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  • Motorola Edge Plus Review: Refined Style and Specs, but Still Lost in the Crowd

    Motorola Edge Plus Review: Refined Style and Specs, but Still Lost in the Crowd

    8.0

    Motorola Edge Plus

    Like

    • Refined, premium-looking design
    • Big battery and fast charging
    • Great curved display and audio

    Don’t like

    • No expandable storage
    • Photos taken are too vibrantly untrue-to-life
    • Nothing distinguishes it apart from it competitors

    The Motorola Edge Plus is the latest premium smartphone aimed at the US, and an all-around upgrade on last year’s Edge Plus. With its big battery and competitive price, Android fans have another top-tier contender to consider when phone shopping.

    Motorola has refined its premium phones over the years, adding some features and taking others away in an effort to find the right combination that will appeal to top-tier phone buyers. The newest Edge Plus is the best combination so far. But it’s also not exactly the same phone sold around the world, since Motorola releases slightly different versions in different regions. For instance, the Edge Plus available in the US is virtually identical to the Edge 40 Pro in Europe and elsewhere, but has a larger battery and more modest recharging speed.

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    A black phone lays face-down on a bamboo wood table, showing its matte metal black rear cover and solid black camera block.A black phone lays face-down on a bamboo wood table, showing its matte metal black rear cover and solid black camera block.

    David Lumb/CNET

    In previous years, it’s been tough to recommend the Edge Plus series over similarly priced (or even cheaper) Samsung rivals. But with its $800 price tag, which is $200 cheaper than its predecessor, the new Edge Plus is a decent alternative to the $800 Samsung Galaxy S23, and lands right in-between the $600 Google Pixel 7 and $900 Pixel 7 Pro.

    That doesn’t mean that the Edge Plus is the absolute best value. It’s pricier than the $700 OnePlus 11, though its base model packs more onboard storage. And like other higher-end Android handsets, the Edge Plus faces stiff competition from the $500 Pixel 7A, which has most of its pricier Pixel sibling’s features.

    The Motorola Edge Plus looks and feels premium with a sharp display featuring waterfall-style curved edges. That screen along with nearly top-of-the-line specs, like a big battery and truly fast charging speeds, make the Edge Plus a suitable option for anyone who doesn’t need the Galaxy S23’s zoom photo capabilities or the Pixel 7’s AI-powered photo editing. But aside from its tremendous battery life, there isn’t much else that distinguishes the Edge Plus from other premium phones.

    A phone held in hand shows its bright, 6.7-inch full HD display.A phone held in hand shows its bright, 6.7-inch full HD display.

    The Edge Plus’ display curves over the side of the phone.

    David Lumb/CNET

    Good battery life, great recharge speeds

    The new Motorola Edge Plus has a 5,100-mAh battery, which is 300 mAh more than its predecessor. In practice, the phone easily survived media-heavy everyday activities. When I put the Edge Plus through CNET’s intensive-use media test — which includes streaming movies, playing games, scrolling social media, and joining video calls for a total of 45 minutes — the battery dropped 8%.

    That’s comparable to the battery drain on the Galaxy S23 and Pixel 7A in the same test, and a little worse than the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra. Based on my early testing, the Edge Plus simply lasts longer than many other phones, especially when watching videos and playing games. The battery made it through a full day of use and then some, though it likely won’t be able to last two full days without a recharge.

    The Edge Plus’s fast charging outperforms some of its peers. It may not have the ridiculously fast 125-watt charging of the European Edge 40 Pro, but the 68-watt charger included in the box is more than enough. When my test unit was down to 3% battery, a 30-minute recharge juiced it back up to 80%. Compare that to the 25-watt max charging on the standard Galaxy S23 or 45-watt charging on the S23 Plus and Ultra, and the Edge Plus has, well, the edge.

    The Edge Plus’ charging doesn’t beat some phones with high-wattage chargers, like the OnePlus 11 with a 100-watt charger that juiced up a phone from zero to fully charged in 26 minutes. In addition to 68-watt wired charging, the Edge Plus has 15-watt wireless charging and can charge other devices at 5 watts.

    A black phone seen from the back, showing off its matte metal rear that accentuates the glossy 'M' logo in the center and glass-covered square camera block in the top left of the phone.A black phone seen from the back, showing off its matte metal rear that accentuates the glossy 'M' logo in the center and glass-covered square camera block in the top left of the phone.

    The Edge Plus has a matte-finish metal back.

    David Lumb/CNET

    The best-looking Motorola phone yet (come at me, Razr fans)

    Motorola’s premium phones have been on a journey since the brand released the Edge Plus debuted in 2020. The original had an attractive device, and its display edges curved down to abruptly meet the phone’s rear metal plate with such a severe edge that I still remember it biting into my hand as I gripped its sides. The next Edge Plus in 2022 did away with the waterfall-style edges in favor of a standard flat screen, which was less painful but also less stylish.

    The latest Edge Plus is a return to form with carefully curved display edges that smoothly meet the polished metal frame. The back is a matte metal with a slight texture, like fine-grain sandpaper, that gives it a refined look and contrasts against the glossy Motorola logo. The smoky glass-covered square camera block is a serious upgrade over the somewhat cheap-looking camera oval on last year’s model. Overall, it’s a phone that would look professional being held up to your ear, if we ever raised our phones like that anymore.

