BlackBerry KEY2 LE specs: Strategic corner cutting

Everything you get for $399.

The BlackBerry KEY2 LE brings a great hardware keyboard down to a more manageable price, shaving $250 off the cost of the regular KEY2. But the plastic body isn’t the only thing that was lost in order to hit the price — you’ll find shaved specs in various places to try and balance cost with capabilities. Here’s the full spec sheet for the KEY2 LE.

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!

Buy the BlackBerry KEY2

The best cases for the Moto G6

Protect that shiny new investment!

Motorola’s budget beauty, the Moto G6, is covered with glass front and back, so it definitely needs a case. I love the Spigen Rugged Armor because it’s incredibly durable and lets the phone take a bit of abuse, but if you’re looking for something less in-your-face, Anccer’s ultra-thin case is pretty great.

Now that the phone is widely available around the world, case makers have plenty of options for the tall-and-narrow phone. Here are your best bets.

• MoKo Slim Fit Case
• MAIKEZI Slim Folio Wallet Case
• Cimo Slim Grip Clear Case
• Cimo Armor Case
• Spigen Rugged Armor Case
• Poetic Karbon Shield Case
• Anccer Ultra-Thin Case
• Cimo Slim Case

Moko Slim Fit Case

This one-piece case from Moko is sleek and affordable, made from flexible TPU that features a simple design that protects the Moto G6 and offers a nice soft touch finish without adding unnecessary bulk. This case also features a web-like structure on the interior of the case that’s designed to help dissipate heat as you use your phone.

$6 at Amazon

It is available in both black and indigo starting at just $6, so this is a good option if you’re a thrifty accessory shopper.

MAIKEZI Slim Folio Wallet Case

The MAIKEZI Slim is a classic folio design that features a single card slot on the inside along with a pocket for storing cash and receipts. The front flap is made of a leather exterior, a thin plate of steel for extreme protection, and a microfiber finish on the interior to protect the display. And, of course, you can fold the case over to create a kickstand for hands-free media viewing.

$8 at Amazon

It’s available in both black and brown leather finishes, you can get this case for about $8.

Cimo Slim Grip Clear Case

For those who prefer a case that still lets you show off the design of your brand new phone, consider this clear case from Cimo.

It’s a grippy case made of flexible TPU that’s designed to keep your phone protected with raised bezels around the screen and around the camera bump on the back.

$8 at Amazon

We’ve highlighted the clear case option here, but you can also get this case style in opaque black, or semi-transparent purple — your choice for just $8.

Cimo Armor Case

If you know you’re the type who needs a more rugged case, Cimo has you covered with this Armor case.

This dual-layer case features a silicone body and a polycarbonate bumper that offers heavy duty protection for the Moto G6. The backside also features a pattern of raised bumps to help with grip — because the best way to avoid drop damage is to avoid dropping your phone in the first place.

$8 at Amazon

You can get this awesome Cimo case for just $8 with three color styles available.

Spigen Rugged Armor Case

Spigen’s Rugged Armor case is my go-to case style for any new phone, so we’ll definitely recommend it here for the Moto G6.

It’s got that carbon fiber look at the top and bottom with a matte finish elsewhere, along with Spigen’s air cushion technology in the corners to help absorb impacts.

$11 at Amazon

You can check this one-piece case out for a low $11!

Poetic Karbon Shield Case

Another great rugged option for the Moto G6 comes from Poetic. The Karbon Shield case is lightweight and slim with a carbon fiber-style finish on the back that’s both stylish and functional.

$10 at Amazon

You can grab your Poetic Karbon for just $10 — definitely one of the best deals around.

Anccer Ultra-Thin Case

Anccer makes low-profile cases for many phones, including the G6. This particular model sits flush with the G6 and mainly protects the corners and back while leaving much of the button area, and bottom of the phone, clear. This is certainly not the case you want for heavy-duty activity, but it doesn’t add much bulk, and the grippy, textured back makes the G6 much easier to handle.

$12 at Amazon

This Anccer case comes in seven colors, and can be purchased for $12.

Cimo Slim Matte Moto G6 Case

$8 at Amazon

Cimo’s take on the slim, low-profile case doesn’t add much bulk to the Moto G6. It does add more protection, though, wrapping fully around the phone and encasing all of the buttons and ports. As with all Cimo cases, it’s extremely well made, especially for the $8 price, and there’s really nothing to dislike about it.

