Blu R1 HD review: Is it possible to go wrong with a $50 phone?
Announced in late June, the Blu R1 HD is predominately known for one thing: it’s the so-called $50 smartphone. Indeed, the price starts as low as $50 if you are an Amazon Prime customer. Otherwise, it’s an extra $50 for the experience.
As one of the initial phones under the new Amazon Prime discount promotion, the R1 HD positions itself as a first-time users smartphone. It’s not here to break any benchmarks or perform heavy multi-tasking. It is, rather, here to provide customers with something affordable that’s also free from carrier contracts.
As an unlocked handset, the R1 HD works with either AT&T or T-Mobile’s networks as well as any of their respective MVNO brands. It’s a dual-SIM device which means you can actually pull service from two cariers at once. Additionally, it’s breathing room for when you might travel to another country and need a local SIM card.
General Impressions
Let’s be honest – there are definitely going to be corners that need cut if you plan to offer a phone as low as $50 without a subsidy. Where does Blu trim the excess? It starts with the box itself; it feels like the least amount of cardboard you could put together to qualify as a box. The thickness is about half that of any other phone you’ll find and it’s a one-piece cutout that folds together. Think of how a pizza box might be constructed.
Get into the box and you find there are no headphones and the charger is about as “basic” as you’ll find. There’s nothing extra about what comes with the phone, however we would have never expected anything special here.
Putting this aside, you go straight to the phone and generally leave the other stuff on the shelf. Chances are a seasoned user already has some headphones they love anyhow. And, since we’re not dealing with any Quick Charge or USB Type-C cables, they’ll probably already have those where they need them, too. This no-frills cord is essentially just a spare. First time users, though, won’t be concerned with charging speeds and/or the newer standard for cables.
Hardware
Speaking in the strict terms of hardware specs, the R1 HD has the makings of a mid-to-high-end Android phone from 2014. Does that matter to you? Well, if you’re replacing your current phone from the last couple of years, you’ll find the Blu model to be a side-step or a step backwards. If you’re new to Android and the world of smartphones, you won’t even know the difference.
Those of you who have spent time with a more premium smartphone or a flagship from the last year or two will recognize the build quality differs here. We were immediately reminded of how the early Android phones from LG felt. By comparison, the R1 HD feels cheaply designed; on its own, though, you’d not really get the sense that the phone is “cheap”. There’s a difference between cheap and inexpensive, and, on the surface, Blu opts for the latter.
Key Specifications
- Android v6.0 Marshmallow
- Mediatek 6735 | 1.3GHz Quad Core Processor with Mali-T720
- 16GB/8GB Internal Storage with microSD (up to 64GB)
- 2GB/1GB RAM Memory
- 5.0-inch 720 x 1280 pixel displau
- 8-megapixel rear camera
- 5-megapixel front-facing camera
- 2,500mAh battery
-
Network:
- 2G: 850/900/1800/1900
- 3G: 850/1700/1900/2100
- 4G LTE: 2/4/7/17 (12 will be available over-the-air)
Display
The R1 HD offers up a 5-inch display with a 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. It’s technically HD, but not the same as you’ll find in the 1080p and higher phones. How does this translate to you, the typical user? It matters little in the overall scheme of things and looks totally fine for text and images.
There was a time when displays had lower resolution and nobody batted an eye. It’s only when you compare it to what else is available that you see shortcomings. This is actually a common thread for Blu phones; they are more than adequate for what they set out to be and the price is more than fair. Dig just a little deeper, though, and you uncover some of the spots where corners are cut.
Whether indoors or outdoors, we had no problem using the R1 HD. The screen size is right in line with what we like for one-handed use and it’s easy to see from all angels. The Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top ensures the phone handles scuffs, scratches, and minor drops.
General Impressions
Holding the R1 HD, you don’t get the sense that it costs as little as it does. In fact, it looks and feels like something that could fetch at least another fifty bucks. Look under the hood, though, and you see that it just doesn’t have the same horsepower as something else in the $150 space. But, taken as a whole, Blu does a great job of making sure you don’t end up with a “generic” design.