    The Edge Plus’s 6.7-inch, 2,400×1,080-pixel OLED display has sharp and clear visuals and supports HDR10 Plus. It has a 165Hz refresh rate, which is technically faster than the last Edge Plus’s 144Hz refresh rate screen. While I could barely tell the difference between the phone’s maximum 165Hz refresh rate and the 120Hz step down setting, the higher refresh rate did look slightly smoother when scrolling through the operating system animations or browsing the web. It also has an under-display fingerprint sensor for security, as well as facial recognition to unlock your phone with your mug.

    A phone with its entire display (except for the front-facing camera) showing a crisp and vibrant video of a green lizard in a Costa Rican jungle.A phone with its entire display (except for the front-facing camera) showing a crisp and vibrant video of a green lizard in a Costa Rican jungle.

    The display has a hole-punch cutout for the selfie camera.

    David Lumb/CNET

    Specs keep up with the competition

    The Edge Plus packs a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, the top-tier premium silicon from Qualcomm, 8GB of LPDDR5 RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of storage, though it lacks the option for expandable storage via microSD card. This is a bit of a step down from last year’s model, which came in both 8GB and 12GB of RAM configurations, but I didn’t feel the new Edge Plus was let down without the additional memory.

    Overall the Edge Plus performs well. I didn’t experience any slowdown or delays transitioning between apps or doing light tasks. The phone kept up with more process-intensive tasks like gaming and fiddling with video, like switching between horizontal and vertical video orientations.

    For raw stats, the Edge Plus kept up with its rivals scoring similar benchmark test results to its premium handsets peers. Take a look at Geekbench 5 results below.

    Geekbench V.5.0 single-core

    Motorola Edge Plus 1,470Samsung Galaxy S23 1,518OnePlus 11 1,160
    Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

    Geekbench V.5.0 multicore

    Motorola Edge Plus 4,849Samsung Galaxy S23 4,789OnePlus 11 4,840
    Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

    The Edge Plus runs Android 13 with a mostly stock version of the operating system and will get three years of Android updates and four years of twice-monthly security updates, which is encouraging for folks who want to keep their phones for longer. Though with Android 14 expected to launch in October, Motorola’s phone won’t be on a par with other leading Android phones for that long. Samsung still leads the pack with a guaranteed five years of major Android updates and security updates.

    The Edge Plus also retains Motorola’s small suite of beloved gesture control shortcuts like the chop-chop to turn on the flashlight and the double-twist to open the camera app.

    A close-up of the glass-covered camera block on the black metal back of the phone, showing three lenses and a flash.A close-up of the glass-covered camera block on the black metal back of the phone, showing three lenses and a flash.

    The Edge Plus has triple rear cameras.

    David Lumb/CNET

    Cameras are good, but not the best

    The Edge Plus has a triple rear camera consisting of a 50-megapixel, f1.8 main shooter, a 50-megapixel ultrawide and a 12-megapixel, 2x optical zoom camera that extends to 16x digital zoom. Given last year’s Edge Plus lacked a telephoto lens, this alone makes the new model superior to its predecessor.

    A scene in the Little Tokyo neighborhood of Los Angeles, where red and white lanterns strung between trees and shops hang over passersby.A scene in the Little Tokyo neighborhood of Los Angeles, where red and white lanterns strung between trees and shops hang over passersby.

    Edge Plus main camera

    David Lumb/CNET

    Photos taken with Motorola phones have never reached parity with those shot and processed on premium Apple and Samsung phones, and while that’s still the case, Motorola is catching up. In side-by-side comparisons of the same photos taken on an iPhone 12 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra, the Edge Plus’s photos have slightly more saturated colors but lack detail in shadows.

    A pinkish purple flower sits in the foreground, but the colors blend together to make it hard to pick out petal edges.A pinkish purple flower sits in the foreground, but the colors blend together to make it hard to pick out petal edges.

    Edge Plus main camera (portrait)

    David Lumb/CNET

    This leads colors to streak into uniform hues rather than dappled with subtle differences from angled light, moisture or some other factor. It’s not too noticeable unless you look closely.

    A photo taken at night on a partially-lit street, showing how bright the Edge Plus makes its nighttime subjects.A photo taken at night on a partially-lit street, showing how bright the Edge Plus makes its nighttime subjects.

    Edge Plus main camera

    David Lumb/CNET

    A nighttime shot of a baseball game from above home plate, showing a brightly-lit stadium and cheering fans as a home team player rounds the bases after a home run.A nighttime shot of a baseball game from above home plate, showing a brightly-lit stadium and cheering fans as a home team player rounds the bases after a home run.

    Edge Plus main camera

    David Lumb/CNET

    A slightly zoomed-in shot of a baseball field using the phone's 2x telephoto camera.A slightly zoomed-in shot of a baseball field using the phone's 2x telephoto camera.

