LG V35 ThinkQ hands-on review

Research Center:

LG V35 ThinQ

Love last year’s LG V30? Apparently, LG does, because it’s re-releasing the phone with updated specifications. The LG V35 ThinQ looks exactly the same as LG’s 2017 V-series flagship, but its internals are akin to the recently-announced LG G7 ThinQ. If you’re not a fan of the notch design on the G7, the V35 may be up your alley. It may be a little tough to purchase at the moment, however, because the phone is only available on AT&T and Google’s Project Fi network.

You may not recall, but LG also released the V30S ThinQ earlier this year at Mobile World Congress. Releasing so many phones within months is confusing, and there aren’t many differences between them. Still, just because the V35 is like its predecessors doesn’t mean you shouldn’t buy it.

Sleek design, sharp display

Like the V30, the LG V35 looks great. The back is a tad more cluttered now with the “V35 ThinQ” branding, but it still looks clean and minimal. The dual-camera setup sits horizontally at the top, and there’s an easy-to-access fingerprint sensor below. The fingerprint sensor still doubles as the power button, unlike the LG G7, which has a separate button on the right edge of the phone.

Julian Chokkattu

Oddly enough, LG has downgraded the strength of the glass on the back and the front, opting for Gorilla Glass 4 instead of using Gorilla Glass 5, like it did with the V30. You can still wirelessly charge the phone with a compatible Qi charger.

Around front, you’ll notice there’s no notch or cutout at the top of the phone, unlike the G7. The notch, which houses a front-facing camera and earpiece, is a point of contention on many other phones, with some calling it a design flaw. We’ve become used to phones with notches, so they’re not a big problem for us, but we’re happy to see there isn’t one on the V35. Instead, it has ultra-slim edges surrounding the display, which helps the phone maintain a contemporary and sleek look.

The screen looked vibrant and sharp, with deep blacks that made colors pop.

The V35 has a 6-inch screen with 2880 x 1440 pixel resolution (538 pixels per inch) and an 18:9 aspect ratio. It’s OLED, like the V30, and supports HDR10 content. In our brief time with the phone, the screen looked vibrant and sharp, with deep blacks that made colors pop. It was tough to see outdoors, however, making us miss the Super Bright Screen mode featured on the LG G7.

A volume rocker sits on the left side of the aluminum frame, and there’s a USB Type-C charging port on the bottom, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack (with a Quad DAC) at the top. The whole body is IP68 water-resistant, which means the V35 can survive a dunk in the pool.

The V35 feels incredibly light, and the curved edges make it more comfortable in-hand. It can be tough to reach the top of the screen due to the phone’s 6-inch size, even for someone with large hands, and the all-glass design makes it a little slippery. You’ll want to make sure to buy a case. While it looks attractive, the phone doesn’t feel as premium as an iPhone or a Samsung phone because of its lightweight nature.

LG V35 ThinQ Compared To

Alcatel 3V

Motorola Moto G6

HTC U12 Plus

Moto G6 Plus

Honor 10

LG G7 ThinQ

Moto E5 Plus

Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra

Huawei P20 Pro

Nuu G3

Nokia 7 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S9

Cat S61

Honor View 10

Huawei Ascend Mate 2

Various colors of V35 will be available, but the black model (pictured here) is the only one we’ve confirmed with LG so far. We were more than happy with the design of the V30, and we’re just as happy with the V35. It’s not fresh, since we’ve already seen it before, but it remains a classy device.

Speedy performance, same battery and software

What makes the V35 stand out from the V30S ThinQ and the V30 is its internal specifications. The latter two are by no means slow, but the V35 is powered by the new Snapdragon 845 processor, which gives it an edge in speed. It also has 6GB of RAM, 2GB more than the V30. That should help future-proof the phone even further, and it should offer smoother multitasking.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Swiping through the Android 8.0 Oreo operating system was fluid, and apps launched swiftly. The phone, just like its current competition, will have no problem running almost anything you throw at it.

There’s only a 64GB version right now, but the V35 has a MicroSD card slot that lets you add up to 2TB more storage if needed. It also has a 3,300mAh battery — just like the V30 — which means you should expect around a day and a half of battery life.

The phone, just like its current competition, will have no problem running almost anything you throw at it.

We didn’t find many software differences between the LG V30, the G7, and the V35 — they now all run Android 8.0 Oreo, or LG UX 7.0. There are plenty of options to tweak the user interface, though LG UX still doesn’t look as good as skins on other Android phones.

One software feature that’s unique to the recent V-series phones is the Floating Bar, which lets you hide the traditional Android navigation bar. Its presence on the screen is mostly hidden, and it’s a handy way of navigating the OS while saving some space.

There’s face unlock, support for Google Daydream VR, and special Google Assistant commands specifically built for the V35, but not much that makes the phone stand out.

Same cameras as the LG G7

The LG V35 has the exact same camera setup as the LG G7, which is slightly different from what was on the LG V30. There are two 16-megapixel cameras on the rear, one with an f/1.6 aperture and optical image stabilization, and the wide-angle lens with a f/1.9 aperture.

The camera is quick to react when pressing the shutter button, and the photos we took with the V35 looked good. The wide-angle mode adds some versatility to the camera, though detail quickly starts to drop off with this lens when you look closely. We found low-light photos a weakness of the G7, and we expect nothing different from the V35.

The main addition, and the reason for the ThinQ branding, is the A.I. Cam.

The Super Bright Camera mode should help with low-light — it’s the same feature that’s in the V30S and the G7 — though it promises better low-light pictures at the cost of resolution. There’s also a Portrait Mode, when you want to add a bokeh effect — or blur — behind a subject. The Portrait Mode, as we said with the G7, is surprisingly capable, though we’ll need to do a little more testing to confirm.

The main addition, and the reason for the ThinQ branding, is the A.I. Cam. This separate camera mode can identify 19 different scenes (such as sunset, pet, or flower), and the software alters the photo to make it look better. That includes tweaking the saturation and changing the exposure. It can even recommend using the wider-angle camera for better framing. In our experience with the G7, we didn’t find this mode to be that useful. It often made photos look oversaturated.

Julian Chokkattu

The V35 retains a focus on video quality, and you’ll find the Point Zoom feature in Cine Video mode, which lets you slowly zoom into a subject you tap for a cinematic look. There’s also the same 16 color-grading presets that were available on the V30 to tweak the mood of your videos. The front-facing camera is now 8-megapixels, as opposed to the 5-megapixel camera on the V30.

You’ll also find Google Lens built into the camera app, which comes after Google announced the feature would be built into third-party cameras on several Android phones.

We don’t expect the V35’s camera to blow anyone away. It’s a capable camera that can produce some fantastic photos, but it falls short of the competition in low-light conditions.

Price and availability

The LG V35 ThinQ will be offered exclusively on  AT&T and Project Fi.  AT&T is selling the phone for $900, or you can opt for the device payment plan at $30 per month over 30 months. Project Fi has yet to release pricing information.

Keep in mind, we’ve already heard rumblings of the LG V40 to come out later this year. We’re not sure what to expect from the fall flagship smartphone yet, but it should at least have a different design from the V35 and introduce some new features. It’s tough to say the V35 is worth buying at first blush, then – but perhaps it’ll grow on us.

LG V35 ThinQ vs. LG V30: Out with the old, in with the ThinQ

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

With an impressive dual camera setup, plenty of video recording options, and AI smarts built into its core, the LG V35 ThinQ is an impressive new smartphone from LG. But it has been less than a year since the LG V30 rolled out. What has the South Korean manufacturer added? Is the V35 ThinQ a major improvement over its predecessor? We decided to put the two phones head-to-head to find out.

