WhatsApp video calling goes live

WhatsApp‘s anticipated video calling functionality is now rolling out. The new free video calling feature appears to be available only in the latest WhatsApp beta version for now – I couldn’t access it until I updated my app – but this indicates wider rollout may be on its way soon.

Accessing WhatsApp video calls works much the same as accessing voice calls. Tap on the call button in a conversation and a dialog box will pop up asking if you wish to place a voice call or a video call; hit ‘video call’ and you’re good to go. The integration is intuitive and the new dialogue box has the added bonus of preventing accidental voice calls.

Image Source : AndroidAuthority

WhatsApp‘s anticipated video calling functionality is now rolling out. The new free video calling feature appears to be available only in the latest WhatsApp beta version for now – I couldn’t access it until I updated my app – but this indicates wider rollout may be on its way soon.

Accessing WhatsApp video calls works much the same as accessing voice calls. Tap on the call button in a conversation and a dialog box will pop up asking if you wish to place a voice call or a video call; hit ‘video call’ and you’re good to go. The integration is intuitive and the new dialogue box has the added bonus of preventing accidental voice calls.

WhatsApp video calling has been an expected addition to the WhatsApp app since its voice calling function went live in March 2015. Skype and FaceTime on iOS are arguably its main competitors in this sphere, while Google‘s latest video calling app Duo may not pose much of a threat.

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Amazon drones will find landing spots using symbols printed out by customers

Amazon’s delivery drones will be able to fly up to 20 miles at speeds faster than 50 mph, and find their landing spots via symbols that customers will print out on their computers and place outside.

“You just need a landing field,” said Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos at an event in Seattle this weekend. “And if you have a landing field, you can mark it with a symbol which you can print out on your printer and put wherever you want the vehicle to land.”

The plan was one of the new details shared by the Amazon CEO as part of a broader discussion at the Pathfinder Awards ceremony at Seattle’s Museum of Flight on Saturday. Bezos talked about the program’s progress and what’s in store for drone deliveries during the on-stage interview.

“We’re getting really good cooperation from the British equivalent of the FAA, the CAA,” Bezos said. “It’s incredible. It’s really cool.”

In the U.S., the FAA hasn’t been so cooperative. In June, the agency imposed a series of restrictions that will make Amazon’s drone package delivery program difficult unless the company can get specific waivers. All hope for Amazon’s U.S. drone ambitions isn’t lost, though. The FAA added an exec from Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery operation to a new advisory committee that should give the company more of a voice in policy decisions.

When the drones are deployed, they’ll be able to deliver packages weighing less than five pounds, which Amazon says covers 86 percent of the products it sells.

Bezos also said Amazon is working out how to deliver, by drone, to urban and dense suburban areas, which he says are among the “hardest neighborhoods.”

It’s possible the drones will recharge themselves on docking stations installed throughout urban areas, according to previous patent applications. 

So what happens if the drone has trouble reaching its destination? Bezos addressed that issue Saturday, as well.

“If it sees anything that makes it nervous, it can divert, or phone home for help and get a human to help it land,” he said.

Amazon isn’t the only company pursuing the approach of using symbols to direct drone deliveries. Google has applied for a patent for an aerial delivery device that “locates the machine-readable code on a display at the delivery address and verifies that the information from the machine-readable code is associated with the package. The delivery device deposits the package on the display.”

The video shown at the beginning of that clip was this one from last year.

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AT&T to buy Time Warner for $85 billion, create telecom-media giant

AT&T Inc said on Saturday it agreed to buy Time Warner Inc for $85.4 billion, the boldest move yet by a telecommunications company to acquire content to stream over its network to attract a growing number of online viewers.

The biggest deal in the world this year will, if approved by regulators, give AT&T control of cable TV channels HBO and CNN, film studio Warner Bros and other coveted media assets. The tie-up will likely face intense scrutiny by U.S. antitrust enforcers worried that AT&T might try to limit distribution of Time Warner material.

AT&T will pay $107.50 per Time Warner share, half in cash and half in stock, worth $85.4 billion overall, according to a company statement. AT&T said it expected to close the deal by the end of 2017.

Dallas-based AT&T said the U.S. Department of Justice would review the deal and that the companies were determining which Federal Communications Commission licenses, if any, would be transferred to AT&T in the deal.

