Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic announced at MWC 2017, starting at €329 in March

One model has turned into two for 2017.

The Huawei Watch was one of a few bright spots in the Android Wear world, often being referred to as the top watch to get through 2016. As a follow-up, Huawei is replacing it for 2017 with two models — the Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic.

Following the launch of the LG Watch Style and Watch Sport, Huawei’s new models are running Android Wear 2.0 and offer up many of the same features as LG’s including 4G connectivity, GPS, NFC and new processors.Both watch styles have a 1.2-inch 390×390 display, 420mAh battery, GPS, heart rate sensor, 4GB of storage and 768MB of RAM.

The standard Huawei Watch 2 is more of a sporty version, with a rubberized band and bigger bezel around the screen. It’s available in a variety of colors, including a striking bright orange, and has a 4G-capable version alongside the standard version that has just Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

The Watch 2 Classic is surprisingly different in its overall design from the original Huawei Watch. Gone are the sleek and smooth edges, replaced with more of a traditional watch look that honestly reminds us of LG’s last generation of smartwatches.

The Huawei Watch 2 and Watch 2 Classic are going to be available starting in March for €329, with Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany and China being the first markets. The U.S., UK, Russia and Australia will get on board starting in April.

Interestingly, Huawei also announced a Porsche Design Huawei Smartwatch, which of course builds on the Porsche Design partnership most recently shown off with the Mate 9. Though it isn’t clear if this smartwatch is running Android Wear or actually related to the other two Huawei Watch 2s.

Press release:

The Complete Smart Fitness Watch Arrives with HUAWEI WATCH 2

[Barcelona, 26 February, 2017] Huawei Consumer Business Group (BG) today defined a new category of wearable technology with the HUAWEI WATCH 2. Using the latest research result and developments from technology innovator Huawei, the watch combines the connectivity of a smartphone, the smarter living applications of a premium smartwatch and the detailed performance coaching and tracking of a leading sports tracking device, all in the form of a stylish classical wristwatch.

HUAWEI WATCH 2 inherits the classic design of the original HUAWEI WATCH while introducing new innovations in every category to better empower users’ spirit of exploration and help them enjoy an active lifestyle.

The watch will go on sale in Spain, France, Portugal, Italy, Germany and China this March, priced from 329 € depending on the design and features being chosen. It will become available in additional countries including the US, the UK, Russia and Australia from April. For full details on release schedule see notes to editors below.

In a world where technology has become more and more integrated into our lives, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 is a product for those who yearn for the freedom to explore while staying connected, without having to be glued to a smartphone. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ Wear 2100 processor HUAWEI WATCH 2 (4G supported version) has independent connectivity, allowing users to send messages or make calls independently of a mobile phone. It also features compatibility for the latest smart living applications. Featuring support for cellular networks and running on the new Android WearTM 2.0 ensures connectivity for both AndroidTM and iOS users and means the HUAWEI WATCH 2 embodies the spirit of openness and exploration for all.

Independent connectivity to suit your exploration

With HUAWEI WATCH 2 (4G supported version), users can leave their mobile phone at home and go running, cycling or just exploring while staying connected. Thanks to independent mobile connectivity and a built in GPS chip, users can respond to calls and text messages, use independent apps like Uber, Foursquare and Telegram. The innovative design means that this extra connectivity comes with no sacrifice on quality. VoLTE support and dual-mic noise elimination help ensure a stable and clear telephone experience while the integration of the antennae on the upper watch case for dual 4G, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC in the device significantly strengthens connectivity, allowing HUAWEI WATCH 2 to stay compact while ensuring good signal reception.

Besides the SIM version working with mobile network carriers worldwide, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 also provides an eSIM version (available to limited countries).

What’s more, some carriers feature a one-number-multi-SIM service. There’s no need for a new number, as the watch and your mobile phone can share the same number. Going far beyond being just a partner to a smartphone, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 (4G supported version) provides the flexible connectivity required in a modern active life and gets everything controlled by one hand.

The complete health and exercise partner

HUAWEI WATCH 2 is also a high specification fitness device that uses multiple sensors with advanced algorithms to provide fitness solutions and make working out more efficient and effective. Built-in smart sensors collect comprehensive data on user activity, including distance, speed, steps, heart rate, heart rate range, calories, gait, route and more.

