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Thinking of leaving T-Mobile? Here's one bill-lowering trick to try first

Thinking of leaving T-Mobile? Here's one bill-lowering trick to try first

Joe Maring / Android Authority
TL;DR Reports suggest that some T-Mobile customers threatening to cancel are getting better-than-usual retention offers.
The reported discounts range from $10 to $20 off per month for six months.
There's no official policy change, but recent price hikes may be prompting T-Mobile to act.
One of the most longstanding pieces of kitchen-table wisdom is that you can usually get a better deal on a subscription service if you threaten to cancel. It's not always true, of course, and a bit of a gamble if you don't actually want to quit the service. That said, if you're on the fence about switching from T-Mobile, now might be the time to see what your account is worth to them.
According to Phone Arena, some T-Mobile customers who say they want to cancel are being offered surprisingly generous retention deals — better than what the carrier has offered in the past. The outlet cites a trusted source who previously leaked T-Mobile's price hike plans in advance, and they've shared a screenshot of a customer support chat showing one of these offers in action.
In the case shown, a user who threatened to cancel several lines was given $10 off per month for six months, with a further $10 one-time credit bringing the savings to $70 in total. It's not a life-changing amount, but significantly more than T-Mobile's usual attempts to keep customers on board. Previously, most retention credits were said to only last two or three months. There are other anecdotal reports that some are being offered $20 per month off for up to six months.
There's no official confirmation that T-Mobile has changed its retention strategy, and offers may depend on your account and plan. It's certainly plausible that the carrier is doing more to hold on to subscribers, likely in response to recent customer dissatisfaction with other aspects of the service, such as the recent price hikes.
These are just reports, and you should be careful of taking this approach if you're keen to stick with T-Mobile anyway. There's always the risk that your bluff is called and you're left with no service plan. That said, if you're planning to cancel but may reconsider based on a cheaper rate, it can't hurt to ask.
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Roborock's $2,600 robot vacuum with a mechanical arm is an incredible flex with a weird price tag
Roborock's $2,600 robot vacuum with a mechanical arm is an incredible flex with a weird price tag

Android Authority

timean hour ago

  • Android Authority

Roborock's $2,600 robot vacuum with a mechanical arm is an incredible flex with a weird price tag