    Edge Plus telephoto camera (2x zoom)

    David Lumb/CNET

    Using its maximum 16x digital zoom, the phone can zoom in from the cheap seats to see the pitcher on the mound in a baseball game, albeit in fuzzy detail.Using its maximum 16x digital zoom, the phone can zoom in from the cheap seats to see the pitcher on the mound in a baseball game, albeit in fuzzy detail.

    Edge Plus telephoto camera (16x digital zoom)

    David Lumb/CNET

    The Edge Plus’ 2x telephoto works well and compares favorably with an iPhone, though the premium Galaxy phones still take far clearer photos out to a distance. The ultrawide camera has a narrower field of view, capturing less area than either Galaxy or iPhone.

    A bee buzzes around a column of purple flowers in the foreground while, blurred with a portrait effect, other purple flower columns rise in the background.A bee buzzes around a column of purple flowers in the foreground while, blurred with a portrait effect, other purple flower columns rise in the background.

    Edge Plus main camera (portrait)

    David Lumb/CNET

    The Edge Plus’s cameras take capable portrait photos, and while the saturation is a bit much for normal photos, it actually pops nicely against the added depth. At night, photos capture a good amount of light, preserving detail of subjects if losing out on some shadow and texture.

    Photos from the 60-megapixel, f/2.2 front-facing shooter have an impressive amount of detail and color, though come out a bit more vibrant than they should. The phone can record 4K video in 60fps with the main and ultrawide cameras.

    A hand holds a phone with camera app open pointed at a subject (a tiny Gundam figure). It is adorable.A hand holds a phone with camera app open pointed at a subject (a tiny Gundam figure). It is adorable.

    The Edge Plus’ camera app.

    David Lumb/CNET

    Should you buy a Motorola Edge Plus?

    Motorola made the right tweaks with the Edge Plus, with a snazzier design and slight upgrades everywhere else to make it better than its predecessor. While its cameras and software still don’t produce photos that truly top those coming out of Samsung or Apple phones, they get close, producing good shots in dark and light settings.

    But it’s the Edge Plus’s $800 price that makes it a true competitor to the Galaxy S23 and other premium phones. So long as you don’t need extensive zoom photo capabilities or Google’s line of photo software tricks. The new Edge Plus’s large battery and fast charging should make it a consideration among top-end Android devices.

    How we test phones

    Every phone tested by CNET’s reviews team was actually used in the real world. We test a phone’s features, play games and take photos. We examine the display to see if it’s bright, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and build to see how it is to hold and whether it has an IP-rating for water resistance. We push the processor’s performance to the extremes using both standardized benchmark tools like GeekBench and 3DMark, along with our own anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution videos and playing graphically intense games at high refresh rates.

    All the cameras are tested in a variety of conditions from bright sunlight to dark indoor scenes. We try out special features like night mode and portrait mode and compare our findings against similarly priced competing phones. We also check out the battery life by using it daily as well as running a series of battery drain tests.

    We take into account additional features like support for 5G, satellite connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus support, fast charging speeds, foldable displays among others that can be useful. And we balance all of this against the price to give you the verdict on whether that phone, whatever price it is, actually represents good value.

    Motorola Edge Plus (2023) specs

    Display size, type, resolution 6.7-inch, OLED, 2,400×1,080 pixels
    Pixel density 394 ppi
    Dimensions (millimeters) 161.2 x 74 x 8.59 mm
    Weight (ounces, grams) 203 g; 7.2 oz (converted)
    Mobile software Android 13
    Camera 50-megapixel main, 50-megapixel ultrawide, 12-megapixel 2x telephoto
    Front-facing camera 60-megapixel
    Video capture 8K UHD (30fps)
    Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
    RAM, storage 8GB RAM; 256 or 512GB storage
    Expandable storage None
    Battery, charger 5,100 mAh, 68W charging
    Fingerprint sensor Yes
    Connector USB-C
    Headphone jack N/A
    Special features 165Hz, 68W charger included in box
    Price off-contract (USD) $800
    Price (GBP) Converts to 649
    Price (AUD) Converts to AU$1,225

  • Moto G 5G (2023) Hands-On: Are the Trade-Offs Worth the Lower $250 Price?

    Moto G 5G (2023) Hands-On: Are the Trade-Offs Worth the Lower $250 Price?

    Advertiser Disclosure
    Advertiser Disclosure
    This advertising widget is powered by Navi and contains advertisements that Navi may be paid for in different ways. You will not be charged for engaging with this advertisement. While we strive to provide a wide range of offers, this advertising widget does not include information about every product or service that may be available to you. We make reasonable efforts to ensure that information in the featured advertisements is up to date, each advertiser featured in this widget is responsible for the accuracy and availability of its offer details. It is possible that your actual offer terms from an advertiser may be different than the offer terms in this advertising widget and the advertised offers may be subject to additional terms and conditions of the advertiser which will be presented to you prior to making a purchase. All information is presented without any warranty or guarantee to you.

    The $250 Moto G 5G marks a big reimagining of the phone since last year’s more-expensive $400 model. This year’s Moto G 5G scales back on storage and cameras to help hit its lower price but steps up the refresh rate on its 6.5-inch display to a smooth 120Hz. All that, while keeping the 5,000mAh battery and its roughly two-day battery life, should make the phone a decent value for its price.