The phone is housed in a metal frame with a polycarbonate backing and matte finish. This offers up a decent grip and non-slip texture that doesn’t attract oils and fingerprints. We’ve felt much more slippery phones.
As for the configuration of the phone, the volume rocker and power buttons are on the right side of the display. Both buttons have the same metal finish and provide a decent level of feedback and response. The headphone jack is found at the top right of the phone while the microUSB port is at the bottom left.
The rear cover is removable, opening up access to the microSD card slot and dual microSIM card slots. It’s worth noting that the battery is not removable. At 2,500mAh it’s plenty to get users through a full day of use. Give the phone extended usage of LTE, such as video streaming, and you’ll find the battery ends up around 8-9 hours, or more — still respectable.
Camera
The Blu R1 HD features an 8-megapixel rear camera with a f/2.0 aperture and a 5-megapixel front-facing shooter. Both cameras offer up LED flashes to help users capture better shots in lower lighting conditions. On paper they’re right about the middle of the pack, edging toward the low end. In practicalilty, though, it’s better than it sounds.
We were impressed with the camera, especially considering the price tag of the phone. We’re certainly not trying to imply that it should replace your current setup, but you might be surprised by it. And, when you get technical about it, the camera does overexpose some photos, especially as you get into darker environments. Keeping in mind what you’re likely to do with the images, though, they suffice far more often than not.
If the camera is a main priority for you, pass on the R1 HD. That should go without saying, actually. You’re probably looking at something else for your needs anyhow. But, it has not been all that long since we had much more expensive phones that took much worse photos.
Shutter speeds were quicker than expected, even in cases of HDR. A word of caution, though as you might end up with some odd double-exposure or ghosting. Still images and slower moving things captured nicely, but be careful with the quicker subjects.
You can see from the embedded gallery that photos generally come out rather nicely. Factor in some editing and processing via Snapseed or another app and you have photos totally worthy of social media sharing. It won’t take long to figure out what you can and cannot get from the R1 HD’s camera.
As for the camera app itself, there are a number of options for shooting, including panoramic, night, face beauty, sports, and professional (manual). Each works well in their respective intended situations, but the auto is where we suspect you’ll play most often. There’s also a DualView mode which uses both cameras, leaving a selfie on top of your main photo. It’s weird, with the selfie shaped like a ‘W’, and didn’t do much to wow us.
Software
If there’s one thing we’ve come to appreciate in Blu, it’s that it doesn’t spend time messing with a custom version of Android. Essentially a stock build, this doesn’t come across as having any particular agenda. To us, there’s few things worse in smartphones than a bunch of carrier-branded apps that we rarely use.
The same goes for the R1 HD, for the most part. While it doesn’t come loaded with a host of random apps, games, or services, it does come with its share of Amazon titles. This applies to both the standard Blu R1 HD as well as the discounted Prime Exclusive one for Amazon Prime subscribers. Indeed, each has Amazon, Amazon Drive, Amazon Music, Audible, Amazon Kindle, and Amazon Video. There are just a few others between the two, but those are largely the overlapping apps.
Should you opt for the default R1 HD, that’s about the extent of the UI and app changes. Oh, and it’s worth pointing out here, that you can uninstall some of those titles, but not all. Pick up the $50 and/or $60 the R1 HD Prime Exclusive, though, and you’ll have more Amazon presence.
The Prime-exclusive version displays offers and ads, on your lock screen and in your notification shade. Moreover, they are said to be personalized deals and product recommendations so they don’t feel like random advertisements.
If you are a fan or user of the Amazon ecosystem, you probably won’t have an issue with the ads and offers. Heck, if this is your first Android phone, you probably don’t even know what it would be like without. It’s not a simple case of full screen ads every time you unlock or something random in your pull down shade. It changes every time you use it, but doesn’t ever feel so heavy that we’re upset about it. We didn’t find them any more intrusive than what we get on a Fire tablet. Really, they do seem to skew more toward things we’d use or buy.
