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The best phones to buy in 2024

By admin February 3, 2024

The best phones to buy in 2024, Fivu has tested just about every major smartphone released over the past year, including foldable Androids and the latest iPhone and Samsung Galaxy models. These are our picks for the best phones.

We’re in the early days of 2024, which means we’re at the start of another year of new phones expected from most of the big manufacturers. Samsung kicked off the year by unveiling its new Galaxy S24 line, the company’s first to build in generative AI features like real-time call translation.

Below, I’ve compiled the definitive list of top phones you can buy right now, based on over a year’s worth of hands-on testing. My pick for the best phone overall goes to Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra for its immersive and vibrant display, reliable battery life, and wealth of special features, including generative AI.

The best phones of 2024

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Best phone overall

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra specs: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 | Display size: 6.8 inches | Storage options: Up to 1TB | Rear cameras: 200MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto (5x), 10MP telephoto (3x) | Front camera: 12MP | Battery: 5,000mAh

Samsung’s newly-released Galaxy S24 line is the first to go all-in on AI, and the S24 Ultra is the most premium phone you can buy. The new Galaxy AI model embedded in the device brings a number of generative capabilities, including real-time phone call translations, the ability to circle an object on screen to perform an image-based Google search, AI-assisted photo editing and transcriptions, and a Chat Assist feature for figuring out how to phrase a message in different tones.

Like its predecessor the S23 Ultra, the S24 Ultra is built with a large 6.8-inch AMOLED display and a reliable 5,000mAh battery. Though the price has gone up to $1,299 ($100 more than the S23 Ultra), the phone’s upgrades make it well worth it: The S24 Ultra is made of a lightweight yet durable titanium frame, compared to last year’s aluminum, and features Corning’s new Gorilla Armor. It feels lighter in the hand, noticeably grippier, and more durable.

Under the hood, it includes an upgraded Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset for improved graphics and AI features, 12GB RAM (an increase from last year’s 8GB), and 2,600 nits of brightness — a big improvement over last year’s 1,750. The four-camera system also got an upgrade, with a 50MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom for higher-quality shots of distant objects, sharper images, and clearer shots in dimly-lit environments.

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Best iPhone overall

iPhone 15 Pro Max specs: Processor: A17 Pro | Display size: 6.7 inches | Storage options: Up to 1TB | Rear cameras: 48MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 12MP telephoto (2x), 12MP telephoto (5x) | Front camera: 12MP

The new iPhone 15 Pro Max offers everything a premium flagship smartphone should, including a brilliant 6.7-inch AMOLED display for all the media consumption — and mobile productivity, of course.

This year’s model also looks and feels different than any prior Pro Max devices, as it’s made of titanium instead of stainless steel and, therefore, significantly lighter in the hand. This makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max noticeably more comfortable to use.

Another major feature of the iPhone 15 Pro Max is the USB-C connector; particularly, one that supports faster charging and data transfers, the ability to charge other devices including the Apple Watch from your iPhone, and the ability to connect to an external 4K monitor. These benefits are game-changing for professional content creators.

The iPhone 15 Pro Max also features a new 5x zoom camera lens — the equivalent of a 120mm focal length on a mirrorless or DSLR camera. A new Action button lets you better customize shortcuts and easily open the apps you need, including firing up the camera with a press-and-hold. And the A17 Pro chip rounds out the year’s upgrades, offering improved graphical performance.

Apple is charging you more for this year’s iPhone 15 Pro Max, with a starting price that’s now been bumped up to $1,199. In turn, the device comes with a base storage of 256GB.

The best phones to buy in 2024

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Best camera phone

Google Pixel 8 Pro features: Processor: Google Tensor G3 | Display size: 6.7 inches | Storage options: 128GB/256GB/512GB/1TB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 48MP telephoto | Front camera: 10.8MP

When it comes to camera performance, you really can’t go wrong with any of the flagship devices from the big three (Apple, Samsung, and Google). Depending on your preference for color temperature and feature set, you may lean towards one manufacturer over the other. But more often than not, it’s Google’s Pixel camera system that satisfies the most users, and the latest Pixel 8 Pro remains a champion both for instant capturing and post-processing.

This year’s model features a reliable triple lens setup, with a 50MP primary lens, a 48MP ultrawide that’s notably more capable at capturing macro and close-up photos, and a 48MP telephoto lens for far-distance shots. Should you want more granular control over the Pixel 8 Pro’s camera quality, there’s now a series of Pro controls that allow you to tweak settings like the exposure and shutter speed.

But real-time capturing is only half the battle with mobile photography; there’s also post-processing and how flexible devices are with editing and tweaking subjects around. To that regard, the Pixel 8 Pro may just have the most flexible and creative photo toolbox on the market, with AI features like Magic Eraser, Photo Unblur, and Best Take that can turn any bad photo into a good one.

OnePlus Open

Best tablet-style foldable phone

OnePlus Open features: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Display size: 6.3 inches and 7.8 inches | Storage options: 512GB | Rear cameras: 48MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 64MP telephoto| Front camera: 32MP (outer) and 20MP (inner)

The number of foldable phones on the market this year basically quintupled compared the 2022, thanks to the collective effort of just about every manufacturer, including Google with its Pixel Fold, Motorola with its Razr lineup, and OnePlus with the OnePlus Open. While Samsung has held the reins of the best foldable honor for years, I’m giving the top spot this year to the OnePlus Open.

Unlike its competitors, the OnePlus Open strikes the best balance of weight-to-size ratio. When folded, the phone is as light as an iPhone Pro Max, and when unfolded, it expands into a thin slate of visual goodness. OnePlus leverages the 7.8-inch display by offering some of the most intuitive multitasking features I’ve tested, headlined by “Open Canvas”. With it, you can open up to three apps at once, and as you tap into each one, the other one or two will tuck itself to the side, ready to reappear when needed.

The triple camera setup, while presented in a casing that sticks out more than I’d prefer, captures spectacular photos and videos, with an emphasis on blue and orangish hues that cinematographers and photography buffs know and love. By nature of the foldable form factor, the Open is also capable of taking hands-free selfies and group photos.

OnePlus got the fundamentals down pat with the Open, too, including 65W fast charging capabilities (with a charger in the box) that blow past Samsung and Google’s foldable standards, a base configuration of 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, and a crease-less inner display. The cherry on top for me is its $1,699 price tag, with OnePlus offering $200 off when you trade in any phone in any condition.

Motorola Razr Plus

Best flip-style foldable phone

Motorola Razr Plus features: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 | Display size: 3.6 inches and 6.9 inches | Storage options: 256GB | Rear cameras: 12MP main, 13MP ultrawide | Front camera: 32MP

Flip phones have made a (somewhat) triumphant return, even if teenagers and young adults are opting for the dumber option of the two types. The Motorola Razr Plus marks the return of the old-school handset, or as I put it in my full review, “a return to form, modernizing a classic flip phone into one of today’s best foldables.”

With the new Razr Plus, Motorola has equipped the outer cover of the phone with a 3.6-inch display. Besides doubling as a rear-camera viewfinder, the external display basically serves as a secondary, smaller phone. You’re able to run the same apps and services that you would on the inner 6.9-inch panel, including making phone calls, text messaging, watching TikToks, and playing games. The same can be achieved with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, though you’d have to jump through a loophole or two.

The foldable form factor of the Razr Plus ultimately lends itself to an improved camera experience. Since you’re able to flex the display at an upright angle, it’s easier to get everyone in the frame for group photos, take selfies, and capture long-exposure shots that would typically require a tripod or mounting accessory.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

Best budget phone

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G features: Processor: Exynos 1380 | Display size: 6.3 inches | Storage options: 128GB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 12MP ultrawide, 5MP macro| Front camera: 32MP

Believe it or not, Samsung’s best-selling smartphone last year was not one of its S-series or foldable devices, rather it was the humble Galaxy A53 5G, which delivered an uncompromising phone experience with a smooth-scrolling screen, reliable battery, and up to five years of software support. The device was priced at just $449, undercutting its more premium competitors and heavy-handedly beating Apple’s own mid-range handset, the iPhone SE.

This year’s A54 5G ticks just as many boxes as its predecessor but with a series of subtle yet useful upgrades. For example, the display is still a large 6.4-inch panel that ramps up to 120Hz refresh rate, but now shines at 1,000 nits of brightness (from 800 nits), the battery size is still a healthy 5,000mAh capacity, and the unit is now powered by an Exynos 1380 chipset. That’s a minor bump from last year’s Exynos chip, but a bump nonetheless.

The Galaxy A54 also features an exterior design that’s more in line with Samsung’s S-series phones and a new camera system that’s headlined by a 50-megapixel main lens. From our testing, the photo results — both in daytime and nighttime — were evenly lit and sharpened just enough for you to share with others with confidence. Video capturing is capped at 4K, though the 128GB internal storage that can be expanded via MicroSD card should be ample enough for use.

OnePlus 11

Best fast-charging phone

OnePlus 11 features: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Display size: 6.7 inches | Storage options: Up to 256GB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 48MP ultrawide, 32MP telephoto| Front camera: 16MP

A slow-charging phone can be a real pain point, especially if you’re always on the go. That’s why the OnePlus 11 carves out its own best category, beating Apple, Google, and even Samsung when it comes to charging speed. The latest model comes with 100W SuperVooc fast charging or 80W in the US, which is still great.

For reference, the highest-end iPhone 15 Pro Max has a charging speed limit of 30W and Samsung’s Galaxy S23 Ultra caps out at 45W. From ZDNET’s testing and comparisons, both of those devices take a least an hour to go from 0% to 75% battery, falling noticeably short of the OnePlus 11’s numbers.

In less than 27 minutes, the OnePlus can go from empty to full. That charging speed, and the fact that OnePlus includes its proprietary charger in the box, put it a step above the rest.

The best part is that the rest of the phone is no slouch either; you’re getting a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor, a 5,000mAh dual-cell battery, and a competitive triple-camera array that gets the job done. In total, OnePlus is charging you a starting rate of $699, which is just as good of a value pickup as the best budget smartphone on this list.

Asus Zenfone 10

Best compact phone

Asus Zenfone 10 features: Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Display size: 5.9 inches | Storage options: Up to 512GB | Rear cameras: 50MP main, 13MP ultrawide | Front camera: 32MP

There’s no denying that, over the past five years, smartphones have become more and more unwieldy. Apple now offers Plus and Max-sized iPhones, Samsung has an “Ultra” beast, and even Google has a foldable that opens up to 7.6 inches. On the other end of the spectrum sits the Asus Zenfone 10, a device that deviates from the norm in favor of ergonomics and in-hand comfort, and the decision pays off.

Like last year’s Asus Zenfone 9, which I called “the iPhone Mini alternative for Android enthusiasts,” the newest model features a compact 5.9-inch AMOLED display, all the power you’d need in a modern-day phone thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, and two capable cameras on the rear.

The battery life on the Asus holds up surprisingly well, too, with my review unit recording nearly two days of usage before hitting 0%. Some smaller yet significant details to note include the 3.5mm headphone jack on top, a physical side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a texturized back cover that looks and feels great in the hand.

What is the best phone?

Our pick for the best phone overall is the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. It features everything you could want from a smartphone including a large display, four cameras that can shoot 200MP photos and 8K video, up to 1TB of storage, a built-in S Pen for writing and drawing, and a 5,000mAh battery powering the system. Here’s how the S23 Ultra fares with the rest of our top picks.

Which phone is right for you?

Choosing a phone can be a daunting task. But having a list of your must-have features can go a long way toward narrowing down your options. If you’re a mobile professional or travel a lot for work, you’ll want to choose a phone that can provide you with at least a full day of use on a full battery as well as both LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity.

If you’re looking for your teen’s first smartphone, a budget-friendly and less feature-heavy option may be better to prevent overspending as well as misuse. And if you’re a content creator or other creative professional, you’ll want a phone with an excellent front and rear camera to capture photos and videos for your social media feed.

Choose this best phone…	If you want…
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra	A no-compromise smartphone that virtually any type of user can take advantage of. It’s the only 2024 smartphone with a built-in stylus.
iPhone 15 Pro Max	The best iPhone money can buy. It has a large screen, the longest-lasting battery out of all the models, and a toolbox of a camera system.
Google Pixel 8 Pro	A flagship camera experience at your fingertips. The Pixel 8 Pro differentiates itself with a slew of AI-powered camera tricks like Magic Editor and Best Take.
OnePlus Open	The best phone-to-tablet foldable that money can buy. And if you’re a power user, the multitasking and charging features especially will serve you well.
Motorola Razr Plus	A flip-style foldable that’s both compact and performant. With a large 3.6-inch external display and the market’s first dust-resistant build, this is the foldable to buy for most people.
Samsung Galaxy A54 5G	A more budget-friendly smartphone that doesn’t compromise on performance and battery life. The A54 5G is also eligible for up to five years of software and security updates, besting that of any phone of a similar price.
OnePlus 11	A phone that lasts long and charges from 0% to 100% in just 30 minutes. The OnePlus 11 is quietly good value, too, starting at $699.
Asus Zenfone 10	A compact phone that’s easy to pocket but doesn’t compromise on performance and specs. The Zenfone 10 is also competitively priced, starting at $699.

How did we choose these phones?

The process to make our phone selections includes real-world testing and researching about the phones for weeks, consulting with colleagues, industry experts, and analysts who also have hands-on experience with the smartphones, and then selecting the best from all of the available choices.

Ultimately, we weigh in the following aspects when curating this list:

Design: There’s only so much you can do with a slab design, but size differences, material choices, color options, and even the ability to bend a screen in half give shoppers enough diversity to have a preference. That’s why we have a recommendation for every form factor.
Performance: For many, smartphones are the center of our lives, which means the best ones are performant and can handle most, if not all, tasks you throw at them.
Camera: Arguably the most valuable feature of a smartphone; the consistency and reliability of a camera system can make or break the overall mobile experience. We test every device in broad daylight and in the darkest of nights when finalizing this list.
Battery: Every option in this guide should last you at least a day of moderate use. We also take into consideration what devices support fast charging and/or wireless charging.
Value: Price points are noted, but the most important thing with buying a phone is getting your money’s worth. With these picks, you can rest assured that you’re getting the best bang for your buck.

