Is the iPhone SE (2022) the right phone for you? We revisit it after several months on sale to find out if it’s still a great value iPhone.
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It’s been a decade since the first Tesla EV made its commercial debut and the electrification of American automotive society began in earnest. Acceptance at the newfangled technology was slow at first but, over the past ten years as battery capacities have grown and range anxieties have shrunk, electric vehicles have become a daily sight in most parts of the country. Doesn’t hurt that virtually every notable automaker on the planet has jumped on the electric bandwagon with sizable investments in battery and production technologies as well as pledges to electrify their lineups within a decade or so.
Not even recent years’ production slowdowns and supply chain disruptions brought on by the COVID pandemic managed to stall the industry’s momentum. The International Energy Agency in January reported that EVs had managed to triple their market share between 2019 and 2021 with 6.6 million units being sold globally last year. That’s not to discount the crippling impacts of the chip shortage, which saw fleets of nearly-finished electrified vehicles parked and idled as they awaited necessary components. Or in Tesla’s case, simply sold without the needed part — oh calm down, it’s just the steering column, there’s nothing critical in there, anyway that’s what autopilot is for, right?
2022 has eliminated any lingering doubts about whether EVs are here to stay (hint: they are). “So far in 2022, global EV sales are up 70 percent, or around 2 million units,” from 2021’s figures, according to Morgan Stanley. It is expecting a further 22 percent increase — around another 1.8 million units — in 2023. China’s BYD set monthly EV sales records throughout the year. Domestically, an Experian study released in October noted more than 600,000 new EV registrations through the first ten months of 2022, a 60 percent year-over-year jump. EVs may not be quite as ruggedized as their hybrid cousins, but who cares about that when you’ve got Ken “Let’s See If I Can Barrel Roll This Car” Block blowing the doors off of the Vegas Strip in an 800V Audi S1 Hoonitron? Or have VW tickling the American public’s deep seated nostalgia with a reimagined Hippy Wagon for the 21st century? Even Sony is getting into the EV game. EVs are no longer niche, they’ve become an indelible part of the culture.
In terms of market share, Tesla and BYD both retained their dominant positions within their relative markets and briefly jockeyed for the world number one spot before BYD pulled away. The Chinese automaker’s EV sales now account for nearly 20 percent of the global total. For its part, Tesla passed notable milestones in its 10,000th Model Y produced at the Texas Gigafactory and the millionth vehicle to roll out of production at Gigafactory Shanghai.
2022 also saw big moves and bigger investments from the rest of the automotive industry, from Ford and General Motors especially. Ford began delivering its highly-anticipated F-150 Lightning EV pickup in May, turned them into roving conference rooms with help from Cisco, began beta testing their bidirectional charging capabilities with California’s public utility as did GM, developed a new battery chemistry, announced plans to bring seven more EV models to the European market by 2024, and imagined a world without dealer showrooms for EV sales. General Motors had a banner year of its own. The company began production on its new marquee Lyriq EV, unveiled its Yukon Denali, Silverado, Blazer and Celestiq EVs; teased its upcoming Corvette hybrid, and secured a sizable federal loan to expand its battery manufacturing base.
Not to be left out, Hyundai announced in 2022 a $ 5 billion investment in its US-based production capacity, including a new EV factory in Georgia. The Korean automaker, which has quietly risen to prominence in the US market in recent years, announced its next EV flagship, the Ioniq 6, in July the latest in Hyundai’s effort to release 17 electric vehicle models by the end of the decade. Kia, Hyundai’s sister brand, showed off the company’s brawnier EV6 GT at Monterey Car Week.
VW’s 2022 was fruitful as well and it appears that the automaker has fully embraced its electrified future (following the dieselgate scandal, how could it not?). VW opened a new ID.4 production plant in Tennessee, announced plans to invest an additional $ 7.1 billion into its North American production capacity over the next five years and dipped its toes into the EV battery business as well. Pfft, all Volvo did this year was debut the “safest car ever.”