    The Moto G 5G has 4GB of memory, runs on a Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G chip and comes with 128GB of storage. This is a decent amount of storage space for this price and can be expanded up to 1TB with a microSD card. The phone’s stereo speakers and headphone jack are also quite nice for when I watch videos or listen to music. It ships with Android 13, and like other Moto G phones, will get only one major software update to Android 14 along with three years of security updates

    I spent a few days with the Moto G 5G so far, and, while it looks and feels like it’s fallen down a few rungs of the price tier, the phone might meet enough essential needs to satisfy most people. However, by no means does it punch above its weight. The Moto G 5G has 4GB of memory, runs on a Snapdragon 480 Plus 5G chip and comes with 128GB of storage. This is a decent amount of storage space for the price and can be expanded up to 1TB with a microSD card. The phone’s stereo speakers and headphone jack are also quite nice for when I watch videos or listen to music. It ships with Android 13, and like other Moto G phones, will get only one major software update to Android 14 along with three years of security updates.

    The back of the Moto G 5G.The back of the Moto G 5G.

    The Moto G 5G has a main 48-megapixel camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera.

    Mike Sorrentino/CNET

    However, when testing other features, I can’t help but compare this phone to the slightly more expensive $300 Moto G Power 5G — which includes quite a bit more for that extra $50. For instance, the Moto G 5G’s 6.5-inch display runs at a 720p resolution. Even though that screen animates smoothly with its 120Hz refresh rate, I find that the lower-resolution makes photos and videos look rather plain. The Power 5G runs at a 1,080p resolution at the same refresh rate, and in my review of that phone the display was a particular highlight.

    Performance also seems to take a noticeable hit during my early tests, which could be attributable to the phone having 4GB of memory compared with the 6GB available on the Power 5G. Often when I test phones, during casual use I play games while taking calls or texting. I find that when a call comes through while I’m playing a game, in this instance Marvel Snap, that the game needs to reload itself after I answer the call. Lighter multitasking, however, has been fine, for instance reading news articles while I’m listening to music has not led to any noticeable issues.

    The Moto G 5G also moves down from three cameras on last year’s model to two, with this year’s phone including a 48-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel macro camera. This is an area that cheaper phones often struggle, and my early photos taken by the Moto G 5G don’t change that opinion. Like other cheaper phones, photos taken in outdoor environments or indoor locations with good lighting come out OK, but without much detail.

    The Public Theater taken on the Moto G 5G.The Public Theater taken on the Moto G 5G.

    Outdoor photo taken on the Moto G 5G of the Public Theater.

    Mike Sorrentino/CNET

    Twister Air demo stationTwister Air demo station

    Indoor photo taken on the Moto G 5G at a Twister Air demo event.

    Mike Sorrentino/CNET

    The 8-megapixel front-facing camera is similarly serviceable, but photos look a little plain.

    Photo of Mike Sorrentino taken on the Moto G 5G.Photo of Mike Sorrentino taken on the Moto G 5G.

    Front-facing camera photo taken on the Moto G 5G.

    Mike Sorrentino/CNET

    I’ll reserve judgment after I have taken the Moto G 5G through more photo scenes, but my early indoor photos are comparable to the Moto G Power 5G — which is to say that they are fairly blurry and lack detail. Photos are usable but more for quick group chats and social posts.

    Cocktail photo in kitchenCocktail photo in kitchen

    A cocktail photo taken at a friend’s house on the Moto G 5G.

    Mike Sorrentino/CNET

    The Moto G 5G’s 5,000mAh battery, however, easily lasted two days during my early tests, matching the performance that I saw on the Moto G Power 5G and the $200 Moto G Stylus. As we continue to test phones in the $300 price range, it has been comforting to see the 5,000mAh battery become a standard feature in 2023. However, I hope Motorola finds a way to speed up charging, as the Moto G 5G’s 15-watt max speed takes about 90 minutes to charge from 4% to 88%. It’s not awful, but is slow when compared with the 33-watt charging included on comparable phones like the OnePlus N300 and OnePlus N20.

    Motorola has been releasing several phones over the last few weeks, with the Moto G 5G arriving alongside the $800 Motorola Edge Plus. The Moto G 5G appears to be offering a middle ground between the 4G-only Moto G Stylus and the Moto G Power. The main question as I continue testing is whether this phone’s trade-offs are worth the lower price, or if someone searching for a deal should consider paying slightly less for the Stylus or more for the Power.

  • Save an Extra 50% on Refurb Desktops With This 1-Day Offer From Dell

    Save an Extra 50% on Refurb Desktops With This 1-Day Offer From Dell

    With the rise of remote work, you may be looking to buy a desktop for your home office. Because they’re not designed to be portable, they can typically offer more power than a laptop at a lower price point, and right now you can snag one at a discount. Shopping refurbished is already a great way to save some cash, and today only, you can save even more on select refurb Dell models. Dell is offering 50% off refurb models priced at $199 or more with the promo code 50DESKTOP199. This offer is only available until 6:59 a.m. PT (9:59 a.m. ET) tomorrow, so be sure to get your order in before then if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

    There are over 150 different desktops to choose from at this sale, and all have been rated as either grade A or grade B refurbs, which means they may show slight signs of wear and tear, but will be in full working condition. It’s also worth noting that this offer excludes clearance items.

