VLC update adds Chromecast and HDR support

If you’re any kind of media nerd you know about VLC, the software video player that can handle just about any format or codec you throw at it. It’s also on a ton of platforms, like macOS, Windows, Linux and even Xbox One. Now the ubiquitous app has a brand new version that supports hardware decoding for 4K and 8K playback, more 360-degree video and 3D audio, HDR and HDR tone-mapping, streaming to Chromecast and more.

Code-named after Terry Pratchett’s fictional Lord Vetinari, VLC 3.0 will offer the new features across all major platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Apple TV and Chrome OS (along with Windows, Mac and Linux systems). Venturebeat reports that the new version fixes more than 1,500 bugs, shares the same code across platforms, and has been in the works for three years.

The release also supports 10bit video, audio passthrough for HD audio codecs and will let you browse local network and network-attached storage (NAS) drives for media. Other highlights include the ability to watch Blue-ray-sourced video with full menu functionality (though it needs to be decoded somewhere besides VLC). The full list of improvements is available on the VLC announcement page.

Via: Venturebeat

Source: VLC

Google will make copyright credits more apparent in image searches

Google has reached a deal to end Getty Images’ European complaint over photo copyrights, and it’s quite likely that you’ll notice the effects. A new agreement between the two will see Google obtain a “multi-year” license for Getty’s photos in its products in exchange for reforming its approach to copyright in image search. Google will do more to highlight copyright attribution for the photos you find, so you’ll know whether or not you’d need to pay for a picture. It will also pull “view image” links for pictures to reduce the number of direct downloads.

In the European Commission complaint, Getty had accused Google of effectively being a one-stop piracy shop: you could easily download and view copyrighted photos without visiting the host site or understanding the legality of a download. Google has long had an option to filter photos by licensing rights, but that only helps if you already intend to honor image permissions. The changes likely won’t stop those determined to grab every image they want, but they may prevent ‘casual’ downloads from people who may only have a loose understanding of copyright.

The cost of the deal isn’t known. It’s no surprise that a deal exists at all, mind you. Google already has its plate full with EU matters, including a shopping-related antitrust fine and tax disputes. The Getty deal gets the copyright complaint out of the way and prevents it from complicating an already complicated situation.

Via: The Verge

Source: Getty Images

Tumblr, Sonos among those backing another net neutrality day of action

A number of organizations and websites are planning an online day of action meant to garner more support for a Senate vote that would reverse the FCC’s removal of net neutrality protections. The Senate is currently one vote away from overturning the FCC’s decision and the day of action aims to convince one more Senator to vote in favor of protecting net neutrality. Taking place on February 27th, Operation: #OneMoreVote is already backed by companies like Tumblr, Etsy, Vimeo, Medium, Imgur, Sonos, Namecheap and DuckDuckGo.

Groups behind BattleForTheNet.com, which include Fight for the Future, Demand Progress and the Free Press Action Fund, are calling for the demonstration. They’ve backed similar events before such as last year’s net neutrality Day of Action and 2012’s online protest against SOPA. Groups participating in Operation: #OneMoreVote will display alerts on their websites encouraging visitors to call, email and tweet their Senators and Representatives, expressing their support for a repeal of the FCC’s decision.

After the FCC enters its new regulations into the Federal Register, the Senate has 60 days to act. If the Senate can get that last vote, Fight for the Future, which announced the day of action on Medium today, says focus will then move to convincing Representatives to pass a similar measure — 218 votes would be needed. Of course, if all of that is successful, President Trump could still veto the measure. But Fight for the Future seems optimistic that he won’t. “The White House, which has criticized mergers and other actions by large telecom companies, has been noticeably quiet about the FCC repeal, which was unpopular with voters from across the political spectrum including 3 out of 4 Republicans, making it possible that if enough GOP members voted for the CRA, Trump will sign it,” said the group.

Planning for Operation: #OneMoreVote has just gotten started, so we’re sure to see more companies and organizations signing on before it takes place. “Net neutrality is NOT dead yet. And it’s too important to stop now,” said Fight for the Future. “This isn’t just about how fast our videos load, it’s about the future of the internet as a platform for free expression, economic innovation, and exchange of ideas. It’s about the future of our democracy.”

