The TRUTH about Tech EMBARGOES

It’s ONE HOUR until embargo!

rush… rush exporting!

45 MINUTES!

upload… upload…

15 MINUTES!!!

Description! Description! Time codes! Time Codes!

5 MINUTES!

Social media! Social media!

0 MINUTES!!!!!!

PUBLISH! (and hope YouTube doesn’t break as you do!)

That’s a pretty fair timeline of my last hour or 30 minutes of a new phone or tech release. Behind the scenes of a world that most viewers never see, and never experience. For them, it’s non-stop notifications of the latest new piece of tech in their YouTube subscription box. But for creators, you are entering a world, both exciting and depressing. Both inspiring and confidence destroying. But there’s no doubt that the launch of phones and new tech products is the true “rat race” of covering tech these days… and guess what… I used to love it. But now I’m starting to hate it.

Now just a quick lesson what I’m referring to by “embargo”. An embargo is a set time that companies share with creators and ask them to adhere to when reviewing new products, to be able to test before launch and share all their findings at the appropriate time. Embargos have a set time. Breaking embargo, or posting your video before the agreed time is a big no no!

When I was invited to my first embargo of a new device there was excitement, there was hope, there was promise. Being alongside creators I never imagined to even be included in the same sentence for a release was a striking and amazing experience. And there is no doubt embargo releases can be great. I had some amazing moments watching my videos blow up and feeling joy for all my days of effort being worth it.

But sadly over time, I have started to see the entire concept of embargoes a sad cruel joke. In the end that feeling that I was in control of my destiny under this system was actually the opposite: an embargo release is nothing more than a glorified “hoop” that companies use to make the creators promoting their products jump through, in a new 21st century gladiatorial battle to see who will have the most success. And if a giant million subscriber channel shows up? Rest In Peace. Sure you get a device early, but you also get placed in a crazy and extremely mentally unhealthy hustle that you thought was in your control…

it’s not in your control…

I appreciate my access to devices. I appreciate being able to cover tech in this amazing way from many companies that I have loved and admired. But it’s amazing to see how just one tweak can make or break the successes of any release for every creator fully invested (some for years) in the promotion of a company that they held dear for so long.

Embargos as a concept seemed good at first, but they need a revision. One that truly brings the magic, excitement and EFFORT in creators with something to show for it in the end. Companies owe creators who present their products to the world at least that.

It is Rock, it is…

What it Takes: A Day in the Life of a Content Creator.

I just woke up, it’s 9 AM. Despite the busy schedule of the previous day I actually got a great nights sleep (although staying up too late is definitely an issue I face). For a moment I remember back to the days when I was working a full time traditional 9-6 role. Awake at 7:30, out the door by 8:15 for a 40 minute commute to the office. I don’t really miss waking up early, but the hustle and bustle of a morning commute and all the frenetic energy that goes with it is something I do miss these days. Since December 2019, I traded in the full time grind for a completely different life. The life of a content creator.

My typically breakfast, surrounded by cameras, phones and Animal Crossing on my Switch Lite!

It’s 10 AM now, and after washing my face I make my breakast, which typically consists of a bowl of cereal (grape nuts today!) and a capsule of my favorite Nespresso. Unlike the old days, breakfast is a very relaxed and drawn out experience. No rushing to grab a bun or eating on the go or at my work desk. And yet I remember back to those moments and one thing I never experienced before that I always do now: silence. I’m typically alone at this moment, and through most periods of the day. Gone are the small talk and little interactions that one relishes in an office setting, and even for those who work from home I’m sure there is still a sense of teamwork and interaction that happens online. But as a content creator in the first few years you are typically a team of one. This is probably the reason why so many content creators can be found swiping through Twitter a lot of the day. This is the content creator’s equivalent to an office: a place where like minded individuals can share their similar stories and experiences, their joys and their sorrows, all for the sake of interaction. Content creation can definitely be a lonely experience.

Some of the typical banter that you see on tech Twitter.

By 11 PM I start getting what I call “the itch”, the feeling that it is time to begin my creative process for the day: filming. In some cases, the path to filming is easy. A new device was just shipped to me that will be making it’s global debut the next week. So today my plan is to begin seriously testing it, taking photos and producing some initial video that will work into my review. This type of work flow comes naturally to me, as this is the closest thing to your typical work “deadlines“ and schedule that must be followed to completion. But in many cases the act of creating content comes out of a place of creativity and the need to satisfy “the itch” that I face. It’s in these moments of pressure and anxiety that some of my best ideas come to me: a new approach to reviewing a device, a comparison of products that I hadn’t thought of, a new shot that would make a great intro to the video. In the end all of what you do as a content creator needs to manifest itself on to the screen. No matter what ideas you have and how you execute them, after completing the filming process you are left with bits and pieces of “footage”, the ingredients required to “bake the cake” and deliver the finished product. It’s time to start baking.

Final Cut Pro, the place where I spend most of my days!

From around 12 to 4 PM (or longer depending on the video) I am doing something that I’m sure many content creators will agree they spend most of their time doing: editing. I think of all the aspects of content creator life, the one that most outside observers get wrong is how long it takes to successfully edit a video. Sure there are cases where I may do a quick take where the editing is merely a matter of minutes. But in the case of my most elaborate videos editing can last 6-8 hours or even longer (I’ve heard some content creators have spent multiple days just putting together the pieces!). Luckily for me editing is one of those activites that I enjoy, and even find cathartic. That’s not to say editing can’t be absolutely draining, and mistakes or setbacks can even make it an arduous experience, but watching all the ingredients come together into a coherent and entertaining piece of content is extremely gratifying. Completing an export on a video is the equivalent of taking the cake out of the oven. Now it’s time to let it cool before serving, or in the case of a video, uploading, preparing the thumbnail (cover art for the video) and getting ready to publish.

One of the most beautiful screens for a content creator: the YouTube upload video page!

By 5 PM my editing work is done, and yet the work day of a content creator never truly ends. Once I publish I begin the next part of the process, which is engaging with all of my viewers, their questions and comments on this new video, or any other video I have produced. In addition to this I’m also responding to emails from new brands who want to send over products for review, new sponsors who want to promote their businesses on the channel, or from the occasional viewer who sends me an email with more in-depth questions about a product. With an audience of my size this type of follow up could easily be an entirely separate full-time job on it’s own, but as a creator it’s these interactions that I value the most. While it’s gotten harder over the years to try and respond to every comment, I do my best to provide meaningful value to my 175,000 subscribers and their questions. This passion for tech that I see in them is what has helped me to keep pushing, allowing me to deliver 850 videos or roughly one video daily for nearly the past 3 years.

I get at least a few hundred comments daily on YouTube and other social media channels. It’s tough trying to respond to all of them!

It’s 8 PM and my day has come to an end. It’s at this time that I can lean back, relax and enjoy the evening. I have to thank my wife and daughter who probably suffer the most from this type of schedule and sometimes all consuming grind. Frankie Tech would be nothing without their support and understanding. Yet my push to build this small tech channel into one of the largest and most reliable sources for tech news and product reviews in Asia will continue. Despite the setbacks and challenges of life as a content creator, being able to follow my passions and deliver content of value to my audience is a position I am truly humbled and grateful for.

Behind the scenes of the typical analytics that you get after a day of posting a video.

