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Raising the bar on flip phones

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andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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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.

Motorola Razr plus 2024 Review AM AH 23 — 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.
You want a folding phone that’s not from Samsung.

You should not buy the Motorola Razr+ (2024) if:

You want the best cameras on a phone, period.
You want fast software updates.

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Motorola Razr & Razr+ Pre-Orders Open Tomorrow!

Android

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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Motorola Razr & Razr+ Pre-Orders Open Tomorrow!

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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.

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Training your favorite AI models is getting more expensive

Tech

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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Training your favorite AI models is getting more expensive

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As you may know, AI is an expensive business. It costs tons of money to secure GPUs, develop tools, and maintain them. One of the biggest costs is training the AI models powering our AI world. According to Anthropic AI’s CEO, training AI models is getting more expensive.

Any person looking to develop their own AI startup will need to come to terms with the fact that they’ll need millions, if not billions, just to get off the ground. This is because developing an AI model is no cheap affair.

During a recent episode of the In Good Company podcast, Anthropic AI CEO Dario Amodei spoke about some of the costs associated with AI. During the podcast, he mentioned that it took $100 million just to train the GPT-4o model. That’s just one model. This should come as no surprise, as OpenAI burned through $520 million last year.

Training AI models is getting more expensive

Unless you haven’t gone to the grocery store or tried to buy anything in the last couple of years, you’d know that prices are going up! Well, training AI models is not very different. Right now, companies like Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Perplexity, Meta, xAI, etc. are pouring money into training their latest and greatest models. While we don’t know how much money each company is shelling out, we can guess that they’re paying in the range of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Amodei said during the podcast that models that cost $1 billion to train are coming. According to him, this shouldn’t take more than a few years to happen. He even mentioned models that cost $10 billion or even $100 billion to train. “Right now, 100 million. There are models in training today that are more like a billion… I think if we go to ten or a hundred billion, and I think that will happen in 2025, 2026, maybe 2027,” he said, “we’ll be able to get models that are better than most humans at most things.”

What does this mean for AI in general? It could mean general AI. Right now, companies are racing to achieve AGI (Artificial General Intelligence). This is an AI that’s smarter than a human being in all respects. Most industry experts believe that we’ll be able to reach AGI within the next decade. When that happens, we can only imagine how much money it will cost to train and maintain it.

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OnePlus Watch 2R specs confirm exactly what we expected

Android

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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OnePlus Watch 2R specs confirm exactly what we expected

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The OnePlus Watch 2R specs have just surfaced, and they’ve confirmed our suspicions. We’ve exclusively leaked the OnePlus Watch 2R quite recently, its design, and based on it, it was kind of obvious this watch already launched in China.

The OnePlus Watch 2R specs confirm OnePlus is looking to rebrand its existing product… kind of

The OnePlus Watch 2R launched in China under the OnePlus Watch 2 name. Yes, the OnePlus Watch 2 launched globally earlier this year, but it never arrived to China. No, the two smartwatches are not the same, not at all.

However, the Chinese variant of the OnePlus Watch 2 and the OnePlus Watch 2R will be the same products, basically… other than their software. This is a bit confusing, we really don’t know why OnePlus went down this road, but… there you go.

Now, we assumed that the two devices are the same based on their designs, and the specs that just leaked only confirmed that. These specifications come from Ishan Agarwal, a well-known tipster.

A 1.43-inch round display will be included, along with two chips

The OnePlus Watch 2R will feature a 1.43-inch round AMOLED display. Its brightness will go up to 1,000 nits in HBM. The Snapdragon W5 and BES2700 chips will be included here, and fuel this watch.

The device will offer 2GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. It will be IP68 certified, and it will also have a 2.5ATM rating. So, yes, you will be able to go diving with it, up to a certain level.

The watch will offer up to 100 hours of battery life, and VOOC charging will be on offer too. Dual-frequency GPS will also be on offer. OnePlus will include over 100 sports modes in this watch.

In regards to health and fitness tracking, a heart rate sensor will be included. The watch will also be able to track your stress levels and monitor your sleep patterns.

