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  • LG OLED C3 Review: Sets the Standard for High-End TV Picture Quality

    LG OLED C3 Review: Sets the Standard for High-End TV Picture Quality

    OLED TVs routinely deliver the best pictures money can buy, and in my tests over the years LG’s “C” series consistently emerges as the best TV for most high-end shoppers, combining that great picture with a not-too-crazy price. The C3 faces strong competition from Samsung, which has its own pair of OLED TVs now, as well as from LG itself, which finally gave the more expensive G3 a marked bump up in image quality.

    For this review I compared three LG OLEDs — the C3, the G3 and the C2 from last year — as well as the Samsung S95C and the Sony A80L OLED TVs side-by-side in my lab at CNET. The C3 held its own, despite looking dimmer next to the G3 and the Samsung (which both cost hundreds more). If the price difference between those two and the C3 no big deal to you, go ahead and splurge. For most people, however, it’s still not worth paying extra for anything better than the LG C3.

    And right now I’d argue the best deal on a high-end TV is still the LG C2 from 2022, not the C3. Going with last year’s LG OLED saves you another few hundred bucks and the two TVs were basically indistinguishable in features, design and image quality in my tests. The C2 will sell out over the summer and heading into the TV buying season this fall, while the C3 will drop in price, but if you want a high-end TV right now, grab a C2.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    LG C3 sizes, series comparison

    I performed a hands-on evaluation of the 65-inch LG C3 OLED TV, but this review also applies to the other screen sizes in the series. The four largest sizes have similar specs and should provide similar picture quality. LG says the two smaller sizes, the 42- and 48-inch models, will be dimmer than the larger sizes.

    • LG OLED83C3PUA, 83 inches
    • LG OLED77C3PUA, 77 inches
    • LG OLED65C3PUA, 65 inches
    • LG OLED55C3PUA, 55 inches
    • LG OLED48C3PUA, 48 inches
    • LG OLED42C3PUA, 42 inches

    The C3 series sits in the middle LG’s 2023 OLED TV lineup. Spending more for the G3 gets you a substantial bump in brightness and the sleek “Gallery” wall-friendly design. The less expensive B3 is dimmer than the C3 and lacks the company’s latest-generation A9 processor. The most expensive models from 2022, namely the 97-inch G2 and the 8K resolution Z2 models, will remain on sale this year rather than being replaced by “3” equivalents.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    Sleek and familiar, in a good way

    The similarities between the C3 and the C2 from last year start with design. From the minimalist panels to the stands to the backsides, the two looked identical to my eye in CNET’s TV lab. That’s not a bad thing; both are sleek TVs and I continue to appreciate the nearly all-picture look.

    The “C” also remains one of the lightest TVs on the market thanks to carbon-fiber construction — the 65-inch C3 weighs the same as the C2, just 41 pounds with a stand, making it easy to lift onto furniture or the wall. It’s also more efficient to ship. The simple center stand has a small footprint.

    LG kept the same remote, unfortunately. In my old age I’ve grown easily annoyed by too many buttons, and I much prefer the streamlined, simple layout of Samsung and Roku/TCL remotes, for example. As always, you can wave LG’s remote around to move the cursor or scroll quickly through menus with the built-in wheel.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    Smart TV, dumb use of screen real estate

    LG’s redesigned menu system occupies the top half of the screen with a big ad, which was pushing LG’s app store when I saw it. Me no likey. Below that is the marginally more useful row of “cards,” new for 2023, that offer things like the TV’s input, a game section, music and a “home hub.”

    The most useful card is the game section but it’s worse than Samsung’s version, with a less-polished design and no access to Xbox Game Pass. LG only has Nvidia GeForce Now, Utomik and Blacknut cloud gaming (there’s a reason you’ve never heard of the latter two) in addition to Twitch, YouTube and a quick link for connected consoles. The sports card lets you set up alerts for favorite teams’ scores, which feels kinda useful to me, but overall the card row also feels like more wasted space. Only the final row, with familiar streaming app icons, would get any use in my household.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    I think most people using this high-end TV should just connect an external streaming device, like Roku or Apple TV, and avoid using LG’s system altogether.

    The C3 also has a couple notable features LG debuted last year, namely a multiview mode that puts two images side-by-side — which remains limited and can’t show two HDMI sources — and the always-ready screen saver that can show clocks, art and other widgets when the TV is turned “off.” Elements of the latter move around the screen to reduce the possibility of burn-in.

    Here’s where I remind you that, like all OLED TVs, the C3 is more subject to both temporary and permanent image retention, also known as burn-in, than LCD-based TVs. The risk is small, which is why I don’t consider burn-in a reason for most people to avoid buying an OLED TV. Check out our guide to OLED burn-in for more.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    Connections for everyone (including gamers)

    LG continues to excel at connection options. All of LG’s 2023 OLED models announced so far (including the B3) have the latest version of the HDMI standard: 2.1. That means their HDMI ports can handle 4K at 120 frames per second and variable refresh rate, as well as enhanced audio return channel and automatic low latency mode (auto game mode). In other words, they can take advantage of the latest graphics features available from PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S consoles as well as high-end graphics cards. All four of the C3’s HDMI ports support 4K/120 — great for hardcore gamers with multiple next-gen devices.

