AllYouCanTech

Mint Mobile, recognized for its attractive pricing and witty ads featuring Ryan Reynolds, has unveiled what it touts as its “top offer of the year.” The T-Mobile-owned MVNO provider is promoting its Unlimited plan at a discounted price of $15 monthly, irrespective of the chosen duration—3, 6, or 12 months. This implies that clients can obtain a full year of service for just $180 in advance. This offer is time-sensitive and is a part of Mint Mobile’s bulk-purchase model, which generally provides more savings with longer commitments.

The Unlimited plan encompasses unlimited talk, text, and data on T-Mobile’s 5G network, a mobile hotspot feature, and service availability in Mexico, Canada, and the UK. Although the plan does not include some of the luxurious benefits provided by major carriers, it serves as a budget-friendly option for individuals aiming to cut down on their mobile expenses.

Mint Mobile additionally provides a 7-day free trial via its app, enabling prospective users to experience the service with 250 minutes, 250 texts, and 250MB of data. Furthermore, Mint Mobile often features promotions on Android devices, like a $500 discount on the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL when purchased alongside a year of the Unlimited plan.

This offer is ideal for those prepared to change phone plans, reside in regions with reliable T-Mobile coverage, and are okay with paying for service upfront. However, it might not be the best choice for individuals who prefer monthly payment options or are looking for carriers with a wide range of benefits.

The Pixel Watch 4 outlasts the Watch 3 and Watch 2. Here’s how to ensure it stays that way (and maximize its usage).

The Pixel Watch 4 boasts impressive battery longevity for a Wear OS device, especially the 45mm version. If you’re aiming to extend its lifespan — for both immediate benefits and overall battery maintenance — there are several straightforward settings you should know!

One significant reason I rated the Pixel Watch 4 positively is its enhanced battery performance, along with quicker charging. The 45mm variant comfortably endures two days under optimal circumstances and excelled in my battery evaluation, managing GPS exercises or LTE streaming without difficulty.

Because of this, I often utilize Watch 4 settings that consume battery more rapidly for an improved user experience. However, for those who prefer the opposite approach and wish to optimize their Pixel Watch 4 battery life — particularly as its capacity diminishes over time — here are the simple tips and adjustments to help the Watch 4 last longer per charge.

Activate Battery Saver mode

Let’s begin with the straightforward setting that you’re likely already aware of. Swipe down from the main watch face to locate a battery icon with a percentage. Tap it, select Don’t show this again, then click the check mark. Now, tapping the battery icon will activate Battery Saver mode instantly.

This gives you an immediate way to set the Watch 4 into a more efficient mode, with restricted background operations, delayed notifications, and turned-off always-on display (AOD). If activated at 100%, Battery Saver allows the Watch 4 41mm and 45mm to last up to 40 or 72 hours, respectively.

This mode activates automatically at 15%; the threshold can’t be adjusted, so remember to monitor it yourself if you want to enable Battery Saver earlier in the day.

Deactivate AOD and modify your display timeout settings

Google estimates that the Pixel Watch 4 41mm and 45mm operate for 30 and 40 hours with AOD on, respectively; it doesn’t specify how long they last with AOD off, but you’ll likely gain a few additional hours, which accumulate to fewer charging cycles over time.

I enjoy using AOD to quickly glance at my wrist for information without needing tilt-to-wake, and it adds a stylish touch to the watch. However, if you’re okay with sacrificing those benefits, go to the watch settings, select Display, and then toggle Always-on screen off.

In the same menu, you can adjust the screen timeout from the default 15 seconds to 10 seconds, subtly reducing power consumption over time.

There’s also the Go to watch face delay setting: By choosing a longer duration like “after 1 minute,” the Watch 4 keeps your current app or menu open for a minute even if the screen dims, which consumes more battery. Instead, opt for something shorter like “After 15 seconds,” or even “Immediately,” which enhances its endurance but (annoyingly) forces you to navigate back to an app if you get distracted.

Lastly, adaptive brightness is enabled by default, as it should be, but another battery-saving option is to tap the Brightness setting, turn it off, and then tap the – button to set the lowest brightness as the default. You won’t utilize the Watch 4’s 3,000 nits, but it will last beyond a day.

Turn off sounds/vibrations and tilt-to-wake

I want to reiterate that I wouldn’t necessarily do this, but for maximum Watch 4 capacity, disable tilt-to-wake so that you only activate the display by tapping it or rotating it. Navigate to Settings > Gestures and turn Tilt-to-Wake off.

As a side note: You may want to disable Gemini Raise to Talk in the same menu, as that’s another tracked gesture that activates the display and microphone. Alternatively, reduce the voice and motion sensitivity to lower the chances of accidental activation.

Next, decide whether you prefer your notifications with sound or vibrations. I’m uncertain which is more efficient, but it’s advisable to disable one of them and lessen the intensity of the other.

First, go to Settings > Sound and select Mute ring & notifications, or lower the volume for ringtones, notifications, alarms, media, and calls. Then, head to Settings > Vibration and either switch off Vibration & haptics or decrease the intensity for Ring, Notification, and Alarm vibrations. You can also disable “interactive haptics,” which refers to the subtle vibration when turning the crown or tapping display options.

Utilize Adaptive Charging (and be wise about when to charge)

The Pixel Watch 4 has Adaptive Charging set by default. Essentially, Google learns your charging habits so that, if you generally charge your watch overnight, it predicts your typical wake-up time and pauses charging until it reaches 100%.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) has undergone a price cut, aligning it with the Watch 8 Classic’s pricing. At first, the Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) was not attractively priced during the holiday season, particularly when compared to the lower-cost Galaxy Watch 8. Nevertheless, the price has steadily declined from $599 in November to $530 during Cyber Monday, and it now retails for $499 on Amazon, representing a record low.

The 2025 iteration of the Galaxy Watch Ultra presents slight improvements over its predecessor, mainly showcasing doubled storage, moving from 32GB to 64GB. Despite these enhancements, the overall performance and specifications have remained mostly similar. The Galaxy Watch Ultra is recognized for its three-day battery life, sturdy titanium build, and swift performance, making it an ideal option for individuals who favor a smartwatch that does not necessitate daily charging.

Samsung is presenting a special price of $429 on its official site, although availability may differ. For anyone searching for a more cost-effective alternative, a renewed Galaxy Watch Ultra can be found for $249. Alternatively, the Galaxy Watch 8 is listed at $279 on Amazon, providing considerable savings compared to the Ultra model. The Watch 8 features a 1.5-inch, 3,000-nit display, comparable performance, and four years of software updates, although it does not include the Ultra’s additional features such as the titanium construction and increased storage.

For those in pursuit of alternatives, the OnePlus Watch 3 boasts extended battery life and a titanium casing at a more budget-friendly price of $298 on Amazon, albeit it lacks LTE connectivity and receives fewer updates.

In conclusion, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (2025) is advised for individuals who value its sturdy design and prolonged battery life, while the Galaxy Watch 8 and OnePlus Watch 3 present more affordable choices with differing features.