If sticking to a budget is important, there are plenty of worthwhile phones for less than $300. And these phones will likely take a new spotlight as holiday deals discount them even more, but there's a big tradeoff to phones in this price range. A phone with modern specs like an eye-catching design, improved multitasking and wireless charging might still only receive one major software update and three years of security patches. Some sub-$300 phones have a longer timeline of four years for software updates and five years of security updates. But those devices skimp on certain features, possibly leaving you wanting to upgrade sooner anyway.This is the dilemma I've been weighing after testing a variety of phones that cost less than $300 over the course of 2024. We take software and security timelines seriously in our reviews because these updates can dictate whether devices get new software features and critical fixes. Now that premium phones like the Samsung Galaxy S24 and the Pixel 8 are promised seven years of software and security updates, we'd like to see more affordable phones step up to at least four to five years.However we're not there just yet. Most phones that cost $300 or less are shipping with a promise of one additional software update and three years of security updates. While Samsung is taking the opposite approach with its $200 Galaxy A15 5G and $300 Galaxy A25 5G, both of which get four years of software updates and five years of security updates, both have a dated design and lack features found on comparable phones.That means shoppers have to contend with the very same decision I've been pondering over the last few months: Do you go with a more feature-packed phone, such as the $300 OnePlus Nord N30 5G, which has extremely fast wired charging and a 108-megapixel main camera? Or is it better to choose a more bare-bones phone like those in Samsung's Galaxy A series, which will get crucial software updates for years to come. And to make matters more confusing, what about an older device that's now available at a discount, such as theGoogle Pixel 6A? Left to right: The Samsung Galaxy A25 5G, Motorola's Moto G Power 5G, Google's Pixel 6A and the OnePlus Nord N30 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETMore features, but shorter updatesMotorola and OnePlus both offer $300 phones that are worthy of your time and attention.This year's Moto G Power 5G is a looker, starting with its Pale Lilac vegan leather design. The entire Moto G line now makes use of this material, which results in an easier grip should you choose to not use the phone with a case. Motorola has also thrown 15-watt wireless charging into the mix, making it one of the cheapest phones to include this option. You'll get faster 30W speeds when plugging in the phone and charging it the old-fashioned way, but the flexibility to charge it without a cable is quite helpful -- and rare at this price.Last year's OnePlus Nord N30 5G has an attractive reflective design, which emphasizes its 108-megapixel main camera. It took decent photos when I reviewed it last year, but the real value feature was its 50-watt SuperVooc charger. Even though it's proprietary (meaning only the included charger achieves these speeds), it replenishes the battery up to 75% in 30 minutes -- a speed that most other phones do not achieve.Both of these phones include a super smooth 120Hz refresh rate, NFC for contactless payments and processors that are fast enough for multitasking along with playing games. But unfortunately, both of these phones also have shorter update schedules, with the OnePlus phone already a year into its update timeline having received Android 14. While the N30 is still on sale, it's only getting two more years of security updates. Meanwhile Motorola's new Moto G Power 5G will at least get Android 15 at some point in the future and security updates through 2027. Samsung's Galaxy A25 (bottom) puts its selfie camera into a bezel-adjacent notch, while the Moto G Power 5G, Pixel 6A and OnePlus Nord N30 5G use a sleeker display cutout for the camera. Mike Sorrentino/CNETLong lifespan, but a phone that's less funSamsung deserves recognition for extending the lifespan of its cheaper Galaxy A series phones. It's absolutely wonderful that both the $200 Galaxy A15 and the $300 Galaxy A25 will receive four years of software updates and five years of security updates. No competitor comes even close to that promise.Yet I wish both phones were more fun. Samsung nailed the basics for both of these phones, with high-refresh displays, NFC contactless payments and powerful enough processors.But compared to other similarly priced phones, Samsung's Galaxy A devices feel dull. Both are made of plastic and have a blocky notch rather than the sleeker cutout for the selfie