    • Four HDMI inputs with HDMI 2.1, HDCP 2.2
    • Three USB ports
    • Optical digital audio output
    • RF (antenna) input
    • RS-232 port (minijack, for service only)
    • Ethernet (LAN) port

    Picture quality comparisons

    I lined the C3 up against the LG G3 and Samsung S95C — two more-expensive 2023 OLED TVs — as well as the LG C2 from 2022 and a non-OLED TV, the TCL 6-Series Roku TV. All of the OLED TVs looked spectacular, and a clear step above the cheaper TCL, but some differences emerged between them. The Samsung and G3 outperformed the C3 in many areas, in particular HDR brightness and bright-room performance, but the C3 and matched or beat the other two.

    TV and movies: Comparing the C3 to the Sony, using the snowy nature scenes from the Spears and Munsil test disc, the two looked similar. The C3 did appear a bit brighter than the Sony when I chose the latter’s (default) Graduation Preferred tone mapping setting, but switching to Brightness Preferred evened the playing field and made them appear nearly equally bright. I liked the look of Gradation better, however, and I’d give the nod to the C3 for being able to deliver a slightly more impactful overall image in default settings.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    Differences between the C2 and C3 were even more difficult to discern. Brightness, color and shadow detail were so close as to look identical, and despite LG’s claim that the C3 might appear brighter, I didn’t see it.

    The Samsung and the G3 looked brighter and better than the other OLED TVs, mainly thanks to superior brightness. They measured roughly 500 nits brighter than the C3, for example, and in side-by-side comparisons the difference was obvious. The Samsung’s color was deeper and more saturated, but measured a bit less accurate and showed less detail in shadows than the other OLED TVs.

    Switching to TV I checked out The Witcher: Blood Origin on Netflix and during the initial bar scene, the C3 and Sony again looked neck-and-neck. Highlights, shadow detail and color were excellent and I couldn’t see much difference between the two as Elle sang and stabbed. The G3 and Samsung looked a bit better but not by leaps and bounds. Translation: the C3 still looked great, even in this rarified company.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    Gaming: The C3, like the C2 before it, is an excellent gaming TV and LG hasn’t done much to change it. I still love all the options in the Game Optimizer menu, which gathers all of the gaming settings in one place and verifies refresh rate, VRR status and more at a glance. I also appreciated the ability to edit the gaming dashboard to swap in more status indicators (resolution, Dolby Atmos and so on), but I’m pretty nerdy like that.

    The Dark Room mode is designed to reduce eye fatigue but it also dulls the image so I’d avoid using it unless you need to. Among the various gaming image modes I liked Standard best for most games with its balance of shadow detail and contrast. FPS is best if you want more visibility into shadows, or you can just crank the Black Stabilizer control up (at the expense of a washed-out image).

    Buried within Game Optimizer is another setting labeled “Reduce input delay (input lag)” with two options, Standard and Boost. The former, which is the default for any game, serves up an excellent input lag result similar to past LG OLED models: just 13.5ms for both 1080p and 4K HDR sources. Engaging Boost cuts lag even further, to just under 10ms for both. The catch is that Boost is only available for 60Hz sources, so you can’t use it with 120Hz games or VRR. And no, I don’t think many humans would notice the extra 3ms of lag.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    Bright lighting: The C3 is bright enough for just about any viewing environment, but basically the same as the C2. As usual for OLED TVs, it was dimmer and less-impactful than LED-based TVs like the TCL. It was also substantially dimmer than higher-end OLED models, namely the G3 and S95C.

    Below are my measurements in nits for select comparison TVs in their brightest and most accurate picture modes, using both standard dynamic range and high dynamic range test patterns.

    Light output in nits


    TV Brightest mode (HDR) Accurate mode (HDR) Brightest mode (SDR) Accurate mode (SDR)
    TCL 65R655 1,387 1,194 1,292 624
    LG OLED65G3 1,378 1,378 725 724
    Samsung QN65S95C 1,348 1,326 238 648
    LG OLED65C3 861 817 501 464
    LG OLED65C2 812 759 413 389

    As with most TVs, the brightest mode for HDR and SDR (Vivid on the C3) is horribly inaccurate. For the accurate results listed above, I used ISF Expert Bright picture mode (Peak Brightness: High) for SDR and Filmmaker mode for HDR. I recommend C3 owners do the same to get good color in bright rooms. Note that with SDR, you’ll need to disable the Auto Energy Saving setting (Support > Energy Saving > Energy Saving Step > Off) to get full brightness.

    The anti-reflective screen of the C3 is very good, but the Samsung and especially the G3 did a better job deadening bright reflections in the room. The C3 did have a darker overall finish than either one, which led to slightly more pop and contrast, but the difference was minimal. Meanwhile the C3 was better than the Sony at dimming reflections, which combined with the Sony’s slightly dimmer image led to better performance in bright rooms for the C3.

