Master your Moto E5 Plus and E5 Play with these handy tips and tricks

The Moto E5 Plus and Moto E5 Play are Motorola’s latest budget phone offerings. Both phones offer capable hardware with a near stock version of Android. Whether you’re new to Moto phones or just upgrading, there are loads of special features to explore. Here are our favorite Moto E5 Plus and E5 Play tips and tricks.

How to customize your home screen

Looking to mix things up a bit with your Moto E5? How about customizing your home screen? Making changes to the home screen is simple on the Moto E5 Plus and E5 Play.

To customize your screen, simply long tap on the home screen. Select Wallpaper and tap on your favorite image and press Set Wallpaper. A popup will appear asking if you’d like to change the image for your home screen, lock screen, or both.

If you’d like to add a widget to your home screen, simply tap the Widgets icon. When you’ve located a widget you’d like to place on the screen, simply long tap it and place in your desired location.

Finally, if you’d like to change the size of the icons on your screen, just tap the Settings icon followed by the home screen layout option. A window will open giving you multiple image grid-size options.

How to optimize your battery

For those who are looking to eke out every last drop of battery juice, the Moto E5 Plus and E5 Play provide options to optimize and extend battery life.

You’ll find tips to help you extend battery life by tapping on the Moto icon and scrolling to the Power for hours section. You may not see suggestions when you first start using the phone or if the battery is full, however tips will appear as the phone becomes familiar with your usage patterns.

If you want to optimize your battery, you’ll need to do a little digging in the settings. To optimize your battery, go to Settings > Battery. Tap the overflow (three dot) icon and select Battery optimization. A list of apps will appear, and if the app isn’t grayed out, you can tap on it to optimize.

How to disable unwanted apps

We were a bit disappointed to see bloatware when we first powered on the Moto E5 Plus and E5 Play. While some of the apps can’t be uninstalled, you can disable them. Disabling apps removes them from the home screen and ensures they don’t run in the background.

To disable apps, long press on the app and select App info. Tap Disable > Disable App. 

How to use Moto Actions

Moto Actions allows you to use gestures to complete common tasks. Instead of using the volume down and power buttons to grab a screenshot, for instance, you can simply touch and hold on the screen with three fingertips when Moto Actions are enabled.

To set up Moto Actions, open the Moto app and tap Features. Select the Moto Actions option. From here, you can toggle on multiple gesture options depending on your phone including Chop Twice for Flashlight and Twist for Quick Capture.

How to use Moto Display

Both the Moto E5 Plus and Moto E5 Play offer lots of display customizations in Moto Display. You can easily turn on a blue light filter, make sure the screen stays on while you’re looking at it, or even temporarily show notifications when the display is turned off.

If you want to use Moto Display, just tap on the Moto icon on the home screen. Select the Features option and tap Moto Display.

To turn on the blue light filter, toggle on Night Display. Tap on the Night Display description to open a customization window to adjust the start and end times, as well as the filter intensity.

If you want the display to remain on while you’re looking at it, toggle on the Attentive Display option. Finally, if you want notifications to appear when the screen is turned off, toggle on Moto Display. You can tap on More Settings to customize which apps show notifications, as well as the level of detail that is displayed on the screen.

How to use split-screen mode

Want to stream YouTube videos while you check your email? The Moto E5 duo allow you to easily enable split-screen mode.

There are actually two ways to enable split-screen mode. The easiest way is to simply open the apps you wish to use and tap the app switcher icon (usually a box on the right side of the navigation bar). Long press on the first app you wish to open and drag it to the top of the screen.  Simply tap on the other app you wish to open and it will appear on the bottom of the screen. If you wish to adjust the size of each app, you can drag the divider bar that separates the two apps.

If you’re already in an app and want to split screens, simply long tap on the app switcher icon and select the second app you’d like to open. The divider bar between the apps will allow you to quickly change the size of an app.

