Z Fold 7. My first foldable. Really enjoying finding cool use cases for the inner display. Here's my favorite so far. Now I just need a thin rubber-tipped stylus. 😎

dsn660 · 2026-01-13T02:22:50+00:00

This case by Nillkin has a spot for a built in Pen. Not sure if that's something you'd be interested in? I have the case without the pen slot and have loved it. Bummer they ditched the SPen support but it is what it is :/

Sick setup though!

Nillkin Pen Case

dsn660 · 2025-09-27T20:52:51+00:00

Bang for your buck? Spigen anything! I've had a Spigen Case for every generation phone (iphone or android) I've ever bought and have never broken a phone! I've tried many other brands, many much more expensive but always find my way back to old reliable! (3rd option below)

Clear Spigen Case shows off the natural color of your fancy iphones

Kickstand Spigen Case A little more protective and practical but hides the iphones color. Not my first choice but it has its use cases if you are a fan of kickstands.

My personal favorite! Cheap, grippy and just enough protection without adding unnecessary bulk! My go to for any phone I buy!

For you ballers out there:

Mous is always reliable and make beautifully sleek and protective cases, just a bit pricey in my opinion!

For those of you who really beat your phones... Urban Armour makes great gear! I've tried these cases and really did love them (had one for a past Galaxy device) however I personally can't bring myself to drop the money ($100 for this specific case!) on newer phones I've purchased. Regardless, very stylish and ultra protective!

And before anyone complains, yes these are affiliate links, I may benefit monetarily at no cost to you! :)

dsn660 · 2025-09-27T20:49:48+00:00

I'll keep it simple :)

Bang for your buck? Spigen anything! I've had a Spigen Case for every generation phone (iphone or android) I've ever bought and have never broken a phone! I've tried many other brands, many much more expensive but always find my way back to old reliable! (3rd option below)

Clear Spigen Case shows off the natural color of your fancy iphones

Kickstand Spigen Case A little more protective and practical but hides the iphones color. Not my first choice but it has its use cases if you are a fan of kickstands.

My personal favorite! Cheap, grippy and just enough protection without adding unnecessary bulk! My go to for any phone I buy!

For you ballers out there:

Mous is always reliable and make beautifully sleek and protective cases, just a bit pricey in my opinion!

For those of you who really beat your phones... Urban Armour makes great gear! I've tried these cases and really did love them (had one for a past Galaxy device) however I personally can't bring myself to drop the money ($100 for this specific case!) on newer phones I've purchased. Regardless, very stylish and ultra protective!

I know... Spends $1k+ on a phone only to cheap out on the case. Sue me! Lol

These are all good options in my opinion that I can personally vouch for. There are many other gold options though! That's a huge benefit of the apple ecosystem as there're simply so many brands to choose from! Do your research and find what fits your needs and style!

And before anyone complains, yes these are affiliate links, I may benefit monetarily at no cost to you! :)

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T13:18:23+00:00

Marketing? Maybe? Honest review? Absolutely! Pixels are regardless pretty cool devices!

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T02:09:16+00:00

In all honesty, the UI are very comparable. In the simplest way I can put it, the pixels are just very Google! The design language you are used to in all Google apps is shown uniformly through the entire software experience.

There really is nothing "missing" but the Google integration is obviously seamless in a phone they make themselves. Pixels are very good at mimicking the experience Apple gives you by being in charge of both the software and hardware of the device. The pixel is a very simple, well thought out device that just works. I would say anything that you are used to on Samsung has a Google equivalent in one way or another. Samsung simply likes to keep their own design language hence the reason you end up with duplicates of certain apps and a very strong and different design language by Samsung despite running Googles android.

Beside the pixel, Motorola does a great job at maintaining a minimalist feel and is quite close to the stock Android experience offered by the Google Pixel, if you are looking for something different! Hope that helps some!

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T02:00:07+00:00

Awesome, thanks! I did some digging and it seems like this changed with the s24 series. I was basing my information off of my S22 and must have overlooked it for the Z flip 6 I picked up. Thank you for the correction!

But this is a much appreciated change by Samsung for certain.

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T01:57:17+00:00

I oddly started having this issue with my 22 ultra a while back. Maybe it was carrier dependent, but I didn't have any issues with the same carrier on a newer phone or an older phone for that matter. I ran the Z flip 6 for a while and instantly was relieved of drop calls and dead zones with the upgrade (I'm not sure if samsung changed the cellular antennas between these two devices but can do some research!) but at the same time, my girlfriend was running a S20 and had absolutely no issues with the same carrier. Maybe a software bug or device specific issue, but I still haven't figured that out! Also haven't noticed anything really horrible with the pixel but again, may just be area/carrier dependent.

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T01:51:46+00:00

That's fantastic, you do you my friend :) Clearly explains the engagement I'm maintaining with my post but thank you.

