Moto Z2 Play – the most affordable way to get into Moto Mods, but is it worth it?

Hey there Android Guys. Today I’ll be taking a look at the Moto Z² Play, which I’ve had the pleasure of toying around with for the past few weeks. What follows is not an in-depth analysis of the inner workings of a phone by any definition, but it is my honest opinions, thoughts, concerns, and tangents of a very solid, if not, perhaps mind-blowing, addition to Moto’s Z line.

Build

While not particularly flashy or world-changing in its build, the Z² Play is a solid, well-made device – very thin and light, with a splash/dust resistant metal chassis, but with an absolutely enormous camera bulge on the back. Moto Mods can be attached via magnets on the back of the unit, holding them securely (relatively – more on that later) in place. With or without Mods connected, the Z² Play never feels fragile in the hand, despite being one of the lighter, slimmer phones I’ve worked with.

The biggest draw for the Z² Play, obviously, is its Moto Mod support. As mentioned previously, magnets help to secure the mods in place – but there’s just enough wiggle in the connection to leave a bit of doubt in its hold. Furthermore, the fact that the Mods – regardless of the one you use – dominate the phone’s read real estate means that having a traditional case is impossible – so you’re braving the elements when it comes to using the main feature of Moto’s Z line. In addition, the rear speaker – generally used for sound cancellation and things of that nature – is covered when using a mod, which will likely degrade the call quality a bit. As such, I wouldn’t recommend taking calls when using a Mod unless it’s necessary. Despite that design flaw, the Z² Play remains a well-made phone, as should be expected from Motorola.

Screen

The Z² Play runs on a 5.5″, 1080p Super AMOLED panel, which means I instantly fell in love. It’s not anything eye-popping or jaw-dropping – 1080p is more-or-less the standard these days, and 5.5″ seems to be the sweet spot, size-wise, and though AMOLED screens are delightful, the display simply doesn’t bring anything ground-breaking to the table – which is fine! Like so much else with the Z² Play, Moto has built a solid (if unspectacular) screen into a solid (if unspectacular) handset built around a single, unique feature in Moto Mods.

On the software end of things, there are a couple neat features that set it apart a bit. Color tuning, active display (which uses only a small amount of screen real estate to display notifications when the device is asleep), and proximity wake (which lets you wake your phone by waving your hand over it while keeping the screen off while it’s in your pocket) all lend little touches of uniquity (probably not a word) to an otherwise solidly performing, but not terribly exotic, display.

Internals

Given its reputation as a mid-range smartphone (at $499 unlocked, it lands squarely between the Z² Force and the Moto G5 in both price and specs), it’s not surprising the specifications for this handset are very middle-of-the-road. The version I tested runs a Snapdragon 626, clocked at 2.2GHz. For comparison, the OnePlus 5 ($479) and the Moto Z² Force ($720 + free projector Moto Mod) both run a Snapdragon 835, clocked at 2.45Ghz. Don’t let the clock speeds fool you, the 835 is much faster than is the 626. That being said, the processor in the Z² Play is perfectly adequate for the user base it’s targeting – which is to say, generally not power users.

As far as RAM and storage goes, the Z² Play comes in two flavors – 3/32GB or 4/64GB, the latter of which is $100 more expensive and carrier unlocked. 3GB of RAM is a little light for a modern smartphone, but 4GB is the sweet-spot for a solidly performing device. Both models come with a MicroSD slot, the absence of which is an absolute deal-breaker for some.

Internal Features

In keeping with a theme, Moto has included middle-of-the-pack technology in its middle-of-the-pack phone. The Z² Play runs on an older standard of WiFi (802.11n, one generation removed from the current ac), and an older standard of Bluetooth (4.2, two generations removed from the current 5), But also offers current-gen technology in Type-C USB charging and a front-mounted fingerprint scanner.

A quick note on said fingerprint scanner; it utilizes fingerprint gestures, designed to mimic the rollerball that used to be a signature on android devices. It can be used to go to your home screen, scroll, navigate left and right, everything the ball used to do. In theory, it sounds like a nice bit of nostalgia at least – in practice, though, it’s become obvious how archaic that method of input is. The gestures are a nice little idea, but they fall flat.