Which phone has the best camera?

It’s debatable between the iPhone 15 Pro Max, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. For long-distance shots, Samsung’s 200MP rear camera with 100x Space Zoom can capture subjects as far out as the moon. For point-and-shoot pictures and a rather simplified (but effective) camera experience, Google’s Pixel phones have always been at the top. If you’re a videographer at heart, then the iPhone 15 Pro, with Cinematic mode and Action mode, makes for an excellent tool to get the shots you need.

How long should a phone battery last?

The average phone battery gives you about 22 hours of use on a full charge, which is great for staying connected on your commutes, work flights, and at home in the evenings. But that’s just the average, actual use time varies by phone model and by what you’re using your phone for.

For example, the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max boasts a 29-hour battery life. But you’ll most certainly get less than that if you habitually scroll through social media or stream video and music. And the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 has just a nine-hour battery life, which is further reduced by streaming, social media, and making calls.

How much storage should my phone have?

Most smartphones have a base storage capacity of 128GB, which is plenty of space for average users to download apps and music, take photos, and shoot videos. However, if you’re a mobile or creative professional, you’ll need more space. Many smartphones have expanded storage options up to 512GB or even 1TB, and you can always sync your phone to your preferred cloud storage service to free up local storage space.

Which phones are also worth considering?

If you’re in the market for a new smartphone, there are tons of options out there. Whether you’re looking to upgrade or get your first smartphone, Apple, Samsung, and OnePlus have great choices:

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Gadgets

The Best Games On PS Plus 2024

By admin February 2, 2024

The Best Games On PS Plus 2024, PS Plus Extra and Premium have some of the best PlayStation games from across the console brand’s history. On June 13, 2022, Sony launched its new PlayStation Plus in North America. Split into three tiers, this model combines the previous version of PS Plus with PS Now; depending on which level someone subscribes to, they will gain access to certain services and games.

PlayStation Plus Essential ($9.99/month): This tier is the equivalent of the old PS Plus. A subscription includes online access, monthly free games, and discounts.
PlayStation Plus Extra ($14.99/month): Along with the Essential tier benefits, Extra provides access to hundreds of PS4 and PS5 games.
PlayStation Plus Premium ($17.99/month): Along with the Essential and Extra tier benefits, Premium includes a library of classic games (PS3, PS2, PSP, and PS1), trials, and cloud streaming in certain regions.

PS Plus Premium has over 700 games covering more than two decades of PlayStation history. Such a huge collection can be overwhelming, and the PS Plus app does not make it very easy to browse through the library; as such, it can be useful to know this tier’s highlights before investing in a subscription. Each month, Sony adds a handful of new games. While most of these are PS5 and PS4 releases, they are occasionally accompanied by a few classic titles.

What are the best games on PS Plus Extra? What are the standout PS Plus Premium classic games?

Resident Evil 2

Resident Evil is without question the most famous horror franchise in gaming, and it is eternally linked to the PlayStation brand. Premium subscribers can play through a healthy selection of entries from Capcom’s license, including classics such as Resident Evil Code: Veronica X, polarizing sequels like Resident Evil 6, and HD remasters of masterpieces like Resident Evil 4. The Extra tier does not have quite as robust of a catalog, although it includes two notable projects in Resident Evil 7 and 2019’s Resident Evil 2 remake.

In many ways, these two combine to create the perfect representation of the gaming juggernaut’s past, present, and future. RE7 marked the dawn of a new era for the series, one that was long overdue following a string of not-so-great releases. Despite being a departure from the traditional formula, the 2017 sequel returned the franchise to its horror roots, delivering one of its scariest campaigns.

As great as it was, RE7’s switch to a first-person perspective (and a few other stylistic choices) meant that it could not scratch the same itch as its ancestors. Consequently, long-time fans craving something more familiar were treated to a remake of Resident Evil 2, one that offers arguably the definitive way to experience this chapter in the saga. Featuring gorgeous visuals, over-the-shoulder gameplay, and an intense Mr. X, the 2019 remake is a horror tour-de-force that uses its classic predecessor as a launch pad to achieve heights afforded by modern technology

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is among the most high-profile PS5 games available on PS Plus Extra. As a console exclusive, this reveal seemed destined to transpire sooner or later, although almost two years from the game’s debut had to pass for this moment to arrive. Rift Apart might very well still be the most beautiful PS5 title on the market, a testament to Insomniac’s mastery of technology and talent for creating vibrant and stunning worlds that would not look out of place in a Pixar movie.

Rift Apart backs up its good looks with fantastic gameplay and an enjoyable story that allows its lovable characters to shine. Although Ratchet and his robotic companion take center stage, they are accompanied by a new playable Lombax in the form of Rivet, who also comes with her own partner. In combat, the characters largely control the same; however, the game does a great job of establishing Rivet’s own identity through her personality

Ultimately, Ratchet & Clank lives and dies on the strength of its gameplay, and Rift Apart is right up there with the franchise’s best efforts. Ratchet and Rivet have access to a wide assortment of fun weapons, all of which serve a purpose within the campaign.

The Best Games On PS Plus 2024

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

Quite a few Vanillaware games are on PS Plus, and they are all worth playing. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is unlike anything else available on the streaming service, even if it does take ideas from a few different genres. Basically, this anime-inspired mecha title largely plays out like a visual novel, albeit with an integrated combat system to provide more interactivity than typical for this type of project. Narratively, the game revolves around teenagers who pilot robots to take on huge beasts, which is a description that makes the story sound more generic than it actually is. 13 Sentinels does an impressive job of exploring its characters, shining a light on each of its 13 pilots. The campaign is long, well-written, and ambitious.

The turn-based strategy combat works well without being too demanding or complicated. Even though it prioritizes its story, the game does not treat the battle system as an afterthought either, and a satisfying progression system helps keep things moving along well. 13 Sentinels could be considered an acquired taste since it combines two niche genres in visual novels and strategy games, but the project should be tried by all PS Plus subscribers since it provides such a singular experience.

Kena: Bridge Of Spirits

AA games have become fairly uncommon in recent years, but when they do show up, they tend to be quite special. Kena: Bridge of Spirits is gorgeous considering it was developed by a relatively small team, and pretty graphics are far from the only thing this game gets right. The story follows a spirit guide who must free souls in order to stop the spread of corruption, which is slowly corroding a peaceful and beautiful village. As far as premises are concerned, Kena is nothing too unusual; however, the game creates a world overflowing with personality, both in terms of environmental detail and NPCs.

Following a classic action-adventure formula, Kena incorporates exploration, combat, platforming, and puzzles. While not bringing anything substantially new to any of these elements, Ember Labs generally does an admirable job in each area. The gameplay does suffer from the occasional difficulty spike when it comes to the story’s bosses, but the fights themselves are largely enjoyable.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

PS Plus Extra has all four modern Wolfenstein games, and the best one is arguably The New Colossus. Building nicely on The New Order’s strong foundations, the sequel is bigger and generally better. Featuring an all-time great villain and an appreciation for scale and spectacle, The New Colossus is an action-packed blockbuster that looks, controls, and sounds great.

PS Plus does not have an overabundance of brilliant first-person shooters, but MachineGames’ mainline Wolfenstein trilogy is now available in its entirety to Extra and Premium subscribers. When taken as a whole, these games are arguably the genre’s best representatives on the service. William “B.J.” Blazkowicz’s journey is one filled with visceral action, gore, stealth kills, satisfying weapons, and glorious set pieces that put many Hollywood productions to shame. For the most part, these games tell entertaining stories that usually have just the right amount of cheese without coming across as try-hard.

Rogue Legacy 2

Roguelikes have grown exponentially in popularity over the last few years, and Rogue Legacy played a role in amplifying the genre’s exposure. The sequel builds nicely on its predecessor’s ideas, offering a more fine-tuned experience while not deviating too far from the beaten path.

Rogue Legacy 2 follows a knight as they try to power through an array of dungeons in pursuit of treasure. Naturally, they will eventually die, forcing players to start from scratch. The twist is that, rather than playing with the same character, players jump to the next generation, a process that is repeated whenever death comes knocking. Rogue Legacy 2 also slips into roguelite territory by incorporating permeant upgrades and abilities, so a new run is not a completely fresh start.

Uncharted: Legacy Of Thieves Collection

Before March 2023, PS Plus Extra subscribers could already play the PS4’s Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End and its spin-off, The Lost Legacy; however, the Legacy of Thieves Collection presents PS5 owners with the ultimate versions of Naughty Dog’s beloved action-adventure games. Now, to be clear, this package does not remaster the titles in many significant ways, at least when it comes to the graphics.

The main reason PS5 owners should play these iterations is due to their performance options, as they allow the games to run at a higher frame rate. Ultimately, if someone has already played through the entirety of Uncharted, they might not find much of a reason to return for the Legacy of Thieves Collection.

Humanity

Debuting directly on PS Plus Extra, Humanity is an endearingly bizarre puzzle game that follows a dog as it tries to navigate hordes of humans around various scenarios and obstacles. Literally barking orders, Shiba Inu must earmark a path for the crowds to follow since if they are left to their own devices, they will blindly make a beeline to their doom. At any given point, Humanity can flood the screen with hundreds of humans, paving the way to a satisfying flow of bodies once a level has been solved.

Although decently popular, puzzle games are still relatively niche, and many projects struggle to find the right balance between accessibility and challenge. Humanity succeeds in walking this tightrope by gradually expanding the scope of its brainteasers in a way that facilitates the introduction of new components and ideas without overwhelming players. Even though it takes inspiration from older games, Humanity is nevertheless a singular entity brimming with originality and creativity.

Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales

Insomniac Games’ repertoire speaks for itself, and the developer’s current focus is on Marvel’s Wall-Crawler. 2018’s Marvel’s Spider-Man is a great open-world game with satisfying movement, acrobatic free-flowing combat, and a respectable narrative; unfortunately, on May 16, the game will leave PS Plus. However, at the moment, Miles Morales is not set to follow suit. Although it feels more like an expansion than a proper follow-up, the spin-off retains all of its predecessor’s strengths, including the best web-swinging mechanics in gaming.

Miles Morales establishes its eponymous protagonist as a viable alternative to Peter Parker, expanding on the character’s backstory and personality for players who might not be familiar with Miles’ comic version. Short as it might be compared to the main entry, the game tells an engaging story that focuses on the hero’s dual life, something he is only just starting to come to grips with since he is still new to this whole Spider-Man thing.

Inscryption

Roguelikes have taken over the indie scene over the last decade, and PS Plus has quite a few of the genre’s heavy hitters. Dead Cells, Enter the Gungeon, and Slay the Spire are all fantastic projects that can keep someone entertained for months on end, and they are all fairly popular in their own right. While perhaps not as well known as those titles, Inscryption deserves to be mentioned alongside them, although it is unlike most other roguelikes on the market.

For one, the game focuses quite a bit on its story, one that comes with a few shocking and well-executed twists that will not be spoiled here. Gameplay-wise, Inscryption plays out like a tabletop card game with a deck-building mechanic. Although not especially unique, this system is polished, fun, and works well; more importantly, it is just part of a much larger whole.

Horizon Forbidden West

Almost exactly a year following its debut, Horizon Forbidden West came to PS Plus Extra. While there is way too little data to try and pinpoint a trend, this addition could be an indication of how Sony plans to handle first-party projects moving forward.

Horizon Forbidden West tells the next chapter in Aloy’s story, and Guerrilla Games largely opted to fine-tune the original game’s mechanics. With a bigger open-world, refined combat, and a better-paced campaign, the sequel presents a convincing argument that it surpasses its predecessor. Combined, HZD and HFW can easily keep players entertained for more than 100 hours.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge

While not without a few low points, TMNT has a long and storied history in gaming. The property is predominantly known for its ’90s beat ’em ups, with games like Turtles in Time holding up well today. Shredder’s Revenge pays homage to these classics, all the while delivering an approachable experience capable of attracting people who did not grow up in arcades. Boasting a vibrant and gorgeous pixel art style, the 2022 release matches cartoonish visuals with flashy combat that is easy to grasp but surprisingly difficult to master.

With seven playable characters who are not palette swaps, Shredder’s Revenge is quite replayable, which makes up for its fairly short campaign. Although solo players will not feel like they are missing out, the TMNT game supports and shines in co-op, allowing up to 6 people to work together to take on the Foot Clan.

The Legend Of Dragoon

A beloved PS1 cult classic that JRPG fans have spent years hoping would receive a remake or a sequel, The Legend of Dragoon is, at least, now accessible on modern consoles. Ambitious for its era, Japan Studio‘s project had great visuals, which are still charming in their own way. Although not too far removed from the genre’s other late ’90s releases, the game’s turn-based combat system has a few unique features that set it apart from the crowd. For instance, players need to time button prompts during attack animations to earn a boost.

The Legend of Dragoon is one of the best games on PS Plus Premium. Hopefully, the service will continue to add these sorts of titles in the future.

The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim – Special Edition

Skyrim has been around for more than a decade, and yet the game is still a big deal. From November 15, PS Plus Extra and Premium subscribers can take on the mantle of the Dragonborn and start their journey in Skyrim. The Special Edition is generally considered the definitive iteration of Bethesda’s masterpiece, and the 2016 release was included in 2021’s Anniversary Edition that came out on the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Skyrim’s longevity lies in its ability to immerse players in a fully realized world that makes exploration fun and satisfying. The combat might be a bit dated compared to more recent RPGs, but the game makes up for it through customization and build options. Even if most people have already experienced everything the campaign has to offer, Skyrim debuting on PS Plus makes the service’s library seem more complete.