It’s time for bed, to start the entire creative process tomorrow all over again. Today’s video may do well, and it may also not. But regardless of the result, “the itch” will still be there and I’ll be at it again, living another day in the life of a content creator.

Frankie Tech turns 2 - Moving forward in a forever changed world.

First of all, I can’t imagine that it’s been 6 months since I last wrote a post on this blog (which honestly I’m pretty sorry about). But second I don’t think anyone could have ever imagined the transformation that the world would go through in just that time. Devastating bushfires in Australia, the tragic death of Kobe and Gianna Bryant, the anti-racism movement and Black Lives Matter, all under specter of the most significant and world changing pandemic of the last 100 years.

The reality is there have been so many other things that have taken precedence in most people’s lives than the latest phone release. And yet like some unstoppable force, the tech world has continued moving forward. Sure we have seen the suspension of trade shows (RIP MWC 2020!) and most in person launches and events. I’m certain that many devices that we expected for release are probably now delayed (Pixel 4a) or cancelled permanently. But the amount to which not only the companies that make the phones but the people who cover them have been trying their best to be “business as usual” is pretty amazing.

On Frankie Tech, there is no doubt that the challenges over the past few months have affected things. The closed border to China has meant delays to getting and reviewing the latest devices. Revenues on YouTube have taken a hit as advertisers have cancelled their marketing campaigns. And viewers tastes have also changed, as new topics like the pandemic, protests and recession have altered priorities and even livelihoods. During all this time I really have questioned at times if reviewing tech was the right thing to be doing during such an unprecedented time. But in the end the tech actually helped me keep focused and productive, and I do hope it served at the very least as a distraction for a few minutes a day to you all.

I never imagined when I started this channel 2 years ago that I would find an audience of amazing fans and support that have kept me going. Through all of these challenges from my own job loss and transition to a full-time content creation schedule it’s been my OG fans, who have given me the fuel to push through those obstacles. Thank you!

I think I’m not the only one who is hoping for 2020 to be over already. This year has tested me in ways I never imagined, and I’m sure it has tested you and your families in ways like never before. But I do think that mantra of “just keep swimming” really embodies my goals for the second half of this year: new types of content, new collaborations and more reviews (not just of phones but new categories and products) in both English and Spanish. I don’t know where the world will be at the end of this year, but I know for me that means just one thing… just keep swimming!

From June 12, 2018 to June 12, 2020 I never imagined how much my life, and the world would change.

Frankie Tech's Plans for 2020

New Theme Music, New Music, New Intro, New Format! But beyond these updates, what are my goals for 2020 and what do I hope to achieve this year?

As a new year and decade is finally here I think its time to look forward and put in writing my plans for Frankie Tech in 2020. Beyond a visual overhaul there is far more that I hope to achieve with the channel as we continue growing past the 100k subscriber mark. In no particular order here are some key areas of focus this year:

Continue Growing - I’m not one to obsess over metrics, but its always good to give yourself some actual numerical goals to strive for:

• Current - 109k : Goal 200k Subscribers - This is definitely going to be a hard one to achieve, especially because it took over 18 months just to hit 100k, but if I even get close to this number by years end I will be happy.

• Current - 25 million : Goal 50 million views - Again this is a total reach goal, but heck if I even surpass 40 million this year I will consider that a success.

• Have one video surpass one million views - This one is very unlikely (considering my most popular video ever “K20 Pro Unboxing” has over 800k) but hey, dare to dream!

New Video Content - As I focus on being a bit less driven by just constantly buying and reviewing the next phone, and the next phone, I have an opportunity to diversify my content into other areas.

• Future Phones - What are the phones I am most excited about in 2020 and beyond?

• Future Trends - What innovations and trends are changing the smartphone landscape?

• Frankie Reacts/FT News Flash - A chance to get the latest news in the phone world out in a quick and efficient manner. Sourcing and crediting any info and graphics I use to the appropriate parties.

• Frankie Tech Talks/Collabs - This one I am particularly excited about! There are a number of like minded content creators that I can’t wait to chat with, and slowly build a network that is all about honest reviews and a passion for tech!

Patreon and building a deeper relationship with my OG fans - I can now officially share I will be launching a Patreon in the next couple of months! More details to follow, but I hope to create a venue to share and interact with my OG fans in an even greater way! More details to follow on this soon.

Explore different styles, face to face, improve my setup - While my traditional style of top down video shooting has worked really well since I started the channel, there is no denying that it has gotten stale. For that reason I recently tried once again to change my setup, and put myself front and center in the video. This type of video feels completely different to make, and yet I can already tell its a far more engaging finished product. Stay tuned for more front of camera work from my channel in 2020!

Build a sustainable channel - In all the growth to 100k subscribers, I will admit I lost a bit of the balance that I had when I started. The realities of having a YouTube channel grow so fast meant there were times I ran myself into the ground without even knowing it. There were times where I overdid things, both in terms of time, money spent and effort. While I will continue buying, trying and reviewing phones, I also need to find other ways to grow sustainably. I don’t get free review units of phones and I am not managed by any entity. Because of that I hope to grow this year in a way that makes sense for both for myself, for my viewers and for my family.

So that’s just some of the things going through my mind in these first weeks of 2020. The main thing I keep in mind is that YouTube is not a sprint, it’s a marathon. It’s also about trying new things and being open to change. Phones will always be at the core of this very mobile focused channel, but it’s time to find new and exciting ways to engage, to create new and interesting content that I’m proud of and make Frankie Tech a channel that can continue growing in this decade.

This is Frankie Tech Signing Off!

Thumbnail photo of my last video! Time to get in front of the camera!

Just Keep Swimming: How I Built a 100k Subscriber Channel With a $5 Tripod, $30 Mic, iPhone and a Very Understanding Wife

Still pinch myself that it happened. Thanks to all of you for making my dreams a reality!

16 months. That has been the length of my YouTube journey as Frankie Tech. Since that fateful day in June, 2018 there is probably nothing that I have spent more time doing, more effort thinking about and more money on than Frankie Tech. After celebrating hitting 100k subscribers last weekend I have received a lot of messages like “here’s to 200k, 500k, one million subscribers!” and while it is definitely exciting to envision the future, I think it’s also good to look back and appreciate the journey. How exactly does someone build a channel of this size? What is the setup? What do you film? Why do you film? And what’s with all this “Just Keep Swimming” nonsense? These are all questions I have been pondering, so I share now some thoughts on how exactly this journey happened.

It’s not about the setup, it’s all about the content.

I don’t know how many messages I’ve received over the past year saying something like “nice video, but you really need a studio setup, you need to make your videos more professional, you need some cool lights, some cinematic shots! You need to MKBHD up your channel!” Now there are lot of things from this list that I completely agree with, and there definitely are improvements that can be made to my setup. But chasing the perfect setup can also become the biggest mistake new content creators make. I have seen many channels spend so much time with creating the perfect “setup” at 100, 1000 or even 10k subscribers, that they forget the main point people are watching in the first place. It’s all about the content!