camera found on most other competing phones. While Samsung's cheaper phones can handle essentials without issue, they struggle with simple multitasking. The A15 in particular loads consistently slow. While the A25 fared better with most tasks, it occasionally stutters when loading games or playing music while using a web browser and password manager simultaneously.This makes the Galaxy A15 and Galaxy A25 completely adequate if all you want is a phone for communication that won't need replacing anytime soon. But I worry that you'll run into dead ends as apps and services develop over the coming years, especially if these phones are already easily overwhelmed. While the OnePlus Nord N30 5G released in 2023 and Google's Pixel 6A in 2022, both phones are still available for under $300 with features worth considering. Mike Sorrentino/CNETCould Google's Pixel 6A be the low-budget champion?You may have noticed that I didn't discuss the cameras on any of the previously mentioned phones. That's because while all of them feature at least 50-megapixel main cameras, none of them take particularly impressive photos. Yet Google's Pixel 6A remains available for saleand often gets priced under $300.Thanks to a recent extension given to the Pixel 6 and later, the Pixel 6A will now get software updates until July 2027 along with security updates for the same amount of time. This is a major boost to this cheaper phone's usability, especially considering that Google originally planned to sunset the Pixel 6A's software updates in 2025.The Pixel 6A's 12.2-megapixel main camera is still impressive for the price. It runs on Google's first generation Tensor processor and comes with many of the Pixel's flagship features like Magic Eraser for editing photos, Live Translate and other long-standing Pixel exclusives like Call Screening and Hold for Me. The Pixel 6A also includes the AI-powered Circle to Search. Even though the Pixel 6A will miss out on Google's newer and more advanced Gemini AI features, it's still a promising option even two years after its release.However, you won't get wireless charging or a headphone jack on the Pixel 6A, and its screen is smaller and dimmer than other phones mentioned in this story. The Moto G Power 5G (left) includes wireless charging while the Samsung Galaxy A25 5G (right) gets more years of software and security updates. Mike Sorrentino/CNETHow to decide the best option?Your priorities matter most when choosing a budget phone. If you want the most features for an affordable price wrapped in an eye-catching design, consider phones from Motorola, Google and OnePlus.However, if the most important reason for buying a cheaper phone is to avoid upgrading for as long as possible, you should consider Samsung's Galaxy A phones.The irony is that you can't have both. The phone that gets updated for four years may not necessarily be the one you want to hang on to for four years.

After a three-year wait, Squid Game is finally back. Netflix's most popular series ever finds Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) returning to the gauntlet of games that nearly killed him in 2021. The question is, Why? It looks like we'll get the complete answer once the new episodes arrive.In the first season, Gi-hun emerged the victor ofthe deadly gamesand brought home unspeakable riches. However, something tells me things won't be the same for him in this second season.Joining Jung-jae in the season are returning cast members Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo. Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri and Won Ji-an make up the ensemble of new competitors.The anticipation for the return of Squid Game is huge. The first season won six Emmy awards, including outstanding lead actor for Lee Jung-jae and outstanding directing for a drama series for Hwang Dong-hyuk. Season 2 has already garnered a best television series Golden Globe nomination, so we're probably in for a good time.Anyway, enough small talk. Read on to find out when to watch Squid Game season 2 on Netflix.Read more: 21 TV Shows on Netflix That Are Perfect for Your Next Binge-Watch Lee Jung-jae is back in the games as Player 456 in Squid Game 2 on Netflix. No Ju-han/NetflixWhen to watch Squid Game season 2Squid Game season 2 will premiereon Netflix on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 12 a.m. PT (3 a.m. ET).There will be seven episodes in the season. James Martin/CNET Netflix is where it's at for everything Squid Game. The service currently offers subscriptions that cost between $7 and $23 per month in the US. There's an extra member fee of $8 if you're a premium subscriber who wants to share your account with someone outside your household. $7 at Netflix