The R1 HD runs Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which is the the lastest version available today. The 7.0 Nougat stuff comes later this year; it’s unclear whether this phone will even see it. If you absolutely expect your handset maker to support your device with an update or two, this is not going to be the route to take.
To us, if you’re looking to snag a phone for $100-$150, you might want to consider it an almost “as is” device. This doesn’t mean you have a burner, or a disposable phone, but you’ve got what you’ve got for as long as you’ve got it.
The 6.0 means you’ve got some of the latest in protection from Google, plus all of the recent design principles. It also means you can conceivably run many of the apps and games on the market. Many, but not all; the hardware might place limitations on what you plan to do.
We wager that the target audience doesn’t even know what to expect in terms of software updates, version numbers, etc. First-time buyers and casual users aren’t going to concern themselves with the various releases.
Performance
This is one of those areas where you cannot help but compare to other phones. As a site that routinely reviews smartphones, we get our hands on all sorts of devices. Typically, though, we use the more flagship stuff for ourself as we like to stay on the cutting edge. But, that doesn’t mean we necessarily have to keep up with the latest and greatest.
Using the R1 HD as a daily driver was difficult for us, particularly at first. We noticed there would be some lag in hopping around from one app to another. Get more than a few games going in the background and you’d see a little chugging happening. Nothing crazy, but stuff we notice after spending time with more powerful phones.
On its own, the R1 HD handles your typical daily tasks without much griping. Emails, calls, text, Facebook, and other stuff doesn’t present much of a challenge to it, so long as you have the 2GB RAM model.
It’s here where we implore you to consider dropping the extra $10 for the 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. Not doing so would be about the silliest thing you can do as it essentially shuts the door to apps and future capabilities sooner rather than later. Yeah, the ten bucks is all it takes to add at least a few more months of life to it. You never know when you’ll be on the edge of not being able to install a game like Pokemon Go.
Conclusion
It’s really hard to find fault with a phone that costs as low as $50 for Amazon Prime customers. Even at $99, it’s still a good choice. Why? It’s unlocked and ready to work with a variety of carriers; it supports two SIM cards. The stock Android experience and very little preloaded apps ensure you get as much as you can out of the storage.
Blu does a great job of balancing low cost with “cheap” build materials. It’s not a luxury model or anything that pretends to be more than what it has under the hood. The R1 HD is a great utilitarian phone for someone who is just dabbling in Android. Moreover, it’s a hell of a band-aid if you need something to tie you over until the next phone.
Blu is quickly becoming one of our favorite unlocked smartphone makers. The US-based company is constantly putting out new models that span the entire spectrum for consumers. It just so happens that the R1 HD is on the low end. That doesn’t mean it’s a poorly made phone or one that’s not worth considering. The opposite is true, actually.
If you’re in the market for something that’s no-frills and aimed at first-time buyers, you’ll want to start with this phone. For $50-$100, depending on how you buy, there’s nothing else to consider. Heck, you’ll probably have a tough time convincing yourself to spend more on anything else. It’s no wonder that, as of today, this is a #1 best seller on Amazon.
Android 7.0 Nougat likely releasing August 22
Both LG and Canada’s Telus suggest same date for final Nougat code drop.
Nexus owners: Get ready for some Nougat. It’s looking highly likely that the next version of Android will go official next Monday, Aug. 22. That’s the date given for the Android 7.0 update on Nexus 5X and 6P by Canadian operator Telus in its latest software update schedule.
Telus was accurate with its launch date for last year’s Marshmallow update on Nexus devices.
Adding further fuel to that particular fire is LG’s limited preview program for Korean G5s, which just happens to start on the same day — Aug. 22. Like all major phone makers, LG gets the final code in advance from Google, but the firm wouldn’t be allowed start its preview ahead of the official Nougat launch day.
If everything goes as expected, we should see an announcement from Google, followed by system images next Monday morning (Pacific time), followed by the usual over-the-air push. (It’s possible, but not guaranteed, that Android Wear 2.0 will also land around the same time.)
