Spotify is launching Comments for podcasts and a new mobile app for podcasters to build stronger relationships with their listeners. These new tools allow podcasters to manage their shows and engage with fans in a deeper and more convenient way.
The company has been adding features to their podcasts for some time now. A few years ago, the platform introduced Q&A and polls to allow listeners to interact with podcasts. Since their introduction, over 9 million unique Spotify users have engaged with a Q&A or poll and interactions have grown by 80% year-over-year. This suggests that interactive features like Comments are in high demand.
Ben Wilson, the creator of “How to Take Over the World,” shared that he uses Comments to get feedback from his audience and understand which takeaways from the podcast resonate most with them. This feedback helps him create a stronger connection with listeners and makes podcasting more rewarding for him.
The new Comments feature builds on the existing Q&A and polls functionality. With Comments, Spotify hopes to further enhance the interactive experience for both podcasters and listeners. This feature is available to all podcast creators, regardless of where their episodes are hosted. Creators can manage listener feedback, track their podcast’s growth, and interact with listeners, all through the new Spotify for Podcasters mobile app.
Comments on Spotify Podcasts | Images credit — Spotify
The new Spotify for Podcasters mobile app has been rebuilt to be more inclusive and now works for all podcasters, regardless of where their show is hosted. It also includes new notification features that help podcasters stay informed about their show’s performance and listener feedback. The ability to manage comments has also been added to the app.Spotify’s VP of Podcast Product, Maya Prohovnik, stated in an interview that Comments were a highly requested feature by podcasters and listeners alike. Furthermore, she stated that since Spotify is committed to making its platform the best place for creators to connect with their fans, the addition of Comments aims to achieve that goal. Historically, podcasts have been a one-sided experience, and while features like Polls and Q&A have been available for some time, there has been a desire for more direct interaction.
The new features and app are designed to offer a better podcasting experience for everyone involved. For podcast creators, these tools provide a meaningful way to grow their audience and strengthen relationships with listeners. For fans, the biggest benefit is the ability to connect with their favorite podcasters on a deeper level, directly on the platform where they are already listening.
Spotify now allows listeners to leave comments on their favorite podcasts. This way, podcasters will have more options to interact with their audience. Until now, creators could only do so by posting surveys and Q&As. This will bring the user experience a little closer to that of YouTube.
YouTube has shown that allowing comments on multimedia content can be a useful audience retention tool. While YouTube is a video-based platform, there are also podcast creators uploading their shows. The comment box on videos often becomes a meeting point for both fans and creators, starting conversations related to the content where everyone can participate.
Now you can leave comments on your favorite Spotify podcast shows
It seems that Spotify wants to cause a similar effect by enabling comments on podcast shows or episodes. The feature will be disabled by default, so podcasters will have to approve the comments one by one. This is similar to one of the comment settings that YouTube offers to creators. Also, creators can choose which episodes of their shows will allow listener comments. Of course, they can also choose to disable comments completely, as before.
Starting today (July 9), the Spotify for Podcasters web app will allow creators to manage comments and settings for their shows. Soon, they will also be able to do so through an improved Spotify for Podcasters app, whose rollout will be gradual.
The rollout of comments for Spotify podcasts will also be gradual, so it won’t be available to everyone right away. The first creators will begin to receive it starting today, without regional limitations. Lately, the company has been giving special importance to its podcasts, also boasting the huge growth of video podcasts available on Spotify. Although the blog post does not specify it, the comments will probably also be available for video podcasts as well.
The revamped Spotify for Podcasters app will help creators grow
A video posted by the company shows some of the new features that the updated Spotify for Podcasters app will bring to creators. These include liking and responding to comments from anywhere, growth tracking metrics, and checking key data about their audience (like geographic location) to improve their content.
There are users of Android’s Find My Device network who have complained about performance issues with tracker detection. Apparently, this is because the Find My Device network’s “aggregation by default” approach prioritizes privacy over performance. The company is defending this decision but also suggests people set the “With network in all areas” option to improve performance and accuracy for everyone.
Find My Device “aggregation by default” may affect performance, but you can change it
The improved Find My Device network offers four options to manage your participation. Devices are added to the network three days after the user receives a notification email. There are also trackers that force network aggregation on devices that are still offline. That said, the devices within the network do not use by default the setting that offers the best performance. This is because Google’s “aggregation by default” approach seeks to give you more control over your privacy. That is, the user can voluntarily improve the functionality in the Find My Device settings.