Now looking back, did anyone know that I filmed almost all of my street tech videos with an iPhone and just the built in mics? (and shout out to the iPhone’s video quality it really made street tech a reality) Did anyone know that I was using a cheap $5 tripod and $30 mic from Boya, a company most people have never even heard of? Finally, did anyone notice I have been filming on a $10 dollar cork bulletin board from Ikea, on a bed, in my tiny Hong Kong apartment? Now don’t get me wrong, my setup is not good. It could be so much better (and it will get better!). But the point I make is that it was good enough for me to get started and focus on what people really care about: sharing my thoughts and experiences with new tech in a candid and honest way. In my own way. A great setup is just that: a great setup. It won’t matter much to viewers if they don’t feel a genuine passion and effort from the creator. In a way I’m glad that my setup has been so limiting, as it has forced me to improve my content in other ways that really address the “why” people come to Frankie Tech.

My typical “no frills” setup. I know what you’re thinking! “That it!?”. Yep! That’s it!

Consistency, Creativity & Being Yourself.

Another thing I have learned from this journey is that releasing videos very much becomes a ritual for both myself and for my viewers. While I don’t think it’s necessary to stick so precisely to a schedule I do think it’s important for my audience to know when videos will typically drop (and you’ve probably noticed but Tuesdays and Thursdays tend to be the days of greatest output for the channel). This consistency allows for me to also engage with my audience in meaningful ways, and I really do a make a point to respond to every comment I get (something that is becoming more challenging the larger you grow!). One of the mistakes I made a few months back was trying too hard to create content so frequently, it actually detracted from the viewing experience. Quality over quantity really is the truth on YouTube (and in life!). I definitely plan to have a much more balanced yet consistent approach to posting videos. I am happy with my current 3-5 videos a week output, as it allow for me to focus and create a balance with other things like my full-time job, my wife and 4 year old daughter. In the grand scheme of things, Frankie Tech would not exist with those others, so its important to keep priorities in line when you are a content creator.

Another aspect of content creation I think a lot of people forget about is creativity and embracing your own uniqueness. One of the biggest mistakes I feel YouTubers make is trying to imitate the MKBHD’s and Unbox Therapy’s of the world. Just think about it: why would someone want to come watch your version of “Unbox Therapy” when they can go and watch the real Lew?! If people watch your content, subscribe and then stay for more, they are there because of YOU! Embracing my own style, delivery, creativity and quirks has been one of the most powerful decisions I have made doing Frankie Tech. Do some people hate my voice and hand gesturing? Yes. Do some people hate the fact I like to talk a lot? Yes. Do I get comments from people saying they can’t stand my street tech videos? All the time. There’s a saying in Latin culture my mom always reminds me of: “No sos una moneda de oro para caerle bien a todos”. Translation: you are not a gold coin to be loved by all. The reality is, there will always be trolls, haters and other who just won’t like you on YouTube as in life. It’s ok! Being myself and creating the content that I feel best reflects my creativity (all the music used on Frankie Tech are my own productions) my humor (just keep swimming & and PUBG Showdowns - TAKE THAT! OH YEAH!) and my personality (anytime anywhere street tech baby!) is the way to go. It’s the only way to go.

Filming at the top of a Castle in York, England. Anytime, anywhere!

Have supportive friends and family that are your true OG fans.

I remember before starting Frankie Tech that anytime I went out with my best friend Nick, the conversation would always gravitate towards phones. “Here we go again!” My friend would say. Eventually I’d spent 30 minutes talking about my latest purchase or latest release and my buddy would declare, “NO MORE PHONE TALK!” It’s not that he wasn’t into tech, it’s just that he wasn’t as into it as I was. This similar experience would occur with my colleagues, other friends and even my wife, who would entertain my conversations but eventually say “you should write about this stuff, or make a video or something”. I’m sure some of you have experienced this before as well (if you’re reading this you are probably tech obsessed too!) and it’s a challenge sharing your interest in tech with others who don’t feel the same.

Frankie Tech has given me the ultimate venue for sharing my passion for tech with the world. Yet in the end, I couldn't have done it without the understanding and support from my friends and family for cheering me on and believing in my efforts. A special shout out to my wife and daughter, who have sometimes had to deal with a missing father and husband, sometimes on the streets filming a first look, and sometimes just locked in the bedroom trying to finish editing the latest video. They have been so understanding on this journey, even at their own expense. That’s why it’s important that I do find a balance between my tech passion and the rest of my life. Frankie Tech would be nothing without them.

Done looking back, now it’s time to look forward.

If you have made it to the end of this article, thank you. A big reason I have the passion and excitement to continue moving forward with Frankie Tech is because of viewers like you. I am so blessed and privileged to be able to share my love for tech with you guys every week. So that being said, what does the future bring? Why more phones, more street tech first looks, more reviews, more drain tests, more of everything! But beyond that I do have some plans moving forward that I share with you now:

• More face to face content: I’ve heard you loud and clear! This is one of those changes that I know I’ve been putting off, due to getting the right setup and audio in place. That said, I definitely plan to start rolling out more face to face content in my videos so stay tuned!

• Frankie Tech 2.0: I think there is no doubt the look of my channel is also due for a revamp. Does that mean I’ll be changing my logo and theme music tomorrow? Not at all. But I do think it’s time to change up some of the look of my videos, including title cards, graphics and music. It’s important that a channel stay fresh and so this is definitely high priority on my list of things to do.

• Collaborations, events and more: One thing that I definitely want to do more in 2020 is meeting with other YouTubers to create content. I had a chance to meet Andrew Marc David (AMD Tech) in Las Vegas in June and it was a great experience! I hope to do more collaborations with fellow YouTubers who I think are like minded in their approach to creating content. I also plan on attending more events and shows, where I can actually expand my network in tech and create great content in the process.

My first collaboration video with Andrew Marc David (AMD Tech). Such an awesome guy and hope to do future videos with his channel!

The origin of “Just Keep Swimming”

And now the origin of “Just Keep Swimming”. If you don’t know, this refers to the crazy random moment in my videos where my PUBG Mobile Avatar randomly runs to the water and go for a swim. Besides the obvious reference to Dory’s line from Finding Nemo, there is a deeper meaning to this line. At the end of Gattaca, one of my favorite movies of all time (SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THIS GO WATCH THE MOVIE FIRST!) there is a scene where Vincent, the physically weaker brother challenges his stronger and genetically superior brother Anton to one final swimming challenge. As they swim out into the distance, something amazing happens: Vincent wins. Confronted with this impossible result Anton asks Vincent, “How have you done any of this?”. Vincent’s response, “This how I did it Anton, I never saved anything for the swim back”.

Looking back at the past 16 months, this has been my mantra for building Frankie Tech. I didn’t think, I just did. I pushed forward, harder than I ever have done on almost anything before. And here we are. Thanks again for your time and to all of you, no matter where you are, no matter what you do, Just Keep Swimming!

The Real “Just Keep Swimming”

Realme X2 vs OnePlus 7T vs Mi 9T Pro : Software is King!

I just wrapped up my epic triple comparison featuring Realme X2 Pro vs OnePlus 7T vs Mi 9T Pro. I had lot of fun making these videos, in part because I had so much to say about these phones. Each of these amazing devices bring so much to the table that I really feel I could pick any one of them and be satisfied with the hardware experience. Yet in these reviews I really tackle the question: is great hardware enough?