With one click on the crown HUAWEI WATCH 2 opens the workout App to start training in an instant. Quick start running modes “fat-burning run” and “cardio run” allow runners to start quickly and the watch will guide your speed to stay in the correct heart rate zone. Running with HUAWEI WATCH 2 enables you to get real time guidance including notifications on distance, target completion status and racing heart warning and based on calculated workout plans, HUAWEI WATCH 2 can also dynamically notify you to either accelerate or decelerate to guide you through every stage of your run. With the support of HUAWEI WATCH 2’s GPS and heart rate detection system, HUAWEI WATCH 2 measures your VO2max after each run. After a valid run the watch automatically generates a report that advises on recovery time and training effects.

Other supporting elements include the built in GPS that tracks your exercise route. HUAWEI WATCH 2 also allows you to add music to your workout through the Google PlayTM Music app. Users can download songs, stream music and access their playlists.

Beyond just exercise, HUAWEI WATCH 2 promotes healthy living all day. The Daily Tracking App accurately tracks users’ daily steps, record time taken for medium to high intensity exercises, and detect the number of times you stand up after long sedentary periods. All this information is reported via progress bars to encourage a healthier and more active life. Continuous heart rate monitoring tracks your heart rate in the background and reports your heart rate of the last six hours in a curved line. HUAWEI WATCH 2 also measures your Resting Heart Rate, which is recorded in the activity monitor app.

Chronograph watch design

The HUAWEI WATCH 2 has a classical wristwatch design that integrates its smart features and sport functions while maintaining a stylish look. Made from sophisticated materials, a dual crown design delivers a premium feel. While honouring the classics, the watch is adaptable to the wearer’s personality, with both classical and sporty design options. The high-definition display is customisable with multiple face designs, allowing users quick access to their favourite and most frequently used apps. In addition to a chronograph design, HUAWEI WATCH 2 features a ceramic bezel that provides a fine quality while offering a comfortable wearing experience.
The watch is also designed for comfort and fit during exercise, meaning it is curved to sit perfectly against the wrist. It is smaller and more compact than the previous generation HUAWEI Watch with its parts on one side accounting for 88% of the total area of the watch.

A smarter experience

With a new smart OS and intuitive controls, the HUAWEI WATCH 2 is a personal assistant that brings convenience without infringing on daily life. Running on the new Android Wear 2.0, the on-watch Google Play Store allows both iOS and Android users to benefit from a vast library of compatible applications. Touch control, intelligent speech recognition and voice instructions enable users to quickly interact with the HUAWEI WATCH 2 and reply to complex messages. The Android PayTM* app and NFC technology allows for convenient and secure payments. The battery is smarter too thanks to an optimized battery with greater density and longer life. The battery lasts for up to two days with regular use, up to 10 hours in “training mode” and up to three weeks in “watch mode”.

Porsche Design HUAWEI Smartwatch

Technology innovator Huawei and premium lifestyle brand Porsche Design extend their partnership with the announcement of the new Porsche Design HUAWEI Smartwatch. Complementing the Porsche Design HUAWEI Mate 9, which was launched in November 2016, the product further enriches the user experience. Again, the collaboration brings together the latest innovations in technology with the most functional design, creating an equilibrium of aesthetics and function. It combines the latest activity tracking and fitness management functions with the connectivity and smart technology of a leading smart wearable device. For those who demand style and substance, the Porsche Design HUAWEI Smartwatch delivers professional standard fitness tracking, the latest smart functions and sophisticated design – all from the wrist.

The innovative smart watch is the first ever to be created by Porsche Design and part of a continuous roll out of smart devices, which will be released in the upcoming months.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group said of the launch: “In today’s fragmented information age, the real function of technology is to provide convenience and connectivity without intruding on your daily life. We wanted to make a product that suits those individuals who wish to explore the limits of their own expression, while still being bound by a need to stay connected. With this product there is no need to stay glued to your smartphone. The independent connectivity and smart applications that can be used from your wrist mean you can go for a run or a cycle and leave your phone behind with the freedom of knowing you won’t miss an important message.