Destiny 2: The Witch Queen

Destiny 2 has been free-to-play for a while, so anyone with the required hardware can jump into Bungie’s game and get a taste of the Guardian life. Although a nice option, the free version only includes a limited range of content, to the point that it is closer to a sample or demo than a full showcase of everything the game has to offer. Basically, if someone wants to really experience Destiny 2, they will need to pick up an expansion. The first-person shooter has produced seven expansions so far, most of which are at least decent; however, The Witch Queen is a leading contender for the top spot.

Featuring a fairly lengthy campaign, this expansion is basically its own game, and it can be played without completing the rest of the DLC or even much of the base content. The story is primarily set in Savathûn’s Throne World, which is one of the title’s better settings. While accessible to an extent, players who are familiar with Destiny 2’s overall lore will get a fuller overall adventure, although newcomers can look forward to great gunplay.

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade is a huge get for PS Plus Extra subscribers, particularly those who love action JRPGs. The 1997 original helped put the PS1 on the map, and while the remake takes quite a few creative liberties with both the story and gameplay, it still respectfully pays homage to FF7’s legacy. Focusing on Midgar, the modern game chronicles Cloud Strife’s early days as part of AVALANCHE, showcasing the resistance group’s attempts to undermine Shinra’s authority.

Over the last decade, Square Enix has firmly shifted towards real-time action over turn-based combat, and FF7 Remake serves as the strongest representative of this gameplay style. As a sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, has been officially announced, this is the perfect time for newcomers to jump into the remake train, and PS Plus is the ideal platform to do so.

Dragon Ball FighterZ

There are roughly a billion Dragon Ball games, and some of them are pretty great. However, for the longest time, the franchise seemed incapable of putting out a proper competitive fighter. Dragon Ball FighterZ changed that forever, with Arc crafting a project that could show up in eSports events alongside Street Fighter 5 and Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Dragon Ball is synonymous with flashy battles where a wayward ki blast could potentially blow up a planet, and FighterZ captures this element beautifully. Visually, the game not only echoes the source material but, at times, even looks better. Unlike some of Arc’s other fantastic games, FighterZ’s combat system is relatively easy to grasp, although it is still hard to master. The single-player campaign is split into three non-canon arcs, and, while enjoyable from a fan-service point of view, overstays its welcome. However, Dragon Ball FighterZ is all about its online scene.

Ghost Of Tsushima: Director’s Cut

Insomniac’s Ghost of Tsushima ended the PS4’s life as Sony’s main console on a high, and the Director’s Cut is just a better version of that already great game. Taking place during the Mongolian invasion of Japan, This samurai epic tells a tale of revenge as Jin Sakai seeks to protect Tsushima Island.

Ghost of Tsushima might be the most beautiful game on PS Plus Premium, and it is not just a looker. The hack and slash combat is a great deal of fun, managing to be deep and also cinematic. Narratively, the title does not do anything too out of the ordinary, but the unique setting helps set GOT apart from the many other open-world games on the market.

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The best OLED monitors in 2024

By admin February 2, 2024

The best OLED monitors in 2024, OLED monitors have emerged as a cutting-edge display technology, offering users a visual experience that goes beyond traditional LCD or LED monitors. With self-emitting pixels that deliver unparalleled contrast ratios, true blacks, and vibrant colors, OLED monitors redefine the standards for visual excellence. These displays not only elevate the viewing experience for entertainment and gaming but also prove to be invaluable for professional tasks where color accuracy and clarity are paramount.

Notably, some OLED TVs are doubling as monitor alternatives, and they come equipped with compatible software features like AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync.

If you are planning to buy a new monitor, now is a good time to invest in an OLED. Here is a look at some of the best ones that you can buy today.

Alienware 32 QD-OLED

The best OLED gaming monitor

Why you should buy this: A premium OLED gaming monitor that justifies its high price point.

Who’s it for: Gamers, developers and content creators who need a bright and color accurate monitor.

Why we chose the Alienware 32 QD-OLED:

The Dell Alienware 34-inch QD-OLED monitor was considered to be one of the best ultrawide gaming monitors on the market, but now we have a new 32-inch version, which is even better. Featuring the latest 32-inch 4K OLED display with an exceptional 240Hz refresh rate from Samsung, the monitor combines cutting-edge resolution with high-speed performance, making it a top choice for gaming enthusiasts. The QD-OLED panel brings OLED’s renowned benefits of deep black levels, high contrast, and remarkable color accuracy to a monitor size, challenging the dominance of larger OLED TVs.

The AW3225QF boasts a similar design with the black and white Alienware aesthetics as its predecessor along with a subtle curve to the display providing an immersive viewing experience. Its variable refresh rate (VRR), auto low latency mode (ALLM), and G-Sync support ensure a seamless gaming experience with reduced input delay and screen tears.

With features like Dolby Vision support, pixel refresher, and a customizable RGB lighting system, the AW3225QF caters to the diverse needs of gamers. While lacking built-in speakers, the monitor offers an array of video and USB ports, including HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and eARC, ensuring versatile connectivity. Priced at $1,200, the AW3225QF emerges as a premium investment for those seeking a cutting-edge OLED monitor.

The best OLED monitors in 2024

Alienware 27 QD-OLED

Best 27-inch OLED monitor

Why you should buy this: Hands down the best-performing OLED monitor at its size.

Who’s it for: Anyone who is looking for a high-end OLED monitor with limited desk space.

Why we chose the Alienware 27 QD-OLED:

Along with the new 32-inch QD-OLED, Alienware also launched a new 27-inch QD-OLED this year at CES. It manages to exceed expectations, presenting compelling competition to the LG’s 27-inch UltraGear OLED. The 27-inch display introduces third-gen QD-OLED technology, significantly enhancing color accuracy out of the box while retaining the impressive brightness characteristic of QD-OLED displays. With a higher refresh rate and a fairly low price point at $900, the 27 QD-OLED outshines most monitors in its category, making it a standout choice for almost all types of users. The monitor’s sleek design, including a hexagonal stand with efficient cable management, adds to its premium feel, although the bezels are slightly thicker than some competitors.

In terms of specifications, the 27 QD-OLED boasts a 2560 x 1440 resolution, a peak brightness of 1,000 nits in HDR, and a remarkable 360Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Adaptive Sync. The monitor’s response time of 0.03ms (GtG) coupled with OLED’s near-instantaneous response makes it exceptionally smooth for gaming. The color accuracy is outstanding, with an average Delta-E of 0.46 in the standard picture profile. Alienware’s inclusion of a customizable illuminated logo and number on the back adds a touch of flair. With a market-leading three-year warranty covering burn-in, the 27 QD-OLED emerges as a top-tier gaming monitor that successfully builds upon the strengths of its predecessor.

Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 G85SB

Exceptional OLED with built-in smart features

Why you should buy this: As good as the Alienware 34 QD-OLED, but with additional smart features.

Who’s it for: Anyone who is looking for a premium OLED monitor that can also double as a multimedia hub.

Why we chose the Samsung Odyssey OLED G8:

Samsung’s new Odyssey G8 OLED is a pretty strong competitor for the Alienware 34 QD-OLED. It features a very similar 34-inch WQHD (3440 x 1440) QD-OLED panel offering a 175Hz refresh rate, and an 1800R curve. The primary difference is that the Samsung monitor does not come with native Nvidia G-Sync whereas the Alienware does.

Like most OLED monitors it looks stunning for any form of media, with perfect black levels. It offers 100% sRGB, 99% coverage of DCI-P3 and 94% coverage of AdobeRGB. In our testing we noticed that at full brightness, the monitor was also very accurate in SDR, offering a color error of only 0.8 (anything under 2 is considered suitable for color work).

The Odyssey G8 also comes with additional smart features. There is Samsung’s Tizen OS built into the monitor, similar to the Samsung Smart Monitor M8. This gives you access to apps like Netflix and YouTube, Samsung’s Game Hub, and more. You also get a remote control, giving you easier access to settings and functionality.

LG UltraGear 48-inch OLED

Best large-format OLED monitor

Why you should buy this: Offers similar experience as an OLED TV, but with benefits of a traditional monitor.

Who’s it for: Anyone who wants a large monitor that is great for gaming and productivity.

Why we chose the LG UltraGear 48-inch OLED:

The LG UltraGear 48GQ900 monitor was LG’s first OLED monitor, but it was able to build on the pedigree of its excellent OLED TVs to create a truly stellar and very large OLED gaming monitor. The LG UltraGear 48GQ900 features a 47.5-inch panel with a 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution and a 120Hz minimum refresh rate, which can be overclocked to 138Hz for PC gaming.

Other specifications on the 48-inch LG UltraGear include a 10-bit panel, HDR support, anti-glare coating, 1ms gray-to-gray response time, a DCI-P3 color gamut with 98.5% coverage, built-in speakers, and a purple design in the rear that helps it stand out from a sea of grays and blacks. It also features two additional HDMI ports, a DisplayPort, and a headphone jack, as well as AMD FreeSync Premium and Nvidia G-Sync compatibility.

Since its initial launch in the U.K., the LG UltraGear 48GQ900 made its way to the U.S. in the form of a 48GQ900-B model, which has similar specs but a slightly different design. The monitor is available at at all the usual outlets; just make sure you’re getting the right model. The monitor is currently on sale and is available at a solid price of $900.

Corsair Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240

Unique bendable ultra-wide OLED gaming monitor

Why you should buy this: A unique ultrawide OLED that can be converted into a curved monitor.

Who’s it for: Creative professionals, gamers, and content creators who want to experience the best of two worlds.

Why we chose the Corsair Xeneon Flex 45:

Corsair is a well-known name in the computing industry. It expanded its product range by launching monitors in 2023, and its flagship offering is the Xeneon Flex 45WQHD240. It is a one-of-a-kind OLED gaming monitor that comes with a bendable display.

Essentially, you can use it as a regular flat panel or use the two handles on the side to covert it into a curved monitor with an 800R curve. The 45-inch display comes with a 21:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 3440 x 1440, which isn’t the highest, so you can expect slightly lower pixel density compared to other OLED 4K monitors.

It uses an LG OLED panel with a high 240Hz refresh rate with low input lag, although it tends to increase at lower refresh rates. The panel supports FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility, and it also has HDMI 2.1. You get punchy colors and a deep black with almost no blooming effect around bright objects. You also get a KVM switch and Picture-in-Picture/Picture-by-Picture modes, as well as a wide array of I/O ports.

It’s expensive, so if you don’t like the bending gimmick, LG’s UltraGear OLED 45 is a great alternative.

LG C3 OLED

Best OLED smart TV

Why you should buy this: It is one of the best OLED TVs on the market.

Who’s it for: Those who want a high-quality console gaming experience.

Why we chose the LG C3 OLED:

The new LG C3 OLED TV continues the legacy of its predecessor and is our pick for the best OLED smart TV. Available in range of sizes starting from 42-inches all the way up to 83-inches, the new C3 is an excellent choice if you are looking for a premium OLED experience, especially if you are into console gaming. Expect flawless contrast, deep and inky blacks with minimal blooming around bright objects. The impressive viewing angle eliminates any concerns about discoloration and overall the TV provides a consistent and immersive experience.

It is worth noting that the C3 deviates from a standard RGB subpixel layout, resulting in less clear text when used as a monitor, and its SDR brightness takes a hit when the PC mode enabled. On the other hand, it is a fantastic TV for playing the latest games in HDR. The TV offers low input lag, making games incredibly responsive and supports popular resolutions like 1440p at 120Hz and 4K at 120Hz. Its excellent reflection handling, combined with satisfactory HDR brightness ensures an enjoyable gaming experience.

Other notable features include LG’s proprietary webOS smart interface, four HDMI 2.1 ports and the company’s latest processor that ensures improved image processing through LG’s Brightness Booster Max and AI Tech technologies.

Asus ZenScreen OLED MQ16AH

Best portable OLED monitor

Why you should buy this: A well-made compact OLED monitor that offers excellent color accuracy.

Who’s it for: Anyone who wants a thin, portable monitor they can carry around.

Why we chose the Asus ZenScreen OLED MQ16AH:

Portable monitors, although in a niche category, prove valuable as secondary displays during travel. The Asus ZenScreen OLED stands out as an excellent choice, as it features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920 x 1080) panel with up to 400 nits of brightness and an impressive contrast ratio of 100,000:1 (with HDR contrast reaching 1,000,000:1). Asus claims a swift 1ms response time (GtG) from the 60Hz panel, while the monitor itself features high-quality plastic construction.

The OLED panel on the portable monitor is capable of producing great colors with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and Delta E < 2 color accuracy. It also features an embedded proximity sensor that helps in saving power and preventing image burn-in as it switches the monitor to a power-saving mode when it detects the user has moved away.

There is no mounting hardware or a built-in kickstand, but you do get a magnetic origami-style case that can be used to prop the display in both horizontal or vertical modes. In terms of ports, the monitor features a headphone jack, two USB-C/DisplayPort ports, an additional USB-C port for power, and one mini-HDMI port.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is OLED technology?

OLED is short for Organic Light-Emitting Diode which is a type of display technology used in screens commonly seen on TVs, monitors, smartphones, and other devices. OLED screens are made up of individual organic compounds that emit light when an electric current is applied to them. Unlike traditional LCD screens that require a backlight, OLED screens emit their own light on a pixel-by-pixel basis. This allows for deeper blacks, higher contrast ratios, and more vibrant colors, as each pixel can be turned on or off independently. OLED technology also often results in thinner and more flexible displays compared to traditional LCDs.

Are OLED displays expensive?

OLED displays tend to be more expensive compared to traditional LCD displays. This is primarily because the manufacturing process for OLED panels is more intricate and can be costlier. The organic materials used in OLED screens can be sensitive to moisture and oxygen, requiring specialized manufacturing facilities and techniques.