From a design perspective the Realme X2 Pro and OnePlus 7T seem to be “cut from the same cloth”. In the Realme X2 Pro (8/128 GB variant costs 3100 HKD / 400 USD) BBK Electronics and their subsidiaries clearly aim to deliver the best possible hardware at the lowest possible price. Big beautiful 6.5” AMOLED display? Check. Flagship features like 90Hz refresh rate and the latest Snapdragon 855+ Processor? Check. Great 4000 mAh battery capacity with even greater 30 minute 0-100% fast charging? Check. Its amazing to think that just 4 months ago the K20 Pro/Mi 9T Pro (3500 HKD/ 450 USD) was in my opinion the best affordable flagship phone of 2019, and it would not be topped. And yet on paper the Realme X2 seems to now even surpass the Mi 9T Pro on value. So the winner of this showdown should be a forgone conclusion right?

Realme X2 Pro (Right), OnePlus 7T (Center) and Mi 9T Pro (Left). All of these phones shoot great images in most lighting conditions.

Spoiler alert, its not. And that is the crux of what I hope to express in this video series. There is no doubt we are seeing top design, display, performance, audio and camera specs from China OEM’s, but there is still something about OnePlus and their approach to Android software and optimization that they have yet to challenge. And yet this is very reason why even at a much higher price (5000 HKD / 600 USD) there is something so compelling about the OnePlus 7T. The experience of Oxygen OS 10.0 on this phone is so fast, so fluid and so intuitive I don’t want to put it down. Sure the hardware is great and I love it, but the software is even better. I have said it before and I reiterate it here: hardware is the thing that makes you fall in love with a phone, but software is what keeps you in love with a phone. With that said, after I woke up this morning and got ready to go I picked up two phones (as I typically do) for primary use today. One was my iPhone 11 Pro Max, and the other was the OnePlus 7T. Software truly is king.

This website is ghost town (and what I'm going to do about it!)

Cricket…cricket.. anyone here? Echo…echo…echo…

I’m just gonna go ahead and say it. This website has been absolutely neglected by me, and I have no excuses. In the pursuit of making content for YouTube, answering viewers comments on social media, and just doing additional things unrelated to the channel (work, family, just life in general) I have let www.frankietechvideos.com just die a slow death to the point that I even considered just shutting it down as it serves no purpose.

Well, I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I’ve decided I’m NOT going to be doing that. I originally intended this website as a venue to share my thoughts on new tech, news stories and more. But the reality was at the end of the day I just never got around to writing anything! But that’s when it hit me: this website can still be a great venue for my content outside of YouTube, and I should totally take advantage of including it into my workflow.

So here is the plan moving forward:

• I will continue to posting random thoughts, blog posts and ideas on here. I also am going to start making it a habit of just writing whatever I feel like, mostly tech related, but hey sometimes it might not be, and that is fine.

• I will also start integrating this site into my regular video releases. What does that mean? I will be linking my latest reviews and videos directly here, with additional written content (and photos!) for an added bonus on top of just the videos.

• I eventually hope to host other content here including audio content (future podcast?) and other stuff that I want to share.

I commit myself to follow through on this. I’ve had some great ideas of things I’ve wanted to write about, but it really does seem looping this website into my typical “post a video” process is the best way forward. Anyway. Here goes! This is Frankie Tech signing ON!

Frankie Tech Reflects: The Redmi K20 Pro Video

Well here is my first post in a while on frankietechvideos.com. Since my last post I have travelled to the US and Thailand. I have been in multiple cities including Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Bangkok, and the travel doesn’t stop there! Next week I’ll be flying to London and then returning to fly to Okinawa for my birthday celebration. Throughout all of this travel though, I have managed to keep creating content, while checking out all the latest phones and tech. It’s been a crazy busy time! Yet this week something happened that I feel I need to reflect on: The Redmi India K20 Series “What the world has to say” video.

On Thursday, July 11th a Tweet dropped from Redmi India about their latest big phone launch. The K20 Series was about to go on Alpha sale in the country so the company created a flashy new 45 second video hyping up the phone. I had actually been reached out by the company to use some footage from one my videos. I accepted but always believed it to be used in some very obscure promotional content. (Here’s the link in case you haven’t seen it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCKsvNfgvPg)

The video starts to the tune of EDM synths. “The Reviews are In… The Hype is Real”. There was nothing too out of this world so far from the typical promotional videos I’d seen, with top Youtube tech stars like Unbox Therapy and Mrwhosetheboss being featured. Yet right at the moment the beat dropped, something miraculous happened. I found myself seeing a very familiar sight, and hearing a very familiar voice. THATS ME! I couldn’t believe it. By the end of the video I just sat there completely shocked and stupefied by what I had just seen. I had to play it again just confirm I wasn’t going crazy. “Here’s what @Unboxtherapy, @Mrwhosetheboss & @Frankie_tech, leading global tech reviewers, have to say about #RedmiK20Pro” Those words, that tweet, that video. They will forever be imprinted in my mind as the moment when things became real, when this crazy experiment that started just 13 months back became something special.

This post is not meant to sound self congratulatory, and if it does I apologize. I just feel there are times in life when you just need to stop, breathe and soak it all in. So often in life we’re so quick to move to the next thing that we don’t stop to smell the roses. I’ve made it a point to myself to stop and reflect this time. Will there possibly be bigger moments in my channel and journey in tech in the future? I hope so. And is this ultimately a very small event in the grand scheme of things? Definitely. But this is a moment that I will look back to and cherish for a long time.

To all of you guys who have been here since day one, or to any of you who just joined this crazy ride that is Frankie Tech, I say a very deep and heartfelt thank you. Without you none of this would be possible. And a special shout out to my wonderful wife and companion, whose flexibility and support have allowed me to follow my dreams. I love you louh poh!

Now enough talking (or typing!) Lets get back to work… This is Frankie Tech signing off!

The moment it happened… still pinching myself!

Thoughts on the Huawei Android Ban

I woke up this morning and picked up two phones first, my iPhone XS Max, and my most recent favorite Android phone of use, the Huawei P30 Pro. Waking up to the news that Google has revoked Huawei’s Android license comes as a shock, as it could finally spell the end of the company’s ambitions anywhere outside China. In the past years there is no other Android OEM that has made more advances in terms of hardware and growth. The P20 Pro, Mate 20X and now P30 Pro have represented some of the best phones I have tried and reviewed on the channel. Yet it is this level of excellence that I feel has not gone unnoticed, and with its ever growing influence and impact in the smartphone market, it seems that the US has finally found a way to limit that relentless march towards number one.

So what does this mean for Huawei phones and reviews on the channel? I will continue monitoring the situation and if Huawei really does become limited to AOSP and lose any access to Google Services, it will be difficult if not impossible to recommend Huawei phones to my viewers. It really pains me to say that because I really think Huawei is in another league of camera and hardware innovation. The P30 Pro’s Periscope Zoom Lens might be the most fun feature I’ve used on a smartphone camera in years, and Huawei’s night mode has finally surpassed Google’s own “Night Sight” as the best lowlight implementation. Companies like Xiaomi, Oppo and others have had to push further to just stay in the conversation. By removing Huawei from the picture this will create a major opportunity for those companies, but ultimately a loss for consumers who will miss out on using some of the most incredible innovations in mobile tech.

The P30 Pro, my Frankie Tech battery champ so far for 2019.

The Game Boy at 30

I can’t believe it’s been 30 years since "Now you're playing with power; PORTABLE POWER!" became a thing! Nintendo’s Game Boy launched on April 21st, 2019 and I think even they could not have imagined the impact that their portable console would have on the world. Today we live in an age where portable gaming is the norm. The iPhone release in 2007 along with the App Store in 2008 definitely took casual gaming to the next level, but almost 19 years before that Nintendo was already redefining what it meant to game on the go.