U.S. lawmakers were already worried about cable company Comcast Corp's $30 billion acquisition of NBCUniversal, and several argued for close regulatory scrutiny of the AT&T deal.

"Such a massive consolidation in this industry requires rigorous evaluation and serious scrutiny," said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senate Judiciary Committee member and former attorney general of Connecticut. "I will be looking closely at what this merger means for consumers and their pocketbooks."

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said at a rally he would block any AT&T-Time Warner deal if he wins the Nov. 8 election. Trump has complained about media coverage of his campaign, especially by Time Warner's CNN.

"It's too much concentration of power in the hands of too few," said Trump.
Representatives of his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

CONTENT PLUS DELIVERY
AT&T, whose main wireless phone and broadband service business is showing signs of slowing, has already made moves to turn itself into a media powerhouse. It bought satellite TV provider DirecTV last year for $48.5 billion.

It had about 142 million North American wireless subscribers as of June 30, and about 38 million video subscribers through DirecTV and its U-verse service.

New York-based Time Warner is a major force in movies, TV and video games. Its assets include the HBO, CNN, TBS and TNT networks as well as the Warner Bros film studio, producer of the “Batman” and “Harry Potter” film franchises. The company also owns a 10 percent stake in video streaming site Hulu. The HBO network alone has more than 130 million subscribers.
AT&T Chief Executive Officer Randall Stephenson told reporters on a conference call that owning Time Warner and all its content will provide a greater competitive advantage than just continuing to license it.

Talks between Stephenson and Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes began in August, they said. "Jeff and I both had a vision that if you put these two together, you could innovate much faster," said Stephenson.

Bewkes, who rejected an $80 billion offer from Twenty-First Century Fox Inc in 2014, will stay on for an open-ended period of time to help with the integration.

Stephenson called the deal "vertical" rather than "horizontal" and played down regulatory hurdles.
"There's no competitor being removed from the marketplace, there's no competitive harm that is being rendered by putting these two companies together," said Stephenson. "So any concerns by the regulators, we believe, will be adequately addressed by conditions, that's our anticipation."

Time Warner must pay AT&T $1.725 billion if it finds a different buyer. If regulators block the deal, AT&T must pay Time Warner $500 million, according to people familiar with the deal.

The telecom and media sectors have been consolidating. In addition to Comcast's purchase of NBCUniversal, AT&T's wireless rival Verizon Communications Inc is in the process of buying internet company Yahoo Inc for about $4.8 billion.

FINANCING
AT&T said it would finance the cash portion of the purchase with new debt and cash on its balance sheet. AT&T said it has an 18-month commitment for an unsecured bridge term facility for $40 billion.

AT&T has only $7.2 billion in cash on hand. Further borrowing could pressure its credit rating as it already had $120 billion in net debt as of June 30, according to Moody's.

AT&T said the deal would add to earnings per share in the first year after closing. It said it expected $1 billion in annual run-rate cost savings within three years of closing, chiefly driven by lower corporate and procurement spending.

Shortly after the deal was announced, AT&T reported third-quarter adjusted earnings per share of 74 cents, the same as in the year-ago period and matching Wall Street's average estimate, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. It hiked its quarterly dividend by a penny to 49 cents per share.

Time Warner said its third-quarter earnings, which have not yet been announced, would show growth in revenue and operating income at each division and double-digit earnings growth.

5G IS COMING
Owning more content gives cable and telecom companies bargaining leverage with other content companies as customers demand smaller, hand-picked cable offerings or switch to watching online. New mobile technology including next-generation 5G networks could make a content tie-up especially attractive for wireless providers.

"We think 5G mobile is coming, we think 5G mobile is an epic game-changer," Rich Tullo, director of research at Albert Fried & Co, said in a research note, adding that mobile providers would be in the position to disrupt traditional pay-TV services.

A previous Time Warner blockbuster deal, its 2000 merger with AOL, is considered one of the most ill-advised corporate marriages on record.

Perella Weinberg Partners LP, Bank of America Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co were financial advisers to AT&T, with Bank of America and JPMorgan also offering bridge financing, while Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and Arnold & Porter LLP provided legal advice.

