Technologies

The New Moto G Power 5G Gets a Better Display, but Shorter Battery Life

Motorola says the $299 Moto G Power 5G will get 38 hours of battery life.

With its new $299 Moto G Power 5G, Motorola appears to be focusing on more than just a long battery life. The phone, announced Thursday, is part of Motorola’s affordable G series and gains a number of notable hardware updates over last year’s version, including 5G compatibility, an upgraded display and new front-facing camera. But those changes may come at a cost, since the new version of the G Power is priced $100 higher than its predecessor and is rated for shorter battery life. The Moto G Power 5G will be available unlocked, meaning it can be used on any carrier, starting April 13.

Improvements include a 6.5-inch display with a 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. That high refresh rate, which makes animations smoother when browsing the web or using apps, is rare for a phone under $300. Phones in this price range usually top out at around 90Hz.

The Moto G Power’s front-facing camera has a new 16-megapixel sensor, compared to 8 megapixels on last year’s version. Hopefully the newer sensor will improve the quality of selfie photos and video chats. The main rear camera has a 50-megapixel resolution just like last year, along with a 2-megapixel macro camera and 2-megapixel depth sensor for portrait mode.

Rear and front of Moto G 5G in Mineral Black — The Moto G Power 5G will also be available in Mineral Black.

Motorola

The phone will also include either 128GB or 256GB of storage — which is quite roomy for a $299 phone — with the option of adding 1TB of space with a microSD card. The G Power 5G also has either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, depending on the model, stereo speakers, a headphone jack, and comes with a 10W charger though its max charging speed is 15 watts.

Battery life has long been one of the Moto G Power’s high points, but it looks like Motorola may have scaled that back on the new model. Motorola expects the new Moto G Power’s 5,000 mAh battery to provide 38 hours of battery life, while last year’s version was said to last for three days on a single charge. Additionally, the Moto G Power’s 5,000 mAh battery no longer feels as unique as it once did now that more phones under $500 have the same capacity.

My recent experience with the $170 2023 Moto G Play makes me concerned about the new Moto G Power. Even though the Play easily gets two days of battery life (and potentially a third), the phone’s MediaTek Helio G37 processorwas so laggy that some apps wouldn’t load. The Moto G Power runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor — which could be fine — but I’ll have to test it to be sure it can run basic apps with ease.

Still, if the Moto G Power 5G does indeed have enough power — as it should, given its name — it could be a really great value for $299.

Technologies

Adorn Your Wrist With a 45mm Pixel Watch 3 for Just $200 This Black Friday

Both Amazon and Walmart are selling Google’s Pixel Watch 3 for just $200, but for how long?

There are tons of reasons to pick up a new smartwatch, not the least of which is monitoring your health and tracking your fitness goals. If you’re in the Android world, there are plenty of options to choose from right now. The Pixel Watch 3 is a solid choice, and it was our favorite Android smartwatch until the new Pixel Watch 4 took its place in the lineup. But the Watch 3 still boasts some great features that can help you stay on top of your wellness goals into the new year as well. And both Amazon and Walmart are running Black Friday deals that make it significantly cheaper than the Pixel Watch 4.

Both retailers are selling the bigger 45mm model with a solid $100 discount, so you can pick one up for just $200. That’s $100 less than the Pixel Watch 4’s Black Friday price. Again, this offer is available at both Walmart and Amazon, so take your pick as to where you place your order. Just do it soon because we don’t know how long these Black Friday deals will last.

The impressive watch was previously our top Android smartwatch because of its attractive design, large screen and speedy charging. It no longer requires a Fitbit Premium membership to access your readiness score, and it has plenty of great tools for runners. However, although the watch comes with Google Assistant, it doesn’t include Gemini, Google’s AI.

Lisa Eadicicco, a former senior editor, said in her CNET review, «The Pixel Watch 3’s upgrades are enough to keep it as my top pick for a general-purpose Android smartwatch. If you’re anything like me and consider yourself a casual runner in need of a general-purpose Android watch that’s sleek and comfortable, the Pixel Watch 3 won’t disappoint.»

If this isn’t the Pixel Watch for you, take a look at our full roundup on the best Pixel Watch deals going on right now.

SMARTWATCH DEALS OF THE WEEK

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band):

$339 (save $60)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, Bluetooth, Graphite Band):

$280 (save $70)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, Wi-Fi, Matte Black):

$300 (save $50)
Garmin Venu Sq 2 GPS Smartwatch (Shadow Gray):

$150 (save $100)
CMF Watch 2 Pro Smartwatch (Blue):

$49 (save $30)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

Google Watches don’t go on sale often. These rare discounts on the Pixel Watch 3 are thanks to the release of the Pixel Watch 4 earlier this year. This deal drops the 45mm model to just $200 — a new all-time low, and a strong value for one of the most versatile Android smartwatches available.

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Technologies

I Regularly Buy Belkin Gear at Full Price, but You Can Save Up to 63% for Black Friday

Belkin makes excellent mobile accessories, from cables to wireless charging stands. Snag some of our favorites for less this Black Friday.

You can never have too many charging options, especially when you can stock up during an epic sale. We’re just hours away from Black Friday, and Belkin is offering up to 65% off its mobile accessories at Amazon. Belkin regularly shows up in our best lists, including our roundup of top wireless chargers.

The brand makes excellent gear at reasonable prices, and those prices just got even lower. Whether you’re looking for a charging station for your nightstand or a sleek power bank for travel days, there’s a Belkin Black Friday deal for you.

The Belkin MagSafe three-in-one wireless charging stand landed on our list of best wireless chargers for its impressive fast-charging performance. Our expert, David Carnoy, praised the stand’s convenient design and its ability to fast charge Apple’s entire ecosystem. That means you’ll be able to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch and any AirPods with a wireless charging case — all at once. Carnoy’s only complaint was the price; however, it’s substantially discounted for Black Friday. Belkin’s MagSafe three-in-one wireless charging stand is now just $78 — 35% off the usual $120 price.

If you spend a lot of time in your car, be it a long commute or regular road trips, a good car mount is a must. The Belkin MagSafe car mount is another one of our favorite accessories. The magnets provide a strong, secure hold for your phone, and you can rotate it for easy access. The mount plus charger is currently available for $55, down from $80.

Speaking of road trips, if you’re traveling this holiday season, you definitely need a portable power bank. Belkin has a 10,000 mAh power bank with a built-in USB-C power delivery cable for $15. This 20-watt charger typically retails for $40, so you’re saving 63%. There are four colors, but this price only applies to the black model. Other colors are available for $30.

If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch 2 or you’re gifting it to a loved one, you’ll love Belkin’s Switch 2 travel case. It’s lightweight with a hard shell and has storage pockets for up to 12 game cards. Snag one right now for $22. Just make sure you click the on-page coupon to get the full discount.

Belkin also has huge discounts on headphones and earbuds if those are on your gift list this year.

Why this deal matters

Phone accessories, including chargers and earbuds, can wear quickly and are easy to lose. Third-party retailers like Belkin offer a solid selection of mobile accessories for all budgets. This Black Friday deal makes now an excellent time to shop with up to 63% off top-rated charging stations, car mounts and even headphones.