What are the downsides of OLED monitors?

OLED monitors have a potential issue: burn-in. All OLED displays can suffer from burn-in, where static images will slowly fade into the screen over time, becoming a permanent blemish. OLED monitors are particularly prone to this problem due to desktop use, where you often have several parts of the screen occupied by static images. Thankfully, most OLED monitors come with burn-in prevention features like pixel shifting, and some displays such as the Alienware 34 QD-OLED, include multi-year warranties with burn-in protection.

What is the difference between OLED and LCD?

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) and OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) are two distinct display technologies. LCDs use a backlight to illuminate pixels, with liquid crystals acting as shutters to control light passage. OLEDs, in contrast, utilize organic compounds that emit light when an electric current is applied, making each pixel self-emitting.

In terms of contrast ratio, LCDs may struggle to achieve true black levels due to the always-on backlight, resulting in a higher black level and lower contrast. OLEDs, however, can achieve perfect black levels, delivering a higher contrast ratio for more vibrant images. Viewing angles on LCDs may experience limitations, while OLED offers superior viewing angles with consistent image quality from nearly any perspective.

There was a time when LCDs offered faster response times than OLEDs, but that is no longer the case. With improvements over time, modern OLED panels are extremely fast, offering up to a 240Hz refresh rate and up to an 0.03ms response time. LCDs also consume more power due to the always-on backlight, whereas OLEDs are more energy-efficient, as each pixel is individually lit, consuming power only where needed.

Regarding life span, LCDs generally have a longer one, while OLEDs may experience degradation of organic compounds over time, potentially leading to a gradual decline in brightness and color accuracy. With that in mind, the choice between LCD and OLED depends on specific use cases, preferences, and budget considerations.

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Best Google Maps Alternatives in 2024

By admin January 16, 2024

Have you ever wondered what are the best Google Maps alternatives? Google Maps lets you switch to incognito mode, it translates for you in foreign languages, provides live traffic updates, and a lot more. Then, why would you even have second thoughts about switching to another alternative web mapping service other than Google Maps?

Google Maps can sometimes provide incomplete or inaccurate information. Additionally, accessibility can be challenging at times as it often depends on downloading and displaying larger images. This may lead to its slow or no loading if there is a poor internet connection. Sometimes, it also fails to load on browsers properly if the user is not using the latest browser version.

So, several minor constraints can pose a roadblock at times, which may influence users to look for other best maps and navigation services. Let us take an in-depth look at thirteen of them through this blog.

The 13 Best Google Maps Alternatives in 2024

Understand from the below points about the alternative options in the category of best way finding software and web mapping services with worldwide availability.

1. Bing Maps

Bing Maps, an online web mapping service by Microsoft is powered by the Bing Maps for Enterprise framework and was originally launched as MSN Virtual Earth.

Well, this online mapping service can do a lot for you apart from showing street maps in multiple viewing styles. Wondering what more is possible with Bing Maps?

Bing Maps is definitely the best alternative to Google Maps as it can become your sense of direction while walking and driving. It can provide traffic updates too. ClearFlow is an in-built impressive feature that can anticipate traffic patterns. It is also enabled with the location sharing feature and map embedding feature.

Read Also : Best Android phones in 2024

2. Here WeGo

This is another excellent free online web mapping service from Here Technologies, which runs mapping and location data services for individuals as well as enterprises.

This web mapping service captures location information and sells or licenses it to businesses like Amazon.com, BMW, Oracle, etc.

It provides a myriad of features for effortless navigation through the streets. The app lets you book cabs, and provides information about public transit including the fares and live traffic updates.

3. MapQuest

This is another best Google Maps alternative by Verizon Media and was the first commercial-scale mapping service.

MapQuest had used satellite imagery for some time but later removed it due to some limitations imposed by AOL’s terms and conditions. Currently, MapQuest utilizes TomTom’s services for its mapping system.

Well, if you are curious to know what its striking features are, then let’s take a look at them. MapQuest offers a bit of street-level information and navigation instructions.

It also offers a free mobile app for Android and iOS, enabled with POI search, voice-guided navigation, real-time traffic updates, etc.

The USP of this service lies in the POI search feature which can guide someone directly to the entrance of the destination, rather than directing to the street address where the destination is located.

4. OpenStreetMap & OsmAnd

Steve Coast created this mapping service predominantly for the United Kingdom. The mapping data is crowdsourced and then made available under the Open Database License. Facebook, OsmAnd, MapQuest Open, and Craigslist are few of the renowned clients of OSM.

OsmAnd is the offline navigation app for Android that pulls data from the OpenStreetMap location database. It provides voice and visual navigation with the help of GPS.

The Map feature displays POIs (points of interest) and helps to find places offline. Nautical Maps and Ski map plugin are among its other notable offerings.

5. Waze

Formerly known as FreeMap Israel, Waze is a Google-owned GPS navigation software. It collects user-submitted travel times and route details and downloads location information from a mobile telephone network.

Do you know why Waze is the best map and navigation service provider? It’s because you get to know about the vehicular congestion on roads along with roadblocks and road accidents in real-time.

The community-driven GPS navigation app locates the fastest route for you and also calculates the ETA based on the live traffic data.

6. Maps.me

This is an incredible Google Maps offline alternative as it can provide navigation guidelines for driving, walking, and cycling.

What makes this app more interesting is that it can help you plan your trips with its ready-made travel guides. It is also enabled with the nearby POI information like restaurants, ATMs, public transport, etc.

You can also share your location via social media and text messages. It lets you bookmark locations and provides timely updates of traffic congestions in 36 countries.

7. Pocket Earth

This is an exclusive navigation app for iOS that pulls data from OpenStreetMap to help the user navigate smoothly around the world. The offline map feature can be easily downloaded.

Traveling is now a cakewalk with the availability of offline travel guides. This mapping service is the ultimate app for adventurous souls. Now hike up in the mountains and hills and never get lost with the GPS Track Recording & Waypoint Navigation function.

8. Navmii

With HD maps, voice-guided navigation and real-time traffic updates, this smartphone app is one more efficient Google Maps alternative.

With a user base of 24 million, this app can provide live traffic updates, POI’s and a lot more with the help of GPS alone and doesn’t have a dependency on the internet.

The app is also embedded with Google Street View. Apart from this, it provides its services in association with TripAdvisor, Foursquare and What3words.

9. CoPilot

Whether you are a professional caravan driver or driving your own car, CoPilot has got you covered on the roads with an excellent level of navigation assistance. It truly is your copilot and a perfect alternative to Google Maps.

This online web mapping service can come up with three route choices for you. Do you know what’s the best feature of your app based copilot? It can keep guiding you on the right path even when you have lost network on your phone with the aid of automotive-grade offline maps.

It also has specially crafted routes and directions for caravans and motorhomes based on the size of your vehicle.

10. TomTom

TomTom is undoubtedly the best Google Maps substitute because it offers three types of products, which are maps, connected services, and navigation systems.

It offers multiple navigation models with a flying interface. They are mostly GPS-based systems. It also provides real-time traffic updates.

11. Citymapper

This App is the best online web mapping alternative and can relieve you of your tensions. It can provide you with the most appropriate, fastest, and shortest routes. It checks with the real departure services and brings you the best directions.

12. BackCountry Navigator TOPO GPS

The best navigation app for Android, it brings you the best experience if you’re trying to find out the topographical features of a place. Bikers can have a gala time with this bike. Hiking can be more fun than it ever has been until now.

13. Polaris GPS Navigation

This is one of the truest GPS navigation apps. When you’re on a path with no roads, you literally have to create one for yourself. For nautical and off-road conditions, it can help soldiers, wayfarers, and adventurers immensely. It is an absolutely free online web mapping service.

Final Words

Web mapping refers to the process of using maps delivered by GIS (geographic information systems) in the World Wide Web by collating multiple geographic datasets from free as well as proprietary datasets.

Web mapping services are immensely indispensable in today’s world. Let these Google Maps alternatives guide you on your path whether you are a globetrotter or regular office commuter.

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Best Android phones in 2024

By admin January 16, 2024

Best Android phones in 2024, Need a new phone? Look no further than this selection of best Android phones you should buy, including the best from Google, Samsung and more!

We’re approaching the tail end of 2023, and it’s safe to say that it’s been a great year for smartphone enthusiasts and those who were in the market to buy a new phone. We have seen some incredible launches from the likes of Samsung, OnePlus, and Apple, and there are simply too many good flagships to count this year. We’ve also received some solid mid-rangers and best value picks in the form of Galaxy A54 5G, Pixel 7a, and more recently, the Galaxy S23 FE.

Similarly, the foldable space was also packed with some great launches, so there’s no shortage of reliable Android phones in 2023. If you are in the market to buy a new Android flagship and can’t figure out which one is better, then check out the collection below in which I’ve highlighted some of the best phones across different categories.

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Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra in green with transparent background showing front and back of the phone with S Pen stylus

Source: Samsung

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motorola edge+ 2023 in black, transparent background, floating in air showing angular front and back sides

Source: Motorola

Motorola Edge Plus (2023)

Fantastic alternative

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Source: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

Best value pick

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Samsung A54 5G in black with transparent background, showing front and partial back panel

Source: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

Best mid-range pick

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oneplus11 device in black transparent background showing only back side

Source: OnePlus

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Best Android phones in 2024

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best overall

The best flagship on the market, hands down

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best phones on the market, packing an all-new 200MP sensor, a refined design, a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, and One UI 5.1.

Pros

• The most versatile camera system

• Excellent performance

• S Pen included

Cons

• Too big and unwieldy to use with one hand easily

• Other than the main camera and new chip, not a major upgrade over the S22 Ultra

Considering the Galaxy S21 and S22 Ultra held this spot for almost all of 2021 and 2022, Samsung didn’t need to do much for the Galaxy S23 Ultra to claim this spot immediately upon release, particularly in the U.S. market. And while Samsung retained mostly the same display, design, and internal components except for the newest Qualcomm chip, it does bring a major update: the main camera is now a 200MP sensor, capable of shooting actual 200MP photos or 12.5MP shots using 16-in-1 pixel binning.

The new camera allows the Galaxy S23 Ultra to make further improvements to low light photography, as a normal binned photo will contain almost twice as much image information as the S22 Ultra’s main camera shots. You can also shoot in full 200MP, after which you can crop in significantly and not lose as many details as other mobile camera photos. While the other cameras on the rear — a pair of 10MP zoom lenses and the 12MP ultra-wide — remain unchanged from the S22 Ultra, Samsung’s improved computational photography plus the newer ISP in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip make for improved photos with better exposure and colors.

The fully integrated S-Pen, 5,000 mAh battery, along with a gorgeous 6.8-inch Super AMOLED panel with excellent peak brightness and energy efficiency all make their return, making for a polished and powerful device. Throw in Android 13 with four guaranteed years of Android updates and then another year of security updates, plus great Samsung software features like Samsung DeX, and you have a do-it-all, well-rounded flagship that offers more than what any other phone has to offer. If you want the most reliable, capable, and widely available Android phone, the Galaxy S23 Ultra is still it.

Motorola Edge Plus (2023)

Fantastic alternative

A surprisingly good alternative to phones from Google & Samsung

The 2023 flagship Edge+ brings an impressive spec sheet and an affordable price. From the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor to the 165Hz pOLED display, Motorola is offering North Americans perhaps its most complete high-end phone in years.

Pros

• Great overall performance

• Reliable software experience

• Excellent battery life

Cons

• Zoom past 5x on the cameras is a mess

• Not available at carriers

The 2023 model of the Moto Edge+ is a high-end phone that once again brings Motorola into the flagship conversation. It offers a long list of features that makes it worth it in 2023 over other options out there. The Edge+ (2023) brings a lot of improvements over its predecessor to become a great alternative to flagships from Samsung and Google.

One of the highlights of this phone is its design. The Edge+ (2023) features curves on both front and back for a quad-curved design that looks beautiful and feels premium to hold. It also sports a 6.67-inch OLED panel with support for up to 165Hz refresh rate. The phone is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip to deliver excellent performance, and it also packs a massive 5,100mAh battery for reliable battery life.

My only complaint is the availability because the Edge+ (2023) is not available on any carriers in the U.S. That’s a potential deal-breaker for those who prefer bundling their phones with qualifying plans for monthly payments instead of buying them unlocked. But if that’s not stopping you, then I can’t recommend the Moto Edge+ (2023) enough. There’s a lot to like about this particular smartphone, and you can learn more about it in our Motorola Edge+ (2023) review.

Samsung Galaxy S23 FE

Best value pick

Reliable Samsung Galaxy experience that we know and love, for cheap

The Galaxy S23 FE comes in tons of colors and gives you the core Samsung experience for a more affordable price.

Pros

• Beautiful AMOLED display

• Premium build quality

• Samsung’s One UI 5.1 software

Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 FE stands as a great choice for those who are looking to buy a Galaxy smartphone, but don’t want to shell out a premium price for it. The Galaxy S23 FE looks and feels in hand like its flagship siblings. It even has a Dynamic AMOLED 2X display with 120Hz refresh rate, which is the same as the one you get on the regular Galaxy S23. It sports Gorilla Glass 5 on both front and the back, and it even features an aluminum frame and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance.

The only difference between the Galaxy S23 FE and the regular Galaxy S23 is that the more affordable model is powered by a relatively older Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chip in the U.S. as opposed to the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chip. It also features a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom as opposed to a 12MP sensor, and a 10MP selfie camera instead of a 12MP shooter on the Galaxy S23. The rest of the camera sensors are the same, though.

The fact that the Galaxy S23 FE offers a very similar experience to the more expensive flagship Galaxy S23 models for a starting price of $600 is great. That’s $200 less than the most affordable model in the flagship Galaxy S23 lineup, making it a great value pick. Google’s Pixel 7a is also a solid option to consider if you’re in the market to buy a relatively affordable phone. The Pixel 7a is, in fact, even cheaper, so it’s better suited for those who are on a tighter budget. I suggest you check out Galaxy S23 FE vs Google Pixel 7a comparison to learn more about the differences between the two.

