Apple repair program won’t upgrade older MacBook Pros to new keyboard

Although Apple introduced a quieter, new keyboard on the company’s 2018 MacBook Pro models, parts from this third-generation keyboard design won’t be used to repair or replace the faulty keyboards on older Apple’s older laptops. If you own an older MacBook Pro model with a USB-C port prior to Apple’s 2018 refresh and suffer from keyboard problems, Apple will replace it with a keyboard utilizing the same older design, so don’t expect to get a keyboard upgrade if you’re in need of Apple’s repair services.

Prior to launching the refreshed 2018 models, problems with Apple’s butterfly switch design were well documented, with users reporting either keys repeating, not registering, or sticking. The issue has led to the filing of several class action lawsuits, prompting Apple to offer a keyboard repair program for affected models.

At the time, Apple only stated that the keyboard flaw only affected a limited number of MacBook and MacBook Pro units. Under the repair program, Apple offered to either repair or replace the keyboard regardless of warranty status. Because of the keyboard’s design and how it is integrated with the MacBook Pro’s enclosure, an earlier report suggested that repairs could cost as much as $700 out of warranty.

When Apple introduced the 2018 MacBook Pro, the company denied reports that its third-generation keyboard design came with a permanent engineering fix to address problems with sticky or unresponsive keys. Though Apple has not stated why its second-generation keyboard was highly prone to failure, users speculated that the problem may be caused by dust, dirt, or debris being lodged under the keys. A recent iFixIt analysis of the third-generation keyboard on the 2018 models revealed that Apple had placed a silicone barrier between the switch and the key caps as a means to dampen noise when typing. Apple said that this new quieter keyboard experience is an exclusive feature for its 2018 laptops, The Verge reported.

However, that barrier may also have the added benefit of preventing debris from getting lodged under the keys, suggesting that the third-generation keyboard did, in fact, come with a fix for sticky keys. Given that the 2018 models were only recently announced, it’s still too soon to tell how effective Apple’s fix works in real-world use, but if you own a late-2017 MacBook Pro or earlier with a defective keyboard, Apple won’t swap out your old keyboard for a new third-generation design when you take your laptop in for repair. This means that even after you take advantage of Apple’s keyboard repair program, your keyboard not only won’t be quieter, it could still suffer from the same flaw in the future if your MacBook ever finds itself near crumbs or dust.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Apple’s sticky key problem isn’t going away on the 2018 MacBook Pro
• Apple fixes MacBook Pro keyboard issue — sorta
• Failure rate of MacBook Pro ‘butterfly’ keyboards is double that of older models
• MacBook Pro owners file class action lawsuit over keyboard issues
• MacBook DIY keyboard repairs don’t void your chance of a free replacement

Best Buy is knocking $50 off the Apple Watch Series 3 for a short time

While Amazon may be getting all the glory because of Amazon Prime Day, other retailers have some pretty sweet discounts of their own. Best Buy, for example, is offering the Apple Watch Series 3 at a $50 discount, so if you’ve been holding off on buying one for yourself, then today might be the day.

The list price of the Apple Watch Series 3 starts at $329, but Best Buy’s price comes in at as little as $279 — which is one of the cheapest prices we’ve seen for the Apple Watch Series 3 yet. Add on top of that the fact that Best Buy is offering free shipping, and you have yourself a pretty sweet deal. Of course, you will have to shell out a little more for different variants of the watch — like, for example, if you want a model that has cellular connectivity. The deal ends on Tuesday, July 17.

The Apple Watch Series 3 is Apple’s latest and greatest smartwatch, offering improved processing and even cellular connectivity on some variants. It’s available in a range of colors, with an array of band options too. It’s important to note that Apple is expected to launch an updated version of the Apple Watch in the fall — but it’ll be a while before the “Apple Watch Series 4” hits prices like these.