When you’re ready to close your split-screen session, drag the divider line to the top or bottom of the screen.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Moto E5 Plus review
• Moto E5 Play review
• Moto E5 Plus and Play are solid budget phones that won’t get Android P
• Here are Moto G6 tips and tricks to help you master your new phone
• The best Moto E5 Play cases

Nvidia ‘more than happy to help’ if Tesla’s self-driving chip doesn’t pan out

CEOs from Tesla and Nvidia, each company a powerhouse in its niche, spoke during respective 2018 second-quarter earnings calls about new autonomous driving artificial intelligence chips for the next generation of Autopilot in Tesla cars.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was asked about Tesla’s previously announced plan to switch to in-house A.I. chips, which are still in development. Huang spoke first about Nvidia’s own new Xavier autonomous driving chipset and software stack, which he described as “super hard to build” but in production now.

Huang said about Tesla’s chips, “And if it doesn’t turn out for whatever reason it doesn’t turn out for them you can give me a call and I’d be more than happy to help,” CNBC reported.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk told investors during a call earlier in the month that Hardware 3, Tesla’s homegrown A.I. chipset, due next year, is,  “the world’s most advanced computer specifically for autonomous operation.” Comparing the in-house silicon to the Nvidia chipset in Tesla’s current vehicles, Musk said Hardware 3 would deliver an “order of magnitude” greater performance.

CNBC reprinted Huang’s full response to the question about working with Tesla.

Huang referred to 2016 when Tesla decided to discontinue using Mobileye’s EyeQ image processing chips in future Autopilot development and first started using Nvidia’s autonomous solution.

“With respect to the next generation, it is the case that when we first started working on autonomous vehicles, they needed our help. And we used the 3-year-old Pascal GPU for the current generation of Autopilot computers.

“And it is very clear now that in order to have a safe Autopilot system, we need a lot more computing horsepower. In order to have safe computing, in order to have safe driving, the algorithms have to be rich. It has to be able to handle corner conditions in a lot of diverse situations.

“And every time that there’s more and more corner conditions or more subtle things that you have to do or you have to drive more smoothly or be able to take turns more quickly, all of those requirements require greater computing capability. And that’s exactly the reason why we built Xavier. Xavier is in production now. We’re seeing great success and customers are super excited about Xavier.”

Following Nvidia’s earnings call, Musk replied to a tweet about Huang’s offer to help Tesla. “Nvidia makes great hardware,” Musk tweeted. “High respect for Jensen & company. Our hardware needs were just unique & matched tightly to our software.”

Nvidia makes great hardware. High respect for Jensen & company. Our hardware needs were just unique & matched tightly to our software.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 16, 2018

Editors’ Recommendations

• Nvidia GeForce GTX 11 Series’ arrival is uncertain after Computex remark
• Tesla gives its self-driving cars a performance boost with custom chips
• Performance option pushes Tesla’s mass market Model 3 into Model S territory
• Tesla board waits for Musk’s plan to go private as Saudi Arabia stays silent
• Nvidia’s mini supercomputer is the fastest single computer humanity has built

What you missed this week on CordCutters.com

Choice. It’s all about choice.

More streaming options are always a good thing. Because the whole point of this is to trade in our old cable companies for something with better choices, better flexibility — and, hopefully, lower prices.

That’s why HDHomerun expanding with its own streaming lineup is a big deal. That’s why another $35 option is a big deal. (And, by the way, it’s one of the few services that offers The Weather Channel.)

We now have plans ranging from Philo’s $16 a month (or $20, if you want to splurge) to PlayStation Vue’s whopping $80 a month all-inclusive monster. (OK, mostly all-inclusive. There are still add-ons.) And we have plans in between.

The point is, This is about building the best system that works for you. Spend as much or as little as you want. Spend a little extra, maybe, to make it all work a little more the way you want it. Use the free trials and try all the things.

Or, hell, keep your cable subscription. If that gets you more for your money, keep it!

Here’s what else you missed this week:

• The September Amazon Prime Video listings are in!
• It’s not quite as easy as we’d like, but there’s about to be a ton of soccer on ESPN+.
• Folks got themselves all excited over Roku’s analytics. Don’t really know why, though.
• Are people still playing HQ Trivia? And do they really want to on an Apple TV?
• Samsung has a new SmartThings Wifi hub thing, and it’s not bad.
• We’ve rounded up three sub-$100 sound bars that aren’t bad at all for the money.
• Ouch.

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 hardware, Xbox Live, and more are discounted today

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on tons of Amazon hardware, Epson’s 1080p home cinema projector, Sennheiser’s open-back headphones, and more!