Specs

LG V35 ThinQ
LG V30

Size
151.6 x 75.4 x 7.3mm (5.97 x 2.97 x 0.29 inches)
151.6 x 75.4 x 7.3 mm (5.97 x 2.97 x 0.29 inches)

Weight
158 grams (5.57 ounces)
158 grams (5.57 ounces)

Screen size
6-inch OLED
6-inch P-OLED display

Screen resolution
2,880 x 1,440 pixels (538 pixels-per-inch)
2,880 x 1,440 pixels (538 pixels-per-inch)

Operating system
Android 8.0 Oreo
Android 7.1.2 Nougat (upgradeable to 8.0 Oreo)

Storage space
64GB
64GB, 128GB (on the V30 Plus)

MicroSD card slot
 Yes, up to 2TB
Yes, up to 256 GB

Tap-to-pay services
Android Pay
Android Pay

Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Qualcomm Snapdragon 835

RAM
6GB
4GB

Camera
Dual 16MP (with OIS) and 16MP wide angle rear, 8MP front
Dual 16MP and 13MP wide angle rear, 5MP wide angle front

Video
 Up to 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 30 fps, 720p at 240 fps, HDR10
Up to 4K at 30 fps, 1080p at 30 fps, 720p at 120 fps

Bluetooth version
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.0

Ports
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-Type C
3.5mm headphone jack, USB-Type C

Fingerprint sensor
Yes
Yes

Water resistance
IP68
IP68

Battery
3,300mAh

Fast charging (Quick Charge 3.0)

Qi wireless charging

3,300mAh

Fast charging(Quick Charge 3.0)

Qi wireless charging

App marketplace
Google Play Store
Google Play Store

Network support
AT&T, Project Fi
All major carriers

Colors
Aurora Black, Platinum Gray
Cloud Silver, Moroccan Blue, Aurora Black, Lavender Violet, Raspberry Rose

Price
$900
$800

Buy from
 AT&T, Project Fi

Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile

Review score
 Hands-on review

4 out of 5 stars

Performance, battery life, and charging

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Phones get faster every year with many of the top flagships adopting Qualcomm’s latest processor. The LG V35 ThinQ is no exception, packing a Snapdragon 845 which is faster and more power efficient than the Snapdragon 835 that you’ll find in the LG V30. While it definitely offers improvements, we never encountered any issues with performance in the LG V30. The difference between the two in every day use is likely to be quite subtle.

The V35 ThinQ has also been beefed up in the RAM department with 6GB instead of the 4GB that the V30 made do with. How much RAM a phone needs is the subject of some debate, but if you’re not a major multitasker, dipping in and out of countless apps and games, we don’t think you’ll feel much difference here either.

When it comes to battery size and charging capabilities these phones are identical. They both have 3,300mAh batteries that support Quick Charge 3.0 via the USB-C port, which is capable of delivering around 50 percent in just over half an hour. They also both support Qi wireless charging.

While it may not feel much different now, the extra performance and RAM will be more telling over time and the V35 ThinQ certainly offers more raw power.

Winner: LG V35 ThinQ

Design and durability

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You may have trouble telling these phones apart at first glance. In fact, you may struggle to tell them apart at second glance, too. The LG V35 ThinQ and the LG V30 are identical in terms of outward appearance. They both have a 6-inch display with curved corners, small bezels, and no notch. They both have glass backs with a dual camera module and a fingerprint sensor beneath. They both have a USB-C port on the bottom and a headphone port on the top. They both…well, you get the picture.

While you’ll want a case to guard against drop damage, both these phones also boast IP68 certification, which means they can handle short dunks into water without damage. Interestingly, the V35 ThinQ employs Corning’s Gorilla Glass 4 instead of the Gorilla Glass 5 found in the V30. We don’t have unbreakable smartphone glass yet, but we do know that Gorilla Glass 5 can withstand falls from greater heights without damage. However, the trade-off is usually that tougher protection against impacts means lesser protection against scratching, and glancing at our well-used LG V30 it does have a few scratches on the body, so perhaps that’s why LG switched here.

The only other difference you’ll find is the color options. The V35 ThinQ only comes in black or gray so far. The V30 can be found in black, silver, blue, violet, and rose.

There’s not enough here to separate these contenders, so this round has to be a tie.

Winner: Tie

Display

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

These phones both boast a 6-inch OLED screen with an 18:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 2,880 x 1,440 pixels, which translates to 538 pixels-per-inch. They’re sharp and vibrant with inky blacks and support for HDR. In short, these displays are top notch. They’re also identical, so there’s no dividing the phones here.

Winner: Tie

Camera

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The V35 ThinQ offers some subtle hardware improvements in the camera department, pairing a 16-megapixel lens with an f/1.6 aperture and a 16-megapixel wide angle lens with an f/1.9 aperture. In the LG V30 the wide angle lens is rated at 13 megapixels. The front-facing camera in the V35 ThinQ is also better — it’s an 8-megapixel camera with an f/1.9 aperture. Compared to the 5-megapixel, f/2.2 aperture shooter in the V30, it should capture more detail and perform better in low light.

The V stands for video, so both these phones can record 4K at 30 frames per second. The V35 ThinQ has support for slow motion video at 240 frames per second in 720p, while the V30 can only manage 120 frames per second. You’ll also find Cine Mode options to help you shoot video in different styles.

The main software difference is the addition of AI Cam in the V35 ThinQ, which automatically identifies what’s in the shot and theoretically helps you to find the optimal settings to make your photo look good. The V35 also has support for Google Lens built into the camera app, enabling you to identify landmarks, scan text, and more. However, most of these software improvements have already started to roll out to the V30 as an update.

Winner: LG V35 ThinQ

Software and updates

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The LG V30 launched with Android 7.1.2 (Nougat), but it has since been updated to Android 8.0 Oreo. The V35 ThinQ is launching with Android 8.0 Oreo and we expect it to be updated to Android P in the near future. Both have LG’s user interface over the top and a smattering of LG apps and gesture shortcuts. As the newer phone, we can expect the V35 ThinQ to be a higher priority for updates and to receive them for longer.

Winner: LG V35 ThinQ

Special features

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

There are a lot more similarities than differences when it comes to special features. The LG V30 and the V35 offer support for Google Daydream and those large, sharp displays make them ideal for virtual reality. We already discussed some of the special video options, and the Google Lens integration, but they can also be found on both devices.

LG has added something called “Super Far-Field Voice Recognition” into the V35, which apparently allows the phone to recognize your voice from up to 17 feet away. That should make it easier to ask Google Assistant for help. Thanks to a special level of integration, you can also task Google Assistant with things like snapping a wide-angle selfie on your V35.

Winner: LG V35 ThinQ

Price

You can pre-order the LG V35 ThinQ for $900 from June 1, and it will ship June 8. It will be sold exclusively on AT&T and Google’s Project Fi network. The LG V30 costs $800 and you can find it on all the major carriers including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint.

That means you’re looking at paying an extra $100 for a slightly better camera, newer processor, and more RAM. We imagine you might start to see some discounts on the V30 now as well, which could increase the price gap further.

Overall winner: LG V35 ThinQ

The LG V35 ThinQ is the better phone overall, but the improvements are minor. If you’re a big selfie fan or you love to play the latest graphically intensive games, then it might justify the extra outlay, but if you already own an LG V30 we don’t think it’s worth upgrading.