The OnePlus Watch 2R will launch in Forest Green and Gunmetal Gray colors. Those two colors are called Nebula Green and Meteorite Black in China.

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RCS gets major update, bridges Android-iPhone messaging gap

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andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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RCS gets major update, bridges Android-iPhone messaging gap

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GSMA, the association responsible for maintaining a standard global mobile communication system, has announced a major update for RCS (Rich Communication Services). Universal Profile 2.7 of RCS brings “Extended Messaging” features to enable more engaging messaging experiences. The update should significantly improve Android and iPhone interoperability of the next-gen mobile messaging standard.

The latest RCS update standardizes messaging between Android and iPhone

Finalized in June, GSMA recently publicized Universal Profile 2.7 of RCS. This update adds several modern features to your standard text messaging. Like WhatsApp, Telegram, and many other messaging apps, RCS-based chats on your phone will properly show replies and emoji reactions to messages. Currently, if you react to a message with an emoji, it is sent as an SMS text. It is the standard behavior on the iOS Messages app and Google Messages for Android.

The official specification published by GSMA also mentions custom reactions. These can be an existing or generated image like a Live Sticker, Genmoji, or Photomoji. Additionally, this RCS update will fix the reply problem on iOS. The current version of RCS on iOS 18 does not support inline/threaded replies from Android users. Android-to-Android conversations don’t have the issue. Replies note the message you were referencing, like on messaging apps.

The updated RCS standard also supports editing and deleting of messages after they are sent. If you want to fix a typo or entirely recall the message you just sent, you have both options. There will probably be a time limit for these actions, though. Once it’s elapsed, you cannot edit or delete a sent message in a conversation for both parties. “An RCS client shall provide an option to recall an RCS message shortly after they sent that message,” the official specification states.

Enhanced spam protection & more improvements

This RCS update will offer better spam protection than before. GSMA is extending spam reporting to one-to-one chats. “The Spam Report Message allows a client to report an RCS user as a spammer or as an identifier involved in fraud, sending inappropriate content, or other inappropriate behavior,” the Association explains. These spam reports will go to the application server and be processed accordingly to “take unilateral blocking action.”

Overall, this update will modernize RCS messaging so you don’t have to rely on third-party apps. It will also improve the messaging experience between Android and iPhone. Apple recently added RCS support to iOS, so it’s still a new thing for iOS users. The feature is currently in beta and will be available publicly with the iOS 18 update later this year. As they say, “Better late than never.” Hopefully, Google and Apple will adopt the updated RCS standard quickly.

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Xiaomi MIX Flip design confirmed by certification listing

Android

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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Xiaomi MIX Flip design confirmed by certification listing

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The Xiaomi MIX Flip design has just been confirmed by a certification listing. The phone got certified by the NCC in Taiwan, and as part of it, the device’s design got revealed via live images.

The Xiaomi MIX Flip design has just been confirmed thanks to a certification listing

It seems like the real-life image of the device that surfaced back in May was… not accurate. This time around we get to take a proper look at the phone, If you check out the gallery below the article, you’ll see the device itself.

The phone will have two vertically aligned cameras on the back. They’ll sit in the top-left corner when the phone is unfolded, and in the bottom-right when it’s folded. Each of those two cameras is its own island, they’re not a part of a joint module or anything like that.

You can also see that the cover display has some curves on the very edges. The two cameras on the back do protrude quite a bit. Unfortunately, we can’t see the outline of the cover display in these images, as the images are not the best they could be. It’s likely that the display is large, and that the cameras cut into it, though. We’ll have to wait and see.

A display camera hole will sit on the main, foldable display. It will be centered at the top of the display, as expected. The design of the phone overall is quite minimalistic. This black variant looks very stealthy.

Two batteries will be included, and 67W charging supported

This listing also confirms that the phone will have a dual battery setup. It will include a 1,145mAh pack and a 3,595mAh battery pack. The Xiaomi MIX Flip will also support 67W wired charging. We’re not sure about wireless charging at this point.