Health and wellbeing are vital for the modern consumer, but traditional monitoring devices are overly complicated and often get used for a while and then cast aside. We wanted to bring in all the most up to date monitoring technology into a stylish and smart package, making this the tool that doesn’t just keep you healthy, it is also stylish and helps make your everyday life easier.”

ZTE’s Gigabit Phone is a sneak peek at technology that doesn’t yet exist

5G is coming, someday, and ZTE wants everyone to know it’s ready and waiting.

Ever wonder what life will be like when we have 5G connectictivity roaming around us? Well, we’re not quite there yet, but to get you in the spirit, ZTE is showing off the first 5G-compatible smartphone on the MWC 2017 show floor.

When 5G is ready, it will include a hundredfold speed increase that will make all sorts of futuristic technologies more plausible.

The Gigabit Phone, as its called, is an attractive smartphone on display at the ZTE booth. But although it exists in physical form, it’s not exactly what you’d call a finished product. ZTE’s Vice President of Strategic Marketing for Mobile Devices, Andrew Elliot, said in an earlier phone call that the device on display at the Fira Gran Via is a mere prototype for carriers. “It will be commercialized, but probably not in the form-factor you see it in,” he added.

The Gigabit Phone is packed with future-facing specifications, including a 10nm Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor and X16 modem. ZTE claims that this hardware enables its Gigabit Phone to be “three times as powerful at improving data processing capability,” which is important for handling 5G throughput.

Although the Gigabit Phone is not connected to any specific any network — ZTE doesn’t have a European partner to show it off in Barcelona — the company hopes its existence will inspire carriers at the potential of 5G to fuel a bevy of mobile experiences, like virtual reality. “We wanted to provide a prototype for how carriers can do that,” said Elliot.

When 5G is ready, it will include a hundredfold speed increase that will make all sorts of futuristic technologies more plausible. Imagine 5G-powered drones delivering packages at your door, for example, or 5G-connected cars driving in real time. Until that reality comes to fruition, however, 5G is still just a concept that companies are rallying around to figure out how to leverage, and thus sell more things.

We’ll have a sneak peek at ZTE’s first 5G-capable smartphone from the MWC 2017 show floor. Stay tuned!

Huawei P10 + P10 Plus specs

The 5.1-inch Huawei P10 and 5.5-inch P10 Plus are officially official. Here’s how the specs line up for Huawei’s 2017 flagships.

Huawei’s flagship phones for 2017 have arrived! The P10 and P10 Plus bring the technology behind the Mate 9 to a more manageable form factor, with some important upgrades to the Leica camera setup, bold new colors and finishes, and additional software tricks through EMUI 5.1.

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LG G6 vs. Pixel XL: First comparison

No phone operates in a vacuum — it has direct competition on the shelves ready to fight for your money.

LG is positioning the G6 to go toe-to-toe with the biggest names in the mass market, and that naturally means we’re going to see how it compares to the great Google Pixel XL. Both phones are built on very similar internal specs, simply separated by a couple of features, and will surely be on the radar of those looking to sped top dollar on a leading phone.

So after spending plenty of time with the Pixel XL, and a bit more time with both phones together prior to the launch of the LG G6, here’s our first look at how they line up.

The G6 fits everything into a much smaller package.

The LG G6 is all about fitting a big screen in a small body, and it really shows compared to the Pixel XL’s slightly larger than usual bezels. Even with its extra screen height, the 5.7-inch LG G6 is smaller in every direction than the 5.5-inch Pixel XL. When you look at the numbers it can seem like a small difference of just a few millimeters here and there, but the G6 is noticeably easier to hold and reach across thanks to its narrower and thinner body. And for those who are obsessed with having smaller bezels, the G6 of course delivers here — it’s the whole reason why the body can be so small while offering a solid screen size.

Of course the materials in use are similar between the two, with the bodies of both the LG G6 and Pixel XL made of aluminum and glass — the only difference is the proportions. The Pixel XL’s glass “window” in the back provides necessary radio passage, while the G6 goes well beyond to go fully glass on the back. The G6 certainly grabs attention in a way that the simple Pixel XL can’t, but then again that’s just more glass to get scratched — and possibly cracked — as you use it. The rest of the bodies round out very similarly with smoothly sculpted metal and buttons in all of the usual places.

