Amazon’s latest crackdown on fake reviews hits popular tech accessory brands

Amazon, like most other online retailers, has struggled with fake product reviews for years. The company has strict guidelines against fake reviews, which block sellers and product manufacturers from paying people to publish reviews for a given product, but many sellers are able to skirt under the radar. Multiple tech brands have now been pulled from Amazon, seemingly as part of a crackdown on fake reviews.

Amazon’s seller policies include strict guidelines against fake reviews. Vendors aren’t allowed to provide a refund or reimbursement for product reviews, use third-party services that offer free/discounted products tied to reviews, or create customer accounts to review their own products. However, these guidelines aren’t always enforced, which has led to the popularity of tools like Fakespot and ReviewMeta for identifying fake reviews.

SafetyDetectives published a report last week about a massive database it discovered containing messages between Amazon sellers and customers. The leaked data highlighted examples of seller messages asking for product reviews, including methods used to avoid automatic detection by Amazon (adding a video, waiting a few days after purchase, etc.).

Example of vendor message (Credit: SafetyDetectives)

Amazon has now removed products from several major tech brands (via DigitalTrends), seemingly in relation to the leak about fake reviews. Aukey and Mpow are among the companies whose products have disappeared from Amazon — the remaining listings are mostly from third parties. Although its connection to the leak hasn’t been confirmed, Aukey at least has been found to include a note in the box with many of its products promising $100 for an “honest review.”

I’m currently reviewing a standing desk from Aukey, and it came with this note offering $100 for an “honest review,” which is against Amazon’s seller rules. No wonder Amazon is laying down the hammer. https://t.co/qkfpvbDyln pic.twitter.com/rW3VRcVr3x

— Corbin Davenport (@corbindavenport) May 10, 2021

It’s not clear when (if ever) Aukey, Mpow, and other affected brands will resume sales on Amazon. An Amazon spokesperson provided the following statement to ReviewGeek about the situation:

“We work hard to build a great experience for our customers and sellers and take action to protect them from those that threaten their experience in our store. We have systems and processes to detect suspicious behavior and we have teams that investigate and take action quickly.

We have long-standing policies to protect the integrity of our store, including product authenticity, genuine reviews, and products meeting the expectations of our customers. We take swift action against those that violate them, including suspending or removing selling privileges. We take this responsibility seriously, monitor our decision accuracy and maintain a high bar. We have an appeals process where sellers can explain how they will prevent the violation from happening in the future or let us know if they believe they were compliant. Our teams are based in our Seattle headquarters and around the globe in order to provide sellers with 24/7 support via email, phone, and chat in more than 15 languages.”

It’s great to see Amazon taking action against sellers paying for fake reviews, even if the crackdown was the result of a publicized leak. Now, if Amazon could stop participating in its own shady tactics, that would be even better.

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Nintendo is struggling to meet Switch demand due to chip shortages

Sony has struggled to keep up with demand for the PlayStation 5, but it’s not the only company that’s on the ropes. Recent comments made by Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa suggest the global shortage of semiconductors is also constraining Switch production, which means consumers may find it difficult to buy the portable console.

In a recent call following the publication of Nintendo’s latest earning results (via Video Game Chronicle), Furukawa expressed uncertainty over future Switch production.

“Due to the global shortage of semiconductor materials, we are not able to produce all the products we want to,” Furukawa said. “We are doing everything we can, but there is an increasing sense of uncertainty about production plans.”

Nintendo said it expects to ship 25.50 million Switch units in the current period ending March 31, 2022, which is below what the company sold over the same period in its last fiscal year. A large part of the lower sales forecast is due to component constraints. But Nintendo also said the lack of a flagship game is also hampering sales. As an aside, Nintendo already announced it’s working on The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, but there’s no word when that will be released.

As lockdown restrictions were going into effect last year, Nintendo released Animal Crossing: New Horizons, which Furukawa said was a big part of what drove hardware sales. The title provided gamers with the perfect escape from the pandemic, allowing players to build an idyllic island free of stress and worry. It couldn’t have landed at a more perfect time.

The Nintendo Switch is still far easier to find than other consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S. But with semiconductor shortages expected for many more months, one has to wonder how Nintendo’s rumored Switch Pro will be affected. The console is expected to go on sale later this year, but with the industry hit by massive delays, it could be incredibly difficult to find when it launches.