Samsung Galaxy A54 5G

Best mid-range pick

Samsung Galaxy experience for less

The Samsung Galaxy A54 5G is a great mid-range phone. It offers a sleek design, a beautiful 120Hz display, plenty of power under the hood, and a triple camera setup on the back.

Pros

• Excellent screen at this price point

• Solid main camera

• Glass body instead of plastic

Cons

• Useless macro camera

• A bit slower than pricier phones

Samsung’s Galaxy A54 brings a 120Hz vibrant OLED display, a strong 50MP, f/1.8 main camera, and a glass body at a mid-range price. Previously, Samsung’s A series used a plastic body, so this new construction is an immediate step-up. The phone also packs a large 5,000mAh battery and keeps expandable storage, which is very rare in modern smartphones.

The A54 runs Android 13 with Samsung’s OneUI, and the software experience is pleasant. Despite the phone running on an Exynos chip — which doesn’t get the best rep — overall performance is relatively smooth. The phone isn’t going to zip around as fast as a flagship Samsung or even the OnePlus 11, but it’s not a slow phone either.

The main camera uses Samsung’s improved software processing to produce lively images, and even in low-light situations, it performs well. The ultrawide camera is just average, however, falling to the usual soft details and noise in low-light situations. However, add in official IP67 water resistance and stereo speakers, and the A54 is a very good mid-range option. It’s also cheaper than the Galaxy S23 FE, and you can check out our Galaxy S23 FE vs Galaxy A54 5G comparison to learn more about the differences between the two.

OnePlus 11

Best software and speed

Still the fastest and smoothest phone around

The OnePlus 11 is the company’s return to form, offering an almost-flagship experience at a lower price point than what Samsung charges.

Pros

• Fast, zippy UI

• Very good main camera

• Fast charging with included charger

Cons

• No official water resistance rating even though cheaper phones offer it

• No wireless charging

Look, I know OnePlus’ OxygenOS has lost a bit of its identity over the past year, ever since OnePlus and OPPO finally admitted to being the same company and OxygenOS began looking more and more like OPPO’s ColorOS. But here’s the thing: ColorOS is good, and this “colorfied” version of OxygenOS running in the OnePlus 11 is still one of the zippiest and smoothest software around.

Every Android flagship offers a 120Hz refresh rate these days, but OxygenOS’ (and ColorOS’) animations just zip around noticeably faster and smoother than, say, Samsung’s OneUI, which sees dropped frames from time to time. Google’s Pixel UI has pretty smooth animations, and a case can be made for that software taking this spot, but OxygenOS is just a bit more customizable, with a better always-on display and more useful shortcut gestures.

The OnePlus 11 itself is a fine phone, too, running on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, with a visually striking design that sees the camera module spill over the sides and blends into the chassis. It also has a very good Hasselblad camera system headlined by a 50MP IMX890 main camera plus a 48MP ultrawide shooter, and a 32MP 2x telephoto zoom lens. Photos captured by the OnePlus 11 are vibrant with punchy colors and excellent dynamic range.

The OnePlus 11 ships with a 100W fast charging brick (80W in the U.S.) that can top up the phone from 0-100% in under 25 minutes. Overall, the OnePlus 11 is a good-looking, polished Android phone that should satisfy your need for speed, and it’s priced a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Galaxy S23+.

Google Pixel 8 Pro

Best point-and-shoot camera

Google’s AI camera magic

$799 $999 Save $200

The Pixel 8 Pro is the latest flagship from Google, and it packs the best the company has to offer in 2023. It features the newest Tensor G3 processor, like its regular Pixel 8 sibling, but it comes with a 6.7-inch OLED display, a brighter screen, a larger battery, and more storage options.

Pros

• Incredible AI camera features

• Absolutely one of the best camera systems around

• Good design and build quality

Cons

• Not a big jump over the Pixel 7 Pro

• Not the best performing flagship out there

A quick comparison between the Pixel 8 Pro vs Pixel 7 Pro will tell you that the new flagship doesn’t bring a lot of new things to the table. It does offer a better camera system, though, thanks to all the new generative AI features. All of these features are scary good, and they allow you to tweak the photos after the fact, meaning you tweak and make a shot better even after capturing it.

As far as the cameras are concerned, the Pixel 8 Pro sports a triple camera setup at the back which includes a 50MP main camera, a 48MP telephoto, and a 48MP ultrawide camera. It also features a 10.5MP selfie shooter with PDAF as opposed to a 10.8MP shooter on the previous-gen model. We’ve added lots of camera samples captured using the Pixel 8 Pro in review, so be sure to check it out in case you’re wondering how good the cameras are.

In terms of the internals, we’re looking at Google’s new Tensor G3 chip inside the Pixel 8 Pro as opposed to the Tensor G2. The base variant of the Pixel 8 Pro also comes with 12GB of RAM instead of 8GB. Some other noteworthy differences between the two include a slightly bigger battery, support for faster charging, and the addition of a new temperature sensor. The Pixel 8 Pro, however, costs $100 more than the Pixel 7 Pro at launch. In fact, you’re likely to find the Pixel 7 Pro at discounted prices now, so keep that in mind.

Asus ROG Phone 7

Best gaming phone

The ultimate Android gaming phone

Packed with specs and software gaming optimizations, the Asus ROG Phone 7 is one of the best when it comes to smartphones specifically made for mobile gaming.

Pros

• Gaming-specific software

• Packed to the gills with specs

• First-party gaming accessories

Cons

• Sub-par camera performance

ASUS has a solid list of gaming phones under its belt, so it’s hardly a surprise to see an ROG phone making it to our list as the best gaming phone pick. The ROG Phone 7 comes with all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a gaming in 2023, and it’s a great pick for those who are looking to buy Android phone for gaming.

It packs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SOC, up to 16GB of LPDDR5X memory, and up to 512GB of UFS4.0 storage. Notably, it also packs a 6,000mAh battery with 65W fast charging, which delivers up to two-day battery life. The ROG Phone 7 also boasts a huge 6.78-inch 165Hz AMOLED display, which is a fluid and responsive panel for gaming.

The ROG Phone 7 is a bit on the heavier side, weighing in at 239g, but it’s partly due to Asus’ Gamecool 7, an included cooling solution that has a large vapor chamber, graphite cooling sheets, and an external fan accessory. The extra heft is essentially just a small price to pay for a phone that runs cool and won’t thermal throttle while gaming.

The ROG Phone 7 is not for everyone, but it’s a great choice for those who are looking to buy a reliable Android handset for gaming. You can also consider checking out the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, which steps things up, for an even better experience.

OnePlus Open

Best large foldable

Snatching the crown from Samsung’s best foldable phone

$1500 $1700 Save $200

The OnePlus Open is the company’s first foldable, featuring a sleek design, a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform chip, advanced camera system, and more. It is available in two colorways and starts at $1,500.

Pros

• The best foldable phone displays yet

• Impressive camera hardware

• Great multitasking features

Cons

• No wireless charging

• A bit on the expensive side

The OnePlus Open is currently the best foldable phone you can buy in the U.S. market if you’re looking for a large-sized foldable device instead of a clamshell model. The OnePlus Open, just like the Galaxy Z Fold 5, is a book-style foldable that gets a lot of things right and offers a premium experience at a relatively lower price. It’s essentially just a rebranded OPPO Find N3, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that it’s a solid entry in the foldable space.

One of the highlights of the OnePlus Open is that there’s no noticeable crease on the internal folding display of this device. It also has a matte finish that makes it less reflective than the ones on the competing phones. The Open also sports an excellent set of cameras that can capture some photos and videos like the ones highlighted in our OnePlus Open review.

The OxygenOS powering the overall experience of the OnePlus Open is also great, and it brings some solid multitasking features to the table. Part of what makes a book-style foldable great are the multi-tasking features that let you take full advantage of the screen real-estate, and OnePlus has got it right for the most part.

It also looks great and has a premium build to match its price tag. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 5 is also a good foldable phone overall, but it falls a bit short while going against the OnePlus Open in a head-to-head comparison. I suggest you check out our OnePlus Open vs Galaxy Z Fold 5 comparison to learn more about the differences between these two phones.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5

Best small foldable

Evenly matched with the Moto Razr+

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 is the latest compact foldable from Samsung, offering a flexible 6.7-inch internal display, a 3.4-inch external display, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, and much more.

You can score up to $600 off with trade-ins at Samsung.com.

Pros

• Compact form factor

• Bigger outer screen offers more usability

• New hinge improves the form factor

Cons

• The camera still needs work

• No DeX support

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, just like its predecessor, is a fun foldable phone that’s significantly more affordable than its bigger sibling. Unlike the Fold 5, which is a better phone for power users, the Flip 5 is a pocketable phone that’s only meant to make your smartphone experience more fun. I’d say it’s a good entry into the world of foldable, and you should consider buying one if you fancy a phone that’ll make you stand out.

Unlike other Samsung products this year, the Z Flip 5 got one big upgrade. It now sports a much bigger cover display on the outside, which lets you do more things without unfolding the phone. It’s almost the same size as the one you get on the Moto Razr+, but Samsung makes it a bit harder to use applications on it. The Flip 5 also gets the same hinge as the Fold 5, meaning it folds completely flat. Notably, it’s also powered by the same Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip for Galaxy, so it’s just as powerful as Samsung’s other flagship Galaxy phones this year.

I suggest you stop by our Galaxy Z Flip 5 review to learn more about it before picking one up. It’s similar to the Moto Razr+ in many ways, and I’d say they’re both evenly matched when it comes to compact foldable phones in the U.S. But the Z Flip 5 edges it out slightly in software and power.

Best Android phones: The final say

You’ll find plenty of good phones in this roundup, so I highly recommend exploring all the listings to find the right phone. But if you don’t want to spend time looking at all the options and don’t mind splurging to get the best phone, then I suggest picking the Galaxy S23 Ultra. It’s one of the most well-rounded phones you buy right now, as it gets a lot of things right for the price. Premium features like the new 200MP camera and the included S Pen make it the best in the Android space, and you can’t really go wrong with it.

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Best overall

The best of the best

The Galaxy S23 Ultra is one of the best phones on the market, packing an all-new 200MP sensor, a refined design, a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for Galaxy chipset, and One UI 5.1.

Phones like the OnePlus 11 and the Galaxy S23 FE also offer good value for your money, but they miss out on some features, thereby forcing you to compromise. All things considered, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra remains the undisputed champion, and it’s still the phone to pick if you’re looking for a reliable all-rounder.

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Best Free Pinterest Downloader in 2024

By admin January 15, 2024

Best Free Pinterest Downloader in 2024, Pinterest is the ideal tool for generating new ideas and gaining inspiration. One may discover a wide variety of creative expressions, including images and films, that span almost any subject they can think of. Pinterest is a platform for visual discovery that was largely developed to assist users in locating photographs of topics that interest them. These photos may include ideas for home design, tasty recipes, gardening ideas, and more.

Although the majority of users are used to adding Pins to their boards, you can also download a picture from Pinterest to your computer or smartphone and store it for offline usage.

Here is all you need to know about how to save images from Pinterest to the memory roll of any digital camera.

8 Best Pinterest Image Downloader in 2024 to Get HD Photos

Have a look at the below-mentioned most popular free Pinterest image downloader!

1. Pincase

Source: Pincase

Introducing Pincase, a powerful tool designed specifically for downloading videos and images from Pinterest. With Pincase, users can effortlessly save their favorite content from Pinterest, whether it be captivating videos or stunning images.

Pincase is a user-friendly tool designed to enhance the downloading experience on Pinterest.com by providing a convenient and free video downloading feature. Additionally, the platform offers a convenient download feature that allows users to easily download various types of media, including images, GIFs, videos, and Story Pins.

This Pinterest image downloader simplifies the downloading process by incorporating a convenient download button positioned at the upper left corner of every pin. This feature enhances the user experience and makes it more efficient to save desired images. The extension has the capability to facilitate the download of various types of content from Pinterest, including images, gifs, videos, and Story Pins. The pincase batch image downloader feature is designed to significantly enhance the efficiency of your downloading process. The feature allows for the convenient downloading of multiple files, including gifs, images, and videos, all at once.

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Best Free Pinterest Downloader in 2024

2. SavePIN Pinterest Image Downloader

Source: SavePIN Pinterest Image Downloader

Are you tired of the repetitive task of manually downloading images from Pinterest? SavePin is a comprehensive and efficient solution that caters to all of your Pinterest image-downloading requirements. With our efficient Pinterest photo downloader, users can effortlessly and promptly acquire high-resolution images. By utilizing a simple and efficient process, users have the ability to effortlessly save numerous images simultaneously, granting them convenient and unrestricted access to their collection from any location and at any given time.

This free Pinterest image downloader is compatible with a wide range of devices, ensuring that users can access it seamlessly across various platforms. The tool is completely free from any potential risks or threats, ensuring the utmost safety and security. This product is designed to seamlessly integrate with and function effectively on a wide range of devices.

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3. Pinterest Image Downloader Online

Source: Pinterest Image Downloader Online

When it comes to watermark-free Pinterest image downloads, this is the greatest tool available. The versatility of the Pinterest Image Downloader Online tool allows for seamless compatibility across multiple platforms, including Android, iPhone, and PC. This eliminates the need for users to switch between different tools when utilizing their various devices.

Users can save several photographs at once with ease using a straightforward and effective approach, which gives them convenient and unlimited access to their collection at any time and from any location.

The compatibility of this free Pinterest image downloader extends to a diverse array of devices, enabling users to effortlessly utilize it on multiple platforms. The tool boasts a remarkable level of safety and security, as it is entirely free from any potential risks or threats. The design of this product ensures a smooth and efficient integration, allowing it to effectively operate on various devices.