Now, how about those specs? As you see, things line up very comparably between the two despite the LG G6 launching a handful of months later. Both go with the same processor, RAM and base storage amounts, and the G6’s battery is just a few percent smaller. The G6 of course has the benefit of a secondary wide-angle camera for really interesting shots, solid IP68 waterproofing and wireless charging (for those in the U.S.). For the Pixel XL, you’re seeing wins in the availability of a 128GB storage model, Google-maintained software and an AMOLED screen for Daydream VR support.

We’ll need to spend more time with the phones to determine which one comes out on top overall, and of course there will continue to be grey areas in which specific features are more important and will sway a decision. Even in phones this similar, there’s enough differentiating the LG G6 and Pixel XL to make it a very interesting comparison.

LG G6

• LG G6 review!
• LG G6 specs
• These LG G6 features are exclusive to some countries
• LG forums
• Latest LG G6 news

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Huawei Watch 2 hands-on: a disappointing second act

Huawei’s second-generation Android wearables are full of functionality, but mostly bereft of style.

The first Huawei Watch, released back in 2015, was all about high fashion. The Chinese firm hosted glitzy launch events across the globe, as it focused on producing a wearable which, first and foremost, looked good. Huawei seemed to understand that watches, fundamentally, are fashion items, and that anything worn on the wrist has to look attractive in order to succeed.

A year and a half later, the priorities have changed. The Huawei Watch 2, in both its incarnations, isn’t even attempting to be a fashion watch.

The Watch 2 is split into two distinct models: the Huawei Watch 2 and the Huawei Watch 2 Classic. The Watch 2 is your all-singing, all-dancing 4G-connected smartwatch, with a definite fitness angle. Think of it as Huawei’s take on the Gear S3 or LG Watch Sport, with LTE connectivity and a focus on fitness. Meanwhile the Classic is a more traditional watchy watch, with a (partly) leather strap and connectivity over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. But it’s not trying to be as universal in its appeal as the original Huawei Watch, with its understated metal aesthetic.

Unlike the first-gen Huawei Watches, these are not even trying to be fashion items.

Both are decidedly chunky timepieces, with big, angular, very masculine looking bezels and lugs. You’ll get a handy dual-button setup on both models, and despite the presence of a prominent numbered bezel on the regular Watch 2, there’s no rotation input — i.e. a rotating bezel or crown — to be found on either model. That’s disappointing considering it’s an important new feature in Android Wear 2.0, one which is leveraged really well by LG’s new smartwatches.

The Huawei Watch 2 does at least offer a little more customization than the LG-made Watch Sport. There are three color options, including a nauseating orange option which feels even more like a toy than the rest of Huawei’s new wearable lineup. The black and speckled grey-plus-yellow options are slightly less offensive to the senses. And even though the Watch 2 includes LTE support, you can still swap out the straps — the SIM tray is hidden between the strap and the lug, and the antennas themselves located in a ceramic area around the bezel. So unlike LG’s watches, there are no vital components in the strap — though good luck finding something to match the aggressively bright lugs of the orange Huawei Watch 2.

The Huawei Watch 2 Classic takes the design DNA of its larger sibling and transforms it into something with a less overt fitness focus, with a stainless steel body and part-leather, part-rubber strap. Unlike the 4G-connected model, the Classic works over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, like the majority of Android Wear watches, so it’s not intended to work as a standalone device. It’s still a hefty watch, though with slightly smaller lugs and a (somewhat) more neutral overall appearance. It wouldn’t look entirely out of place worn with a shirt, or even a suit, but like many smartwatches the illusion of quality quickly dissipates when you examine it up close. Personal tastes will come into play here, of course, but for my money the Watch 2 Classic doesn’t look anywhere near as nice as its predecessor. The simplicity of the first Huawei Watch has been replaced with so much extra cruft that the new models bear basically no resemblance to their forerunner.

So these aren’t necessarily pretty watches, but they pack the latest internals, and a ton of functionality along with it. They’re powered by a 1.1GHz Qualcomm processor — likely the latest Snapdragon Wear 2100, but that’s not yet confirmed — and run a 390×390-resolution circular AMOLED display, measuring 1.2 inches across. Huawei’s packed in the usual loadout of fitness features, a heart rate sensor, IP68-rated water resistance and a 420mAh battery, which the company says can keep things running for up to two days in the 4G model (that number is with LTE connected, we’re told), and up to three days on Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. (In “watch only” mode with all the fancy stuff disabled, Huawei says its new devices manage 26 days between charges.)