Editors’ Recommendations

• LG G7 ThinQ vs. LG G6: Out with the old, in with the new
• LG G7 ThinQ vs. LG V30: Which LG flagship phone is best for you?
• OnePlus 6 vs. LG G7 ThinQ: Can the flagship killer sink LG’s latest?
• LG V35 ThinQ: Here’s everything you need to know about LG’s newest flagship
• LG G7 ThinQ vs. iPhone X: Which phone comes out on top?

The best MP3 music player you can buy (and 3 alternatives)

In 2001, the iPod changed everything. Portable media players began to spring up like weeds in the crack of a fertile driveway, flourishing for a while — until the smartphone arrived. With their limited storage capacities, phones eventually lead to the rise of streaming services like Spotify that quickly rendered the MP3 model antiquated, and favored the limitless collections of music hosted from the cloud.

But MP3 players didn’t simply roll over and die when the smartphones showed up. Instead, they pivoted. Those with sizable music collections will often find their smartphone‘s storage inadequate, especially since apps and music will end up competing for space. Many dedicated MP3 players offer big hard drives, meaning you’ll be able to fit your favorite band’s entire discography on a single device.

The exercise world is another niche that MP3 players have slid comfortably into. While smartphone screens grow larger, smaller media players offer the user a lightweight alternative that won’t make your pocket bounce to and fro during a workout.

Audiophiles, too, can find devices built to handle high-quality audio in one of several file formats. Although some of these players find themselves floating up toward (and in excess of) $1,000, there’s one that rises above the tide for a reasonable sum.

To help everyone find the right dedicated music player for them, we’ve picked out our favorite MP3 players below.

Our Pick

Astell & Kern AK Jr

Bill Roberson/Digital Trends

Why you should buy this: It’s powerful, versatile, reasonably priced, and produces extremely high resolution audio.

Our Score

The Best

Astell & Kern AK Jr

The AK Jr. is expensive, but it is worth its high price if you value audio quality.

$339.37 from Amazon.com

Who it’s for: Music lovers and casual listeners who don’t want to break the bank.

How much will it cost: $300+

Why we chose the Astell & Kern AK Jr:

Most companies don’t generally charge over $300 for their entry-level MP3 player. Then again, most companies are not Astell & Kern. The AK Jr. — which retails for about one-seventh of the cost of the flagship model, the AK380 — produces some of the highest quality sound out there. The beautifully angular Jr., measuring 4.5 x 2 inches and weighing just 3.28 ounces, features Astell & Kern’s signature volume wheel, which offers finer control than the traditional 1-through-10 volume setting on a phone or player.

The player’s touchscreen is framed in an attractive matte aluminum shell and its battery lasts for 6 – 8 hours. The Jr. features Bluetooth connectivity, but no Wi-Fi.

All the bells and whistles are here to service the sound. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a device that produces the kind of depth, clarity, and balance that the AK Jr. churns out on a song-by-song basis. Its Wolfson WM8740 Digital Audio Converter (DAC) is comfortable processing several different audio formats, from WAV to FLAC to single-rate DSD codecs, and the player features 64GB of native flash storage, with an SD slot so you can add another 64GB if need be.

Never before has there been a device this affordable that produces true hi-res audio. Put simply, the AK Jr is a top-flight portable music player whose reasonable price belies the power within.

Our full review

Best fitness MP3 player

SanDisk Clip Sport

Why you should buy this: It’s lightweight, durable, and built for exercise, with reasonable storage capacity and an excellent battery lifespan.

Best Fitness MP3 Player

SanDisk Clip Sport

The Sandisk Clip Sport is no looker, but it’s handy clip, low price, and 25 hour battery life make it ideal for fitness hounds.

$39.40 from Amazon

Who it’s for: Anyone looking to listen to music while they work out.

How much will it cost: $44 to $54

Why we chose the Sandisk Clip Sport:

Using your smartphone to listen to music while exercising is nearly always a hassle. If you’re running, the phone is probably bouncing uncomfortably in your pocket, or you’re forced to hold it with a vice grip because you wore shorts without pockets (stop forgetting the shorts with pockets!).

Thankfully, MP3 players with clips — like the SanDisk Clip Sport — were built specifically to resolve that issue. What the Clip Sport lacks in audio quality, it more than makes up for with several useful features and a rock-solid 25-hour battery life.

Apart from the eponymous clip, SanDisk equipped their workout buddy with an FM radio tuner, so you can listen to your favorite morning talk show as you take your brisk pre-breakfast stroll. The player features an LCD screen so you don’t need to rely on the ‘shuffle’ function; the Clip Sport includes 8GB of onboard flash storage, as well as an SD card slot that allows for more storage space to be added in later. Capable of handling most audio file types (including .FLAC files), this little guy is perfectly equipped to handle a marathon or a Tough Mudder. Plus, its low-risk price tag means you won’t need to panic if it somehow falls into a puddle.

The best Apple iPod

iPod Touch

Why you should buy this: You’re an Apple devotee and you prefer the iPod family.

Who it’s for: Casual listeners, intentional users of non-smart phones.

How much will it cost: $150 to $280

Why we chose the iPod Touch:

Despite the iPod’s iconic nature, the rise of the iPhone has taken most of the shine off the gadget that reinvented the way we listen to music. Apple no longer rolls out new editions of each iPod every year, and some unfortunate limitations keep the player from reaching its true potential. Still, the ever-friendly user interface and the sleek beauty of the experience (and of the iPod itself) earn the sixth-generation iPod Touch a spot on our list.

With the ability to store up to 128 gigabytes of your favorite tunes, plus smartphone-like functionality like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and app integrations (including the ability to use Apple Music for streaming), there is no better iPod for casual listeners and those who don’t want to carry a smartphone.

The iPod Touch is small and light, and comes wrapped in cool metal finishes, with a gorgeous retina display that makes browsing between albums easy. It even has both forward and rear-facing cameras for snapping the odd picture on the go. Plus, up to 40 hours of battery life is enough for a full work week of listening.

The best smartphone for music lovers

LG G7 ThinQ

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Why you should buy this: Loud, “Boombox” speaker, a stand-alone quad DAC, DTS.X 3D support … oh, and it doubles as a phone.

Product Card Copy: “The Best Smartphone for Music Lovers” “The LG G7 ThinQ is simply the best smartphone for audio, hands down. It has a fantastic speaker (for a phone) and outputs high-res audio.”

Who it’s for: Music lovers who’d rather just use their phone.

How much will it cost: $750+

Why we chose the LG G7 ThinQ:

Most smartphones’ music capabilities are extremely limited. Having access to streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music is important, but not everyone is willing to sacrifice sound quality and functionality for a bigger library of music.

Thankfully, with the LG G7 ThinQ, you don’t have to choose. The same Quad digital-to-analog converter (DAC) that we loved on the LG V30 returns in the company’s latest model, bringing pristine audio quality to anything you plug into the phone’s 3.5 mm audio jack (!). In addition, the g7 ThinQ also supports DTS.X 3D surround sound, a technology similar to Dolby Atmos.

The phone also features a unique “Boombox” speaker, which is a single, bottom-firing mono speaker that uses the phone’s entire body as a resonance chamber. It may seem like a gimmick on paper, but we found the speaker to be extremely rich and loud, offering some of the best fidelity we’ve ever heard from the sometimes-tinny smartphone segment.