    Uniformity and viewing angle: Like all OLEDs I’ve tested the C3 was exemplary in this area compared to LCD-based TVs, with no significant brightness or color variations across the screen and nearly perfect image quality from off-angle. From extreme angles I did notice that the G3 was better, however — the C3 introduced a slight purplish hue at extreme off-angles, while color on the G3 remained true.

    The 2023 LG C3 OLED TV

    Picture setting notes

    LG made some changes to its picture settings menu for 2023. My favorite is the ability to edit the top level, letting me surface different settings for easy access and move around others. In addition to the standard litany of picture modes — Vivid, Cinema, Game Optimizer and so forth — LG has a new “Personalized Picture” mode. Setting it up steps you through a series of images and asks you to choose which one you like best, and in the end an “AI” analyzes your choices and applies the mode. I gave it a whirl and the wizard said I liked a “Clear” picture, which it applied to the image. Unfortunately it didn’t look very good to my eye, and when I measured it the image was horribly inaccurate, so my advice is to stick with one of the (accurate) preset modes rather than the wizard.

    The most accurate modes were Cinema and Filmmaker for both HDR and SDR, as well as the two ISF modes available in SDR. For SDR viewing I went with Cinema for dark rooms (because it was closer to my 2.2 gamma target) and ISF Bright for brighter environments, and for HDR I used Filmmaker (which was slightly brighter than Cinema HDR). Game Optimizer is best for gaming, thanks to its processing, but quite blue; for the best color accuracy for gaming you should adjust the color temperature control toward red (Picture > Advanced Settings > Color > White Balance > Color temperature).

    Like most TVs the C3 offers settings that engage smoothing, aka the soap opera effect, as I prefer to turn it off for TV shows and movies (and it’s off in Game Optimizer mode because it increases input lag). You can experiment with the settings (Picture > Advanced Settings > Clarity > TruMotion) and it’s off by default in the Cinema and Filmmaker modes.

    Geek box


    Test Result Score
    Black luminance (0%) 0.000 Good
    Peak white luminance (SDR) 501 Good
    Avg. gamma (10-100%) 2.16 Good
    Avg. grayscale error (10-100%) 0.93 Good
    Dark gray error (30%) 0.50 Good
    Bright gray error (80%) 0.56 Good
    Avg. color checker error 0.84 Good
    Avg. saturation sweeps error 0.80 Good
    Avg. color error 1.02 Good
    1080p/24 Cadence (IAL) Pass Good
    Input lag (Game mode) 13.33 Good
    HDR10
    Black luminance (0%) 0.000 Good
    Peak white luminance (10% win) 861 Average
    Gamut % UHDA/P3 (CIE 1976) 99.32 Good
    ColorMatch HDR error 4.55 Average
    Avg. color checker error 2.35 Good
    Input lag (Game mode, 4K HDR) 14.03 Good

    See How We Test TVs for more details.

    Portrait Displays Calman calibration software was used in this review.

  • Grab the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom for Just $80 (Save $30)

    Grab the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom for Just $80 (Save $30)

    Looking to keep the party going all summer long? Having a portable Bluetooth speaker is a great way to bring music with you wherever you go — and you can find some great deals out there. Right now you can score $30 off the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom at Amazon when you clip the on-page coupon, bringing the price down to just $80. It has a waterproof design and delivers on sound quality, making it a great addition to your pool party or day at the beach.

    The Anker Soundcore Motion Boom scored a spot on our roundup of the best Bluetooth speakers out there thanks to its portability, sound quality and price. It’s a solid mini boombox and is both fully waterproof with an IPX7 rating and has an integrated handle for easy carrying. It will even float if it gets knocked into the water. The speaker delivers a solid sound for the size, beating out a lot of the competition and has a BassUp setting to give it a better punch. It also has an impressive battery life of up to 24 hours and can even charge your device if you need a boost.

    I grabbed one for myself last year and have really enjoyed having it for celebrations and while hanging out by the pool. CNET’s David Carnoy gave it a full review, stating that “this speaker is easy to recommend, particularly if you’re looking for something that can play more loudly than your typical compact Bluetooth speaker.” And this deal makes it an even better value.

  • Amazon Fire TV Cube Review: Alexa Gets Overwhelmed

    Amazon Fire TV Cube Review: Alexa Gets Overwhelmed

    With the advent of smart TVs and voice assistants, universal remotes have all but disappeared. Why would you buy a separate clicker when you can control everything with Alexa or your TV remote? Because plenty of people still need more than a basic controller, that’s why. Millions of Americans subscribe to cable TV and/or have an AV system that can’t be controlled by a TV remote alone. The original Amazon Fire TV Cube was a bridge between the new reality of streaming and the smart home, and the need to control third-party devices. It’s been replaced by a second-generation Fire TV which includes plenty of high-end features, such as a faster processor and 4K upscaling.

    There’s a lot to like about the Fire TV Cube. Its small, boxy design is both cute and sleek, and it looks good in a TV cabinet. Its built-in mic and speakers are also capable of controlling a TV using just Alexa. To top it all off, the Cube also connects directly to a cable box so Alexa can control that, too. Pretty sweet, right?