Huawei says it’s able to get up to three days battery life on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and two on LTE.

Having used the LG Watch Sport and Watch Style, which pack similar specs but struggle to get through a single day, we’re skeptical of these numbers. But unless Huawei is grossly exaggerating here, the Watch 2 could represent the breakthrough in Android Wear battery life many have been waiting for. It’s just not entirely clear how Huawei’s getting so much more out largely the same off-the-shelf components that everyone else uses.

Being an all-out sports watch, the regular Huawei Watch 2 includes a wealth of fitness-focused features atop Android Wear 2.0. Paired with the Huawei Fit app on your phone, the Watch 2 lets you track the main stages of your workout, and keep the correct pace in order to build strength, burn calories and avoid over-exertion. That’s all handled through real-time tracking of your heart, which the watches can match to specific heart rate zone indicators.

Outside of individual workouts, the Watch 2 and Huawei Fit app let you build long term training plans in order to meet specific goals over a period of weeks or months. And by assessing your VO2Max — the measure of the maximum volume of oxygen that your body can use — it’s able to quantify how your fitness is improving over time.

As well as Huawei’s home-made software, there’s everything we’ve come to expect from Android Wear 2.0, such as easier watch face switching, direct app installs through Google Play and support for more comprehensive apps on the watch itself. Google Assistant is onboard too, and accessed via a long press of the physical app button. And Android Pay is supported on both devices thanks to the presence of NFC antennae. (Unlike LG’s watches, you don’t need to settle for the larger, more expensive wearable to be able to pay with your wrist.)

So Huawei seems to be following the prevailing smartwatch trend of late 2016/early 2017, focusing on advanced fitness features and LTE to sell to the hard core of people already invested in the idea of a computer on your wrist.

But there’s no delicate way to put this: the Watch 2, in both its incarnations, doesn’t look great. The devices’ expansive feature sets are impressive, and the boast of 2-to-3-day battery life (assuming it plays out) is potentially groundbreaking for Android Wear. But for me, neither can make up for the fact that these watches just look worse than the first-gen Huawei Watch. The orange-strapped Huawei Watch 2 looks and feels like a toy, and the black version was only marginally more palatable. The Classic looks a bit more like something I’d be prepared to put on my wrist, but the tiny display, chunky aesthetic and cheap-feeling buttons and strap detract from its premium feature set. The contrast compared to the shiny and compact first-gen Huawei Watch is jarring, to say the least.

At the time of writing I’ve only seen a few different Huawei Watch 2 styles, and so it’s possible Huawei has some better-looking color and material options up its sleeve. It’s possible the chunky look and feel of this watch will grow on me with time, which I’m also open to. For the sake of having a more varied, interesting Android Wear ecosystem, I hope it will. But I’m also holding out hope for somebody to make an Android Wear 2.0 watch that follows in the footsteps of watches like the Moto 360 and the Huawei Watch: clean, simple, and classy design that looks good with everything and everyone.

Moto G5 and G5 Plus specs: New cameras, Micro-USB ports and lots of configurations

You get a lot for your money in these phones.

Moto is once again going with a dual launch strategy for its Moto G series in 2017, with the Moto G5 and G5 Plus offering the same core experience with various spec differences to meet two distinct price points. Having the two models isn’t all that confusing, but when you start throwing in regional differences on top of it, things can get a little convoluted. Depending where you live you’re going to get a notably different RAM and storage combination — so let us help you out so you know what you’re getting where.

Here’s the full spec sheet for the Moto G5 and G5 Plus.

Moto G5 + Moto G5 Plus deliver on build quality but fail to innovate

Motorola’s newest Moto Gs are its most important devices of the year, and they are solid upgrades.

Motorola has unveiled a couple of new Moto G devices for 2017, and while they look different to last year’s models, they follow the same pattern.

There’s the Moto G5, the smaller of the two devices, which will be aimed at developing markets in Europe, Asia and parts of South America; and the Moto G5 Plus, which is more robustly outfitted, with a larger screen, more powerful processor and improved camera, aimed at the North American market.

