Goat Simulator 3’s headbutting mayhem finally arrives on mobile

Everyone's favorite hooved menace is back on mobile with the launch of Goat Simulator 3 for iOS and Android, Swedish developer Coffee Stain Studios announced. As before, you play in an open world as a mayhem-loving goat in order to cause maximum chaos and ruin the day of as many NPC's as possible. The latest version dials up the destruction with accessories like jetpacks, rocket launchers and supercharged headbutts, while letting you kit out your goats with dubious fashion accessories. 

The mobile versions offers much the same feature set found on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC, particularly the co-op multiplayer support. Other mobile features include multiple goat options (tall, fishy, with hats), an "OK amount" of quests in the open world, mini-games, "ragdoll physics that slap Newton in the face" and more, according to the Play Store listing. 

Goat Simulator famously started as a jokey demo for Global Game Jam 2014, replete with bugs, bizarre physics and just a weird, weird concept. Herds of players loved the alpha version, though, so Coffee Stain elected to release it as a full game, leaving in the floppy necks, intersecting meshes and ability to use your goat's tongue to walk up construction cranes somehow.

Goat Simulator 3 is actually the second game in the series (the developer famously skipped over 2), appearing last year a full eight years after the original. The original version appeared shortly after the alpha, and basically left most of the bugs in — part of the charm, or terribleness of the game, depending on your point of view. 

It turns out that "buggy and stupid" is hard to do on purpose though, as GS3's creative director put it, hence the long delay. In any case, it's now available on Android and iOS for $13 — not that cheap for a mobile game. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/goat-simulator-3s-headbutting-mayhem-finally-arrives-to-mobile-111553057.html?src=rss

iOS 17.2 will enable Qi2 next-gen wireless charging on iPhone 13 and 14

Apple, which usually plays safe when it comes to new standards, already surprised us with Qi2 compatibility on its iPhone 15, but it turns out that Cupertino has more up its sleeve. As spotted by 9to5Mac and some users, the release notes for iOS 17.2 RC (release candidate) state that this update adds "Qi2 charger support for all iPhone 13 models and iPhone 14 models." This means that said iPhone models should support up to 15W of wireless charging with Qi2-certified chargers, though the release notes stopped short at confirming the power specs. We'll be able to find out when iOS 17.2 rolls out for the general public — likely in a few days' time.

Until now, 15W input on these iPhone models was only possible through MagSafe-certified chargers, whereas the cheaper MagSafe-compatible ones are limited to 7.5W. With Qi2's matching performance, consumers will be offered more affordable choices when it comes to 15W wireless chargers, as manufacturers won't need to pay the Apple premium for MagSafe certification.

Qi2 was first announced at CES 2023, with its main highlight being its MagSafe-like wireless fast charging standard — even for Android devices. This uses "Magnetic Power Profile" to ensure compatibility across phones and chargers. While the output is currently capped at 15W, future iterations will "significantly" raise charging levels past 15W, according to the WPC (Wireless Power Consortium). We've been told to expect a slew of Qi2-compatible accessories — including some from Anker — arriving by the holidays, and I'm sure that it'll also become a theme at CES 2024 next month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ios-172-will-enable-qi2-next-gen-wireless-charging-on-iphone-13-and-14-042459126.html?src=rss

Beeper says it reverse-engineered iMessage into an Android app

The universal chat app Beeper just got a lot more, well, universal. The company just unveiled the Beeper Mini app, which makes the bold claim to bring true iMessage support to Android devices. Even bolder? It seems to actually work, according to users who have tried it. This isn’t done in a strange hacky way that could compromise privacy and security, like Nothing’s beleaguered attempt to play nice with iOS devices.

Beeper co-founder Eric Migicovsky, formerly of Pebble fame, told Engadget that his latest project is about scaling up his service. You see, the original Beeper app relied on a farm of Mac mini servers to act as relays, which left a lot of potential users on a waitlist. Then comes Beeper Mini, which taps straight into the official iMessage protocol thanks to some cunning reverse engineering. The texts are even sent to Apple’s servers before moving on to their final destination, just like a real iMessage created by an iPhone. Even weirder? All of this high-tech wizardry was created by a 16-year-old high school student.

Once you open the app, it goes through all of your text message conversations and flags the ones from iMessage users. The system then switches them over to blue bubble conversations via Apple’s official platform. From then on, every time you talk to that person, the bubbles will be bluer than a clear spring day — no more social stigma linked to green bubbles. You also don’t need an Apple ID to login, alleviating many of the security concerns that plagued rival offerings.