I remember growing up my sisters owning a number of Game & Watch mini consoles. I especially remember the ones where you had to try and save people from burning buildings, or trying to zap bugs with your insecticide. Those were amazing for the time, but I remember the first time I played Super Mario Land that this truly was something special. The irony of it all is that I actually never owned a Game Boy, but I remember after 2nd grade when I had the opportunity to borrow my friend’s for a couple of weeks. I remember traveling to El Salvador for the summers and playing at my cousins house. And now I reminisce with my wife, whose aunt owned a Game Boy and just one game, Tetris which she would fervently play whenever she came over. The Game Boy really was that much fun to play with, and it still is.

I picked up the console last night and got to World 3-2 in Super Mario Land, forgetting how difficult games used to be. I spent 40 minutes playing on a 30 year old portable console, and had a blast. That alone highlights Game Boy’s enduring appeal. Happy 30th Birthday Game Boy: thanks for all those portable power memories!

My wife played Tetris last night. She’s still got it!

Thoughts on the Galaxy Fold Fiasco

To say it’s been a tough week for Samsung is an understatement. Within 24 hours of releasing their 2000 USD Galaxy Fold to a number of reviewers, the internet observed in shock as unit after unit of the Fold suffered irreversible display damage. Yes a number of these failures were credited to certain users like @MKBHD removing the “non removable” polymer cover on the display. But there were also a number of incidents (@Backlon from the Verge) who not once attempted to remove the “protector” but still suffered screen damage. Now only Samsung knows the extent of units affected, but anything even beyond a handful of units is already an extremely troubling situation.

Now I’ve gone through a range of feelings about this catastrophic launch of the Galaxy Fold. Yesterday I was definitely more in the “serves them right” stance: Samsung rushed the Galaxy Fold to the market and failed to explore all the consequences of not explaining its proper use to the reviewers. Today, while I’m still feeling pretty frustrated by the apologists who are taking the “they took a risk, so don’t blame them” stance, I do agree it is still too early to pass full judgement on whether #foldgate is going be the next #Note7. The two things I am waiting for:

1. Samsung’s response or reaction once the device starts getting in the hands of ACTUAL users.

2. Whether the Huawei Mate X release suffers similar problems.

We will wait and see what happens, but there is no doubt this is not the kind of coverage Samsung hoped for with this launch. I hope for their sake the problem is truly and only limited to the handful of early review units, or else #foldgate is real and is only getting started.

Source Mark Gurman - Probably the most extreme example of the damage. Not something you expect after a day of use for a 2000 USD phone!

A New Direction for www.frankietechvideos.com

Hello all! Well it has been a while since I’ve contributed anything meaningful to the website. The reality is that my previous content has typically felt a bit removed from what I am covering on the channel. While I do talk about the phones I am reviewing in some context, I generally have tried to take a more high level approach to the content here. Well, I have decided to pivot on this approach. Moving forward beyond adding content here that is more high level, I will start adding more current content and commentary on the latest news, and releases. The format of my posts will be a bit more akin to daringfireball.net: more quick takes and a focus on quality over quantity. I also want to make an effort to increase the frequency of my posts, so that www.frankietechvideos.com can truly become another venue for sharing my thoughts in quick written form on a subject. Thanks again for all of your support and stay tuned for this new style and format! And by all means hit me up on social media with any thoughts on the things you’d like to see here on the website. This is Frankie Tech signing off!

Just Press "RECORD": From the Xiaomi Mi 8 to the Mi 9

I don’t know what was my motivation that day to start filming. In fact I don’t even know what I ate for lunch, or why I chose that day over any other. But on June 12th, 2018 I purchased Xiaomi’s new flagship phone from my usual reseller in Sham Shui Po, and then took out my iPhone and filmed a 3 minute 16 second video of the phone. And the craziest part of all this: the video was filmed in PORTRAIT, not landscape. The reality was that I had no idea what I was doing, but I did know that I had spent years talking, watching, listening and reading about mobile tech as well as trying new phones. Yet the passion and desire to share my feelings about the Xiaomi Mi 8 were so strong that day that it was practically an inevitability. I eventually was able to better articulate why things had occurred the way they did: I was already living and breathing having a tech YouTube channel every day. The only thing I wasn’t doing was pressing “RECORD”!

Clip of my Xiaomi Mi 8 first look, June 12th, 2018. Filmed in portrait and in poor lighting!

The Xiaomi Mi 8 was the perfect first phone to revive my channel. I had earlier in the year purchased the P20 Pro, and the One Plus 6 and while both of those phones were great releases, they had been extensively covered by most of the big sites and channels. At the time the Xioami Mi 8 had been announced in China, and the first units had made their way across the border to Hong Kong. There was very limited coverage in English at the time of this release, and I knew that because at the time I spent my days scouring through videos trying to find good content. The Mi 8 also represented Xiaomi’s first attempt at creating a notched “iPhone X” like phone, but at an ultra competitive price point that only Xiaomi is capable of achieving. Because of this, I don’t think there could have been a better phone or a better time to record my first video in years and revive my channel.

It’s amazing to come full circle 8 months later reviewing the Mi 8’s successor, the Xiaomi Mi 9. With a beautiful holographic back, pebble like curves, 6.39” AMOLED screen, triple camera setup, next generation Snapdragon 855 processor and fast in display fingerprint sensor the Mi 9 represents a sizable upgrade in every way over the Mi 8. The only thing that didn’t change? The rock bottom pricing. At 2999 Yuan or 3500 HKD/450 USD the Mi 9 arrives with the same specs and on the same day as the Samsung Galaxy S10 series, but at less than half the price. I think if Xiaomi was able to sell the Mi 9 in more markets, including the US, this value proposition would be hard to beat, even at a 10 or 20 percent increase from the China pricing. I would love to see Xiaomi find a way to get it’s products into the States, as I really feel the US market is missing out on some of the best value phones being released these days.

The beautiful holographic back of the Ocean Blue Mi 9 catching the light just right!

Why did I stop for three and a half years? The reality is, I have as few reasons to explain why I stopped as I have for why I started again. What I do know is that my life has changed so much from posting that first Frankie Tech Video in January 2015 to when I revived the channel in June 2018. In the span of those 3 plus years my wife and I welcomed our daughter to this world. She is now 3 years old and loves technology and saying my tagline “Hi Guys it’s Frankie from Frankie Tech!”. During that time I also made advances for myself, completing my MBA in May of 2018. I guess you could say I was restless, or was missing something to do that day in June. Yet there was one thing that stayed consistent through all this time: my passion for tech. I filmed an occasional short unboxing of a new Apple product, and spoke incessantly to my best buddy Nick for years about phones and tech, to the point that he would decree, “no more phone talk!” on many nights out. He knew I was passionate about tech but he also knew that with the right venue, I could share my thoughts with an audience receptive to hear it. I’m so glad that I finally found an outlet for my passion through YouTube and Frankie Tech. I’m so glad that I pushed past the doubt and fear of putting myself and my content out there. I’m so glad I pressed “RECORD” once again!

Shot with the Mi 9’s new ultra wide sensor, a great way to capture more skyline and foreground.

