and toppled cell phone towers. Right now, a dangerous conspiracy is emerging: the idea that 5G cell phone towers cause coronavirus.

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5G utility boxes are going up in front yards without notice

How shocked would you be if an unsightly metal utility box popped up on your front lawn — seemingly overnight? These boxes are not part of an elaborate inter-state art project and have nothing to do with the mysterious monoliths.

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Don't use a new iPhone if you have this health condition

The new iPhone 12 launched only a few months ago, and it’s already made a pretty big splash with Apple fans. The new flagship phone offers a ton of upgraded features, including 5G technology, making it a popular smartphone choice.

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Money-saving tip: Find out if you're paying too much for internet service

When you signed up for home internet service, you had to choose from several options. Each plan promises certain download and upload speeds, but how do you know which one is right for you?

Those speeds are a big factor in how much you’ll shell out for the internet each month. Faster capabilities mean higher costs and you’ll pay less for slower speeds. But speed is just one factor when it comes to your internet bill. There are others you might not know about. Tap or click here to change this one setting for faster internet speeds.

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Don't fall for these vaccine hoaxes spreading right now

There has been a lot of misinformation spread recently about the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only have we had to wade through numerous conspiracy theories, but we’ve also had to navigate misinformation that comes from pandemic-related phishing and scam attempts.

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Our top 5 tech predictions for 2021

Tech is a strange beast. In some instances, it can seem painfully static. In others, it forges ahead at lightspeed without skipping a beat.

Since we’ve just begun a new year, you’re probably looking for ways to become a better you. There are plenty of tech items out there that can help you keep your resolutions and kick those bad practices you’ve wanted to get rid of. Tap or click here for 15 things to help kick bad habits.

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Conspiracy theorists are putting their routers in Faraday cages - and complaining about bad Wi-Fi

Conspiracy theories have become a common presence on the web. You don’t even have to go far to find them — simply venture deep enough into the comments section of any news article and you’ll learn about secret societies, reptilian overlords and harmful radiation from cell phones.

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Don’t fall for Router Shields

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Have you heard the looney rumors? Some people think 5G caused the COVID pandemic. If that’s not crazy enough for you, I’ve got an even wilder conspiracy theory. You won’t believe this!

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All the new iPhone models are now available - We'll help you choose the right one

The wait is finally over. The iPhone 12 is here, and there are four unique models available for users to order. The iPhone 12 and 12 Pro have already gone on sale, and you can now pre-order the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini.

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SpaceX satellite internet launches - and it'll cost you a pretty penny

How fast is your internet? For many people, the answer is not fast enough. But that might be changing soon thanks to advancements from two corners of the tech industry: 5G and satellite internet.

According to early adopters, 5G is insanely fast — in some cases beating out most home Wi-Fi connections. Tap or click here to see if 5G is available in your area.

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Apple's new wireless charger has two huge downsides

The iPhone 12 is already looking like a big hit for Apple. According to a recent survey, one in three Americans plan on buying a new iPhone — and that’s despite the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. Most companies wish they could be so lucky.

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2 things missing in the new iPhone 12 box

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The much-anticipated iPhone 12 is here, in four different models. They all come 5G-ready, with prices from $699 to $1,199. Now, here’s what’s missing.

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Samsung's Galaxy phone and tablet: Can they beat out the iPhone and iPad?

So many new gadgets are rolling out right now that it’s hard to keep track of everything. Take, for example, new Apple Watches and iPads that were announced recently.

Part of the reason we’re seeing so many new Apple devices right now is COVID-19 delayed some of the late summer and early fall roll-outs. In fact, we expected to hear about the new iPhones during September’s fall event, but that release is still delayed. We still expect another new iPhone announcement from Apple soon, though.

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Browser feeling sluggish? Speed up Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge

All of us are relying on the internet more than ever these days for work, school and shopping. Because of the pandemic, most of us are doing all of our daily routines online — which is why having a fast, secure connection is so important to so many people.

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Use this 5G map to see if high speeds are in your area

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic slowing network upgrades and development down, the 5G expansion hasn’t stopped. And soon, you’ll be able to access the latest in wireless networking tech from anywhere in the country.

But why the buzz around 5G, and what makes it worth spending an upgrade cycle for your phone on? For starters, you’ll get internet speeds that are often faster than your Wi-Fi network wherever you go. Tap or click here to see how fast 5G is.

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Apple's new product could be bigger than even the iPhone

Are you excited about the upcoming iPhone 12? The new phone set to debut this fall is anticipated to have an all-new design and cutting-edge features like a quad-lens camera. It may even include 5G, for all we know — but this has yet to be officially confirmed.

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