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4. PINTDD

Source: PINTDD

Another best free Pinterest image downloader is PINTDD. It is designed to provide users with an exhilarating experience when it comes to downloading images from Pinterest. With this exceptional tool, users can easily and conveniently download their favorite Pinterest images online, making it the ultimate treat for those who find excitement in captivating visuals. With just a few simple steps, it is possible to effortlessly download Pinterest images onto various devices such as PCs, laptops, tablets, or smartphones within a matter of seconds. This Pinterest photo downloader provides users with the ability to unlock the vast world of Pinterest. It enables users to search for and acquire high-definition quality photos from Pinterest effortlessly.

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5. DotSave

Source: DotSave

DotSave.app is another meticulously crafted web-based Pinterest image downloader that offers users an unparalleled experience in downloading videos from the platform. With its seamless functionality and user-friendly interface, it stands out as the ultimate choice for those seeking a reliable and efficient Pinterest downloader.

The main objective of the website is to provide a convenient and easy-to-use solution for users who wish to download Pinterest videos and pictures onto their devices. This allows them to access the videos offline, use them for personal purposes, or incorporate them into various creative projects. Users can select from a variety of video formats (including MP4) and quality thanks to the website.

The feature enables users to customize the downloaded videos or pictures according to their individual preferences and requirements. Users are provided with the option to select their preferred download format, such as JPEG or MP4, for the content they wish to download from Pinterest. By providing users with increased control, they are able to ensure that the downloaded files are compatible with their specific intended use.

Users can select from a variety of video formats (including MP4) and quality thanks to the website. The feature enables users to customize the downloaded videos or pictures according to their individual preferences and requirements.

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6. Pintvideodownloader.com

source:Pintvideodownloader.com

Despite being a well-known and linked platform, Pinterest does not provide its users with a way to download images, photos, or pictures from the site. In order to get over this problem, Pintvideodownloader provides you with a Pinterest image downloader that lets you download pictures of your choice.

Pintvideodownloader is a specialized platform designed specifically to assist users in the process of downloading videos from Pinterest. In addition to its other features, the platform also provides users with the ability to download images, GIFs, and stories. The Pinterest Image Downloader is designed to provide users with a user-friendly experience, ensuring that they can easily download Pinterest images and achieve a high level of satisfaction.

Furthermore, it should be noted that Pintvideodownloader consistently maintains the high quality of images without any compromise. When you make a wish, you receive precisely what you desire, including the ability to download high-definition pictures without any degradation in their quality. When using Pintvideodownloader, users can download images without any worry as there is no watermark present on the downloaded images.

The software seamlessly integrates with a wide range of web browsers and operating systems, ensuring optimal compatibility and performance across different platforms. Hence, this versatile tool can be utilized on both mobile devices and computers.

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7. BotDownloader

Source: BotDownloader

Last but not least, the BotDownloader is another free Pinterest image downloader that you can consider. It is a user-friendly tool that allows you to effortlessly download images or photos from Pinterest. Whether you use a Desktop, Laptop, PC, Tablet, or Android Phone, this tool provides a seamless experience for accessing and saving Pinterest content. Additionally, users have the option to download Pinterest photos in either jpg or png format.

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8. Pinterest HD Image & Photo Downloader

Source: Pinterest HD Image & Photo Downloader

If you are still not quite satisfied with the best free Pinterest image downloaders provided above, then here’s another one to help you. Pinterest HD Image & Photo Downloader is an HD downloader that allows you to save images or videos from the Pinterest board. All you need to do is copy the URL of the link you want to save, paste it into the website, and download content with ease.

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Final Words- Pinterest Image Downloader in 2024

Pinterest gives users the ability to construct digital bulletin boards by compiling pictures and videos related to a variety of subjects. There is no need for you to continuously look for the pictures that you like while you are logging into your account online. You will have direct access to them via the board(s) that you manage as well as the boards that you follow.

You may avoid the hassle of taking screenshots every time you wish to save a picture on Pinterest by using the options that are now accessible to you so that you can download the image instead. Using either of the following free Pinterest image downloaders you can easily download and save a high-quality picture from Pinterest to your mobile device or desktop computer.

That’s all! We hope you found the article informative and helpful. If you have any questions or further suggestions regarding the same, then please feel free to tell us in the comments section below.

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Best Strategy Games for PC in 2024

By admin January 15, 2024

Best Strategy Games for PC in 2024, Strategy games come in a few different shapes and sizes, but what makes the following special is their unrivaled base-building features.Strategy games often involve micromanagement of various things that the player must master, ranging from logistics planning to providing optimal resources, to building a strong base that can serve as a foundation of the player’s winning move in the game. Most strategy games, be they real-time, simulation, or turn-based, have the element of base-building in their core gameplay loop.

The base building aspect of the game will usually involve the player having to gather resources and construct buildings as a starting point. This base will evolve to adapt to the game’s situation, although it has a heavier resource usage. The evolution of the base can also unlock a new gameplay loop for the player, keeping the game consistently fresh.

Factorio

The Factory Must Expand

Factorio is one of the best examples of how a strategy game can be centered around base building, as it becomes necessary for the player to have a well-built and well-defended fortress in order to ‘win’ the game. The real-time strategy game is also focused on resource gathering, making it necessary for the player to micromanage their resources optimally while defending the base from hostile invasion from the planet’s fauna.

From the importance of the Alt key to the value of construction bots, here are some valuable pointers for players who are new to Factorio.

With the game’s blueprint system, the base-building aspect of the game becomes more intense as the player will be able to build numerous unique building structures and customize their base, making each playthrough unique.

Best Strategy Games for PC in 2024

Cult Of The Lamb

Build A Base For An Upstart Cult

Creating a cult has never been more intense than while playing Cult of the Lamb, as the player will be controlling the role of a lamb that owes its life to a demon, and as a payment, tasked with creating a cult in the demon’s name. As part of the cult creation, the player is also tasked with building a proper base for the cult to thrive, and also act as a place of worship for its followers.

Farm layout is important in Cult of the Lamb, and these tips can help players keep things running smoothly.

Followers can be tasked with gathering resources to build up the base, and a plethora of other activities, including getting sacrificed to appease the demon. The survival aspect of the game makes it necessary for the player to build a well-balanced base without sacrificing an aspect, as it can lead to an early game over.

Base Of Operation Is Necessary Against Alien Invasion

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Fighting against an alien invasion that is overwhelmingly more advanced technologically can be insurmountable, but also fun to challenge in XCOM: Enemy Unknown. Aside from undertaking missions to repel alien invasions, the player is tasked with creating a proper base for the organization to build up their soldiers in many aspects, including technological advancement and logistics.

The base-building aspect of the game can become intense once the player is faced with the problem of facing multiple problems that require priority above the others. For example, having a country with a huge amount of funds pull out of the organization’s funding can negatively impact the base’s performance as upgrades become scarce.

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

Balance Resources To Achieve The Perfect Foundation For An Assault

Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2

Although the game’s age is over two decades, the gameplay loop of both micromanagement and base building still holds fresh against most modern strategy games due to its simple design, but hard-to-master concept. At the start of every game, the player will be tasked to gather enough resources to build up a base that is capable of training units to assault the enemy’s base.

Moreover, these bases can also hold unique, powerful buildings that acts as a high-risk, high-reward structure that enables the player to unleash superweapons, such as a nuclear silo.

Evil Genius 2: World Domination

Build A Proper Staging Base To Dominate Earth

World domination is not an easy feat to do, and it usually requires a genius leader at the head of an evil organization that is willing to do anything, including building a super-secret base as the foundation of their evil plan. Players of the game will need to have a well-optimized base layout to have a chance of winning the game.

Evil Genius 2 can seem daunting for players new to the strategy genre. Here’s how to start the journey towards world domination.

Moreover, having the proper base layout is crucial, as the different rooms inside the base enable the player to take more missions to grow their organization. A less-optimized layout of the base will have repercussions, especially towards the later stages of the game, as the Forces of Justice’s interference grows more intense.

Age Of Empires 2

The Best Base Is A Foundation For Good Offense

The classic real-time-strategy game Age of Empires 2 is still widely played to this day due to its timeless gameplay loop, which includes intense micromanagement of units, resource management, and proper base-building to enable the smooth development of an army. The base-building phase of the game is crucial enough to have a set of patterns on which building to build first, and technologies to research first, to keep up with the enemy’s development.

Moreover, building a well-connected network of walls with gates is also important, as a well-defended base will mean the player has a chance to mount a comeback after a failed assault on the enemy’s base.

Starcraft

The Staple For Both Base Building And Micromanagement

Veterans of Starcraft will know how crucial it is to have the right sequence of buildings made in their base, as less optimal buildings will hinder their development and rapidly lower their chances of victory. Combined with three unique factions, each with its unique buildings, Starcraft can be categorized as one of the best games that have base building as one of the core gameplay loops.

The base-building aspect of the game ranges from creating an optimal supply chain to build an army, to identifying a satellite base that is dedicated to resource gathering.

Total War: Warhammer 3

Total War: Warhammer 3, the conclusion to Creative Assembly’s Warhammer trilogy, is also its strangest and most experimental, letting players leave the traditional Total War sandbox every 30 or so turns to journey through the Realm of Chaos, where the domains of the Chaos gods exist, culminating in huge survival battles that draw from tower defence games, with fortifications, in-battle recruitment and waves of enemies.

The campaign proved to be divisive, but for those more interested in a proper sandbox, there’s always Immortal Empires. Available as free DLC for anyone who owns all three games, this mega-campaign pits every faction and legendary lord in the entire trilogy against each other in a gargantuan map. So that’s 278 factions and 86 playable legendary lords. It’s incredible. Total War at its most, well, total war.

Crusader Kings 3

Crusader Kings 3, the best strategy game of 2020, has usurped its predecessor’s spot on the list, unsurprisingly. It’s a huge grand strategy RPG, more polished and cohesive than the venerable CK2, and quite a bit easier on the eyes, too. At first glance it might seem a bit too familiar, but an even greater focus on roleplaying and simulating the lifestyles of medieval nobles, along with a big bag of new and reconsidered features, makes it well worth jumping ship to the latest iteration.

CK3 is a ceaseless storyteller supported by countless complex systems that demand to be mucked around with and tweaked. Getting to grips with it is thankfully considerably easier this time around, thanks to a helpful nested tooltip system and plenty of guidance. And all this soapy dynastic drama just has a brilliant flow to it, carrying you along with it. You can meander through life without any great plan and still find yourself embroiled in countless intrigues, wars and trysts.

Total War: Three Kingdoms

Total War: Three Kingdoms, the latest historical entry in the series, takes a few nods from Warhammer, which you’ll find elsewhere in this list, giving us a sprawling Chinese civil war that’s fuelled by its distinct characters, both off and on the battlefield. Each is part of a complicated web of relationships that affects everything from diplomacy to performance in battle, and like their Warhammer counterparts they’re all superhuman warriors.

It feels like a leap for the series in the same way the first Rome did, bringing with it some fundemental changes to how diplomacy, trade and combat works. The fight over China also makes for a compelling campaign, blessed with a kind of dynamism that we’ve not seen in a Total War before. Since launch, it’s also benefited from some great DLC, including a new format that introduces historical bookmarks that expand on different events from the era.

Europa Universalis 4

Paradox’s long-running, flagship strategy romp is the ultimate grand strategy game, putting you in charge of a nation from the end of the Middle Ages all the way up to the 1800s. As head honcho, you determine its political strategy, meddle with its economy, command its armies and craft an empire.

Right from the get-go, Europa Universalis 4 lets you start changing history. Maybe England crushes France in the 100 Years War and builds a massive continental empire. Maybe the Iroquois defeat European colonists, build ships and invade the Old World. It’s huge, complex, and through years of expansions has just kept growing. The simulation can sometimes be tough to wrap one’s head around, but it’s worth diving in and just seeing where alt-history takes you.

4X Old World

Few 4X games try to challenge Civ, but Old World already had a leg up thanks designer Soren Johnson’s previous relationship with the series. He was the lead designer on Civ 4, and that legacy is very apparent. But Old World is more than another take on Civ. For one, it’s set exclusively in antiquity rather than charting the course of human history, but that change in scope also allows it to focus on people as well as empires.

Instead of playing an immortal ruler, you play one who really lives, getting married, having kids and eventually dying. Then you play their heir. You have courtiers, spouses, children and rivals to worry about, and with this exploration of the human side of empire-building also comes a bounty of events, plots and surprises. You might even find yourself assassinated by a family member. There’s more than a hint of Crusader Kings here.

Civilization 6

You can’t have a best strategy games list without a bit of Civ. Civilization 6 is our game of choice in the series right now, especially now that it’s seen a couple of expansions. The biggest change this time around is the district system, which unstacks cities in the way that its predecessor unstacked armies. Cities are now these sprawling things full of specialised areas that force you to really think about the future when you developing tiles.

The expansions added some more novel wrinkles that are very welcome but do stop short of revolutionising the venerable series. They introduce the concept of Golden Ages and Dark Ages, giving you bonuses and debuffs depending on your civilisation’s development across the years, as well as climate change and environmental disasters. It’s a forward-thinking, modern Civ.

Sins of a Solar Empire

Sins of a Solar Empire captures some of the scope of a 4X strategy game but makes it work within an RTS framework. This is a game about star-spanning empires that rise, stabilise and fall in the space of an afternoon: and, particularly, about the moment when the vast capital ships of those empires emerge from hyperspace above half-burning worlds. Diplomacy is an option too, of course, but also: giant spaceships. Play the Rebellion expansion to enlarge said spaceships to ridiculous proportions.

After years of waiting, a sequel is finally on the horizon, thankfully. Sins of a Solar Empire 2 can already be played in early access for those who preorder it.