View the rest of the deals

If you want to know about the deals as soon as they are happening, you’ll want to follow Thrifter on Twitter, and sign up for the newsletter, because missing out on a great deal stinks!

Slip an unlocked Halo Gray Essential Phone into your pocket for $280

One of the best prices we’ve seen.

We’ve seen deals on the Essential Phone in the past, and while this isn’t quite as good as Prime Day pricing, it’s still a heck of a deal. Right now you can get the phone in Halo Gray (the best color) for just $279.99.

It comes with 128GB of internal storage, a dual camera system on the back, and it’s powered by the Snapdragon 835 processor. You can also add the exclusive Essential 360 camera. Essential has already released the Android Pie update for the device as well, so you’ll be able to install that as soon as you receive yours!

See at Amazon

Dell P2715Q review

Research Center:

Dell P2715Q

Dell was one of the first to jump on 4K monitors, offering models to consumers as early as winter 2013. Perhaps too early, as those first models had serious handicaps. Today though, Dell makes some of the best 4K monitors in the world, and the competition is stiff. With that in mind, how does its first real, great entry in the 4K space hold up today?

It might be a few years old, but it’s still an Ultra HD, IPS panel with numerous connection options, and a wide color gamut. Unless you’re a heavy gamer, there’s not much more to ask for. You can find it just over $430 straight from Dell and even less if you catch it during a sale period. Does the lower price make the P2715Q still worth buying compared to some its newer contemporaries?

Simple, yet sensible

The P2715Q doesn’t impress out of the box. Dell’s traditional matte black design is livened by silver plastic trim, but the material doesn’t look expensive, even at a distance. In comparison, monitors with a glossy bezel provide more visual punch, especially nowadays.

Take a closer look, though, and you’ll notice this monitor means business. Its relatively slim panel doesn’t include any unnecessary frills and feels durable when handled. Unlike a number of the alternatives which include cheap touch controls, this display offers chunky buttons that seem ready for abuse.

An ergonomic stand is included and provides a full range of adjustability: height, tilt, pivot, and swivel. It tracks true with just enough resistance to keep it in place but not enough to make it difficult to move with one free hand. The monitor is VESA compatible, too, so you can switch to a third-party stand if needed.

Portpalooza

Search around back and you’ll find a wide variety of connection options including DisplayPort and Mini-DisplayPort for video-in as well as DisplayPort-out (so the monitor can be daisy-chained). Two 4K displays can be daisy-chained at once, but doing so drops the refresh rate to 30Hz.

HDMI, speaker-line out, and four USB 3.0 ports are also part of the package. All the USB ports are on the rear panel, however, so the P2715Q isn’t a great place to plug thumb drives and other peripherals that you’ll frequently move.

Simple, but you’re not in control

Let’s get back to those buttons. Silly as it may sound, Dell’s reliance on physical buttons is one of our favorite features. We’ve seen no shortage of alternatives over the last year ranging from resistive touch controls to joysticks, but traditional clicky buttons still work best. They’re easy to find quickly, provide positive feedback — and most importantly they tend to last under years of abuse.

Dell P2715Q Compared To

BenQ EX3200R Gaming Monitor

Samsung CFG70

HP Dreamcolor Z32x

Philips 276E6ADSS LCD monitor

Acer XB270HU

Acer S277HK

Acer XB280HK

Acer B286HK

AOC G2770PQU

AOC mySmart A2472PW4T

Dell P2314T

HP 2311gt

Samsung SyncMaster BX2450

Gateway XHD3000

HP w2207

Calibration provided minor but noticeable improvements.

Dell’s on-screen control menu is precise and simple to use. Everything is easy to find and labeled with clear text rather than with vague icons. Having said that, there’s not a lot of adjustment available. Users can only change brightness, contrast sharpness and RGB values. If you’re curious why this IPS monitor isn’t sold as an UltraSharp, well, here’s your answer.

The lack of adjustability is disappointing, especially as a number of more modern displays offer better customization. That said, professional controls often come with a higher price tag.

Pre-calibration quality

Dell’s P2715Q is a very special display. Its IPS panel offers wide viewing angles, strong color and deep blacks. Throw in the sharpness of 4K on a 27-inch panel (which translates to 163 pixels per inch) and you have the formula for a spectacular experience.