Best Buy isn’t the only outlet selling the Apple Watch at a discount price. Amazon is selling certain variants of the device at similar prices, though the company also seems to be going through some technical difficulties.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Fitbit Versa vs. Apple Watch Series 3: Which should you wear?
• The time is right to take advantage of these Apple Watch deals for July 2018
• Here’s our breakdown of every Apple Watch model, finish, and band available now
• The Apple Watch Series 1 has been discounted to an all-time low
• Apple Watch Series 4: Everything you need to know

Add a microSD card to your phone, camera, or tablet with prices starting at $13

Amazon has a slew of SanDisk storage products on sale today as part of its Prime Day deals, including a bunch of microSD cards. These cards are quite versatile and can be used in a variety of devices, including Fire Tablets, phones, action cameras, dash cameras, and more. There are a bunch of different size options available, starting at 64GB and going to as high as 400GB.

Some of these have never dropped this low before, so you’re going to want to check them out while they are still available.

• 64GB Ultra – $19.49 (Was $25)
• 128GB Ultra – $26.36 (Was $35)
• 200GB Ultra – $45.60 (Was $65)
• 256GB Ultra – $91.15 (Was $150)
• 400GB Ultra – $139.99 (Was $185)

Be sure to grab one now, before they start to sell out.

This Seagate Prime Day sale has a dozen ways to expand your storage

Save money on all kinds of storage.

This huge Seagate sale covers internal, external, portable drives, and drives meant to take a beating. Many of these are great low prices and most of them are only going to be on sale with an Amazon Prime membership.

Find the drive you need for the job you have. There are portable hard drives, LaCie rugged drives, and more. There are even huge 8TB desktop pass-through hubs on sale here as well.

See on Amazon

Unlocked smartphones are on sale from $79 at Amazon, including the Essential Phone

Prime Day is calling with an exclusive discount.

In celebration of Prime Day, Amazon is offering discounts on a selection of unlocked smartphones including options like the Essential Phone and the Honor 7X. There’s also a Samsung wireless charger on sale for $30. These deals are exclusively available to Prime members as part of Amazon’s Prime Day. If you’re not a member, you can still grab today’s discounts by starting a free 30-day trial.

Some of the deals available include:

• Essential Phone for $249.99
• Honor 7X for $169.99
• Huawei Mate SE for $219.99
• Huawei Mate 10 for $499.99
• Samsung Qi-certified Fast Wireless Charging Stand for $29.99

Make sure to visit Amazon to check out the full selection on sale today.

See at Amazon

Best Samsung Galaxy S9 & S9+ Deals and Promotions

Save the Galaxy — spend less money.

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are now available to purchase in many countries around the world. Carriers are falling over themselves to give you a good deal on an early purchase of Samsung’s latest phones. Here are all of the latest deals from the top carriers and retailers.

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U.S.

Amazon (Prime Day only)

Want something really special for Prime Day? For Prime Day only, Amazon is bundling the Galaxy S9 and S9+ with a SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit, an Echo speaker, and an Echo Spot. What an insanely good deal.

See at Amazon

Verizon

You can pick up the Galaxy S9 for $33.33 per month and the Galaxy S9+ for $38.75 per month. Both of those are the prices over 24 months, meaning you’ll ultimately pay $799 for the S9 and $929 for the S9+. Ouch. To help reduce those costs, you can trade-in an eligible phone on Verizon and take up to 50% off. The exact details are as follows:

• Galaxy S9 for $16.66/month: Trade in iPhone X, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, iPhone 6S Plus, Pixel 2/2 XL, Pixel/Pixel XL, LG V30, LG G6, Moto Z2 Force, Moto Z Force, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8/S8+, Galaxy S7 Edge.
• Galaxy S9+ for $19.37/month: Trade in iPhone X, iPhone 8/8 Plus, iPhone 7/7 Plus, Pixel 2/2 XL, LG V30, Moto Z2 Force, Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S8/S8+.
• Galaxy S9 for $21.66/month: Trade in iPhone 6/6 Plus, iPhone 6S, HTC 10, LG V20, LG G5, Moto Z2 Play, Moto Z Droid, Galaxy S7, Galaxy S6/S6 Edge/S6 Edge+, Galaxy Note 5.
• Galaxy S9+ for $25.18: Trade in iPhone 6S/6S Plus, Pixel/Pixel XL, HTC 10, LG V20, LG G6, Moto Z Force, Moto Z2 Play, Galaxy S7/S7 Edge, Galaxy Note 5.
• Galaxy S9 for $25.00/month: Trade in iPhone SE, HTC One M9/M9+, LG V10, LG G4, Moto Z Play, DROID Turbo 2, Galaxy S5, Galaxy Note 4, Galaxy Note Edge.
• Galaxy S9+ for $29.06/month: Trade in iPhone 6/6 Plus, iPhone SE, HTC One M9/M9+, LG V10, LG G5, Moto Z Droid, Moto Z Play, DROID Turbo 2, Galaxy S6/S6 Edge/S6 Edge+, Galaxy Note 4.

See the Galaxy S9 at Verizon See the Galaxy S9+ at Verizon

AT&T

AT&T has upped the price for the phones beyond what you’d pay unlocked or from T-Mobile. The carrier is advertising $26.34 per month for the GS9 and $30.50 per month for the S9+ – but that’s over 30 months, so the full price comes out to $790 and $915, respectively.

For a limited time, though, AT&T is offering 50% off the S9 or $395 off the larger S9+. You must purchase the phones on AT&T Next, start a new line of service, and sign up for a DirecTV or Internet plan.

Those are a lot of hoops you need to jump through, but if you were already planning on getting the S9 or S9+ on AT&T, you might as well look into this.

See at AT&T

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T-Mobile

T-Mobile is matching the unlocked pricing of $720 for the Galaxy S9 and $840 for the S9+. T-Mobile says that the S9 series plugs into its new 600MHz spectrum, which offers more coverage in rural areas.

The Un-Carrier is currently running a BOGO promotion where you can buy one Galaxy S9 and get another for free or $720 off the larger S9+.

Both phones must be purchased on monthly installment plans in order to be eligible, and you’ll need to either active two new lines for new customers or add at least one new one if you’re an existing subscriber.

See at T-Mobile

Sprint

On Sprint you’ll pay $792 for Galaxy S9 and $912 for Galaxy S9+, but they’re also available through Sprint’s Galaxy Forever lease program, which allows you to upgrade to the newest Galaxy after 12 months, for $33 per month for S9 and $38 per month for the S9+.

There aren’t any deals for buying the S9 series outright from Sprint, but you can save quite a bit with the Galaxy Forever program right now.

Instead of $33/month for the S9 and $38/month for the S9+, you’ll spend just $16.50/month for the S9 and $21.50/month for the S9 Plus. No trade-in is required for this promotion, but you will need to add a new line of service.

Once the order is made, you should see your monthly bill credit applied within two billing cycles.

See at Sprint

Best Buy

You can buy the carrier versions of the Galaxy S9 and S9+ for Verizon, AT&T and Sprint, plus the unlocked version (we recommend that one) at their usual prices. Best Buy runs its own trade-in program, and also typically matches whatever the carriers are offering directly in terms of incentives. Best Buy also offers 24-month no-interest financing if you have a Best Buy credit card.

See at Best Buy

Samsung

If you prefer buying your phones directly from the manufacturer (consider it!), without all the bloatware and potential SIM locking, Samsung is offering both the S9 and S9+ unlocked. In the U.S., you’ll pay $719 for the Galaxy S9 and $839 for the Galaxy S9+, but both are available with Samsung’s financing program if you’d prefer to pay over several months.

Samsung also sells the carrier variants of both phones, matching the pricing you’d find from the carriers but not necessarily any of the other incentives above and beyond that.