There are a dizzying number of variants depending on the market, and some decisions make very little sense to me.

Each launches in some regions in early March — that’s soon! — and have a number of improvements to their 2016 equivalents. But in studying their spec sheets, it’s clear Motorola is aiming to eke every penny of profit from each region, with no fewer than six different versions of the G5 Plus, for example, with varying combinations of RAM and internal storage that will make your head spin.

The ultimate takewaway, though, is that these are very capable mid-range devices that overcome their biggest issues from last year — build quality — and offer enough power and battery performance to keep heavy users happy, at prices that will keep them accessible to the average user.

Moto G5 + Moto G5 Plus specs

At 5 inches and 5.2 inches respectively, the two devices look very similar, though the former has a removable back cover and a fair amount more plastic around the bezel than the Plus variant. The processor inside the smaller Moto G5, while octa-core, is a slower Snapdragon 430 clocked at 1.4GHz than the Moto G5 Plus’s Snapdragon 625, a very capable chip we’re happy to see trickle down to such an inexpensive product.

Both devices — not just the premium model — have fingerprint sensors this year, and each sport between 2GB and 4GB of RAM, depending on market, and 16GB to 64GB of storage. And while the Moto G5 proper has a higher-resolution 13MP camera, it’s of much lower quality — it’s a smaller sensor, with diminutive pixels — than the Moto G5 Plus’s 12MP shooter, which has 1.4 micron pixels and an impressive f/1.7 lens.

Impressively, the Moto G5 series will ship with Google Assistant.

U.S. users will be dismayed to discover, however, that there is no NFC chip built into the Moto G5 Plus. I have no idea why this isn’t in here — a Moto rep merely shrugged and referred to cost — but keep this in mind when considering the phone: it won’t support Android Pay or any NFC-based mobile payment system. And everyone — U.S. and the rest of the world — will have to deal with yet another generation of Moto G with Micro-USB, a plug standard that went out of style a year ago. Motorola justifies this by pointing to a sea of existing cables that its customers want to continue using, but that doesn’t cut it anymore. Not in 2017.

On the software side, both devices will ship with Android 7.0 Nougat and some requisite Moto flair — things we’ve expected for years, like chop-chop-to-flashlight — that keep people like me addicted to its phones. Moto Display, one of the defining features on Moto phones, have been spiffed up for 2017, too, with the ability to jump directly into emails and other shortcuts.

Both good looking phones, the new aesthetic isn’t quite as bold as the Moto Z line, but the G is Motorola’s bread and butter, and needs to appeal to a much wider audience. Small touches like the rounded “flat tire” camera module on the back mirror the more expensive Moto Z line, but these new Gs stand on their own, flaws and all.

The Moto G5 will be available starting in March for €199 with 2GB RAM/16GB storage across Europe and Latin America, while the Moto G5 Plus will go for $229 US for the 2GB/32GB model, and $279 for the 4GB/64GB version. In the U.S., the Moto G5 Plus will be sold unlocked through Motorola.com, and will work on all four major carriers, including Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile.

See at Motorola

Moto G5 + Moto G5 Plus hands-on: A little less convention, a little more action

The Moto G line gets another solid update, but a few confounding choices keep it from perfection.

There is no doubt as to whether the Moto G5 and its larger, more powerful sibling, the Moto G5 Plus, are the most attractive in Motorola’s four year-old series. Incorporating subtle curves into aluminum, the devices are comfortable to hold, easy to use in one hand, and belie their entry-level prices.

But when you dig into the phones themselves — especially the more expensive Moto G5 Plus — you come away with the impression of yet another safe and data-driven upgrade in a series that continues to be Motorola’s, and increasingly its parent company Lenovo’s, most important mobile asset.

Specs

Moto G5

The smaller of the two phones has made the transition to metal this year, and has been graced with a front-facing fingerprint sensor that looks considerably better than the square obstruction on the Moto G4 (and Moto Z line) from last year. Indeed, that the G5 is physically smaller is a diversion from 2016’s Moto Gs, too— the Moto G4 and its Plus variant both sported 5.5-inch 1080p LCD displays, whereas the Moto G5 has been compacted, reportedly at users’ requests, to five inches.