Battery Life

3000mAh battery – all day, ’nuff said. Being a mid-range phone running a 1080p AMOLED screen and a mid-range processor, the Z² Play gets great battery life out of day-to-day use. I went a full day without dipping below 30%, including way too much use at work. Where the Z² Play struggles, however, is when you try to push the processor a little, or when you enter into an area with low signal. The internals work overtime to compensate, and it drains the battery rather quickly. Still, though, a full day’s battery is always a good thing. When you account for the utter ease of use of a Moto Mod Battery Pack, you should never find yourself worrying about a charge.

Camera

The first thing you’ll notice about the primary camera on the Z² Play is the snappiness of it, or lack thereof – focusing is quick and smooth, but actually taking pictures is a little clumsy due to the shutter speed, which is a little slower than I’d have liked. It’s surely slower than my trusty OnePlus 3T – but it’s still not too bad. Android cameras and software have come a long way! I remember when I had to hold still for a good two or three seconds in order to take a steady shot while my MyTouch focused, processed, and finally snapped.

You can see a few samples from both the front and back shooters below, in a variety of lighting and distance examples. Note that even at full zoom on a shot, it’s still a relatively passable picture! Unfortunately, selfie-cameras aren’t much good for anything other than selfies, so you’re stuck with my ugly mug and my Cheese smile.

1 of 12

While there’s nothing amazing about the back camera (12mp, 1.4 µm) or the selfie camera (5 MP, 1.4 µm), the latter does have one relatively unique feature among smart phones (or, at least, smartphones I’ve owned); a front flash! While very useful, this is a feature that has, by and large, escaped the attention of all of the major smartphone manufacturers. LG, Samsung, and HTC – with a few exceptions – have left a front flash off their respective phones. It should be noted that Sony has a number of models with a front flash, but it’s definitely not a common thing. But I love it!

Software

As per usual for Moto, the Z² Play runs a fairly unmodified version of stock Android. There are a couple quality-of-life modifications included (the aforementioned Active Display, for example), but for the most part Android purists will be pleased.

Given that I was testing the Verizon version of the phone, it’s no surprise that it came front-loaded with a bunch of gross Verizon Bloat – Verizon, Yahoo, Slacker, Newsroom, Yahoo Weather, and the NFL app all came pre-loaded and are non-removable. The best you can hope for is to disable them. It’s not a terrible amount of bloat, and I suspect the Unlocked version does not include them, but I will forever vehemently disagree with carriers digging their claws into my phone.

It’s refreshing to see some manufacturers (notably, Moto and OnePlus) deliver devices that remain faithful to the core operating system they run, while still adding features that users both want and will use. Android is great, but it isn’t perfect – why not improve on it? Meanwhile, Samsung continues to think it knows better and slathers its OS with a thick coat of shiny paint that flecks away after only a couple months.

Mods

This is a review of the Moto Z² Play, not of its Mods. I’ll be detailing the three Mods I tested in upcoming posts, but I have a few thoughts on Moto Mods in general, and how they work with the Z² Play.

While all the Mods I’ve used are well-made and easy to use, they seem a mite inconvenient to carry around. How are we expected to be transporting these mods? I have trouble seeing a world where the Mod contact points can withstand being banged around in my pocket without getting bent, dirty or otherwise damaged. Maybe a Moto-branded carrying case, or a sleeve? Further, with the inability to use a traditional case with the Z brand of Moto devices, how are expected to keep our phones safe, unless we constantly remove it from a flexible case?

That being said, the overall design of the Moto Mod system is pretty clever. Moto has expanded on the utility of smartphones immensely by creating a modular system for adding and removing functionality on a per-case basis. Need more battery? Slap on a battery pack, no cables required. Need extra camera power for a shoot? Connect a Hasselblad camera unit. It’s all very clever, despite its inherent flaws and drawbacks. Personally, I feel like the inevitable second generation of Moto Mods will be what separates Moto from other smartphone brands.