    If you just want a PC that can handle the basics like checking your email and browsing the web, this Dell OptiPlex 3050 MFF is one of the most affordable models you’ll find at this sale. It’s a grade B refurb that comes equipped with a four-core Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD, and you can get it for just $105 after the discount. Or if you need something with some serious power, you can pick up this OptiPlex 5060 MT for $325 after the discount. It features 32GB of RAM for lightning-fast performance, as well as an Intel Core i7 processor, 512GB SSD and an AMD Radeon RX 550 GPU. There are even some all-in-one desktops available, like this OptiPlex 7470 AIO, which features a 24-inch full HD display, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It’s a grade A refurb, and you can grab it on sale for $445 after the discount.

    And for even more bargains, you can check out our full roundup of all the best desktop deals available now.

  • Self-Transforming Optimus Primal Swaps From Beast to Bot With Your Voice

    Self-Transforming Optimus Primal Swaps From Beast to Bot With Your Voice

    If you tell this Optimus Primal to roll out, it really will. Hasbro is revealing Thursday an Optimus Primal animatronic toy that automatically transformers between its gorilla and robot modes, just by speaking to it.

    The Transformers: Rise of the Beasts Command and Convert Animatronic Optimus Primal goes on sale today at $125, and features a 12.5-inch Optimus inspired by how the character will look in the upcoming movie.

    The electronic toy includes 100 sound and motion combinations that will also play alongside the self-transformation. The figure also includes molded fur details for its gorilla mode and two attachable sword accessories.

    Optimus Primal in robot modeOptimus Primal in robot mode

    Optimus Primal after transforming into robot mode via either a voice command or a button press.

    Hasbro

    This Optimus Primal comes after two iterations of the self-transforming Optimus Prime, the latter being a higher-end $750 set that includes a transforming trailer.

    The Optimus Primal will respond to any voice command (not specifically “Optimus, transform,” but you could totally use that). It is now available for preorder on Hasbro Pulse and Amazon.

  • Save 50% on a Dashlane Password Manager Subscription This Memorial Day Weekend

    Save 50% on a Dashlane Password Manager Subscription This Memorial Day Weekend

    Online security has never been more important but it can be hard to maintain strong, unique passwords for every website you log into without a way to store them. Instead of writing them down, having to reset your password each time you try log in or, worse, compromising on safety by using the same password everywhere, it’s worth upgrading your setup to include a password manager.

    And with Dashlane’s current 50% off sale now live ahead of Memorial Day weekend, you can upgrade your online security with $20 off its annual Premium plan. Down to just $20 with code MEMDAY23, it’s the equivalent of paying just $1.67 a month — but the deal expires May 30.

    Dashlane’s service isn’t super expensive even at its full price of $40 for the year (or $6.49 monthly) but saving half certainly reduces the barrier to entry. The plan will renew at its regular annual price after your first year is up unless canceled.

    A password manager like Dashlane allows you store all of your login credentials in one secure and encrypted vault. You can also use it to save important info like payment information, IDs, notes and more. Your passwords and other secure info can then be accessed across all of your devices with apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web.

    Dashlane can even help you generate stronger passwords and autofill them when you go to log in so you don’t have to worry about remembering them. Dark Web Monitoring is included with the Premium plan so you’ll be alerted if one of your passwords has been breached and you’ll be given steps to fix it. Another neat feature of this top-tier individual plan is a VPN for secure web browsing.

  • Keep Up With What’s Streaming on TV Using These 5 Free Apps

    Keep Up With What’s Streaming on TV Using These 5 Free Apps

    When you’re looking to stream the latest seasons of shows like Outlander, Yellowstone or new movies like Avatar 2, you probably search Google. But finding upcoming release dates for Netflix, Disney Plus, Max and any other streaming service can be time-consuming without a system.

    So what’s the best way to hunt for which titles will be available on a particular streaming platform? Write it on a sticky note? Add it to your phone’s calendar? Use the streaming app’s reminder feature? While those methods may be effective, there are apps that can do it better.

    Here are my suggestions for free apps that help you track streaming TV shows and films you plan to watch, ones you’re already immersed in and titles you may be curious about but need solid recommendations. They can alert you when new episodes are set to drop or remind you where you left off in a show. I should mention that some apps below are integrated with Trakt, a web-based platform that syncs with your PC, phone or home media center, but its native app is still pretty clunky, so we left it off this list.

    Read more: Max: The 34 Absolute Best TV Shows to Watch

    TV Time app display with thumbnails for The Boys, Evil, Marvel Studios: AssembledTV Time app display with thumbnails for The Boys, Evil, Marvel Studios: Assembled

    Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

    TV Time tracks TV shows and movies, pitches recommendations and connects you with fellow fans on social media. The app is available for Android and Apple users and you can sign up for an account using Google, Apple, Twitter, Facebook or email. To get started, choose what shows you’ve watched on which streaming service (or network). Interestingly, when scrolling through Hulu’s selections, only its originals are listed but the app tells you that you can add more later.