The Xiaomi MIX Flip will become the company’s very first flip phone foldable. The Xiaomi MIX Fold series is focused on book-style foldables, but this one will be the first of its kind from Xiaomi.

Both the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4 and Xiaomi MIX Flip will launch this month. That much has been confirmed by Lei Jun. The Xiaomi MIX Flip is coming to global markets, while we’re still not sure about the Xiaomi MIX Fold 4.

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HONOR Magic Vs3 design & color options officially confirmed

Android

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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HONOR Magic Vs3 design & color options officially confirmed

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The HONOR Magic Vs3 is a foldable phone that will launch alongside the Magic V3, and its design and color options just got confirmed. We’ve seen the Magic Vs3 design once before, quite recently, but more info just got revealed.

The HONOR Magic Vs3 design and color variants have been confirmed

HONOR revealed this phone’s design and color variants via a pre-order listing. The Magic Vs3 is listed in China, and it will launch on July 12. These two foldables will launch, alongside several other devices.

If you take a look at the gallery below, you’ll see the Magic Vs3 in the flesh. Black, Green, and White colors are shown here. The camera island looks entirely different compared to the Magic V3. The rest of the phone, as far as we can tell, is very similar, though.

Unfortunately, however, we don’t know the phone’s thickness or weight. It is expected to be a bit thicker and heavier than the Magic V3, though. Why? Well, because this is expected to be a more affordable variant of the Magic V3.

A periscope telephoto camera will also be included, which is a bit surprising

What we do know is that three cameras will be included on the back of the phone. One of those cameras will be a periscope telephoto camera, which is a bit surprising. The Magic V3 will get it, and the Magic V2 won’t offer it. So considering this is supposed to be a more affordable variant of the Magic V3, it is a bit surprising… but in a good way.

We also know that the Magic Vs3 will come in three storage options. 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage flavors will be on offer. That is basically it as far as our knowledge about this phone goes.

We’re only three days away from the phone’s launch event, however. July 12 is right around the corner, and everything will be revealed. The HONOR Magic V3 will take the spotlight, but the Magic Vs3 is worth a look too.

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Universal Code Execution Vulnerability In Browsers Puts Millions Of Users At Risk

Hacking

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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Universal Code Execution Vulnerability In Browsers Puts Millions Of Users At Risk

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Hackers remotely execute malicious code on a compromised device or server by exploiting the Universal Code Execution vulnerability.

Through this vulnerability, threat actors can inject codes into server-side interpreter languages such as Java, Python, and PHP.

Hacking into this security flaw can steal information, divert money to other accounts, perform surveillance, and even severely affect some organizations.

Cybersecurity analyst Eugene Lim at SpaceRaccoon recently discovered that millions of users are at risk due to the Unniversal Code Execution.

Universal Code Execution Vulnerability

Chaining messaging APIs in browsers and extensions allows hackers to exploit the Universal Code Execution Vulnerability, breaking the Same Origin Policy as well as the browser sandbox.

Join our free webinar to learn about combating slow DDoS attacks, a major threat today.

Attackers can use content scripts and background script vulnerabilities to execute malicious code across any webpage potentially.

The study unveils two new vulnerabilities affecting millions of users and proposes a way for extensive detection of such vulnerabilities using dataset queries and static code analysis.

Browser extension design is vulnerable, and malicious web pages can evade the Same Origin Policy.

In other words, content scripts injected with wildcard patterns and taking advantage of the trust between background scripts and content can steal sensitive information from third-party websites.

Browser extension message chain (Source – Spaceraccoon)

For instance, “Extension A” injects scripts on all pages though it is supposed to be for one site only, moreover, it requests access to cookies from various origins.

For this reason, this vulnerability allows an attacker to obtain session cookies from whitelisted domains, leading to the breaking of same-origin policy and ultimately compromising user security on these websites.

This research is about how browser extensions can achieve “universal code execution” by chaining different messaging APIs.

The attack vector combines content scripts with wildcard characters, background scripts, and native messaging capabilities.

Exploiting weaknesses within this chain allows attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy and execute malicious code on the host system.