Value

As I mentioned above, there are two variants for the Z² Play. The first version is a 3/32GB model, for $405 – Verizon only. The second model is $499 – its carrier unlocked and comes with a RAM/Storage upgrade of 4/64GB. Being a faithful T-Mobile user, I can’t encourage you enough to go with the latter; though that price bump is a bit prohibitive, taking it from a nice mid-range phone and catapulting it into a pricier tier. Compared to the newly announced Z² Force, though, ($720) it’s the cheapest way to enter into the Moto Mod scene this generation.

The skinny is this – if you want to get in on the Moto Mod hype, but don’t want to invest in a $700 phone, the Z² Play is for you. If you’re looking for a great, badass phone in the $500 range, there are other, better options out there.

Moto’s Z² Play is available now, through Verizon or carrier-unlocked, starting at $405.

T-Mobile One Unlimited 55+ offers cheap unlimited data for seniors on a budget

Why it matters to you

If you’re over the age of 55 and need a cheap unlimited data plan, T-Mobile’s One Unlimited 55+ is worth considering.

Data plans for seniors can be arbitrarily restrictive, but T-Mobile has a new data plan for customers age 55 and up that includes unlimited talk, text, and 4G LTE data.

The T-Mobile One Unlimited 55+, which starts at $60 or $50 for the first line and $10 for the second line (after a $5 per line discount with auto bill pay enabled), doesn’t impose restrictions on the devices customers can use or charge higher per-line prices if family members move off the plan. It’s a stark difference to AT&T’s $30-per-month Senior Nation Plan, which limits customers to basic phones. Verizon has a plan for seniors age 65 and up, but it’s no longer available for new customers.

Another plus? T-Mobile’s Unlimited 55+ includes all of the carrier’s One Plan benefits, including unlimited text and data, roaming and low flat-rate calling in more than 140 countries, free roaming in Mexico and Canada, one free hour of in-flight Gogo Wi-Fi, T-Mobile’s DIGITS service, a mobile hotspot, and T-Mobile Tuesdays rewards and sweepstakes.

It also has the same restrictions. T-Mobile One Unlimited 55+ caps streaming video to standard definition (480p) quality and mobile streaming speeds to 3G (512 Kbps), and T-Mobile Unlimited 55+ subscribers are limited to a maximum of two voice lines per plan.

T-Mobile says that One Unlimited 55+ is aimed at the more than 93 million Americans in the U.S. over the age of 55. The 74 percent of Baby Boomers who own a smartphone spend 149 minutes a day using them. And a majority of those 55+ say smartphone is the #1 way they connect with family and friends.

“For years, the carriers have been patronizing the generation that invented wireless,” T-Mobile CEO John Legere said in a statement. “They thank these mobile pioneers by selling dumbed-down ‘senior’ plans with exactly zero data […] Today, the Un-carrier ends this ridiculousness with T-Mobile ONE Unlimited 55+ — an offer that recognizes how Boomers and beyond actually use their smartphones.”

Verizon and AT&T control 81 percent of the postpaid market among Americans age 55 and up, according to T-Mobile. That’s compared to to T-Mobile’s 18 percent of all wireless customers in the U.S.

“When this generation was getting their first phones, AT&T and Verizon were the only real options — and the duopoly has been taking advantage of them ever since,” Legere said. “Where the duopoly sees another group to patronize and monetize, we see an opportunity to bring the un-carrier revolution to more people not getting the service or respect they deserve.”

Starting August 9, new T-Mobile customers can sign up for a One Unlimited 55+ plan stopping in a local T-Mobile store. Current eligible customers can get a plan by calling T-Mobile’s customer support hotline, visiting T-Mobile’s website, or stopping by one of the carrier’s brick-and-mortar locations.

Apple’s Instagram account is live, seeks user-submitted content through campaign

Why it matters to you

Apple officially launched its own Instagram account for people to follow. iPhone users are also encouraged to submit their own photography and videos.

