
Chris Thomas
104 articles published since November 11, 2021
About Chris Thomas
Chris has spent the last several years writing for numerous online tech magazines, of which Android Police is the latest and most fun. Chris has been a freelancer with AP since early 2022, writing comparisons of cutting-edge smartphones and gathering the most powerful and convenient smart home devices for beginners and experts.
His focus lies on straightforward, helpful buying guides that make it easy for the average electronics user to make informed decisions on the most cost-effective devices. In particular, he loves recommending affordable wireless headphones that outperform far more expensive brands.
Chris's first foray into electronics included fixing and destroying early PCs in his dad’s basement while testing the overclocking capabilities of an Intel 486 CPU. Since then, he’s melted considerably fewer processors while pushing increasingly powerful gaming hardware to its limits.
What is their favorite ever phone?
His favorite phone of all time was the Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact. It's been years since the market's seen a truly compact device built around flagship-level hardware, and, much to Chris's dismay, we may never see such a thing again.
Galaxy Tab S8 vs. Tab S8+ vs. Tab S8 UItra: Which Samsung tablet should you buy?
Samsung has gone super-sized with its iPad killers, but which one is right for you?


While the Galaxy S22, with its somewhat bizarre Bridgerton-themed unveiling may have gotten most of the attention during February’s Unpacked event, Samsung’s new trio of bigger-than-ever tablets were arguably the most interesting of the new products launched by the Korean manufacturer.
Best USB-C flash drives in 2023
Take advantage of durability and convenience with a Type-C flash drive

Although cloud storage services and wireless local data transfers have reduced some of the reliance on flash drives, they are still going strong. This is because USB flash drives (aka thumb drives, memory sticks, or pen drives) provide one of the most painless ways of transferring or backing up data.
An entry-level device from a storied manufacturer, the 2022 version of the Moto G Power doesn't exactly wow in terms of specs, but it's a reasonable choice among the various affordable Motorola smartphones. Like most of today's smartphones, it's a bit large and heavy, and most owners will want to protect it with a decent case.
These Jackery Power Station Prime Day deals let you hand-carry a kilowatt-hour for cheap
You'll never run out of juice with one of these outlet-packed portable power stations

Portable power stations are always super heavy and typically super expensive. But for the rest of Prime Day, you can ensure that your drones, phones, fridges, CPAP machines, and other home appliances keep running when you don't have access to grid power. Some even offer heavy discounts on accompanying solar panels, so you'll never need to plug them into the wall.
Keep your eye on these huge Prime Day savings on Amazon Ring doorbells
It's time to make the jump to a security-minded smart video doorbell

A good video doorbell combines the best of smart home security and convenience, making it safe and easy to see who's at your door from anywhere in the world. One of the most renowned brands, Amazon's Ring Video Doorbell family comes in a range of shapes, sizes, and power sources, widely known for its seamless setup process and user-friendly interface. You'll almost certainly find one to fit your needs, and at a heavy discount for the next day or so, thanks to Prime Day sales.
Big price cuts make Amazon's own Fire TVs some of the best deals on Prime Day
From 720p to 4K with QLED color, they're a fantastic value at any size

They're not massively popular just yet, but hype continues to build around the latest and greatest Amazon Fire TVs for very good reason. In particular, the relatively recent Omni lineup delivers good image quality and a couple of surprisingly high-end features, but at prices that rival the most affordable options from more renowned manufacturers. With Prime Day in full swing, Amazon's swinging for the fences with significant price cuts on some highly functional TVs.
At nearly half off, Samsung’s Galaxy Tab A8 is one of the best Prime Day tablet deals
With a $150 discount, Samsung's top midrange tablet is a better value than ever

While it's only a minor update to the Tab A7, the Galaxy Tab A8 remains one of the top budget-friendly Android tablets because it did see some worthwhile improvements without any price increase. Its $150 price cut is one of Prime Day's best tablet deals, and the value's hard to ignore. As long as you get one with 4 GB of RAM, it'll last for years of content streaming and social media browsing.
Prime Day prices on Echo, Ring & Fire TVs are too good to miss
Some ridiculous early Prime Day deals on Amazon's own, streamlined electronics

Prime Day is especially huge for deals on electronics, so it makes perfect sense for Amazon to get ahead of the game and lure us gadget lovers to its own ever-expanding brands of entertainment and smart home devices. Deals on great smart speakers and displays, like the ultra-versatile Echo Show 10 and super-convenient Echo Dot, make it easier than ever to get into the smart home game. We're also big fans of the relatively upstart Omni Fire TV range, which comes in standard Ultra HD and QLED color filtering flavors.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 vs. Galaxy S22 Ultra: Which ultra-premium phone deserves your love?
Choosing between two of today's most advanced smartphones

The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 aren't the latest and greatest anymore, with the S23 Ultra coming out back in February and the Z Fold 5 set to launch in the next month or so. Despite that, both phones are still exceptional, with fast processors, beautiful displays, and Samsung's One UI, which adds a plethora of features that make these phones whole.
Moto Razr+ (2023) vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4: The battle of the flips
The leading hamburger-fold smartphones go head to head