One big advantage Samsung has over everyone else is that it’s the exclusive place you can buy the 128GB and 256GB configurations for the S9 and S9+. You’ll pay $50 more per each storage upgrade, resulting in the following pricing:

• Samsung Galaxy S9 w/ 128GB – $769.99
• Samsung Galaxy S9 w/ 256GB – $819.99
• Samsung Galaxy S9+ w/ 128GB – $889.99
• Samsung Galaxy S9+ w/ 256GB – $939.99

Samsung’s got a couple killer deals right now, one of which gets you an instant $350 trade-in credit when you purchase an S9 through the Samsung Upgrade Program. Buying the S9 or S9+ through Samsung will also allow you to purchase the Power Bundle for $49 or the Upgrade Bundle for $99.

The Power Bundle comes with a fast wireless charger, 5,100 mAh battery pack, and adaptive fast charging car charger. On the other hand, the Upgrade Bundle inlcudes a fast wireless charger, Samsung Gear VR, and AKG Y50BT wireless headphones.

See at Samsung

Canada

Rogers

It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that Rogers has the Galaxy S9 and S9+. The amount you pay depends on which plan type you choose, with the pricing working out as follows:

• Premium+ Tab: $249 for the Galaxy S9 / $379 for the Galaxy S9+
• Premium Tab: $449 for the Galaxy S9 / $579 for the Galaxy S9+
• Smart Tab: $599 for the Galaxy S9 / $729 for the Galaxy S9+
• Talk & Text or No Tab: $999 for the Galaxy S9 / $1129 for the Galaxy S9+

If there’s a Rogers store near you, you can grab the Galaxy S9 for $0 (that’s right, $0) when you purchase it on one of the carrier’s Share Everything plans after completing an eligible trade-in.

For online shoppers, Rogers is giving out a coupon for 15% off select accessories when you actvate a device from its website and waiving its $30/line Connection Fee.

See at Rogers

TELUS

In addition to Rogers, you can also get the Galaxy S9 through TELUS. The regular S9 costs between $250 and $450 upfront depending on which plan you choose, with the same holding true for the S9+ that varies at $380 and $580.

See at TELUS

Bell

Bell is selling the S9 and S9+ for $250 on a 2-year term with an $80/month contract, or $450 for a $70/month contract. It’s $1019 outright. The S9+ costs $380 and $580 in the same configurations. As with all other carriers, the phone comes in either grey or purple.

If you’re interested in the smaller Galaxy S9, Bell’s letting you pick it up for $0 if you trade-in an eligible device and sign up for a 2-year Premium Plus plan with data.

For this offer, you’ll only be able to redeem it at one of Bell’s physical retail stores.

See at Bell

Unlocked

In Canada, Samsung is selling the Galaxy S9 and S9+ unlocked, starting at $960 for the smaller phone and moving up to $1100 for the larger one. Both phones remain unlocked once you put a SIM card into them, but they download (and keep) the carrier details from the first SIM that was inserted into them, much like their carrier counterparts. In Canada, Samsung is offering only the Lilac Purple and Titanium Grey models.

See at Samsung

UK

O2

O2 in the United Kingdom is selling the Galaxy S9 for £49.99 upfront and then £56 per month for 24 months. If you want the larger and more impressive Galaxy S9+, you’ll pay the same £49.99 upfront cost but a more expensive £61/month charge.

If you buy a Galaxy S9 or S9+ from O2 right now, the carrier will give you the Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 absolutely free. This offer is good until July 11 and the tablet should ship out 14-40 days after your purchase is made.

See at O2

Vodafone

Vodafone is also offering the Galaxy S9 series in the UK, and for the regular S9 you’ll pay £29 upfront followed by £59/month. If you want to step up to the Galaxy S9+, you’ll pay a bit more ay £49 upfront and then £69 per month.

You won’t get any freebies when purchasing the S9+, but if you pick up the regular S9, Vodafone will give you an extra 10GB of monthly data.