Objective tests made it clear our first impressions weren’t misguided. The gamut spans 100 percent of sRGB and 79 percent of AdobeRGB while maintaining a contrast ratio of 690:1 at maximum brightness and 650:1 at half that. Those specifications aren’t as impressive today as they once were, with a number of 4K displays now offering higher contrast ratios, but it’s enough to deliver a beautiful image and real-world results of the competition don’t always stand up to their paper specs.

Color accuracy on the P2715Q is good too, with an average difference of only 1.74 (most of which is in the cyan and green range). A difference below one is generally undetectable, so this is close to perfect. Gamma was just a tad off the perfect 2.2 curve.

You won’t be impressed until you turn the display on.

All of this adds up to image reproduction with no easily detected faults. The color variance in cyan can make scenes look a tad cool at times, but even then the P2715Q is better than most, and the outstanding contrast ratio gives content real depth.

While viewing Interstellar‘s 4K trailer, for instance, we were stunned by how well the monitor handles the inky nothingness of space. It’s not on par with a good UHD TV but it’s obviously better than an average LCD monitor.

Post-calibration quality

Dell’s monitor is great out of the box but with some calibration, it looks even better.

We eventually settled on a calibration that lowered average color difference to 1.39 while preserving the gamma curve and increasing gamut to 80 percent of AdobeRGB. Contrast ratio at half of maximum brightness didn’t budge from 650:1, but the contrast at maximum increased to 720:1.

Speaking of brightness, there’s plenty here, as we saw a maximum output of 332 lux. That figure, combined with the semi-gloss panel coat, makes the monitor usable in almost any environment. We turned it down to about 180 lux for use in our office.

The numbers suggest a minor improvement overall, and that’s what we saw in our viewing. Switching the calibration on and off made it clear our adjustments slightly tamed the coolness of the default settings, but it wasn’t a night-and-day difference

Our take

The Dell’s P2715Q looked and performed great when we first reviewed it, and it holds up very well today. There’s a reason it tops our list of the best 4K displays — it offers excellent image quality, a great ergonomic stand, and Ultra HD at a price that’s more affordable than ever.

You do miss out on advanced gaming features like fast response times and a high-refresh rate, but you’d have to spend several times the cost of this display to get that if it’s truly important to you. For now, the P2715Q offers the best bang for buck of any 4K display out there.

Any alternatives?

Since you’re unlikely to be considering the P2715Q for its gaming chops, the best comparisons are professionally-orientated displays like the HP Z27. It retails for around $150 more than the Dell, but has fantastic color options and a much better looking stand, with thinner bezels. If you need more size and don’t mind spending double, the BenQ PC3200UA is hard not to recommend. With stunning visuals and a massive 32-inch panel, you can really take full advantage of the 4K resolution.

How long will it last?

As with most great monitors, a few years at least. While the PS2715Q doesn’t have all of the latest features and ports, there is unlikely to be a major shift in connectivity in the next few years which makes this display outdated. The picture quality and resolution will keep this monitor relevant for a good few years to come.

While this monitor isn’t an UltraSharp it’s also not a standard consumer monitor. As a result, receives a better warranty than usual. Dell offers three years of coverage with “advanced exchange service,” which means the company will send you a replacement immediately if it can’t troubleshoot a problem over the phone (instead of waiting for you to ship your old monitor back). It’s not unusual for a monitor this expensive to have a three-year warranty, but the advanced exchange service gives Dell a slight edge.

Should you buy it?

If you’re a gamer, there are better options out there with faster response times, higher refresh rates, and syncing technology. For everyone else? Absolutely.

Art-inspired face blurring can obscure identity without losing humanity

If you want to know how someone feels, there are only a few cues to rely on. You can study their facial expressions, consider the content of what they say, and tune in to the tone of their voice. But that can pose a challenge for video journalists and documentary filmmakers covering sensitive subjects, because the easiest ways to anonymize a source is to scrub out things that make them human and pixelating their face or distorting their voice. Their story remains the same but the characters themselves can appear crude and robotic.

Steve DiPaolo, a computer-based cognitive scientist at Simon Fraser University, thinks there’s a better way. He thinks anonymity can be both beautiful and true to the emotional aspects of the people whose identity it’s concealing.

