Best Android Phones Under $300 in 2018

• Best overall
• Best for navel-gazing
• Best for stock Android

Best overall

Moto G6

See at Amazon

Motorola’s Moto G series just keeps getting better, and this year’s Moto G6 is as good as it gets for under $300. The 5.7-inch 18:9 display is as vibrant as it is modern, and the combination of 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a Snapdragon 450 processor will keep things running smoothly.

The benefits don’t stop at the specs, though. The Moto G6 has great build quality with metal and glass, along with a water-repellent coating to protect it in the rain — but don’t go dunking the phone in your pool, it’s not IP-rated. There’s a quick fingerprint sensor under the display, and a flashy dual camera array on the back. On the software side of things, you get a clean build of Android 8.0 Oreo, along with Moto Actions and Moto Display for quick access to convenient features.

Bottom line: Even though it’s priced well below the $300 limit, the Moto G6 is the most well-rounded phone in its category.

One more thing: The Moto G6 is compatible with all four major U.S. carriers.

Why the Moto G6 is the best

In our review of the Moto G6, we praised it for its build quality, excellent main camera, and good battery life. It suffers from the occasional software hiccup and doesn’t feature NFC, but overall it’s hard to beat its overall value and performance.

The Moto G6 has just about everything you could ask of a phone at this price. The software is clean yet clever with the addition of Moto Actions and Moto Display, and it’s quick to recharge with Motorola’s TurboPower charging. The Prime Exclusive version comes loaded with Amazon software, of course, but for an extra $15, you can buy the Moto G6 directly from Motorola without any bloat.

Best for navel-gazing

Huawei P20 Lite

See at Amazon

If you like a little pizazz, the Huawei P20 Lite is a great alternative to the Moto G6. Its 19:9 display is big and vibrant, with a notch up top for better or worse, and the flashy finish is eye-catching, to say the least. The Kirin 659 chipset is speedy and powerful, and the 3000mAh battery provides excellent longevity. Stock Android purists may not love its EMUI software, but it’s at least running on top of Android 8.0 Oreo.

Bottom line: The EMUI software isn’t for everyone, but at $299.99, the Huawei P20 Lite is a terrific phone with good camera performance, great battery life, and an excellent modern design.

One more thing: The P20 Lite is not compatible with the major CDMA networks in the U.S.

Best for stock Android

Nokia 6.1

See at Amazon

At $269, the Nokia 6.1 (otherwise known as the 2018 Nokia 6) is the best way to get stock Android for cheap. It’s part of Nokia’s Android One lineup, combining unadulterated stock Android with an aluminum unibody design that feels far more premium than its price tag would have you believe. The 5.5-inch 1080p LCD display looks fantastic, and it has one of the better cameras in its segment. On top of that, Nokia releases monthly security updates to keep its phones protected — a rarity for low-cost phones.

Bottom line: You’d be hard-pressed to find a better-made phone at this price point, and the regular software updates are icing on the cake.

One more thing: The Nokia 6.1 ships with Android 8.0 Oreo, not 8.1.

Conclusion

The Moto G6 and Nokia 6.1 are very close competitors, but the Moto G6 pulls ahead with its 18:9 display, dual cameras, Moto Actions, and most importantly, its support for all four major U.S. carriers. The Nokia 6.1 is still a great option for those in search of the cleanest possible version of Android, while the P20 Lite wins out in fashion and form.

Best overall

Moto G6

See at Amazon

Motorola’s Moto G series just keeps getting better, and this year’s Moto G6 is as good as it gets for under $300. The 5.7-inch 18:9 display is as vibrant as it is modern, and the combination of 3GB of RAM, 32GB of expandable storage, and a Snapdragon 450 processor will keep things running smoothly.

The benefits don’t stop at the specs, though. The Moto G6 has great build quality with metal and glass, along with a water-repellent coating to protect it in the rain — but don’t go dunking the phone in your pool, it’s not IP-rated. There’s a quick fingerprint sensor below the display, and a dual flashy camera array on the back. On the software side of things, you get a clean build of Android 8.0 Oreo, along with Moto Actions and Moto Display for quick access to convenient features.

Bottom line: Even though it’s priced well below the $300 limit, the Moto G6 is the most well-rounded phone in its category.

One more thing: The Moto G6 is compatible with all four major U.S. carriers.