Google describes the “aggregation by default” approach by saying that “the Find My Device network requires multiple nearby Android devices to detect a tag before reporting its location to the tag’s owner.” This behavior corresponds to the “With network in high-traffic areas only” option in the Find My Device settings. Google is also aware that this approach may negatively impact performance. The support page says that “this may sometimes affect detection of Bluetooth trackers, especially in low-traffic areas.”
Here’s how to fix issues with tracker detection
So, to solve this type of problem, the company recommends changing the settings to “With network in all areas.” But why didn’t Google set that option by default? Basically, it wants to give you control over your privacy. With this approach, you are the one who decides if you want your device to participate in the network in any area.
Lastly, the company also claims that the performance of the Find My Device network will improve as more and more users enable the “With network in all areas” option, even for those who keep the default option. This is because low-traffic areas will gradually be reduced.
Galaxy AI was a selling point of the latest slew of Galaxy S phones, and Samsung has major plans for it going forward. We’re likely to hear more about it during the company’s next Unpacked event (happening tomorrow). However, we just got a leak of two new features potentially coming to the platform. Galaxy AI might offer real-time translation in WhatsApp and Google Meet.
Since we’re dealing with a leak, you’ll want to take it with a grain of salt. There’s a chance that Samsung will pull these features back before launch. WhatsApp is always testing out new features, so beta testers might be testing out these features now. Hopefully, we’ll see more on this feature.
Galaxy AI might be coming to WhatsApp
Right now, one of the most practical applications of AI is translation. This makes it so much easier to communicate with people from other parts of the world. Just about all AI platforms have some sort of translation feature, so it’s a must-have. Several of Samsung’s Galaxy AI features involve translation like the Interpreter feature.
According to a new report, Samsung could be partnering with Meta to bring real-time translation to WhatsApp. This news comes from Ice Universe, but there was no additional information given. So, it’s anyone’s guess as to how this is going to work. Galaxy AI’s main features require the Samsung Keyboard, so WhatsApp might exclusively integrate with it and bring real-time translation. That’s a possibility, but it seems nonsensical.
We’re just going to have to wait to see what Samsung has up its sleeve. This isn’t the only bit of news that came from Ice. The leaker also stated that Galaxy AI is also coming to Google Meet and WeChat. So, we’re pretty sure that Galaxy AI will integrate with these platforms the same way it will integrate with WhatsApp. That all remains to be seen.
Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked event is going down tomorrow, and we expect to hear about some neat AI tools coming to the new foldable. For all we know, we might hear about this news more tomorrow.
OnePlus’ new flagship, the Ace 3 Pro, is surprisingly thin for a smartphone with a 6100mAh battery. At 8.7mm, it is 0.3mm thinner than last year’s Ace 2 Pro, which has a 5000mAh battery. The company made this possible with its new Glacier battery technology. It plans to use this technology to make slim 7000mAh batteries for its future smartphones.
OnePlus is working on a 7000mAh battery for smartphones
The Glacier battery technology that OnePlus has developed uses “a high-capacity silicon-carbon material” that can deliver a 763WH/L energy density. That’s a 23.1% higher energy density than standard graphite batteries, allowing for higher capacity without making the cell bulky. This battery technology is durable too, with OnePlus claiming an 80% battery health after four years of regular use.
The OnePlus Ace 3 Pro is the first smartphone to feature this next-gen cell. It certainly won’t be the last, though. According to a reliable Chinese tipster identified as Digital Chat Station on Weibo, OnePlus’s researchers are exploring a 7000mAh smartphone battery. The OPPO sub-brand aims to use the gigantic battery in a mid-range smartphone first. However, it might eventually come to a flagship too.
OnePlus won’t be the first company to launch a smartphone with a 7000mAh battery. Samsung did that back in February 2021 with its Galaxy F62. However, the Galaxy device is a chunky piece of tech with a thickness of 9.5mm. OnePlus could give us a 7000mAh battery in a much thinner package. Alternatively, it could employ the Glacier battery technology to make sleek flagships with a sizable battery (around 5000mAh).
This technology may be a timely solution for power-hungry AI loads
There is no telling when OnePlus will launch its 7000mAh smartphone battery. However, considering what it did with the Ace 3 Pro, the wait may not be much longer. Apple is also said to be exploring advanced battery technologies to increase the battery capacity of its future iPhones. These advancements could be a timely solution for power-hungry AI and machine learning loads.