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You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe Finals Season 5 began as an early Christmas gift from Embark. It introduced a new map to explore along with a couple of new weapons and gadgets while also introducing a fresh battle pass for players to grind. Another patch is on the horizon, and Embark has confirmed exactly when The Finals next update is coming out over the week of Christmas. As part of update 5.1.0, Embark introduced a Christmas event for players to enjoy. This is an LTM still available in-game, and the community will want to make the most out of throwing snowballs at other players before the sun returns and the snow melts. In addition, if you havent already, players will want to grab the new Season 5 bundles that contain free Legendary and Epic weapon skins with Multibucks. There is a lot to enjoy in The Finals right now, and the next update is on the cusp of coming out. However, fans shouldnt expect a plethora of balance changes or fixes. When The Finals Christmas update comes out Updates and patches for The Finals typically come out on Wednesday. However, because of Christmas day, this weeks patch has slightly been delayed. Per community manager, Dunlewey, on Discord, this weeks update is set to come out on Boxing Day, December 26th. It will come out at the same time as the weekly store rotation, so expect it to be shared around 2AM PT/5AM ET/10AM GMT. In addition to confirming when the patch will arrive, Dunlewey said its a minor patch. No other details are provided, but fans should simply expect a rotation to the store and not much else. Image credit: The Finals DiscordAlthough nothing has been said, its possible the first update of 2025 could be delayed also because Wednesday is New Years Day. Not only that, but it should be another minor patch as the development team are currently on holidays. For more The Finals, check out our guide to thebest weapons in the game ranked, and we also have a guide to thebest gadgets. In addition, we have a guide to thebest FPS settingsto help you win matchesalong witharanking of the best classesin the game.The FinalsPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, First-Person Shooter, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereAnother Fortnite event is just a few hours away! This time, you will be able to watch it in a different way. For the first time, a Christmas event will be held in Fortnite. Much like other live events, it will only happen once. Due to this, make sure you log in a few minutes before it begins or you might miss it.This event is different because it was made by a Fortnite creator, not Epic Games. However, we still expect an amazing experience. Considering that this will be the first such event in the game, you should try to get on and see how you like it.How to watch the Fortnite Christmas eventThe upcoming event will be available on the Crazy Red vs. Blue Creative map. The easiest way to watch it is by opening the search menu and typing the code. While waiting for the event, you can play against other players and compete. Getting eliminations will result in XP, which will help you level up and finish the Battle Pass.The event begins at 3 PM Eastern Time, so make sure to log in at least 20 minutes earlier. Considering that this is not a live event in Fortnite Battle Royale, we dont expect servers to be overloaded. However, you should get in a bit earlier in case that matchmaking takes longer than expected.You can watch the event on the Red vs. Blue map. Image by VideoGamerTo sum it up, this is how to watch the upcoming Fortnite event:Launch the gameClick on the search icon in the main menuType in 2898-7886-8847Select Crazy Red vs. Blue map by rvbReady up and start the matchThe event should begin at exactly 3 PM Eastern Time, so you should get into the map at around 2:55 PM ET or earlier. In the meantime, you can join one of the XP maps in Fortnite to level up and unlock more Battle Pass rewards. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games here Contents hide It has been an excellent year of video game releases, especially for the PlayStation community thanks to console exclusives such as Helldivers 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and AstroBot. Now we are saying adieu to 2024 while getting ready to usher in an even bigger and better new year of video game releases. The reveal date for the PS Plus January 2025 monthly games is slightly delayed, and the unfortunate news is that a massive, and very much beloved, game-of-the-year nominee is leaving the Extra tier. There are a lot of great games for PlayStation players to anticipate next year. Our very own game-of-the-year winner, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, is set to join PS5 after a brief period as an Xbox console exclusive, meanwhile, Ghost