Best Music Streaming App for Android in 2018

Music is one of the most-used functions of Android phones, so use a music service that fits your music and your life.

Music is the heartbeat of our lives. It amps us up before a big test or a cardio workout. It soothes us through grief and loss. It lulls us to sleep at night, it wakes us up in the morning. Music is fundamental, and it is still one of the core functions of our phones, our smart speakers like Google Home, and our computers. And because we expect our music to follow us from device to device, from home to car to work to cafe, having a music streaming service that fits your life and your lifestyle is important.

We’re here to help you make sure that the music service you give your money to is the best one for you.

There are several music streaming services out there, but we’re going to focus on the five music streaming services that are available to much of the world. Because YouTube Music may replace Google Play Music down the line, it has been included so that we can measure the service and its features against the rest of the pack as it continues to develop and roll out to more regions, even though it is only available in 17 countries right now.

Deezer and Apple Music may be the only choices in your country, as they are available in over 100 countries while Spotify, Google Play Music, and Tidal are available in less than 70 countries. This is why even though Apple Music offers a substandard experience on Android compared to Apple devices, it is being included here.

Best overall: Spotify

Spotify has been offering up its streaming music magic for almost a decade now, and it is without a doubt the most popular subscription on the market today, and rightfully so. Its selection is vast, its settings are easy to understand, and its algorithms ensure that users keep finding new and awesome music to add to their libraries. Spotify’s Discover Weekly and Made for You mixes are often imitated, but the only platform to even come close to its prowess is the buggy, beta-stage YouTube Music. Thanks to Spotify Connect and the many, many platforms Spotify makes dedicated apps for — from Android TV to Wear OS and everywhere in between — you’ll be able to listen to your library just about anywhere.

Spotify has grown a loyal user base out of its Student subscription, which was the first of its kind among music streaming subscriptions and remains one of the best deals in streaming today. It also offers family plans, as well as subscription bundles through some wireless carriers and with Hulu. The service isn’t without a few thorns, but they shouldn’t be a problem for most users: you can only add 10,000 songs to My Library, there’s a limit of 3 devices, 3,333 songs for offline content, and queue management on Spotify is a bit of an oddity. Playlist management is also a bit lackluster on Android and Chromebooks, but it’s good enough to get by.

See at Spotify

Read more: Everything you need to know about Spotify

Android app	x	x	x	x	x	x
Wear OS app	x	x		x
Android TV app	x	x	YouTube app	x	x
Android Auto compatibility	x	x		x	x
Web client	x	x	x	x	x
Desktop client	x	Download/Upload only		x	x	x
Chromecast compatibility	x	x	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	x
Google Assistant compatibility	x	x	x
Max audio quality	320 kbps	320 kbps	128 kbps	320 kbps (Premium), 1411 kbps (Hi-Fi)	1411 kbps	256 kbps
Device limit	Offline only: 3 devices	10 devices	Unlimited	3 devices	Unlimited	10 devices
Songs available	40 million+	40 million+	Unknown	53 million+ (Premium), 36 million+ (Hi-Fi)	50 million+	40 million+
Library limit	10,000 songs	Unlimited subscription music, 50,000 song uploads	Unknown	2,000 songs on desktop, 1,000 on mobile apps	10,000 songs, 10,000 albums	100,000 songs
Playlist size limit	10,000 songs (3,333 songs for offline playlists)	1,000 songs	5,000 songs	2,000 songs on desktop, 1,000 on mobile apps	Unknown	varies by platform
Offline limits	3 devices, 3,333 songs	10 devices	Unlimited	1,000 songs	3 devices, 10,000 songs	10 devices
Algorithm-based mixes and radio stations	x	x	x	x	x	x
Podcasts	x	x		x	x
Music videos	x	(via YouTube)	x		x	x
Music documentaries / behind the scenes / Original Video series	x			x	x	x
Gapless playback	Crossfade only (not available when using Spotify Connect)	Device-dependent		Crossfade only (not available on Android)	Device-dependent	Device-dependent
Song lyrics	Limited (via Genius)	Limited, only accessible via Google Search	Limited (via YouTube lyric videos)	Limited
Stable performance on Android	x	x		x	x
Free services	x	x	x	x
Ad-supported	Audio ads	Banner ads on Free radio	Audio ads	Audio ads
Skip limit	6/hour	6/hour on Free radio, no limit on uploaded music	Unlimited	6/hour
Forced shuffle	x	Shuffle on Free radio, no restrictions on uploaded music	Unrestricted	x
Repeat/repeat one available		x	x		Limited (get replays via ad engagement)
Offline listening		Uploaded music only
Paid subscriptions	Spotify	Google Play Music	YouTube Music	Deezer	Tidal	Apple Music
Individual Subscription	$9.99	$9.99 (includes YouTube Music)	$9.99 (does not include Google Play Music)	$9.99	$9.99 (Premium), $19.99 (Hi-Fi Premium)	$9.99
Family Subscription	$14.99	$14.99 (includes YouTube Music)		$14.99 (does not include Google Play Music)	$14.99 (Family Premium), $29.99 (Family Hi-Fi)	$14.99
Student pricing	$4.99 (includes basic Hulu)				$4.99 (Student Premium), $9.99 (Student Hi-Fi)	$4.99
Other bundles/discounts)	$12.99 (Spotify & basic Hulu)	$11.99 (YouTube Premium), $17.99 (YouTube Premium family)	$11.99 (YouTube Premium), $17.99 (YouTube Premium family)		$5.99 (Military Premium), $11.99 (Military Hi-Fi)	$99.99 annual subscription ($20 discount)
Available Countries	65	63	17	189	67	115

Best for Students: Spotify

If you’re a college student looking to make your dollar go further for streaming, it’s damn near impossible to beat the $4.99/month bundle of Spotify Premium for Students and basic (commercial-supported) Hulu. Spotify is also easy to pull up on school computers via its web client, so that you can listen while you’re coding in the lab or pretending to get an essay done in the library.