There’s a small lip around the screen to protect it from falls, and the camera bump is minimized thanks to a similar lip around back. This one can be had in three colors: black, purple, and silver, and each cost a low $8.

What’s your preferred case style?

Are you a clear case connoisseur or a fan of folio cases? Require rugged protection or something slim? Let us know in the comments!

Updated August 2018: This post was completely refreshed with new picks, including the Cimo Slim and Anccer Ultra-Thin, along with new prices. Enjoy your Moto G6!

BlackBerry KEY2 LE hands-on: A $399 ticket to the hardware keyboard party

Some strategic component cuts lower the entry point for getting a great hardware keyboard.

BlackBerry has made it clear that the KEY2 launch has been a success. Rolling out the phone globally over the course of just a couple months, sales have been strong and the reception is positive — but it was a common refrain that people weren’t always willing or able to spend $650 on the KEY2.

In an attempt to capture the section of the market that want a BlackBerry — and that hardware keyboard — but are unable to spend the near-flagship money on the KEY2, BlackBerry has a solution: the KEY2 LE.

This is a darn good plastic representation of the KEY2 — and a more attractive one in these flashy colors.

As the name would suggest, the KEY2 LE offers a familiar size, shape and design. But at $399 (€399 / £349 / $519 CAD) it’s a full $250 less than the KEY2, and hitting that price necessitated changes that are evident as soon as you pick it up. The entire body of the KEY2 LE is plastic, not metal, though it has a brushed finish that would convince you otherwise from a distance. It’s solid and comfortable regardless, with the soft dimpled back still in tow, but you can’t ignore the 12 gram weight difference — this just doesn’t feel like the substantial device the KEY2 is, though it helps with one-handed usability in the end.

BlackBerry is moving out of the stark and businesslike color schemes of the KEY2 as well, with three different two-tone looks: a “slate” color with hints of blue and green, a soft gold “champagne” with black accents, and the eye-popping “atomic” red with slate-colored accents. The colors appeal to a younger (and young at heart) audience, and all three are beautiful in their own way — though the atomic is particularly striking. And importantly, all three are launching at once when the phone goes on sale in late September.

The next point of cost trimming is in the keyboard — but don’t worry, right off the top I’ll tell you it’s still a great set of keys to type on if you’re into that sort of thing. This is the KEY2’s keyboard layout, including the Speed Key, and the same keycaps as well; but the keyboard footprint is smaller, just 10% larger than the KEYone. The keyboard is also just a keyboard — you don’t get the capacitive touch function that would enable scrolling, text correction and a whole host of other advanced features. All you get on the KEY2 LE is the spacebar-mounted fingerprint sensor.

BlackBerry KEY2 LE specs

BlackBerry made some strategic cuts to hit a palatable price point, and it mostly works out.

As you’d expect, the KEY2 LE also cuts back on the internal specs. There’s a Snapdragon 636 running the show, supported by 4GB of RAM and 32 or 64GB of storage. The battery has also dropped to 3000mAh (from 3500), though it still charges over USB-C with Quick Charge 3.0. BlackBerry is still talking a “full day no matter what” game on battery life, and I’m inclined to believe it given how good the KEY2 is. The rear camera changes to a 13MP main sensor with a 5MP sensor in support purely for portrait mode, which is a strategy we’ve seen on countless mid-range phones of the last year.

The rest of the phone is, well, a KEY2. The display is the same 4.5-inch 3:2 1080p panel. The software is identical between the two, including all of the advanced battery saving features, DTEK, BlackBerry Hub and all of its pre-installed apps. There’s also the Convenience Key, which can now be mapped to use Google Assistant — with a single press to launch, or a press-and-hold to speak to it in a “walkie talkie” sort of mode like the LG G7. That software will be coming to the KEY2 also, which just underscores how much these phones share — and it’s good to see these core experience features carry over to the KEY2 LE.

Keeping the KEY2 brand and creating a device with a similar design identity is a purposeful decision on BlackBerry’s part. You can expect to see the KEY2 LE in most of the same markets where the KEY2 is available, and many carriers and retailers will be carrying both phones. At $399 the KEY2 LE provides an interesting option for people who want something a little different in the mid-range segment, and also works as a good way to get people in the door to then up-sell them to the full KEY2 experience. BlackBerry knows the KEY2 LE will be an enticing option for companies that plan to deploy hundreds (or thousands) of phones and want to have a BlackBerry but can’t afford the KEY2 at that volume.