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Samsung’s Galaxy F52 looks to be an even cheaper 5G phone than the Galaxy A52

Samsung has been one of the leading companies when it comes to bringing 5G to the masses by not only shipping their flagships with 5G support, but also their mid-range smartphones and now their budget ones as well, with Samsung‘s cheapest one to date being the Galaxy A32 5G. There’s also a new budget device expected to come with 5G support, and live images of the device have already surfaced on the Internet. We’re talking about the Galaxy F52 5G, belonging to Samsung’s F series of smartphones.

The phone’s pictures were published by a Weibo user (via: GSMArena) and reveal a few key details not only about the device itself, as well as some key specifications. The Samsung Galaxy F52 5G will look like a mostly standard flagship smartphone on the outside, featuring a right-sided punch-hole 16MP front camera and a display with a very small chin. Turning it around shows a rectangular rear camera setup that’s reminiscent of other Samsung smartphones and even devices from the likes of OPPO and Realme, with the main sensor being 64MP. Lastly, taking a peek at the bottom shows the USB-C charging port as well as a headphone jack, a feature we’re increasingly happy to see, and a single speaker.

The Galaxy F52, which will carry the model number SM-E5260, has leaked in the past thanks to national certification/regulation websites and Google’s own Google Play Console. If these leads are to be believed, then, it will carry a Snapdragon 750G SoC, a 1080p 6.57-inch LCD panel, 8 GB of RAM, 128 GB of storage, Android 11 with One UI 3, and a 4,350 mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. It will also reportedly cost CNY 2,000 ($310/€255), undercutting Samsung’s currently most popular flagship phone, the Galaxy A52 5G, by a big chunk. We don’t have a clue on whether this smartphone will launch in the Western market, however, as Samsung’s non-A-series mid-range and budget phones are seldom seen outside of the Asian market.

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Apple’s official MagSafe charger is on sale for its lowest price ever

Apple introduced its new MagSafe charging system alongside the iPhone 12 series, as a replacement for the aging Lightning connector. It’s a standard wireless charging pad, but with added magnets to maintain a strong connection to the phone — even when it’s positioned vertically. Apple’s first-party MagSafe charger has now dropped to just $29.85 on Amazon, the lowest recorded price yet, and a third-party option from RAVPower is also on sale for even less.

The official MagSafe charger was $39 when it was first released, but more recently, the charger has been sold for around $34. That makes the current sale effectively a $4 discount, but it’s also the lowest price we’ve seen yet for the adapter. MagSafe works best with the iPhone 12, but is also compatible with other iPhones that support wireless charging (11 series, XS/XR/X, 8 series, iPhone SE 2nd-gen, etc.). MagSafe is also compatible with some Android devices, but charging speeds will be limited.

Apple MagSafe Charger

This wireless charger is designed specifically for iPhones. However, you'll need to pair it with a USB Type-C wall adapter (sold separately) for the fastest-possible 20W speeds.

Buy at Amazon

RAVPower Magnetic Wireless Charger

RAVPower's MagSafe charger can reach the same speeds as the official Apple charger, but comes with the 20W power adapter. Win-win.

Buy at Amazon

The only catch to Apple’s deal is that the 20W USB Type-C wall adapter, which is required to reach the fastest-possible speeds, is not included in the box with MagSafe. If you don’t already have a compatible wall adapter, the above-linked alternative from RAVPower is likely a better option — it can reach the same speeds as Apple’s official charger, and comes with the wall adapter. The 3ft version is currently on sale for just $17.38, and there’s an extended 5ft version available too.

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Walmart is about to sell you an extremely cheap Android TV box

Walmart is gearing up to sell a self-branded set-top box called Walmart Onn that will come equipped with Android TV. The device, which is on the retailer’s website but isn’t yet available, is said to stream in 4K and will reportedly be available for around $30.

The Walmart Onn is a puck-sized box that connects to your TV’s HDMI port.

“Stream away! Now you can enjoy your favorite digital channels through our UHD Streaming Device,” the device’s listing reads (via 9to5Google). “With 4K Ultra High-Definition resolution and Dolby Audio Support, you’ll feel like you’re a part of the action. Access 700,000+ movies and shows in one place. Ask Google to control your TV with your voice, and easily cast your photos, videos and music with Chromecast built-in. Now you just have to decide what you’ll watch first!”