And it wasn’t just the established brands, Lucid Motors is riding high this holiday season, buoyed by the November unveiling of its new top of the line Air Sapphire along with two (ahem, relatively) less expensive Air model variants, which will start at $ 87,000 with 410 miles of range and go up from there. The company also revealed plans this year to sell 100,000 units to the Saudi government, which has heavily invested in the company.
2022 also saw a drastic expansion of the nation’s various fast charging networks. In June, the Biden White House proposed a set of standards for the national EV charging network. The following month, GM announced that it will partner with EVGo to create a 500-station “coast-to-coast” fast-charge network and in December, opened its first two Community Charging Initiative sites in Wisconsin and Detroit. Hertz, fresh off two significant purchase contracts with Polestar and GM, revealed it is working with BP to host the latter’s BP Pulse chargers at select Hertz car rental locations — not unlike what VW and BP have planned for Europe. Similarly, IKEA will team up with Electrify America to bring EA’s fast charging network to the Swedish homeware maker’s parking lots. Perhaps most exciting, the White House in July confirmed rumors that Tesla would be opening its expansive North American SuperCharger network to non-Tesla EVs by the end of the year — that’s an additional 1,700-plus charging points for drivers to fill up at.
But 2022 wasn’t all smooth asphalt and sunshine. Rivian fell on hard times this year, struggling with production issues, layoffs, price hikes, lawsuits in response to said price hikes followed by reversals of said price hiles, delays to the R1S delivery schedule and trim level cullings. Rivian performed so badly in 2022 that it dragged Ford’s stock value down alongside it — but it was still a better year than Lordstown had.
And hey, at least they didn’t use the tip of their tongue to test for live wires like BMW did in July when it tried to paywall access to seat heaters that vehicle owners had already paid for. Even Mercedes had the good sense to charge $ 1,200 a year only for funtime performance extras like added torque and a shortened 0-60, rather than essential capabilities like retaining rear-end sensation on cold winter mornings.
We also saw significant pricing fluctuations in EVs this year. Tesla raised prices across the board for its entire lineup, as did Polestar with its single motor variant, while VW dropped the price of its 2023 ID.4 by around $ 4,000 thanks to its use of a slightly smaller battery pack.
For as eventful as 2022 turned out to be, 2023 and beyond is sure to be even bigger for the EV industry. We’re expecting debuts of the VW ID.3; the Lucid Gravity, Polestar 3, Jeep (one of four!) and Honda Prologue SUVs. The Kia EV9 is slated for release in the second half of the year while the Buick Wildcat won’t be realized until 2024. With any luck, these EVs will serve merely as stopgaps until Volkswagen can perfect its Gen.Travel concept and begin shuttling us around in automated transport pods. Like Wall-E, but just as fat.
Snapchat’s year in review Story is finally here, giving users the ability to reminisce over all the memories they’ve captured in photos and videos in 2022.
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Instagram added a Recap Reel template for users to share their favorite moments from 2022. Here’s how to access it.
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We saw a lot of interesting smartwatches and wearables come out in 2022. Here are the most innovative ones for the year.
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It’s that time of year when Google reveals the top-performing apps, games, ebooks, and audiobooks of 2022, This year, the search giant added the new Best Apps and Games for Chromebooks category as well as the best story game, best ongoing game (live service), and best Play Pass game in order to get a true […]
Come comment on this article: Here are Google Play’s best apps and games of 2022
Here’s our list of Christmas apps to help put you into the holiday spirit, from apps that play Christmas songs to those that let you call Santa or list gifts.
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BeReal, the new social media app that exploded in popularity over the past few months, is one of the biggest winners for this year’s Apple’s App Store Awards. It won iPhone App of the Year for giving people an authentic glimpse into their friend’s and family’s every day lives, the tech giant said in its announcement. In all, Apple highlighted 16 apps and games for 2022 that delivered “exceptional experiences and [made] a profound cultural impact.”
In BeReal’s case, the fact that other social media apps had introduced or are testing features similar to what it does is a clear testament to the “impact” it’s had on the space. BeReal users can share a selfie of themselves with a photo of their environment during a two-minute window that the app randomly selects for them every day. A reverse engineer found an experimental feature that’s basically identical to that within Instagram back in August, while TikTok unveiled its own take on the format in September.