    With TV Time, you can choose from multiple lineups, including Trending Shows like Ted Lasso, Demon Slayer or Grey’s Anatomy. There are also categories for genres, a “Most Added” section with titles such as You and even a “Most Added Animation Series” row.

    Once you lock in your choices, TV Time collates a Watch List and suggests which episodes of your chosen shows you should watch next. There’s a separate tab labeled “Upcoming” that outlines the day and time that new episodes drop. Thanks to TV Time, I now know the exact premiere dates for The Witcher season 3 on Netflix and the new season of Reservation Dogs on Hulu.

    The app also prompts you to check off which movies you’ve watched, and the list spans decades, platforms and genres. Once you’ve completed that step, TV Time then asks what movies you want to watch. Here is where you search for specific titles or pick from TV Time’s trending list to add them to a calendar.

    Additionally, you can filter your TV Time display by progress — including what you finished, shows and movies you stopped midway or what you’re currently watching.

    justwatch app showing NFL streaming guidejustwatch app showing NFL streaming guide

    Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

    You may already be familiar with JustWatch as an app that curates where a title is streaming, but you can also make a watchlist, track upcoming releases, and watch a show with a single click. Once you open the app, you can select each streaming service you use — including Disney Plus, Crunchyroll and Fubo — to watch shows and films. There are 100-plus providers listed on JustWatch, and the app recently added a streaming guide for sports.

    Use the app to search for TV shows and movies or click Discover to go on a scrolling adventure. Narrow your search by platform, genre, year or rating. When you click a show tile, you can tap “Track” to keep up with every episode and season. JustWatch will ask which episodes you’ve watched, and you can check off entire seasons or individual installments. Where this app stands out is when you navigate to “Watch Now” to click a streaming service’s logo, and you’re immediately taken to the show’s landing page to begin watching. Talk about convenience.

    Add a title to your watch list, and JustWatch tells you which episode to watch next or you can check off when you’re caught up. It also displays the dates for upcoming episodes.

    For sports fans, JustWatch Sports directs you to where you can stream football (NFL and NCAA), basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), soccer (MLS, Liga MX and all major European leagues), tennis and Formula 1 legally online.

    The app also has a personal recommendation feature and displays the price of each streaming platform. You can use JustWatch on a web browser, on Fire TV devices or on iOS and Android mobile devices. Sign up directly on the app or with your Google or Facebook account.

    Available on iOS and Android, Hobi is one of the most popular and comprehensive tracking apps out there. When you open it, you can select the shows you plan to watch or have watched, and Hobi indicates where you left off. The titles are added to your watch list. If it’s an old show, Hobi lets you know the series ended but still reminds you which episodes are next for you. The Discover feature highlights trending shows, series returning in the current week, new ones airing for the month, and recommendations across genres and networks, including HBO and Netflix.

    In addition to monitoring your watch list and new episode release dates, Hobi provides personal viewing stats on how much TV you’ve watched. It also estimates your favorite genres based on those statistics. The app can be integrated with Trakt.

    A screenshot of SeriesGuide listings for Yellowstone, Stranger Things and moreA screenshot of SeriesGuide listings for Yellowstone, Stranger Things and more

    Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

    SeriesGuide is available on Android and Amazon Fire TV, and touts that it has no ads and doesn’t track your personal information.

    When you first sign on to SeriesGuide, it gives you the option to block spoilers for show episodes you haven’t watched yet. You can either search for a title or click Discover and scroll through a lengthy list of content. Like Hobi and TV Time, the app lets you know which platform houses the series or movie you’d like to watch or track. It also integrates with Trakt.

    Once you select your shows, SeriesGuide provides upcoming release dates or recent release dates and times. For example, the display shows that episode 9 of Succession dropped on Max at 9 p.m. ET on May 21, and Power Book IV season 2 debuts on Starz on Friday, Sept. 1. I’ve been able to glean tracking information for content on Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video, Max, Paramount (Yellowstone) and more.

    Its movie listings are pulled from TMDB and JustWatch, and you’ll find the release date, run time, cast credits and synopsis on the page. You can add films to your personal watchlist, click on the trailer link or tap the Stream/Purchase option if the digital version is available.

    Among its features, there’s a notification system that alerts you when new episodes are available, a favorites list and a catalog of how many episodes remain unwatched per season. With SeriesGuide, you can click “Skip” and the app will consider an episode watched. The user interface is very easy to navigate, and you can sync alerts to your device’s calendar, rate content or check out your viewing statistics for movies and shows.

    Screenshot by Kourtnee Jackson/CNET

    Cinetrak allows you to track both TV shows and movies, but you have to set up a Trakt log-in in order to create watch lists. You will see ads at the bottom of the screen, but the interface is clean and intuitive. Under the TV Shows menu, you can find titles under several categories: Genres, Trending, Popular and Top Watched. Click on a series and Cinetrak pulls up general information about the show and the seasons. Tap the plus sign to add a show by title, episode or season.