Ultimately, the LG G7 ThinQ is worth a buy if you’re in need of both a smartphone and a hi-res music player. It’s not the king of either category, necessarily, but there are few — if any — phones that can match the quality of its audio output.

Our full review

What is hi-res audio?

High resolution audio uses a higher sampling rate and a higher bitrate than regular audio files. A typical hi-res audio file is sampled at 96 kHz/24 bit, which means that the audio is ‘sampled’ more frequently each second than a typical MP3 file, which loses around 90 percent of its information during the compression process. Hi-res files (like .FLAC files) process information more than 20 times faster than MP3 files, which means that those little details in the music — such as the attack and decay of a single guitar pluck — can be heard more clearly by the human ear. MP3 files are quick and dirty representations of actual songs that have been compressed in order to save storage space. High resolution audio, on the other hand, is compressed in such a way that those little details are preserved.

How we test

You might be wondering how, exactly, we came to these conclusions. As the market for MP3 players has thinned, devices must fit snugly into a niche — or be left out in the cold. For hi-res options like the AK Jr., there’s only one way to test: with variety. We tested the AK with several different genres of music across several different file codecs, with several different pairs of headphones. When it performed admirably across the gamut of variables, we knew we had our pick. We also do extensive phone reviewing, and picked other MP3 music players based on their ease of use or usefulness in a particular situation.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The best LG G7 ThinQ cases to keep your LG phone looking new
• The best free music players
• ATC’s CDA2 Mk2 will make you want to put the phone away and dig out your CDs
• Here are the best camera phones of 2018
• The best smartphones

Moto G6 review: Finding success in compromise

Another triumph in the low-cost phone arena.

Motorola under Lenovo has maintained a stronghold on the budget market in many parts of the world — particularly India and Latin America — but its U.S. tenure hasn’t been as assured. With the Moto G6, the company butts up against rising component prices and emerges with a budget champion that’s also full of compromise.

Moto G6

Price: from $240

Bottom line: While it’s clear sacrifices were made to reach its $249 price, the Moto G6 is one of the best budget phones around.

Pros:

• Great build quality and design for the price
• Excellent main rear camera
• Good battery life
• Moto Display is still amazing
• USB-C charging

Cons:

• Slippery
• Screen quality isn’t great, even for the price
• Occasional performance stuttering
• Moto G line isn’t known for swift software updates
• Lacks NFC

See at Amazon

Moto G6 The details

I’ve been using an unlocked U.S. Moto G6 for a week as my daily driver — Android 8.0, Build OPS27.104-15-10, with a March 1, 2018 security patch date. It has 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, which aligns with the $249 “base” model.

Moto G6 The Prelude

When reviewing a phone that’s less than half — and in some cases a full third — the price of the flagship products we normally look it, it’s important to put its review into context. Most people choose a budget phone like the Moto G because they don’t have a lot of money to spend. Makes sense, but the matter is complicated by the varieties of ways people buy their phones.

The Moto G6 is a sequel to either the G5 or G5 Plus depending on the market.

In North America, most people buy their devices through carriers, which amortize the cost over a year or two, tacking on the cost of the phone to their monthly bill. In parts of Europe, the cost of the phone depends on the cost of the plan — the more expensive the plan, the less one pays for the phone. In South America, India, and certain other countries — where Motorola dominates the market — phones are bought outright in order to keep plan costs down. If a carrier doesn’t have to subsidize, or even stock, the phone being used, it has less overhead and can charge less for what it’s really there to provide: service.

It’s with that lens that I look at the Moto G6, because at $250 it attempts to reproduce the look and experience of pricier models, becoming convincingly aspirational in markets where most phones sold are under $300 and suitably disruptive in markets where flagships sell in volume.

Most Moto G6 users will likely be upgrading from previous budget phones, which means we have to frame the device in that light. Me, I’m reviewing this after using “budget” flagships like the $529 OnePlus 6 and canonical flagships like the Huawei P20 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S9.

The Moto G6 is objectively impressive, but it’s particularly so after using it right after those phones.

Moto G6 The Review

Until Lenovo purchased Motorola in 2014, the Moto G line emphasized function over form. The first four iterations weren’t ugly, but they had no real design, no true eye-catching appeal. That changed in 2017 with the Moto G5 line, which traded plastic for metal, and a year and a bit later we have the Moto G6, which trades metal for glass… and a bit of plastic.

The Moto G6, which sits in the middle behind the $199 Moto G6 Play and the $349 (ish — it’s not available in North America) Moto G6 Plus, has Gorilla Glass 3 on the front and back, with matching shiny acrylic sides. While slippery, I appreciate the way the rear curves to meet the frame, making it a pleasure to grip the tall-and-narrow frame. And while the device, which has a 2:1 aspect ratio, is taller than its predecessors, it’s also immediately identifiable as a Moto product, mainly due to the signature rounded camera module and front-facing fingerprint sensor.

I really like this design. It’s not symmetrical, but it’s balanced, and despite the fingerprint sensor’s reduction in surface area, it’s responsive and easy to use, even when standing in for the on-screen navigation keys with One Button Nav.

A note on One Button Nav

Motorola introduced the One Button Nav feature with the Moto G5 line, adapting it from parent company India-centric Lenovo’s Z2 Plus, and has since brought it to every phone in its lineup that has a front fingerprint sensor.

It works by mimicking Android’s on-screen navigation buttons — Back, Home, Multitasking — with a set of swipe and tap gestures. Swipe left for back; swipe right for multitasking; tap quickly for Home; tap-and-hold for Google Assistant.

When it debuted, I couldn’t use it. The sensitivity was abysmal and I experienced too many false positives for it to be even remotely useful. With the Moto G6, I decided to give it another go and found it much better. In fact, I used it for the entire review period, and aside from a few situations found it reliable and enjoyable. While I’m not sure I could transition full-time to it, it’s an interesting feature that frees up screen space, allowing apps to use the Moto G6’s full 5.7-inch display.

Compared to Google’s own set of navigation gestures in Android P, Motorola keeps things relatively simple, but it will be interesting to see how the feature evolves as devices get updated to Android 9.0 in 2019.

Should you buy the Moto G6, I highly recommend you give One Button Nav a try.

One Button Nav on the Moto G5 is an exciting new way to interact with your phone

OS	Android 8.0 w/ Moto
Screen	5.7-inch LCD 2160×1080 Gorilla Glass 3
SoC	Snapdragon 450 Adreno 506 GPU
RAM	3GB / 4GB
Storage	32GB / 64GB
Camera 1	12MP rear, ƒ/1.8
Camera 2	5MP rear, ƒ/1.8
Front camera	8MP
Battery	3000mAh
Connectivity	300Mbps LTE, 19 LTE bands Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, T-Mobile
Security	Fingerprint, face unlock
Charging	USB-C 15W TurboPower charger
Dimensions	153.8 x 72.3 x 8.3 mm
Weight	167 grams
Colors	Black, Deep Indigo, Blush
Price	starts at $249

The 5.7-inch 1080p display is where the first obvious compromise comes into play. It’s sharp, yes, but colors are dull compared to more expensive devices and, more importantly, touch response is considerably slower.

It’s not going to impede your enjoyment of the device in day-to-day activities — I had no issues typing, for instance — but when playing games that require twitch reflexes, it may become more of an issue. Still, this is an impressive display, and one of the best in its price range.