Images: Walmart

In addition to 4K streaming and Android TV, the Walmart Onn features support for Dolby Audio, 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, and a remote that allegedly features dedicated buttons for YouTube, Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+ — basically all the major services worth subscribing to. There’s also a dedicated button for Google Assistant and other buttons for controlling the experience.

Given its alleged price of $30, the Walmart Onn doesn’t sound half bad. Of course, there are so many comparable options on the market from Google, Amazon, and Roku, making Walmart’s new device a tough sell. Still, for $30 you get 4K streaming, Android TV, and Dolby Audio, so you’re getting plenty of value.

The Walmart Onn set-top box appears to be different from an Android TV stick we saw appear at the FCC earlier this year. It’s unclear if the device we spotted at the FCC is in addition to the Walmart Onn set-top box that’s on the website or if they are one and the same, as 9to5Google seems to suggest. In any case, it looks like a launch is imminent, so we’ll keep our eyes peeled.

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Samsung may launch a new Galaxy S21 model and two foldables in August

In case you missed this, Samsung is doing new product launches very soon. A handful of new flagship models from Samsung, including the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy Z Flip3, and the Galaxy Z Fold3, have all been protagonists in recent leaks and rumors, and users are expecting these 3 phones to launch shortly. How soon, you might ask? Well, we might be seeing them launch earlier than usual, maybe as soon as August.

According to a new scoop by South Korean news agency Yonhap News, Samsung is currently in talks with multiple carriers for the release of the Galaxy S21 FE, the Galaxy Z Flip3, and the Galaxy Z Fold3, which, according to the report, should be happening in August. For context, while the Galaxy Z Flip last year got an early February release, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G saw an August launch while the Z Fold2 and the S20 FE got instead released by September and October respectively.

The report also points out that these devices are set to fill the gap the Galaxy Note lineup will create, as Note smartphones are usually announced in August several rumors have hinted that Samsung won’t release a Note smartphone this year. The relative lack of a “Note 21” in the current rumor mill also adds some weight to these rumors.

The Galaxy Z Flip3 is set to be Samsung’s second clamshell-like foldable smartphone (skipping the 2 to keep up with the Fold in terms of branding), which is set to bring considerably cheaper prices and renewed internals. The Galaxy Z Fold3 will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor more closely, and we might also see sensible improvements like S Pen support being added this time around.

Finally, the Galaxy S21 FE will attempt to repeat the formula that made last year’s Galaxy S20 FE so good. The bar is set higher this year thanks to the full flagship Galaxy S21 starting at $799, and Yonhap News thinks that it may start at 700,000 won (~$624). We’ll have to see how that translates to Western pricing.

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PlayStation 5 supply nightmare expected to last much longer than you think

If you were hoping to score a PlayStation 5 this year, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. Apparently, Sony believes the console will continue to be in very limited supply, and the nightmare will supposedly last through 2022.

According to Bloomberg, Sony recently warned a group of analysts that the PlayStation 5 will be in short supply for the remainder of 2021. As a result, the company may fail to boost sales targets of the console, which so far as sold somewhere in the region of 7.8 million units through March 31. The company previously said it was hoping to sell at least 14.8 million units in the current fiscal year.

“I don’t think demand is calming down this year and even if we secure a lot more devices and produce many more units of the PlayStation 5 next year, our supply wouldn’t be able to catch up with demand,” Hiroki Totoki, Chief Financial Office at Sony, reportedly told analysts.

Since going on sale last November, the PlayStation 5 has been almost impossible to find, thanks in large part to a shortage of components brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand has been so fierce that every time new units are made available they instantly sell out — oftentimes in a matter of minutes. Everywhere you look the console is sold out unless you’re willing to pay way over retail price.

The silver lining is there’s really no reason to own a PlayStation 5 this early in its life. While there are a few exclusive titles, with a few more to come in 2021, we have yet to see a game that’s a true system seller. Everything else that’s been released over the past few months, including Resident Evil Village, is available across platform generations, and it will continue to be that way for the foreseeable future.

I wasn’t lucky enough to score a PlayStation 5 when it first went on sale at the end of last year. I was hoping to get one later this year, but it doesn’t sound like Sony is going to catch up with demand, which means myself and millions of other gamers around the world won’t be able to buy the console until 2022 at the earliest.

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