The Redmi Note 7 - The Perceived vs Real Best Budget Phone

The Redmi Note 7 is a hit.

There is no doubt that Xiaomi’s latest phone has been making waves. In fact just yesterday another report on GSMArena revealed that the company sold 100,000 units of the phone in 10 minutes and 56 seconds! How is it that a fairly good to average spec phone with a “48 MP” camera has managed to drive so much demand and interest?

Perceived vs Real Value

One of the key things I think that Xiaomi (and now it’s Redmi sub-brand) has done very adeptly is building hype around a certain price point for their phones. In the past year there has been only one other phone release that led to the kind of hysteria and hype that the Redmi Note 7 has achieved: the Pocophone F1. With the release of the Pocophone F1, Poco by Xiaomi touted all the specs of a flagship phone: Snapdragon 845 with liquid cooling technology, up to 8 GB of Ram and 256 GB of storage, 6.18 inch FHD+ display, AI Camera and a 4000 mAh capacity battery. The price for this amazing spec list? 300 Dollars. It was that 300 dollar price point that wowed and stunned people. In every subsequent article and video for the next week the hype all was focused around one main theme: The Pocophone offers flagship specs for 300 dollars, and is the greatest deal in mobile tech we have ever seen.

But was the theme of that release really indicative of the reality that most people experienced? As most of you may remember every single YouTube video released at the time had that $300 price point in their video title. Yet what was the phone that Xiaomi sent out to all these top influencers? It turned out to be the 8GB, 256 GB storage version in a beautiful rubbery Kevlar “Armored Edition” whose true costs was closer to 420 US Dollars. Rarely did I hear a single video mention this fact, and the reality at this moment became clear: the perceived value that people initially see and that compels them to purchase a phone is always far greater than the real value they ultimately get.

Now don’t get me wrong, I loved the Pocophone, and even at 400 dollars it still provided a great value for what I was getting. Yet regardless of that, Xiaomi’s 300 US Dollar price point is what sticks in people’s minds. It’s what drives the viral nature of their releases, with flash sales just continuing to build the hype of sheer demand on the phone, and it is this same tactic that Xiaomi has employed with the Redmi Note 7.

The 150 USD, 48 Mega Pixel Budget Flagship Killer

When I watch Xiaomi press events and phone releases I do it the same way you all may do: dodgy YouTube streams! As I am not fluent in Mandarin I rely on the almost comical live subtitles for these events. Yet watching Lei Jun present these phones I see a lot of the theatrics and style that made watching Steve Jobs keynotes so entertaining. In the best of Steve’s keynotes there was always an element of surprise and mystery. You never knew if you would get a “one more thing” or another announcement that could change the world again. When Lei Jun revealed the price point for the Redmi Note 7 I felt that same feeling of surprise and reveal. The 999 Yuan dropped with a crash from the top of the screen followed by gasps and applause in the crowd. That was the first step in building hype for Redmi’s first sub-brand phone. The next day every single publication (The Verge, Mashable, Slashgear) had a headline that read similarly: 48 MP phone for 150 Dollars. The narrative for the Redmi Note 7 had been set, and it continues to define the story of this phone in most people’s eyes. Forget the fact that any 4GB plus variants of the phone will cost you more (in fact my review unit cost me upwards of 250 US Dollars!), or that the Snapdragon 660 included cannot actually process 48 megapixel photos, thus forcing the camera to down sample images to 12 megapixels. Now I’m not trying to nitpick here, but I will say that Xiaomi has an incredible way of making you feel that you are almost stealing this phone from them at this price point, and that alone drives the fandom and hype we see, regardless of the details.

Colors, colors, what’s your favorite color?

Go look at the photo below and you will notice one thing: of the three color variants Xiaomi has released for the Redmi Note 7, there is only one whose back does not appear on this image. You guessed it, it’s the black color version. While Huawei pioneered the gradient back phones since last year’s P20 Pro, Xiaomi has joined the bandwagon and has begun offering it now on some of their lower price point phones. The two colors you do see, Twilight Gold (which in my opinion has got to be the worst name to describe this back) and Twilight Blue are bright, vibrant and beautiful if not slightly ostentatious. In person they look even better. And yet do these colors really do anything to improve the overall phone experience? Not at all.

For some users they may even detract from their experience. Yet there is one thing these loud and possibly gaudy colors do well: marketing. There is no denying that phone makers have turned to colors to find ways to drive new sales and build hype around releases. Apple is famous for releasing their “Product Red” color variant months after the initial release to drive a new cycle of demand. Even One Plus recently has done the same with the release of their red and “Thunder Purple” 6T variants that opened the door to a new set of buyers. Color sells, and certain colors can have as much an impact on marketing and promoting a phone as the specs and price point. By releasing their first Redmi sub-brand phone in two absolutely stunning and over-the-top color schemes, Xiaomi has ensured that through hands on videos, images on websites and reviews their phone will get the attention and hype that they hope for. I don’t see this as subversive or anti-consumer thing, this is just smart marketing that appeals to the most primordial of human instincts: my “insert product here” is shinier than yours!

The reality is that because of all this hype and marketing and theatrics one thing becomes clear: the real value of the devices we purchase rarely ever reach the heights that they achieve before we use them, and that is why the next big thing always looks better than the one we currently have in our hands.

The Redmi Note 7 Flash sales have seen the phone selling out in minutes.

My Most Anticipated Phones of 2019!

In the spirit of my previous post, I figured I would do a Part 2 of my Tech Wish List. This time however, I want to discuss the specific phones that I am most looking forward to in 2019. Rather than be an exhaustive list, I’ve chosen to focus on a handful of phones that I feel are really going to make an impact, or who are the successors to some of my favorite phones I’ve reviewed on the channel.

Redmi Note 7

This is the only phone on this list that we already know everything about, as it has already been announced and will be released for purchase shortly (and I hope to get my hands on this as soon as possible!). I watched the Redmi Note 7 launch event, and was fairly impressed with Xiaomi’s first “Redmi” sub-brand release. Snapdragon 660, USB-C, 4000 mAh battery and 48 megapixel main sensor are all specs that you can be happy with in a mid range phone. Yet it was when the price dropped (in that typical dramatic Xiaomi style) that I really felt the impact of this release. Xiaomi is once again making a statement with the Redmi Note 7: they are the leaders in offering the best phones for the best price. Coming in at a starting price of 999 Yuan (or just under 150 USD), the Redmi Note 7 offers an incredible value, second only to the Pocophone F1. I really hope it’s a sign of what Xiaomi hopes to achieve with their Redmi sub-brand in 2019.

Xiaomi Mi 9

On June 12th, 2018 I pressed “record” and filmed a 3 minute video on my most recent tech purchase: the Xiaomi Mi 8. I don’t know why I felt the need to record that day, but looking back I can’t think of a better phone to have done it with than the Mi 8. The iPhone X had been released just 7 months back, and Android phones had started releasing notch style phones to the market. I had already tried out the P20 Pro and even was in possession of the One Plus 6, but it was the Mi 8 that really wowed in terms of value (remember this is pre-Pocophone era here!). While the Mi 8 wasn’t a perfect device, it was that performance (Snapdragon 845, 6.21” HDR AMOLED display, 4000 mAh battery), great dual cameras and overall build quality that compelled me to share my thoughts in video form. No matter how many Xiaomi phones I review, I will always remember the Mi 8, and it’s for this reason alone that I am so excited for the release of the Mi 9 in 2019. I’m not sure what that phone will look like, or if it will capture that same balance of premium design and value as the Mi 8 did, but you can be sure I will be there to cover it the same way I did on that warm evening in June.