Source: Fight for the Future

The old “Nigerian prince” scam is back on Twitter — with a Bitcoin twist

It’s been years since those “Nigerian Prince” scams were popular, as email users grew savvy to the practice of requesting a few hundred dollars in return for a multi-million dollar fortune. But the scam has seen a resurgence on Twitter: Today’s savvy cybercrooks are creating fake celebrity accounts that ask for small cryptocurrency donations in return for the chance to be sent thousands of dollars worth of Bitcoins in return.

This new trend started gaining traction on February 1 and exploits the growing number of new cryptocurrency owners who jumped on the trend of growing investment in Bitcoin and other altcoins based on blockchain technology at the tail-end of 2017. In this scam, fake accounts pretending to be technology luminaries like Elon Musk or John McAfee promise to send followers as much 20 bitcoins, if only they send them 0.02 bitcoin in return. You can’t go wrong, right?

In one example cited by Wired, a scammer was able to trick Twitter users out of 0.184 bitcoins in just a few hours. Considering the investment was only time in creating the account and commenting on a few popular Tweets, that’s quite a quick way to earn around $1,500.

According to one researcher from the Dallas Hackers Association, much of this is about targeting those who were burned in the recent downfall of Bitcoin’s value. They bought high and are now stuck with an investment that hasn’t paid off anywhere near as quickly as they expected. That’s leading to knee-jerk reactions — and scammers are reaping the profits.

It’s not just Bitcoin that bad guys are looking to hoover up from opportunistic owners, however. A number of alternative cryptocurrencies were picked up as their value spiked in late 2017 too, so some scammers are instead going after altcoin investors with wallets full of Litecoin and Ethereum. But regardless of which cryptocurrency the scammers ask for, the methods are the same.

Sure, fake celebrity accounts are nothing new on Twitter, but the use of them to scam users may draw the attention of Twitter faster than most. The question is whether the potentially impending crackdown will be effective; as with the Nigerian Prince scam, this one is profitable and quick to set up. It could take a concerted effort to stop them. Will Twitter help us out?

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• The best bitcoin alternatives
• Do you miss Windows Movie Maker? Don’t get caught up in this scam
• Impressive ‘Cuphead’ iOS game is actually an elaborate scam

Save hundreds with the best cheap MacBook deals for February 2018

Among most people today (especially younger techies who may not remember the Mac and PC wars), Apple is best-known for its highly successful iPhone — after all, Steve Jobs effectively pioneered the smartphone as we know it with the iPhone’s debut in 2007. The company originally built itself upon its excellent computers, however, despite eventually losing the larger market battle to Windows. Nonetheless, the venerable Mac retains a large core of dedicated fans, many of whom are professionals who favor OS X computers for their unrivaled reliability and excellent software.

Like most Apple gear, MacBooks can cost a premium, but with some luck and a little patience, deal-savvy Mac-lovers can save hundreds by taking the time to sniff out those hard-to-find Apple discounts. If you’re in the market for a new Mac laptop, let us make your work a little easier: We already hunted down the best cheap MacBook deals going on right now from various retailers.

MacBook deals

The classic MacBook is the standard-bearer of Apple’s laptop lineup, and although the Air may still be the lightweight champion, the noticeably slimmed-down 12-inch MacBook is a great choice for anyone looking for a compact work computer. The MacBook first came onto the scene in 2006, replacing the iBook, but was discontinued in 2012 before Apple thankfully brought it back in 2015.

It’s seen a hardware refresh every year since then, meaning you’ve now got three recent model years to choose from. They all run on great hardware, although the 2017 MacBook boasts the newer seventh-generation Kaby Lake i5 and i7 processors. If you want to save some more cash and aren’t picky about having the latest stuff under the hood, however, then opting for one of the slightly older (but still brand new) models is your best bet for scoring a cheap MacBook.

MacBook 12-inch (2015) deals:

$299 Used

$769 from Newegg

$929 from Apple

MacBook 12-inch (2016) deals:

$800 Used

$879 from Newegg

$824 from Adorama

$949 from Apple

MacBook 12-inch (2017) deals:

$988 from Ebay

$1,099 from Apple

$1,229 from Amazon

$1,428 from Newegg

MacBook Pro deals

The MacBook Pro launched alongside the standard MacBook in 2006, representing – as you probably guessed from its name – a slightly beefier option with more powerful hardware. All recent Pros also boast Apple’s latest super-crisp high-resolution Retina displays. Paired with this extra screen real estate is an impressive battery life, making the MacBook Pro the perfect machine for professionals who are regularly on the go.