The screen, though 1080p, is not great: you can visibly see the lines that make up the panel when the screen is off, and brightness is not going to win awards. It also eschews the Gorilla Glass of the base Moto G4 for, well, nothing. There’s glass, for sure, but it’s not branded and may not hold up to scratch scrutiny, though we’ll have to see.

Inside, Motorola has shifted the base Moto G to a different chip than its Plus variant, further separating the two devices in their assumed demographics. Now with a Snapdragon 430 — an octa-core chip potentially slower than last year’s Snapdragon 617, though freer of overheating issues — clocked at 1.4GHz, it should be sufficient for most tasks, but it’s clear that the 2017 Moto G is slowly encroaching, or it means to, the same market as the Moto E.

The Moto G5 looks a lot nicer than last year’s model, but internally it’s a lateral move.

That’s not a bad thing. At €199, the Moto G5 is a good deal more expensive than what we’ve come to expect from the Moto E (which technically still exists, but only in certain markets), and with a metal frame it’s going to come across to the average consumer like a much more high-end device, despite the hit in specs. And like previous models, the amounts of RAM and storage differ between markets — 2GB or 3GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of storage — but I think most people are going to be pretty happy with the finished product.

If you turn the phone over, the 13MP camera shows itself embedded in a new, circular module that looks akin to the one found on the popular Moto Z line. That brand symmetry is purposeful, but while Motorola wouldn’t confirm it, the actual 13MP sensor and f/2.0 lens appears to be the same as in last year’s Moto G4. The phone’s back cover is also removable, a concession made to people that still want to replace battery cells — there’s a 2,800mAh cell in here — though the two metal parts click in place with satisfying precision.

Moto G5 Plus

This is the phone that has received the bulk of the improvements this year. A much-nicer 1080p panel at 5.2 inches keeps the body size down and screen density up, while inside the Snapdragon 625 is an enormous bump in performance and efficiency from last year’s Snapdragon 617. Having used the same chip in the Moto Z Play, most G5 Plus owners are going to be very happy with this development.

Like the smaller phone, the Moto G5 Plus is mostly metal — and without a removable backplate — and the 3,000mAh battery should go further than last year’s already-efficient G4 Plus. That Snapdragon 625 is paired with between 2GB and 4GB of RAM, depending on the market, and between 16GB and 64GB of storage (though most markets, including the U.S., will have 32GB base). The number of variants is dizzying, and speaks to the data-focused approach the Motorola team took when designing and building this global device.

It’s time to suck it up and change the Moto G line to USB-C.

The U.S. is getting two versions of the Moto G5 Plus — the smaller G5 is only coming to Canada in North America — one with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and the other with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Starting at $229, that’s not a bad deal, especially for an entry-level device that should be a contender for one of the longest-lasting handsets in its price class.

And then there’s the G5 Plus’s camera which, though lower-resolution at 12MP, is a considerable upgrade over the 16MP shooter in the premium version of Moto’s 2016 variant. While Motorola isn’t sharing the exact part, we know that the sensor has 1.4 micron pixels, which should make it much better in low light, aided by an f/1.7 aperture, phase-detection and laser-based autofocus, and a color-balancing dual LED flash.

Moto G5 Plus, indoors

Jargon aside, I found the rear camera to be reliable in most lighting situations — and impressive when holding on to light indoors. Still present is the Moto Action everyone loves, the double-twist-to-camera which, along with the speedy camera interface, should make for the Moto G5 Plus’s marquee feature. The front-facing camera, a 5MP sensor with 1.4 micron pixels and a wide-angle lens, appears to be identical to last year — the same as on the smaller Moto G5 — and certainly passable.

Some Moto G5 Plus camera samples.

A 3,000mAh battery rounds out the important bits of the spec list; the same-sized cell should get considerably more uptime thanks to that Snapdragon 625.

I do have some quibbles with the Moto G5 Plus, especially the one coming to North America. First, like its smaller counterpart, it’s still using Micro-USB. That’s increasingly an aberration in phones of any cost, and while Motorola may be stuck with additional implementation fees, it’s a bandage the company will have to pull at some point. The official line is that it ensures compatibility with accessories used for years by Moto G users, and that’s fair, but the line won’t hold forever.