To that end, DiPaolo and his colleagues have developed an A.I.-generated anonymity system that “paints” over video frames, using inspiration from masters like Picasso and Van Gogh to reimagine a person’s appearance. The goal is to minimize outer resemblance but maintain fidelity to a subject’s inner character, and allowing their facial expressions and vocal inflections to shine through. If deployed by journalists, the system could support more intimate and relatable stories, particularly in virtual reality, where the power of empathy has proven particularly strong.

With the rise of VR in journalism, the need for more nuanced and affective ways to represent anonymous sources is key.

The project began for DiPaolo as a way to make an A.I. system that was capable of creating art on it own. A number of algorithms later, he and his team focused their efforts on a fine art painting, and then, more specifically, one that could paint portraits. But after a small grant from Google News and the Knight Foundation, DiPaolo — along with Kate Hennessy, a cultural anthropologist at SFU, and Taylor Owen from the University of British Columbia’s journalism school — reworked their system towards providing anonymity for journalists.

The pivot was apt. With the rise of VR in journalism, the need for more nuanced and effective ways to represent anonymous sources is key. Hearing a first-hand account just isn’t the same when the persecuted person’s face is pixelated and their voice is distorted by a few octaves.

Steve DiPaolo and Kate Hennessy, SFU

For DiPaolo, fine art portraiture offered the perfect guide. Master painters don’t just depict their subject from the outside. They capture an inner essence as well. From decades of study and practice, and techniques handed down through generations, great portrait artists can show a subject’s personality through a series seasoned brush strokes and blended colors. DiPaolo aimed to teach the A.I. to look past the surface layer and reveal what subjects are feeling inside.

“You tell so much with your eyes, eyebrows, and facial movements,” DiPaolo tells Digital Trends. “Even the way you jerk your head and look down — so much of that was just lost in the pixelation technique.”

The resulting system is both beauty and beast, relying on five Linux computers and a five step process to anonymize a video.

“We tell so much with our eyes, eyebrows, and facial movements.”

To start, the system identifies a subjects facial features, placing dots around the eyes, mouth, and nose like standard facial recognition systems do. Users can then use a tool to manipulate the features, for example, raising the subject’s forehead, widening her eyes, and lowering her ears. Depending on how significant the changes, this subject may already look unidentifiable.

“Before the A.I. painter even starts painting, steps one and two help change the look of the sitter image,” DiPaolo says.

In the third step, the A.I. cuts the face into geometric planes. DiPaolo calls this the “Picasso or Cubist approach.”

And in steps four and five — the impressionistic and Van Gogh-like phases — the AI adds inky edge lines and brush strokes.

Steve DiPaolo and Kate Hennessy, SFU

In DiPaolo’s vision for the system, a journalist, producer, or even the subject herself could interact with the platform and adjust how refracted the final product is. The system then applies this anonymity to every individual frame in the video.

The researchers haven’t conducted a large-scale study to test how well their system conceals a source, but in pre-study they found subjects were satisfied with the level of anonymity and participants were more engaged when watching videos painted in this style. And the system gained interest from major news outlets like the Washington Post and Frontline, when the researchers presented the work at a conference in July.

“Can you actually have videos of yourself that are more about your inner and less about your outer?”

But anonymizing sources might just be the beginning. DiPaolo is interested in becoming something of a digital cupid, working his summer group at SFU’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology to investigate how the system could be adapted for the dating world.

“Dating sites are using videos more often,” he says. “There’s a lot of data that show decisions are made very quickly based on how the person looks, which is too bad at times. Can we actually refine this process so that you’re looking at how somebody is and not just how they look? By anonymizing the footage, attractiveness is not the first thing you think about. Can you actually have videos of yourself that are more about your inner and less about your outer?”

This is, to be sure, a farfetched idea — and one most dating app users would likely approach with caution. But DiPaolo’s ambition is compelling, and just a decade ago few would have foreseen the progress that’s been made by A.I. artists. Who’s to say algorithms can’t someday play matchmaker as well?

Editors’ Recommendations

• Replaced by robots: 10 jobs that could be hit hard by the A.I. revolution
• Like a vice principal in the sky, this A.I. spots fights before they happen
• Waylens Secure360 WiFi review
• Can’t we all just drive along? The not-so-universal language of autonomous cars
• Razer’s Core X and V2 turn your tiny laptop into a monster gaming rig

Just $100 will get you an Echo Plus and a free white Philips Hue Smart bulb

Alexa, find me a deal.