It’s the only phone at this price with a hardware keyboard, and BlackBerry feels it can charge extra for that.

With so many great phones available in the sub-$400 price range, though, the KEY2 LE is fighting a tough battle in the open market. Much like the regular KEY2, the LE feels a little overpriced for what it offers in specs and hardware — because, well, it’s the only phone at either price point with a hardware keyboard, and BlackBerry feels it can charge for that feature.

The KEY2 LE is going to be a good entry point into modern BlackBerrys, particularly for holdouts who have been using an old device and don’t have the cash to go all the way to the KEY2. At $399 (€399 / £349 / $519 CAD), or $449 in the U.S. with 64GB of storage, and perhaps with an enticing 24-month financing plan, we’ll see a good number of these sold — and BlackBerry is hoping it’ll hook them to the idea of a keyboard so their next phone will be a KEY3.

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!

Buy the BlackBerry KEY2

Honor Magic 2 announced with a sliding design and virtually no bezels

There’s currently no word on pricing or availability.

During its press event at IFA, Honor unveiled its next flagship smartphone — the Honor Magic 2.

This “announcement” was really more of a tease than anything else, but even so, it would appear that Honor’s got something exciting up its sleeves.

Following up on the first Honor Magic that was released in 2016, the Magic 2 features a nearly bezel-less display with no notch in sight. Similar to the Oppo Find X from earlier this year, the Honor Magic 2 has a slide-up design that houses its cameras and allows for its “nearly 100% screen-to-body ratio.”

Honor’s calling this its “intelligent Magic Slide system”, and once it’s activated, you’ll have access to some sort of AI features — a big theme that was present with the first Magic.

It’s been confirmed that the Honor Magic 2 supports 40W charging and is the first Honor phone to be powered by the Kirin 980 processor, but aside from those two tidbits, everything else about the phone is still up in the air — including pricing and availability info.

The first Honor Magic was focused on the Chinese market and never came to the U.S., so don’t get your hopes up just yet about owning the phone yourself.

BlackBerry KEY2 LE hands-on: A $399 ticket to the hardware keyboard party

Marshall rolls out Kilburn II with Bluetooth 5.0, AptX and 360-degree sound

Marshall’s portable Bluetooth speaker gets a host of upgrades for 2018.

Marshall is introducing an updated variant of its portable Kilburn Bluetooth speaker with a new design and a host of hardware upgrades. The major change is the addition of a speaker at the back, facilitating multi-directional sound.

Another update for 2018 is water resistance with an IPX2 certification that lets the speaker withstand splashes of water. Then there’s Bluetooth 5.0 and AptX, with the speaker allowing two phones to connect to it simultaneously. AptX is a key addition as it lets you listen to high-fidelity tunes.

The design is getting subtle tweaks as well. Whereas previous models in the Marshall lineup featured a design similar to that of the company’s amps, the Kilburn II has a metal grille that is styled after microphones, and also has corner caps that sit flush with the body that give it added protection.

The top panel houses analog controls for bass, treble, and volume, and there’s also a visual battery indicator next to the volume knob that gives you an easy estimate of the speaker’s battery life. Marshall is touting a 20-hour playback from a full charge.

And when you do need to top up, the Kilburn II has quick charge that delivers up to three hours’ worth of music playback from a 20-minute charge, with the speaker taking two and a half hours to fully charge.

Although the Kilburn II offers considerable hardware upgrades from its predecessor, it is slotting in at the same $299 price point as the first-gen model. The Kilburn II is now up for sale at Marshall in the U.S. and global markets.

See at Marshall

Marshall Stanmore II and Acton II go live with Alexa and Assistant support

Rock and roll heritage backed by Amazon and Google tech.

Marshall debuted upgraded versions of its Bluetooth speakers last year with multi-room capabilities and Chromecast support along with Spotify Connect, and at IFA 2018 the company is introduicng a new lineup of products with Alexa and Google Assistant integration.

The Stanmore II and Acton II are the first Marshall products in the Marshall Voice series. Unlike the portable Kilburn, the Stanmore and Acton need to be plugged into a wall. The styling of either speaker hasn’t changed considerably, but they do feature a new fret design, and another notable addition is a gold strip at the bottom with five LEDs that will light up when invoking Alexa or Assistant.