    The calendar feature allows you to see episodes that have been watched, added to collections or added to your watch lists. Basic access is free, but you can upgrade your account for additional features such as creating “Liked” lists, curated collections or sharing with friends.

    Streaming TV tracker apps FAQs

    What about privacy concerns?

    Take the time to review the privacy notices and settings for each service. JustWatch explains that it collects user data that may be used to target ads based on your movie tastes, while TV Time also uses nonpersonal information for marketing and advertising purposes. With the latter, you’re also able to toggle your personal account settings and set it to private, which prevents nonfollowers from viewing your activity. You can also unlink social media accounts.

    Should I pay to upgrade for more tracking perks?

    Though some of these apps offer the ability to upgrade, we recommend sticking with the free versions, especially if you just want a basic way to remind yourself of upcoming releases or to track your progress for a show.

    Why didn’t Reelgood make this list?

    Reelgood is an excellent platform that enables you to track movies and TV shows that have already been released or those with scheduled arrivals for the current month. However, it doesn’t provide information for the months ahead. JustWatch and TV Time, on the other hand, show the release date for the new season along with an episode count. You can even set a notification for its arrival.

  • You Can Now Download a ChatGPT App on Your iPhone and iPad

    You Can Now Download a ChatGPT App on Your iPhone and iPad

    ChatGPT, the revolutionary and controversial artificial intelligence chatbot, is now available to use as a dedicated app for your iPhone or iPad. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, released the official ChatGPT application for iOS last week — a smart move, considering all the fakes and copycats that have flooded the market since ChatGPT first came out in late 2022.

    CNET Tech Tips logoCNET Tech Tips logo

    The free ChatGPT app does everything you would expect from the web version, which is mostly providing comprehensive answers to your many prompts. Thanks to Bing Search, you can even get access to real-time information, something which ChatGPT has never been able to do (it could only provide data before 2021). There is one new feature exclusive to the iOS app — you can now ask ChatGPT questions using voice recognition.

    Don’t miss: ChatGPT vs. Bing vs. Google Bard: Which AI Is the Most Helpful?

    If you’re interested in testing out ChatGPT on your iPhone or iPad, we’ll show you how to download the application, sign up for the service, and use ChatGPT to get answers to your biggest and most complicated questions.

    And if you need a device to test out the ChatGPT app, check out the best iPhone models of 2023 and our review of the iPhone 14.

    Download ChatGPT on your iPhone or iPad

    As previously mentioned, there are a ton of third-party applications pretending to be ChatGPT, so you have to be careful when downloading the correct one. If you don’t want to search for it in the App Store, use the link below to download ChatGPT for iOS. You’ll know it’s the correct one if the developer is OpenAI.

    ChatGPT in the App StoreChatGPT in the App Store

    The ChatGPT iOS application is free to download.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Sign in or create an account to use ChatGPT

    If you already have an account, hit the Log in button and sign in with your existing email and password.

    If you don’t, you can easily create an account using your Apple ID, Google account or email. You’ll then be asked to enter your name and birthday (people age 13 and older can use ChatGPT, but minors may need a parent’s consent) and type in your phone number to verify that you’re a real person.

    Finally, you’ll see a single welcome page, where ChatGPT will warn you that its responses may be inaccurate and that you shouldn’t share sensitive information because the chats may be reviewed by AI trainers. Hit Continue to use ChatGPT.

    ChatGPT log in and sign in pages on iOSChatGPT log in and sign in pages on iOS

    If you already have a ChatGPT account through OpenAI, you can log in with your existing credentials.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    Using ChatGPT on your iPhone or iPad

    Now you can use ChatGPT just as you would in your web browser, although the user interface does have a slightly different look on mobile.

    To ask ChatGPT a question, tap on the text field at the bottom of the screen that says Message. If you want to use the new voice-to-text feature, tap on the audio icon on the far right of the text field. ChatGPT will ask for access to your microphone. After providing access, you can then speak for as long as you like — tap to stop recording. Hit the enter button to send your prompt to ChatGPT.

    ChatGPT on iOSChatGPT on iOS

    The voice-to-text feature allows you to speak for minutes at a time while creating ChatGPT prompts.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    In the top right, you can access ChatGPT’s menu, which allows you to rename your chats, delete your chats, view your history, manage your settings and start a new chat.

    In your settings, you can subscribe to ChatGPT Plus, which gives you access to OpenAI’s most current language model — GPT-4 — and provides access to ChatGPT, even when demand is high and free users may be locked out. You’ll also get early access to any new features. It’s $20 a month for ChatGPT Plus, but it’s not necessary to pay for ChatGPT on iOS unless you want these advanced features and guaranteed access.

    ChatGPT settings on iOSChatGPT settings on iOS

    ChatGPT Plus gives you access to GPT-4.

    Nelson Aguilar/CNET

    ChatGPT on iOS is currently limited to the US, but will expand to other countries in the following weeks. And for Android users, don’t fret — OpenAI says that ChatGPT will be coming to Android devices soon.

    For more on AI, check out all the big AI reveals that Google made in its keynote and why Apple isn’t in the generative AI game just yet.