P30 Pro

While Xiaomi dominated the summer phone releases with devices like the Mi 8, Mi A2, Mi Max 3 and Pocophone F1, it was Huawei (and it’s sub brand Honor) that revved it into overdrive by the end of the year. I don’t know if you had that feeling, but it seemed like Huawei or Honor were releasing a new phone EVERY DAY for a while there (as a Tech Youtuber covering these releases it sure felt that way!) Yet for all the Huawei/Honor phones I covered in 2018, one of my favorite phones of the year was one that I actually never did a video on. From around the middle of April until right before I started my channel I used the P20 Pro as my daily driver, and there was no other phone (other than the Pixel) that I used as my main Android phone for longer in 2018. When I made my annual trip to the States, I brought two phones: the iPhone X and the P20 Pro. I remember chatting with people about the amazing camera on the phone and captured some photos on my trip that may still be some of the best low light shots I’ve ever taken. I eventually sold the P20 Pro, yet not a week has gone by that I don’t think about that phone and all the amazing camera experiences it made possible. If the P30 Pro is able to capture that wonder and amazement in camera performance that the P20 Pro did, then 2019 may prove to be an even bigger year for Huawei and Honor.

Pocophone F2

Is it any wonder that the successor to the Pocophone F1 is on this list? The most disruptive phone of 2018, the Pocophone redefined our expectations of what true value in the smartphone world could be (and a debut phone from a new brand no less!). Of all the successors to the ones on this list, no phone will have a harder, more challenging task of matching the heights of its predecessor. We all remember back to the One Plus 2, the successor to the revolutionary One Plus One that was critically panned for its design, performance and missing features (no NFC was a major misstep). The reality is it’s hard to strike as perfect a balance of price to features and performance as the One Plus One and Pocophone F1 did. But if there is any company that will be able to pull it off in 2019, its Poco by Xioami with the Pocophone F2.

Finally I wrap up here with a few honorable mentions of phones I’m super excited about:

Mi A3 - Probably the top selling Android One smartphone in the world, I’m very excited to see how Xiaomi can modernize the design and performance of this phone to compete with the likes of the Nokia 8.1, and Moto X4/G6.

Mi Max 4 - The best big budget phone of 2018 was hands down the Mi Max 3. Will be very exciting to see what chip, camera and display Xiaomi will decide to use on the Max 4 (and what about a Max 4 Pro version?).

One Plus 7 - Can One Plus finally put some decent haptics in their phone?! I have warmed up again to One Plus in the past few months, so am excited to see how far they can push the design and camera quality on their “Flagship Killer”.

iPhone XI - What can Apple do to turn the tide on it’s dismal end of 2018? Can Apple offer something truly unique and groundbreaking to match it’s prices that are becoming harder to justify each year? I love my iPhone XS Max, but the sticker shock of Apple’s recent products is really starting to become a problem, so I hope they are able to course correct in 2019 ( bezel-less iPhone SE 2 for $499 perhaps?).

Here’s to a year of epic releases and exciting phones! I’m pumped and ready! Are you?!

This is Frankie Tech! Signing off! Thanks for reading!

One of my favorite shots taken on the P20 Pro, taken at Maison Bourbon, in New Orleans.

My Tech Wish List of 2019

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here it is! My first post of 2019! When thinking about this upcoming year in tech there are a number of trends and stories that will dominate the year. But instead of really focusing on the major overall trends that most others will, I’d like to focus on the ones that I’m most excited about. What are those things that I hope at the end of 2019 will have come true? What’s my tech wish list of 2019?

The Truly Bezel-less (Chinless?) Android Phone

It’s probably the quest that most manufacturers are working on and yet as far as we have seen there is one thing that all “bezel-less” Android phones still have: a chin. Now you may be thinking, “but the chins are so small now, why does it matter?” Yet it is this quest for full screen displays that is why I keep coming back to the chin. As of today, there is only one phone that has absolutely no chin and whose display reaches the very bottom of the phone: the iPhone X (and all future versions included). It’s a very subtle thing, but when you use an iPhone and its touch gestures there is a reason why they work so perfectly. When you swipe up to go home on the iPhone your finger is literally starting at the edge of the bottom of the device. You do not need to swipe on any part of the front glass to get there. It just works, and makes using gestures more intuitive and deliberate. As most Android phones are starting to implement gesture based navigation on their phones, isn’t in time that we have a phone release that finally fulfills this “chinless” display arrangement as seen on the iPhone? There has been so much in recent months about notches, tear-drop, and now even the punch-hole cut outs for solving bezels on the top of the phone. Why are Android OEMs stopping there? I really hope that by the end of this year we see at least one flagship Android phone (yes even one from Samsung) succeed at wrapping the display under the components as Apple has done, so that we can finally utilize gesture based UI the way it was meant to be.

More Stock, Less Bloat

I think it’s safe to say that I will probably always prefer a more stock-like Android interface over a skin. It’s not to say I don’t like skins. Using MIUI 10 has been a real hate-to-love transformation for me. When I first re-started my channel I did my first “Mi 8 - 48 Hour Review” and got a bunch of angry comments saying “why are you reviewing a phone with a custom launcher? We want to see MIUI 9!!” It was so crazy for me to see this because my natural tendency for years when purchasing a Xiaomi phone was as follows: one, unlock developer mode and speed up animations to 0.5x. Two, download Nova, Action or Google Now (and later Rootless Pixel) launcher on phone and get rid of “Insert OEM skin here” immediately. Yet the more Xiaomi phones I used the more I started to enjoy the additions and features of MIUI. You really can get used to a new interface and UI over time, and that’s exactly what happened with me and my Xiaomi phones. By the release of MIUI 10 I was never switching launchers anymore, and just used the phones as they came out of the box.

Yet for every 5 or 6 Xiaomi phones I used, there was always the occasional phone with Android One that made me miss the simplicity and fluidity that stock Android offers. Is stock Android a bit plain? A bit boring? Perhaps. But there is one aspect of Stock Android (Android One and Pixel Launcher being the most recent examples) that I feel is still a far more enjoyable experience out of the box: absolutely no bloat. But what about on everything else? Bloat. And not a little bloat, LOTS of Bloat. My initial experience with any EMUI, MIUI, Funtouch OS, or Color OS based phone always involves removing tons of bloatware apps. Add to that the addition of ads in various parts of of the OS (like the Huawei Gallery app) and annoying popups recommending I re-download all the apps I just deleted, and the experience is just never as clean and fluid, never as satisfying and always more frustrating. The closest thing in the Western world that mimics this is using an Amazon Fire Tablet. Ads will appear on the lock screen, meanwhile apps, magazines and products are recommended for purchase on every tab of the home-screen interface. Yet you kind of know what you’re getting with Amazon and its Fire OS. As one of the largest online stores in the world its kind of par for the course. Is this the experience that I really want to have every time I purchase a new China OEM based Android phone? Not at all! And so that is why I wish that by the end of 2019 we see more China based companies begin to offer Android One phones to their consumers. Imagine this: An Android One based Huawei Mate 20X: no bloatware, just fluid stock Android UI with no compromises. For me that is the phone that dreams are made of.