See at Spotify

Read more: Everything you need to know about Spotify

Best for music hoarders: Google Play Music

Google Play Music’s subscription library might not be quite as big as Deezer or Tidal, but Google Play Music doesn’t have a limit on how many songs from the subscription library you can add to your library. It also has a pocket ace in its music locker service: Google Play Music allows users to upload up to 50,000 songs — or 100,000 if you purchased a Samsung Galaxy S8 last year — and stream their songs back anywhere they can access their Google account for free.

Whether you’ve ripped that out-of-print, impossible-to-find concert album that beats the pants off the pale studio version offered in the subscription catalogs, remixed your own music, or gotten ahold of music that’s not available commercially, the music locker on Google Play Music is invaluable. This is especially true for subscription users that can mix that uploaded music with subscription catalog songs and albums.

See at Google Play Music

Google Play Music comes with YouTube Music for $9.99/month, but do yourself a favor and upgrade to YouTube Premium. For $11.99/month, you get Google Play Music, and premium features on YouTube Music, YouTube, YouTube Kids, YouTube Gaming, and YouTube VR.

See at YouTube

Read more: Everything you need to know about Google Play Music

Best audio quality: Tidal

Tidal may seem a bit pretentious or downright snobby at times, but when it comes to quality music in a quality experience, Tidal’s the service for you. It doesn’t try to overload its service with bells and whistles, but that means the app is slimmer, smoother, and simpler.

Tidal having two tiers of premium service can be a little confusing for a service based around extreme audio quality, but it also offers the largest selection of discounts and is the only service to offer a military discount.

Tidal ($19.99/month Hi-Fi Premium)

Best for device-hoppers: Spotify

Spotify Connect may have a more clean handoff system between devices so that you can keep and manage a single queue while hopping from platform to platform, and it also allows you to easily play Spotify back on thousands of different connected devices and platforms using the same simple UI.

Spotify offers an easy-to-use web client that doesn’t require any downloads or installations for you to easily use on a managed computer at work or school, but there’s also a desktop client available for more intense library management and offline playback. While Spotify also doesn’t have a device limit for streaming, its 3-device, 3,333-song limit on offline content can spell trouble for those who download larger sections of their library for long trips or mobile data saving.

See at Spotify

Read more: Everything you need to know about Spotify

Best value: YouTube Premium

Twelve bucks a month for a robust, stable music player with a built-in music locker service, the best experience on the most popular video platform in the world, and a brand-new but little bit buggy music service built atop the biggest music catalog in the world, including fan content and non-commercially-available music? Yeah, sign me up. YouTube Premium is a video subscription that removes ads and unlocks premium features on six apps: Google Play Music, YouTube, YouTube Music, YouTube Kids, YouTube Gaming, And YouTube VR. Name another subscription with that kind of value. No, really, I’ll wait.

Once upon a time, you could subscribe to YouTube, YouTube Music, or Google Play Music and get access to premium service on all of them, but recent changes to Google’s pricing policies have changed things. Pay for YouTube Music, and you just get YouTube Music. Pay for Google Play Music, you get Google Play Music and YouTube Music. Pay for YouTube Premium, and you still get everything.

See at YouTube

Read more: Buy YouTube Premium instead of YouTube Music Premium

What’s your favorite?

Let us know what your favorite streaming music service is, and why!

Updated June 2018: This post was completely rewritten, overhauled, and whatever else describes a start-from-zero approach.

What’s new on Netflix for July 2018

Comedian Dave Chappelle joins Jerry Seinfeld in the new season of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, available July 6 on Netflix. (Image credit: Netflix)

… and what’s leaving in July.

Is there anything better during the summertime that staying indoors, away from the sun and the heat and the bugs and the sun, and just wasting the days away with Netflix? Because that sounds pretty damn good to me, especially given that we’ve got a new season of Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, with a dozen new masters of their craft, including Jerry Lewis, Ellen DeGeneres and Dave Chappelle.

Need more comedy? Iliza Shlesinger’s new “elder millennial” special — shot on the USS Hornet — brings perspective to relationships and sexual dynamics.

Plus, ya know, a ton of other great shows you’ve loved over the years, waited to watch, or didn’t know existed. (Seriously, spend some time on the Netflix Originals — you’ll definitely find a gem or two.)