In today’s world, it may seem like being on Instagram is essential to keeping up with mainstream media. It looks like Apple finally decided to join in with the rest of us, launching its official account on the social media platform on Monday.

Apple is not a complete stranger to Instagram though, seeing as how it runs ads on the news feed. But it also has several existing accounts for related services and apps it offers like iTunes, Apple Music, and iBooks. All of these accounts appear to have a large following and hundreds of posts published on a regular basis.

Apple’s Instagram handle is — you probably guessed it — @apple and the account already includes a number of posts. Among the curated content are scenic galleries — using shots and videos taken specifically with an iPhone by different photographers. Even though the account was launched on Monday, the follower count is climbing quickly.

As you scroll through each shot in the gallery, you hear some recorded interviews with the artists that play behind each shot explaining their aesthetic and style. The captions under the galleries also include quotes by the photographers along with a handle to their own Instagram accounts for you to tap through and follow — and giving them a large platform to show their work.

While some may wonder why Apple was not in a hurry to create its own account on Instagram, the launch is discreetly accompanied by its already existing marketing campaign. Using the running hashtag #ShotoniPhone, iPhone owners are encouraged to share their own photography taken with the device on Instagram as well.

The “Shot on iPhone” campaign has already been spread across TV commercials and billboards featuring high-quality photos taken by iPhone users. Bringing the campaign to Instagram will help Apple gather even more content to use by expanding the submission pool.

The campaign launch also falls around the same time more rumors about the upcoming iPhone 8 are surfacing. Recent reports claim its camera may be able to capture video at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second through both the rear and front cameras. The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus can already record 4K video but only at 30 frames per second.

Alcatel Idol 5S Review

Research Center:
Alcatel Idol 5S

Last year’s Idol 4S smartphone from TCL-owned Alcatel didn’t wow us. It distanced itself from the rest of the pack with some key advantages, but at $400, the asking price was simply too high. Alcatel has taken that lesson to heart this time around. In our Alcatel Idol 5S review, we found the phone to retain much of what worked with its predecessor, but it’s offered in an easier-to-swallow $280 price tag.

Elegant, unique design

Like Alcatel’s previous contender, the Idol 5S makes an excellent first impression. Not only does it feel like a high-end device in your hand, but it manages something even some more expensive phones can’t – it stands out.

Idol 5S’ metal frame extends just slightly over the top and bottom of the body to house the phone’s loud, dual front-facing speakers, as well as the antenna bands. It’s not terribly different from last year’s design, for good reason. It looked great then, and it looks great now.

On the front, the sheet of Asahi Dragontrail scratch-resistant glass curves slightly at the edges, which makes swiping off-screen feel very smooth. The glass around the back likely isn’t going to win a battle against the pavement, but it sure does have a nice sheen to it.

From the rear, the Idol 5S looks nearly identical to last year’s model, between the center-mounted fingerprint sensor and branding. One notable difference is the camera, which has been relocated to the top left. The Idol 4S’ user-programmable “Boom Key,” which served various functions in different apps has unfortunately been removed.

In our testing, the fingerprint sensor responded quickly when the lock screen was active. When the display was off, however, it took a hair longer to unlock.

Dependable performance

If the design and build quality haven’t taken a hit, you might wonder where Alcatel cut costs to get the Idol 5S out for $120 less than its predecessor. The answer becomes apparent the moment you wake the phone’s 5.2-inch display.

The Idol 5S trades the 4S’ 5.5-inch 2,560 x 1,440 resolution AMOLED panel for a smaller 1,920 x 1,080 LCD unit. It’s not a terrible loss. A QHD screen would have been an unexpected luxury on a sub-$300 device, and the one Alcatel has replaced it with is satisfyingly bright and vibrant.

Alcatel’s handset was nearly flawless in terms of overall performance.

Word to the wise, though: the “Vivid” color option that is enabled out of the box will make your apps, photos, and videos look almost cartoonish with oversaturation. Fortunately, you have the ability to turn it off in the display settings.

Under the hood is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 625 processor, paired with 3GB of RAM, and a 2,620 mAh battery. Much like the display, the 625 is a step back from the 652 in last year’s Idol 4S. But it’s strong enough that we didn’t see any problems in daily usage.