Allen & Co LLC, Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisers to Time Warner, while Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP was its legal adviser.

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The Nintendo Switch

I’m excited for the Nintendo Switch. The newly renamed NX is weird, intriguing, genuinely new and wholly Nintendo. Unlike the Xbox Scorpio and PS4 Pro, which mostly just take the console concept we’re already comfortable with and push the graphics a bit further, it’s a genuine attempt to do something new with the concept of a video game console, something that we haven’t seen since the original Wii. That doesn’t mean I’m not worried, however. The initial reveal trailer really raised more questions than it had answers: it showed off a design we all had a general idea about, but there is some very important information not there yet. So while I’m rooting for this thing 100%, I can’t help but have my concerns.

Power And Third-Party Support

We know that the Nintendo Switch is going to get Skyrim — the reveal trailer made that clear. And we’ve got a nice big list of other developers working with the platform. But third-party support was a weakness for both the Wii U and the Wii, and Nintendo is still not in a place where it can support itself with its own development. I somehow doubt we’re going to be able to play all the biggest new AAA games on the road, but we do need to have enough to make this a well-fleshed ecosystem. Power is a related concern: developers will only port games if the system can handle it.

Nintendo is the only manufacturer that can somewhat get by without third-party support: for many people, this is going to be a way to get the kids playing Mario Kart in the backseat, and for that, it hardly matters if we can also play The Witcher 3. For that audience, this isn’t really a problem. But the lure of games like Skyrim is strong, and it will be a big problem if we don’t see enthusiastic third-party support. Luckily, this thing will launch with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and many will buy it just for that.

Battery Life

A big one. It would appear to be a pretty powerful machine for the size, and that doesn’t come cheap power-wise. So we’re going to need a machine that gives us 5+ hours of playtime — if we’re short of that, we’re going to have a problem.

Storage

The Switch is designed to play full console games, which are not small. Storage space is already at a premium for full living room consoles like the Xbox One and PS4, and one wonders how much we can squeeze into a portable device. In order to be viable, it’s going to need to comfortably store at least five or so games, and ideally more. I’m guessing Nintendo is going to push this as a system oriented around digital downloads with cartridges as a necessary backup, and we need solid storage to make that ecosystem work. Of course, Nintendo could always just sell a boutique external storage card for a ridiculous amount of money. That always works well.

Do We Actually Need The Main Feature?

The idea of full console-style games on the go is not new. In principle, it sounds like a great idea: we love these games at home, we’d love them just as much out in the world. But when I’ve tried doing this sort of thing before, I find that I do most of my playing in the living room anyway. I could see the Switch’s ability to go portable as a major boon for train commuters, and I imagine that will contribute to its success in its native Japan. But the idea of cool millennials with beanies playingMario Kart in all sorts of cool locations seems like more of a nice image than something that I actually expect to happen. It’s the sort of concept which is really good for getting people excited but doesn’t always translate into actual sales. That’s why I ultimately stopped using my Vita. Outside of plane flights, I just never found a situation where I needed it that much.

Moving Parts

Fair warning, this one is pretty vague, but it’s also the biggest one here. There is a lot going on with the Switch. There is a controller that needs to be comfortable in multiple configurations. It will need to have an operating system, which Nintendo doesn’t always do a stellar job on. There is a dock, there are multiple pieces that snap together. It’s the sort of thing we won’t know about until we can get our hands on the thing, but it all has to work, and a device designed to serve multiple purposes has multiple opportunities for failure. I am in no way saying that this is going to happen, just that we’ve all been burned before. It’s an ambitious design, and it’s got to work perfectly to be worth it.

Price

It all only matters if the price is right. If the Switch comes in above $299, we’re going to have some big problems on our hands.

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Best sports games for Android

After a few golden years of fantastic entries, it seems that sports games, too, have all but succumbed to the freemium model. There's far too few quality sports games out there that just let you jump into the game without having to deal with player cards, upgrades or waiting for 'stamina meters' to refill. Nearly all the top mobile sports game franchises have switched over to a team building system that require you to unlock (or buy) card packs to upgrade your team.

But there are still great games to be played! We're covering the five major North American sports here — football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and, ahem, soccer — with two options for each. The first will typically be more sim-based for the hardcore sports fan, while the second is a more arcade-like option for casual players.