The study targets high-profile extensions, especially those involving PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) smart card functions.

Researchers found vulnerable extensions through a combination of dataset queries and static code analysis, one of which had 2 million users, allowing arbitrary loading of DLLs.

This highlights the need for better security processes during browser extension development and implementation, especially when dealing with native messaging capabilities.

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Detailed Xiaomi 15 & Xiaomi 15 Pro specs & prices leak early

Android

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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Detailed Xiaomi 15 & Xiaomi 15 Pro specs & prices leak early

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The Xiaomi 15 and Xiaomi 15 Pro are coming later this year, and their detailed specs have just surfaced, way early, along with the prices of these two smartphones. Both smartphones are expected to arrive in October… to China.

The Xiaomi 15 & Xiaomi 15 Pro specs & prices surface early

These two smartphones are expected to become the very first to launch with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 4 SoC. That processor has been confirmed to arrive in October, by the way. So, the timing fits.

Let’s take a closer look at the Xiaomi 15 first. The device is tipped to include a 6.36-inch 1.5K display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. It will have an LTPO OLED display and a 1,400-nit brightness in ‘High Brightness Mode’. Its peak brightness will go higher than that, probably.

That device will offer up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 flash storage. Its battery will be somewhere between 4,800mAh and 4,900mAh in terms of capacity. That’s a nice boost over a 4,610mAh battery inside the Xiaomi 14.

The Xiaomi 15 will offer 100W wired & 50W wireless charging

This leak also revealed that the Xiaomi 15 will support 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. That part is not surprising at all, but it’s nice to see that Xiaomi will offer such fast charging again.

There will be three cameras on the back of the device. A 50-megapixel main camera will use the OmniVision OV50H sensor (1/1.31-inch sensor). Both its ultrawide and telephoto cameras will use the Samsung ISOCELL JN1 sensor (1/2.76-inch sensor). The telephoto camera will offer 3x optical zoom.

On the front, you’ll be able to use a 32-megapixel camera. The Xiaomi 15 will also be IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. Leica will be a part of the package too, of course.

The Xiaomi 15 Pro is coming with a 6.73-inch display, and 80W wireless charging support

The Xiaomi 15 Pro, on the other hand, will feature a 6.73-inch 2K display with up to 120Hz refresh rate. It will include an LTPO AMOLED display too. It will also offer a 1,400-nir brightness in ‘High Brightness Mode’, but its peak brightness will go considerably higher.

A 5,400mAh battery will be included, while 120W wired charging will be supported. This smartphone will also offer fast wireless charging, but up to 80W, even faster than the Xiaomi 15.

A 50-megapixel main camera (OmniVision OV50N sensor, 1/1.3-inch sensor, f/1.4 aperture lens) will be backed by a 50-megapixel ultrawide camera (Samsung JN1 sensor). The third camera on the back will be an unnamed 50-megapixel unit (3x optical zoom, periscope telephoto camera, 1/1.95-inch sensor).

This phone will also be IP68 certified for water and dust resistance. This phone will also arrive with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 flash storage.

Both devices will offer up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM

Now, in terms of prices. The Xiaomi 15’s 12GB RAM model with 256GB of storage will cost CNY4,599 ($632). Its 16GB RAM variant with 1TB of storage will be priced at CNY5,499 ($756). The Xiaomi 15 Pro with 12GB of RAM will start at CNY5,299-CNY5,499 ($728-$756). The 16GB RAM model with 1TB of storage will cost CNY6,299-CNY6,499 ($866-$894).

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Which is better for your brand?

Tech

andreasc

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July 9, 2024

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The digital advertising landscape is evolving rapidly, offering brands innovative ways to reach their target audiences. Two of the most impactful channels in recent years are OTT vs CTV. This article delves into the nuances of OTT and CTV, helping advertisers understand which platform may be more beneficial for their brand.

Understanding OTT and CTV

> What is OTT?