Amazon has the Echo Plus with Built-in Hub on sale for $99.99, which saves you $50 off the normal price. As an added bonus, you’ll also receive a free Philips Hue White A19 LED Smart Bulb with your order. The smart bulbs normally sell for at least $30 a pop, so this deal is a fantastic one if you’re looking to add some intelligence to your home. We’ve seen this bundle fall no lower than $119.99 until today.

Echo Plus has all of the features of Echo that you know and love, but it also has a hub built right in. That allows for simple and direct setup of compatible smart devices. No more buying things separately to control your smart home gadgets. Simply ask Alexa to discover your devices and you’ll be using your new Hue bulb in no time.

Users rated this 4.4 out of 5 stars.

This sale is part of a huge price cut on Amazon devices. Whether you’re looking to expand your Echo family or you’d like to check out the Fire TV, or basically anything in between, be sure to check that out.

See at Amazon

The Pokémon Go app is reading files on your phone, but there’s a reason

It’s probably not what you think, but it’s not great news for people who prefer to root their phones.

As anyone who roots their Android phone will tell you, it’s not always easy to play the games you love these days. Lots of game developers deploy anti-root detection methods to keep you from playing their game if you root your phone. An all too common explanation for why this anti-root philosophy exists is to combat cheating, and one place in particular this explanation irritates users is Pokémon Go.

Niantic won’t even let the app fully start if it looks like you are rooting your phone, and the method being used to look for whether your phone has root access rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

Stay out of my file system

In order to tell whether your phone has root access, Pokémon Go on Android asks for permission to look at your file system. This is a fairly common permission for an app to ask for, since most apps need to write something to your phone, it’s not a huge surprise. But in a recent update to the app, that permission access is being used to look for files and folders
which are commonly used with root apps.

Niantic is being very aggressive about how it is looking for these things and deciding if you’re cheating.

This is messy for two reasons. First, it’s kind of not cool for an app to be poking around in your folders without telling you it is doing so. Even if you have given the app permission to read your files, there’s nothing about the way most people use Pokémon Go that suggests it is going to behave this way.

Second, and perhaps more important, Niantic is being very aggressive about how it is looking for these things and deciding if you’re cheating. It’s not uncommon for someone to move data from one phone to another when upgrading, which means all it takes is a folder labelled with a name like a root app for Pokémon Go to completely shut you out until the folder is removed.

This clearly isn’t a big deal to a lot of people, given how few folks actually root their phones these days, but creating this much inconvenience for users who either do currently root or used to root at some point, especially with zero communication to the user, sucks.

No harm in explaining what you are doing

The sad truth is, there are folks who use root access to fake their GPS location and mess with the way Pokémon Go is supposed to be played. This gives those players an unfair advantage, allowing them to play from their living room when everyone else is running around town. And while location spoofing is the most common form of cheating, it’s not the only kind. Manipulating the game for your own benefit ruins the experience for everyone else, and Niantic is right to deploy mechanisms to combat these people for the benefit of the greater community of players.

Is it likely Niantic will reverse this policy? No.

But it’s clear some of these methods are going to extremes, especially when coupled with a lack of communication in the app. There’s no dialogue to explain why the app isn’t letting you play because that makes it easier for the actual cheaters to build a workaround. Niantic is in a stick position, because every person who would never use root access to cheat is being punished. And again, just having an empty folder related to root apps is enough to make this security “feature” kick in.

Is it likely Niantic will reverse this policy? No. Unfortunately there are way more people out there who complain about cheaters ruining the game on a daily basis, and Niantic is going to appeal to the larger audience every time. And while there are ways around this existing problem for people who root, the dance between exploit and patch is going to continue for as long as these companies see benefit in stopping even a couple of cheaters.

The best Moto Z3 cases to keep your flagship phone protected

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

You might have missed the Moto Z3‘s reveal, as it was cunningly disguised as the Moto Z3 Play. But even though the Z3 looks identical to its lower-powered sibling, the innards of the device are better. It’s packing last year’s Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB of RAM, and a Super AMOLED display — all for just $480. As if that wasn’t enough, the Z3 also gives you access to Motorola’s great range of Moto Mods, that can turn your phone into a snappier camera, boombox, or — new for the Z3 — a 5G-equipped downloading machine.