of Yotei is currently pegged for sometime in 2025. Arguably the most anticipated game of all time, GTA 6, is still pegged for the next 12-months also, but its always possible delays can occur. It should be a special year of releases next year, and, while were excited, were also pumped to see how Sony kickstarts the year for PS Plus subscribers. The January 2025 games reveal date is slightly delayed, and Extra subscribers should make sure to play one of the tiers best games before it leaves.PS Plus January 2025 monthly games reveal date ThePS Plus January 2025 Essential monthly games should be revealed on January 1st. Unfortunately, it is a slight delay as the next batch of games are typically revealed the final Wednesday prior to the start of the next month. As for when the Essential selection will be released, Sonys PlayStation Blog post for December confirms that they will come out on January 7th. The Extra and Premium additions should then be revealed on January 15th before releasing on the 21st. Before the new year commences, make sure to claim the current December Essential giveaways while you still can. It Takes Two is an excellent co-op game with a unique narrative from Hazelight Studios, meanwhile, TemTem is a fun Pokmon-esque experience, and Aliens Dark Descent is an enjoyable real-time combat strategy game starring the marines. Games leaving Below are the 11 games known to be leaving PS Plus Extra and Premium in January 2025: Resident Evil 2 Remake (Extra) Dragon Ball FighterZ (Extra)Life is Strange (Extra)Life is Strange Before the Storm (Extra)Just Cause 3 (Extra)Just Cause 4 (Extra)Hardspace Shipbreaker (Extra)Pure Holdem Up (Extra)Legend of Mana (Premium)Secret of Mana (Premium)Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection (Premium) All of the above come courtesy of truetrophies. Unfortunately, as you can see, there are some pretty big departures for the start of the new year. The Resident Evil 2 Remake is arguably the best of the upcoming departures. It was deservedly nominated for game-of-the-year at the Game Awards 2019, and it is a brilliant retelling of one of the greatest survival horror nightmares that came out on the PS1. The Life is Strange games are also great, Dragon Ball FighterZ is excellent, too, and the Just Cause duo are fun action romps as well. The Mana games are excellent JRPGs, and the Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection is a wonderful celebration of arguably the best fighting game series of all time. Subscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

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Homer-y HellThe Odyssey is Christopher Nolans next film, and it's a mythic action epic coming July 2026Universal has dropped a cheeky (early) synopsis of Nolans next film just as everyone started their holiday break.Image credit: Universal Pictures News by Sherif Saed Contributing Editor Published on Dec. 25, 2024 We can finally say that we know what Christopher Nolans next film is going to be about. Universal Pictures shared the first real details about the highly-anticipated picture in a tweet.The movie is called The Odyssey, and its going to be taking the legendary director into the mythic action genre.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Mythic action is not exactly something you'd associate with Nolan, but seeing as The Odyssey in question is Homers actual odyssey, you can pretty much see why. According to Universal, the movie will be released in cinemas on July 17, 2026.More interestingly, its going to be shot using brand new IMAX film technology, though it is not clear what that actually means. The Odyssey will be shot at various locations around the world, which seems to suggest a lot of real-world action, rather than soundstage/studio shooting, and production will reportedly begin in the first half of 2025. To see this content please enable targeting cookies.While thats the extent of Universals tweet, we do know that The Odyssey already has a stellar cast that includes Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyongo, according to industry reports.The Odyssey is one of Greek cultures most recognisable (and adapted) epic poems. It is certainly no stranger to film, having been adapted several times, more famously in 1954s Ulysses. Not all adaptations follow the entire epic, however, as some tend to be loosely based on it, borrowing certain themes or only filming certain sections of the poem - the Coen Brothers O Brother, Where Art Thou? is one such project.Considering how secretive Nolan likes to be with his projects, were not likely to hear any official details until much closer to release. Even then, theyre going to be more than a little vague, especially if we assume that it wont be straightforward adaptation.