Alcatel’s handset was nearly flawless in terms of overall performance. Launching and switching apps was quick and painless, and most tasks, like browsing in Chrome, perusing Facebook, and streaming YouTube videos were handled with ease. There were odd stutters in the Google Play Store from time to time, but the Idol 5S rarely missed a beat in testing.

The specs indicate the Idol 5S is right on target with some other popular devices in price tier, like the recently-released Moto G5 Plus. The benchmarks showed that was the case.

• Antutu: 63,374
• 3D Mark Sling Shot Extreme: 464

The Idol 5S’s 3DMark test is one point higher than the G5 Plus. Its AnTuTu score of 63,374 was similarly a hair above the G5 Plus’ 63,190.

In terms of storage, the Idol 5S comes in just one 32GB configuration. It’s the bare minimum for a phone in 2017, and for most it will suffice. However, the aforementioned G5 Plus offers double the capacity as well as an extra gigabyte of RAM for just $20 more. Fortunately, the Idol 5S has a MicroSD card slot you can use to expand space.

Satisfactory battery life

The lower resolution screen and more efficient 625 chipset means Alcatel was able to get away with downsizing the battery in the Idol 5S to 2,620mAh. A little extra juice would have been nice, considering other phones in this segment, like Huawei’s Honor 6X, well surpass the 3,000mAh mark. Even the $130 Moto E4 Plus offers a 5,000mAh battery.

Nevertheless, the Idol 5S delivers typical longevity. A day of moderate usage consisting of phone calls, Spotify streaming over Bluetooth, an hour’s worth of YouTube videos and some basic web and email browsing got us down to 35 percent by the end of the night, nearly 13 hours since taking it off the charger. If you’re a bit more careful, you should be able to stretch it past the one-day mark.

The lack of near-field communication, or NFC, is a little more disappointing. Unfortunately, it’s fairly common for phones in this price range to skimp out on the technology used for contactless transactions like Android Pay. A few years ago, this wouldn’t have been a major issue. But today, more and more stores, banks, and devices are jumping on the tap-and-pay bandwagon every month – and the omission is becoming an increasingly frustrating one.

Recharging won’t be as quick as its competitors — although the Idol 5S utilizes USB-C, it lacks fast charging capabilities.

A mediocre camera

Alcatel has included a host of camera features in the Idol 5S, like the ability to take 360-degree photos, a mode for recording light trails at night, and even a “Cinemagraph” mode to capture still images with subtle motion. In spite of all the bells and whistles, however, the photography experience is just average.

The Idol 5S’ rear shooter is rated at 12 megapixels with an f/2 aperture and large 1.25-micron pixels on the image sensor designed to improve low-light photography. That’s not bad for a budget device, but in the real world, the results are mixed.

In the right scenario — outdoors with balanced lighting — the Idol 5S can hold its own against competitors with vibrant and detailed shots. When lighting is scarce, or fails to illuminate the scene evenly, the camera has trouble reconciling the differences between light and dark. The result can leave you with some washed out and dull photos, where highlights and shadows are left lacking color and definition.

As far as the camera interface is concerned, Alcatel’s app is simple, easy-to-use, and lag-free. Its layout actually bears a strong resemblance to the iPhone’s built-in camera app, though the Idol 5S claims one notable advantage – manual controls for things like ISO, white balance, and shutter speed.

A light take on Android Nougat

The Idol 5S runs Android version 7.1.1 Nougat, and like most phone makers, Alcatel has made some modifications to the experience. While that would be a point of contention for purists who demand Google’s unadulterated vision for the platform, the changes are subtle and add a few welcome features.

For example, the lock screen has a customizable row of shortcuts at the bottom. There’s a convenient three-finger swipe shortcut to snap a screenshot. And the selection of Alcatel’s stock software, from the file manager to the aforementioned camera app, is well-designed and not intrusive. Bloatware is thankfully nonexistent, outside of FM listening app NextRadio, and Xender File Transfer.