Update June 2018: Replaced the Moto G5S Plus with the Moto G6, and the Honor 7X with the Huawei P20 Lite.

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 29, 2018 — The Z3 Play is now certified for Verizon Wireless

Even though the Moto Z3 Play isn’t sold on Verizon, that doesn’t mean you can’t use it with Big Red.

On June 29, Verizon officially certified the Z3 Play for use on the network — meaning that you can bring it over with peace of mind knowing you’ll get talk, text, and LTE data without any problems.

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

Samsung Galaxy J3 and J7 mid-rangers now available in the U.S.

The J3 is currently available at Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, and Boost Mobile.

We’re just a few short months away from the Galaxy Note 9, but before we can get our hands on Samsung’s latest and greatest, we’re going to be served with two typical and unsurprising mid-range phones. This year, we’re getting updated models of the Galaxy J3 and J7.

Samsung says the two phones “focus on the key features that users love: sharp displays for movies and apps, great-low-light cameras that let them make the most of every moment, expandable memory for more storage, and battery life that powers their phones all day.”

Looking first at the J3, the phone’s outfitted with a 5.0-inch HD display, 8MP rear-facing camera with f/1.9 aperture, and a 5MP f/2.2 selfie camera. With the J7, you’re getting a 5.5-inch HD screen, 13MP f/1.7 rear camera, and 13MP f/1.9 sensor on the front.

Further specs on the J7 are still unavailable, but we know the J3 will tout Samsung’s Exynos 7570 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a 2,600 mAh battery. Android 8.0 Oreo is also present out of the box.

The Galaxy J3 (left) and Galaxy J7 (right).

If you live in the U.S. and want to get the J7 or J3 for yourself, here’s where they’re currently available at:

• AT&T: The J3 is available for $209 outright or $7/month for 30 months.

• Verizon: On a post-paid plan, the J3 costs $7/month for 24 months or $168 outright. With a pre-paid plan, it costs $124.99.

• Sprint / Boost Mobile: The J7 is coming to Sprint and Boost Mobile as the J7 Refine and will cost $288. The J3 is launching under the J3 Achieve name and will set you back $192.

Updated June, 29, 2018: Added availability info for Verizon, Sprint, and Boost Mobile.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Oreo update: Which versions have received it

Follow Oreo’s journey to the S7 series right here.

The Samsung Galaxy S7 is far from Samsung’s latest and greatest, but it’s still kicking thanks to an update to Android Oreo. The new software has recently started making its way to the S7 and S7 Edge, and these are the versions of which it’s arrived on so far.

United States

AT&T

Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge owners started receiving the long-overdue Oreo update on Saturday, June 9, and it’s available as build number G93xAUCU4CRE4.

The update comes in at 1789MB (at least for the S7 Edge) and comes with the April 2018 security patch. That’s pretty outdated at this point, but it’s better than what we had before Oreo’s arrival.

Verizon

Oh, Verizon. Big Red tried rolling out the Oreo update for the S7 and S7 Edge twice, and each time, pulled it without much explanation. However, assuming that third time’s the charm, this third (and hopefully final) release of Oreo for the Verizon Galaxy S7 series should be the real deal.

Android 8.0 Oreo started hitting S7 handsets on Verizon shortly after AT&T on Monday, June 11 and the firmware version is updated to G930VVRU4CRE5 and G935VVRU4CRE5 for the S7 and S7 Edge, respectively.

Similar to AT&T, the April 2018 security patch is included with the update.

Sprint

Following AT&T and Verizon, Sprint began updating its Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge during the week of June 18.

This is the exact same Oreo update you’ll find on other carriers, meaning you’ll get features like Google’s Autofill for easier password entry, notification dots, picture-in-picture video, etc.

T-Mobile

Last but certainly not least, T-Mobile announced its Oreo update for the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on June 29.

Oreo will begin rolling out to phones starting this week (June 29), so be sure to keep an eye out for it!

Canada

Rogers / Fido

Rogers, one of the largest Canadian carriers, recently updated its Android Oreo release schedule for its supported phones to reveal that 8.0 Oreo is heading to the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge on Monday, June 11.

Also, since Fido is owned by Rogers, anyone that purchased a Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge through Fido should expect Oreo to arrive on their phones beginning on that same day.