Thankfully, Motorola hasn’t messed with Moto Display, one of the company’s legacy standout features. It debuted five years ago with the Moto X and, despite minor improvements to information density, hasn’t changed that much but that’s completely fine. Being able to not only view but interact with notifications when the screen is “off” — or more accurately, passively on — is still, years later, one of the best mobile user experiences there is. Despite the proliferation of always-on displays, no company has matched Motorola here. Not even close.

Moto Display is activated by tapping the display or physically moving the phone, and while I miss the ability to bring my hand close to the screen to turn it on, those sensors add cost, and cost is a factor with the G6.

I bring that up again because Motorola made a questionable specifications decision with the G6, and one that has positive and negative implications. The Snapdragon 450 SoC in the phone is paired with either 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage or 4GB and 64GB, and despite the chip sharing a lot in common with last year’s Moto G5 Plus, it’s hard to see this as anything but a downgrade.

Sure, most people won’t be upgrading directly from that phone to this one, but with the absence of the Moto G6 Plus in the U.S. market, the G6 is the logical successor (especially because, thanks to increasing component prices, they share the same base price) it’s clear you’re trading some performance for additional features.

(To be clear, the Moto G line did that for years; it stuck with the Snapdragon 400 and 410 chips between 2013 and 2015, choosing to spend money in other areas.)

Motorola is also keenly aware of the performance regression, since it doesn’t mention the specific chip used in the phone anywhere on its specs page, choosing instead to call it a “blazing fast qualcomm Snapdragon 1.8GHz octa-core processor.” The Moto G6 Plus spec sheet, on the other hands, mentions the Snapdragon 630 explicitly.

The Moto G6 doesn’t feel slow, but there’s a perceptible difference between its languid response to commands and the immediacy of a flagship.

To that end, the Moto G6 performs quite well, but everything takes an additional tick to complete compared to devices running 600- and 800-series chips. (Andrew reviewed the Moto G6 Plus, which has a faster Snapdragon 630, and saw no such performance slouching.)

This is especially evident in the camera app, which takes a couple of agonizing seconds to load, and inserts a noticeable beat between shutter and capture. The camera isn’t slow the way budget phones were a few years ago, but it’s the most obvious area where more powerful hardware justifies its additional cost.

That camera offers a familiar set of specs and drawbacks, too. The main 12MP sensor isn’t as good as the one in the Moto G5 Plus — it lacks the autofocus-boosting Dual Pixels feature — and its ƒ/1.8 aperture isn’t as fast.

In exchange, you get a second 5MP sensor that offers up a fascimile of flagship features like portrait mode, “stage lighting”, and more. You also lose the Moto G5 Plus’s 4K video, maxing at 1080p (though at an impressive 60fps).

Given the impressive pedigree of the Moto G5 Plus, the camera situation here is unfortunate, but it’s not all grim: I was impressed by most of the photos taken in daylight and moderate indoor light, and even managed to eke a couple of decent nighttime photos after a few throwaways.

The lens has a difficult time locking onto subjects, even outdoors, but once it locks the lens gets some magnificent bokeh, largely negating the need for the portrait mode — which has also improved this year, with much better edge detection.

But either because of the poor quality of the secondary sensor or an immature depth algorithm (or both), portrait subjects emerge with a cartoony halo around them, with inconsistent borders and little gradation between the foreground and rear. I’d have much rather seen Moto spend the extra money on a better primary sensor and lens, but when the market speaks, companies must listen.

That said, though it did take me a few tries, I got a pretty nice portrait of my dog, Zadie, outside on a hot day.

So the camera is a mixed bag — if you’re coming from a Moto G4 or G5, it’s a huge improvement. Better sensor, faster lens, superior low-light shots. But if you’re looking at this, like many North Americans are, as the successor to the Moto G5 Plus, it’s more of a lateral move.

Moto G6 (left) | Moto X4 (right) — Taken in bright daylight

I compared the Moto G6 to the Moto X4, which shares a 12MP sensor of similar quality to the G5 Plus (though its ƒ/2.0 lens is a bit slower) and found the G6 to produce richer, more vivid photos indoors and out, but with considerably more grain in areas with poor light.

That’s a trade-off I’m willing to make — the X4 is more true-to-life and produces cleaner, more editable photos whereas the G6’s photos are more instantly ‘Grammable.

Moto G6 (left) | Moto X4 (right) — Taken in indoor light

Moto G6 (left) | Moto X4 (right) — Taken in low light

The camera’s saving grace, however, is its app. Still accessible with a double-twist of the wrist (another 2013-era gesture that, along with “chop-chop for flashlight,” still holds up nicely) it’s received a nice redesign for 2018, putting the most important sections within thumb’s reach. The object recognition stuff that Motorola touts as “Smart Camera” is neither smart nor helpful, but it’s easy enough to disable and doesn’t get in the way.

In fact, software is the entire phone’s saving grace. Running Android 8.0 Oreo with only minor changes to what you’d find on a Pixel phone, the software is what makes the Moto G6 feel as snappy and mature as it does. Apps load quickly and generally perform well, though my unit cleared out its 3GB of RAM more quickly than I’d like, forcing apps to reload after a few minutes idle.

Unfortunately, the return of Moto Voice — supposedly new and improved — is a big disappointment. Motorola touts the service’s ability to perform local commands like “turn on Wi-Fi” or “play cat videos” but everything I tried in Motorola’s short list of acceptable phrases could be reproduced better and faster with Google Assistant. My suggestion is to ignore this duplicative feature completely.

Some important miscellany

• There’s a single front-facing speaker built into a earpiece above the screen. It’s pretty good and gets surprisingly loud. ✅
• The phone charges via USB-C, which has been incredibly useful during my review period. The phone comes with a compatible 10-watt charger in the box along with a USB-A to C cable, so if you’re moving up from Micro-USB, welcome to the rest of your life. ✅
• There’s a headphone jack on the bottom of the phone, but I only used Bluetooth headphones in my time with the phone, and they all worked perfectly. ✅
• Call quality is really good, as is usually the case with Motorola phones. ✅
• Motorola’s famous “Water-repellent nano-coating” meant to keep water out of the phone’s internals works really well. I dropped my phone in to a water fountain for a few seconds and it showed no signs of damage. ✅
• In addition to the front-facing fingerprint sensor, there’s whip-fast face unlock that works in all but the worst of lighting conditions. ✅
• At 167 grams, the Moto G6 is 12g heavier than last year’s Moto G5 Plus, but thanks to a taller body and improved ergonomic design, it actually feels lighter. ✅
• The Snapdragon 450 SoC maxes out at 300Mbps down and 150Mbps up, but I consistently reached speeds over 120Mbps on Canada’s TELUS network, which is hard to complain about. ✅
  • The good news is that the phone supports all four major U.S. carriers, including Verizon and Sprint, and will work on T-Mobile’s growing AWS-3 (Band 66) network. No Band 71 support, though. ✅
  • The less attractive side of that coin is the lack of aggregation diversity; the Moto G6 only supports 2x20MHz carrier aggregation, which not only limits overall speed but coverage potential in areas with many different wireless bands. 🚫
• There’s no NFC, so no Google Pay. It’s 2018, Motorola — this is still a bad decision. 🚫

Phew.

Finally, on battery life, the 3,000mAh battery has fared remarkably well, largely thanks to the power-sipping 14nm Snapdragon 450, which maxes out at a leisurely 1.8GHz per core. In my week using the phone full-time, I didn’t have to recharge during the day at all, and even though I hit the red (below 10%) by bedtime, I never felt battery anxiety. What’s most surprising, though, is just how similar the phone’s longevity was to devices twice or three times the cost.