Madden NFL Mobile

Football fans know that Madden is king on consoles, and despite the freemium, card-collecting gameplay at the core of the Android version, Madden NFL Mobile still reigns supreme on the mobile gridiron as well.

Yes, you're stuck building your team through opening card packs, which can be bought with in-game coins or purchased with real cash. Fortunately, there's a number of ways to earn in-game currency: Head-to-head match-ups against other users where you exchange offensive drives, a single-player season mode where you play out through a full season against CPU opponents, and multiple daily live events to test your skills. The live events offer some nice nostalgia for those who remember the mini camp drills from Madden 2004. On the field, the touch controls are on point and while the graphics are understandably a far cry from those found on the latest PlayStation and Xbox editions, they're more than serviceable for the bite-sized football action Madden NFL Mobile provides.

Madden NFL Mobile provides good fun whether during halftime or break time at work — as long as you don't mind being slightly bogged down by the collectibles aspect.

Download: Madden NFL Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

Football Heroes Pro 2017

Football Heroes Pro 2017 is a full-fledged arcade football game, licensed by the NFLPA. Unlike the more realistic sim-style of Madden, it provides a casual football experience (think Tecmo Bowl) in your down time when you're all caught up with the real games. Players build and train their own team with their favorite real-life players and unlock new plays by opening card packs. Premium currency can be used to buy card packs, though you're also able to buy packs with coins earned from winning and by levelling up your players. Gameplay-wise, this one features a lot of button mashing for tackling and breaking tackles,

For those looking for a casual football game to kill time during commercial breaks, Football Heroes Pro 2017 has plenty to offer.

Download: Football Heros Pro 2017 (Free, with IAPs)

FIFA Mobile Soccer

The FIFA games for mobile used to stand out as one of the best investments available in the paid app section of the Google Play Store, with FIFA 13 remaining one of the best mobile games I've ever played. Sadly, EA has shifted to a freemium model with the entire focus of the game being on building your own Ultimate Team.

While I personally feel like the change in format is a disservice to players, the game itself still plays like a dream and will surely keep any footy fans addicted for some time. There are four game modes to choose from: you start out with Live Events and Attack Mode, and unlock Leagues and Season once your profile reaches level 5. Live Events throw you into different drills and game situations where you can unlock coins, XP, and specific card packs. Attack Mode pits you against other players around the world in turn-based gameplay where you're each given time on offence to rack up as many goals as you can (hence the name). The newest addition is Leagues, which lets you start or join your own global league consisting of other players. It's both competitive and cooperative, as you can either compete in a league tournament, or collectively challenge another league. Season mode is the single-player mode you've come to expect, but you'll need to maintain an internet connection to play FIFA Mobile, even in single player mode.

While FIFA Mobile is missing the freedom to play as you like from previous editions, it's still the best footy game you can play on Android.

Download: FIFA Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

Score! Hero

For something a little different, look no further than Score! Hero. Instead of putting you in charge of building a team, you create your own player and work your way through a professional career from rookie to legend.

Another difference from other games is the way you control the action. Instead of the free-flowing action found elsewhere, you only take over once your team has control of the ball. Play freezes, waiting for you to swipe from the ball to take your shot or pass to a teammate. It's an interesting dynamic that really highlights the strategic elements of soccer and a nice change of pace. Each level sets up the game situation and gives you your mission for completing it, but if the defending team intercepts or otherwise gains control of the ball, you're forced to restart the level, or spends some of your in-app funds to use a rewind to redo your last kick. Sometimes your mission involves scoring back-to-back goals which makes those rewinds extra tempting, but you'll want to avoid relying on them unless you're intending on dropping real cash into the game. All told, Score! Hero features 420 levels to play through. Can you beat them all?

Download: Score! Hero (Free, with IAPs)

NBA Live Mobile

Another sport, another EA Sports title. If you're a fan of NBA Live on consoles, or even the NBA 2K franchise, you'll likely dig the mobile offering. Again, with every other sports title offered by EA this year around, there's the unavoidable emphasis on card collecting to unlock players. If your sensibilities are offended by that, you'll want to look elsewhere.