As for new Nexus devices, we’re not expecting them until sometime after the arrival of the LG V20, which will be the first phone shipping with Nougat.
Android Nougat
Android Nougat is the 12th nicknamed version of Android and will be released to the public in the fall of 2016. Here’s everything you need to know so far!
- What’s new in Android Nougat
- Will my phone get Android Nougat?
- All Android Nougat news
- Should you use the Android N Dev Preview?
- Join the Discussion
Alcatel Idol 4S review: Getting the most from the mid-range
Alcatel delivers its best phone ever with the Idol 4S.
Quick Take
The Alcatel Idol 4S is a 5.5-inch mid-ranger from a company that’s spent the time to refine its design and hardware. You get access to a fantastic camera with manual features and Hi-Fi audio. The phone offers an excellent display, even outdoors, and provides battery life that will easily get you through the day.
Good and Bad
The Good
- Awesome camera with plenty of features
- Fantastic battery life
- Great Hi-Fi audio
The Bad
- Phone can feel slippery in your hand
- Processor heats up after extended use
About this Review
I (Jen Karner) am writing this review after using the Alcatel Idol 4S for two weeks. It’s running Android 6.0.1 with the July 1, 2016 security patch (build number 4AGB-UEB10.) It was connected to the AT&T network in Halethorpe, Md., and the great Baltimore Metropolitan area, and was connected via Bluetooth to a 2015 Honda Fit.
Alcatel Idol 4S Specs
| Display | 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED screen |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 octa-core CPU |
| Storage | 32GB storage, micro-SD slot |
| RAM | 3GB RAM |
| Rear Camera | 16 MP, f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh, Micro-USB port, Quick Charge 2.0 |
| Dimensions | 153.9 x 75.4 x 7 mm 149 g |
Sleek and metal
Alcatel Idol 4S Hardware
The Alcatel Idol 4S has a sturdy metal and glass body that feels great from the moment as you pick it up. While the device fits comfortably in your hand, it tends to get slippery, (which means that investing in a decent case might be a good plan if you have a tendency to drop your phone regularly.)
The back is smooth glass, with minimal branding. The only thing that protrudes noticeably from the back is the rear camera lens. While there is a fingerprint sensor set into the back, there isn’t any indentation. Instead, you’ll be able to locate it by the metal ring that surrounds it. And it’s reasonably ergonomic too, even if you have smaller hands.
The boom button lets you trigger certain actions when within apps, or when your phone is locked.
From the front, the phone looks pretty similar to many other rounded 5.5-inch handset (particularly some of Samsung’s recent devices.) One of the biggest differences comes in the buttons layout. That’s because along with the power button on the upper left, and volume rocker on the upper right, you’ll find the “Boom” button — a circular key in the middle of the right side.
The boom button lets you trigger certain actions within apps, or when your phone is locked. This includes doing things like launching your camera when the device is locked, or triggering specific actions like a weather preview. It’s a nifty feature that enhances the experience, but isn’t entirely necessary and can be ignored if you so choose. It also really, really looks like a power button.
Alongside the standard Micro-USB and headphone jacks down below, you’ll also find a slot for your micro SD card on the upper left corner, just underneath the power button. And at both the top and bottom of your screen you will see small discrete speaker grates for the Idol 4S’s impressive audio system.
You don’t need to jack up the volume all the way to get fantastic sound when listening to music, or sharing videos with friends.
Those speakers really get the job done, too, with support for Hi-Fi audio and stereo output whether the phone is facing up or down. That’s right, they’ll fire out the back of the phone too. Aside from that you don’t need to jack up the volume all the way to get fantastic sound when listening to music, or sharing videos with friends, which is great.
The display is impressive, too, with a 2560×1140 pixel resolution that rivals some more expensive smartphones. So naturally there’s plenty of pixel density to go around, and I also found it bright enough to use in outdoor conditions — although you’ll need to watch out for increased battery drain at higher brightness levels.