Coming to Neflix … at some point (TBA)

• El Chapo: Season 3

Coming to Netflix on July 1

• Blue Bloods: Season 8
• Bo Burnham: what.
• Chocolat
• Deceived
• Finding Neverland
• Get Smart
• Happy Gilmore
• Hawaii Five-O: Season 8
• Interview with the Vampire
• Journey to the Center of the Earth
• Jurassic Park
• Jurassic Park III
• Madam Secretary: Season 4
• Menace II Society
• NCIS: Season 15
• Pandorum
• Penelope
• Queens of Comedy: Season 2
• Rica, Famosa, Latina: Seasons 1-4
• Scooby-Doo
• Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed
• Spanglish
• Stealth
• Swordfish
• The Boondock Saints
• The Lost World: Jurassic Park
• The Princess Diaries
• The Voices
• Traitor
• Troy
• Van Helsing
• We Own the Night
• We the Marines
• What We Started

Coming to Netflix on July 2

• Dance Academy: The Comeback
• Good Witch: Season 4
• Romina
• The Sinner: Season 1

Coming to Netflix on July 3

• The Comedy Lineup (Netflix Original): A diverse group of up-and-coming comedians perform 15-minute sets in this stand-up comedy showcase series.

Coming to Netflix on July 5

• Blue Valentine

Coming to Netflix on July 6

• Anne with an E: Season 2 (Netflix Original): Anne’s beloved world of Green Gables becomes a much bigger place, with new faces and heartfelt lessons about love, loss and growing up.
• Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: New 2018: Freshly Brewed (Netflix Original): In a new set of episodes for 2018, Jerry Seinfeld takes a ride with 12 comedy heavyweights, including Jerry Lewis, Ellen DeGeneres and Dave Chappelle.
• First Team: Juventus: Part B (Netflix Original): In the second half of the season, Juve hope to hold off stiff challenges to winning another league title while moving forward in the Champions League.
• Free Rein: Season 2 (Netflix Original): As Zoe and the Bright Fields team prepare for Junior Nationals, they must overcome the loss of a team member, a mysterious fire and other obstacles.
• Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons: Season 2 (Netflix Original): Raphael Rowe, who spent 12 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit, investigates some of the world’s toughest prisons from the inside.
• Sacred Games (Netflix Original): Set amid the chaos of Mumbai, this epic series explores the corrupt underworld lurking beneath India’s economic renaissance. Based on the novel.
• Samantha! (Netflix Original): A child star in the ’80s, Samantha clings to the fringes of celebrity with hilarious harebrained schemes to launch herself back into the spotlight.
• Somebody Feed Phil: The Second Course (Netflix Original): Phil Rosenthal continues his culinary journey of the world, making stops in Dublin, Venice, Buenos Aires, Copenhagen, Cape Town and New York City.
• The Fosters: Season 5 New Episodes
• The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter (Netflix Original Film): All he wants out of this trip is a chance to bond with his son. And for his son to kill a deer. And to get it all on video.
• The Skin of The Wolf (Netflix Original Film): An animal trapper living in an abandoned mountain town in northern Spain seeks to resolve his loneliness by securing a wife.
• White Fang (Netflix Original Film): A loyal wolfdog’s curiosity leads him on the adventure of a lifetime in this animated update of a Jack London classic set in Canada’s Yukon Territory.

Coming to Netflix on July 7

• Scream 4

Coming to Netflix on July 9

• Lockup: Extended Stay: Collection 1

Coming to Netflix on July 10

• Drug Lords: Season 2 (Netflix Original): Drug lords El Chapo, Jemeker Thompson, Christopher Coke and Klaas Bruinsma use fear and violence to make money and avoid authorities.

Coming to Netflix on July 12

• Gone Baby Gone

Coming to Netflix on July 13

• How It Ends (Netflix Original Film): As a mysterious apocalypse causes the spread of misinformation and violence, a man and his estranged father-in-law race across a chaotic and fractured country to save his pregnant wife.
• Jim Jefferies: This Is Me Now (Netflix Original): The gleefully irreverent Jim Jefferies pushes buttons and boundaries as he riffs on celebrity encounters, political hypocrisy and bodily marvels.
• Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
• Sugar Rush (Netflix Original): Time’s the most important ingredient as competitive teams race against the clock to bake up the best-tasting sweets.
• The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants (Netflix Original): Facing one misadventure after another, two rascally 4th-grade pals turn their ornery principal into Captain Underpants, a superhero to save the day.

Coming to Netflix on July 15

• Bonusfamiljen: Season 2 (Netflix Original): As Lisa and Patrik take their relationship to the next level, mishaps, money troubles and a startling revelation leave the whole family reeling.
• Going for Gold
• The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale: Part 2 (Netflix Original): Trending news, pop culture, social media, original videos and more come together in host Joel McHale’s weekly comedy commentary show.

Coming to Netflix on July 20

• Amazing Interiors (Netflix Original): They might look ordinary on the outside. But inside, these stunning homes have some jaw-dropping secrets to reveal.
• Dark Tourist (Netflix Original): From a nuclear lake to a haunted forest, journalist David Farrier visits unusual — and often macabre — tourism spots around the world.
• Deep Undercover: Collection 3
• Duck Duck Goose (Netflix Original Film): A carefree goose takes a pair of lost baby ducklings under his wing after he’s grounded with an injury. Together, they go on a wild adventure.
• Father of the Year (Netflix Original Film): Two college grads return to their hometown, where a hypothetical question — whose dad would win in a fight? — leads to mass mayhem.
• Fix It and Finish It: Collection 3
• Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh: Season 4 (Netflix Original): Fun-loving Tip and her goofy Boovian BFF take on the world in a new season packed with awesome adventures and cool tunes.
• Jimmy: The True Story of a True Idiot (Netflix Original): In the 1980s, a simple-minded fool named Hideaki meets comedy legend Sanma, changes his name to Jimmy and becomes a comic superstar.
• Last Chance U: EMCC & Life After (Netflix Original): With “Last Chance U” in their rearview mirrors, EMCC players, coaches and staff members reveal how life has gone for them since the show.
• Last Chance U: INDY: Part 1 (Netflix Original): The acclaimed series shifts to Independence Community College in Kansas, where a tough-as-nails coach attempts to rebuild a struggling program.
• Luna Petunia: Return to Amazia: Season 2 (Netflix Original): She’s back with the power to make the impossible possible! Join Luna and her friends for more magical adventures in Amazia and beyond.