Otherwise, what you get here is a pretty solid. Dive into daily live events, or challenge other players around the world to a head-to-head challenge where you go back and forth playing one quarter at a time. Season mode lets you play a full NBA season with your team, all the way through to the NBA Championships. Once you've reached level 5, you unlock Leagues, which lets you start up a league for you and all your friends, or join a random league. They operate similar to clans, and allow for friendly matches between other league members, or for inter-league showdowns. Another neat feature of leagues is if someone in your league makes an in-app purchase, everyone in the league gets a free gift — essentially an added incentive to engage in that freemium model.

Download: NBA Live Mobile (Free, with IAPs)

NBA Jam

This remake of the 90s classic features all the fast-paced two-on-two action you remember from back in the day, with upgraded graphics including hilarious big head animations for every player in the game. Touch controls are simple and responsive, making it super easy to set up an epic alley-oop, or sink three shots in a row and hear Tim Kitzrow — the original NBA JAM commentator — yell his infamous line, "HE'S ON FIRE!"

There are four modes of play and no in-app purchases or currencies to deal with, so you can jump into a game right away. On top of quick matches and a Classic Campaign where you can unlock legendary players and other goodies, you can play online (but good luck finding a random opponent) or with a friend over local Wi-Fi.

If you're an NBA fan, or a fan of the original game, NBA Jam should be a mainstay on your Android device.

Download: NBA Jam ($4.99)

WGT Baseball MLB

Featuring a cartoonish art style and simple game mechanics, WGT Baseball MLB is a great, free-to-play game for baseball fans everywhere. It's another team building game that relies on opening card packs for unlocking new players and upgrading your current roster, but what sets it apart is how quick it is to jump right into the action and play through a 9-inning game.

The catch here is that WGT Baseball MLB plays more like a baseball simulator, where you act as team manager and step in to bat for one player in your rotation (you unlock the ability to bat for a second player at level 5). This allows you to play through a full baseball game in just a few minutes. While you end up watching most of the game play out on the Jumbotron, it does makes every at-bat that much more critical to get on base or hit a homerun. The game rewards you with daily rewards for checking in each day, and you'll quickly unlock more game features the longer you play the game. At level 4, you unlock My League which lets you compete against other division opponents in a race to reach first place and advance up the league ladder from the minors to the big leagues. At level 6 you unlock the Clubhouse which lets you compete in daily events for more perks to help improve your team.

If you're looking to play quick games and just want to swing for the fences, WGT Baseball MLB is all you need.

Download: WGT Baseball MLB (Free, with IAPs)

Matt Duchene Hockey Classic

The latest in a line of games attached to rising NHL players (previously Patrick Kane), Matt Duchene Hockey Classic is free to try but you only get Team Finland and Team Sweden when you download it from the Google Play Store. Fortunately, you'll need to pay a very reasonable price to unlock the full game, which includes 60 teams and a plethora of game modes including playoffs, outdoor games and "Hockey Giants", which is essentially big head mode. As you might have noticed from the title, this game isn't officially licensed by the NHL, so while, for instance, the team from Boston wears black and yellow jerseys there are no logos nor are there any active rosters. It's also a bit of a resource hog. You'll definitely notice some sluggish moments if you play on an older device. But considering the lack of options for full-featured hockey games on Android, Matt Duchene Hockey Classic delivers as well as you'd expect.

Download: Matt Duchene Hockey Classic (Free, with IAP to unlock full game)

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Microsoft predictions expert: Clinton has a 91% chance of winning and Cubs will win World Series

Hillary Clinton has a 91 percent chance to the win presidency, according to Microsoft Research economist David Rothschild, higher odds than any candidate received in the previous three presidential elections under his forecasting model.

Rothschild spoke at the Seattle Interactive Conference Tuesday, and he opened his talk with this simple declaration: “Hillary Clinton is likely to be the next president of the United States.” Rothschild adorned in a red bowtie and a pair of yellow pants that I am heading out to buy as soon as I post this story, discussed issues with polling, details about his forecasting models and a number of other topics.

Rothschild, who joined Microsoft in 2012, correctly picked all but one state from the2012 presidential election as well as an average of 20 of 24 Oscars from 2013 to 2016, and all 15 knockout games in the 2014 World Cup. His model, called PredictWise, includes a combination of prediction markets, along with polling and online/social media data, and it helps power Bing’s election forecasts.