Unlocked

UK

According to various reports on Reddit, the unlocked version of the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have begun receiving over-the-air updates that bump them up to Android 8.0 Oreo / Samsung Experience 9.0 – the same software found on the Galaxy S9 series.

The model numbers getting the update include SM-G930F and SM-G935F, and Oreo should change their build numbers to G930FXXU2ERD5 and G935FXXU2ERD5, respectively.

You’ll know you’ve been graced with Oreo’s good fortune when you have a 1.27GB update file waiting for you.

Updated June 29, 2018: Updated this list to include T-Mobile.

Android Oreo

• Android Oreo review!
• Everything new in Android Oreo
• How to get Android Oreo on your Pixel or Nexus
• Oreo will make you love notifications again
• Will my phone get Android Oreo?
• Join the Discussion

Apple Maps to Be Rebuilt ‘From the Ground Up’ With In-House Data Over the Next Year

Apple today announced that it will be rebuilding its Maps app “from the ground up” with street-level data collected from its fleet of Apple Maps vehicles, high resolution satellite imagery, and anonymized, random segments of navigation sessions from iPhone users, which Apple refers to as “probe data.”

Image: TechCrunch
TechCrunch’s Matthew Panzarino has published an in-depth overview of the changes coming to Apple Maps, which will be available in the San Francisco area starting with the next iOS 12 beta next week, cover all of Northern California by this fall, and roll out across the rest of the United States over the next year.

In short, Panzarino says Apple Maps will be switching to its own base map, rather than relying on third-party providers like TomTom, which will yield significant improvements as it relates to traffic, real-time road conditions, road systems, new construction, changes in pedestrian walkways, and more.

In a follow-up question-and-answer piece, Panzarino noted Apple Maps will more accurately display foliage like grass and trees, pools, parking lots, exact building shapes, sports areas like baseball diamonds, tennis and basketball courts, and pedestrian pathways that are commonly walked but previously unmapped.

His questionnaire also confirms that the overall design of Apple Maps will remain similar for now, beyond the additional detail.

Image: TechCrunch
Panzarino spoke in detail about the changes with Apple senior vice president Eddy Cue, who oversees Apple Maps:

“Since we introduced this six years ago — we won’t rehash all the issues we’ve had when we introduced it — we’ve done a huge investment in getting the map up to par,” said Cue. “When we launched, a lot of it was all about directions and getting to a certain place. Finding the place and getting directions to that place. We’ve done a huge investment of making millions of changes, adding millions of locations, updating the map and changing the map more frequently. All of those things over the past six years.”

Cue noted further improvements will take Apple Maps to “the next level”:

“We wanted to take this to the next level,” says Cue. “We have been working on trying to create what we hope is going to be the best map app in the world, taking it to the next step. That is building all of our own map data from the ground up.”

More from Cue:

“We don’t think there’s anybody doing this level of work that we’re doing,” adds Cue. “We haven’t announced this. We haven’t told anybody about this. It’s one of those things that we’ve been able to keep pretty much a secret. Nobody really knows about it. We’re excited to get it out there. Over the next year, we’ll be rolling it out, section by section in the US.”

Cue’s notion that nobody really knew about these plans is debatable, as its Apple Maps vehicles have been a telltale sign since 2015, the same year Mark Gurman reported that Apple would switch to its own base map by 2018.

Apple’s in-house base map will continue to improve thanks to probe data. When an iPhone user is navigating with Apple Maps, Apple may collect anonymized data from middle segments of the trip, but never the beginning or end point. Apple says no personal information is ever attached to the data it receives.

The secret sauce here is what Apple calls probe data. Essentially little slices of vector data that represent direction and speed transmitted back to Apple completely anonymized with no way to tie it to a specific user or even any given trip. It’s reaching in and sipping a tiny amount of data from millions of users instead, giving it a holistic, real-time picture without compromising user privacy.

Despite the privacy push, iPhone users can still disable the collection of probe data from their device, if they so desire, by opening the Settings app and tapping Privacy > Location Services > Maps > Never.