Your software experience will be dependent on how you purchase your Idol 5S. Alcatel and Amazon are selling a Prime Exclusive version of the phone at a greatly reduced cost — $200. The downsides, of course, are lockscreen ads and an assortment of Amazon apps.

If you don’t mind Amazon offers mixed in with your notifications, the Idol 5S becomes a sweet deal at that price.

Pricing and warranty

The Idol 5S is available in the United States exclusively through Amazon. It retails for $280, though the Prime Exclusive version, for customers of the online retailer’s subscription service, is just $200.

Alcatel’s warranty covers defects and product failures up to a year following the date of purchase. It does not include normal wear-and-tear or water damage, and is voided if you root your phone, or use it in in tandem with accessories “not supplied or recommended” by the company.

Alcatel Idol 5S Compared To

Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom

LG X Venture

Moto Z2 Play

Motorola Moto E4

Lenovo Moto G5 Plus

ZTE Axon 7 mini

Meizu Pro 6

Nextbit Robin

Sony Xperia Z5

Motorola Droid Turbo

Sony Xperia Z3

Sony Xperia Z3v

HTC Desire Eye

Motorola Moto X (2014)

LG G2

Our Take

The Alcatel Idol 5S is a jack of all trades that doesn’t necessarily outperform its rivals, but nevertheless offers a lot of phone for a reasonable price. Sadly, the budget market is extremely competitive and there are better options to choose.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, several. With 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, the Idol 5S falls right smack dab between the two configurations of the Moto G5 Plus currently offered in the U.S. – the 2GB/32GB version at $230, and the 4GB/64GB option at $300. So if you’re already willing to fork over $280 for the Alcatel, another $20 can get you more memory, more internal storage, a bigger battery, and a better camera. It’s certainly worth the added expense. If you spring for the Prime Exclusive version of the Moto G5 Plus, it will set you back just $240.

There’s also the lower-end Moto E4 Plus to consider. While it may feature an inferior processor compared to the Idol 5S, it costs roughly half the price — $130, with another Amazon ad-supported version available for only $100. A battery equal in size to the E4 Plus’ 5,000mAh is rare, making it one of the few cheap smartphones to truly deliver on the promise of two-day battery life.

There’s another contender worthy of consideration: The Huawei Honor 6X. Huawei’s 5.5-inch, dual camera-toting budget phone was already an excellent value at $250, but recently it’s been popping up at retailers for just $200. Fitted with 3GB of RAM, a larger 3,340mAh battery, and the company’s own Kirin 655 chipset, it’s an excellent value at the price point. For more options in this price range, check out our best cheap phones guide.

How long will it last?

If you don’t crack the screen, the Idol 5S should last 2 years at the least. As far as software updates are concerned, things get a little murkier. The benefit of an unlocked phone is that updates aren’t left languishing for months pending carrier approval. But Alcatel doesn’t have the best track record with regard to timely system updates, so you may have to wait quite a while before receiving Android O – if it arrives at all.

Should you buy it?

No. At $280, we believe you’ll get a better bang for your buck with the marginally more expensive Moto G5 Plus.That’s not to say the Idol 5S isn’t a compelling product — it has dual front-facing speakers, great performance, day-long battery life, and a solid software experience. If you can put up with the ads, the $200 Prime Exclusive variant is one of the best values on the market.

T-Mobile’s JUMP! On Demand now lets you upgrade your phone once every 30 days

JUMP! On Demand is ideal for those looking to switch devices every few months.

T-Mobile launched JUMP! On Demand back in 2015, offering customers an easier way to upgrade their phones — up to three times in a year. The carrier is now making a change to the plan that lets customers upgrade their phones once every 30 days.

With JUMP! On Demand, you’ll need to enter into an 18-month lease agreement, after which you can pay off the rest of the cost of the device or trade it in and start over. Your overall monthly payment will be a combination of your lease — which is based on your credit rating — and the Simple Choice plan you opt for.