As for general speed, Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 652 processor works admirably, and I didn’t notice any performance issues with the Idol 4S. It didn’t matter if I’d been playing Avengers Academy for over an hour, or if I’d had to navigate my way through Baltimore City using Google Maps, this phone was always up to the task. Even when I’d been using the phone heavily for several hours, the only real issue was heat buildup — something that’s by no means unique to the Idol 4S. It never started dropping apps, acting jittery, or requiring me to put it down to give it a rest. (It did start to slow down after a while, but even this was generally when the battery was quite low.)
And storage-wise, there’s 32GB of internally, which can thankfully be augmented using a microSD card for plenty more storage to keep your games, photos and music loaded locally. Alcatel specifies that the slot can take cards up to 512GB.
All Google, all the way
Alcatel Idol 4S Software
For now, the Alcatel Idol 4S is reasonably up-to-date software-wise, running Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow right out of the box with the July 2016 Android security patch. We’re on the cusp of Android Nougat, but Marshmallow still gets the job done, and Android 6.0.1 performs really well on the Idol 4S.
While it doesn’t come in bogged down in tons of bloatware, there are a fair few apps that come preloaded. Several of these revolve around VR, because the Alcatel Idol 4S comes packaged within a Google Cardboard headset. You’ll find a few games, a VR launcher and a VR store where you access new virtual experiences.
Preloaded VR content helps you make the most out of the bundled ‘Cardboard’ headset.
An added perk is the addition of the Waves Maxaudio app. This phone has Hi-Fi audio, and the app lets you manually adjust how things sound. You can tweak stereo, bass, treble, and even set specific settings for different genres of music. You also get access to an app called Fyuse, which allows you to take seriously epic movable photos (when it works correctly, anyway).
Superbly suited
Alcatel Idol 4S Camera
Cameras have become integral to the way that many of us use our phones. Whether it’s rolling through Instagram and taking selfies, or recording video of friends at parties, having a camera that works well is a necessity. Thankfully, the Alcatel Idol 4S does a great job here, with tons of software features, and cameras that do a great job capturing memorable moments.
There’s a 16MP rear facing camera, and an 8MP selfie shooter. Both function quite well, though they do have a tendency to blur if you aren’t holding your hands still. Usefully, you can actually open up your camera, even if your phone is locked pressing the Boom button on the side.
Alcatel gives you plenty of options with the camera as well. You’ve got auto, panorama, and manual modes, slow motion videos, Fyuse, and micro-video. Each one is chock full of features to let you get the best results in different situations. The Fyuse mode lets you take photos that you can actually look at from multiple angles, but it did have problems about half of the time when I tried to use it. Aside from showing people how it worked, I more or less left this function alone.
In manual mode, all of your options appear on the right side of the screen and let you adjust them on a slide bar. Panorama functions will show you a preview of your photo as you take it, and even the auto mode has basic sliders you can tweak up and at the top of your screen. So long as you can get used to having to hold very still when taking photographs, you’ll be quite happy with the results that you get.
Capacity to continue
Alcatel Idol 4S Battery
The Acatel Idol 4S is equipped with a 3,000mAh non-removable battery. In my experience, it’s capable of taking you through 12+ hours without needing a recharge, even with heavy use. When it does come time to fuel back up, you’ve got access to quick charge capabilities which means you won’t be stopping for too long.
Even when I was moving between multiple games, or out for a walk playing Pokemon Go, I could count on having hours of gameplay without having to stop and let the phone recharge. When that time finally did come, I didn’t need to plug it in for more than about 90 minutes because it supports Quick Charge 2.0.
Even using the Alcatel Idol 4S heavily, I never once managed to actually run completely out of juice.
Even using the Alcatel Idol 4S heavily, I never once managed to actually run completely out of juice. The lowest I got was about 5% and that was usually at the very end of my day, as I was headed to bed. For regular or light users you can expect to get through a solid 16 hours without issue, heavier users should expect 10-12 hours of use. That’s about standard for a phone of this size in mid-2016.
Bottom Line
Should you buy it? Yes
This brings us to the big question with the Alcatel Idol 4S, should you buy it? Between the battery, screen, and camera you’re looking at a solid phone that can easily get you through your day without ease and it doesn’t have a killer price tag attached. You can pick it up from Alcatel directly for $399, which is a pretty sweet deal.