The 2015, 2016, and 2017 MacBook Pro notebooks all feature snappy i5 and i7 Intel processors, with the latest models released last year running on the newer Kaby Lake CPU architecture. Also worth mentioning is that the newer 2016 and 2017 13-inch Pros are almost identical in size and weight to the original MacBook Air. If you’re looking to score a cheap MacBook Pro, you’ve got quite a few options depending on year and screen size, so we’ve broken down the best online deals going right now for the various makes and models:

MacBook Pro 13-inch (2015) deals:

$600 Used

$875 from Ebay

$1,099 from Amazon

MacBook Pro 13-inch (2016) deals:

$679 Used

$1,599 from Newegg

$1,385 from Amazon

MacBook Pro 13-inch (2017) deals:

$450 Used

$1,099 from Apple

$1,174 from Ebay

$1,899 from Amazon

MacBook Pro 15-inch (2015) deals:

$649 Used

$1,699 from Apple

$1,799 from Amazon

$1799 from B&H

MacBook Pro 15-inch (2017) deals:

$1,529 from Apple

MacBook Air deals

True to its name, the MacBook Air represents Apple’s lightest and thinnest line of laptop computers. With the release of the new 2016 13-inch MacBook Pro (which is almost identical in its dimensions to the first Air) and no Air update announced that year, it almost looked as; if Apple’s slimline notebook was going the way of the iPod. Thankfully, the company surprised us with a newer, more powerful MacBook Air in 2017, confirming that its super-slim laptop had not yet been totally abandoned — at least for the moment.

Since recent MacBook Air models both feature 13-inch displays and Apple skipped over it in 2016, you have two versions to choose from: The 2015 and 2017 releases. Both are pretty much identical in size, with the 2015 refresh boasting improved battery life over its predecessors and the 2017 Air coming loaded with the latest Kaby Lake Intel processors and twice as much standard RAM.

MacBook Air 13-inch (2015) deals:

$470 Used

$949 on Amazon

$728 from Newegg

MacBook Air 13-inch (2017) deals:

$725 Used

$849 from Apple

$859 from Ebay

$979 Bundle on Amazon

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar deals

In 2016, Apple released an upgraded MacBook Pro alongside the standard Pro. This newer model featured the long-awaited Touch Bar, a slim LED touch screen that takes the place of the function keys and is purpose-built for navigating OS X and its software. It’s the kind of hardware innovation Apple built its reputation on, solving a problem we didn’t even know we had.

The MacBook Pro with Touch Bar still offers the boosted hardware and vibrant Retina displays of the Pro lineup, although you’ve got a smaller handful of models to choose from as this laptop has only been available since 2016 (with one update since then). If you want Apple’s top-of-the-line notebook, then the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar is the one to get, and we’ve smoked out the best up-to-date deals available right now:

MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar (2016) deals:

$1,599 from Newegg

$1,993 from Amazon

MacBook Pro 13-inch with Touch Bar (2017) deals:

$1,999 from Amazon

MacBook Pro 15-inch with Touch Bar (2017) deals:

$2,599 from Amazon

Looking for more great discounts on Apple hardware and other electronics? Our curated deals page has everything you need.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

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Casio G Shock GPW-2000 Gravitymaster review

A smartwatch is generally defined by its ability to connect to your smartphone and act as an extension of it on your wrist, delivering notifications, fitness tracking, and a smattering of other features. Outside of its Pro Trek Android Wear watch series, Casio approaches its G–Shock Bluetooth connected watches differently, opting to use Bluetooth judiciously, and for features other than those traditional smartwatch staples mentioned above.

One of Casio’s most recent releases is the GPW-2000 Gravitymaster. We tested the refreshed version celebrating G-Shock’s 35th anniversary. Does the Gravitymaster’s Bluetooth connection still make it a smartwatch? We take a look, and decide if the connectivity is a feature you’ll want to use.

Suited for travelers

The Gravitymaster connects with your phone using the G-Shock Connected app, available for iOS and Android, and linking the two together is an easy process. If you’ve used a smartwatch before, you may be expecting to hear about fitness tracking features, or notification controls. Think again.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

The G-Shock Connected app’s primary function is Mission Stamp, a feature to track location data and log different points on a flight, including precise time at each stop, latitude and longitude, and place a GPS-enabled map point. Using the collected data, which is manually tagged using a button on the watch, the app generates a 3D animation showing your journey.