    In theory, yes. But after spending untold hours over the course of five months testing two different Fire TV Cube units on three separate TVs, I’m sad to report that the new Cube just didn’t work as advertised. Sure, it performed admirably as a regular streaming player, as it lets you download and watch just about any content you’d want. But people buying the Cube might reasonably expect the full smart-home experience, and this is precisely where the device faltered

    In my testing, Alexa consistently struggled to reliably complete voice commands, while the Cube as a whole regularly encountered glitches when attempting to control other connected devices. When everything worked as it should, the Cube felt almost magical. But too often, I was left begging Alexa to follow the commands I gave it. The end result is a product that offers a tantalizing vision of the future of smart TVs but is ultimately so frustrating to use that I wanted to throw it across the room.

    A pretty package

    amazon-fire-tv-cube-2023-front-copy

    The Cube, true to its name, has always been a square box that’s made to sit by your TV. The first two generations of the Cube were made entirely of plastic and featured sharp, straight lines.

    The latest version of the device comes wrapped in a mesh-like fabric with rounded edges that gives the Cube more of an upscale look and feel. On top of the box, you’ll find Alexa mute and volume controls, as well as a Select button. To control anything else, you’ll need to use your voice, or the included remote.

    On the back of the Cube, you’ll find space to plug in a USB stick; an ethernet cable; an optional IR extender for controlling a device that’s in a cabinet; plus two HDMI connectors — an output to connect to your TV and an input to connect from a cable box or other device. It’s easy to set up, too: I had everything plugged in and running in about five minutes.

    amazon-fire-tv-cube-2023-rear-ports-copy

    Content everywhere

    The initial onscreen setup is also fairly painless. The Cube walks you through all the steps — from signing into your Amazon account to pairing Alexa with your TV — in just a few minutes. It all works seamlessly until you’re faced with navigating the busy Fire TV home screen, most of which is taken up with a carousel of rotating ads.

    Below this,you’ll see a small strip of useful buttons, such as your Amazon profile, an input switch, search, a home button, a channel guide for Amazon’s Freevee live TV options, a Favorites bookmark and a group of your installed apps, as well as a settings shortcut.

    But here is where the familiar problems of the Fire TV interface become evident. Those useful buttons are quickly followed by seemingly endless carousels filled with content, most of it spam. For every helpful section, like Recently Used Apps, there are twice as many rows filled with sponsored content or movies from other Amazon properties.

    amazon-fire-tv-cube-2023-top-copy

    I might not have minded this so much if Amazon had made it easier to actually get to the content I wanted to watch. Instead, the small area containing all my downloaded apps only has slots for six of them, which means I have to dig deep into the apps menu to get to what I want. Not surprisingly, Prime Video and Freevee come preinstalled on this list of six. Thankfully, you can demote them from the top spots and put other apps in their place, but it’s just one more way Amazon makes the Fire TV interface less than user-friendly.

    Navigating through the system and launching apps does feel snappy, though. There’s a new processor in the Cube that Amazon claims has twice the performance of the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which itself is impressively fast. Although I wasn’t able to back up the company’s speed claims for the Cube, it felt just as responsive as the 4K Max stick, if not more so. The Cube launched both Netflix and Disney Plus in just over two seconds, which is on par with other punchy streaming devices.

    Playback looked great, backed by the support of Dolby Vision, HDR and Dolby Atmos audio. I was also a fan of the included Wi-Fi 6E support, as it enables those with upgraded routers to take advantage of superfast streaming.

    Equipment control failures

    Amazon touts that you’ll be able to connect many of your TV-related devices to your Cube so it can seamlessly switch between streaming, a game console or even a cable box. In order to set up this feature, you first need to head to Equipment Control in the settings menu to add each extra piece of equipment you want to connect. This is where my problems began.

    I first tried to add a Roku and an Xbox Series X to a Cube plugged into a 2021 TCL 6 Series Google TV, but the Cube failed to automatically recognize the television. Instead, I needed to manually find and click on my TV manufacturer. Eventually, the Cube was able to turn my TV on and off using Alexa, but it remained incapable of adequately reading which device was plugged in, and to which HDMI. As a backup measure, I tried to teach it the infrared signals my remote uses when switching to each device, but that also failed to work. Even if it made the correct guess one time, it would switch to the wrong input the next. I spent way too many hours trying any conceivable combination to get it working consistently. I contacted Amazon and had a meeting with its technicians to try to fix the issue. They sent me a brand new Cube to see if that would help. It did not. The Cube just doesn’t want to work with this TCL TV.

    amazon-fire-tv-cube-2023-remote-control-copy

    Next, I tried the exact same setup on a 2020 Samsung TV, which, to my relief, worked much better. The Cube recognized the TV immediately, and Alexa was able to switch back and forth between my Xbox and my Roku with ease. Unfortunately, I was unable to get Alexa to launch my Xbox games, despite spending hours checking all my settings on both devices and using the prompts listed on the Xbox site. By this point in the process, I was just happy that Alexa worked at all.

