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Motorola Razr Plus vs. Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs. Razr 2023: A Flip Phone Faceoff

The Motorola Razr Plus commands attention with a cover that’s basically all screen.

Motorola has just introduced two new additions to its well-known Razr lineup: the Motorola Razr 2023 and the Motorola Razr Plus 2023, aimed at rivaling Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip 4. 

Out of the two phones, the higher-end Razr Plus is the one that’ll draw double takes. Its signature feature is virtually unmissable: a front cover that’s basically all screen. In fact, it’s probably the largest cover screen on any commercially available flip phone right now, even bigger than the one on Oppo’s Find N2 Flip, which has a vertical orientation. 

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Motorola Razr (left) and Razr Plus Motorola Razr (left) and Razr Plus

CNET

The cover screen on the Razr Plus is “meant for much more than just checking the time or reading notifications,” according to CNET’s Lisa Eadicicco, who nabbed hands-on time with the Razr Plus ahead of the launch. “You can interact with apps and even type using a full keyboard.” 

By comparison, the cover screen on the Galaxy Z Fold, located on the lower half of the phone, is distinctly smaller. It’s closer in size to the display on the regular Razr. For specific numbers, scroll down to the bottom of the page for a side-by-side specs chart.

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 closed in someone's hand The Galaxy Z Flip 4 closed in someone's hand

The cover screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is identical to the one on the Galaxy Z Flip 3.

Patrick Holland/CNET

As for the camera, the regular Razr seems to have a more advanced setup than its pricier sibling, the Razr Plus, as well as the Galaxy Z Flip 4, at least on paper. The regular Razr’s trio of cameras is headlined by a 64-megapixel main shooter, which is accompanied by a 13-megapixel wide-angle camera and a 13-megapixel front-facing camera. 

Under the hood, the Razr Plus is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 Mobile chipset that’s backed up by 8GB of RAM and 256GB storage. The Galaxy Z Flip 4 comes equipped with that same chipset, paired with 8GB of RAM and storage options ranging from 128GB to 512GB.

Both Razrs support 30W wired charging and 5W wireless charging, although the regular Razr has a larger 4,200 mAh battery compared to the 3,800 mAh battery inside the Razr Plus. You also get three years of operating system upgrades with both Razrs, which is one year less than what you get with Samsung.

The Razr Plus launches on June 23 for $1,000, while the regular Razr is set to arrive later this year for an undisclosed price. The standard Razr will cost significantly less than the Razr Plus, according to Motorola executives.

For more details on how Motorola’s Razr Plus and regular Razr compare with the Galaxy Z Flip 4, check out our specs chart below.

Galaxy Z Flip 4 vs. Razr Plus vs. Razr

Razr Plus Razr 2023 Galaxy Z Flip 4
Display size, resolution Cover: 3.6-inch OLED (1066 x 1056 pixels) Internal/Main: 6.9-inch FHD+ (2640 pixels x 1080) Cover: 1.5-inch OLED (194 x 368 pixels) Internal: 6.9-inch Main screen: 6.7-inch FHD Plus (2,640×1,080 pixels; 22:9); Cover screen: 1.9-inch (260×512 pixels)
Pixel density External: 413 ppi Internal: 413ppi External: 282 ppi Internal: 413ppi External: 302 ppi Internal: 425 ppi
Dimensions (Millimeters) Open: 73.95 x 170.83 x 6.99mm Closed: 73.95 x 88.42 x 15.1mm Open: 73.95 x 170.82 x 7.35mm Closed: 73.95 x 88.24 x 15.8mm Folded: 71.9×84.9×17.1mm (Hinge) – 15.9mm (Sagging); Unfolded: 71.9×165.2×6.9mm
Weight (Ounces, Grams) 188.5, 6.64 oz 188.6 g, 6.65 oz 187g; 6.59 oz
Mobile software Android 13 Android 13 Android 12/13
Camera 12-megapixel (main), 13-megapixel (wide) 64-megapixel (main), 13-megapixel (wide) 12-megapixel (main), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)
Front-facing camera 32-megapixel 32-megapixel 10-megapixel
Video capture 4K 4K 4K
Processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Snapdragon 7 Gen 1 Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1
RAM/Storage 8GB + 256GB 8GB + 128GB 8GB+ 128GB/256GB/512GB
Expandable storage None None None
Battery/Charger 3,800 mAh 4,200 mAH 3,700 mAh
Fingerprint sensor Side Side Side
Connector USB-C USB-C USB-C
Headphone jack None None None
Special features IP52, 5G enabled, foldable display, 30W wired charging, wireless charging IP52, 5G enabled, foldable display, 30W wired charging, 5W wireless charging IPX67, 5G enabled, foldable display, wireless charging, 25W fast charging
Price $1,000 TBD $999

Technologies

Six Flags shares decline following deadly roller coaster incident

One person died and several others were injured in an incident involving the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to reports.

Shares of Six Flags Entertainment declined more than 16% Tuesday following a deadly roller coaster incident at one of its amusement parks in Georgia.

One person died and several others were injured Monday in an incident at Six Flags Over Georgia, according to a statement from Georgia’s Cobb County Board of Commissioners. The board’s chairwoman, Lisa N. Cupid, said that county authorities are working with Six Flags and other partners in the investigation.

According to reports citing local police, the incident occurred on the Atlanta-area park’s 200-foot-tall Goliath roller coaster shortly before 4 p.m. Monday. Riders were later seen being evacuated from the roller coaster after it stopped near the top of the ride, according to the report.

Witnesses told a local news station that they saw a man fall from the roller coaster and strike the ride several times.

In a statement to ABC News, a Six Flags spokesperson said it is cooperating fully with the investigation and had temporarily closed similar attractions across its parks.