Considering that you also get a fantastic VR headset with your phone, you can go far with this phone. It isn’t a flagship device, but Alcatel has worked their butts off to offer a fantastic device that is affordable for many people. Sitting as a mid-grade phone, you’ve got plenty of options, but the Alcatel Idol 4S is a good choice for anyone who values photo and audio quality, as well as a great overall experience.
See at Alcatel
Twitter is letting all users filter out trolls from their notifications
Twitter has been failing to deal with abuse on its platform for a good long time now, but it seems like the company might finally be taking some substantive action. Twitter just posted a blog detailing two new features as part of its notification settings that should be rolling out to all users soon. The first is a so-called “quality filter” that attempts to reduce unpleasant or abusive @ mentions you might receive. Twitter says it filters out tweets based on a variety of factors including “account origin and behavior.”
The company says it’ll remove “low quality” tweets like duplicate tweets or automated content, but it doesn’t specifically mention abusive language. However, when the company rolled out the quality filter for verified users last year, removing abusive tweets was definitely one of its use cases. It isn’t bulletproof, but if you post something that the trolls of the internet latch on to and won’t let go, turning on the quality filter is definitely worth a shot.
The other new option will only show you notifications and @ messages from people you already follow. It’ll make your Twitter experience a little more insular, but sometimes that can be a very good thing. Both of these new features are available in the mobile app and on Twitter’s website.
These new features come at a time when Twitter is increasingly besieged by a reputation for harboring racist, sexist and otherwise abusive users under the guise of “free speech.” Most recently, Ghostbusters and Saturday Night Live star Leslie Jones had to put up with a barrage of racist remarks, led by notorious troll Milo Yiannopoulos. Twitter eventually banned Yiannopoulos, but not before Jones briefly quit Twitter altogether. She came back and has since used her platform to help defend US Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas from similar abuse.
These new features likely won’t solve Twitter’s problems, but they’re a step in the right direction — albeit a step the company should have taken years ago. The features aren’t live for everyone yet, but Twitter says they’ll be rolling out in the next few days. And the company also indicates it’s working on more features to help improve the experience users have on Twitter.
Two simple settings to give you better control over your Twitter experience. https://t.co/pEJuMUhCYs pic.twitter.com/jmFd0rDoV6
— Twitter Support (@Support) August 18, 2016
Source: Twitter
CNN’s news drones officially launch with their own acronym
We’ve known about CNN’s drone aspirations for quite some time, but now the news network is officially launching its UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) program. The official title of the project is CNN AIR and just like CNN stands for Cable News Network, AIR is an acronym for Aerial Imagery and Reporting. As part of the UAS initiative to provide footage of news events from the sky, CNN has two full-time drone operators to capture visuals. That footage will be used by other Turner Broadcasting and Time Warner entities as well.
CNN has been working towards this launch for over two years. During that time, the news network teamed up with the FAA to research the viability of drones for news gathering as well as testing the administration’s Pathfinder program to put collision avoidance and traffic management systems through their paces. CNN says its shared data helped develop the framework for drones to be used in US airspace and it will continue “to expand the safe and legal operation of UAS in news gathering.”
The launch of CNN AIR doesn’t mean the network is using drones for the first time. CNN has already tasked UAS to gather aerial views of the flooding in Louisiana and to complement reports of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan as well as Anderson Cooper’s report on the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Those reports were likely included as part of the aforementioned testing. Drones were also used for coverage of both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions in addition to debates and town halls. For an idea of what you can expect from CNN Air, check out the network’s announcement video right here.
Source: CNN (Vimeo)
Review: Philips’ Latest Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Brush Connects to Your iPhone via Bluetooth
Philips recently announced its first Bluetooth-connected Sonicare toothbrush aimed at adults, which interfaces with an iPhone to monitor brushing habits, offer brushing tips, and make sure you’re brushing right.