Alexa integration is enabled out of the box, and Marshall says Assistant will be available later in the year. In addition to playing music, you’ll be able to interact with either speaker just as you would with a Google Home or Echo, allowing you to set reminders, control smart home products, get weather updates, and much more. The underlying hardware itself hasn’t changed from last year, so you shouldn’t have any problems getting room-filling sound from either speaker.

I’ve been using a first-gen Stanmore hooked up to a Chromecast Audio for three years now, and while that combination has served me very well, built-in Alexa and Assistant integration is a noteworthy addition that enables a whole host of new experiences.

The Stanmore II Voice will go on sale from October 2 for $399, with pre-orders going live later today. The speaker will make its debut in the U.S., followed by other markets where it’ll be available for €399/£349. As for the Acton II Voice, the speaker will be hitting store shelves on November 9 for $299/€299/£269, with pre-orders kicking off from October 2.

See at Marshall

olloclip’s new Multi-Device Clip is perfect for the avid phone photographer

olloclip is changing the phoneography game (yet again) with a new Multi-Device Clip!

If you’re someone who’s an avid phoneographer (cough me cough), or maybe just someone who’s spent some time scrolling through social media, then you’ve probably heard of olloclip, the awesome mobile photography company that makes high-quality lenses for your Android phone.

If you’ve never played with an olloclip lens, that’s totally cool, but you are missing out big time: Which is why I’m so excited to tell you about the new Multi-Device Clip from olloclip!

What is a Multi-Device Clip, you might ask? Well, it’s a tool designed to easily and quickly enhance the built-in camera on most smartphones and tablets. This super compact accessory can expand to fit a variety of case and phone sizes, meaning that you don’t have to take your case off if you’re trying to quickly snap that fleeting picture-perfect moment.

The Multi-Device Clip is unlike any product on the market. It remains our goal at olloclip to continually enhance consumer’s mobile photography experience through the most compact, accurate and easy-to-use products. We designed the Multi-Device Clip to serve the greatest range of smartphones, including those with a screen protector or thin case, for ultimate versatility. (Todd Williams, global sales director at olloclip)

The new Multi-Device Clip will work with olloclip’s Connect X interchangeable lenses effortlessly. You have options to shoot with lenses like:

• Super-Wide
• Ultra-Wide
• Telephoto
• Fisheye and Macro
• Macro 7X +14X
• Macro 21X

Olloclip’s new Multi-Device Clip will be available with any of the Connect X lenses mid-September starting at $60. For more information, sign up to hear once the Multi-Device Clip launches!

Android Pie issue tracker: The biggest bugs and problems

Call them bugs or call them unintended features — Android Pie has a few

Android Pie is the first time we’ve seen such a wide adoption of a new platform version at launch. Google’s Pixel phones have it, of course, but we’ve also seen the stable and final version come to Essential’s PH1. Google tells us that the phones from Sony, Xiaomi, Nokia, Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus that were part of the Android P beta will all be updated early this fall, as well as all qualifying Android One devices. And with any new software, there will be bugs.

More: The Android P Beta includes phones from 7 manufacturers in addition to Pixels

Android Pie has its share of those dreaded “unintended behaviors and features” that software developers hate to see and we hate to stumble across while we try to use our phones. Some are minor, some are going to be inconvenient, and some might be a reason to hold off on updating if you haven’t already. I’ve looked through bug trackers, official forums, Reddit, XDA forums, and every other place I could think of to see what folks are saying to build out a list of the most significant (read: most often reported) bugs for phones with the official Android Pie release.

Here’s what’s happening as of late August 2018.

Pie bugs across the board

These are the issues that users with all phones have reported seeing. It’s likely that these are actual platform bugs and fixing them for one phone fixes them for all.

• Battery draining fast while idle.
• Battery draining fast with Adaptive Battery enabled.

These two bugs may be an incompatibility with specific apps. That could mean an adjustment in the Android framework is needed, or it could be poorly developed apps going rouge. Or both.

• Google Assistant voice match settings not stored correctly.

This could be a bug in Assistant or it could be a bug in Android Pie. What I know for sure is that several folks have reported that using a shared Google Home product involves retraining Assistant to your voice each time you want to use any personalized setting or feature.