But that doesn’t mean Rothschild is immune from being wrong. He gave Great Britain’s exit from the European Union only a 25 percent chance of happening, and we all saw how that turned out. But that’s one of the biggest downsides of being in the forecasting business. He easily could have been right that such an outcome was unlikely, but it still was possible. Which of course means that a Donald Trump presidency is still possible, it’s just not very likely.

An informal poll of the audience showed not a single person intended to vote for Trump, though that could be an indication of the shy Trump voter phenomenon as much as the leftward bend at this tech conference. A couple people did indicate they were going to vote for third-party candidates. Rothschild said he doesn’t buy a big third-party groundswell.

“People will strategically pull for third party candidates that they want to appear popular and actually like, but then vote for other people because the system really rewards voting for major party candidates,” Rothschild said.

But more important than this election, the Chicago Cubs are the favorite to win the World Series, according to Rothschild’s model, with a 40 percent chance.

The New England Patriots (boo) are the favorite to win the Superbowl at 25 percent, with the Seattle Seahawks (yay) second at 12 percent. Daenerys Targaryen is the favorite to win the Game of Thrones at 35 percent, followed by Jon Snow at 22 percent.

Donald Trump apparently has about as much chance of becoming president as Tyrion Lannister has of winning Game of Thrones. The biggest difference between the two, other than their height, is that Trump doesn’t always pay his debts.

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Best Android Phones

Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Samsung did a killer job with their 2015 flagship smartphones, the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. Design-wise, many would say those two phones were close to perfect. The company forwent a plastic design and instead included glass front and back panels with an aluminum frame. They weren’t without their flaws, though. The S6 and S6 Edge didn’t offer expandable storage or removable batteries — two features Samsung has been known to include in all its smartphones for years.

Now the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge have made their way to the masses, and they fix many of the problems the S6 line introduced last year. While they don’t offer removable batteries, Samsung included expandable storage on both handsets in case the 32 GB of on-board storage isn’t enough. Samsung mostly stuck to the same design this time around, though they did shrink down the camera bumps on the back and made the devices a little thicker to make room for larger batteries.

In terms of specs, these are top-of-the-line smartphones. They come with Quad HD Super AMOLED displays, Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processors, 4 GB of RAM, great 12 MP rear-facing cameras and run the latest version of Android. Instead of featuring the same screen sizes this time around though, Samsung kept the S7 at a smaller 5.1 inches, while the S7 Edge has been bumped up to a larger 5.5-inch panel.

Seriously, these are some incredible smartphones. They are a little pricey, but all in all, we think the high asking price is worth it.

Specs

Samsung Galaxy S7

• 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 577 ppi
• Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 4 GB of RAM
• 32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
• 12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
• Non-removable 3000 mAh battery
• Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
• 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm, 152 g

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge

• 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 534 ppi
• Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 4 GB of RAM
• 32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
• 12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
• Non-removable 3600 mAh battery
• Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
• 150.9 x 72.6 x 7.7 mm, 157 g

Moto Z and Moto Z Force (Droid Editions)

Motorola (well, Lenovo actually) is doing something different with their flagship phones this year. Instead of releasing just one flagship under the Moto X moniker, they’ve decided to release two new smartphones that do things a bit out of the ordinary. The Moto Z and Moto Z Force not only bring flagship-level specs, but also support for modules.

These modules, called Moto Mods, attach to the back of both phones via magnets. There are only a few available right now, but they actually bring some handy features to the phones. You can purchase an external battery module, a powerful speaker, and even a projector!

They both have killer specs, too. Both devices come with a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, a Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, plenty of on-board storage, expandable memory, and run Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box. You might be wondering – what’s the difference between these two phones? The standard Moto Z is super thin at only 5.2mm in thickness, but it only comes with a 2600mAh battery. The Moto Z Force is thicker, has a 3500mAh battery, and also has a shatterproof display.

These aren’t the cheapest phones on the market, but they’re certainly some of the best.