It’s worth reiterating: This platform isn’t hacking the iMessage experience so it works on Android. It is the iMessage experience working on Android, as it's sending actual iMessages. The tech was created by jailbreaking iPhones to get a good look at how the operating system handles iMessages, before recreating the software. As a bonus, Beeper actually encrypts messages end-to-end between iMessage and Android users, supposedly making the communication even safer.

Beeper is being really transparent here, and the company knows it's potentially skating on thin ice with regard to how Apple will respond. Apple has never been especially friendly to those it deems to be infringing on company secrets, but it did just announce forthcoming support for the RCS messaging standard. This will allow for greater interoperability between Android and iOS devices, so maybe it’ll let Beeper Mini slide for now. Should Apple want to put the kibosh on Beeper Mini, it would likely take a lot of work to completely revamp the iMessage protocol, Migicovsky explained to Engadget. 

Beeper’s iMessage code will be open source to ensure there will be no security or privacy lapses. As for potential legal hurdles, the co-founder says his company is on the right side of the law, noting there’s no actual Apple code in Beeper Mini, just custom-made recreated code. Also, he cites legal precedence in copyright law that has sided with those who reverse engineer code. In any event, Beeper Mini is available, for now, and it's a $1.99-per-month subscription with one month free trial.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/beeper-says-it-reverse-engineered-imessage-into-an-android-app-172250419.html?src=rss

Discord overhauls its mobile app with new tabs, messaging features and more

Discord bluntly describes the mobile app it launched in 2015 as a squished-down version of its desktop platform. But that acknowledgment comes with an announcement that said app is getting a complete redesign that's an "independent experience" from its computer-based counterpart. It includes a new set of navigation tabs prominently displayed at the bottom of your screen: Servers, Messages, Notifications and You. 

While Discord considered changes like a horizontal layout, the Servers tab looks very similar to before — just no direct messaging option. Instead, a Messaging tab replaces the existing Friends one, displaying all your one-on-one and group messages in one place instead of having to click through multiple pages. You can also favorite a conversation so it stays at the top of your chats and use a search bar to find a message, file, pin or attachment across all discussions — same as WhatsApp or general messaging. Also new in conversations is the ability to swipe left on a message to reply to it, rather than having to hold it down. You might have noticed that Discord already changed the formatting of picture messages to show in a gallery style versus one by one.

Discord UI
Engadget

The Notifications tab will now include server events, friend requests and message replies, all of which you can click to reach the source immediately. Plus, notifications should now auto-clear instead of requiring you to remove them. Rounding out the now four tabs on the bottom (bye search) is still the You page. The Friends tab has been integrated here, alongside features like changing your status or profile picture. This is also still the tab for accessing account settings but with a bit more convenience. You can double-tap the You tab to go directly to account settings and, once there, there's a search bar to find whatever information you need. One tool you can access there is the new Midnight theme, providing a pure black background that should rest your eyes a bit.

The app's functioning has also improved, with Discord claiming that opening the app will take you 55 percent less time on Android and 43 percent less on iOS — apparently using four times less data while doing so. Android users' crash rate has also been reduced by half over the past year. Plus, voice and video calls have improved functioning, with an updated UI allowing for "more intuitive interactions." 

Discord also shared that it's working on other requested updates, such as quick access to a server's member list, better search filters, more customization options for viewing messages, and overall app performance improvements. You can use the feedback forum at any point to express things you're unhappy with or that you'd like to see changed.

Notably, Discord got itself in a bit of hot water recently with the US Senate Judiciary Committee. The company refused to have its CEO, Jason Citron, testify about children's safety online, wouldn't accept an electronic subpoena and merited an office visit by US Marshals to hand deliver one. Citron will speak with the committee about protecting kids — and Discord's "failures" to do so — alongside the CEOs of Meta, X, TikTok and Snap on January 31, 2024, at 10 AM ET.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/discord-overhauls-its-mobile-app-with-new-tabs-messaging-features-and-more-170035917.html?src=rss

The AirPods Pro with USB-C charging are back down to their Black Friday price of $190

Black Friday (and a few sales before that) brought the second generation AirPods Pro with the new USB-C charging case to $190. After Cyber Week ended, the buds popped back up to the full price of $249, but now they've dropped again at Amazon. That's a dollar more than the lowest price they've hit. Apple didn't alter the buds themselves very much, aside from improving the dust resistance for them and the case. The main difference is the charging case, which now has a USB-C port instead of Lightning, just like the new iPhone 15.  