The industry is integrating AI everywhere. From smartphones and watches to earbuds and smart rings, AI is fast becoming an integral part of our tech space. As such, we can’t rely solely on chipmakers to improve the efficiency of their flagship solutions. Advancements in battery technologies that allow higher capacity in smaller sizes could be helpful. It remains to be seen if any other company comes up with something similar to OnePlus’ Glacier battery technology.
Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner, and people are locked and loaded to capitalize on some great deals. Well, why not get into the spirit early with this amazing grab? The Amazing Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless Bluetooth headphones at just $232.78. That’s down from their usual price of $379.95
When you hear the name Sennheiser, “affordable” isn’t exactly the first word that comes to mind. However, the company has a line of headphones that won’t require you to give up all of your worldly possessions. The Momentum series of headphones bring the Sennheiser sound to a more reasonable price point, and the Momentum 4 are the latest and greatest.
These are a pair of Bluetooth headphones, and they’re going up against some of the best wireless headphones on the market. They come with a pair of fine-tuned 42mm transducers. While more affordable, they still deliver Sennheiser’s signature sound.
The companion app comes with a built-in EQ that lets you further customize your sound experience. You can either customize the EQ to your liking or choose from the presets within the app. So, you can either hear Sennheisers signature sound or your signature sound.
Along with the great audio, the Sennheiser Momentum 4 come with some top-of-the-line noise canceling. The microphones on the headphones allow them to listen and filter out a wide range of noise. So, they will let you isolate yourself with your music.
All of this is wrapped in a premium and good-looking package. The Momentum 4 have an elegant and unique design. These headphones are also incredibly comfortable. You’ll want to wear them for extended periods of time, and you’ll be able to with the 60-hour battery life.
Undoubtedly, these are some of the best headphones that you can get on the market, and the deal makes them that much better.
Those who have claimed responsibility for the Ticketmaster data breach say they’ve stolen 440,000 tickets for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and as proof have leaked 170k ticket barcodes. However, those barcodes are long gone, as a Ticketmaster spokesperson said:
“Ticketmaster’s SafeTix technology protects tickets by automatically refreshing a new and unique barcode every few seconds so it cannot be stolen or copied.”
The rotating barcodes that change every few seconds is a core feature that protects against “scalpers” who buy tickets from licensed sellers and then resell them at—often—huge profits. You could compare this to the “rolling code” method that most car manufacturers use to prevent car thieves from using a Flipper-Zero to steal your car. You can record and retransmit the code sent by a key fob but that exact same code will no longer work.
From past experience we can say that scalpers are usually one step ahead of the ticket platforms.
Only yesterday, the tech journalists at 404 Media reported about a lawsuit filed in California by concert giant AXS which gives readers some insight into an ongoing legal and technological battle between ticket scalpers and platforms like Ticketmaster and AXS.
404 explains that by reverse engineering the process that ticket platforms use, scalpers can generate valid tickets which they can then sell through their own platforms.
In the lawsuit, AXS says that scalpers are selling counterfeit tickets to unsuspecting customers. However, from the buyer’s standpoint—exaggerated price aside—if you paid for them and they get you in the venue, what’s the difference?
But the point is, the struggle between ticket platforms and scalpers is an arms race in which each side keeps coming up with new methods, and there is now way for the average customer to tell who is currently ahead. So buying these tickets poses a risk of losing your money.
The Ticketmaster spokesperson said:
“This is just one of many fraud protections we implement to keep tickets safe and secure.”
Unfortunately, the customer and card details of one million Ticketmaster users were not that safe and secure: The cybercriminals released that data when Ticketmaster refused to pay the ransom for the allegedly 560 million Live Nation/Ticketmaster users they managed to steal.
Either way. Be careful when buying tickets and when receiving emails about free concert tickets. They could turn out to be costly.
Malwarebytes has a free tool for you to check how much of your personal data has been exposed online. Submit your email address (it’s best to give the one you most frequently use) to our free Digital Footprint scan and we’ll give you a report and recommendations.
We don’t just report on threats – we help safeguard your entire digital identity
Cybersecurity risks should never spread beyond a headline. Protect your—and your family’s—personal information by using identity protection.
The modern streaming service landscape is no stranger to mergers and acquisitions. We’ve seen so many over the past couple of years, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping. According to a new report, Paramount and Skydance are officially merging, and this will lead Paramount to be a tech-media company.
Paramount+ is the company’s streaming service, and it has a ton of shows and movies from companies like Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, etc. You also can’t forget about popular Paramount movie franchises like Top Gun, Transformers, Sonic The Hedgehog, Star Trek, and so on. Plans for this service start at $5.99/month. That plan comes with ads, so you’ll need to keep that in mind.