  • Sony Has a New PlayStation Handheld Coming, for Streaming

    Sony Has a New PlayStation Handheld Coming, for Streaming

    The PlayStation Vita is long gone, but Sony is making a return to gaming handhelds — in a sense. At Sony’s latest PlayStation gaming showcase on Wednesday, the company teased a surprise new device that should be coming later this year. It looks very much like a giant display fused with a DualSense controller.

    The handheld, which should play all PlayStation games over Wi-Fi, has an 8-inch HD screen and a controller that Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan promised will have all the features of the DualSense that’s standard on the PlayStation 5.

    Streaming handhelds are a definite trend now, with Android devices like Logitech’s G Cloud and the Razer Edge. It’s unclear how or if Sony’s new handheld will work offline at all, but it’s clearly being pitched as a second screen and a mobile play option for the PS5. Meanwhile, the Backbone One game controller, which has a PlayStation partnership and works with phones to play PS5 games wirelessly via streaming, just announced an Android-compatible model.

    ps5-handheld-2.pngps5-handheld-2.png

    A glimpse of the handheld next to the PS5 for comparison.

    Sony Interactive Entertainment

    Sony’s second-screen PS5 game handheld does look exciting, though the price isn’t known. A screen that large could make games look great and a full-featured controller would make everything feel as responsive, possibly, as playing on the PS5 itself. Maybe, just maybe, Sony might consider a new Vita someday, too?

  • ChatGPT Rival Google Bard Integrates Images Into Responses, AI Images Coming Soon

    ChatGPT Rival Google Bard Integrates Images Into Responses, AI Images Coming Soon

    Google Bard, the search giant’s generative artificial intelligence engine that competes with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Bing AI, has integrated images into queries, the company said in a blog post on Tuesday.

    Now when you ask Bard questions, it’ll pull up images found online to help you get a better understanding through visuals. These are images that already exist online and are not AI-generated images, like those made by Dall-E 2, Midjourney, Adobe Firefly and Bing AI. But Google is working on bringing image generation into Bard.

    “We’ll also integrate Adobe Firefly into Bard so you can easily and quickly turn your own creative ideas into high-quality images,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement.

    In Bard, you can also ask for images directly. In addition, Bard will show the image source. This can be handy when you want to look up must-see sights in, say, New Orleans or you’re planning a road trip and want to visit some scenic destinations. In the coming weeks, you’ll also be able to use Google Lens to prompt Bard with related images.

    Ever since the launch late last year of ChatGPT, an AI chatbot that could pretty much answer any question with a novel response, Google has been upping its AI game. Earlier this year, it introduced Bard, just as Microsoft announced ChatGPT integration into Bing Search.

    Earlier this month at Google I/O, its annual developer conference, Google focused a significant chunk of the keynote on AI, with presenters saying the term more than 140 times during the two-hour presentation. Along with hardware announcements like the Pixel Fold phone, Google opened up Bard to the public and showed off an experimental version of search with integrated AI.

    If Google does fully integrate AI into search, it’ll change the experience of finding information online for billions of people, but it might also require a rethinking of the larger ad-driven internet economy. After Google I/O, the company saw its stock jump 4.1% suggesting investor confidence.

    Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.

  • ChatGPT Will Now Use Microsoft’s Bing AI Search Engine Data

    ChatGPT Will Now Use Microsoft’s Bing AI Search Engine Data

    Microsoft announced Tuesday that OpenAI is using data from the Bing search engine to help improve its ChatGPT chatbot. Incorporating Bing data allows the chatbot to provide real-time information to users, but at first, you’ll have to pay a monthly premium for ChatGPT Plus to use it.

    The deal lets ChatGPT anchor its responses to Bing search data from up-to-date websites, said Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s marketing chief for consumer products, in an interview.

    “They get to ground the answers. That will improve the relevancy. It will also make the answers more timely,” Mehdi said. “The second thing is they can now use citations, so when they have answers, they can point to links where people want to learn more.”

    The company showed off the marriage of Bing and ChatGPT at the company’s Microsoft Build developer conference, held Tuesday in Seattle.

    It’s not entirely new. In March, ChatGPT Plus subscription members were able to use an “experimental model” that tapped into Bing to browse the internet for more up-to-date information than previously available, although this change was not disclosed at the time. ChatGPT Plus premiered earlier this year and costs subscribers $20 per month.

    ChatGPT Plus members will be the only ones to get the new Bing-infused version of the chatbot — at first. But Microsoft said it will eventually come to users of the free chatbot version. Right now, that version only pulls data from before September 2021. Users of the free product will need to enable a plugin to bring Bing to ChatGPT.

    Microsoft had already built AI into its Bing search engine and Edge web browser.

    Microsoft also announced that it has begun building an AI chat interface straight into Windows, its most important software product. The company will begin testing the tool, called Windows Copilot, in June. It will perform tasks like summarizing documents, suggesting music, offering tech support for your PC and answering questions you might ask a search engine or AI chatbot.

    Editors’ note: CNET is using an AI engine to create some personal finance explainers that are edited and fact-checked by our editors. For more, see this post.