The Flagship Killer, Killer, KILLER!

2018 was a special year in the sense that we saw a phone released that truly disrupted the market. Not since the One Plus One had a phone offered so much for so little, and truly defined the term “flagship killer” as this phone did. If you follow my channel you know already what phone I am talking about. The Pocophone F1 redefined our perceptions of what a budget flagship could be. With a Snapdragon 845, 4000 mAh battery, solid 6.18” IPS LCD display and camera that wasn’t actually garbage (in fact it was very good) we opened our hearts and our wallets to Xiaomi’s new sub-brand device. Entering 2019 the Pocophone F1 is still the phone I will recommend to most people who want the best phone for the best price. Nothing has or will top it for some time to come. And yet therein lies my ultimate wish for 2019: what if someone did? My major wish for 2019 is that companies explore and strike the perfect balance of price to design, display, performance, audio and camera quality to give the Pocophone F1 a run for it’s money. Imagine this review in late 2019: the Pocophone F2 vs a competitor with a Snapdragon 855 (or Kirin 980), 8 GB of RAM and a 6.5” bezel-less display, 4000 mAh battery with USB-C and a 100 DXO Mark score camera. All for 300-350 USD. The Pocophone F2 is the phone we are all waiting for. But my wish is that I am able to review it next to a phone that comes close or even surpasses it in overall value.

Where will we be in December 2019? We shall see!

The beauty of the mobile technology landscape today is that as predictable and revealing as leaks can be, there are just as many opportunities for true surprise and wonder. Here’s to an exciting year of mobile technology that I cannot wait to experience as a consumer, industry observer and as Frankie Tech. 2019 HERE WE COME!

Sourced from Patently Apple.

A reflection on how we got here. PART 1

What a year it’s been! I couldn’t imagine that just over 6 months ago when I picked up my phone and started filming my latest Xiaomi phone purchase that it would have come this far. Here we are on the day after Christmas 2018, and I am celebrating 25 thousand subscribers, and nearly 5 MILLION VIEWS on my channel. How did this happen? A few thoughts on my journey and how we got here. This is an ongoing story so stay tuned for part 2 coming soon!

The history of my mobile tech obsession.

The reality was, that Xiaomi Mi 8 that I debuted in June was not the first phone I had purchased that year. Yeah I can admit I was buying and trying phones long before this point. My obsession with phones and tech really started back in early 2012. I had just purchased my first iPhone a year back and was what you would consider your typical phone user. Due to circumstances in April 2012 I found myself without a job and in some tough times. I had no choice but to sell off my iPhone 4S and find a cheaper alternative. It was that moment that I was first exposed to the world of Android and purchased a used Samsung Galaxy S (yes as much as I dislike Samsung now, I used to love them) as my daily driver. By the end of 2012 I had tried a number of Android phones, and even was able to sell a few for profit. I always wanted to get an iPhone again when I could afford it, but looking back I really have to thank Android as a platform for giving me affordable options to get through that tough year. By years end I found myself using a Galaxy S2 and even a used iPhone 3GS, not the best lineup, but it served my needs. And then came Nexus. I had heard about the Nexus line of phones (Galaxy S in 2010 and Galaxy Nexus in 2011) and when the Nexus 4 was released I just marvelled at this very simple yet elegant looking device. I knew I wanted one, but in no way could afford it. In May 2013 I was about to start a new role that would take me to the US for an extended period. At this point my 3GS was falling apart, and I had sold my Galaxy phone to survive. I knew I needed something better for my trip. So I sold my iPhone and went full Android, I found a great deal on a used Nexus 4. This became my daily driver for this trip, and for the next 4 months as I built my new career. But the exposure to Android and all of its choice, and the need to scratch that itch never left.

Why I use iPhones but love Android.

I think most people use iPhones because as they say, they just work, and I will always love Apple and the iPhone for being just that. I was the kid who owned a Mac when no one else did, and was even made fun of when I walked into school for the first time with this new device called the “iPod”. Apple products will always be near and dear to me. But what Apple can’t give me is this general sense of choice, almost even a sense of risk. I know when I buy an iPhone what to expect. And it’s very comforting, but that comfort can also become very boring! With Android I always know that the next phone I try may be great and it may be just ok. It may be terrible, but it may be one the best technology experiences EVER. It’s that range of experiences you can have on Android at various price points that makes it so exciting. Add to that the multiple companies creating multiple phones every single month and you have the makings of a very dynamic and exciting industry to follow. The iPhone is like taking a walk in beautifully manicured and laid out Italian garden. You can appreciate the beautiful symmetry and design, and you are in no danger. Android is like taking a walk in the forest… at night! You don’t know what you will find and it’s risky at times, scary even, but it is thrilling! A big part of my love of technology comes from this variation that Android provides so I love it for that reason, even though I do also enjoy the comforts of iOS and the ease of use it offers.

I was making a tech channel before I knew it.

So going back to my story. By the end of 2013 things are looking up. My new job is going well, and I’ve finally repurchased an iPhone to use as well (iPhone 5), but the Android itch was still there! My time on the Nexus 4 made me really appreciate the simple utilitarian nature of stock Android, and with the Nexus 5 having been recently announced I knew I had to scratch that itch again. I sold my Nexus 4 and got the Nexus 5 (which to this day I still consider one of the best Android phones ever). I spent most of 2014 using that Nexus 5, but also exploring my new love for Motorola and its Moto X 2013, and eventually the Moto X 2014. In 2014 I also bought my first Xiaomi phone, the Mi 3. I remember liking but not loving the Mi 3, but it was only when I purchased the Mi 4 in late 2014 that I thought, “Hey this Xiaomi is onto something here”. At this point you see, even before I posted that very first tech video in 2015, I was REALLY INTO phones. I remember having to explain to people, why do I have a different phone so often? I couldn’t really describe it to them, but I can sum it up as follows: the smartphone is the most important and widely used piece of technology that has ever been created, and it has transformed society in ways we haven’t even begun to fathom, with new phones being released that evolve and improve our experience with technology. What’s not to be excited about?! By 2015 I was the guy who always had the new interesting phone, and who was obsessed with talking about technology and mobile tech. So what did I do about it? I decided to take my passion and make a first attempt at creating a venue for it. So in January 2015 (using my Go Pro Hero 3 Silver) I pressed play and filmed my first ever Frankie Tech video. I followed up a few days later with my first comparison video, the Moto X 2014 vs my newly purchased Nexus 6. And then, I stopped. And I didn’t make another video ever again…

TO BE CONTINUED… (because we obviously know that’s not true!)

SO IT BEGINS!

Here is the first post on my official Frankie Tech Videos website! Now I know what you’re thinking, but aren’t you fully focused on YouTube?! Well yes, yes I am. But I am also thinking about the future! And while YouTube is a big part of what I’m doing, I also hope to make this very site a venue for many different ways of interacting with you guys! The world of technology be it phones, computers, tablets, and wearables, home assistants and AI is in its infancy, and so I’m here to cover it all, and just share my Frankie Tech “two cents” on various subjects. I look forward to making this site as much a part of the Frankie Tech experience as my channel! Thanks for all your support guys, and stay tuned to this site for great new written and spoken word content in 2019.

This is Frankie Tech signing off!