Other low-cost handsets like the Moto G6 Play and Moto E5 Plus rely on enormous batteries to eke as much uptime as possible because they have older, less efficient processors. The Moto G6 finds the right balance.

Moto G6 The competition

So what of the competition? When you’re in the market for a cheap phone, the choices are seemingly endless and yet there are so few standouts. If you’re in the U.S., the obvious choice would be the 2018 version of the Nokia 6, also known as the Nokia 6.1, which sells for a reasonable $269.

What it lacks in design it makes up for in solidity: it’s milled from a single piece of Series 6 aluminum, and features a faster Snapdragon 630 SoC in addition to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Its 16MP camera is higher resolution, but doesn’t match the Moto G6’s for speed and features. It also runs Android One, with a clean version of Android 8.1 that is sure to appeal to many in the unlocked phone space.

Between devices like the Nokia 6.1 and Honor 7X — not to mention other Motorola phones — the G6 has more competition than ever.

Of course, that Nokia 6.1, like most in this price range only supports T-Mobile, AT&T, and its MVNO partners; Motorola made sure to support all four major U.S. carriers with its Moto G6 line this year. That’s a big advantage, and helps it slip into higher-volume carrier channels Nokia will likely never enter in the U.S.

Then there’s the Honor 7X, which shares a lot in common with the Moto G6, including a 2:1 screen and dual cameras. At $199, it’s a little cheaper and a bit more powerful, but its EMUI software is a mixed bag, as is the camera. The Xiaomi Mi A1 is also similarly great.

Outside the U.S., there’s plenty in the €200/£200 range, from the Xiaomi Mi A1 to myriad devices from ASUS and Huawei, but Motorola holds court over the category, as it’s done for half a decade now.

That court extends to other Motorola phones, too. The Moto G6 Plus is sold alongside the G6 in many parts of the world, and it takes what I love about this phone and improves on it in every way — better display, faster processor, and significantly improved camera. Similarly, the Moto X4, which stands in for the G6 Plus in the U.S., may not share the tall-and-thin design language of Moto’s 2018 lineup, but it’s still a heck of a phone, and can be procured for roughly the same price as the G6.

Moto G6 Bottom line

When evaluating the Moto G6, it’s important to mark its proper place in Motorola’s hierarchy: it’s not the direct successor to the Moto G5 Plus despite seeming that way in the U.S. market. When viewed as a sequel to the G5 Plus, it doesn’t fare particularly well because improvements like battery life, design, and features come at the cost of speed and camera quality. Unfortunately, because the G5 wasn’t available in the U.S. and the G6 Plus will be similarly absent, the line of succession becomes murkier.

But when looked at on its own, as an objectively good budget phone in 2018, the value proposition is clear. Despite some obvious shortcomings, there is very little separating the experience of using the Moto G6 to that of much more expensive phones. And if, like many Moto G owners, you’ve never used a flagship, or have no desire to spend between $700 and $1000 on a smartphone, the Moto G6 offers outstanding value. Similarly, in markets where the Moto G6 does succeed the Moto G5, the phone is an improvement in every way.

As with all Motorola phones, it remains to be seen whether the company will maintain the G6’s software. A year on from the Moto G5 lineup, security patches have been rare, and a jump to Oreo, while promised, has taken far too long.

4
out of 5

Despite some misgivings, there’s very little I dislike about the Moto G6. Motorola’s crafted a solid, dependable, and enjoyable budget phone, and one that I would heartily recommend to anyone looking to spend under $300.

See at Amazon
See at Verizon

What do you think about a notch on the Pixel 3 XL?

It’s (maybe) coming.

Earlier this week, a leaked picture made its way around the web showing panels for the front of the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL.

The panel for the regular Pixel 3 shows an 18:9 ratio with much slimmer bezels compared to the Pixel 2, and with the Pixel 3 XL, we’ve got that infamous notch.

We can’t confirm how legit/fabricated this leak is, but a notch on the Pixel 3 XL isn’t unlikely in the slightest. Some of the AC forum members shared their thoughts on a notched Pixel 3 XL, and this is what they had to say.

DMP89145
05-29-2018 12:28 PM

“

I’ll bite on the speculation, for the sake of discussion.

I think the P3 would look okay, the XL … well.. mixed. I’m not a fan of notches, though like the headphone jack, would probably get over it somewhat quickly if I was interested in the XL version. The camera location and the top speaker in the notch on the XL would be a little troubling.

If the smaller P3 comes out something like…

Reply

Ry
05-29-2018 01:53 PM

“

I am totally OK with this design.

But then again, I’m not a soldier in the war against bezels.

Reply

TraderGary
05-29-2018 02:42 PM

“

For me a notch would be very disappointing and would give me pause for thought about a Pixel 3 XL.

Reply

Theot
05-29-2018 09:46 PM

“

Love the Pixel 3 look. If it’s the same size as my Pixel 2 with small bezels, a 5.5″ 18:9 display and the same internals as the 3 XL I’m down for the smaller one for sure. A battery size bump would be nice too.

Reply

What do you think? Do you want a notch on the Pixel 3 XL?

Join the conversation in the forums!

OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?

Is it time to continue with the one-year upgrade cycle?

OnePlus has a rapid release cycle for its phones, iterating roughly every six months to get the latest specs and features in your hands if you’re willing to pay the price. But if you’re locked in on a once-yearly refresh, then you’ve likely held onto your OnePlus 5 — and now, just shy of a year on, the OnePlus 6 is here to entice you once again.

Holding off from getting a OnePlus 5T, the OnePlus 6 is your opportunity to move to a new form factor with a larger display and rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, plus refreshed specs and new configuration options. But considering that the OnePlus 5 is still a fine phone today and there’s so much shared in the new phone, is it worth the upgrade? We’re here to help you make that decision.

See at OnePlus

What’s the same

OnePlus has been fantastically consistent with the features and experience it offers in its phones from generation to generation. A year on from the OnePlus 5, not a whole lot has changed at the core of the OnePlus 6. You’ll find the same complement of buttons in the usual places, the great Alert Slider, and a normal set of ports on the bottom including a headphone jack. The USB-C port supports Dash Charge at the same charging rate as before, and the battery inside is even the same 3300mAh capacity. You’ll find the same base 6GB of RAM with an option for 8GB, and the same base 64GB of storage with optional 128GB — but the OnePlus 6 has a new 256GB tier as well.

The experience of using these phones doesn’t differ much, particularly in the software and performance.

The OnePlus consistency carries over particularly well in the software, where OxygenOS has very few differences on the new phone that weren’t already brought to the OnePlus 5 in an update or at least in beta release for a future public launch. Aside from a few little changes, OnePlus has been very good about keeping OxygenOS similar between its phones, so you don’t have to feel like you’re missing out on any new features by not getting the newer phone. The OnePlus 5 also easily has another round of major software updates in its future, so you don’t have to be worried about being stranded on Android Oreo.

Along the same lines, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who could identify where the OnePlus 5 is slower than the OnePlus 6 in anything but synthetic benchmarks. Yes, the new Snapdragon 845 is more powerful, but a year on the Snapdragon 835 is still a great platform and when paired with 6 or 8GB of RAM it makes the OnePlus 5 fly. There are marginal improvements to be found, particularly in power consumption by the processor itself, but this small bump to the new generation of processor isn’t enough in itself to justify a move considering how well the OnePlus 5 still performs today. Battery life is great on the OnePlus 6, but of course it was strong on the OnePlus 5 as well.