Paramount is merging with Skydance Media
We’ve been following stories about companies looking to merge with the media giant Paramount. While Paramount+ has been gaining in popularity since its launch, the streaming service has been struggling to break even. This is typical, as running a streaming service is not cheap, especially a streaming service with original content. So, it’s been a financial loss for the company since the first sign-up. Unfortunately, Paramount had to lay off more than 800 workers earlier this year.
As such, this merger is necessary to help Paramount+ turn a profit. According to the report, Skydance is paying $2.4 billion to acquire National Amusements. This is the company that has a controlling stake in Paramount. So, Skydance is buying the farm and animals along with it.
Along with this move, Paramount is getting a new head, David Ellison. He is charting the path to success for Paramount, and this includes improving the technology behind Paramount+. For starters, he wants to revamp the recommendations algorithm that curates content to people. That should, ostensibly, keep people invested in the service.
Cutting back
That’s not all, as Ellison will work on cutting costs and increasing efficiency. When a company says something like that, it usually means laying off another boatload of workers. This is just speculation, however. It’s just hard to think otherwise with the way that things have been going over the past couple of years.
Along with that, Jeff Shell, the head of the new combined company, told The Times that the company is open to reaching out to other companies for bundled deals. That could be a great move, as there are just too many services out there, and far too many of them are hiking up their prices. Tying them together with bundle deals means that companies will get them at a lower price.
If you’re a Paramount+ subscriber, you shouldn’t expect any sweeping changes in the near future. The deal won’t even be finalized until next year. There’s no telling if there will be some changes after the deal’s been finalized.
I don’t like flip phones. But I love the Motorola Razr+ (2024).
You probably have a puzzled look on your face after those first two sentences, but it’s true. I’ve used various flip phones over the years, mostly from Samsung. And I just don’t like them. I find that I need to open it several times a day to mindlessly scroll through social media or just play on my phone. Battery life is generally not all that great, and neither are the cameras. But somehow, Motorola has changed all of that for me with the Razr+ (2024).
Last year, with the Razr+ (2023), I absolutely loved using the external display. But this year, Motorola was able to make it even larger, somehow. Which makes it easier to mindlessly scroll through Twitter (sorry, X) while walking down the streets of Brooklyn. I can still play some of Google’s Game Snacks on the front screen, too, making it quicker to pass the time on the subway, and I can even use the rear cameras for a selfie or two.
I didn’t expect to like having an external display this large this much. I’ve used it before on other flip phones like the Galaxy Z Flip 5 but it’s limited to only a few apps. While Motorola is allowing all apps to work on the external display. OPPO also has a pretty large external display on its Find N3 Flip which is more or less the same aspect ratio as a regular phone display. That’s cool and all, but is tough to really use.
But how does the rest of the phone stack up? Because that external display is cool and all, but it means nothing if battery life isn’t great, performance is poor, or the cameras suck. Let’s find out in our full review.
Motorola Razr+ (2024) Review: Design and Build Quality
The build quality of Motorola phones has never really been an issue. While not all of their phones look the prettiest, they do use an industrial design that helps them withstand basically anything. And that’s true here with the Razr+. It’s an industrial design that actually looks pretty. As mentioned in the disclaimer, I do have the Peach Fuzz variant, which has a faux leather back that is peach fuzz colored, while the frame is more of a bronze-gold color. Honestly, it’s a really cool look.
This year, Motorola says that the hinge on the Razr+ is about 30% smaller compared to last year’s model. Honestly, I didn’t really notice it until I put it side-by-side with the Razr+ (2023), and it sure is much smaller. It also feels and looks more sturdy than its predecessor. Though, we’ll find out in a year if that’s true.
Razr+ (2023) vs Razr+ (2024)
One design choice that always puzzles me with phone makers, is making the cheaper model have a matte finish on the sides, while the more expensive phone is glossy. Google has done it, Apple did it for years, and now Motorola is doing it with the Razr+. Luckily with this Peach Fuzz color, it does not get as nasty from fingerprints as others that have glossy side rails.
Another design choice that I love, however, is the choice of material for the back. Last year, Motorola did offer one Razr+ with a vegan leather backing which was the Viva Magenta color that was exclusive to T-Mobile. I asked for that as a review unit, but got the black one instead. This year, all Razr+ models have either a faux leather back or a faux suede back. And to be honest, that faux suede back is really nice, and I hope it holds up better than Apple’s FineWoven cases. The Peach Fuzz faux leather backing here is really nice and provides a good grip for the phone to keep it in your hand. It also feels much more comfortable to hold than a glass-backed phone.