Second, there’s no NFC in the U.S. variant of the phone — the rest of the world gets it — which is an odd omission for a market looking to increase its uptake of mobile payments. Sure, the uses for NFC are limited, and the justifications for cost savings considerable when the U.S. dollar is strong and the pressure to keep prices low is the top concern, but at this point the radio seems like it should be table stakes alongside things like Bluetooth and GPS.

The design, too, plays it safe. I like the offbeat, confident appearance of the Moto Z line — though I’m glad to see Motorola has conceded to a rounded fingerprint sensor — but the Moto G5 Plus is now yet another rounded metal smartphone, a design-by-committee approach to pocket computers. It’s not ugly by any means, but it makes little impression.

Software touches

Both Moto G5 variants run Android 7.0 out of the box, and while there are few remarkable things about the software — a good thing, in my opinion, since Motorola keeps things close to Google’s idea of what Android should be — the company has made some notable additions.

First, there’s Google Assistant, the second (and third) devices beyond the LG G6 and the Pixels themselves that have it built in. The feature wasn’t implemented in the demo units I played with, but retail versions will have it.

Motorola has also spruced up the initimable Moto Display feature, adding support for more colors, a more attractive circular time widget, and a very helpful new shortcut feature that jumps right into parts of an app — a specific email, say, instead of just Gmail — that will inevitably save people time.

Finally, there’s this neat new feature called One Button Nav that, while probably never going to be a mainstream choice, eschews the traditional virtual navigation keys on Android for a gesture-based system that relies on the fingerprint sensor.

A swipe left is back, a swipe right, multitasking, a press-and-hold becomes Google Assistant and a touch remains home. It’s something Lenovo has been noodling with for a while, and though I don’t think it’s a particularly necessary feature, it’s one the company says proved very popular in beta testing, especially when these devices have smaller screens than their immediate predecessors.

A natural evolution

As I am every year, I’m impressed with Motorola’s ability to shuffle cards around to make it appear like its latest Moto G product is a bigger upgrade than it is in reality. The Moto G5 is, in some ways, a lateral move, opting for higher build quality over better specs. Users likely won’t notice any performance improvements over the previous generation — in daily tasks, it may even be slower — and the smaller battery won’t do it any favors, either. But the addition of a fingerprint sensor is important to the company’s messaging, and it does feel much nicer in the hand than the plasticky Moto G4.

The Moto G5 Plus is a bit more complicated to talk about. There are real, substantive improvements in every major area, including display, camera, performance and design. I’m happy with the decision to reduce screen size in favor of a phone that is more easily usable in one hand, and the 12MP camera sensor should please everyone invested in the Moto G ecosystem. But the decision to stick with Micro-USB, and the lack of NFC, feel like concessions that shouldn’t be necessary in 2017.

But the Moto G line, while popular in the U.S., is tailor-made for countries still building their mobile ecosystems, and these devices show leadership in almost every area. Motorola surveyed thousands of people, and used purchase data from every market, to determine what to upgrade and where to cut and, as usual, it appears they made the right decisions.

The Moto G5 and G5 Plus will be available beginning in early March in some markets. U.S. availability of the Moto G5 Plus has yet to be determined.

Nokia fitness trackers coming summer 2017 as Withings brand is replaced

Withings’ fitness and health tech will be released under the Nokia brand from now on.

Nokia bought the French technology firm last year and while it will continue to release fitness trackers and other health products, it will adopt the Finnish parent’s name going forward.

The first Nokia fitness devices will be released from summer 2017. They will include connected scales, trackers, blood pressure monitors, thermometers and home cameras.

Nokia will also unveil a redesigned Health Mate application for smartphones. It collects the data from the different connected devices and is claimed to be easier to use than the existing Withings software. It is thought Withings products already in use will work with the new version of the platform too.

“Withings joined Nokia because we share a vision to inspire individuals to take control of their own health. With the full power of a brand recognised for trust, reliability and quality, we will reach more people and impact more lives to help the human family be healthier together,” said Cedric Hutchings, vice president of digital health at Nokia.

Nokia branded health devices will be available in early summer from a number of retailers in the UK, including Amazon, John Lewis, Argos and Currys PC World.

Nokia is returning to the smartphone market in 2017 too, with several new handsets sporting the name launching this year.