Roborock Saros Z70 The Roborock Saros Z70 is the company's best robot vacuum to date, but only in a vacuum (pun intended). It cleans as well as anything we've seen, navigates very well, and its object detection is second to none. But it also costs $1,000 more than the Saros 10R, which already does all of that to the same standard, and the innovative-yet-deeply-flawed OmniGrip robot arm doesn't offer anywhere near enough value to cover the huge price hike. Now that I finally have the Roborock Saros Z70 in-house for testing, I can finally say, with authority, that the first commercially available robot vacuum cleaner with a robot arm is super cool… but I don't think cool is enough. It's been several months since I first got to see the Saros Z70 on display as one of the obvious highlights of CES 2025, and it's lost none of that initial wow factor. At first, it looks like any other high-end Roborock robot vacuum, but then the top panel retracts, the robotic arm pops out, and it gets to work picking up your mess. But is that the only trick up its sleeve, and is it really worth the eye-melting $2,600 asking price? Editor's note: Roborock kindly sent over two test units, one to me, and one to my colleague Oliver Cragg. We've both been using the units in our respective homes over the past few weeks to really give this expensive bot the gruelling testing it deserves. This review contains our combined thoughts on the Saros Z70 and its innovative new tech. It's a robot vacuum… Jonathan Feist / Android Authority As much as I want to talk about it, let's get the regular functionality out of the way first. Here's the bottom line: the Roborock Saros Z70 is the best robot vacuum that Roborock has released to date* (I'll get back to that asterisk, Thunderbolts* style). As a robot vacuum and mop machine, the Saros Z70 is reliable, efficient, and does a great job cleaning hard floors, carpets, and rugs. At just 3.14-inches tall, the Saros Z70 is one of the slimmer bots around, making it ideal for cleaning under low furniture. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority That flexibility is improved by the lack of a LiDAR navigation turret that typically sticks out the top of robot vacs, as instead the Saros Z70 relies on its front and rear StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 navigation cameras for mapping, navigation, and obstacle avoidance. This system is built from RGB, 3D ToF, and infrared sensors and is backed by AI-driven object detection. This, combined with the side-mounted VertiBeam Lateral Obstacle Avoidance detection (translation: it looks up and down to avoid impacts under furniture), makes for extremely safe and reliable navigation, whether it's a rogue child's toy, a stray charging cable, or something much larger. 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During those excursions, it benefits from up to 22,000Pa of suction pressure; more than enough to collect nearly any dry debris from your deepest carpets. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority And before we get to the main event, a shoutout to the Multifunctional Dock 4.0. You know, the base station. Equipped with large water canisters, an automatically dispensing detergent canister (cleaning solution not supplied, but I recommend getting it as it eliminates streaky floors), and a large vacuum bag, the base station houses, cleans, and charges the Saros Z70. It includes heated mop washing up to an impressive 80 degrees Celsius, heated air drying, and it holds the mop heads when they have been removed for vacuum-only runs. As I said, this is the best robot vacuum cleaner Roborock has ever made, which means it's already a strong contender for the best robot vacuum cleaner you can buy. But here's the catch: it's identical to the Roborock Saros 10R. This is the best robot vacuum cleaner Roborock has ever made, but that claim comes with a huge caveat. Everything I've said and praised about this bot, and everything I said in my top marks Saros 10R review, applies here (the Z70 reportedly has slightly smaller onboard dirt and water storage, but I didn't notice much difference). But that robot vac is $1,599.99, at the time of writing, subject to tariff issues. Meanwhile, the Saros Z70 is a whole $1,000 more expensive, and for that spare change, you could buy a very good second robot vacuum cleaner, a new flagship phone, or a base model MacBook Air M4. So, let's talk about the one thing that is different… …with a robotic arm! Jonathan Feist / Android Authority While we've started to see concept bots with mechanical appendages appear in its wake, Roborock's Saros Z70 is the first robot vacuum to hit the US market that packs a robotic arm. Let's go over how it works first. For the unfamiliar, the fancily named OmniGrip is a 5-axis mechanical arm that can grasp a selected number of small items. There are two tilting joints on the arm, similar to a tractor arm. This allows the arm to extend and bend to nearly any angle and position. The entire arm can spin, but generally operates facing straight ahead. Next, the head of the arm has two symmetrical pincers, this is the clamp for items. Finally, the head can rotate, allowing you to clamp things from multiple angles to get the best grasp. Roborock's Saros Z70 is the first robot vacuum to hit the US market that packs a robotic arm. 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The app also lets you specify two zones: one for footwear storage and a container for other loose objects. Using AI and its cameras, the bot can detect items such as socks, cloths, paper balls, and some footwear, and categorize them as either clothing or trash. Roborock includes a trash bin accessory that uses a QR code identification, and can be the drop spot for discarded items, or you can set your own. So in theory, with this setup all arranged, the robot can perform a number of functions in combination with the arm: Follow-up cleaning — The robot will move items it recognizes autonomously and lift them to clean underneath. Automatic sorting — The robot will autonomously move footwear to the storage zone and deposit trash/other lighter items into the container. Manual sorting — The Roborock app will show the location of recognized objects, at which point you can manually tell the robot to go pick them up as above. Remote control — You can manually control the arm to pick up items. The inclusion of the robotic arm is undeniably cool, and it'll absolutely wow anyone you show it to. As the robot vacuum industry produced better and better obstacle avoidance, less and less of our floors were being cleaned, so a method of moving those objects was the next logical step. But that's the real question: does the OmniGrip arm help the Saros Z70 actually do what it's supposed to do — clean your floors — to the tune of a $1,000 price hike? The short answer is no, and there are a few big reasons why, some of which are fundamental, likely unsolvable issues, and others that are entirely the fault of this being a first-generation product. Jonathan Feist / Android Authority One big limitation is the weight of objects that the Saros Z70 can lift, as it caps at a maximum of 300g. This is absolutely fine for light items like socks and paper, but shoes — one of the main obstacles of any household — are extremely hit-and-miss. In fairness to Roborock, it only emphasizes sandals, which typically do weigh under the limit, but that puts a low bar on what the bot can pick up. In my testing, the robot arm was actually able to lift a shoe that weighed more than 300g. Because of the weight, however, the bot chose to drive very slowly, would not navigate a threshold, and eventually put the shoe back on the floor, unable to do much else with it. However, despite being officially supported, sandals are the same story, so this isn't a weight issue. I've only ever seen the bot pick up the same sandal, do a circle, and put it back down — not once has it taken a sandal or any other footwear to the designated drop-off location. It's the same story for non-footwear. I've seen the arm move objects temporarily to clean the floor, but I've never actually seen the bot move a piece of crumpled paper or a sock into the companion container on its own. 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The Roborock Saros Z70 has the best party trick of any robot vacuum, but its innovative robot arm isn't worth the price of admission until it improves. The Roborock Saros Z70 is fun, has been a literal party trick I've enjoyed showing guests, and I'll give praise to Roborock for both being first and attempting something innovative in public rather than behind closed R&D doors. But that doesn't mean you should buy it unless you've got money to burn and don't mind being a guinea pig for early adopter tech. Roborock Saros Z70 Robotic arm! • Next-gen navigation • AI-powered object detection • Big battery MSRP: $2,599.00 It'll tidy your space before cleaning it Equipped with a robotic arm, the Roborock Saros Z70 is a next-gen robot vacuum with AI-powered navigation and obstacle avoidance, much larger battery, and the ability to put toys in the toy box, socks in the hamper, and trash in the bin. See price at Amazon Positives Impressive navigation Impressive navigation Robust object detection Robust object detection Cleans really well Cleans really well Innovative robotic arm Cons Huge limitations on robot arm functionality Huge limitations on robot arm functionality Massive price tag