The hardware looks and feels great on the Motorola Razr+ (2024); I’d even say it’s some of the best-looking and feeling hardware on any flip phone available today.
Motorola Razr+ (2024) Review: Display
Like a lot of foldables, the Razr+ does feature two displays. There’s the external display and then the folding internal display. Let’s talk about that external display first. Which is a 4-inch 1272×1080 resolution display that can get up to 2400 nits of peak brightness. Let me just tell you right now, it gets plenty bright in direct sunlight. I’ve used this external display so often outside in direct sunlight without a single problem with visibility. It’s also crisp and clear, with a crazy fast 165Hz refresh rate.
I’ve quite enjoyed using this external display, as the colors are very vibrant, and the display is bright. Not to mention Motorola lets all Android apps run on this external display.
Now for the folding display, that’s a 6.9-inch 2640×1080 resolution display, which also goes up to 165Hz and is dynamic. It also has an incredible peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Much like the external display, I also had no trouble at all seeing this display outside in direct sunlight. With foldable displays, peak brightness is even more important because the display is plastic, and naturally, it is very reflective. So that extra brightness really helps with being able to see it under bright light.
Something that Motorola, OnePlus, OPPO, and others have been able to do, but Samsung can’t yet, is to ship a foldable phone without a crease in the display. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves with foldable phones, but Motorola has once again shipped a display that doesn’t have a crease. You can see a little bit of a dip in the middle, but it’s far less noticeable than what Samsung is doing. If you think that will increase over time, let me stop you right there because the 2023 model looks almost identical to the new 2024 model in terms of display crease.
Now it’s time for some testing. As we do with each phone, we take a lux light meter and measure the brightness of the display. To do this, we get a plain white picture to fill the entire screen, shine a flashlight at the light sensor, and turn out all the lights in the room. This provides us with the brightest environment possible without having an actual lab. So, of course, the results aren’t going to be spot on for what Motorola touts as the peak brightness – as that is only for the very extreme cases. But for the front display, we got 1,100 nits, and the internal display peaked at about 1,654 nits. Still plenty bright for a not-extreme situation.
Motorola Razr+ (2024) Review: Performance
The Razr+ actually received a pretty big upgrade this year, in the performance department. The previous Razr+ had the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 inside, which was over a year old at the time of release. Now, Motorola has moved to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 with the Razr+ (2024). This has resulted in much better performance compared to last year’s model, and it is immediately noticeable.
In day-to-day tasks, the performance of the Razr+ is pretty impressive, for a flip phone. Oftentimes, flip phones will underclock the processor to keep things cooler and conserve battery life. But not with the Razr+. Here, we’re getting speedy and snappy performance in just about everything from playing games, to doomscrolling on Twitter, and even running benchmarks.
Of course, having 12GB of RAM inside also helps with performance. This particular model has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which is quite good for this price point. I’ve had no complaints at all when it comes to performance, in fact the phone doesn’t really even get hot, other than playing games for a long period of time, or running some demanding benchmarks.
The Benchmarks
Speaking of benchmarks, let’s check those out now. As usual, we ran a slew of benchmarks on the Razr+ that will test all sorts of aspects of the phone. The first one here is Geekbench 6.
With Geekbench 6, it is testing the CPU speed of the single-core and the multi-core, as well as the GPU. On the CPU test, it scored 1977 in single-core and 5031 in multi-core. Now we are comparing this with the OnePlus 12 (also a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 device) and the Pixel 8 Pro with the Tensor G3. The Razr beat both pretty handily, especially in the single-core.
Moving onto the GPU test, the Razr+ scored 9,151. That’s more than double that of the Pixel 8 Pro, but quite a bit lower than the OnePlus 12. The only thing I can think of as to why it’s so much lower than the OnePlus 12 is because of its incredible cooling OnePlus has added. And we’ll see more evidence of that in the next benchmark.
Now let’s talk about 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test. This is a pretty extreme benchmark that will drive the temperature of the Razr+ to about the hottest it’ll ever be. This runs a 60-second loop 20 times. Giving us a Best Loop score, a Lowest Loop Score and then a stability percentage from those scores. The Razr+ actually performed significantly lower than the OnePlus 12, but right in line with other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices we’ve benchmarked lately.