Coming to Netflix on July 22

• An Education
• Disney’s Bolt

Coming to Netflix on July 24

• The Warning (Netflix Original Film): After the loss of his friend, a mathematical genius figures out a pattern of deaths at a gas station and sets out to warn the next young victim.
• Iliza Shlesinger: Elder Millennial (Netflix Original): Newly engaged, Iliza Shlesinger brings an “elder millennial” perspective to relationships and sexual dynamics in a special shot aboard the USS Hornet.

Coming to Netflix on July 27

• Cupcake & Dino – General Services (Netflix Original): In this outrageous animated series, an ambitious cupcake and his friendly dinosaur brother try to rule the general services industry in the big city.
• Extinction (Netflix Original Film): Plagued by dreams of an alien invasion, a family man faces his worst nightmare when an extraterrestrial force begins exterminating Earth’s inhabitants.
• Orange Is the New Black: Season 6 (Netflix Original): In the wake of the riot, the women are taken to maximum security prison and face serious charges.
• Roman Empire: Reign of Blood: Master of Rome (Netflix Original): Julius Caesar rises to establish one of history’s greatest dynasties but quickly discovers that unchecked power comes with a price.
• The Bleeding Edge (Netflix Original): This groundbreaking documentary explores how America’s profit-driven multibillion-dollar medical device industry puts patients at risk daily.
• The Worst Witch: Season 2 (Netflix Original): A second year at Cackle’s Academy means double the magic and mischief for accident-prone witch in training Mildred Hubble and her friends.
• Welcome to the Family (Netflix Original): When a broke single mom’s estranged father dies, she and his girlfriend try to cover up his death after learning they’ve been written out of his will.

Coming to Netflix on July 28

• Shameless: Season 8
• The Company Men

Coming to Netflix on July 29

• Her
• Sofia the First: Season 4

Coming to Netflix on July 30

• A Very Secret Service: Season 2 Amid rising Cold War tensions, the clueless agents trigger a series of international crises, and André goes rogue on a mission of his own.

Coming to Netflix on July 31

• Terrace House: Opening New Doors: Part 3 A new female member joins Terrace House, driving the male members to distraction. And with Valentine’s Day approaching, confessions are in the air.

What’s leaving Netflix on July 1

• Alive
• Along Came Polly
• An Honest Liar
• Beerfest
• Before Midnight
• Bring It On
• Bring It On Again
• Bring It On: All or Nothing
• Bring It On: Fight to the Finish
• Bring It On: In It to Win It (July 1)
• Cocktail
• Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
• Lethal Weapon
• Lethal Weapon 2
• Lethal Weapon 3
• Lethal Weapon 4
• Little Women
• Michael Clayton
• Midnight in Paris
• Mixed Signals
• More Than a Game
• Pandemic
• Piglet’s Big Movie
• Rugrats Go Wild
• Scary Movie
• Scream 3
• Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
• The Art of War
• Tropic Thunder
• V for Vendetta

What’s leaving Netflix on July 2

• Breakfast at Tiffany’s

What’s leaving Netflix on July 8

• Alpha & Omega: Journey to Bear Kingdom
• Real Husbands of Hollywood: Seasons 1-5

What’s leaving Netflix on July 9

• Ratchet and Clank
• Serena

What’s leaving Netflix on July 11

• Alice Through the Looking Glass

What’s leaving Netflix on July 14

• Wild Hogs

What’s leaving Netflix on July 15

• Convergence
• Lockup: State Prisons: Collection 1
• Small Is Beautiful: A Tiny House Documentary

What’s leaving Netflix on July 16

• Changeling
• Wanted

What’s leaving Netflix on July 29

• The Den

What’s leaving Netflix on July 30

• A Cinderella Story
• Hurricane of Fun: The Making of Wet Hot
• Swing State

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Microsoft Launcher beta picks up new family feature, Edge improvements

Microsoft Launcher continues its focus on family features with the latest beta update.

Microsoft Launcher is shipping out another new set of features for beta testers to check out on Android. And like other recent updates to the launcher, this one focuses on a new family feature and some smaller tweaks here and there.

One of the biggest pieces of this update is the ability for parents to now choose which kids to show or hide on the family card. This builds off of the foundation of a relatively new family safety feature Microsoft recently added, which allows parents to keep an eye on their kids’ activity on Android phones running launcher, along with Windows PCs and Xbox consoles.

Other new bits include general improvements to reading news articles in Microsoft Edge, support for multi-turn SMS and calling with Cortana, and more. Here’s a look at all of what’s new:

• Family: parents can show/hide kids in the Family card;
• Improvements to reading news articles with Microsoft Edge browser;
• Toggle to hide page indicator on home screen;
• Cortana: support multi-turn SMS + calling;
• UI improvements: welcome page, settings page, widgets & context menu;
• Support for removing screens in overview mode via drag & drop

If you’re enrolled as a beta tester, you can grab all of what’s new in Microsoft Launcher version 4.11 now on Google Play. And if you aren’t yet giving the beta a go, you can sign up to become a tester. Otherwise, version 4.11 should be rolling out to the general release for everyone soon, is testing goes well.