If you’re not city hopping in your Cessna, the Mission Stamp feature will sit unused.

Unless you’re a pilot, you likely won’t care much about this feature. It’s something you may use once on an international flight to try it out, but otherwise if you’re not city hopping in your Cessna, the Mission Stamp feature will sit unused. Three-way time sync is a far more useful feature — it uses either GPS, Multi-Band 6, or Bluetooth to set the exact time on your watch automatically. The app also makes it simple to set the world time, shown on the lower subdial. The accurate time setting and world time adjustment is genuinely helpful, especially if you’re a frequent international traveller.

It may sound like a small thing, but previous connected Casio watches in the Edifice range were not user friendly, and the watches suffered from Bluetooth connection and sync problems. We’re happy to report it’s not the case anymore, as the app is well designed, simple to navigate, and the features all work without issue. There’s also a handy guide to show the various functions of the watch, and quick access to the timer and alarm.

Solar powered

Due to the basic Bluetooth functionality, the GPW-2000 doesn’t have massive power requirements, and makes good use of the watch’s built-in solar power cell. This is a considerable benefit, as not only does the watch not need charging, but you never have to change a coin cell battery either. Sync the watch with the app and it even shows how much charge is stored in the internal battery too. Cleverly, the watch will go into hibernation mode if it’s left in the dark, effectively conserving its energy.

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Does all this make the G-Shock GPW-2000 Gravitymaster a smartwatch? No, it makes it a connected watch, which is very different. If the hybrid smartwatch is a step down from a smartwatch, then the connected watch is a further step down, bringing it closer to traditional G-Shock watches. This doesn’t make it inferior, it just makes it different, and tailored to a specific task or function. Bluetooth connectivity isn’t a reason to buy the Gravitymaster unless you’ll actually use the Mission Stamp flight log feature; but the other connected features do come in handy for those with their feet firmly on the ground.

Traditional G-Shock features

While we have focused on the Bluetooth technology, the watch itself is a work of art, occupying the high-end Master of G collection and packed full of impressive watch-related technology. It ignores massive levels of vibration and shock caused by gravitational acceleration — this is a pilot’s watch, after all — isn’t affected by magnetic forces trying to influence the hand position, and is waterproof to 200 meters. Carbon fiber reinforces the strap, sapphire crystal covers the face, and the resin frame keeps all the hardware safe inside. You have to work hard to damage a G-Shock.

It’s not a watch for the shy and retiring, and the chunky, tank-like over-engineering won’t appeal to everyone. We love the style and the many fine details, such as the exposed carbon fiber on the strap, the effective LED light, and the large face with at-a-glance day, date, and time. It’s a statement-making watch that borders on the indestructible, and is completely unlike anything in the smartwatch world.

The model we’ve tested is the GPW-2000TFB-1ADR Gravitymaster Gold Tornado, the limited edition made for G-Shock’s 35th anniversary. It’s priced at $900, but GPW-2000-1A models not in the gold tornado livery cost $800 and provide the same Bluetooth connection and other features. We love the look and the watch, but we don’t care much for the Bluetooth connectivity.

DT Editors’ Rating: 3.5/5

Editors’ Recommendations

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Fujitsu adds palm reading to Windows 10 Pro, but it doesn’t tell your fortune

Forget using your face or finger. Fujitsu said it teamed up with Microsoft to bring palm vein authentication to Windows 10 Pro. Right now, it’s meant for the workplace, designed as an alternative to built-in infrared cameras and fingerprint scanners. It’s based on the company’s PalmSecure technology that is already used in companies and corporations across the globe. Now it is officially supported by Windows Hello. 

With facial recognition, Windows Hello will scan your face using an infrared camera for password-free access to Windows 10. Meanwhile, fingerprint scanners require you to swipe a specific finger over a sensor. In both cases, your face and finger provide unique patterns used by Windows 10 to confirm your identity. 

With Fujitsu’s technology, you simply place a hand over a sensor. The veins in your hand create a unique roadmap, just like your fingerprint, but there is no swiping involved. This may prove to be a faster method of accessing Windows 10 given that fingerprint scanners require a precise swipe of your finger. Any deviation demands you to re-swipe your finger. 

But having a unique pattern of veins is only part of the equation. They are buried under the skin as well, making replication nearly impossible. 