    Finally, I connected the Cube to an LG TV circa 2011 to see how it worked with older devices. To my surprise, it automatically recognized the model and connected easily. I then hooked up my cable box directly to the Cube through the HDMI input. Amazon claims cable boxes from Spectrum, my provider, along with a string of others, work in conjunction with the Cube to allow Alexa to control your cable.

    After I added the cable box to my list of connected devices, I said aloud “Alexa, tune to ESPN on cable,” and held my breath. To my genuine surprise and delight, it worked. My TV went from the Fire TV home screen directly to ESPN on my cable box. At last, I could finally skip easily around cable, multiple streaming devices and gaming consoles all with a few simple commands to Alexa. It felt, dare I say, magical. I was finally starting to experience Amazon’s vision for the Cube, and it felt pretty cool.

    amazon-fire-tv-cube-2023-top-promo-copy

    But, sadly, it all went out the window the second I tried to get Alexa to change the channel and was met with silence. Saying “Alexa” triggered the Cube to listen, but also activated the TV’s volume mute and unmute features in a way that made it impossible for Alexa to hear my query. She would perk up every time I said her name, but no matter how many times I pleaded and begged, I couldn’t find a way to manipulate the settings so that she could actually understand my commands.

    To find out if the problems I’d had were with the Cube or the Alexa assistant itself, I set up the Cube side-by-side with an Amazon Echo Dot. I issued the same command to each in turn while muting the other. The main difference is that the Cube tries to find answers in relevant TV shows if you’re not extremely specific. Most of the issues I was having with Alexa related to navigating the Cube’s connections between devices on the TV, which I’m not able to replicate on the Echo.

    Off the mark

    The 2022 Amazon Cube may have lofty intentions, but I found it just didn’t deliver on its promise of a full-featured smart home connection. Some of its key features are incompatible with a recent and popular TV set, while its new cable box connection is too buggy to use. If you’re looking for a high-end Amazon streaming device, the Fire TV Stick 4K Max works just as well at half the cost. While parts of the Cube feel close to offering a rich, voice-activated experience, the end product is too underbaked to recommend.

  • Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series Models Hit All-Time Low Prices in Pre-Prime Day Sale

    Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED Series Models Hit All-Time Low Prices in Pre-Prime Day Sale

    Amazon has been making streaming devices for almost a decade now, and it has had its own line of affordable TV sets for several years too. But it’s not just budget TVs Amazon is focused on making, with the the Omni QLED Series launching last year and offering a stunning 4K UHD quantum dot display and the best resolution of any Amazon TV to date.

    And with Amazon Prime Day just around the corner, you can save across all sizes of the Fire TV Omni QLED Series with all-time lows and up to $200 off:

    The Fire TV Omni QLED Series supports Dolby Vision IQ as well as HDR10 Plus Adaptive, HDR10 and HLG for vibrant colors and deep, rich blacks. Adaptive brightness also allows the screen to automatically adjust depending on the environment using a built-in sensor.

    Running Amazon’s Fire OS, you of course have easy access to streaming apps like Prime Video, Netflix, Disney Plus and more. Four HDMI ports on the back allow you to hook up devices likes consoles, soundbars and other streaming devices if you prefer.

    It also has an “ambient experience” mode, which converts the TV into a sort of smart display, digital picture frame and bulletin board combo when not in use. You can customize it with personal photos, handy Alexa widgets and a selection of free artwork. And like the original Omni Series, it has a built-in microphone so you can control your TV completely hands-free.

    Read more: Amazon Fire TV Omni QLED vs. Samsung The Frame TV

  • Best Soundbar Deals: Up to $519 Off Models From LG, Samsung, Klipsch and More

    Best Soundbar Deals: Up to $519 Off Models From LG, Samsung, Klipsch and More

    If you’re building a home entertainment setup, don’t just stop at an impressive screen. There are other components worth investing in to make your space more immersive — and if you don’t want to drop the cash on a full surround sound system, grabbing a soundbar is the next best thing. These devices can deliver powerful, room-filling audio to help you stay engaged with your favorite movies and shows. And many soundbars these days are compatible with building a complete surround sound system, so whether you’re looking to get a total overhaul or just need a basic single-piece setup, there are tons of options out there for you to choose from. And you can also score a solid deal on a soundbar if you shop around.

    If you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, or how to decipher all the channels, wattages and other technical specs, be sure to consult our handy soundbar shopping guide. Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best bargains you’ll find out there on soundbars at the moment, and we’ll continue to update this page as offers come and go, so be sure to check back often.

  • Guatemala vs. Canada Livestream: How to Watch CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 Soccer From Anywhere

    Guatemala vs. Canada Livestream: How to Watch CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 Soccer From Anywhere

    With financial turmoil off the pitch, and disappointing results on it, Canada are in big need of a win on Saturday, as they take on Guatemala in this key Gold Cup Group D clash in Houston.

    Lucas Cavallini and Richie Laryea were both on the scoresheet for Canada in their opening match of the tournament against Guadeloupe, but were pegged back to a frustrating 2-2 draw.