See at Vodafone

EE Mobile

For EE Mobile customers, the Galaxy S9 regularly sells for £58 per month and the S9+ for £68 per month. The former comes with 64GB of storage while the latter has 128GB, but no matter which you choose, you’ll be able to get the phones in either Lilac Purple, Coral Blue, or Midnight Black.

If you act fast, however, EE Mobile’s offering its lowest price ever on the two phones — £43/month for the S9 and £53/month for the S9+.

Also, if you trade in a Galaxy S7, you can get the S9 for £28/month and the S9+ for £33/month.

See at EE Mobile

India

The Galaxy S9 and S9+ are now available for purchase in India, with prices starting at ₹57,900 ($890). Both devices are on sale direct from Samsung India as well as Flipkart and Paytm Mall, and will be heading to thousands of retail stores across the country.

Both the 64GB and 256GB storage configurations are available in India, but if you’re interested in picking up the 256GB model, you’ll have to buy from Samsung India’s store. Samsung is rolling out a ₹6,000 ($90) cashback to those picking up the phone via Paytm, and HDFC credit and debit card users can also get ₹6,000 off on either device. Here’s how much the Galaxy S9 and S9+ cost in India:

• 64GB Galaxy S9: ₹57,900 ($890)
• 256GB Galaxy S9: ₹65,900 ($1,000)
• 64GB Galaxy S9+: ₹64,900 ($1,015)
• 256GB Galaxy S9+: ₹72,900 ($1,120)

See at Flipkart

Update, June 19, 2018: Added new deals for T-Mobile, Samsung’s online store, O2, Vodafone, and EE Mobile.

Best Amazon Prime Day Deals

Humans of New York: Stories

$13.02


$25.00


Save $12

This Lightning deal will give you something to think about.

eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack

$67.99


$115.00


Save $47

This is an amazing price, and as a result, the item’s selling out quickly. Hurry up if you’re interested.

Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife

$12.27


$20.00


Save $8

This is a Lightning deal and will sell out quickly.

Intel Core i7 8700K desktop computer processor

$299.99


$350.00


Save $50

While it has been this price at other retailers, this is one of the best deals we’ve seen on Amazon.

• Top Deals
• Amazon Devices
• TVs
• Smart Home
• Unlocked Smartphones
• Kitchen
• Audio & Headphones
• Gaming
• Home Improvement / DIY
• Everyday Essentials
• Kids & Toys
• Entertainment
• Fashion

Check out more Amazon Prime Day deals!

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

Verizon
AT&T
T-Mobile
Sprint

Google responds to Prime Day with discounts on Pixels, Google Homes and more

These are some great deals.

Amazon’s Prime Day sales are getting all of the attention, and rightfully so considering their wide-reaching appeal, but if you’re a fan of Google hardware you’re out of luck there. In response, Google is running its own deep discounts on all of its products at the same time as Prime Day. At both Best Buy and the Google Store, you’ll find all of Google’s latest products on sale to very enticing prices.

Here’s all of the discounts available:

• Google Home Mini for $34 (regularly $49)
  • Available in all 3 colors
• Google Home for $99 (regularly $129)
• 2 Google Homes for $158 (regularly $258)
  • Be sure to use Best Buy’s offer page to get the full discount
• 2 Google Home Max speakers for $648 (regularly $798)
  • Available in both black and white, and you can mix-and-match colors
  • Be sure to use Best Buy’s offer page to get the full discount
• Free Google Home Mini with Philips Hue starter kit (regularly $49)
• Free Google Home Mini with Nest Thermostat purchase (regularly $49)
• Nest Hello Doorbell for $199 + free Google Home Mini (regularly $229 + $49)
• Chromecast for $25 (regularly $35)
• Chromecast Ultra for $49 (regularly $69)
• Google Wifi router for $99 (regularly $129)
• Google Wifi router 3-pack for $258 (regularly $279)
• Verizon Google Pixel 2 for $499 (regularly $649)
  • Offer only available when financing over 24 months with Verizon
• Verizon Google Pixel 2 XL for $549 (regularly $849)
  • Offer only available when financing over 24 months with Verizon
• Unlocked Google Pixel 2 XL for $749 (regularly $849)
• Google Pixelbook for $749 (regularly $999)
  • $250 savings also applied to higher-spec models
• Daydream View VR headset for $49 (regularly $99)