Another big winner is GoodNotes 5, which was named the iPad App of the Year for taking digital notes “to the next level with best-in-class Apple Pencil support.” Users can treat their iPads like any book or notebook with the app, since it allows them to jot down notes on the margin and highlight important text, among other things.
MacFamilyTree 10 won Mac App of the year for its ability to create virtually stunning family trees and giving users the capability to collaborate with relatives around the world, while ViX, the Spanish-language streaming service by TelevisaUnivision, won Apple TV App of the Year. Yet another winner is fitness tracker Gentler Streak, which took home the Apple Watch App of the Year award.
For games, Apex Legends Mobile bested all the other titles for the iPhone, while puzzle game Moncage and card battler Inscryption won best games for the iPad and the Mac, respectively. The Wild West stealth game El Hijo won best game for Apple TV for looking exceptional on a big screen. Wylde Flowers, a life sim that combines farming with magic, was named as the best Apple Arcade game. Finally, esports simulator League of Legends Esports Manager won the first China Game of the Year award.
In addition to the main winners, Apple also highlighted five apps for impacting people’s lives and influencing culture. Those apps include How We Feel, which encourages users to record their emotional well-being to help them better vocalize it, and Dot’s Home, a time-traveling story that puts a spotlight on systemic housing injustices. Locket Widget can help forge connections between people by letting users send live photos to their friend’s and family’s home screen, while Waterllama makes keeping hydrated fun. There’s also Inua – A Story in Ice and Time, which takes users on an adventure rich in Inuit folklore and traditions.
Get into the holiday spirit with some delightful gadget stocking stuffers for friends, family, or esteemed colleagues. We have some suggestions.
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With Cyber Monday kicking off tomorrow, there are already some epic Cyber Monday deals out there. We round up the best ones right here.
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Online dating can be stressful, time-consuming, and downright awful. Thankfully, the top dating apps allow you to streamline the process. Here are the best.
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One of the most popular tech brands meets one of the most popular sales events when the Apple Black Friday deals start, and we’ve got your guide to get them.
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No matter what your reason for a tough and durable phone — hiking, building, or spelunking — we’ve dug up the best rugged phones available on the market.
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If you’re willing to trade in old devices, the very new Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is available at a steep discount.
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Dedicated mobile hot spots are extremely useful, but not sure which to choose? We’ve compiled a list of the best mobile hot spots ideal for travel.
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Finding a cell phone for your kid is challenging. Check out our selection of the best cell phones for kids, so you can find the right device for your child.
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The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE’s gorgeous screen demands superior protection. Check out our picks of the best screen protectors available to keep it safe from harm.
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Here’s our roundup of the best Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus screen protectors available right now so that you can protect your new phone from scratches and cracks.
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We rounded up the best Samsung Galaxy S21 screen protectors available right now so you can protect your brand-new smartphone from unlucky knocks and falls.
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You don’t need to spend big to acquire a decent tablet. Here are our picks of the best tablets for under $ 100, including devices from Amazon, Lenovo, and more.
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The new iPad Pro is here, bringing the all-powerful M2 chip and improved Apple Pencil support. How does it compare to last year’s iPad Pro lineup? We find out.
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It’s Labor Day, and we all know what that means: Labor Day sales, your last chance to take home laptops, smartphones, TVs on the cheap.
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Mobile gaming has come a long way in the past few years, and now we can finally enjoy big RPGs on our smartphones. Here are some of the best to play right now.
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Ready to ditch your expensive cell carrier to take the plunge into prepaid options? MVNOs offer low-cost prepaid services. We have the best plans available.
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The iPhone SE (2022) is an Apple phone that delivers high-grade performance at a lower cost, but make sure you protect it with one of these screen protectors.
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Smartwatches offer notifications, fitness tracking, and more. Choosing one is the hard part, so to help, here is our list of the best smartwatches you can buy.
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There are plenty of hurricane trackers that help you prepare for, monitor, and weather a major storm. We’ve assembled a list of the best apps to keep you safe.
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If pop-up ads, banner ads, and flashy text all intrude on the web page or video you’re viewing on your Android device, get an ad-blocker. Here are the best.