“Being under the skin, it is very complex, meaning it’s very unique,” Akira Yonenaga, manager of Fujitsu’s Software Development Division, said. “It’s covered under the skin. It’s not easy to get other people’s vein information, so it’s a very strong forgery countermeasure.” 

The palm-reading sensor can’t read your future but instead radiates the surface of your skin with infrared rays. The deoxidized hemoglobin traveling through your veins captures these rays, reducing the veins’ reflection rate. The result is a unique, black pattern that is saved by Windows Hello, and used as a comparison when you scan a hand to access Windows 10 Pro. 

Fujitsu originally didn’t set out to specifically support hand-based veins. The company investigated different vein-based methods with other undisclosed body parts but concluded that the palm produced the best pattern. The catch is that the deoxidized hemoglobin must be actively flowing through the veins, thus zombies and severed hands won’t grant you access to someone’s PC. 

Right now, Windows 10 Pro devices supporting Fujitsu’s palm-ready technology is only offered for the workplace. These solutions include the Lifebook U7x7, the Lifebook T937, the Lifebook P727, and a few others. Fujitsu did not indicate any plans to license its technology out to other PC manufacturers for mainstream Windows-based devices. 

According to Microsoft, 60 percent of all security attacks are the result of compromised user credentials. That led to the development of Windows Hello and support for biometrics, enabling Windows 10 device owners to access their PC using their face or finger. While these methods eliminate the need for entering login credentials, hackers could theoretically get by using photos and fingerprints. 

But as Fujitsu points out, veins reside under the skin, and the technology requires a constant flow of blood. This may be the best credential-free Windows Hello solution to date, and hopefully a feature we will soon see in mainstream Windows 10 PCs. 

Editors’ Recommendations

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• Lenovo’s fingerprint scanner software is broken, update it today

AMD and Nvidia report strong revenue amid still sky-high GPU pricing

Nvidia and AMD both posted strong earnings reports for the fourth quarter of 2017, as well as the entire year. For both top-tier tech firms, graphics card sales were a major driving force and alongside a few other factors, cryptocurrency miners were name-checked as one of the reasons they had such a strong year.

By the numbers, Nvidia had a record-breaking year, with fourth-quarter GAAP-adjusted revenue of $2.91 billion — up 34 percent from last year — and a yearly total of $9.71 billion, a 41-percent increase year on year. AMD earned less, but arguably had the more momentous year. After facing a net income loss of half a billion dollars in 2016, it managed to generate an annual net income of $43 million off of $5.33 billion in total revenue — more than a quarter of which came in during the fourth quarter.

While AMD certainly benefitted from a strong consumer response to its Ryzen CPUs in 2017, both it and Nvidia saw enormous interest in its add-in graphics cards. Although gamers and typical holiday demand were responsible in part for the strong graphics card sales for both companies, another driver of sales was cryptocurrency miners. The sheer demand from that market is why gamers have struggled to find reasonably priced graphics cards for much of the past year.

Neither company has stated outright that miners helped with the strong revenue each saw in 2017, but Nvidia’s CFO, Colette Kress, said in a chat with Polygon that demand from cryptocurrency miners did exceed all expectations. She also suggested that those sales represented a higher percentage of its revenue than last quarter.

Although it’s fair to say that Nvidia can’t keep track of where all of the graphics cards it sells end up, especially when partner retailers make the sales themselves, it has called on those partners to curtail sales to miners. That has seen some restrict the number of graphics cards that can be purchased at any one time, but available cards are still absurdly expensive and stock remains very low across the board.

There’s no clear end in sight either, even with the promised miner graphics cards. It is important for graphics card makers to get on top of the problem though. As HashFlare’s Edgar Bers, told Digital Trends in a recent interview, miners burning through cards quicker than they would with normal gaming usage could lead to enormous return rates as they seek to exploit lengthy warranties.

Another potential issue is that gamers frustrated by an inability to upgrade could turn to consoles instead. That wouldn’t be a total loss for AMD though, as it provides the graphics chips for both the Xbox One and PS4. The Nintendo Switch uses an Nvidia Tegra.

Editors’ Recommendations

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Google Assistant one step closer to marrying Chrome OS, report says

Currently, the only Chromebook that supports Google Assistant is the recent Pixelbook. But that could change in the near future, as Google is reportedly closer to adding baking support for the service right into Chrome OS. That means many Chromebooks could have access to the digital assistant in the near future, including the use of “OK Google” verbal commands.  