Some deals are better than others, but it’s a Google hardware lover’s dream no matter what. Google is practically giving away Home devices at this point, and those are great deals on Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XLs — particularly if you’re a Verizon customer. Google hasn’t said how long these deals will last, so you’ll want to jump on them before they’re gone and back to full retail price.

Best Amazon Prime Day Deals

Humans of New York: Stories

$13.02


$25.00


Save $12

This Lightning deal will give you something to think about.

eBags Professional Slim Laptop Backpack

$67.99


$115.00


Save $47

This is an amazing price, and as a result, the item’s selling out quickly. Hurry up if you’re interested.

Victorinox Swiss Army Pocket Knife

$12.27


$20.00


Save $8

This is a Lightning deal and will sell out quickly.

Intel Core i7 8700K desktop computer processor

$299.99


$350.00


Save $50

While it has been this price at other retailers, this is one of the best deals we’ve seen on Amazon.

• Top Deals
• Amazon Devices
• TVs
• Smart Home
• Unlocked Smartphones
• Kitchen
• Audio & Headphones
• Gaming
• Home Improvement / DIY
• Everyday Essentials
• Kids & Toys
• Entertainment
• Fashion

Check out more Amazon Prime Day deals!

Google Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL

• Pixel 2 FAQ: Everything you need to know!
• Google Pixel 2 and 2 XL review: The new standard
• Google Pixel 2 specs
• Google Pixel 2 vs. Pixel 2 XL: What’s the difference?
• Join our Pixel 2 forums

Best Buy
Verizon
Google Store
Project Fi

Apple Overhauls Leadership Page With Memoji Avatars for Execs Ahead of World Emoji Day

In celebration of World Emoji Day, which takes place tomorrow, Apple today updated its Apple Leadership site to introduce Memoji avatars for all of the key executives listed on the page.

Tim Cook, Angela Ahrendts, Jony Ive, Eddy Cue, Craig Federighi, Luca Maestri, Phil Schiller, and the rest of the leadership team are now represented by Memojis.

Memojis are an iPhone X feature coming in iOS 12. Similar to Animoji, Memoji are humanoid avatars that can be customized and personalized to look just like you with an array of options.

You can choose skin color, hair color, hair style, eye color, eyebrows, nose, features like freckles and facial hair, accessories, and headwear when creating a Memoji.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
Right now, Memoji, like Animoji, are limited to iPhone X, but future devices that include the Face ID camera system will also work with Animoji and Memoji, such as rumored iPad Pro models expected this fall.

To celebrate World Emoji Day, Apple also highlighted the emojis we can expect to see in Unicode 11, which Apple plans to adopt later this year in either iOS 12 or an update to iOS 12.

Upcoming emoji characters include cold face, party face, pleading face, peacock, kangaroo, parrot, and more, along with options for red hair, gray hair, and no hair.

Related Roundup: iOS 12Tags: Tim Cook, Animoji, Memoji
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Moto Z3 Play review: The value is still in the Moto Mods

Motorola’s Moto Z Play series has always brought a great balance of modern features and specifications to an affordable price point. The brand new Moto Z3 Play is no exception, and brings some of the most significant changes to the Play line yet. Is it a worthy upgrade to last year’s model? Find out in our Moto Z3 Play review.

Pros:	Cons:
Sturdy glass and metal design Slender profile Fast performance Stock-like software experience Expandable storage	Subpar camera Average battery life No headphone jack

Design

The Moto Z3 Play’s design shouldn’t be too surprising to anyone. It retains the same overall shape and footprint as the previous Moto Z devices, which is necessary to maintain compatibility with the Moto Mods.