The fourth generation of Samsung's groundbreaking Galaxy Z Flip series delivered a top-notch experience that brought a lot of us over to the "dark side" of loving foldable phones. After eyeing Samsung's North American flagship success for years, though, Motorola appears to have finally gotten its act together, offering a competent and outright excellent competitor in the Moto Razr+. It has a similar form factor as the Z Flip 4 but adds some remarkably helpful features, making it even more appealing to some than Samsung's innovative Z Flip lineup.
Best OnePlus Pad cases in 2023
Protecting and adding utility to your great new OnePlus tablet

Marking OnePlus's first foray into the increasingly robust Android tablet market, the OnePlus Pad was a pleasant surprise in our review of the OnePlus Pad. Priced just a bit above the iconic iPad, it offers an above-average Android tablet experience at a reasonable price and with remarkable durability. While it's not perfect (few devices are), our only consistent gripe was the large and oddly placed camera bump. However, as you might guess, the right case can mitigate that issue for the most part. Do keep in mind, though, there aren't a ton of cases available yet, since it's a brand-new release and has seen a bit of a soft launch so far.
Smart home security systems make a crucial safety-minded addition to the constantly expanding smart device market. One significant portion of that market, smart locks, represent one of the most convenient uses of smart technology. A good smart lock gives you near-instantaneous control and monitoring over the doors in your home. It prevents getting locked out of your house; makes it easy to admit guests, contractors, and cleaners; and ensures you're always aware when people are entering or leaving.
Move over, Samsung. While it's been three years since North America's seen a flagship Motorola smartphone, the new 2023 Moto Razr+ hits the ground running as arguably the best horizontal-foldable yet. Like all folding smartphones, it is, of course, pretty costly and worth keeping safe from damage.
Best keyboards for Chromebooks in 2023
The best wired and wireless keyboards, including the top models with Chrome-specific key layouts

The best Chromebooks are excellent for productivity, education, and entertainment. They are fast, secure, and easy to use. They also have long battery life and cloud-based storage. But sometimes, you may want to use an external keyboard with your Chromebook. Maybe you want a bigger or more comfortable keyboard, or maybe you want to use your Chromebook with a monitor or a TV.
Best outdoor security cameras for your smart home in 2023
Today's smart security cameras are more powerful, accessible, and affordable than ever

A good home security system offers peace of mind due to real home security plus a ton of convenience in everyday life. With the astronomical rise in smart home technology, building your own is as easy and affordable as it's ever been. Most of the top home security cameras support all major smart technology ecosystems, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and they're easy enough for even smart home beginners to figure out without difficulty.
Best Google Pixel 6a cases in 2023
The Pixel 6a is a phenomenal phone that only deserves phenomenal cases


Topping our ranking of the best budget-friendly Android phones, the Google Pixel 6a is arguably an even better value than the recently released Pixel 7a (which is a great midrange phone in its own right). The 6a boasts many of the same advanced features as the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro and includes many identical components, but it costs considerably less than any true flagship device. Even though it's affordable, it still deserves the protection of a quality case. Luckily, there's a bevy of reasonably priced cases to choose from to keep it safe from harm and easy to hold onto.
Best Kindles in 2023: Find the perfect Amazon e-reader
The right Kindle e-reader will have you reading up a storm in no time

Remember when Amazon exclusively sold books and operated out of a small, suburban garage? Nearly three decades later, its Kindle e-reader family is one of the best tablets for getting your fix of the written word. Even the latest, highly affordable base model Kindle offers a remarkably comfortable, user-friendly experience. And if you opt for one of the more premium versions, you're looking at easily some of the best e-readers overall. Depending on how much you're willing to spend and what kind of high-end features you'll use, one of these Kindles will make reading more comfortable and inviting.
Best Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra cases and covers in 2023
At long last, there's a decent selection of quality cases for the Tab S8 Ultra

If you're going all out to get the biggest and best Android tablet money can buy, you're getting the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. Its massive and gorgeous display has a ton of room for productivity, and the power inside is plenty capable of getting even the most intensive tasks done. Just make sure you keep it that way. Protecting your tablet should be your number one priority considering how expensive it is in the first place. Don't worry, though; plenty of significant Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra cases offer protection and style.
Best Samsung Galaxy S23 heavy-duty cases in 2023
Heavy-duty cases for complete protection of the new Samsung Galaxy S23

Samsung's Galaxy S23 may be the smallest of the company's flagship lineup, but don't let its diminutive size fool you. It packs in the same performance and features as its larger Plus counterpart, making it one of the best small phones on the market and certainly one of the best Samsung phones.
Best Amazon Echo Show 8 mounts and stands in 2023
Elevate your Echo Show 8 experience with these stands, wall mounts, and battery cases

Amazon's Echo Show smart displays are the perfect gateway into the convenience of the Alexa voice control ecosystem. The Echo Show 8 represents the best all-around and most versatile choice for most people, as it has a good blend of screen resolution, sound quality, and camera performance. Plus, its 1280 by 800 display is sharp for its 8-inch size, and the 13-megapixel camera is great for video calls.