The XDA Developers forum recently found new evidence of Google Assistant in the Chrome OS code, spotting a comment that states “add Assistant feature flags changes accordingly.” It follows two other Google Assistant appearances in Chrome OS in 2017, which added Google Assistant settings to the user interface, and a related settings command. 

According to the clues uncovered by the forum, Google Assistant will be present within the operating system, but not necessarily an active feature. It will be disabled by default, and Chromebook manufacturers will determine if Google Assistant will be an active feature. Presumably, Chromebook owners won’t have the ability to manually toggle on the Google Assistant feature. 

Based on the notes, Chrome OS will provide manufacturers with an additional setting for toggling on and off the Google Assistant hot-word listening feature. Theoretically, Chromebooks with built-in microphones that are plugged into an electrical outlet should easily support on-demand voice demands. But manufacturers could disable the feature to conserve power when Chromebooks switch to battery use. 

Then again, notes show that manufacturers could assign Google Assistant to a button, thus it’s not always listening. In other words, Chromebook owners would press a specific key, and then wait for a prompt to say “OK Google.” This might be a better option for Chromebooks when they’re not plugged into an electrical outlet, especially on models with smaller batteries.

The process would be similar to what we have seen on Android phones. For instance, you can set the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge to listen for “OK Google” on any home screen while the phone is in an active state. The drawback is that this feature drains the battery slightly faster. The alternative is to turn off the always-listening feature and simply long-press the Home button to activate Google Assistant for longer battery life. 

Google Assistant in Chrome OS is seemingly long overdue. Microsoft already provides a virtual assistant, Cortana, in Windows 10 that actively listens for commands. Microsoft also offers Cortana on Android and iOS devices for multi-device assistance, such as receiving Android-based text messages on Windows 10 PCs. Chromebooks have lacked any type of virtual assistant until the arrival of Google’s Pixelbook toward the end of 2017. 

That all said, given we are already into the second month of 2018, Google Assistant could become a live feature in Chrome OS by the end of the year. Availability will likely depend on the Chromebook’s underlying hardware, and be at the discretion of Chromebook manufacturers.  

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best Chromebooks you can buy right now
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• Dear Google: Integrate Android and Chrome OS, or stop making $1,000 Chromebooks

Huawei Mate 10 Pro vs. Honor View 10: Leica rock

It’s Huawei or the highway.

The Mate 10 Pro is Huawei’s most powerful phone to date, a showcase for the Kirin 970 chipset and its powerful Neural Processing Unit. But there’s a new, cheaper contender from the company’s sub-brand, Honor, in the form of the View 10 — which bears many of the same features as the Mate 10 Pro, including its high-end silicon.

With so many similarities, no one could blame you for wondering why you should spend the extra money on Huawei’s flagship versus Honor’s. We’re here to help you figure that out by taking a deeper dive into what each phone does well — and where each could stand to improve.

Specifications

The View 10 and Mate 10 Pro are very similar on paper … but exactly how similar? Before we get into the intangibles like user experience, battery life, and overall value, it’s good to quickly familiarize yourself with each phone by skimming over the spec sheets.

Operating System	Android 8.0 Oreo	Android 8.0 Oreo
Display	5.99-inch 18:9 IPS LCD display2160 x 1080, 403PPI pixel density	6.0-inch 18:9 AMOLED display2160 x 1080, 402PPI pixel density
Chipset	Octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 970, four 2.4GHz Cortex A73 cores, four 1.8GHz Cortex A53 cores, 10nm	Octa-core Hisilicon Kirin 970, four 2.4GHz Cortex A73 cores, four 1.8GHz Cortex A53 cores, 10nm
GPU	Mali-G72	Mali-G72
RAM	4GB/6GB	4GB/6GB
Storage	64GB/128GB	64GB/128GB
Expandable	Yes (dedicated microSD slot)	No
Battery	3750mAh	4000mAh
Water resistance	No	IP67
Rear Camera	16MP f/1.8 + 20MP f/1.8, PDAF, 4K at 30fps	12MP f/1.6 + 20MP f/1.6, PDAF + laser autofocus, 4K at 30fps
Front Camera	13MP f/2.0, 1080p video	8MP f/2.0, 1080p video
Connectivity	WiFi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, USB-C	WiFi ac, Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, GPS, GLONASS, USB-C
Security	Fingerprint sensor (front)	Fingerprint sensor (back)
SIM	Dual Nano SIM	Dual Nano SIM
Dimensions	157 x 74.9 x 6.9mm	154.2 x 74.5 x 7.9mm
Weight	172g	178g
Colors	Black, Aurora Blue, Gold, Red	Diamond Black, Midnight Blue, Titanium Gray