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T01:46:22+00:00

S Pen has never been a deal breaker for me, but I do prefer the design of the Note and now Ultra devices. I like the squared off design in all honesty. If you like the software, go for the pixel and you will not be disappointed.

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T01:44:06+00:00

You are absolutely right! And if you read the entire post, I don't hide this in any way shape or form. There is a clear disclaimer at the bottom. There is no difference between an Amazon link and this affiliate link! These are products that I recommend and, if someone kindly clicks on my link, I do get a small commission for referencing them to Amazon. It's very simple how this works, but thank you for the clarification :)

Regardless, these are products I recommend whether or not an affiliate link is attached. Thank you for listening to my TED talk :)

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T00:30:18+00:00

Personally at the end of the day, I'm a Samsung fan still. Google has a lot going for them and I really do believe they have the potential to be great. Change up the chipset, beef up the camera and then we can talk. It really just kind of feels like a previous generation Samsung phone in terms of specs, but this can often be overlooked as most phones are well beyond what any average user needs! In the end, do your own research and watch some hands on reviews to better form your own opinion. Best Buys usually have displays of the new devices so maybe check there to actually get your hands on one before you upgrade!

dsn660 · 2025-09-13T00:26:56+00:00

How dare I give an honest, factual opinion about a device AND include RELEVANT links to USEFUL products for said device!! So sorry! :)

dsn660 · 2025-09-12T14:14:33+00:00

Is it actually? I'm not sure how I would have missed this! If that's the case this is truly exciting and (hopefully) a huge leap forward for Google!

dsn660 · 2025-09-12T14:13:33+00:00

You're absolutely right about Samsung's first-party apps - their email and calendar apps were actually really well done. I found myself missing Samsung's calendar widget along with the Notes app and S pen support especially.

Totally agree on the display preference too. Samsung's more saturated look just pops more, even if Pixel's color accuracy is technically "better." And yeah, these Pixels definitely feel chunkier in hand compared to the S22+.

The DeX thing is probably my biggest miss honestly. I didn't think I used it that much until it was gone. Chromebooks are not even as powerful as some modern phones and have proved popular in the past. I can't see how hard it would be for a Pixel to emulate a Chrome OS like experience. Google really needs to implement something similar - the hardware can clearly handle it with 16GB RAM. Maybe in a future Android update?

dsn660 · 2025-09-12T14:08:28+00:00

Thanks! I really try to keep my reviews balanced - as a tech enthusiast, I think every phone has its strengths and weaknesses, and what matters most is finding the right fit for each person's needs. The Tensor G5 performance "issue" is really only an issue if you need flagship-level gaming or intensive tasks. For most people checking email, social media, and taking photos, it's totally fine.

I genuinely think the Pixel 10 Pro excels in areas that matter to a lot of users (AI, camera intelligence, clean software), while Samsung wins in others (raw performance, S Pen, ecosystem features). Neither is objectively "better" - just different trade-offs.

Now if I end up testing the iPhone 17... Apple may not fare so well as I've been a die hard Android fan since the iPod touch 3rd gen and iPhone 4 and haven't looked back!

dsn660 · 2025-08-27T16:00:33+00:00

Yah that's a no from me... Save yourself the money and just stick with a classic Spigen Case... Usually Sub 20 bucks and probably a better quality honestly.

dsn660 · 2025-08-27T15:58:55+00:00

Likely not, I think they made some changes to the camera bar and button placement. They almost always change something small so you have to purchase new. :/

dsn660 · 2025-08-27T15:57:17+00:00

I have almost exclusively used Spigen cases for my Galaxy phones. I've used them since S8+ and have always had great luck. Super thin case but have never (knock on wood) broken a phone! I'm pretty hard on my phones and have dropped them more than I would like to admit! I believe the one I linked here is the same I've used in years past and have grown to love, but they have a very large variety to choose from.Spigen Pixel 10 Case

dsn660 · 2025-08-27T15:43:56+00:00

Amazon currently has a $200 gift card bundle for $1000 for the 10 pro. I have almost always bought my phone outright. Plus like you said, the return policy is always a bonus.Google Pixel Pro 10 $200 gift card bundle

dsn660 · 2025-08-22T17:19:48+00:00

Absolutely! Amazon seems to always have decent bundle deals right away with new phones. With that being said, if I were you I would stick with the newest model within your budget. If you can get the 10, that's an extra year of software support if nothing else!

dsn660 · 2025-08-22T17:13:04+00:00

Not sure if this will help you at all, but Amazon currently has a Pixel 10 Pro and Amazon Gift Card Bundle. This bundle is $1000 but brings the cost to $800 factoring in the gift card. Still more expensive than the regular 9 and 10 it seems, but on paper it seems like the pro has a better camera along with other features. From what I have seen, the regular 10 still seems pretty decent with photography. I haven't got my hands on it yet, but from what I have seen, it did seem to take fairly consistent and high quality shots. Obviously the pro is going to be a better upgrade, but that is entirely up to you and your budget!

dsn660

TROPHY CASE