JOD made a lot of sense even with three device upgrades a year as it allows customers access to promotional offers manufacturers roll out when they launch a flagship. In recent years, Samsung gave away a six-month subscription to Netflix, free 256GB microSD cards, Gear VR controllers to those pre-ordering its flagships.

T-Mobile Buyer’s Guide: Everything you need to know

There’s no list of devices available with JOD on T-Mobile’s website, but according to a Reddit thread, the likes of the Galaxy S8 and S8+, LG G6, Moto Z2 Force are available through the program.

The plan certainly makes a lot of sense if you’re looking to try out the latest phones available in the market without breaking the bank. If you’re already an existing T-Mobile customer and want to make the switch to JUMP! On Demand, you’ll need to call 611.

Digital Offers: Keep your browsing private for life for $49

It’s probably trite and a bit cliché at this point, but we increasingly live our lives online. Our bank information, personal information, likes, dislikes, and more are all over the internet — often whether we like it or not. That’s all data, and nowadays, data’s a commodity. Your information is being bought and sold. Sometimes it’s simply to show you catered ads; other times it’s for the stuff that after school specials used to warn you about.

What can you do to combat all of this online tracking? Do you turn to VPNs? Sure, but they don’t necessarily block tracking in every sense. Did you know that there are services and apps that actually block online trackers in order to keep your data safe?

Disconnect is one of the best tracker blockers around. It blocks tracking requests from connecting to any of your devices, thereby keeping your data safe. It even masks your location so that you can access websites as though you’re in another country (like a VPN). Apps like these have subscription rates, and some charge an arm and a leg. If you were to go directly to Disconnect for a lifetime subscription, you’d pay $500. Through Android Central Digital Offers, you’ll pay only $49, a savings of 90%.

Disconnect is available for iOS, Android, PC, and Mac, so you can cover all of your devices and keep your browsing habits private. If you often deal with sensitive information or would rather just keep your internet habits completely your own, you’ll need a quality tracker block, and Disconnect is one of the best around. Check it out at Android Central Digital Offers and save 90%.

See at Android Central Digital Offers

OnePlus 5 has a new ‘Soft Gold’ color, 8GB of RAM model now comes in grey

Phone color choices aren’t always exciting.

For a third consecutive version, OnePlus is releasing a limited edition “Soft Gold” color option of its flagship phone — this time just over a month after the original launch in black and grey. Starting today, you can buy a soft gold OnePlus 5 for the standard $479 / £449 / €499 price and with the usual 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage — that is, while supplies last.

See at OnePlus

OnePlus isn’t saying exactly how many soft gold OnePlus 5s are available, but we have to guess it isn’t that large of a number. Previous limited-edition OnePlus colors were available via flash sales and pop-up stores, so the fact that these are selling right away online shows us there may be a few more than usual. But we wouldn’t count on this exclusive color lasting more than a few weeks at most.

It’s a nice-looking phone, and it won’t be on sale for long.

Keeping with the color announcements, OnePlus is also expanding the “Slate Grey” color option to be available with the higher-specced 8GB of RAM and 128GB model. Previously, grey was tied to the standard 6GB/64GB version. Even still, in order to get the “Midnight Black” color you have to go with the 8GB/128GB model. This new color option on the high-spec model is also immediately available at the same $539 / £499 / €559 price as before — this color, however, is not a limited edition.

A new color option obviously isn’t worth trying to sell or trade your current OnePlus 5 in order to switch, but for someone who didn’t like the locked-down limited color options of the phone before this could open them up to making a purchase. But if you want a soft gold one, be sure to act fast.

OnePlus 5

• Complete OnePlus 5 review
• OnePlus 5 specs
• Which OnePlus 5 model should you buy?
• Camera comparison: OnePlus 5 vs. Galaxy S8
• The latest OnePlus 5 news
• Join the discussion in the forums

OnePlus
Amazon

The ‘Soft Gold’ OnePlus 5 is a pretty phone, with one big downside

It’s easy to get excited about something that’s a limited-run exclusive.