The Razr+ earned a 3,046 score for its best loop, and it’s lowest loop was 1,626. That gives us a stability score of 50.8%. That’s not too shabby, but when compared to the OnePlus 12, it’s very low. As the OnePlus 12 had a best loop of 17,047 and a lowest loop of 8,669. However other Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 devices like the HONOR Magic6 Pro, scored a best loop of 5,054, and a lowest loop of 3,492. That’s much closer to the Razr+.
The last benchmark we run here is a video test. Essentially, we load up the same 60-second video into Capcut and then export it at 1080p30. We time how long it takes to export, which tends to vary quite a bit among all of these devices. The Razr+ was able to export it in 18.25 seconds. That’s twice as long as the OnePlus 12 but less than half as long as the Pixel 8 Pro, which had a time of 40.05 (still the longest time for phones we’ve tested).
The Thermals
Now let’s move on to the thermals. We have three separate tests that we perform here to test out the thermals of the Razr+. Which includes taking the temperature of the phone after running the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test. As mentioned already, this is the most taxing thing on any phone, and we’ve never had any other thermal test beat this one, in terms of the temperature.
So, after running the 3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Stress Test, we checked the temperature, and it registered at 112.4 degrees Fahrenheit. That puts it right in striking distance of most other phones we’ve tested. Most were between 110 and 115 degrees, with the exception of book-style foldables like the HONOR Magic V2 RSR.
The next thermal test we run is with Genshin Impact. With this test, we play Genshin Impact at the highest settings and with the screen brightness at the highest, for an hour. This is a pretty demanding title and it’s pretty representative of real world use. After an hour, the Razr+ registered a temperature of 98.6 degrees. Again, pretty similar to most other phones we’ve tested.
Finally, we do a camera test. Basically, we are recording video in 4K30 (we’d do 4K60, but not every phone has that option), as that tends to heat up phones quite a bit. We take a temperature reading at 5 minutes in and again at 10 minutes. At 5 minutes, the Razr+ registered a temperature of 98.8 degrees Fahrenheit, and at 10 minutes, it rose to 104.3 degrees.
These thermals are pretty good, especially for a flip phone, where there’s not that much room for the processor to really breathe and dissipate heat.
Motorola Razr+ (2024) Review: Battery Life
When it comes to battery life on flip-style foldables, it’s generally not that great. It’s average at best. But last year, with the Razr+ (2023), Motorola did a good job of fitting in a larger battery and a more energy-efficient processor. Which resulted in pretty good battery life for a flip phone. This year, Motorola has somehow fit an even larger battery, 4,000mAh, which is enough to last you all day.
In the almost two weeks that I’ve been using this phone, I’ve been able to get through a full day and then some on a single charge. Now, a good bit of that is due to the fact that I can do so much on the outside screen. Obviously, that uses less power than the main folding display. But still, getting through a roughly 16-hour day and still having around 20-30% off is not bad. Sure, there are other phones that could do better, like the OnePlus 12 or Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, but neither of those are folding phones.
Benchmarks
Similar to our performance benchmarks, we also run benchmarks on the battery. Essentially, what we do is charge the phone to 100% overnight – to ensure it is at complete full charge. Then unplug it, turn the brightness all the way up, and play a 24-hour-long YouTube video until the phone dies. We tend to try to record the time at 1% before it actually shuts off, but that doesn’t always happen.
With the Razr+ (2024), it had a time of 15 hours and 45 minutes. That is, surprisingly, better than the Google Pixel 8 Pro. But about three hours shorter than the OnePlus 12. Which is not surprising given the much larger battery on that phone. This is the first flip-style phone we’ve done this test on, so there are no real apples-to-apples comparisons here yet.
When it comes to charging, Motorola quotes 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging. Though, they do not include a charger in the box. So, using the same charger we use on every other phone, we charged from 0% up to 100%, and it took a little over an hour. That’s faster than the Pixel 8 Pro but much slower than the OnePlus 12. Don’t forget, OnePlus is doing 100W charging which is much, much faster.
Overall, the battery and charging did perform quite well on this phone. It definitely isn’t a problem for Motorola, at least with the Razr+.
Motorola Razr+ (2024) Review: Software
The Razr+ (2024) did launch with Android 14, and Motorola has promised three years of OS upgrades and four years of security updates for the Razr+ (2024). However, we do need to mention that it took Motorola until last week to start rolling out Android 14 to last year’s Razr models. That’s a solid 9 months after Android 14 actually launched. So, if you’re looking to grab the Razr+ (2024), keep in mind that you won’t be getting Android 15 anytime soon. This is an area where Google and Samsung still reign supreme.