    Guatemala, meanwhile, kicked off their campaign with a confidence-boosting 1-0 win over Cuba, thanks to a second-half winner from Darwin Lom. That result was Los Chapines’ first victory in seven Gold Cup games, and they’ll likely fancy their chances of registering another against a Canadian side low on confidence and missing its star trio of Alphonso Davies, Stephen Eustáquio and Jonathan David.

    Below, we’ll outline the best live TV streaming services to use to watch the game live wherever you are in the world.

    Canada defender Richie Laryea running with the ball.

    Guatemala vs. Canada: When and where?

    Guatemala take on Canada at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston on Saturday, July 1. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. CT local time, 9:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. PT (2:30 a.m. BST in the UK and 11:30 a.m. AEST on Sunday, July 2 in Australia).

    How to watch the Guatemala vs. Canada game online from anywhere using a VPN

    If you find yourself unable to view the game locally, you may need a different way to watch — that’s where using a VPN can come in handy. A VPN is also the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds on game day by encrypting your traffic, and it’s also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins.

    With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the game. Most VPNs, like our Editors’ Choice, ExpressVPN, make it really easy to do this.

    Using a VPN to watch or stream sports is legal in any country where VPNs are legal, including the US, UK and Canada, as long as you have a legitimate subscription to the service you’re streaming. You should be sure your VPN is set up correctly to prevent leaks: Even where VPNs are legal, the streaming service may terminate the account of anyone it deems to be circumventing correctly applied blackout restrictions.

    Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now.

    Livestream the Guatemala vs. Canada game in the US

    Saturday’s game is on Fox Sports 1. If you don’t have the channel as part of your cable lineup, it can be streamed via Sling TV, as well as other more expensive streaming TV services.

    Livestream the Guatemala vs. Canada match in the UK

    Broadcast rights in the UK for this game are with Viaplay, with kick-off set for 2:30 a.m. BST in the early hours of Sunday morning.

    Livestream the Guatemala vs. Canada match in the Canada

    If you want to stream this Gold Cup clash live in Canada, you’ll need to subscribe to FuboTV Canada.

    Can I livestream the Guatemala vs. Canada game in Australia?

    There is currently no confirmed broadcaster for this key Gold Cup match Down Under.

    The only alternative is to use one of our best VPN services as described above, set your location to a country on this page that is broadcasting and go from there. Just be aware that most paid streaming services will require a credit card based in the country the service is from.

    Quick tips for streaming CONCACAF Gold Cup 2023 using a VPN

    • With four variables at play — your ISP, browser, video streaming provider and VPN — your experience and success when streaming Gold Cup matches may vary.
    • If you don’t see your desired location as a default option for ExpressVPN, try using the “search for city or country” option.
    • If you’re having trouble getting the game after you’ve turned on your VPN and set it to the correct viewing area, there are two things you can try for a quick fix. First, log into your streaming service subscription account and make sure the address registered for the account is an address in the correct viewing area. If not, you may need to change the physical address on file with your account. Second, some smart TVs — like Roku — don’t have VPN apps you can install directly on the device itself. Instead, you’ll have to install the VPN on your router or the mobile hotspot you’re using (like your phone) so that any device on its Wi-Fi network now appears in the correct viewing location.
    • All of the VPN providers we recommend have helpful instructions on their main site for quickly installing the VPN on your router. In some cases with smart TV services, after you install a cable network’s sports app, you’ll be asked to verify a numeric code or click a link sent to your email address on file for your smart TV. This is where having a VPN on your router will also help, since both devices will appear to be in the correct location.
    • And remember, browsers can often give away a location despite using a VPN, so be sure you’re using a privacy-first browser to log into your services. We normally recommend Brave.
  • Streaming TV With a VPN Is Easy With These Devices

    Streaming TV With a VPN Is Easy With These Devices

    Using a virtual private network to stream videos on your standard or smart TV sounds overly complicated and difficult. Never fear — there are a few devices that make using a VPN on your TV as easy as using your favorite phone app.

    There are a few reasons why you might want to use a VPN to stream shows and movies on your TV. Using a VPN will help keep your viewing habits private, and it will give you access to more streaming content from different parts of the world.

    If either of those reasons sound enticing to you, we’ve picked four devices that easily let you stream your favorite shows while using a VPN. And if you aren’t sure which VPN is right for you, check out our picks for the best VPNs.

    Amazon Fire TV Stick 4KAmazon Fire TV Stick 4K

    Amazon, CNET

    Amazon Fire TV Sticks can be as cheap as $30, are easy to set up on your TV, and are one of the simplest ways to stream TV with a third-party VPN app.

    Once you’ve plugged your Fire Stick in to your TV and followed the on-screen setup, you can download apps for some of CNET’s best VPNs for Fire Sticks, like Surfshark, NordVPN and ExpressVPN. If you don’t subscribe to any of those VPN services, no worries. Each offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try each one risk-free until you find the right one for you.

    Here’s how to download a VPN app onto your Fire Stick.

    1. Open your Fire Stick on your TV.
    2. Open the app.
    3. Open Search.
    4. Type in the name of the VPN you want to download.
    5. Click Get.