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The best football games on PC 2024

By admin January 15, 2024

The best football games on PC 2024, Lead your club, country, or brightest youth prospect to victory in the best football games on PC, from near-perfect simulations to soap opera stories. It can seem tough to scratch that footballing itch, especially when there are only a few mainstream games that usually spring to mind. Sure, Football Manager is the undisputed king of the football management genre, and if you’re interested in a more player-controlled affair, it’s hard to argue with FIFA’s excellent game-day presentation.

What are the best football games on PC in 2024? It can seem tough to scratch that footballing itch, especially when there are only a few mainstream games that usually spring to mind. Sure, Football Manager is the undisputed king of the football management genre, and if you’re interested in a more player-controlled affair, it’s hard to argue with FIFA’s excellent game-day presentation.

Whether it’s an under-the-radar studio, an indie title, or a mash-up of different sports, there’s a football game for every fan. To shine a light on these underappreciated classics, we’ve compiled the best PC games for football fans.

Football Drama

Football meets real-time strategy and deck-based card battle games gameplay in this delightfully humourous Demigiant title. As existentially-troubled manager Rocco Galliano, you’re tasked with turning around the fortunes of the ailing Calchester Assembled Football Club.

Doing so won’t be easy though. Like Telltale games of old, player choice is a big part of Football Drama. You’ll regularly be in conversation with journalists, the club’s owner, criminal organizations, and even your house cat, and the decisions you make during these chats have positive or negative impacts on all aspects of your management journey. Get into a spat with the man who hired you, and you could be sacked within days of taking over. Do a deal with the mafia to throw a game and find the story leaked to the press, and you could have a baying mob of angry supporters at your door.

Football Drama’s turn-based match mechanics, coupled with the use of “shout cards” you earn based on your interactions, can swing results in or out of your favor, and add an intriguing layer to its FM-inspired match engine. Your team’s stamina and card usage are pivotal to winning matches, so strategically applying them in unison will be the difference between victory and defeat.

Games and the commentary can feel a bit repetitive after a while, and there are only seven endings you can unlock despite Football Drama’s huge branching narrative. With its unique blend of gameplay, droll humor, and literary-inspired plot, however, Demigiant’s title is one you should check out.

The best football games on PC 2024

Rocket League

This isn’t your typical football game, but Rocket League is technically a soccer-based title thanks to its arcade-style football mixed with rocket-fuelled cars and vehicles.

There’s so much to like about Psyonix’s popular game. Its fluid, physics-driven mechanics are a joy and give rise to different, awesome, and sometimes hilariously bad goals and moments. Its 3-on-3 matches are always intense and results can swing one way or the other based on whether you’re having a good session or not, who you’re teamed up with, and often sheer luck about where the ball lands.

Its customization options allow you to build a vehicle that is distinctly you, and there are various game modes for you to try out until you find your perfect fit. Online casual and competitive matches, an offline Season Mode, basketball and hockey-esque extra modes, and Mutator options are just a few game types available to you, which helps if you want to mix things up and try something new.

Add all of that together with the Rocket League Season Pass – where you can earn rewards, climb up the world rankings, and get XP boosts – and this is a driving-based football title that could rival FM for your time. Check out our Rocket League review if you want to know more.

Kopanito All-Stars Soccer

Have you ever wanted to see a game with no referee and players imbued with superpowers? Kopanito All-Stars Soccer will be right up your street if so.

Merixgames’ football title has been out for a while, but its cartoonish charm and skill-based gameplay mean that there’s plenty here to keep your interest. Regional tournaments and leagues, multiplayer support for up to five players, and four difficulty levels give you your money’s worth, and there’s even the option to turn your slick or amazing goals and celebrations into animated GIFs to send to your mates if you’re in bragging mode.

It’s the game’s superpower abilities that really make it shine, though. You can teleport away from opponents, fire a super-shot goalwards that knocks all players out of the way – goalkeeper included – and even use a magnet that pulls the ball alongside you. It’s wacky but rewarding, particularly if you become a master at the game’s control system, and you’ll feel satisfied when you finally beat the game’s hardest difficulty setting after weeks of honing your craft.

Football, Tactics & Glory

On the surface, this looks like an FM22 knock-off, but there’s more to Football, Tactics & Glory than that. Combining XCOM’s chess-like strategy with RPG elements, Creoteam’s original spin on the management sim genre provides a fun yet realistic take on player improvement and tactical game plans.

Its fully customizable player faces let you give your stars some personality – in comparison to FM22’s plasticine-esque regen faces – while its mod support allows you to add in real-life leagues and tournaments to keep things fresh. Add in a helping of Twitch integration, whereby viewers can interact with streamers, and your fans can play as big a role in your management journey as you.

If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to FM22’s in-depth mechanics – or a realistic footballing alternative to Blood Bowl – Football, Tactics, & Glory is a solid PC football game.

Behold the Kickmen

Imagine a football game that was developed by someone who had no idea what football was about. If you thought of something along the lines of Behold the Kickmen, you’d be right.

A frenetic soccer sim, Behold the Kickmen reinvents football by, well, inventing something else entirely. With gameplay mechanics that include ‘more kicking’ and ‘doing goals’, this tongue-in-cheek affair takes an amusing swipe at football fanaticism.

There’s a silly story mode to keep you engaged, while you can enable a mode in the options that turns the game into a dystopian bloodsport if things are getting a bit too serious for your liking. Its lack of multiplayer is a shame as it would be funny to batter your mates into oblivion, especially in bloodsport mode. For non-football fans who want to take the mickey by playing a soccer game, though, Behold the Kickmen, is a cheap, fun indie title.

Totoball

Table football, or Foosball as it’s commonly known, is fun, so if you like that then you’ll like this surprisingly effective PC port, Totoball.

Developed by Artur Rezende, Totoball is a carbon copy of the physical game we’ve all played and loved, whether that’s in common rooms and bars across the world. Like its real-life counterpart, Totoball’s mechanics are very simple – so much so that there are only two keys you need to use to play it.

Sure, you could venture out into the real world and play table football properly. For those days when you don’t feel like leaving the house, however, Totoball is an easy game to pass the time with.

Super Arcade Football

Remember when football games were top-down 2D affairs? Super Arcade Football replicates that aesthetic. Harking back to the days of Sensible Soccer and Italia ‘90, OutoftheBit’s retro-inspired title will have you wanting to dust off your old consoles to take a trip down memory lane.

It’s faster-paced than its predecessors and is graphically superior, but all the gameplay mechanic hallmarks are here. Different types of pitch – from dry to muddy to icy – are available to play on, simple controls such as pass, shoot, and move are all you need, and there is up to four-player support if you want a friend or three to join you.

Chuck in some funny match modifiers, including bigger goals and bouncy walls, and an online mode, and Super Arcade Football is a treat for those of you who grew up during the SNES and Mega Drive era.

Pixel Cup Soccer – Ultimate Edition

Pixel Cup is a love letter to isometric football games, like Sensible Soccer, with a little injection of modern technology. Local multiplayer is supported, and there are a variety of different competitions to dig into at your leisure. There’s even support for women’s football here, with the Women’s World Cup and Pixel Cup available to play – something that very few football games, FM included, have supported.

If Super Arcade Football doesn’t bring on the nostalgia rush you were hoping for, this might just push you over the edge. With a career mode, and even a playable Qatar World Cup, Pixel Cup Soccer may look simplistic, but it packs a lot under the hood.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2021

You can’t mention FIFA without talking about its fiercest rival, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer series. PES 2021 doesn’t feature any upgrades from the previous year, instead, the devs focused on building eFootball 2022. Unfortunately, eFootball 2022 wasn’t the game fans were expecting as it quickly became the worst-reviewed title on Steam, with the 2023 version not doing much better.

Don’t worry, the modding community has saved the day once again. Using PES 2021 as a base, players have stuck to last year’s game as fans add in custom kits and teams. For solo players, Master League is one of the best single-player modes in any football game. In the Master League mode, players control a football club throughout several seasons. Not only will you have to deal with transfers, but creating unique training programs for the development of your players is crucial, especially for clubs without a large budget.

Football Manager 2024

While you won’t directly be contributing to the ball going into the goal, the Football Manager series puts you in the suit of one of the most important parts of any football team. Our FM24 review sings the praises of the newest entry in the series, which boasts a reworked agent system, advanced positional control, and, most importantly, the ability to import old saves into the new game. Perfect if you’ve been on that League 2 run for a few years now.

If you’re after one of the hardest FM24 challenges, check out our most difficult FM24 challenge saves, and if you want thing to look as realistic as possible, check out our guide on how to import FM24 kits and logo packs, so your team looks how they’re supposed to.

If handball being bad confuses you, and you don’t know where to start with the offside rule, we have the best sports games here, and if you would rather be the puppet master than the puppet, we have the best management games right here.

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10 best psychological thriller movies ever

By admin January 14, 2024

10 best psychological thriller movies ever, Psychological thrillers have long been a favorite among viewers who enjoy intense explorations of the human psyche. The genre is chock-full of gripping stories that combine character studies with nail-biting suspense, alongside mind-bending twists and a deliciously dark atmosphere.

The greatest psychological thrillers ever made range from the genre-defining classic Rear Window to the modern masterpiece Get Out to the incomparable and iconic The Silence of the Lambs. These essential entries in the genre showcase the directors, writers, and actors’ mastery of their distinct chilling journeys, with their impact, innovation, and lasting influence on the world of cinema cementing them as the best of the best.

10. Black Swan (2010)

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Natalie Portman stars as Nina Sayers in Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, a riveting movie that portrays the intense and competitive world of professional ballet. Nina has worked hard for years and is vying for the lead role in a New York City production of Swan Lake. It’s just within her reach, but newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) suddenly threatens her position and sparks a rivalry that causes Nina to experience a descent into madness.

Black Swan captures the pressures of perfectionism in ballet, with the disturbing depiction of Nina’s psychological unraveling illustrating what obsession can do to an artist. Aronofsky brilliantly uses mirrors, doubles, and surreal imagery to create a disorienting and nightmarish visceral experience for Nina, and by extension, the audience. Of course, Portman’s award-winning performance is what elevates the entire film, as she plays the talented, yet fragile ballerina flawlessly.

10 best psychological thriller movies ever

9. Perfect Blue (1997)

Rex Entertainment

Director Satoshi Kon is known for works that blur the line between fantasy and reality, and Perfect Blue is certainly the most iconic example of this. The animated movie tells the story of Mima Kirigoe (Junko Iwao), a pop idol who decides to quit her popular group to pursue a career in acting. She doesn’t expect how intense her fans’ reactions would be, nor the elusive stalker and bizarre website that begins to haunt her every waking moment.

One of the best anime movies to come out of the ’90s, Perfect Blue was a trailblazer that would help make the widespread popularity of anime films in the West possible. It’s also remembered as a remarkably powerful and disturbing portrait of fame and obsession, with some of its shockingly violent moments underscoring how terrifyingly effective animated films can be.

8. Rear Window (1954)

Paramount Pictures

Rear Window is often cited among Alfred Hitchcock‘s greatest works. The 1954 film is centered on the voyeuristic L.B. “Jeff” Jefferies (James Stewart), who spends his time watching his neighbors across the courtyard while he’s confined in his apartment due to a broken leg. One day, his telephoto lens and binoculars capture something peculiar enough that it might be murder.

Hitchcock’s groundbreaking movie puts the audience in the dark, as Jeff’s perspective becomes the viewer’s as well. As the protagonist tries to piece together the clues, suspense and curiosity build to enthralling levels, with the latter ironically serving as a criticism of Jeff and the audiences glued to the screen. Rear Window examines not just the human tendency to look, but to wish that something terrible would happen while looking.

7. Get Out (2017)

Universal Pictures

Actor, comedian, and now director Jordan Peele wowed everyone with his widely acclaimed feature film debut Get Out. The psychological horror movie follows Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a Black man who meets the family of his white girlfriend, Rose Armitage, (Allison Williams) for the first time. Their awkward interactions at the family estate initially seem to stem from uncertainty around the interracial relationship, but it soon turns into something much more sinister.

Now counted among the best social horror and thriller movies, Get Out combines clever commentary and satire to emphasize the insidious nature of racism. Its unsettling atmosphere perfectly complements seemingly small tensions that devolve into full-blown horrific truths about Rose’s family. While most audiences likely already know about its legendary twist, it’s still worth discovering the film for the first time today.

6. Oldboy (2003)

Show East

Oldboy is a classic of modern South Korean cinema by director Park Chan-wook. A psychological thriller and violent action film, it shows the experiences of Oh Dae-su (Choi Min-sik), a man kidnapped and then imprisoned without any explanation for 15 years. After he’s released out of the blue, he begins a quest for revenge to find the ones responsible for his suffering, only to walk into a major conspiracy. He also meets the charming sushi chef, Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung), along the way.

A tragic character, Oh Dae-su follows a haunting arc, with its beginning marked by desperation and rage, and its end marked by utter defeat. The movie may be remembered for flawlessly choreographed action sequences like the legendary hallway scene, but it’s the twisty psychological drama that will end up staying with viewers who stick around for its deeply disturbing ending.

5. Taxi Driver (1976)

Columbia Pictures

Robert De Niro disappeared into one of his most renowned roles as Travis Bickle, a disturbed Vietnam War veteran who becomes a cabbie in 1976’s Taxi Driver. Set in a gritty and dreamlike version of New York City in the 1970s, the film follows Travis as he spends sleepless nights becoming obsessed with the moral decay around him. He soon plots to kill a presidential candidate as the first step in his grand plan to save the world.

Alienated from the rest of society due to his traumatic past, Travis’ actions in the movie feel both avoidable and totally inevitable. Audiences have an unreliable perspective as the protagonist’s increasing detachment from reality paints an unclear picture of what’s really going on. Taxi Driver is often hailed as one of director Martin Scorsese’s best movies, as it captures the social anxieties of its time and continues to have a lasting impact on filmmaking as a whole.