Here's how Android 16 QPR1 may let you double tap your Pixel's screen to turn it off
Here's how Android 16 QPR1 may let you double tap your Pixel's screen to turn it off

Android Authority

timean hour ago

  • Android Authority

Here's how Android 16 QPR1 may let you double tap your Pixel's screen to turn it off

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Philips Hue vs IKEA smart lights: I made my choice, and I don't regret it
Philips Hue vs IKEA smart lights: I made my choice, and I don't regret it

Android Authority

timean hour ago

  • Android Authority

Philips Hue vs IKEA smart lights: I made my choice, and I don't regret it

Mitja Rutnik / Android Authority I recently moved into a brand-new apartment and decided to install smart lights throughout all of the rooms. The first step was deciding which system to use, and Philips Hue immediately came to mind. I took a look and liked what I saw. The reviews were great as well, but a few issues held me back, ultimately nudging me toward IKEA's system. Now that everything is more or less set up, I can honestly say I don't regret it – here's why. Which smart lighting system do you prefer? 0 votes Philips' NaN % IKEA's NaN % Neither (share more in the comments) NaN % Price is king Mitja Rutnik / Android Authority My move was expensive. Real estate is far from cheap in my part of the world, not to mention the furniture, which costs a pretty penny. So I had to save money somewhere, and my smart lighting system was it. All I really wanted was the ability to dim lights, change colors, and set up a schedule so specific lights turn on when I need them. For example, I like it when my night lamp next to my bed turns on when my alarm goes off in the morning. It reduces the chance of me hitting the snooze button and oversleeping. I planned things out and decided I needed a few LED ceiling lights throughout my apartment, spotlights with LED bulbs, a couple of floor lamps, and an LED strip for use in a few different places. Then there are remotes for specific lights, as well as buttons that I can press to turn on multiple lights simultaneously and create a scene, as it's called. While I could get everything done with Philips' Hue lighting system, I figured out that the same was true with IKEA's offering. The Swedish furniture giant has everything I needed in its lineup, and for a lot less money. When I added up the numbers, going with the Philips Hue system would cost me hundreds and hundreds of dollars more. That wasn't something I was willing to pay, considering IKEA's product offering fulfilled most of my wants. Then there's simplicity I like simplicity, and IKEA just wins in this department. First off, all the products on offer can be found in one place, which is just about any IKEA store. All their products have a very simple, basic design, which I love since the overall theme of my apartment design is Scandinavian minimalism. I love the convenience and knowing that I can return anything without explaining myself for 20 minutes. Then there are returns and warranties. If anything should happen and I need to return or repair an item, IKEA's hassle-free return policy just keeps me coming back and buying more. I love the convenience and knowing that I can return anything without explaining myself for 20 minutes. The situation with the Philips Hue system is a bit different. Different stores stock different products in my area, and I wasn't able to find everything I needed at just one retailer. And while a lot of their products are simple, there are plenty of extravagantly-designed ones that I just wanted to avoid. Return policies also differed from retailer to retailer in my area, adding another layer of complexity to my already stressed-out mind that was trying to focus on work, my social life, and my real estate project. It just works Mitja Rutnik / Android Authority I've had nothing but a great experience with my smart home lighting so far. It just works. No issues whatsoever. I was a bit skeptical since the pricing is so much more affordable, so I assumed I might run into an issue. Granted, it's only been a few weeks since the installation, but I'm very happy with my purchase so far, even though I'm not completely done with everything. Setting everything up is easy as pie thanks to the app. You just connect the remote to the app and then match it with specific lights and bulbs of choice. There's a limit of ten lights per remote, which is good enough for me. In addition to dimming lights and changing colors, I can also connect multiple ones together and control them at the same time. The app I had to download for this is very simple and easy to use, so you don't need to be a rocket scientist to get this done. I also needed the IKEA Dirigera hub, which is just as easy to set up. I don't regret it, but… I definitely don't regret my decision to use IKEA's smart lighting products, but I'm not saying they are better than what Philips offers. I am saying they provide more value for me, though. I think I would be just as happy with the Philips Hue system if I had installed it, and it's even a better option for a lot of people. Philips offers more products, some of which have various designs that may be better suited for your home interior — not everyone is into minimalism like I am. I also think Philips works just as well and is just as simple to install as IKEA's system, so no differences there — although tell me if you had issues in the comments. However, for my personal needs and the simplicity of getting everything in one place, it seemed silly to pay so much extra money for more or less the same outcome. So my advice is: go with Philips if you care about those fancy designs and don't mind paying more, but give IKEA a try if its lineup offers everything you need. I know the Swedish giant has a bad reputation for quality at times, but their lighting system is a good one in my experience.

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