The fact that Apple didn't change much about the buds themselves is not a bad thing. We gave the AirPods Pro a review score of 88 when they came out, praising the handy Siri integration and a transparancy mode that beats all the other buds out there. We also named them the best buds you can buy if you're an iPhone user in our buying guide to the best earbuds

In addition to wired USB-C charging, you can also refill them wirelessly with a MagSafe charging pad. We found the mic pickup for calls to be slightly better than most earbuds we've tried, and noted that the buds deliver particularly good sound during FaceTime calls. As for battery, we got six hours and fifteen minutes on a charge, using a mix of ANC, transparency mode and calls, which is on par with other buds on the market. As for sound quality, it's a massive improvement over Apple's previous Pro buds. Even at low volume, the audio is clean and at regular levels, the sound is immersive and detailed. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/the-airpods-pro-with-usb-c-charging-are-back-down-to-their-black-friday-price-of-190-163503974.html?src=rss

Microsoft upgrades Copilot with OpenAI’s GPT-4 Turbo and DALL-E 3

The year’s coming to a close, but there’s still plenty of time for more AI news. Microsoft just announced its Copilot AI chatbot is integrating with OpenAI’s latest model, GPT-4 Turbo, and the image generator DALL-E 3, among other upgrades. This should drastically improve the overall functionality of the service, just in time for its one-year anniversary/birthday. Wait, do AI chatbots have birthdays?

First up, there’s OpenAI’s latest and greatest large language model. GPT-4 Turbo integration will allow Copilot users to tackle complex tasks that would cause previous iterations of the software to sputter into madness. The last generation allowed for just 50 pages of text as a data input, while GPT-4 Turbo accepts up to 300 pages. The end result? More meaningful responses to queries. The integration is currently being tested by select users, with wider availability in the next few weeks.

There’s also integration with the newest DALL-E 3 Model. This chatbot generates higher quality images than ever before and, more importantly, with a greater regard for accuracy. In other words, the image should match the prompt more often than not. This tool is already available for Copilot users, and you can check it out here.

There are more features coming to a Copilot near you. The Inline Compose tool now includes a rewrite menu that lets you select a block of text, whereupon the bot rewrites it for you. This should cause absolutely no problems at all in schools (that was sarcasm). This tool is coming to all Edge users in the near future.

Coders are also getting some love, with a new feature set called Code Interpreter. Microsoft is fairly mum on the details here, but say that it will enable users to perform complex tasks like “data analysis, visualization, math” and, of course, garden variety coding. Code Interpreter is currently in beta, with a wide release planned for the near future.

Finally, Bing search is getting an upgrade powered by GPT-4. This should allow for expanded search queries for complex topics, with optimized results. Microsoft wrote a blog post detailing how this upgrade works. In short, it searches for multiple variations of the query at once and automatically files away useless information.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/microsoft-upgrades-copilot-with-openais-gpt-4-turbo-and-dall-e-3-162558170.html?src=rss

Roku’s Ultra streamer is on sale for $67

We call the Roku Ultra the best set-top box for most people in our guide to the best streaming devices, and it's now down to $67 through a new deal at Amazon. That's $33 off Roku's list price and only a little more than a dollar higher than the all-time low for this latest iteration of the streamer. Walmart has the same deal, though it doesn't have the device available for shipping as of this writing. The Ultra has been discounted to $70 at other retailers for the last couple of weeks as part of an ongoing holiday sale, but if you've been looking to pick the streamer up and didn't grab one on Black Friday, this discount lets you save a couple extra bucks.

The Ultra is Roku's highest-end streaming player, and this latest version was released in 2022. The device itself is essentially the same as the prior-generation model that arrived in 2020, but it now comes bundled with Roku's Voice Remote Pro, which upgrades the basic Roku remote with a rechargeable battery, two programmable shortcut buttons, and a headphone jack for private listening without having to use the Roku app. It also gives you the option to use the built-in mic hands-free, and if you ever lose the remote in the couch cushions, there's a built-in speaker that'll play a chime when you hit a remote finder button on the box. It does charge over an ancient microUSB port instead of USB-C, however. Beyond that, the box includes an Ethernet jack for steadier internet connections, plus a USB port for playing local media off external drives.