Other than that, the software on the Razr+ (2024) is amazing. It’s still a mostly stock Android approach like Motorola has been doing for years. There are some aspects that are customized, like the control center. By default, you can opt to keep the same control center that Pixel devices have. You can also choose the “modern style” that Motorola has created. This is more in line with what a lot of Chinese OEMs offer. Where swiping down on the left side is your notifications, and swiping on the right is your control center, with a lot more controls available. I prefer this modern style, as you have access to a lot more controls, which makes it much easier. That’s always been one of my main critiques of the Android control center since its most recent redesign.
Motorola has kept a lot of the popular Stock Android features here including Material You icons, and even the ability to design your own wallpapers with Generative AI. The software is all around pretty good. I have very few complaints with the software, and with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 inside, it does a good job of keeping up too.
Moto AI brings some pretty useful features to Razr. Motorola is focusing on using AI to improve the user experience rather than just making features to make them. As expected, Moto AI is powered by Google Gemini, and other AI features also use Google Cloud. Motorola is using AI to improve your photos, providing unique ways to customize your device, and much more. Razr+ (2024) owners will get three months of Gemini Advanced through the 2TB Google One Storage plan for free.
Motorola’s External Display Software is top-notch
Last year, Motorola debuted the largest external display on a flip phone. And it allowed users to run virtually any app on that screen. This included also making full-screen widgets. This was pretty cool, and some tried to copy it (namely Samsung), but pretty much failed. Motorola opening up the external display to all Android apps was a big deal, and you really don’t realize how big of a deal until you use the phone.
When I tell you I use the external display more than the internal display, I’m not joking. Especially for wasting time on my phone. Being able to open up Twitter on the external screen, Instagram, or Threads, and just mindlessly scroll while going somewhere is really useful. Not only that, but Google’s Game Snacks are also available here, which provides some surprisingly addictive games that you can play on the front display.
Motorola also has full-screen pages for things like the Dialer, Weather, Spotify and more. Making it insanely easy to find out the weather, or control your Spotify playback. Now if that didn’t sell you on this external display, here’s one more thing. Google Gemini is available on the external display. It is a bit tough to type to Gemini, but it is there. And to be honest, this has made me use Gemini a whole lot more than I expected.
Right now, I have to say that Motorola is killing the game in terms of the usability of an external display. Having used the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the OPPO Find N3 Flip, both are far inferior to what Motorola is offering right now.
Motorola Razr+ (2024) Review: Cameras
One of the weak spots for Motorola over the years has been its camera. In fact, as long as I can remember, Motorola smartphones have had pretty bad or decent cameras. While they have improved over the years, so has everyone else, leaving Motorola at just “decent” or “good” cameras and not at “great”. But I think that might change this year.
Motorola decided to ditch the ultrawide camera on the Razr+ (2024) this year and instead opted for a telephoto 2x camera. So we have two 50-megapixel cameras on the outside of the Razr+ (2024), which are also big upgrades over last year. So now we’re seeing more detail thanks to the higher mexapixel sensors, and now we have a proper zoom lens, even if it is only 2x. On top of that, we also have AI included to process these photos. And let me say, you can see the difference.
Just about every time I snapped a photo with the Razr+ (2024), I was impressed with it. After having used the Razr+ (2023) for a couple weeks before the new one launched, I kinda knew what to expect from Motorola. But it’s still blowing me away. I will say, it’s not the best cameras on a phone, but perhaps the best on a flip phone.
After the briefing in New York City, Motorola gave me my review units of both Razr models, and from there I immediately started using it and taking pictures with the Razr+ (2024). So in the gallery below, you will see camera shots from all over New York City, as well as the Airport and some from Ann Arbor.
The pictures taken in Grand Central Station are some of my favorite. Typically, those lights would be pretty blown out, but the detail on them are incredible. This comes down to the processing. After I took each photo, I tapped on it to see what it looked like. It was okay, but once the processing was done, it was 100x better. In fact, there’s a picture a lamp from my hotel, where you can actually see the lightbulb and it’s pretty sharp. That’s not something you see often with phone cameras.
Motorola is using AI here, but it’s not overdoing it, which is important. Some photos at night, or at golden hour you can see the processing a bit more with some added noise. But I have to say even these photos look really good. Including the 2x zoom photos.
The bottom line is Motorola’s cameras no longer suck. They aren’t going to replace your DSLR, and likely won’t replace the camera I use at events (the OnePlus Open or iPhone 15 Pro), but I’m not afraid to use this camera to get some good pictures.
Should you buy the Motorola Razr+ (2024)?