See at Google Play

The $600 Arlo Pro 5-camera security system will ensure every corner is covered

Keep your home safe and secure no matter where you are.

The Netgear Arlo Pro 5-camera 720p home security system is down to $599.99 on Amazon. This is the lowest price we’ve seen on the 5-camera set since last year, and this same kit usually sells for around $760 to $800. The 6-camera kit is also on sale, down to $650 on Amazon. That’s essentially an extra camera for $50 more if you need more coverage.

The kit comes with six of the Arlo Pro cameras and the required base station that connects them all together. The cameras are wireless and weather-resistant, so they’re good to use inside or out. They have fast-charging rechargeable batteries. The system can work with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, and more. You get seven days of free cloud recordings, and Arlo has subscription plans for more access.

See on Amazon

Moto Z3 Play: Everything you need to know!

Motorola packs a punch for round three of the Z Play.

Motorola’s Moto Z Play line has gone through a lot of changes in the few short years it’s existed. The original Z Play was an excellent alternative to the much more expensive Moto Z and offered tremendous battery life with support to take it even further with Moto Mods.

The Z2 Play decreased the battery capacity while increasing the price by $50, and this year with the Z3 Play, we’re met with the same 3,000 mAh battery and $499 price tag of its predecessor while also getting dual cameras, a full glass back, and a new on-screen gesture system.

If your interest has been peaked by the Z3 Play, here’s everything you need to know!

The latest Moto Z3 Play news

June 21, 2018 — Pre-orders are open now!

If you want to be among the first to own the Z3 Play, you can pre-order it now from not only Motorola’s website, but at Best Buy and B&H, too.

The Z3 Play will set you back $499 at any of the above retailers, but if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can pick it up for just $449 through Amazon’s Prime Exclusive program.

See at Amazon

All the big details

Check out our hands-on preview

If you want to know what it’s like to play around with the Moto Z3 Play, why not take a look at our hands-on coverage?

AC’s Daniel Bader got a chance to go up close and personal with the Z3 Play, and you can read and watch his thoughts in both written and video form ✍️📺.

Moto Z3 Play hands-on preview: Three’s company

Review the specs

If you like playing the numbers game, the Moto Z3 Play does a pretty solid job at holding its own compared to other phones in its price range. Some of the highlights include a Snapdragon 636 processor, Android 8.1, and a healthy 4GB RAM.

To learn even more about what makes the Z3 Play tick, check out our full spec rundown below.

Moto Z3 Play Specifications

See how it compares to the Z2 Play

The Moto Z3 Play might be newer and flashier than last year’s Z2 Play, but should owners of its predecessor shell out another $499 to upgrade?

You’ll find a lot of improvements with the Z3 Play, such as a newer processor and slimmer bezels, but the Z2 Play still puts up a fight in mid-2018 with a 3.5mm headphone jack (something the Z3 Play doesn’t have), a more traditional fingerprint sensor, and sturdier aluminum back.

This one’s a toss-up in a lot of ways, so be sure to give our detailed, hands-on comparison a look.

Moto Z3 Play vs. Moto Z2 Play: Should you upgrade?

Motorola’s toying with a new on-screen gesture system

Previous Moto phones have featured a unique navigation system that replaces Google’s on-screen buttons in favor of a series of swipes performed on the front-facing fingerprint sensor.

With the Z3 Play, Motorola’s evolving that idea and taking some inspiration from Android P by moving those gestures from the fingerprint sensor and making them on-screen. Swiping left goes back, Swiping right brings up your recent apps, and a single tap takes you home.

It’s unclear if Motorola will continue to offer this once Android P rolls around, but it’s a fun and unique way to make your way around the phone.

The fingerprint sensor is in a unique place

A quick glance at the Z3 Play might lead you to believe that Motorola forgot to include a fingerprint sensor, but there is one there if you know where to look.

An indented area on the right side of the phone is where the Z3 Play’s fingerprint sensor lies, and because of its position, the power/lock button has been moved to the left.

This positioning of buttons could cause for some confusion/irritation in day-to-day use, but at the very least, it’s a unique implementation we really don’t see all that often.

There are dual cameras

One of the biggest upgrades to the Z3 Play over its predecessors lies with its camera. This is the first entry in the Z Play lineup to come equipped with dual rear cameras, and on the Z3 Play, we’ve got a 12MP and 5MP combo.

Motorola’s upgraded processing should allow for improved low-light photos compared to the Z2 Play and the secondary lens allows for much better (if not the best) portrait shots.

You’ll also find features such as 4K video recording at 30 FPS and a built-in cinemagraph tool.

It’s compatible with all existing Moto Mods

Motorola promised its lineup of Moto Mods would work on Moto Z phones for three full years, and it’s keeping that promise with the Z3 Play.

This is the last Z Play phone that’ll work with all existing Moto Mods, and in mid-2018, you have a lot of them to choose from.

Motorola’s done a great job at building up its library of Mods over the years, with some of the highlights including a Nintendo Switch-like gamepad, external speaker, an assortment of battery packs, and much more.