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The top touchscreen laptops need a great screen, high performance, and long battery life. Here are the best options in 2022.
Mobile | Digital Trends
The webcam on your laptop isn’t great, but one of these higher-quality webcams is sure to enhance your Zoom calls and fit your other webcam needs and budget.
Mobile | Digital Trends
The desktop has had its day, and tablets are the device of choice for small businesses. But which tablets are best for business? We’ve picked a few favorites.
Mobile | Digital Trends
The foldable smartphone was a flawed novelty only a few years ago, but recent models have truly married innovative design with solid reliability and usability.
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Pre-ordered the new Galaxy Flip 4? Before you get your hands on its shiny goodness, make sure you pick out one of the best Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 cases around.
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The latest big brand to suffer a security breach is Samsung which determined on August 4th that an unauthorized third party accessed its systems in the US towards the end of July 2022. Naturally, Samsung has taken actions to secure the affected systems in an effort to rebuff any further attempts at customer information, as […]
Come comment on this article: PSA: Everything you need to know about Samsung’s Security Breach in July 2022
Boasting stunning displays, long battery life, and great performance, Samsung’s tablets are highly recommended. We round up the best of them in this article.
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We round up the best iPhone 13 Pro screen protectors so you can guard Apple’s new flagship and its luscious 120Hz display from cracks and other damage.
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The NFL season is about to kick off, and you’re still not in any fantasy football leagues yet. Time’s running out, but you’ve still got a couple weeks to get in on the action before week 1, and we’ve got you covered with the best fantasy football apps for 2022. Whether you’re looking for something […]
Come comment on this article: Get your football fix with the best fantasy football apps of 2022
OnePlus has built quite the tech empire over the last few years, with a wider array of models than ever. We break down the best that OnePlus has to offer.
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Originally slated for launch last week, Motorola has instead confirmed that the Razr 2022 and X30 Pro flagships will instead be announced on August 11th, a day after Samsung’s Unpacked event. While Motorola hasn’t given a reason for the delay in launching the Razr 2022 and X30 Pro, we do have a good idea of […]
Come comment on this article: Motorola confirms August 11 launch date for its Razr 2022 and X30 Pro flagships
The Razr 2022 is shaping up to be one of the most interesting foldable phones of the year. Here’s every detail we know ahead of its upcoming debut.
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Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 5 series will reportedly ditch a hot-favorite design element in favor of a cool health upgrade. Here’s everything we know so far.
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Do you have an iPhone 13 Mini? If so, it’s a good idea to settle on the right screen protector to keep its screen pristine. We round up the best ones out there.
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The Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is a beast of a phone. You’ll want to protect its glass face with a high-quality screen protector. Here are our picks.
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Looking for an Apple Watch Series 7 on Prime Day 2022? Good choice, but don’t rush into buying one without being sure it’s the right one for you.
Wearables | Digital Trends
It’s no secret that Stadia isn’t performing as well as Google might have hoped and that the search giant is exploring ways of of making it more successful by way of partnerships with third-parties such as with Verizon and its 1-Gig Fios product. Google had to deny plans to shut down Stadia in early 2021 […]
Come comment on this article: [Update: Stadia trolls the source of the rumor] Google Does Google have its sights set on killing Stadia before the end of 2022?
It’s been a while since Motorola’s Razr 5G made its debut but there is credible evidence that the brand is working hard on a successor to the clamshell foldable which will be called the Razr 2022 and set for launch on August 2nd This time, Motorola seems to be taking aim at Samsung’s Galaxy Z […]
Come comment on this article: Check out these leaked specs for Motorola’s Razr 2022 foldable
Prepaid phones are not inherently cheap or low-budget — these days, nearly any smartphone can be used on a prepaid plan. Here are some of our favorites.
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Tablets are ideal for older users because their larger, high-resolution touchscreens are easy to see and operate. Here are our picks for the best of the lot.
Android | Digital Trends
It can be tough to pick a new fitness tracker. If you’ve been thinking of buying a new Fitbit this year, here are the best options to choose from.
Wearables | Digital Trends