Over-The-Top (OTT) refers to streaming media services delivered directly to viewers via the internet, bypassing traditional cable or satellite television. OTT content can be accessed on various devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs. Popular OTT platforms include Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video. OTT allows consumers to access a vast array of content, including TV shows, movies, and original programming, without the need for a cable subscription.

> What is CTV?

Connected TV (CTV) refers to a television that connects to the internet and allows users to stream content online. This category includes smart TVs, as well as devices like Roku, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire Stick. CTV combines the experience of traditional TV with the flexibility and interactivity of digital media. Unlike OTT, which can be consumed on various devices, CTV content is viewed on a TV screen, providing a more traditional viewing experience enhanced by the digital interactivity.

OTT vs. CTV: Key Differences

> Device Flexibility

– OTT: Accessible on multiple devices, offering greater flexibility for viewers to watch content anytime, anywhere. This means users can switch seamlessly between their smartphone, tablet, or laptop, making OTT a versatile choice for consuming media on the go or at home.

– CTV: Primarily viewed on a television screen, providing a more traditional, lean-back viewing experience. This setup is particularly appealing to households that enjoy watching content together in a communal setting.

> Audience Reach

– OTT: Offers a broad reach across different demographics and device types. Ideal for targeting users who prefer consuming content on mobile devices. The wide variety of content available on OTT platforms attracts a diverse audience, from young adults to older viewers who are increasingly adopting streaming services.

– CTV: Targets viewers in a household setting, making it effective for campaigns aiming to engage with families or individuals in a home environment. CTV viewers often watch longer-form content, providing advertisers with the opportunity to deliver their message in a more engaging and immersive way.

> Advertising Formats

– OTT Advertising: Includes pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads, similar to traditional digital video advertising. Offers capabilities like ad personalization and programmatic buying. Advertisers can also leverage interactive ad formats that encourage viewer engagement, such as clickable overlays or in-stream surveys.

– CTV Advertising: Often includes dynamic ad insertion, which allows advertisers to deliver personalized ads in real-time. This format is particularly effective for performance marketing and demand generation campaigns. CTV ads are typically unskippable, ensuring higher ad completion rates and greater brand recall.

Advantages of OTT for Brands

> Extensive Reach

OTT platforms boast extensive reach due to their accessibility on various devices. This allows advertisers to connect with a diverse audience, from tech-savvy millennials to older generations who are increasingly adopting streaming services. The ability to reach viewers on their preferred devices makes OTT a powerful tool for expanding brand visibility and engagement.

> Targeting Capabilities

OTT advertising leverages data to deliver highly targeted ads. Advertisers can segment audiences based on demographics, interests, and viewing behaviors, ensuring their message reaches the most relevant viewers. This precise targeting helps optimize ad spend and improve the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

> Flexibility and Measurement

OTT provides flexible ad placement options and robust measurement capabilities. Brands can track ad performance in real-time, adjusting their strategies based on detailed analytics to optimize campaign effectiveness. This level of insight allows advertisers to understand which content and creatives resonate best with their audience, enabling continuous improvement.

> Cost-Effectiveness

OTT can be a cost-effective option for brands with varying budget sizes. The flexibility in pricing models allows advertisers to scale their campaigns according to their budget, making it accessible for both large enterprises and smaller businesses. Additionally, the high targeting precision reduces wasted ad spend by reaching only the most relevant audiences.

Advantages of CTV for Brands

> High Engagement

CTV offers a high-engagement environment, as viewers are typically more focused when watching content on a larger screen. This enhances the impact of TV advertising and increases the likelihood of viewer retention and response. The immersive nature of CTV viewing makes it an ideal platform for delivering high-quality, visually engaging ads that capture attention.

> Premium Content

CTV often delivers premium content from major networks and popular streaming services, providing a high-quality advertising context. This association with premium content can enhance brand perception and credibility. Advertisers can benefit from the trusted and engaging environments that CTV platforms offer, leading to better brand associations.

> Advanced Targeting

CTV allows for sophisticated targeting options similar to OTT, including demographic, geographic, and behavioral targeting. Additionally, CTV supports programmatic advertising, enabling brands to automate and optimize their ad buying process. The ability to deliver personalized ads based on viewer data enhances the relevance and effectiveness of CTV campaigns.