Six Flags did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Tuesday’s decline is on pace to be the stock’s worst day since August and puts shares at their lowest level since December 2009. Shares have now fallen by more than 50% over the past year.

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Technologies

French supermarket fridges get hacked, heating to 122°F and sparking fires

Hackers targeted hundreds of French supermarkets in a large-scale cyberattack, causing refrigerators to overheat, spoiling food, and sparking fires.

Hackers targeted hundreds of French supermarkets in a cyberattack that reportedly caused refrigerators and freezers to overheat, spoiling food and sparking fires.

Fridges at French supermarket chains Carrefour, Monoprix, the Les Mousquetaires-owned Intermarché, and Coopérative U, among others, all saw fridges heat up to as much as 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, Reuters reported Monday.

Coopérative U’s CEO, Dominique Schelcher, confirmed that cyberattacks had affected “refrigeration production facilities of several stores.”

“Attacking equipment that is essential to the preservation of fresh products and the food supply of the French people is extremely serious and unprecedented. It is unacceptable,” Schelcher said in a LinkedIn post.

CNBC has reached out to Carrefour, Monoprix, Intermarché, Coopérative U and E Leclerc for comment but did not immediately hear back.

Felix Aime, a senior cyberthreat intelligence analyst at Sekoia Threat Detection and Research, said the attack affected several European countries, including Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany and Belgium, according to the Reuters article.

“I strongly condemn the cyberattack targeting food products at @intermarche @CooperativeU @Leclerc,” European Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Christophe Hansen said in a post on X on Monday.

“Food security requires more attention at all levels. Because the weaponization of food has become a reality.”

AI enhancing cyberattacks

Les Mousquetaires said it was expecting the damages, which affected around 180 stores, to reach “several million euros in losses,” in an email to CNBC.

It said some fresh and frozen food displays have been out of service after the cyberattack affected one of its service providers responsible for managing refrigeration systems inside some stores.

“Intermarché and Netto have taken all necessary precautions to remove and dispose of any affected products as quickly as possible, to ensure consumer safety,” the Les Mousquetaires spokesperson said. “In some stores, the overheating of equipment resulted in smoke, but no fires have been reported.”

They’re now awaiting findings from a court-appointed bailiff and insurance experts to get more precise figures on damages.

Stop & Shop parent Ahold Delhaize

This comes amid a broader wave of cyberattacks and cybercrimes, which experts are warning are being enhanced by artificial intelligence. British online fashion retailer Asos experienced a cybersecurity breach last week which revealed some customers’ personal information.

Meanwhile, a small power plant in the U.K. was shut down for four days in July after a cyberattack which was suspected to be linked to Iran.

Interpol’s global chief information security officer, Bjorn R. Watne, recently told CNBC that AI can be used to target multiple victims at once, and is increasing the scale and speed of cyberattacks. “It’s an evolution and not a revolution.”

Correction: Bjorn R. Watne is global chief information security officer at Interpol. An earlier version misspelled his name.

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Technologies

Apple releases HomeView smart home hub with screen as showcase for Siri AI

The iPhone maker also announced the new Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini.

Apple on Tuesday announced a new home hub called HomeView.

Apple said the device with a 7-inch screen was designed to be mounted on a wall or placed on a table. It’s designed for multiple people in a household, and will recognize the user by their face to display pertinent information. It starts at $299 and ships on Nov. 13.

Tuesday’s launch event is the second under new CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook in September. Last month, Apple announced new models of its most important product, the iPhone, including a foldable model called the Duo that retails for nearly $2,000.

Apple also announced new Apple TV and HomePod hardware on Tuesday. The new Apple TV 4K costs $299 and has a redesigned remote that can play a sound if it is lost. Apple’s HomePod Mini speaker comes in new colors and costs $149, a slight increase over its previous $129 price.

The products announced Tuesday are less critical for Apple than the iPhone, and investors remain focused on iPhone sales, but the accessories were positioned on Tuesday as a showcase for the company’s new Siri abilities released last month.

Apple said that HomeView features Siri AI, which can answer a broad range of questions. Users will be able to converse with Siri, and their conversations will continue on their iPhone or iPad. It has a built-in speaker for playing music.

“It recognizes your face to shift from a household screen to your own experience, fills the room with incredible sound, keeps you connected to the people who matter most with FaceTime, and makes it easy to control your smart home,” Apple’s chief marketer Greg Joswiak said in a statement.

Apple said that HomeView will show information from the Messages, Photos, Calendar, and Reminders apps based on who is using the device, powered by Apple Intelligence. It can also be used to make FaceTime calls and as a digital photo frame. It’s equipped with an Apple A18 chip. It supports up to six users.

But while Apple has dabbled in home products and platforms in the past, Tuesday’s announcement shows Apple is making its home products a higher priority under Ternus.

Apple said on Tuesday that its new products, including HomeView, can be used as a smart home hub, coordinating notifications and actions in the home and working with a range of products, including new locks, doorbells, and cameras from LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.

Apple’s integration with the smart home is not just about sales but also helps further lock customers into its own ecosystem. People who use multiple Apple products and connections are less likely to switch to an Android phone.

HomeView can also become a smart home dashboard, Apple said. It can be used to view camera feeds, adjust the thermostat, or lock connected doors around the house.

Apple said that setting up a new smart home device takes one tap from the user’s iPhone.

Tuesday’s launch shows Apple’s confidence as it launches new product categories. But the broader consumer electronics industry has been dealing with price increases and demand deterioration related to component shortages in memory and storage. It also comes as new boss Ternus has reportedly pushed the company to release products faster.

Apple’s new Apple TV 4K got a price hike from $199 to $299, and comes after a similar price increase earlier this year, after Cook said that memory costs for Apple were unsustainable.

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