The Moto Z3 Play works with all 14 current Moto Mods, and all Moto Z3 Plays will come bundled with a free Moto Mod.

The Z3 Play’s main design differences come down to its new, mostly glass body and sleeker profile. As with most smartphones nowadays, the Z3 Play has a glass front and back, with a metal frame wrapping around the sides. The construction is sturdy and feels great, but it doesn’t stand out much.

The Z3 Play is also thinner than last year’s model, which comes at the expense of the headphone jack. This may not be a surprising move in 2018, but the headphone jack was a big part of the appeal the Z Play series, considering the Z flagships didn’t have it. Motorola included a 3.5mm-to-USB type-C adapter in the box, but it’s still an unfortunate loss.

Side-mounted fingerprint sensors aren’t very common but they definitely should be.

Another major change to the Z3 Play is the relocation of the fingerprint sensor. On previous models, this was on the bottom chin, but it sits on the right side of the Z3 Play, similar to where Sony used to put them. The power button sits on the left side, mirroring the fingerprint sensor. Side mounted fingerprint sensors aren’t very common, but they definitely should be.

This one’s comfortable and easy to reach with your thumb. I haven’t noticed any issues with accuracy or speed.

Display

The Z3 Play now has a more modern display. It’s got an 18:9 aspect ratio and much smaller bezels on all sides than its predecessors. The 6.01-inch screen uses Super AMOLED technology with FHD+ resolution. The AMOLED display is vibrant and colorful, with excellent viewing angles and brightness. Contrast is also excellent, with the deep dark blacks typical of an AMOLED display. The FHD+ resolution may seem a little low, but I had no complaints. It’s plenty sharp for comfortably browsing the web and enjoying media.

Performance

The Moto Z3 Play is powered by a mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage on the U.S. variant. Globally, there is an additional variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. I’ve been testing the U.S. version and have run into no issues with performance.

The Z3 Play was quick to launch applications, quick to multitask with, and handled any game I threw at it with smooth frame rates. Swiping through the UI and browsing the web is also very fast and responsive. It may not have the most impressive spec sheet, but it was powerful enough to perform well with all of my daily demands.

Battery life performance, unfortunately, isn’t quite as good. While the Snapdragon 636 is a very efficient processor, the 3,000mAh battery could only get me through a light or moderate day. Screen-on time consistently reached the four-hour mark, but never more. It’s pretty average by 2018 standards.

Most consumers will find it sufficient, but this phone just can’t last through a full day with heavy amounts of gaming and video watching.

Camera

The Z3 Play is the first Moto Play phone to feature dual rear cameras. The main sensor is 12MP with an f/1.7 aperture, and it’s the only sensor designed for capturing photos. The secondary 5MP sensor is meant purely for capturing depth information for portrait mode or background blurring effects. The front-facing camera now has an 8MP sensor and a portrait mode, but it isn’t quite as advanced or feature-rich due to the lack of a second sensor.

The camera app now has built-in Google Lens support, making it very easy to do your virtual searches directly from the camera. Another new feature to the camera is cinemagraphs, which let you capture a picture with motion, where you can select which parts of the photo move and which parts stay still. It’s a ton of fun to use and really creative. The images save as a standard GIF which makes it very easy to share with your friends and family on social media or text messages.

In daylight or well-lit conditions, the camera produces acceptable results but colors lack vibrancy and details don’t appear sharp.

Picture quality from the Z3 Play’s camera is average at best. I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed by the results. In daylight or well-lit conditions, the camera performed acceptably, but colors lacked vibrancy and details weren’t sharp. The drop-off in quality is very significant in low light. Noise is very visible, colors are washed out, and highlights are severely overexposed. The camera also struggles to focus in dark conditions, which makes it difficult to get the shot you want sometimes.