What’s different

Even though the core of these phones doesn’t differ much, there are several improvements that come from another year of development, design and technological advancements. The biggest differentiation is the design — moving from metal to glass transforms the look and feel of the phone, and I’d say the OnePlus 6 is more modern in both respects. There’s a bit more style and flair at play here, particularly compared to the OnePlus 5’s very generic look.

There’s a full generation jump in hardware quality, design and camera performance.

The new design also incorporates a considerable change to the screen, now 6.3 inches in a much taller 19:9 aspect ratio. Paired with smaller bezels, you’re getting more screen in a package that’s only marginally larger. Yes there’s a notch at the top of the display, but the OnePlus 5 has huge bezels on both ends — this is undeniably a positive move. On that note, the fingerprint sensor moved to the back of the OnePlus 6, but is just as easy to use every day.

The only other change to note is in the camera, and it’s worth talking about extensively. Specs-wise things look the same sticking with 16MP resolution and f/1.7 aperture, but this is a new larger sensor that’s also supported by OIS — both critical additions for every type of photography, but particularly low light. The OnePlus 6 also introduces 1080p video at 240 fps or 720p video at 480 fps, which are both fun to shoot with — there’s also improved video stabilization for even smoother shots.

The secondary camera is no longer “telephoto,” and instead just has the same focal length and aperture as the primary camera. So you lose out on the zoom, but if you’ve used the OnePlus 5 for any length of time you know that secondary camera’s small pixels, high aperture and lack of OIS makes it unusable in anything but fantastic lighting anyway.

OnePlus 6 specs

The OnePlus 6 undoubtedly takes better photos across the board, but the biggest difference is in low-light and mixed-light shots where the processing and clarity is dramatically improved. Daylight photos can be a toss-up, but whenever there are adverse conditions the OnePlus 6 wins — and by a large margin in many cases. Here are a handful of samples comparing the two:

OnePlus 6 (left) vs. OnePlus 5 (right) — click images to view larger.

The camera improvement isn’t big enough in itself to make you upgrade, but when you add it to all of the other design improvements you see how the OnePlus 6 is a big step in a positive direction compared to the last-generation phone.

Should you upgrade?

In some ways, OnePlus is its own worst enemy when it comes to getting its customers to upgrade to the next generation. It fills its phones with great specs and clean software from the start, so even a year on they don’t feel old or sluggish. If you’re using a OnePlus 5 today you know it still performs well and is capable of doing just about anything you need it to do.

The OnePlus 6 does a few key things better, and critically doesn’t do anything worse than the OnePlus 5.

So, then, we have to focus on a few of the finer points where OnePlus can influence an upgrade. Most of that comes down to the design, display, and camera. Compared to the OnePlus 6 the OnePlus 5 looks old and generic, and that shiny new glass certainly feels more modern across the board. Pair that up with the new extra-tall display and tiny bezels, and you get a really handsome phone that also makes better use of its size to deliver more usable screen space. The camera has also inarguably improved, making important spec improvements of pixel size and optical stabilization, leading to better photos in every situation — even if it did mean losing telephoto zoom from the second camera.

As we’ve seen for a few generations now, the biggest thing helping you upgrade to a new OnePlus phone is the high resale value of the old models. A used OnePlus 5 will sell on the open market for around $350, depending on its condition and configuration. That gets you well over halfway to a new OnePlus 6, which makes this a pretty enticing option if you have no need for your current phone once you upgrade. The OnePlus 6 isn’t a dramatic improvement in most ways over the OnePlus 5, but it is better in key areas and critically isn’t worse in any. If you can sell your old device and drop a couple hundred dollars for a new phone, this is definitely a smart move if you like what OnePlus phones offer.

See at OnePlus

Update, May 30, 2018: This article has been updated with new more detailed battery and camera comparisons between the OnePlus 5 and OnePlus 6.

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

What happens when I decline an app permission?

Android app permissions can be scary. They’re often vague and too broad, and there are more than a few times we’ve seen developers try to abuse them. But, thankfully, they are all under your control.

Starting with Marshmallow, Android has settings to control individual permissions for every application. That doesn’t mean every app in Google Play allows you to set each permission individually, though, because plenty of developers aren’t targeting their apps to Android 6 or higher. Those apps still give you a list of permissions when you install them, and you have two choices — say yes to all, or don’t install the app. Google is slowly forcing developers to move their apps to use more current features, like granular permissions, so this will eventually stop being a thing.

More: What those scary app permissions mean

We’re not talking about those apps here. When you run across them, just try to look at each permission and see why the app might want it. In any case, Google scans each app when it’s installed (whether it comes from Google Play or not) so it will kill anything fishy.

For the rest of the apps that do follow guidelines and are compatible with the granular permission model (which is most these days), you can decide if you want it to have access to each thing individually. So what happens if you say no? Well, that depends on why the app wants that particular permission. Let’s look at the YouTube app as an example.

There are two ways to see an app’s permissions — you can see what an app requests under its listing, or you can look at a permission and see what apps are using or requesting it. Both can be useful, but for our purposes, we’re going to look at the YouTube app listing.

Finding an app’s permissions

• Open your device Settings, find the entry for Applications, and tap it.
• You’ll see your recently opened apps at the top of the page followed by a link to see All of your apps. Tap that if you don’t see the app you’re looking for in the list.
• Scroll through the list and find the YouTube app (or whatever app you’re looking for) and tap its listing.
• In the center of the new window is a listing for Permissions. Tap it.

A new page will open that lists every permission the app is using or would want to use. The switch beside each line shows if the permission is enabled or not — it will be colorized and moved to the right if it is enabled. In the YouTube app, you see a lot of permissions that don’t directly relate to streaming a video, at least on the surface. But they really are all needed if you use every feature of the YouTube app.

It needs what? Why?

Camera, for example, is needed if you want to live stream something using your phone. If you try it, you’ll be asked to enable permission for the camera and Microphone. Contacts, SMS, and Phone are there because you can share a video with anyone in your address book, and looking inside the address book exposes all that information. Storage is there in case you want to download and save a video or a movie for its rental period. Location is required if you run across any video that’s restricted by region as well as for checking DRM licenses.

It’s not always clear why an app needs permission to do something, but denying that permission won’t break anything.

You can watch a video on YouTube without granting any permission (though some phones will require the Storage permission be enabled to stream video), but not every video. YouTube allows content to be uploaded that is age restricted, and maybe you’ve run across that sort of content while you’re not signed into YouTube; in that case, it blocks access until you sign in and you’re verified as an adult according to the laws where you live. Notice the where you live part, because that’s very important.

Content guidelines and age-restriction varies from place to place, so YouTube needs to know where you are in certain cases. There are also videos that aren’t accessible in certain countries, such as war footage that uses symbols banned in Germany. To see these, YouTube has to know where you are so it knows if it can stream them to you. And when you rent or buy a video and want to watch it on YouTube, the digital license needs to be checked to make sure it is valid where you are — not all DRM licensing is world-wide.

With Location permissions turned off, you’ll not be able to play any restricted content videos or some purchased or rented videos. YouTube will ask you to enable Location when this happens, and if you don’t allow it the video will not be played. Other videos will continue to work and until you come across another piece of content that needs to know where you are before it can be streamed, everything will work normally.