> Enhanced Metrics

CTV offers detailed metrics and insights into ad performance, including view-through rates, completion rates, and engagement metrics. These analytics help advertisers understand how their ads are performing and make data-driven decisions to improve campaign outcomes. The ability to measure the impact of CTV ads in real-time provides a significant advantage for performance marketing strategies.

Considerations for Choosing Between OTT and CTV

> Campaign Goals

– Brand Awareness: If the primary goal is to increase brand awareness, CTV’s premium content and high engagement rates make it an excellent choice. The immersive viewing experience and association with high-quality content can help create a strong brand presence.

– Direct Response: For campaigns focused on direct response or performance marketing, OTT’s precise targeting and measurement capabilities can drive more immediate results. The ability to reach users on their preferred devices and deliver personalized messages can lead to higher conversion rates.

> Budget

– OTT: Often offers more flexible pricing models, making it accessible for brands with varying budget sizes. The ability to scale campaigns according to budget and optimize ad spend through precise targeting makes OTT a cost-effective option for many advertisers.

– CTV: Generally requires a higher investment due to the premium nature of the content and the viewing environment. However, the higher engagement rates and brand-safe environments can justify the additional cost for campaigns focused on building brand equity.

> Audience Preferences

Understanding your target audience’s media consumption habits is crucial. Younger audiences may prefer the flexibility of OTT, while older demographics might lean towards the traditional viewing experience of CTV. Analyzing audience behavior and preferences can help advertisers choose the platform that best aligns with their campaign objectives.

> Creative Considerations

– OTT: Allows for interactive ad formats that can engage viewers in unique ways. Advertisers can experiment with different creative approaches to see what resonates best with their audience.

– CTV: Requires high-quality, visually appealing ads that can capture attention on a larger screen. The focus should be on creating impactful and memorable ads that align with the premium content being viewed.

Integrating OTT and CTV in Your Advertising Strategy

> Complementary Use

Brands don’t have to choose between OTT and CTV exclusively. Integrating both can provide comprehensive coverage and maximize reach. For instance, an advertiser can use OTT for targeted, personalized ads and CTV for brand-building campaigns in a premium context. This complementary approach ensures that brands can leverage the strengths of both platforms to achieve their marketing goals.

> Consistent Messaging

Ensure that your messaging remains consistent across OTT and CTV platforms. This helps in reinforcing brand identity and maintaining a cohesive narrative, regardless of the viewing device or platform. Consistent messaging also enhances brand recall and ensures that audiences receive a unified brand experience.

> Unified Analytics

Utilize unified analytics to measure the effectiveness of both OTT and CTV campaigns. This holistic approach allows brands to understand cross-platform performance, optimize their strategies, and achieve better overall results. By consolidating data from both platforms, advertisers can gain a comprehensive view of their audience and campaign performance.

> Tailored Strategies

Develop tailored strategies for each platform based on their unique strengths. For example, use OTT for highly targeted campaigns that drive immediate actions, while leveraging CTV for long-term brand building and engagement. By aligning your strategy with the specific advantages of each platform, you can maximize the impact of your advertising efforts.

> Testing and Optimization

Continuously test and optimize your campaigns on both OTT and CTV platforms. Experiment with different ad formats, creatives, and targeting options to determine what works best for your brand. Use data-driven insights to refine your strategies and improve campaign performance over time.

Conclusion

Choosing between OTT and CTV depends on your brand’s specific goals, budget, and target audience preferences. Both platforms offer unique advantages that can significantly enhance your advertising efforts. By understanding the strengths of each and strategically integrating them into your marketing mix, you can create powerful campaigns that drive both brand awareness and direct response.

In the evolving landscape of digital advertising, leveraging the right mix of OTT and CTV can provide a competitive edge and help your brand connect with audiences in meaningful ways. By carefully considering your campaign objectives, audience behavior, and budget, you can make informed decisions that maximize the impact of your advertising strategy.

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