The Motorola Razr+ (2024) is a great flip phone, and it’s coming out at a time when we are expecting some other great flip-style folding phones to launch, like the Galaxy Z Flip 6 (and Fold 6), as well as a flip phone from HONOR and OPPO in the next few months. So we’ll have to revisit this review in a few weeks or months and see if it still stands up as well to the competition. But as of right now, this is the best flip phone available.
You should buy the Motorola Razr+ (2024) if:
You want a flip phone with good cameras and battery life.
You have small pockets and want a phone that can fit in them.
You have nostalgia for the Razr from 20 years ago.
The brand new Razr (2024) and Razr+ (2024) are finally going up for pre-order tomorrow in North America. On July 10, you will be able to pre-order both models in the US and the Razr+ (2024) in Canada.
The Razr+ will be available for pre-order at T-Mobile, AT&T, motorola.com, Amazon and Best Buy, with the device going on sale on July 24. The MSRP for the Razr+ (2024) remains $999, the same as last year despite some pretty major upgrades across the board. In Canada, the Razr+ (2024) goes up for pre-order on July 10, and is available on July 24 with an MSRP of $1,299.
Those that are T-Mobile customers, or looking to switch to T-Mobile, can get a free Razr+ when adding a line or switching to T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan. Over on AT&T, you can get a Razr+ (2024) for $5.99 per month, without a trade-in.
Motorola’s Razr remains an incredible value at $699
Moving onto the Razr (2024), this one will cost $699, but of course, there will be plenty of promos to get it for even less. Pre-orders will be available at T-Mobile, motorola.com, Amazon and Best Buy. The device will be available universally unlocked on July 24 at motorola.com, Amazon, and Best Buy. It will also come to T-Mobile, Consumer Cellular, and Xfinity Mobile on July 24. Along with Cricket, Spectrum Mobile, Straight Talk, Total by Verizon, Visible, Google Fi Wireless, Optimum Mobile, and US Cellular on July 25. Boost Mobile will get the Razr (2024) later this Summer.
Cricket will be offering the Razr (2024) for as low as $199. Meanwhile, T-Mobile customers can get it for free when adding a line or switching to T-Mobile’s Go5G Plus and Go5G Next Plan.
Surprisingly, the Motorola Razr (2024) won’t be available in Canada, at least not yet. While neither device will be available at Verizon, both will support Verizon’s network. However, keep in mind that these do not support mmWave, so if you opt to use it on Verizon, you won’t get the fastest speeds, unfortunately.
Spotify enhances podcasts with new commenting feature
Image credit — Spotify
Spotify is launching Comments for podcasts and a new mobile app for podcasters to build stronger relationships with their listeners. These new tools allow podcasters to manage their shows and engage with fans in a deeper and more convenient way.The company has been adding features to their podcasts for some time now. A few years ago, the platform introduced Q&A and polls to allow listeners to interact with podcasts. Since their introduction, over 9 million unique Spotify users have engaged with a Q&A or poll and interactions have grown by 80% year-over-year. This suggests that interactive features like Comments are in high demand.
Ben Wilson, the creator of “How to Take Over the World,” shared that he uses Comments to get feedback from his audience and understand which takeaways from the podcast resonate most with them. This feedback helps him create a stronger connection with listeners and makes podcasting more rewarding for him.The new Comments feature builds on the existing Q&A and polls functionality. With Comments, Spotify hopes to further enhance the interactive experience for both podcasters and listeners. This feature is available to all podcast creators, regardless of where their episodes are hosted. Creators can manage listener feedback, track their podcast’s growth, and interact with listeners, all through the new Spotify for Podcasters mobile app.
The new Spotify for Podcasters mobile app has been rebuilt to be more inclusive and now works for all podcasters, regardless of where their show is hosted. It also includes new notification features that help podcasters stay informed about their show’s performance and listener feedback. The ability to manage comments has also been added to the app.Spotify’s VP of Podcast Product, Maya Prohovnik, stated in an interview that Comments were a highly requested feature by podcasters and listeners alike. Furthermore, she stated that since Spotify is committed to making its platform the best place for creators to connect with their fans, the addition of Comments aims to achieve that goal. Historically, podcasts have been a one-sided experience, and while features like Polls and Q&A have been available for some time, there has been a desire for more direct interaction. The new features and app are designed to offer a better podcasting experience for everyone involved. For podcast creators, these tools provide a meaningful way to grow their audience and strengthen relationships with listeners. For fans, the biggest benefit is the ability to connect with their favorite podcasters on a deeper level, directly on the platform where they are already listening.
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