But just because all this hardware comes at a bargain price doesn’t mean it’s a throwaway device. It’s made from aluminum, sandwiched between glass — and as we know, that can make for a fragile device. Keep it covered and protected with the best Moto Z3 cases.

Please note: There aren’t many dedicated Moto Z3 cases yet — but since it’s identical to the Moto Z3 Play, cases for that phone will also fit the Moto Z3. That’s why we’ve included some cases marked as Z3 Play for the Moto Z3.

Avidet Clear Case ($8)

For a compromise between style, protection, and thickness, you can’t go wrong with a good, clear, gel case, and it’s easy to see why when you pick up this Avidet case. It’s made from soft and flexible TPU, giving a pliable texture that’s easy to grip and also provides a soft surface that absorbs shocks from drops and bumps. It won’t be as resistant to damage as bigger, bulkier cases, but it’ll still stop scratches from reaching your phone’s surface, and should provide good enough protection for most hazards. It’s super-thin, doesn’t block the view of your phone, and — best of all — it’s very reasonably priced.

Buy it now from:

Amazon

Spigen Rugged Armor ($25)

If you’ve shopped for phone cases before, you’ve likely come across Spigen’s excellent cases. The Rugged Armor series is one of Spigen’s mainstays, and it’s tough and durable, while still managing to look good. It’s made from a toughened TPU that’s great at absorbing blows, but also feels solid in the hand. Spigen’s Air Cushion Technology sits in each corner, bolstering the case against falls, while the raised edges make sure your phone’s screen doesn’t come into contact with dirty surfaces. It looks great, with a brushed metal texture on the back, complemented by carbon fiber-style panels. This is a good case that’ll keep your Moto Z3 fully protected.

Buy it now from:

Amazon Spigen

CoverOn Hybrid Rugged Series ($10)

If you’re looking for a balance that skews towards protection, while still keeping the price down, check out this hybrid case from CoverOn. It uses a combination of hard and soft materials to bridge the gap between absorbent shock protection, and a rigid backbone that can resist more direct blows. It’s made from our old friend TPU, with an outer layer of hard polycarbonate (PC). Despite this double layer protection, it’s still quite light and relatively thin — and it also comes with metallic button covers for that great feel. This is good protection at a low price.

Buy it now from:

Amazon CoverOn

Speck Presidio Grip ($45)

High drops can be some of the most damaging accidents that your phone can go through — so it’s good to know that your case can protect your Z3 from falls. If you’re looking for great protection from drops, then look no further than Speck’s Presidio Grip case. With an inner core of Speck’s Impactium, the Presidio Grip is drop-tested up to a height of ten feet — making it excellent protection. Not only that, the raised rubber ridges provide extra grip on your phone, while the raised edges protect your vulnerable screen from damage. It’s on the bulkier side for a case — but if you want solid protection, Speck’s Presidio Grip is an excellent choice.

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Cases.com

Otterbox Commuter Series ($40)

Otterbox is one of the biggest names in the rugged case business, providing excellent all-round protection against a variety of threats. The Commuter Series is our Otterbox case of choice for the Moto Z3, providing excellent protection in a sleek, understated shell. It’s made from two layers, using a soft inner core and a hard outer shell to provide shock-absorbency and hard, rigid defense. It’s slimmer than other Otterbox cases, meaning it’s the perfect protective case for someone on the go — and it looks good, too, with a sleek design. Like many Otterbox cases it’s on the expensive side — but you’ll struggle to find a case more protective than this.

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Cases.com

Incipio DualPro Shine ($35)

Another accessory maker with a fine pedigree, Incipio has brought the dual-layer design of the DualPro Shine to the Moto Z3, giving owners the chance to pick up some fantastic protection that also looks good. As mentioned, it’s a dual-layer case, and blends hard, ABS polycarbonate with absorbent TPE to create a combination that’s great against a variety of threats. It’s tested against drops of up to 10 feet and meets military standards for protection. Not only that, the case also comes with a carbon fiber-style texture that imparts a futuristic sci-fi feel, so your phone looks good, even as it’s kept protected.

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Incipio

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