Image: TechCrunch
Apple did not confirm when the improvements could reach other countries, but Cue noted that the Apple Maps team is global, and Apple Maps vehicles have already surveyed parts of at least ten other countries, including Croatia, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

More details to follow…

Tag: Apple Maps
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Deals: eBay Debuts 15% Off Sitewide Coupon and Last Call for Anker’s June Discount Codes

eBay’s latest sitewide coupon launched today, offering shoppers the chance to save 15 percent off nearly everything on eBay with coupon code PERFECTDAY. As usual, exclusions to “everything” include warranties and protection plans, 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, eBay’s sitewide coupons are always a great opportunity to get the best prices on a variety of tech items for a few hours, like a Nest Cam Outdoor 2-Pack ($254.99, down from $299.99), Philips Hue White 4-Bulb Starter Kit ($68.83, down from $80.99), Apple Pencil for $76.49 (down from $89.99), and more. Of course, since this is a sitewide coupon you could also use it on Macs, Apple Watches, video games, clothes, appliances, and any other non-excluded category.

As with all eBay browsing, shoppers should remember to remain aware of an item’s condition and its seller’s rating and review history, and get their orders in before the code’s expiration date tonight at 9:00 p.m. PT. Terms and conditions require each purchase to be a minimum of $25, and the discount will be capped at a maximum value of $100. The discount price is applied to the purchase price and excludes shipping, handling, and taxes, and can be used by eBay shoppers in the United States, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

In other deals, this weekend many of Anker’s ongoing June sales are set to expire Saturday, June 30. Check out the discounts and promo codes below, then head over to Amazon before they expire to make your purchase:

• 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)

Another deal ending soon is Best Buy’s one-day sale on the Ultimate Ears ROLL 2 Bluetooth Speaker, available for $45.99, down from $99.99 for today only. There’s also the first ever discount on popular endless runner Alto’s Odyssey [Direct Link], priced at $1.99, down from $4.99 for a limited time. For more details about new sales happening this summer, be sure to check out our full Deals Roundup.

Related Roundup: Apple DealsTag: eBay
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2018 iPhones Said to Feature Both Embedded Apple SIM and Traditional SIM Card Tray

At least one of Apple’s widely rumored trio of new iPhones expected to be unveiled this September will feature dual-SIM, dual-standby, according to Chinese news publication 21st Century Business Herald via LoveiOS.

A translated version of the article claims the functionality will be enabled by an embedded Apple SIM in the iPhones, in addition to a traditional SIM card placed into the usual tray. In China, where Apple SIM is not available, the report claims Apple will offer an iPhone with two physical SIM card trays.

Apple introduced its Apple SIM in 2014 to provide cellular iPad users with a convenient way to switch between carriers and use short-term data plans as needed, useful for those who travel between countries frequently. It works with select carriers in more than 180 countries and regions around the world.

Initially, the Apple SIM was only available as a physical card that needed to be inserted into the tray when needed, but it is now embedded inside the latest iPad Pro models. Apple still sells physical Apple SIMs at its retail stores in many countries for use with the lower-cost 9.7-inch iPad and other models.

The report doesn’t specify which of the 2018 iPhones will have an embedded Apple SIM, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said the 6.1-inch “budget iPhone X” and 6.5-inch “iPhone X Plus,” but oddly not the second-generation 5.8-inch iPhone X, will support dual-SIM, dual-standby.

Kuo has also said Apple may release two 6.1-inch iPhone models, and in light of today’s report, this could be referring to a nearly-worldwide variant with an embedded Apple SIM and a Chinese variant with dual SIM card trays.

All in all, it should be easier to switch between carriers and data plans on future iPhones, providing users with more flexibility.

Related Roundup: 2018 iPhonesTag: Apple SIM
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Samsung may bend the rules with its folding phone

Future Samsung phones with folding screens may not simply fold in one place, resulting in a clamshell-like phone some will remember from the past, as has been speculated. There’s no rule that says a bendable phone must only bend once either. Samsung’s new foldable OLED screens, which are about to start a test production run, may fold in a way that leaves part of the screen visible, enabling you to see notifications and alerts, and even bend again to close fully.

The screen may be fitted to the first Samsung folding phone expected to launch early next year, which is being rumored as the Galaxy X, according to South Korean news source ETNews. It’s stated the display will measure 7-inches, which is larger than screens fitted to its Galaxy Note line. Any fold would make such a large phone more convenient to carry around, yet not sacrifice screen size when the time comes to use the device.

What’s not clear from the report is whether the screen will only fold in one way, where two-thirds of the screen is covered and leaves one section still visible, or if it will also fold in half too. A bendable screen will not only have a single point where they can bend, but hardware limitations elsewhere may make a phone with two folding points technically very difficult at the moment. A double-folding phone may be possible in the future though.