Software

One of my favorite things about Moto devices has always been the software. Motorola keeps the experience on the Moto Z3 Play very close to stock Android. It’s one of the few experiences on the market similar to Google’s Pixel phones. Android 8.1 comes out of the box and Motorola says it will support two OS upgrades during the Z3 Play’s life cycle. Motorola’s usual suite of software features, such as Moto Display, the flashlight double chop, and twist of the wrist for launching the camera, all remain intact.

The newest software addition is the ability to navigate the UI using swipe gestures via the on-screen bar at the bottom of the display. This replaces the gesture controls that were previously achieved by swiping on the front facing home button. The gestures are similar to Android P’s swipe gestures and work in place of the standard on-screen navigation keys if you want them. They’re simple and very easy to figure out. Swiping left goes back, swiping right opens recent apps, tapping takes you home and holding down the virtual bar launches Google Assistant. After a few days of use, I much preferred using the gestures over the standard onscreen buttons.

Specifications

Display	6-inch AMOLED 2,160 x 1,080 resolution 18:9 screen ratio
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Octa-core Kryo 260 at 1.8GHz
GPU	Adreno 509
RAM	4/6GB
Storage	64/128GB MicroSD up to 2TB
Cameras	Rear cameras Main: 12MP with 1.4 micron pixels, f/1.7 aperture Secondary: 5MP Front camera 8MP sensor with 1.12-micron pixels, f/2.0 aperture
Audio	Front-facing speaker USB Type-C No 3.5mm jack 24-bit audio at 94kHz
Battery	3,000mAh battery Non-removable TurboCharging
IP rating	Water-repellent coating No IP rating
Network	LTE Cat. 12
Software	Android 8.1 Oreo
Dimensions and weight	156.5 x 70.5 x 6.75mm 156g
Colors	deep indigo

Pricing & Final Thoughts

The Moto Z3 Play is priced at $499 unlocked in the U.S., which is fair for what you get, but not the greatest value. As a comparison, the OnePlus 6 costs only $30 more and gives you high-end specifications, a better camera, and a headphone jack. When judging the phone on its own merits the Z3 Play is a great midrange offering, but unless you highly value Moto Mods and Motorola’s software suite it’s probably not worth the money.

Next: OnePlus 6 review: The new Nexus

OnePlus in the process of renaming Dash Charge system to Warp Charge

Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

It seems that OnePlus may be changing the name of its Dash Charge charging system to “Warp Charge” — if a trademark application to the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is granted.

OnePlus has been avoiding using the term “Dash Charge” in its promotional material and software ever since it was denied a trademark in the EU in March due to similarities with Bragi’s Dash Pro headset and Amazon’s Dash service. While OnePlus would still have been able to use the Dash Charge name in the U.S., it would have had to have changed the name specifically for regions within the EU — not exactly the easiest way of doing business.

Clearly not happy with the situation, OnePlus has been looking for a replacement for the “Dash Charge” name — and it seems it may have found it with “Warp Charge.” The trademark was submitted to the EUIPO on July 13, but don’t expect an answer particularly quickly. The trademark application for Dash Charge was begun when the OnePlus 3 was released in 2016, and the agency only got around to denying the application in March of this year.

Of course, it’s not a given that the trademark will be accepted yet, so it would be unwise for OnePlus to start the lengthy and expensive process of re-merchandising until the application is complete — but unless some major players within a similar industry pop up with another valid claim to the name, then it’s likely that the trademark will be accepted. We doubt a miniatures shop in Halifax has enough of a claim to block OnePlus here.

The charging method formerly known as Dash Charge has a strong history. It’s based on the VOOC charging tech of OnePlus’ owner, OPPO, and it increases ampage, rather than voltage, to deliver more power to a device. It’s considered one of the fastest methods of fast charging out there, and it’s something that OnePlus is proud enough of to have launched a marketing campaign around for the launch of the OnePlus 3T.

Having the trademark application rejected clearly hasn’t hurt OnePlus too much though — the release of the OnePlus 6 was completed without it, and we’ve highlighted that particular phone as one of our current favorites.

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