To be clear, while the Ultra is Roku's most fully-featured streamer, it's not necessarily its best value. That would be the Roku Streaming Stick 4K, which is the top overall pick in our guide and currently available for $28 less. The Ultra is technically more powerful in terms of processing and Wi-Fi performance, but the difference isn't huge in practice. Both devices support just about all the major streaming apps (Twitch excluded) and HDR standards, both work with Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol and both have the same app-based, easy-to-grok interface. It's also worth noting that you can buy the Voice Remote Pro separately. But if you need the Ethernet or USB ports, the Ultra is still a nice alternative to boxes like the Apple TV 4K, and this deal makes it a little cheaper than usual.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/rokus-ultra-streamer-is-on-sale-for-67-153018271.html?src=rss

Apple reportedly wants India to exempt older iPhones from USB-C charging rules

Apple is reportedly lobbying India to delay the implementation of a rule that requires all smartphones sold in the country to have a USB-C charging port. While Apple has already started shifting away from the Lightning port in the iPhone 15 lineup (and other products), the regulation differs from a similar one enacted in the European Union in that India may press Apple to switch to a USB-C port on older iPhones.

Other manufacturers, including Samsung, have agreed to India's plan to have a universal USB-C charging port on their smartphones by June 2025, which is six months after the EU's deadline (such OEMs have long been using USB-C charging ports anyway). Apple, however, is said to have pressed India to delay the implementation of the rule, or at least to exempt older iPhones from the requirement.

According to Reuters, Apple executives told Indian officials late last month that were the rule to be applied to older iPhones, the company would not be able to meet production targets as set out by the country's production-linked incentive (PLI) program. Under this scheme, India grants electronic manufacturers financial incentives to make new investments and generate incremental phone sales each year.

Apple suppliers such as Foxconn are said to have taken advantage of the program to boost iPhone production in India. Estimates suggest that between 12 and 14 percent of iPhones made this year will be manufactured in India. That proportion could rise to as much as 25 percent next year, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Apple is said to have told officials that it can't change the design of earlier iPhones to include a USB-C port. The company reportedly argued that, unless it gains an exemption for pre-iPhone 15 models, it will need 18 months beyond the end of next year (i.e. until mid-2026) to comply with the regulation. That's presumably to give Apple enough time to phase out Lightning ports on older iPhones, which Indian consumers tend to prefer since they fall in price when the company releases new models.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apple-reportedly-wants-india-to-exempt-older-iphones-from-usb-c-charging-rules-151558675.html?src=rss

Lenovo Legion Go review: The XL alternative to the Steam Deck

Every day it feels like there’s a new handheld gaming PC hitting the market. But instead of churning out yet another Windows-based rival for the Steam Deck, Lenovo is putting its spin on the category with the Legion Go. It combines top-notch performance with a huge OLED display and borrows some design traits from the Nintendo Switch. The result is a powerful though somewhat bulky $700 gaming machine that also offers some hidden tricks.

Design and display: An XL gaming handheld

Packing a 2,560 x 1,600 8.8-inch OLED display, the Legion Go has one of the largest, if not the largest screens on any gaming handheld today. But it’s not just big, because with a 144Hz refresh rate, it’s rather speedy and thanks to a peak brightness of around 500 nits, it’s pretty vibrant too. This makes the panel a great centerpiece for Lenovo’s handheld. The only thing it’s missing is full variable refresh rate support (VRR).

Similar to the Nintendo Switch, the Legion Go features detachable controllers and a kickstand in back.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

Flanking its display are a pair of controllers that can be detached just like with the Nintendo Switch. The two highlights are a built-in touchpad for smoothly mousing around Windows and Hall effect joysticks that are just a touch more responsive and accurate than on ASUS’ ROG Ally or Valve’s Steam Deck. Elsewhere, the Legion Go features an Xbox-style button layout complemented by four rear paddles and a kickstand so you can easily prop the system up when needed.

The whole package feels rather sturdy even when you factor in its removable controllers (though detaching them does take a little practice as they slide down and outwards instead of up like on the Switch). You even get two USB-C ports (both of which support USB 4), which is one than on its rivals, plus a microSD card slot for expandable storage. My two small gripes are that the touchpad doesn’t support haptics or the ability to press down on it. This means you have to perform more of a quick tap to simulate a traditional left click while not having an easy shortcut for right-clicking. I also wish the Legion Go had a fingerprint sensor like the ROG Ally, as that would make unlocking the device faster and easier.