Priced at $199, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected takes the well-known and popular FlexCare brush and introduces iPhone connectivity through a Sonicare app that tracks everything from how long you brush to where you brush to how hard you brush.
Design and Features
I’ve used Sonicare brushes for upwards of 10 years so I’m familiar with most of the brushes and brush heads, and the FlexCare is one step down from the top of the line brush, the DiamondClean (my day to day brush). To be honest, I’m disappointed that Philips added Bluetooth connectivity to the FlexCare instead of the DiamondClean because it doesn’t have quite as many features (3 modes instead of 5) and the non-unibody design isn’t as nice.
The FlexCare Platinum Connected next to a Diamondclean brush
The FlexCare looks like your standard electric toothbrush, with a removable brush head that needs to be replaced every three months or so, a power button, and buttons for adjusting settings like intensity. Since brush heads are removable, you can share your FlexCare Connected base among several family members if you want to.
There are three cleaning modes: clean, a standard two-minute daily cleaning mode; white, a shorter mode designed to remove surface stains; and deep clean, a longer three-minute mode for a deeper clean. The main round button on the FlexCare turns it on and off, while the longer button is the one used to switch through the modes.
A third button at the bottom of the brush lets users select an intensity from one of three options: low, medium, and high. Users with sensitive gums and teeth will want to choose the low option, while the higher option will result in a better, quicker clean with up to 62,000 brush strokes a minute.
Unique to the FlexCare Platinum Connected is a set of sensors that are designed to work specifically with the app. There’s a location sensor that relays where the brush is in your mouth, a pressure sensor that makes sure you’re not applying too much pressure when you brush (which can damage your gums) and a scrubbing sensor to make sure you’re not moving the brush too much (with a Sonicare, the brush does the work – you basically just hold it up to your teeth).
Sonicare ships the FlexCare Platinum Connected with two of its newest brush heads, the InterCare and the AdaptiveClean. Both of these brush heads are on the larger side compared to other Sonicare brush heads so they cover a lot of surface area. The InterCare brush is designed to reach more deeply between the teeth while the AdaptiveClean has flexible sides that are supposed to cover more of the tooth for a better clean.
Sonicare brush heads are supposed to be replaced every three months and cost somewhere around $10 to $15 per brush head, so that’s an expense to be aware of when purchasing a toothbrush like the FlexCare Platinum Connected. Integrity of the brush head is important for better plaque removal than a manual toothbrush (Philips promises that its brushes remove as much as 10x more plaque).
Sound wise, the FlexCare Platinum Connected is louder than the DiamondClean but it isn’t obnoxiously loud. It sounds like your average electric toothbrush.
The FlexCare Connected can be purchased with or without a UV sanitizer (the model with one is $20 more expensive) that can be used to sanitize brush heads. I’ve previously owned a UV sanitizer and while it works fine, I don’t think it’s an essential piece of equipment. You just stick your brush head in the container, shut the door, and turn on the light to kill germs.
It’s simple enough, but there are bacteria in your mouth anyway that you can’t UV sanitize and toothpaste is probably taking care of a lot of the lingering bacteria on the brush.
App
Sonicare’s app isn’t for tracking brushing habits over time, but for making sure you’re brushing the right way in the moment, something I found to be a lot more useful than the over-time tracking feature in the Oral-B app designed for the Oral-B Bluetooth toothbrush.
The Sonicare brush connected seamlessly and quickly to my iPhone through the Sonicare app. Using the app is done by launching it before you turn on the brush for a daily brushing session. As soon as the brush turns on, the app displays a 3D model of a mouth and guides you through brushing each quadrant of your mouth. As you brush, the teeth in the 3D model go from yellow to white to denote progress, which is quite motivating.
Using the sensors in the brush, the app can vaguely tell where the brush is located in your mouth, so it’s able to detect how long you spend brushing each area. With the “Clean” setting, it walks you through two minutes of brushing and then directs you to turn the brush on again for a touchup of all the areas where you didn’t spend enough time, making sure everything is thoroughly clean. It’s also able to detect too much brush movement and too much pressure, sending alerts through the app each time.