OnePlus has once again trotted out a limited edition color of its phone, this time going with a “Soft Gold” variant of the OnePlus 5. This fair-skinned version of the OnePlus 5 has all of the exact same specs and features — 6GB of RAM, 64GB storage, etc. — as the “Slate Grey” color, and even has the same price. But it also has the distinct advantage of being relatively exclusive; once OnePlus sells out of these soft gold OnePlus 5s, it won’t restock them, so you’re going to be part of an exclusive club.

Now a new color isn’t worth dropping your current OnePlus 5 to get, but if you were considering the phone and want something a bit less generic looking, here’s what you can expect from the soft gold model.

OnePlus uses the word “soft” to describe the finish, and it’s accurate. The gold is more of a champagne-like finish, and in bright light from some angles it almost looks silver (as you can see in some photos here). It definitely stands out from the black models, particularly with the shinier OnePlus logo on the back and shiny bevel where the metal frame meets the front. The antennas aren’t as surreptitious as the original dark colors, but they’re at least a beige color that attempts to fit in instead of plain white.

Here’s the one big problem: that soft gold anodization job on the back and sides of the phone is matched up with a white front surrounding the 5.5-inch display. Now this isn’t surprising as a vast majority of lighter-toned phones often go with a white front, but it does have a legitimate influence on how well you can view the screen in bright sunlight. A white-framed screen reflects more light than a black one, making it tougher to see the screen itself. It can also be rather distracting for your eyes — even if you’re turning on the OnePlus 5’s excellent Reading Mode for the display itself.

Whatever your initial thoughts are on the soft gold OnePlus 5, you’ll have to solidify them quickly if you’re planning on buying one. Sales kick off today, August 7, over at the OnePlus online store and this color was explicitly made in limited quantities with no expectation of new stock coming available. Sure that stock could last a month … but it could also last a few days. Make your decision early, lest you be disappointed later.

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Verizon thinks customers want a rewards program for paying their bill

Yes, this is just what we all wanted.

As the U.S. carriers have increasingly similar services and devices available, they’re all looking for something to differentiate themselves with. Verizon thinks that a rewards program is what people have been craving, so it made one — called “Verizon Up.”

The premise of Verizon Up is pretty simple: pay your monthly bill, and as you spend, you earn credit that can be redeemed for rewards or experiences. Every $300 you spend on a Verizon bill (which shouldn’t take long), you get one credit — that’s enough for one reward. Simple enough. Each month Verizon will roll out six new rewards for you to choose from — the first round is four months of Apple Music, a 20% off voucher for JetBlue flights, and three months of HBO Now.

Most people would prefer Verizon just lowered their bill.

There are also other reward categories that you can take advantage of. You can get every-day discounts at Verizon partner retailers, pile up $10 vouchers toward your next device purchase and get access to popular event tickets. To start getting credit for your bill payments, and to check out the other small deals, you can sign up quickly from the My Verizon app.

This immediately seems like a straight shot at the ongoing T-Mobile Tuesdays offering, but with the distinct difference of the biggest deals being tied to continuing to pay Verizon. I’m sure there are plenty of people who would simply prefer their Verizon bill be lower rather than subsidizing all of these rewards … but then again, Verizon claims this is what we were asking for.

New in-hand Google Pixel 2 leak confirms design elements, missing headphone jack

This is Google’s new phone.

We got our first look at the Google Pixel 2 last week, and now we have a fresh pair of photos showing both sides of the phone that corroborate with the first set. The photos show an early development unit — laden with barcodes, naturally — but in much better lighting with the context of being in-hand.

There’s nothing particularly new or shocking about the hardware here, but it does help confirm that this is what the smaller Google Pixel 2 is going to look like. The glass portion of the back is much smaller now, with a more pronounced camera housing and that tried-and-true rear fingerprint sensor. On the front, we see pretty distinct openings at the top and bottom, presumably for proper stereo sound.

GSMArena’s source that provided the images confirmed that this phone has no headphone jack, which unfortunately matches earlier rumors. If the decision stands past these dev units, people will undoubtedly be upset with this move, particularly as the Pixel 2 doesn’t seem to be going for some futuristic thin, narrow, or compact look.