The Legion Go features not one but two USB-C ports that support USB 4.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

But that’s not all, because on the bottom of the right controller, there’s a toggle that lets you activate FPS mode. When you flip this switch and then slot the controller into Lenovo’s bundled puck, it turns the controller into a vertical mouse, at which point you can play FPS games (hence the name of the switch) with even greater precision, assuming you’re into that kind of thing. However, for someone like me who isn’t a huge fan of shooters, I find this setup is better simply for navigating through Windows, especially for anyone planning to hook this up to an external monitor and keyboard and use it like a desktop. Lenovo even included a little wheel on the right controller so you can quickly scroll through docs and web pages.

The downside to Lenovo’s XL-sized design is that since it weighs 1.88 pounds and measures 11.76 inches across, the Legion Go is noticeably larger and bulkier than both the ROG Ally and the Steam Deck. That said, none of the current crop of gaming handhelds are what I’d call pocketable, so you’re still going to have to toss any of them in a separate bag for traveling. And to Lenovo’s credit, the Legion Go comes with a case that has a clever cutout that lets you snake in a power cord so you can charge it while it’s nestled safely inside. Meanwhile, the ROG Ally doesn’t come with at case at all.

Performance: Big power that needs some optimizing

The Legion Go features an Xbox-style button layout in front along with a total of four paddles in back.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

The Legion Go is based on an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor along with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. This is the same chip and amount of memory as the top-spec ROG Ally, and as you’d expect performance is very similar and about as good as it gets among current handheld gaming PCs. You can play major AAA releases like Elden Ring and Starfield, though if you’re dead set on hitting 60 fps, you will need to fiddle around with graphics settings.

Like the ROG Ally, the Legion Go offers a range of preset performance modes (Quiet, Balanced and Performance) and a custom setting that allows users to select a TDP (thermal design power) ranging from 5 to 30 watts. The issue is that since the Legion Go was released more recently, Lenovo hasn’t had as much time as ASUS to refine its software and drivers. Unfortunately, this meant that when I tried to benchmark both systems at 25 watts, I ran into an issue where framerates on the Legion Go fell far short of expectations. When I reached out to Lenonvo, I was told this is a known bug with the current software build and should be addressed in an upcoming patch. Thankfully, after I installed some beta drivers and a BIOS update (which are expected to be officially released sometime in the coming weeks), framerates jumped back up to levels that matched the ROG Ally.

The Legion Go's 8.8-inch OLED display is the biggest screen available on pretty much any gaming handheld available today.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

In Cyberpunk 2077 at 800p and medium settings with FSR set to Performance, at 15 watts the Legion Go hit 45 fps, essentially matching the ROG Ally’s 46 fps at the same power level. And when set to 25 watts, both systems remained close, with the Legion Go pulling ahead slightly with 74 fps versus 71 fps for the ASUS. Notably, Valve’s OLED Steam Deck beat both systems at 15 watts in Cyberpunk 2077, hitting 53 fps, though because it doesn’t have a higher power setting, it still falls short in terms of overall performance.

Software: barebones but functional

One of the big knocks against Windows-based handhelds is that Microsoft’s OS still feels clunky when you’re not playing games. This is still the case here, though Lenovo tries to address that with its Legion Space app, which serves as a one-stop shop for tweaking performance, customizing the system’s RGB lighting or quickly launching titles. It’s functional, but it also feels half-baked. Things like performance modes aren’t properly labeled, so there’s no clear indication that Performance mode on the Legion Go means a TDP of 20 watts instead of 25 like on the ROG Ally. And while the app makes it easy to see all of your installed games across various services like Steam, Epic and others, the tab for Android Games is simply a link to download the Amazon App Store. But the most annoying thing is if you want to buy games directly inside Legion Space, clicking the Game Store tab brings you to a page that kind of looks like Steam but is actually run by a different third-party retailer in Gamesplanet. Now, this isn’t a knock against Gamesplanet itself because the service does provide a legit way to buy new titles, but purchasing game keys and then needing to enter them in a separate app is kind of awkward and confusing.