4. Memento (2000)

Summit Entertainment

In director Christopher Nolan‘s Memento, a man living with anterograde amnesia struggles to track down the man responsible for the rape and murder of his wife. Unable to form new memories, Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) devises a system where he uses images, notes, and even tattoos to identify and exact revenge on the perpetrator.

Anyone who has heard of Memento will likely know that its narrative structure is extraordinary, as one part of its story unfolds in reverse order, while the other happens chronologically, mirroring Leonard’s disjointed perception of time. Leonard’s grueling task to hold on to the transient fragments in any way possible invites audiences to do the same, with the entire film turning into a kind of intriguing puzzle. It’s a complicated and engrossing way to dive into Leonard’s psyche, which hides some terrible secrets.

3. American Psycho (2000)

Lions Gate Films

Based on what was once considered an unadaptable 1991 novel by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho is a massively popular film that needs no introduction. Directed by Mary Harron, the movie takes place in the late 1980s in New York City, where Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) is living his best life as a wealthy and successful investment banker. What his colleagues don’t know is that he leads a sinister double life as a serial killer, or does he?

A smart exploration of the greed of Wall Street and a biting satire of toxic masculinity, American Psycho pointedly criticizes society’s obsession with materialism. Although it was specifically about the excesses of the yuppie culture, renewed interest in the film today highlights how relevant it still is. Christian Bale’s tour de force performance as the chilling Bateman alone makes the movie worth revisiting.

2. Mulholland Drive (2001)

Universal Pictures

From the master of the surreal, director David Lynch, Mulholland Drive unfolds like a cryptic puzzle in a dreamy version of Los Angeles. There, a woman with amnesia from a car accident (played by Laura Elena Harring) meets an aspiring actress named Betty Elms (Naomi Watts), who helps her figure out what happened. This deceptively simple premise fades into the background as Mulholland Drive turns into a strange nonlinear journey through Hollywood.

Challenging conventional storytelling through its distinct structure and unsettling atmosphere, Lynch’s masterpiece sees the characters’ identities transform from two women trying to find the truth to something else entirely. For anyone who has never seen the surrealist neo-noir, Mulholland Drive is one worth turning off the lights for and focusing on a cinematic masterpiece that’s still debated and studied today.

1. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Orion Pictures

The Silence of the Lambs is not just the best psychological thriller of all time, but one of the greatest movies ever, having long ago established its place as an influential classic. Directed by Jonathan Demme and based on Thomas Harris’ eponymous 1988 novel, the film revolves around the unusual relationship between a young FBI agent and a cannibalistic serial killer. The young agent, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), is struggling to find any clues about an ongoing case, which leads to her interviews with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), who was once a well-known psychiatrist before he was revealed to be a violent killer.

Featuring stellar performances from Foster and Hopkins, the film sets up the psychological game they engage in, which soon turns into an unnerving exploration of each other’s minds. The tense atmosphere builds to alarming levels as Clarice gets closer to catching her killer, while Dr. Lecter seems to be hiding a goal of his own.

The Silence of the Lambs is notable for being one of the few movies to win the “Big Five” Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. Its impact on pop culture endures and cannot be understated, as Hannibal Lecter has become an iconic figure in cinema and is known as one of the greatest villains to ever grace the big screen.

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The best anime on Netflix 2024

By admin January 14, 2024

The best anime on Netflix 2024, Even though it’s known for its big-budget originals like Stranger Things, Netflix also has a wide variety of anime titles for you to choose from. With a healthy mix of original productions and established favorites, Netflix has plenty of excellent anime to watch across movies and TV, as well as covering every genre longtime fans and uninitiated viewers alike could want.

Given Netflix’s copious offerings, knowing how and where to get started with the genre can be overwhelming. Thankfully, we have curated a guide that parses through some of the best the streamer has to offer. This Netflix guide is updated every month and is sure to contain something to pique newcomers’ interest.

If you want more options, check out our other guides to the best anime on Hulu and the best anime available on Amazon Prime Video.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)

One of the more recent Netflix-original anime series, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is an exciting take on this charming franchise. Animated by Science Saru and developed by Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski, this limited series takes the series in a bold new narrative direction. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off sees the titular character go missing, compelling his love interest Ramona Flowers to investigate his sudden disappearance, all while the supporting cast works on creating a fictionalized story about Scott’s life.

The series features the principal cast from the live-action movie Scott Pilgrim vs. the World returning to reprise their roles, including Michael Cera as the titular character, Mary Elizabeth Winstead as Ramona, Chris Evans as Lucas Lee, and Brie Larson as Natalie Adams. From its charming character designs, storytelling, and animation work, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off was acclaimed as a celebration of the franchise with an inventive new story.

The best anime on Netflix 2024

Vampire in the Garden (2022)

Former Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga animation studio Wit Studio teamed up with Netflix for the anime-original story Vampire in the Garden. This series is set in a dystopic world where the remnants of humanity cling to their last safe-haven city after vampires overthrow them as the world’s apex species. In the middle of a battle, a human soldier named Momo encounters a vampire queen named Fine, who connects with her over their shared desire to escape from the war-torn land.

Both characters then set off on a quest to find a rumored ecosystem where both humans and vampires can coexist peacefully. Wit Studio has long since made a name for itself thanks to its slick art direction and animation work, delivering some satisfying action sequences. Likewise, the military dystopia and dark fantasy elements offer a refreshing change of pace from the vampire theme’s conventional gothic aesthetic.

Yasuke (2021)

Both a Netflix original and an anime-original story, Yasuke takes a dark fantasy spin on a piece of 16th century Japanese history. Animated by MAPPA and created by LeSean Thomas, the series follows the titular African warrior who served as a samurai and retainer for the daimyo Oda Nobunaga.

Set in a dark alternate reality that combines elements of magic and advanced technology, Yasuke tries to put his military past behind him after the Nobunaga’s forces are defeated by the demon warlord Yami no Daimyo. That is until he’s tasked with escorting a sick young girl with magical powers to a special doctor. Yasuke is a creative spin on real-world history and features a great voice performance by Lakeith Stanfield in the anime’s English dub.

The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened (2019)

A Netflix-distributed sequel and adaptation of the ending of Shuichi Aso’s manga, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened concludes the comically chaotic high school exploits of its titular lead. Saiki continues to try to keep a low profile with his psychic abilities to avoid any attention and inconveniences.

However, between helping cover for his dad’s mishaps at work and the hijinks he gets roped into with his group of friends, Saiki might discover how these gifts could be used for good. Much like the original anime adaptation, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K.: Reawakened builds on the light-hearted humor that makes it such an endearing watch. Studios J.C.Staff and Egg Firm did well to stick to the script to give the anime adaptations a satisfying close and retain the fun spirit of Aso’s supernatural comedy.

Ōoku: The Inner Chambers (2023)

One of the more recent Netflix-original anime, Ōoku: The Inner Chambers is an engaging samurai period piece. Based on the manga of the same name written and illustrated by Fumi Yoshinaga, the animation team at Studio Deen adapts an alternate history where the male population is nearly decimated during Edo-period Japan, and eligible men serve as concubines for the female Shogun within Ōoku.

It’s an interesting spin on the alternate-history approach, telling a unique story rooted in drama and romance. Ōoku: The Inner Chambers examines its story through the lens of women dominating in authority in a power structure built by a patriarchal society before them.

Ajin (2016)

Ajin: Demi-Human is an entertaining supernatural-thriller with a well-executed art direction. Animation studio Polygon Pictures adapts Gamon Sakurai’s manga of the same name, set in a world where mysterious and immortal human beings dubbed “Ajin” were discovered in Africa 17 years prior and have since been deemed threats to humanity.

High-schooler Kei Nagai discovers he’s an Ajin and must flee the authorities before they can conduct disturbing experiments on him, forced to pick a side in a fight he never expected to be a part of. In an environment where CG animation is still growing, but promising, Ajin: Demi-Human is a solid endeavor. The animation art style, animation, action, and worldbuilding make for a concise watch.

Mononoke (2007)

Mononoke is an excellent horror-esque mystery thriller. A production by Toei Animation, this series is also an anime-original story and is set in a feudal Japanese world where a Medicine Seller is an occult master who travels the countryside exorcising evil spirits.

Things take a darker and more intense turn when the Medicine Seller’s travels take him to an inn plagued by these spirits and a string of mysterious murders. Mononoke is an exciting and creative folkloric fantasy with horror tones, with an intense mystery at its core. Likewise, the series is bolstered by a striking and picturesque art style.

Den-noh Coil (2007)

Anime fans looking to delve into original stories would do well to give Den-noh Coil a chance. An original anime produced by experienced studio Madhouse, Den-noh Coil is set in an alternate near-future where augmented-reality glasses are a norm for everyday life.

It follows the story of a kind-hearted middle schooler named Yasako Okonogi and her family who move into Daikoku City despite rumblings of people mysteriously disappearing. Den-noh Coil is an inventive mix of coming-of-age and a technological mystery-thriller, making for a unique anime experience.

PLUTO (2023)

Naoki Urasawa is credited with writing and illustrating some of greatest seinen manga in the industry, and Netflix obtained the license for the adaptation of Pluto. Set in the same continuity as Osamu Tezuka’s landmark Astro Boy series, Pluto tells a mystery involving the murder of the heroic robot Montblanc, who fought in the 39th Asian War.

Things become far bleaker when war veteran and Europol detective Gesicht investigates the grisly killing of the war hero, as the plot unravels a deep-rooted conspiracy against the robots who took part in the war. Though inherently less grounded as a premise compared to the revered Monster, Pluto is a gripping blend of the crime drama and science fiction genres. Urasawa is known for his cerebral stories, and the animation team at Studio M2 brilliantly conveys that in their anime adaptation.

Onimusha (2023)

In addition to anime and animation in general, Netflix is continuing its relationship with video game publishers to adapt their properties. Capcom’s Onimusha is the latest in these endeavors, with animation studio Sublimation taking a 3D CGI approach to this world.

Netflix’s Onimusha takes the legendary ronin Miyamoto Musashi, wielding the Oni Gauntlet, and is sent on an undercover mission to thwart a looming demonic threat. It’s an engaging and vibrant spin on Edo-period Japan in fantasy, and while its plot is fairly straightforward, Onimusha does enough to deliver an action-packed story. Likewise, the anime is an impressive showcase of how far CG animation has come.

Resident Evil: Death Island (2023)

Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise is the face of the survival-horror genre in gaming, and it’s no stranger to anime adaptations. The latest entry to the anime side of the property is Resident Evil: Death Island, animated by studio TMS Entertainment. This anime movie brings together some of the video games’ most iconic characters — Leon Kennedy, Chris Redfield, Jill Valentine, and Claire Redfield — on a rescue mission to Alcatraz Island.

The operation leads to dealing with a new strain of the T-Virus and a shadowy threat. Resident Evil: Death Island doesn’t break new ground for the franchise’s anime adaptations, but it’s an unapologetically fun, gory, and bombastic action-horror movie. Its use of CG animation and grotesque creature designs are also well done and keep the spirit of the games.

GOOD NIGHT WORLD (2023)

Another Netflix original anime, studio NAZ’s Good Night World is an adaptation of Uru Okabe’s web manga of the same name. The story revolves around the members of a broken, emotionally dysfunctional family who all find a semblance of fulfillment within a virtual reality video game called Planet.

However, what these characters don’t realize is that they’ve managed to form a functional family unit with each other. An interesting premise, Good Night World does well to gradually piece together the more secretive aspects of these characters’ backstories, with the plot taking dramatic turns as it incorporates elements of their real lives and their video game personas.

Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix (2023)

Another one of Netflix’s “Western-style anime” originals, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix delves into video game publisher Ubisoft’s backlog. Loosely inspired by the Far Cry 3 spin-off game Blood Dragon, but vibrant sci-fi adventure sees the fugitive and branded enemy of the state Dolph Laserhawk lead a team of rebels in a dystopian technocracy.

Animated by French studio Bobby Pills, Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix is a high-octane and colorful celebration of some of publisher Ubisoft’s most memorable games. The series does well to balance over-the-top action with a sincere, heartfelt plot at its core.

Castlevania: Nocturne (2023)

Though it leans more into anime-inspired TV rather than the conventional definition of the genre, Netflix and Powerhouse Animation Studios’ Castlevania: Nocturne is nonetheless a highlight of the streamer’s animated catalog. This sequel series takes place 300 years after the events of the original series, as Richter Belmont comes into his own alongside his surrogate family of Maria Renard and Tera.

Nocturne is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution, where the vampiric aristocracy is working to usher in a fabled vampire messiah to plunge the world into an eternal night. Art direction and animation continue to be strong points in this TV side of the video game franchise. The series also lays an exciting groundwork for what’s to come.

Kengan Ashura (2019)

One of the most bombastically entertaining martial arts anime shows on Netflix, Kengan Ashura returns for a second season. The story continues the titular protagonist’s rise in the underground combat rings of the corporate Japanese world, as wealthy businessmen hire some of the most elite fighters to settle disputes in brutal fights.

Tokita Ouma is eager for the sporting element of it all, and he’s determined to make a name for himself by taking on the strongest figures in this grueling world. Larx Entertainment’s adaptation of Yabako Sandrovich and Daromeon’s manga has been well-received for its straightforward, yet effective story and over-the-top action sequences.

GAMERA -Rebirth- (2023)

Godzilla may be the face of the kaiju subgenre, but Gamera has developed a respectable cult-classic reverence in this space. Animated by studio Engi, the Netflix-original series Gamera Rebirth also functions as a reboot of the franchise following the 2006 live-action movie Gamera the Brave.

Set in Tokyo during the summer of 1989, it follows four children who witness the rise of the titular turtle monster as he defends humanity against a string of hostile monsters. Gamera Rebirth focuses the action on the monster battling against five distinct monsters across its six-episode season. For fans of the genre, this series should be an engaging action-heavy romp.

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