Most other apps that have streaming video, like Facebook or Twitter, work that same way here. They want permission to check your location to show you a video to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, granting location permissions also means the app can gather information about where you go and when.

Permissions can cover a thing you want as well as something you don’t — like location tracking — at the same time.

That’s how all permissions for Android apps work. An app will ask for permission when it needs something it can’t access without it, and if you choose to refuse, that part of the app will not work. This can have little effect on the rest of the app, or it can be show-stopping and the app won’t work. That depends on what the app is trying to do when it needs permission. Let’s pretend we live in a country that requires you to be an adult to watch any video on YouTube; nothing will work with Location permissions denied.

Should I deny permissions then?

Yep!

Any time you feel like you don’t want an app doing something it wants to do, just say no. The very worst thing that can happen is the app crashes and closes, but it will start right back up if you want it to. If an app wants a permission you’re not sure you should be granting, ask the developer why. You’ll find their contact information at the bottom of the app’s Play Store listing, and that is why it’s there.

It’s easy to just say no and see what effect that has. Try it next time you are leery about why an app needs something.

I make it a rule to deny everything. I can deal with a popup to allow for something like Location permissions in YouTube, and I’d rather have them that just grant blanket permission to do whatever. I’ve never encountered a case where that caused any harm, and can suggest that you do the same if app permissions are something you’re concerned about.

Plex adds podcasts to its refreshed mobile app

Add podcasts to your Plex Media Library as well as being treated to a nicer mobile application.

Podcasts are important to a lot of us, but if your personal media is organized with Plex then you’re still going off to another application to get your fix. That all changes as Plex is announcing the launch of podcast support for its users.

We’re excited to be launching Podcasts in beta inside Plex today on iOS, Android, Roku, and Plex Web, (more to come, of course!) and we’d like to highlight a few of the features available. Best of all, podcasts are free for all users and don’t even require a Plex Media Server to be set up.

The feature is rolling out slowly as a beta, but you don’t need to be a Plex Pass subscriber or even have a media server set up in order to try it out. You’ll be able to add your favorite podcasts to your home screen inside Plex as with any other content for quick access, and Plex’s machine learning will figure out what you like listening to in order to provide you with some intelligent suggestions on what you might like to listen to next.

The enhanced player also has staples of podcast playback baked in, like variable playback speeds and quick skipping forwards or backward.

The other big update from Plex is the refresh to the mobile application. The onus is on customization, having Plex “your way.” So now you can customize the home screen, reordering or removing sections entirely, with customizable tabs at the bottom of the screen for quick access to other sections.

What’s also really neat is that if you have content split across multiple Plex servers, you’re now able to customize the default locations to effortlessly glide between servers when you just want to relax and enjoy your content.

The update is rolling out today for both Android and iOS, and you can find out much more over on the Plex Blog.

Download: Plex (free)

Amazon’s new Toshiba Fire TV Edition sets now up for preorder

The Toshiba made Amazon Fire TV Edition sets are available for preorder now. (Starting at $329 at Amazon.)

The range — from 43 to 55 inches — ships June 22.

Amazon today put its new range of Fire TV Edition televisions up for preorder. The Toshiba-made sets start at 43 inches for $329, scale up to 50 inches for $399, and finally hit 55 inches at $479.

As the name implies, they use Amazon Fire TV as their operating system, which means you won’t have to plug in any other boxes or dongles and will still have access to pretty much every streaming service you can think of.

Hardware wise, each is an LED backlit TV with 4K UHD resolution (that’s 3840×2160) and a 60Hz refresh rate.

You’ll find a couple of HDMI ports, a single HDMI-ARC port, antenna input, optical audio out, two USB 2.0 ports, an Ethernet jack (10x100MB), and RCA audio out.

The included remote control also serves as an Alexa voice remote. (Because everything has Alexa these days, especially if it comes from Amazon.) It’s got a smattering of dedicated service buttons, so you have one-touch access to Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, PlayStation Vue, and HBO.

For everything else, there’s the Amazon App Store, which will give the TV access to a ridiculous number of applications that’ll run on the Amazon Fire TV OS.

The TVs are available for preorder now and will be delivered June 22.

See at Amazon

Introducing CordCutters.com

• The hardware you need
• All about streaming services
• What channels are on which service
• FREE over-the-air TV
• How to watch sports
• Join the discussion

Get the latest deals

Amazon Prime Exclusive Phones: Everything you need to know

Prime Exclusive Phones consist of quality handsets at discounted prices — exclusively for Amazon Prime subscribers.

It’s hard to keep track of all the perks that come with an Amazon Prime membership, but if you’re an Android fan, one of the best ones is easily Amazon’s Prime Exclusive Phones.

Prime Exclusive Phones are sold exclusively to Amazon Prime members, and this program allows you to purchase quality phones from LG, Motorola, and others at discounted rates. Here’s everything you need to know!

May 30, 2018 — Motorola’s Moto G6 joins the mix!

The Moto G line is one of the most popular in the budget smartphone market, and the Moto G6 is one of the best entries yet.

Motorola’s retail price for the G6 is $250, but being a part of Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program, that price is lowered to just $235.

For that price, you’re getting a 5.7-inch Full HD+ display with an 18:9 aspect ratio, Snapdragon 450 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB of expandable storage (up to 128GB), 3,000 mAh battery, 12MP + 5MP dual rear cameras, and Android 8.0 Oreo.

Something that is unique to the Prime Exclusive Moto G6 is built-in Alexa. To get its attention, just double press the power button and start asking away.

See at Amazon

May 22, 2018 — The LG K30 joins the lineup with a price of $140

The latest phone entering the Prime Exclusive program is LG’s K30. It’s got a 5.3-inch 1280 x 720 screen on the front in addition to on-screen navigation buttons and a 5MP selfie camera. Plastic is the material of choice for the K30’s design, and on the back, you’ll find an 8MP shooter along with a fingerprint sensor.

Other specs include the Snapdragon 425, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage (expandable up to 2TB), and Android 7.1 Nougat.

You’ll pay $139.99 for the K30.

See at Amazon

What phones are available?

Amazon’s list of Prime Exclusive Phones is always changing, and as it does, we’ll be updating this list to reflect the most current lineup. As it stands right now, these are the phones you can get through the Prime Exclusive program —

• LG G6+ ($519.99)
• LG G6 ($419.99)
• LG Q6 ($189.99)
• LG K30 ($139.99)
• LG X Charge ($169.99)
• Moto E4 ($119.99)
• Moto X4 ($279.99)
• Moto G5 Plus ($204.99)
• Moto G6 ($234.99)

Can anyone buy the phones?

Nope.

In order to purchase Prime Exclusive Phones, you’ll need to have an active subscription to Amazon Prime.

Amazon Prime costs $119 for 12 months or $39 for 3 months, and along with access to these phones, you also get free two-day shipping, access to shows/movies on Prime Video, free Kindle e-books, and much, much more.

How are they so much cheaper?

Prime Exclusive Phones are considerably cheaper than their non-Prime counterparts, but how can this be?

No matter which one you choose, all Prime Exclusive Phones come with pre-installed Amazon apps, including Amazon Shopping, Prime Video, Amazon Kindle, Amazon Music, etc.

There used to be advertisements on the lock screen of every Prime Exclusive phone, too, but Amazon changed this is February by simply kicking the price up of all its phones by $20 and removed the ads.

Amazon Echo vs. Dot vs. Tap vs. Spot vs. Show: Which should you buy?

Updated 5/30/2018 — Add the Moto G6 to the list!