    After you’ve downloaded a VPN app onto your Fire Stick, go back to your home screen to open the app and log in to your account. Then, you can connect to a VPN server in the country or region where you want to unlock specific content, or you can connect to a local VPN server for better private streaming speeds. After connecting to a VPN server, you’re all set to securely watch shows and movies in privacy.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Amazon Fire TV Sticks

    An Amazon Omni Series TV against an orange background.An Amazon Omni Series TV against an orange background.

    Amazon

    Amazon Fire TVs come built-in with all the same capabilities of a Fire Stick, meaning you get all the same features without having to use a precious HDMI slot. Even the Fire TV’s interface is the same as the Fire Stick. To use a VPN through a Fire TV, follow the same steps as above to download a third-party VPN app, log in to your account, connect to the VPN server you want to use and start streaming TV.

    However, Fire TVs can cost between $370 and $1,100. So buying a Fire TV to stream shows and movies through a VPN is like buying a new car because you want a new paint job. If your TV works and it can use a Fire Stick, save yourself the money and buy a Fire Stick. But if you’re in the market for a new TV, and you want to use a VPN to stream content, consider a Fire TV to upgrade your streaming experience.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Amazon Fire TVs

    Chromecast with Google TV (HD) and its voice remote are displayed against an orange background.Chromecast with Google TV (HD) and its voice remote are displayed against an orange background.

    Google/CNET

    Chromecast with Google TV, like the Fire Stick, is another easy to use device that lets you stream TV through a third-party VPN app for around $40.

    After you’ve plugged your Chromecast with Google TV in to your TV and followed the setup instructions, you can download most VPN apps, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, onto your device. If you don’t have a subscription to a VPN service, most offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you can try them out risk-free until you find one you’re happy with.

    Here’s how to download most third-party VPN apps onto your Chromecast with Google TV.

    1. On your Chromecast device, go to the Apps tab.
    2. Select Search for app under App categories.
    3. Type in the name of the VPN app you want to download.
    4. Select Install.

    After installing your VPN app, open it from your Chromecast with Google TV’s home screen and log in to your account. Then, connect to a VPN server in the country or region you want to unlock content from. You can also connect to a local VPN server for better private streaming speeds. After that, you’re set to securely watch shows and movies.

    You’re receiving price alerts for Chromecast With Google TV

    A compact router with 4 antennas rising vertically out of its back side. The router is low in profile, similar to that of a nearby cellphone and MacBookA compact router with 4 antennas rising vertically out of its back side. The router is low in profile, similar to that of a nearby cellphone and MacBook

    ExpressVPN

    ExpressVPN’s Aircove router costs less than $200, and it allows you to run all your internet traffic through a VPN, not just your TV. The router has built-in VPN protection, a range of 1,600 square feet, and it allows unlimited simultaneous connections. These unlimited connections can be organized in up to five different groups, too, so if you live with four other people, each person in your house can be connected to a different server location at the same time.

    However, you need an ExpressVPN account to use the router’s VPN capabilities. That means you’ll have to switch to ExpressVPN if you have an account with another VPN service. You’ll also need to use your laptop or smartphone to set up your router. That makes setup on the Aircove slightly more complicated than Fire Stick and Fire TV, which you can simply plug in and follow the on-screen instructions.

    But once you’ve finished the Aircove’s initial setup, you’ve thrown a blanket of protection over all the internet traffic that runs through the router, which makes it a good option for people looking to run other devices at home through a VPN.

    You’re receiving price alerts for ExpressVPN’s Aircove router

    Coming soon: Apple TV

    Apple also announced in the follow-up to its WWDC keynote that TVOS 17 will support third-party VPN apps, like Surfshark, NordVPN and ExpressVPN, when it comes out this fall. That means you’ll be able to download VPN apps onto your Apple TV, and you should be able to use them in the same way you’d use them on your Fire Stick.

    For more on VPNs, check out CNET’s best overall VPN services of 2023, the best VPN for your smart TV and how to set up a VPN on your smart TV.

    top5-vpn1top5-vpn1
    Watch this: Top 5 Reasons to Use a VPN

    02:42

  • WhatsApp Boosts Your Privacy: How to Silence Unknown Callers

    WhatsApp Boosts Your Privacy: How to Silence Unknown Callers

    WhatsApp has announced more privacy protections on the messaging app. You’ll now be able to silence calls from unknown numbers, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Tuesday, as well as using a “privacy checkup” feature to see every privacy option on the app.

    Silence unknown callers will automatically prevent spam, scams and unknown calls from going through. They’ll still appear in your calls list, but won’t actively ring on your phone.

    For added privacy, here’s how to lock your more intimate WhatsApp chats.

    How to silence unknown callers on WhatsApp

    Here’s how to use WhatsApp’s new privacy feature:

    1. Open WhatsApp on your mobile device.
    2. In the top right corner, click on the three vertical dots.
    3. Click Settings.
    4. Hit Privacy.
    5. Select Calls.
    6. Toggle on the option to Silence unknown callers.