Oh boy.Over the holiday season, we're republishing some of the best articles from Nintendo Life writers and contributors as part of our Best of 2024 series. Enjoy!Its Christmas morning, and amidst the thick haze of food already cooking for lunch and the soothing laughter of our children enjoying their new toys, my wife approaches me with a small, square package. I hadnt seen this under the tree. Thats your last one, she says. I instinctively go to shake it she knows me well enough to catch my wrist. Dont do that! she interjects. Clearly this is an item of some delicacy.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Tech How iOS 18.2 now lets you share your AirTag's location with anyone Discover the new sharing features in Apple's latest iOS update Published December 25, 2024 6:00am EST close 'CyberGuy': How iOS 18.2 now lets you share your AirTag's location with anyone iOS 18.2 lets AirTag owners securely share item locations with trusted individuals. Tech expert Kurt Knutsson examines the powerful new feature. With the release of iOS 18.2, AirTag owners can now enjoy a powerful new feature that enhances their ability to keep track of personal belongings: Share Item Location. This innovative capability allows you to share the location of your AirTag or Find My network accessory with anyone you trust, significantly easing the recovery of lost items. Whether you're traveling and need to keep track of your luggage or simply want to share the location of a valuable item with a friend or family member, this feature is designed to provide peace of mind and convenience. Share Item Location AirTag feature (Apple) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)What is Share Item Location?Share Item Location is a new feature in the Find My app that enables you to create a secure link showing the location of yourAirTag or compatible Find My network accessory. This link can be shared with trusted individuals or organizations, such as airlines, to help locate misplaced items. Share Item Location AirTag feature (Apple) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How Share Item Location worksWhen you share an item's location, the recipient can view it on an interactive map through a web browser. The location updates automatically, and a timestamp shows when it was last refreshed. The shared location expires after seven days or when you're reunited with your item, whichever comes first. Share Item Location AirTag feature (Apple) (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)How to update your software to iOS 18.2 or laterFirst things first, let's update your software to iOS 18.2 or later:OpenSettingsTapGeneralSelectSoftware UpdateTap Update NowEnter your passcode and agree to termsWait for theinstallation to complete Steps to update your iPhones software (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Steps to share your AirTag's locationNow, let's move on to how to share your AirTag's location:Open theFind My app on your iPhone, iPad or MacTap Continue at the bottom of the screenTap theItems tab at the bottom of the screenSelect theAirTag or item you want to share Steps to share your AirTags location (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Scroll down and tapShare Item LocationTap Continue to generate a linkYou can nowcopy the link or use the Share Link option to send it via AirDrop, Messages, email or other apps. Steps to share your AirTags location (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Click theup arrow to send it as a text messageA reminder that the shared location expires after seven days Steps to share your AirTags location (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Privacy and securityApple has designed this feature with privacy and safety in mind. The shared location can be disabled by the owner at any time, and it automatically expires after seven days. The item owner can also see how many people have visited the shared link. Here are steps to stop Sharing Item Location:Open theFind My app on your iPhone, iPad or MacTap theItems tab at the bottom of the screenSelect theAirTag or item for which you want to stop Sharing Item LocationScroll down and tapShare Item LocationClick Stop Sharing Item LocationConfirm your decision by clickingContinue Steps to stop Sharing Item Location (Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson)Airline integrationOne of the great aspects of this feature is its potential to revolutionize luggage tracking. Over 15 major airlines, including Delta, United, Air Canada, British Airways and Lufthansa, plan to integrate this feature into their customer service processes for locating mishandled or delayed baggage.Note: While Apple has expanded AirTag location-sharing capabilities to include Android users as recipients, the management of AirTags still requires an iPhone or an Apple device.Kurt's key takeawaysThe Share Item Location feature in iOS 18.2 is a significant upgrade forAirTag users. It addresses a common pain point for travelers and offers a secure, user-friendly solution for sharing item locations with trusted parties. As more airlines and organizations adopt this technology, we may see a future where lost luggage becomes a thing of the past.How have you used technology to keep track of your belongings while traveling, and what challenges or successes have you experienced? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you'd like us to cover.Follow Kurt on his social channels:Answers to the most asked CyberGuy questions:New from Kurt:Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com.All rights reserved. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on "FOX & Friends." Got a tech question? Get Kurts free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.