• Bluetooth connection and volume bugs

There will always be Bluetooth issues when a project uses the latest open-source Bluetooth stack and tries to connect to other devices that use proprietary older versions of the standard. This is why some companies are late to adopt the newest version of Bluetooth and why Bluetooth in your car — which is probably a very old version and in dire need of an update — can suck. Google will get these issues fixed in time for the next version of Bluetooth to arrive.

Original Pixel and Pixel XL

• Home and recents buttons disappear; sometimes require a reboot to come back
• Phone becomes unresponsive while charging
• Fast charging no longer working with some chargers
• Other parties unable to hear during an outbound call
• OTA update still failing for some users

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Constant scanning for Wi-Fi networks
• Incoming calls default to speakerphone when answered
• Video capture freezing after a minute or two
• Adaptive Brightness feature not triggering as expected
• Display can become too bright or too dim while using the automatic setting

Essential PH1

• Wi-Fi connection issues
• Call volume bugs (too loud and too quiet are both reported as bugs)
• Notch settings in the developer options are gone

Some of these bugs are self-explanatory, and some total code geek level. Some can also be a coincidence where multiple users have a hardware fault and some may be present on your phone even if you’ve never done the thing needed to trigger them. Hunting and killing bugs is hard but having more phones see Android Pie earlier than ever before will help get them sorted and fixed.

I know plenty of other people are seeing some bugs, maybe these or others that aren’t listed. If you’re using Android Pie and seeing things that are off-kilter, jump into the comments and let everyone know what you’re seeing and on what phone.

To file an official bug report, look here for the right place to talk about your particular device.

Update August 2018: This post will be continually updated until every major bug in Android Pie has been found and squashed. We hate bugs!

Android 9 Pie

• Android 9 Pie review: Greater than the sum of its slices
• Everything you need to know about Android 9 Pie!
• Will my phone get Android Pie?
• How to get Android 9 Pie on your Pixel right now
• Join the Discussion

The Google Assistant can now speak two languages at once

It works with English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Japanese.

So far, IFA 2018’s been a pretty big deal for Google. Wear OS is confirmed to get a brand-new UI starting next month and the Google Home Max is finally making its way to the United Kingdom.

Now, Google’s announced that the Google Assistant is officially bilingual starting today.

Google’s been steadily updating the Assistant to work with more and more languages, and with the new bilingual feature, you’ll now be able to talk to the Assistant on your phone, Google Home, Smart Display, etc. in two different languages without having to switch back and forth between them in the app.

The Assistant can be configured to understand any pair of English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Japanese, with support for additional languages coming in the next few months.

This feature should be rolling out to Assistant devices now, so be sure to keep an eye out for it!

HTC U12 Life announced with funky design and dual cameras, starts at £299

Google Home

• Google Home review
• Google Home Mini: Everything you need to know!
• Google Home Max review
• These services work with Google Home
• Google Home vs. Amazon Echo
• Join our Google Home forums!

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Ultimate Ears is bringing the noise with the new Boom 3 and Megaboom 3

Third time’s the charm for Ultimate Ears’ latest in the Boom line of Bluetooth speakers.

UE’s Boom speaker line is one of the most popular in all of Bluetooth speakerdom, and for good reason. They have awesome sound, are well-made, and have been reasonably priced, often going on sale on Amazon.

Now, Ultimate Ears has announced the Boom 3 and Megaboom 3, which continue the tradition of portable, water-resistant Bluetooth speakers with a long range (now 150 feet, up from 100), long battery life, and a brand new smart feature called the “Magic Button.”

The Magic Button instantly controls Apple Music on your iPhone or iPad and Deezer Premium on Android, and is limited to those services for now. The physical redesign comes in the form of two-tone fabric, which UE says is made for motorcycle jackets and fire equipment.

UE is also promising deeper bass on the Megaboom 3, as well as “improved clarity.” The company is also completely skipping the “2” moniker for Megaboom and aligning both Booms under the “3” name.

Both speakers now feature an IP67 rating, which means they’re dustproof and can survive submersion in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes, so they’re perfect for all environments. Even better is that they’re both now designed to float, so you can enjoy some tunes by the pool or right in the pool.

You can pre-order the Boom 3 in five colors for $149.99 and the Megaboom 3 for $199.99 in three colors. Both speakers should hit the U.S. and select countries in Europe and Asia on September 18.