    How to use WhatsApp’s Privacy Checkup

    If you want to walk through all your privacy selections one by one, here’s how:

    1. Open WhatsApp on your mobile device.
    2. In the top right corner, click on the three vertical dots.
    3. Click Settings.
    4. Hit Privacy.
    5. Select Privacy Checkup.
    6. You can then check who sees your last seen and online info, your profile photo, your About and your status, and turn on and off read receipts.
    7. Selecting Start checkup will take you through editing your privacy options in each category.

    Here are three other sneaky WhatsApp features, how to integrate WhatsApp with a task management app and how to get WhatsApp on your desktop.

    Read also: Best Phone to Buy for 2023

  • Spotify’s Getting a More Expensive Hi-Fi Audio Plan, Report Says

    Spotify’s Getting a More Expensive Hi-Fi Audio Plan, Report Says

    Spotify is reportedly planning a new premium tier that would include high-fidelity audio at a higher subscription price, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. The new plan would offer subscribers CD-quality sound through lossless compression.

    The new “Supremium” subscription tier will likely cost more than Spotify’s Premium plan that includes ad-free listening and goes for $10 a month, the report says. Spotify did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    On top of hi-fi audio, the Supremium tier would also include expanded audiobook access that will offer listeners either a number of free hours per month or a number of titles.

    Expect to see the new plan to be available in the US in October, after Spotify first launches it in markets abroad.

    Spotify revealed that it was working on a HiFi tier in 2021, but halted its rollout after Apple Music and Amazon Music began to offer their own high-fidelity features for free in their own subscription plans.

    Uncompressed audio offers some advantages over compressed audio. But hi-fi audio doesn’t always outperform CD audio quality for playback. Bluetooth headphones and earbuds add their own compression to audio, so lossless playback may not make it all the way to your ears even if you’re paying for it, my colleague Stephen Shankland pointed out.

    CNET’s Ty Pendlebury called Spotify “a pioneer in music streaming” and says it takes the cake as the “best music streaming service overall,” in his list of the best music streaming services.

  • Pixel Fold Preorder: Best Deals on Google’s First Foldable Phone at Launch

    Pixel Fold Preorder: Best Deals on Google’s First Foldable Phone at Launch

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    Pixel Fold preorders are now open following the device’s official unveiling at during Google I/O back in May. Google’s first foldable is designed to compete with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 as a hybrid phone and tablet device that can slip into your pocket.

    It features a book-style folding design with a 5.8-inch external display and a 7.6-inch internal panel. That outside screen is a tad bigger than Samsung’s flagship device, which Google hopes will make it feel more natural to use, like a normal phone. It’s also thinner when unfolded than the Z Fold 4 and it closes completely when folded, with no gap near the hinge.

    Google Pixel Fold folding phoneGoogle Pixel Fold folding phone

    Like the rest of Google’s flagship lineup, the device is powered by the in-house Tensor G2 chip. It’s also packing the sorts of features you’d expect from a high-end device, like 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM and a triple-lens camera system with a 48-megapixel main camera, along with a 10.8-megapixel telephoto lens and a 10.8-megapixel ultrawide camera.

    Whether you’re the ultimate Google fan or just want to be on the cutting edge of technology, we’re rounding up the best Pixel Fold preorder deals below so you can get your hands on one.

    pixelfoldpixelfold
    Watch this: Pixel Fold Hands-On: A First Look at Google’s First Foldable

    05:10

    How much does the Pixel Fold cost?

    The Google Pixel Fold will launch at $1,799, putting it right on par with starting price of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4. While some rumors suggested Google might undercut that price, as it’s wont to do with its Pixel lineup, you’ll still be paying the foldable premium if you want to be among the first to get your hands on the new hybrid device.

    What colors does the Pixel Fold come in?

    Google Pixel Fold folding phoneGoogle Pixel Fold folding phone

    The Pixel Fold will come in two colors: white and black. That’s a slimmed-down palette compared with previous Pixel-branded phones.

    Best Pixel Fold deals

    For a limited time, you can nab a free Pixel Watch when you preorder the Pixel Fold directly at Google. That’s a $350 freebie and the ideal companion device for Android fans. Pixel Fold orders will begin shipping in late June.

    AT&T has perhaps the most attractive carrier offer on the Pixel Fold at launch with $900 off the device’s retail price when you preorder one on an eligible unlimited plan. That drops the monthly cost of the hardware down to just $25 with the discount being applied over 36 monthly bill credits. Unlike a lot of carrier promos, there’s no need to trade in an old phone to get in on this deal.

    It’s worth noting that AT&T is listing the Fold’s price at $1,880, an $80 markup on the retail price direct at Google, and advertizing the discount as $980. In reality, you’re saving $900 when you factor that markup in, but the lack of a trade-in requirement remains appealing.

    Like Google, Verizon is offering a free Pixel Watch with preorders of the Pixel Fold, though the cellular-enabled smartwatch will need a new line of service if you go the Verizon route. New or existing Verizon customers can also get $900 off the Pixel Fold when trading in their old phone.

    Amazon is now listing the Pixel Fold, though you can’t actually place a preorder for the foldable device there yet. We’ll keep our eyes peeled for Amazon’s introductory offer and update this article when we see it.