Here’s every Moto Mod you can buy for the Moto Z series

You’ll pay $499 to own the Z3 Play

If you’re interested in picking up the Moto Z3 Play, Motorola’s charging $499 for it.

For comparison’s sake, the Moto G6 offers a vastly similar experience for around $260 less and the OnePlus 6 costs $30 more while offering a much more capable processor, better cameras, and a headphone jack.

The Z3 Play certainly isn’t a bad phone, but unless you plan on making full use of the Moto Mod ecosystem, don’t be afraid to broaden your horizon’s and see what else is out there.

See at Motorola

Deals: $15 Off $75+ Orders at eBay, 10% Off at Gazelle, Beats Studio3 for $205, and More

eBay today launched its latest sitewide coupon code, offering customers the chance to save $15 on orders that reach or exceed $75. The code isn’t as enticing as eBay’s previous sitewide sales, but could still give shoppers the chance to save money on a variety of items, excluding video game consoles, laptops and netbooks, coins and paper money, gift cards and coupons, and real estate.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Otherwise, those interested can shop throughout eBay, add items to their cart until it reaches $75, and checkout with the coupon code PSUPERSUMMER before 7:00 p.m. PT tonight, June 21. The code can only be used once and within a single transaction, and only eBay users registered with an address located in the United States, Canada, Latin America or the Caribbean can take part in the sale. Head to eBay’s Daily Deals page and home page to start browsing before the sale ends in a few hours.

Gazelle has also kicked off a sitewide sale this week, allowing shoppers to take 10 percent off items across the site through June 24. Gazelle’s storefront offers discounts on used iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and more, all inspected by the company and ensured to be working properly and backed by a 30 day return policy. Those interested can start shopping on Gazelle today and simply add any item into their shopping cart to see the 10 percent savings automatically applied during checkout.

In other deals, there are a few Beats discounts happening this week on Amazon. The company’s official Amazon store has the BeatsX in Black for $89.99, down from $149.99, which has been a frequent sale price for the in-ear headphones.

More notable is a nice discount on the Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones, marked down to $204.95 from $349.99 in Matte Black, White, and Blue. Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart have knocked down prices on the Studio3 Headphones to around $205-$220 in recent weeks, but Amazon’s price is one of the lowest currently available online for the high-end headphones.

Below you can also find a few of the latest charging accessory promo code discounts offered by Anker and Choetech on Amazon:

Anker

• 5-in-1 USB C Hub (HDMI, 1-Gigabit Ethernet, 3 USB 3.0 Ports) – $44.99 with code ANKER833, down from $60.99 (exp. 6/23)

• Powerline+ Lightning Cable (10ft, all colors) – $12.59 with code ANKER823, down from $17.99 (exp. 6/30)

• USB C to USB 3.0 Adapter (Gray and Silver) – $7.49 with code ANKER875, down from $9.99 (exp. 6/30)

• Powerline+ Lightning Cable 6ft Without Pouch (Gray, Red) – $9.79 with code ANKER985, down from $13.99 (exp. 6/30)

• Powerline+ Lightning Cable 3ft Without Pouch (Gray, Red) – $8.39 with code ANKER985, down from $11.99 (exp. 6/30)

• ZOLO Halo Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Smart Speaker – $29.99 with code ZOLOHALO, down from $49.99 (exp. 6/30)

Choetech

• Qi-Certified Wireless Charger (Black) – $7.99 with promo code DT2XNIU7, down from $12.95
• 6-pack of USB-C to USB-A cables – $7.99 with code 9ARQ5ZD6, down from $12.99

For more details about this week’s best discounts and offers, be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
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Switching to AT&T? We break down the carrier’s new unlimited and prepaid plans

AT&T finally did it. The wireless carrier has joined Sprint and T-Mobile in offering unlimited talk, text, and data. But even with the switch, the carrier’s plans remain the most expensive, and some of its plan options are odd. If you live in an area where Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint don’t work, AT&T is likely your only option. That said, it offers some solid options for subscribers.

There’s no contract, and you have to pay the full, unsubsidized price for each smartphone on your plan. You’ll pay for each device in installments, which typically range between $20 and $30 a month per phone. You can also add your own phone to your plan instead of buying a new one.

In the table below, we break down the costs for you for the company’s Unlimited Choice and Unlimited Plus plans. Which one you pick is up to you, but choose wisely: All lines are either one or the other, and you can’t mix and match.

AT&T Unlimited Plans

People
Unlimited Choice Enhanced

Total
Unlimited Plus Enhanced

Total

1
$65
$65
$80
$80

2
$65 + $55
$120
$80 + $70
$150

3
$65 + $55 + $20
$140
$80 + $70 + $20
$170

4
$65 + $55 + $20 + $20
$160
$80 + $70 + $20 + $20
$190

AT&T’s Unlimited Choice single line plan is actually fairly competitive, but any of the other unlimited options are higher than every other carrier. Which one you choose depends on your mobile data usage. The Unlimited Choice plan offers standard definition video (480p), 4G LTE speed, and roaming in/calling to Mexico and Canada.

Stepping up to the Plus plan upgrades your SD streaming to HD, 15GB of tethering, and a $15 credit to DirecTV or DirecTV now. You also must use autopay to get $5 off the above listed rates, as well as paperless billing.

AT&T Unlimited &More Plans

A new option following AT&T’s merger with Time-Warner, the Unlimited &More packages offer much the same as AT&T’s standard packages, but also offer a WatchTV subscription to 30-plus channels, and the option for a free subscription to one of several premium services.