How close to reality is one of these incredible sounding phones? Samsung Display will apparently start its first test production run of folding OLED display panels over the summer, and once any issues have been solved, a second larger run will take place in September. Provided the operation goes smoothly, Samsung wants capacity to reach 100,000 screens by the end of the year. In 2019, when full-scale production is expected, Samsung will produce a million folding screens.

Samsung Display is the leading supplier of OLED screens in the world, and its screens don’t only find their way onto Samsung devices. Samsung isn’t the only smartphone manufacturer talking about folding, or bendable, devices for 2019 and later either. Huawei has been rumored to show a folding phone in late 2018, although it’s not certain the phone will be ready for sale then, and Motorola has also filed patents related to a folding phone. News that Samsung is striding ahead with folding screen production will likely push other manufacturers to examine the concept, and we expect to hear more from others over the coming year.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Here’s everything we know about the Samsung Galaxy S10
• Samsung Galaxy X: Everything we know so far
• See why no one would have bought Samsung’s Project Valley foldable phone
• DT Daily: Samsung Galaxy X foldable phone could debut at MWC 2019

Here are some common Huawei P20 Pro problems and how to fix them

If you’re able to get your hands on one, the Huawei P20 Pro is sure to impress. It has an eye-catching design, a long-lasting battery, and one of the best cameras we’ve ever encountered, featuring an unprecedented three lenses. As impressive as it is, this phone is not perfect and we’re not just talking about the fact that it isn’t on sale in the U.S.

More on the Huawei P20 Pro

Huawei P20 Pro Review

The best Huawei P20 Pro cases

Huawei P20 Pro tips and tricks

How to get more from the P20 Pro camera

We’ve gathered together some of the most commonly reported Huawei P20 Pro problems for you here and we’re offering up workarounds and potential fixes to help you get your issues sorted out.

Problem: Random reboots

There are a couple of threads at the XDA Developers forum that mention unprompted reboots. For one person it was happening repeatedly in the Gallery app, but for others it seems to be a bit more random when it occurs. The P20 Pro will suddenly shut down and restart itself with no apparent cause. This is an issue we’ve seen from time to time on a lot of different phones.

Possible fixes:

• Try wiping the cache partition to begin with. Turn your Huawei P20 Pro off by holding down the Power key and then tapping Power off. Once it has shut down, hold down the Power and Volume up keys together until you see the Huawei logo, release the Power key, but keep holding the Volume up key until you see EMUI on screen. You can use Volume down to highlight Wipe cache partition and the Power key to select it. When it’s done use Volume up to highlight Reboot system now and the Power key to select it.
• If the rebooting problem persists after this, we’d guess that an app or setting is to blame. Either way, the easiest way to test this hypothesis is to factory reset the phone. Back up everything first, then go to Settings > System > Reset > Factory data reset > Reset phone > reset phone. When it’s done, try setting your phone up as new instead of restoring the backup and test to see if the rebooting problem returns. If it doesn’t then you can start reinstalling apps selectively, watching out for a recurrence of the reboot problem.
• If you do a factory reset and set the Huawei P20 Pro up as new and it still reboots unexpectedly, then it’s time to contact Huawei, your carrier, or your retailer.

Issue: Battery draining too quickly

We were particularly impressed by the battery life of the Huawei P20 Pro, which boasts a 4,000mAh battery. It should easily last you a day and beyond and two full days between charges is not out of the question. Yet we’ve seen threads at the XDA Developers forum and Android Central forum about disappointing battery performance. The battery is big enough that you shouldn’t really have to bother with workarounds, but we have a few suggestions anyway. We also have an idea about a possible fix.

Workarounds:

• You can always go to Settings > Battery and turn Power saving mode or Ultra power saving mode on, but they do cut some background operations and slow performance.
• You can save some battery life by going to Settings > Security > Screen Lock & Passwords and toggling Always display information
• You might also consider going to Settings > Battery to toggle on Darken interface colors.
• Take a look in Settings > Battery > App launch and consider tweaking some settings to save power.
• Go to Settings > Display and change Screen resolution from FHD+ to HD+ or set it to Smart.
• Set the Sleep setting in Settings > Display as low as you can tolerate.