Why you should buy the View 10

The View 10 isn’t just similar to the Mate 10 Pro on paper; it’s made by the same company, and it has the same EMUI 8 software interface on top of Android Oreo. Where it really starts to differ is in its design; contrary to the Mate 10 Pro, which features a gorgeous, yet fragile glass back, the Honor View 10 boasts a more durable and utilitarian aluminum casing.

It’s also the only phone of the two with a 3.5mm headphone jack. Sure, the Mate 10 Pro comes with an adapter in the box, but let’s be real — having to carry around a dongle everywhere just to listen to wired audio isn’t nearly as convenient, and USB-C headphones are still a crapshoot.

Another key difference between the View 10 and Mate 10 Pro is the design and functionality of the fingerprint sensors. On the View 10, the sensor takes the form of a narrow strip just below the display, as opposed to the Mate 10 Pro’s positioning around back. Thanks to this location, you’re able to reallocate navigation controls to the fingerprint sensor on the View 10, eliminating the need for on-screen buttons and making room for more content at the bottom of the display.

Despite a lower price tag, the Honor View 10 has the same Kirin 970 chipset as the Mate 10 Pro. It’s Huawei’s most powerful processor, and it features the company’s new NPU, which uses artificial intelligence to improve the camera software and prevent each phone from performance degradation over time — meaning you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a long-lasting phone.

See at Honor UK

Why the Mate 10 Pro is worth the extra money

The View 10 is a fantastic phone, but for all its merit, Huawei isn’t going to cannibalize itself with a phone from its subsidiary brand. The Mate 10 Pro immediately feels more premium than the VIew 10 — though again, that comes at the cost of a much more breakable glass back.

On that back, you’ll notice Leica branding next to the cameras, and if that name sounds familiar it’s because Leica is one of the biggest names in optics and photography. The result of this partnership is a pair of cameras that produce significantly better photos than those of the View 10.

Though both phones feature 6-inch displays, only the Mate 10 Pro utilizes AMOLED technology, which consumes less power and produces more vivid colors than the LCD panel on the View 10. Speaking of power, the Mate 10 Pro lasts significantly longer on a charge than the View 10, thanks to its larger 4000mAh battery. It takes a lot of effort to fully run down the Mate 10 Pro’s battery in one day.

Unfortunately, neither phone is fully water resistant, but the Mate 10 Pro is at least IP67-certified, ensuring resistance against dust and up to one meter of water.

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Which would you buy?

Months after its announcement, there’s still no official U.S. pricing or release date for the Honor View 10, but in the U.K. it’s available for £449, which roughly equates to $625. The Mate 10 Pro is currently available for pre-order in the U.S. for $799.99 (£529 in the U.K.), with various deals from Amazon and Best Buy offering back as much as $150 through gift cards. These deals effectively bring the cost of the Mate 10 Pro down to $650, nearly matching the View 10.

If you can take advantage of the various deals from stores like Amazon and Best Buy, the Mate 10 Pro is the clear winner.

If you’re able to jump on these savings, you should absolutely buy the Mate 10 Pro over the View 10. Its larger battery is longer-lasting, the fingerprint sensor is more reliable, the Leica-branded cameras take better photos, and the IP67 rating helps to better protect it from the elements. Despite all of their similarities, the Mate 10 Pro is simply the better phone.

On the other hand, these deals likely won’t last forever — and you’ll still have to shell out the full cost of the Mate 10 Pro upfront to take advantage of them. With nearly a $200 difference in total price, the View 10 may be the better option after all. Its spec sheet still nearly mirrors that of the Mate 10 Pro, and many users will enjoy some of the features that apparently don’t qualify as flagship-grade anymore, including microSD expandability and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The good news is that with phones so similar, you really can’t wrong with either one. Assuming you’re shopping for a new phone, the only question left to answer is … which one are you getting?

Huawei Mate 10

• Huawei Mate 10 Pro review
• Huawei Mate 10 series specs
• Huawei Mate 10 Pro U.S. review: Close to greatness
• Join the discussion in the forums
• More on 2016’s Mate 9