The &More services will be available in two packages — AT&T Unlimited &More Premium, and AT&T Unlimited &More. Any &More Premium subscriber will also get free access to Pandora Premium from June 26, as part of their package, in addition to the benefits offered by the standard Unlimited Plus Enhanced plan. Also, &More subscribers will get the same benefits you would expect from the Unlimited Choice Enhanced package.

The pricing is as follows:

People
AT&T Unlimited &More
Total
Unlimited &More Premium
Total

1
$70
$70
$80
$80

2
$70 + $60
$130
$80 + $70
$150

3
$70 + $60 + $25
$155
$80 + $70 + $20
$170

4
$65 + $55 + $20 + $20
$160
$80 + $70 + $20 + $20
$190

WatchTV lineup

At this moment, you can expect to find the following channels on the WatchTV service offered by AT&T:

• A&E
• AMC
• Animal Planet
• Audience
• BBC World News
• BBC America
• Boomerang
• Cartoon Network
• CNN
• Discovery
• Food Network
• FYI
• Hallmark
• Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
• HGTV
• History
• HLN
• IFC
• ID
• Lifetime
• Lifetime Movies
• Own
• Sundance TV
• TBS
• TCM
• TLC
• TNT
• Trutv
• Velocity
• Viceland
• We TV

The following channels will become available on WatchTV soon:

• BET
• Comedy Central
• MTV 2
• Nick Toons
• Teen Nick
• VH1

Recommendations:

• If you’re single and have DirecTV, go with AT&T. The Unlimited Plus option will give you a much better network than Sprint’s, although it is more expensive.
• Families are better served looking at other carriers, unless AT&T runs promotions to lower the costs.

The perks of AT&T plans:

• Strong coverage in both rural and urban areas.
• Big phone selection.
• Unlimited data is back.

The downsides of AT&T plans:

• All but one of its plan combinations are pricey.
• International coverage costs extra.

AT&T prepaid plans

AT&T also offers decent prepaid plans for those who want to go month by month. These are deals for people who are looking to save some money. For each line, you get unlimited talk and text, as well as unlimited messaging to more than 100 countries. You also have three data options: One to purchase it on an “as needed” basis every 250MB; another with unlimited data, but throttled after 6GB; and finally, another unlimited plan that throttles at the same amount of data post-paid plans do (22GB).

Recently, AT&T added a $50 plan that includes 8GB of data, HD video streaming, mobile hotspot, unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada, along with unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada. In addition, the $85 unlimited plan now includes 10GB of mobile hotspot for use in the U.S. — which slows down to 128 Kbps after 10GB.

There aren’t any overages, either. Here is a chart of what you get at every price point.

AT&T Prepaid

 Service

 $35/month

 $50/month
$65/month
 $85/month

With AutoPay discount
$30/month
$40/month
$55/month
$75/month

 Data
1GB
 8GB
Unlimited
Unlimited

Stream HD video
Yes
Yes
No
Yes

Mobile hotspot
Yes
Yes
No
Up to 10GB

 Unlimited talk and text to Mexico and Canada
 No
 Yes
Yes
 Yes

 Unlimited talk, text, and data in Mexico and Canada
 No
 Yes
Yes
 Yes

For plans that stream HD video, AT&T will turn the Stream Saver function — which is a manually activated video throttle that reduces video quality to SD — for you. In theory, this should help you conserve some of your data allotment, but you can turn it off at any time you’d like.

You get a $5 discount if you sign up for AutoPay under the $35 and $45 plans. For the $50, $65, and $85 plan, you receive $10 off. The plans are also eligible for multi-line discounts, so if you start adding lots of lines to your plan, you can get some money back. AT&T has made recent changes to these discounts — for the second line you now get a $10 discount instead of the previous $5 discount. With line four, the discount has increased to $20 from the $14 it was before. As for line three and five, you’ll receive $10 and $20 off respectively.

Recommendations: 

• AT&T Prepaid is best for individuals without heavy data needs.
• If you’re a family, you can get similar service for less elsewhere.

The perks of AT&T Prepaid:

• Strong coverage in both rural and urban areas.
• Big phone selection.
• No data overages anymore; speeds slow to 2G after you hit your limit.
• No credit check or contract.
• You’ll pay less than you would on AT&T’s other plans.

The downsides of AT&T Prepaid:

• Still pricey for a prepaid plan.

Top phones at AT&T

Phones
Down payment
Price/month x 24

iPhone X

iPhone 8

iPhone 8 Plus

iPhone SE

$0
$33.34 x 30 = $1000.20

$23.34 x 30 = $700.20

$26.67 x 30 = $800.10

$11.67 x 30 = $350.10

Samsung Galaxy S9

Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

$0

$26.34 x 30 = $790.20

$30.50 x 30 = $915

LG V35 ThinQ

LG V30

$0
$30.00 x 30 = $900

$26.67 x 30 = $800.10

AT&T has plenty of great phones, along with a few cool exclusives on new devices. There are no more two-year contracts, though, so you do have to pay full price for your phone. You can do so in monthly installments, which AT&T tacks on to your bill. High-end phones tend to go for somewhere between $20 and $30 a month, while cheaper ones can be had for as little as $5 a month.