Potential fixes:

• Back up everything first, then go to Settings > System > Reset > Factory data reset > Reset phone > reset phone. If you restore a backup after the reset and the problem returns then try factory resetting again and set the phone up as new, it’s possible that a setting or app in your backup is causing the problem.

Glitch: Touchscreen latency or lag

We’ve seen a couple of posts, most notably at XDA Developers forum about touchscreen delays or lag when people are scrolling or trying to do small, precise movements on the screen.

Potential fixes:

• Some users have suggested going to Settings > Smart assistance > Motion control to turn things like Smart screenshot It’s possible these gestures are tweaking how the touchscreen responds. You should also make sure that Gloves mode is toggled off in Settings > Smart assistance.
• A few people say that a software update has fixed the issue for them. Check in Settings System update > Check for updates and see if there’s a software update available.

Workarounds:

• Try going to Settings > Display and change Screen resolution from FHD+ to HD+ to see if that makes any difference.

Problem: Slow charging

Huawei’s SuperCharge system can take the battery from zero to full in about 90 minutes, but some people have been having trouble getting fast charging speeds. There are a couple of threads at XDA Developers forum about this.

Potential fixes:

• Make sure that you are using the cable and charger that came with your Huawei P20 Pro and plugged into a working wall outlet.
• If your Huawei P20 Pro got wet, then it might be limiting charging speed as a safety feature. Give it some time to dry out or place it in a bowl of uncooked rice to draw any moisture out, then test again.
• If the problem persists contact Huawei, your carrier, or your retailer.

Issue: Microphone not working properly

We have seen a few people complaining about the microphone not working so they can’t be heard by the other person during calls or sometimes when recording audio or video messages. There are threads at the XDA Developers forum on this topic.

Workarounds:

• Hold down the Power button and tap Restart. This seems to work at least temporarily for most people. It’s possible that the problem is being caused by using Private Space, using the USB-C headphone adapter, or by using Bluetooth for audio, so you may want to restart after any of those activities.
• If you have any apps that use the microphone, then consider removing microphone permission or uninstalling them and test to see if that resolves the issue. You can check via Settings > Apps & notifications > Permissions.

Possible fix:

• Hopefully, this is just a software bug and will be fixed. Check in Settings System update > Check for updates and see if there is a software update available. You may also want to open Play Store, tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) at the top left and tap My apps & games > Update all.

Editors’ Recommendations

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BlackBerry KEY2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S9 camera comparison: Close on price, not quality

When you go up against one of the best cameras available today, it’s a tough fight.

At first thought, you may not consider the BlackBerry KEY2 and Samsung Galaxy S9 direct competitors, and of course, the glaring difference of one having a physical keyboard and a bit lower-end components would follow that logic. But keep this in mind: the KEY2, with its price jump from the KEYone, is now $649, while the Galaxy S9 is available unlocked for just $50 more. With the price similarity, it’s reasonable to expect the KEY2 to offer a camera experience to match.

With some testing and experience, we can now tell you where the KEY2’s dual camera setup stands, and whether its photography prowess is up to speed with its price and the competition.

Daylight photos

BlackBerry KEY2 (left) / Galaxy S9 (right) — click to view larger, use keyboard to navigate.

Just as Daniel found in our complete KEY2 review, the phone is capable of taking some solid photos, particularly in daylight situations. Leaning heavily on HDR, its colors are punchy — and the fine details are pretty good even in close-up shots. But when you set its photos next to a camera as fantastically capable as the Galaxy S9’s, you can tell it’s a step below the flagship level.

The KEY2’s photos are colorful, but lack the dynamic range and detail of the GS9.

You’ll notice that the KEY2’s photos are often just as colorful as the Galaxy S9’s, if not more so, but that it’s generally the result of over-saturation that at the same time kills off the depth and wide dynamic range that makes a photo feel more lifelike. You get the rich colors, but it comes at the cost of depth and actual dynamic range — all of the colors are boosted, which isn’t accurate. When you start to zoom in on photos to see the details, the Galaxy S9 is way ahead in terms of fine lines and textures. For the most part, this just comes across in the KEY2’s photos as being a bit over-processed and just a little soft.

HDR is basically a requirement on the KEY2 — keep it turned on for the most eye-pleasing results.