The FlexCare Platinum Connected’s movement sensors are decent, but not infallible. The app can detect which side of your teeth you’re brushing in each quadrant based on the way the brush is held, but if the app is directing you to brush the upper left quadrant and you do lower right, it can’t tell the difference. You have to follow along with the app for it to be effective.
I also felt like it was giving me more touch up areas than necessary, but in general, I got a more thorough clean than I do brushing on my own. As for the pressure and movement sensors, these are sensitive and effective and always accurately prevented me from pressing too hard or moving the brush back and forth too vigorously in my mouth.
I’m a dedicated brusher, but the app was still useful because it made sure I was brushing for the right amount of time and in the right way each and every time I brushed. The app also gamifies brushing, allowing users to earn points for completing tasks like brushing properly, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash.
For people who need more motivation to brush, it definitely works. There are also goals to work towards to achieve fresher breath, healthier gums, and whiter teeth. Most of these goals can be achieved by doing things like brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing.
What the app doesn’t do well is track brushing habits over time because of a somewhat confusing layout. You can see your weekly progress towards goals you’ve set and export data for your dentist, it’s hard to get just a quick overview of statistics like how many times you’ve brushed, for how long, when you’ve flossed, and more.
There are some quirks with the app, which I hope Philips will address in future updates. It doesn’t send out brushing reminders, it doesn’t always ask for specific data on whether or not I’ve flossed or rinsed (and thus does not catalog this data), and the design is overcomplicated with content overlap in the “Progress” and “Goals” sections that makes long-term data collection difficult, but for bare bones brushing tracking and motivating, it works.
Other app features include reminders on when to replace brush heads, battery readings, product recommendations, the ability to set focus areas based on dentist feedback, appointment tracking, and coaching for better brushing habits.
Bottom Line
At $199, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected isn’t cheap by any means, but the price point is in line with other top-of-the-line Sonicare toothbrushes from Philips, including other FlexCare and DiamondClean models. It’s also a price comparable to some higher-end electric toothbrushes from companies like Oral-B.
There are a lot of people out there who use (and are satisfied with) manual toothbrushes that cost a handful of dollars, which can make a $200 toothbrush (and the replacement brush heads) sound absolutely outrageous, but as a long time devotee of the electric toothbrush and the Sonicare line in general, I believe it’s worth the price point if you’re looking for something that is unquestionably going to improve your dental hygiene and potentially cut down on dentist bills.
My teeth feel much cleaner when I use a Sonicare brush compared to a normal brush, and I was a big fan of the two brushes that came with the FlexCare Platinum Connected. They easily reached all of my teeth with little effort and left my mouth feeling clean for hours.
If you already own a Sonicare and are in need of an upgrade, the FlexCare Platinum Connected is worth looking at, but if you already own an electric brush, the features the app adds probably aren’t worth investing in something new. They’re nice to have, especially for people who need a little extra motivation to get their daily brushing in or those who want to make sure they’re brushing thoroughly, but ultimately, it’s the brush and the brush head that are doing all the work cleaning your teeth, not the app.
That said, features like pressure sensing are invaluable for someone like me — I brush much too hard when left to my own devices and that’s caused some problems for me in the past — and it was also nice to know when I didn’t spend enough time in one area. If you’re looking for a better brushing experience and don’t mind investing the money, the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected is a solid choice.
Pros:
- Thoroughly cleans teeth
- Gentle on gums
- App encourages better brushing habits
- Sensor alerts for pressure/movement
- Two week battery life
Cons:
- Expensive
- App interface is confusing
- Brush heads must be replaced
- FlexCare brush handle needs to be dried after each use to prevent mold growth
How to Buy
The Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected can be purchased for $199 from the Philips website or from Amazon.com. A version with a UV brush head sanitizer is also available for $219.99.
Note: Philips provided the Sonicare FlexCare Platinum Connected to MacRumors free of charge for the purposes of this review. No other compensation was received.
Tags: Philips, Sonicare
Discuss this article in our forums
AIVAnet 