Specs

Moto Z

• 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535ppi
• Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
• 13MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
• Non-removable 2600mAh battery
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2mm, 136g

Moto Z Force

• 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 535ppi
• Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 32/64GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
• 21MP rear camera, 5MP front camera
• Non-removable 3500mAh battery
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 155.9 x 75.8 x 7mm, 163g

Nexus 6P

As the successor to last year’s Motorola Nexus 6, Google recently unveiled the Huawei-made Nexus 6P. This device is the higher-end of the two Nexus phones announced at Google’s event, and that’s incredibly apparent when looking at the spec sheet.

It comes with a big 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, super fast Snapdragon 810 processor, a giant 3450 mAh battery and an impressive 12MP rear-facing camera. Want to get your hands on one? The Nexus 6P is pretty cheap, considering the specs and build quality. You can purchase it from the Google Store starting at just $499!

Specs

• 5.7-inch AMOLED display with 1440 x 2560 resolution, 518 ppi
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor
• 3 GB of RAM
• 32/64/128 GB of on-board storage, no microSD card expansion
• 12 MP rear-facing camera, 8 MP front-facing camera
• Non-removable 3450 mAh battery
• Android 7.0 Nougat
• 159.3 x 77.8 x 7.3 mm, 178 g

ZTE Axon 7

ZTE’s Axon Pro from 2015 was a good phone, but it fell short in a few key areas. It came to market with only one storage option, no expandable memory, and the dual camera setup on the back of the device felt a bit gimmicky. Not only does the company’s latest flagship fix all of those problems, it brings much more to the table.

It has a big 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, the latest Snapdragon processor, plenty of RAM, multiple storage options, and yes, expandable memory up to 256GB. It also sports some killer front-facing speakers, all-day battery life, a great camera, and a sleek, attractive design. While certain parts of the software could use a little more polish, the ZTE Axon 7 goes toe-to-toe with the best in the Android market. It’s also inexpensive at only $400, making this an even more attractive option for folks looking to score a solid flagship device.

Specs

• 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 538ppi
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 4/6GB of RAM
• 64/128GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 256GB
• 20MP front camera, 8MP rear camera
• Non-removable 3250mAh battery
• Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
• 151.7 x 75 x 7.9mm, 175g

HTC 10

HTC needed a saving grace this year, and the 10 just may be it. The Taiwanese company finally designed a phone that’s different enough from its predecessor yet still sports a familiar design language. With an all-metal chassis, front-mounted fingerprint sensor and a new-and-improved speaker setup, the HTC 10 easily made its way to our best Android phones list.

Under the hood, the 10 comes with some killer specs. A 5.2-inch Quad HD display, Snapdragon 820 processor and 4 GB of RAM are in line with most other flagships this year, and it also comes with expandable storage up to 200 GB and a 3000 mAh battery that will have no problems lasting an entire day on a single charge. HTC also improved the camera this time around, which was a big flaw in last year’s One M9 flagship.

Specs

• 5.2-inch Super LCD5 display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 565 ppi
• 2.15 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 4 GB of RAM
• 32/64 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
• 12 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera
• Non-removable 3000 mAh battery
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 145.9 x 71.9 x 9 mm, 161 g

LG G5

While the Galaxy S7 series is a minor refresh in terms of design, the LG G5 sees a massive departure from the design language used in the G series, ditching the rear volume/power setup that first debuted with the LG G2. The G5 also adopts a unibody metallic design that has a removable cap for access to the removable battery and a port for modules that allow users to expand the phone’s capabilities by adding a camera grip and other special accessories.

The distinctly different design of the LG G5 may not be for everyone, but there’s little denying that LG has went out of its way to try and innovate in a market where big changes like this aren’t all that common.

Spec wise, we’re looking at a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 with 4 GB RAM, a 5.3-inch display, and 32 GB storage with microSD for expansion. The specs here are certainly impressive all across the board. It’s also worth mentioning that LG has revamped its software, making it faster and less bloated. One controversial move with the software, however, is the removal of the app drawer in favor of what LG says is a “simplified experience.”

Specs

• 5.3-inch IPS LCD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution, 554 ppi
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor
• 4 GB of RAM
• 32 GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 200 GB
• 16 and 8 MP dual rear cameras, 8 MP front camera
• Removable 2800 mAh battery
• Android 6.0 Marshmallow
• 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm, 159 g

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