In tricky shots where there’s a mix of lighting or a wide dynamic range is needed, the KEY2 doesn’t get the job done unless HDR automatically comes on — if it doesn’t, the photo just looks washed out and lacking color. You can tap to meter, which usually gets things right for the subject, but leaves the rest of the scene bland. The Galaxy S9, on the other hand, can usually get a good shot with pleasing colors regardless of whether HDR triggers. For the most part, the KEY2 is best off just being left in HDR mode in order to get the best possible photo.

Finally, a quick mention of the 2X zoom capabilities of these cameras. The similarly priced Galaxy S9 doesn’t have a secondary camera, but the more expensive GS9+ does and it’s configured in the same fashion as the KEY2 to provide 2X zoom. The KEY2’s secondary camera heavily over-processes images, which is a shame, and it really doesn’t compete well against the Galaxy S9+’s secondary camera. 2X images are often a soft and blotchy mess, even in good lighting — so it’s just about as usable as 2X digital zoom on the standard Galaxy S9. The KEY2 does have the upper hand of offering dual-camera portrait mode, which is similar in quality to the other offerings out there today.

Low light photos

BlackBerry KEY2 (left) / Galaxy S9 (right) — click to view larger, use keyboard to navigate.

On paper, the Galaxy S9 has a huge advantage in low light. It has a larger sensor, brighter lens, optical image stabilization and a more advanced image processor. All of those benefits play out in the resulting images, with the Galaxy S9 handily beating the KEY2 in every situation with dim lighting.

BlackBerry has a long way to go to catch up to where Samsung’s cameras are today.

Just take a look at the sample images above and you’ll see what I mean. The KEY2 generally hits the mark in terms of color and white balance, but that’s about it — everything else is some combination of soft, grainy, blotchy and over-processed. Now and then when you have a scene with mixed lighting you can get a crisp shot, but there’s little rhyme or reason as to why and it definitely isn’t reproducible. This is the kind of low-light performance we saw from mid-range phones a couple years back, and it’s quite puzzling as to why it’s this bad when the same camera takes daylight photos are actually pretty good.

Yes putting the KEY2 up against one of the best low-light smartphone cameras available is over-emphasizing its shortcomings, but as stated at the beginning the Galaxy S9 is merely $50 more unlocked — and with that tiny increase in price, you can go from low-light photos that are a grainy mess to those that rival standalone digital cameras.

Which camera is best?

Let’s be honest, we didn’t expect this to be all that close from the get-go. Whereas the Galaxy S9 builds on years of Samsung’s excellence in mobile photography, the KEY2 is coming from something of a less storied history of TCL-tuned BlackBerry cameras.

Overall, the KEY2’s camera is above average — but that’s well behind what the GS9 is capable of.

In daylight scenes, the KEY2 actually does a good job — it can take colorful photos with good exposure and decent detail. They’re above average and easily good enough for BlackBerry’s target market. But when you see what the Galaxy S9 can capture in the same scenes, you can tell that the dynamic range and fine details just aren’t there to compete with today’s top-end phones. Given the KEY2’s smaller camera sensor and lack of OIS, it isn’t surprising that it’s also outperformed by a wide margin in low light conditions. Phones like the Galaxy S9 (and so many others) have large sensors, OIS and much more advanced processing to handle low-light scenes with better colors, less noise and generally better overall clarity.

If the KEY2’s low light photography were as close to the Galaxy S9 as its daylight capabilities are, you could argue that it was at least in the ballpark of being good enough for the money. But the very poor low light capabilities, when added on top of its starting position of not being as good in the daytime, show that the KEY2 is a full step below top-end cameras available today. If the camera is a point of emphasis in your smartphone buying choice, it is absolutely worth spending the extra $50 on a Galaxy S9 (or any other ~$700 phone available) — you’ll get a notably better photography experience in every situation. But if all you need as “above average” from your smartphone’s camera, and find the rest of the KEY2’s features appealing, this phone will get the job done — just don’t expect to wow anyone with your photos.

BlackBerry KEY2

• BlackBerry KEY2 review
• BlackBerry KEY2: Everything you need to know!
• BlackBerry KEY2 specs
• BlackBerry KEYone review: Coming home
• Join our BlackBerry KEY2 forums!

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Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+

• Galaxy S9 and S9+: Everything you need to know!
• Galaxy S9 review: A great phone for the masses
• Complete Galaxy S9 and S9+ specs
• Galaxy S9 vs. Galaxy S8: Should you upgrade?
• Join our Galaxy S9 forums

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