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Assistant’s Continued Conversation feature lets you drop all the ‘Hey, Googles’

We first learned that Google would be bringing a Continued Conversation feature to Assistant at Google I/O, when the tech giant unveiled a whole host of exciting new features that would make the smart helper more useful than ever. And now, Continued Conversation has been launched, and promises to make your interactions with Assistant more natural. In essence, it allows you to chat with the A.I. tool without constantly starting your sentences with “Hey Google.” After all, it’s not how you would speak to a fellow human, so Google thinks it’s not how you should speak to Assistant either.

“For the Google Assistant to have a natural conversation, it should be able to understand when it’s being spoken to and should be capable of responding to several requests during an interaction,” Google noted in an announcement. So rather than saying “Hey Google” multiple times, you now only have to say it once — from then on out, if you ask follow-up questions, you can just ask them as though you were asking anyone else.

The feature is rolling out today, June 21, on Google Home, Google Home Mini, and Google Home Max. You’ll be able to turn on Continued Conversations by going to Settings, then Preferences, and then toggling on the Continued Conversation option.

Once you’ve activated the feature, then when you ask Assistant something (which does still need to be cued by saying, “Hey Google,”) you can keep the rhythm going by asking a follow-up, setting a reminder, or adding something to your shopping list. Once you’re finished with your conversation, simply say “thank you” or “stop.” Or, Google says, Assistant will end the conversation herself “once [she] detects that you’re no longer talking to the Assistant.” With the new setting, Assistant should stay active long enough for you to say everything you need to say at once (plus, you can also now give Assistant multiple commands — up to three, to be exact). Google notes that Assistant will stay active for eight seconds tops if it does not detect any speech. The LED lights at the top of your Google Home device will stay illuminated while the helper is listening.

So moving forward, your interactions with Google could look something like this: “Hey Google, what’s the weather today?” … “And what about tomorrow?” … “Can you add a rain jacket to my shopping list” … “And remind me to bring an umbrella tomorrow morning” … “Thank you!”

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How to use Android Messages on the web

Google is rolling out the latest version of its messaging app to Android users starting this week. The new version of the Android Messages app boasts a number of new features angled at making it more competitive with Facebook’s Messenger app and Apple’s rival iMessages app for iOS. One of the headline features of the new version of the Messages app is the ability login from the web. You’ll be able to send and receive all your text messages right from any browser window. Here’s how to get yourself all set up with the new system.

Update your Android Messages app

First step, you’re going to want to update your Android Messages app. To do that, just open the Google Play store, hit the icon in the top left of the screen, three lines stacked on top of each other — affectionately referred to as the ‘hamburger.’ Then go to My Apps & Games at the very top there. Now you’ll see a list of the apps and games installed on your Android device. Just hit update at the top here, an wait for Messages to download and install the update.

Enable Android Messages on the web

Once it finishes installing, fire it up! You’re going to want to do two things here. First, let’s open a web browser on the computer you want to receive your Android messages on. Head over to messages.android.com and you’ll see that the instructions are very straightforward. In your Android Messages app on your Android device, click the three-dot icon on the top right of the screen, then click Messages for web, on the next menu just scan the QR code at messages.android.com and you’re good to go!

To be fair, Google is still rolling this feature out over the next couple weeks so there’s a chance you might not see the option to enable Android Messages on the web. In that case, just keep an eye on your updates and keep checking that three-dot icon for the Messages for web option.

Now what

It’s up to you to decide if Google’s latest attempt at creating a messaging app will be successful. Given the news that Facebook Messenger will now be showing advertisements in your private, personal messages, Google’s latest stab at creating a unified messaging app comes at the perfect time for anyone looking for alternatives.

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How to use Android Messages on the web

Google is rolling out the latest version of its messaging app to Android users starting this week. The new version of the Android Messages app boasts a number of new features angled at making it more competitive with Facebook’s Messenger app and Apple’s rival iMessages app for iOS. One of the headline features of the new version of the Messages app is the ability login from the web. You’ll be able to send and receive all your text messages right from any browser window. Here’s how to get yourself all set up with the new system.

Update your Android Messages app

First step, you’re going to want to update your Android Messages app. To do that, just open the Google Play store, hit the icon in the top left of the screen, three lines stacked on top of each other — affectionately referred to as the ‘hamburger.’ Then go to My Apps & Games at the very top there. Now you’ll see a list of the apps and games installed on your Android device. Just hit update at the top here, an wait for Messages to download and install the update.

Enable Android Messages on the web

Once it finishes installing, fire it up! You’re going to want to do two things here. First, let’s open a web browser on the computer you want to receive your Android messages on. Head over to messages.android.com and you’ll see that the instructions are very straightforward. In your Android Messages app on your Android device, click the three-dot icon on the top right of the screen, then click Messages for web, on the next menu just scan the QR code at messages.android.com and you’re good to go!

To be fair, Google is still rolling this feature out over the next couple weeks so there’s a chance you might not see the option to enable Android Messages on the web. In that case, just keep an eye on your updates and keep checking that three-dot icon for the Messages for web option.

Now what

It’s up to you to decide if Google’s latest attempt at creating a messaging app will be successful. Given the news that Facebook Messenger will now be showing advertisements in your private, personal messages, Google’s latest stab at creating a unified messaging app comes at the perfect time for anyone looking for alternatives.

Editors’ Recommendations

• How to send webpages from Google Chrome to your Android phone
• How to save text messages in Android and iOS
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