Battery life

By activating the FPS toggle on the bottom of the controller and slotting it into an included base, the Legion Go right gamepad can function as a vertical mouse.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

One of the concerns with having big performance in a handheld is the impact that has on battery life. However, Lenovo has done its best to counteract that with a large 49.2Wh battery (versus 40Wh on the ROG Ally). The result is a system that lasts between an hour and a half to three hours depending on the game you’re playing and your power settings. At 15 watts, the Legion comes up short against the Steam Deck, which still reigns supreme in terms of efficiency with runtimes of over two hours. But when compared to the ASUS machine, the Legion Go typically lasts 30 to 45 minutes longer when playing the same title.

Wrap-up

The Legion Go is an interesting take on a handheld gaming PC. With its kickstand and detachable controllers, it’s appropriated the adaptability that Nintendo introduced on the Switch. But Lenovo took things further with a built-in touchpad and a clever FPS mode that makes the system easier to use as a PC. And capping things off is a gorgeous 8.8-inch OLED display that makes the Legion Go’s potent performance shine.

The Legion Go comes with an included carrying case, a microfiber cleaning cloth, a USB-C power adapter and a puck that turns the right controller into a vertical mouse.
Photo by Sam Rutherford/Engadget

On the flipside, its bulk feels like it’s pushing the definition of a handheld device. Any bigger and you might as well carry around a thin-and-light gaming laptop and a dedicated controller. And while Lenovo’s beta software addresses some of the performance hangups I ran into, the Legion Go isn’t going to reach its full potential until its software is properly optimized, which might not happen for another month or two.

In a lot of ways, the Legion Go is like a super-sized alternative to the ROG Ally. What it lacks in portability it more than makes up for in flexibility. Between its dual USB-C ports and FPS mode, I think it’s a better laptop replacement than the Ally, too. Granted, the Legion Go isn’t as affordable or long-lasting as either version of the Steam Deck, but it offers way more horsepower. So while some might find its size a bit excessive, that big, vibrant display is hard to say no to. I just hope Lenovo can polish off its software sooner rather than later.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/lenovo-legion-go-review-the-xl-alternative-to-the-steam-deck-141522230.html?src=rss

This is my favorite smartphone tripod

As smartphone capabilities continue to close in on standalone cameras, I’ve been using my phone a lot more for shooting video. However, the best shots demand a tripod, and carrying one of those defeats the point of using my phone instead of dragging a camera around.

Peak Design’s stealthy little phone tripod fixes that. I’ve already praised it in our updated guide to the best iPhone cases, but I like it even more a few weeks later. If you’re a fan of their camera bags (or their floaty light carbon-fiber tripod, like me), you know what to expect from Peak Design: stylish, considerate design, careful material choice and a spendy price tag.

This aluminum tripod folds down to a credit-card-sized profile, a little thicker than Apple’s MagSafe wallets. With a solid micro-ball head, you can adjust the angle of your phone while it’s in tripod mode. Better still, it can firmly attach magnetically to the phone in both vertical and horizontal orientations.

The tripod works best (that is, attaches most solidly) with Peak Design’s smartphone cases, which have launched in a new array of colors for the iPhone 15 series. However, if you have a MagSafe-capable iPhone (from the iPhone 12 onwards) or case, you can still attach this tripod, whether folded away, but it seems a little weaker.

Peak Design also has cases for the latest Pixel 8 phones, meaning, gasp, an accessory I could use for my favorite phones this year. (It also has a Samsung case series and a universal adapter that adheres to the back of any phone.)

There are many things to like, but the main draw is that I can keep it attached to my phone and in my pocket, which means I’ve ditched my GorillaPod tripod. Unlike other foldable phone stands, the micro-ball head means I can adjust the angle and positioning. Peak Design’s attention to detail is… something. The company included a tiny hex key built into the tripod legs for tightening the ball head. The key magnetically locks in place, so there’s no fear of losing it.

Peak Design Phone Tripod
Photo by Mat Smith/Engadget

It can also magnetically attach to your phone in vertical and horizontal orientations, making it an excellent stand even when you’re not trying to shoot video or photos propped up on your desk. If you’re desperate, you can use the tripod legs as a short selfie grip.

The only drawback is the price, especially if you compare this to MagSafe phone stands from Moft and Anker. However, these only prop up your iPhone – I wouldn’t call them tripods. Also, if you want to ensure this tripod is securely attached, I’d recommend spending more on a Peak Design case, too. But compared to other smartphone cases and peripheral kits, I appreciate that you don’t have to buy the companion case – and the tripod seems solid enough to last until your next smartphone purchase in a few years.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/this-is-my-favorite-smartphone-tripod-140057093.html?src=rss