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HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: 30-second review

While docking stations are rarely the most glamorous pieces of hardware on a desk, they do offer a generation shift in connectivity that can completely transform a professional workflow. That’s the thinking behind HyperDrive Next Thunderbolt 5 Dock. Take a single Thunderbolt 5 uplink cable, and with it convert a premium laptop or professional mini PC into a modular, desktop-class powerhouse.

Historically, compact Thunderbolt docks forced users to accept a hierarchy of compromises-sacrificing networking speeds, capping host charging, or forcing external storage enclosures to occupy precious downstream ports. Hyper systematically eliminates these constraints. Built around Intel's newest Barlow Ridge controller, the dock shifts dynamically between a symmetrical 80Gbps bidirectional layout and an asymmetrical 120Gbps downstream pipeline for monstrous multi-display or high-refresh configurations.

What elevates the HyperDrive Next over its closest competitors, like the Ugreen Maxidok 10-in-1, is its inclusion of premium internal features. Rather than reserving professional-grade utilities for a giant, corporate-sized footprint, Hyper fits an active-cooled M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4 slot and a 2.5GbE LAN port directly into this rugged chassis.

One snag is that at $399.99, which seems excessive for a dock with this number of ports. But for digital creatives, video editors, and engineering professionals seeking maximum bandwidth and a clutter-free desk, it might be worth it.

It also suffers from some of the same performance issues that I noticed on the UGREEN Maxidok 17-to-1 TB5 dock, and it doesn’t offer any native HDMI or DisplayPort outputs. That last limitation means that if you want to connect monitors, you will need to buy Thunderbolt to HDMI/DP adapters, and those aren’t cheap.

Because of some of these points, the HyperDrive Next Thunderbolt 5 Dock isn’t a candidate to join our best docking station collection. But it might be the right specification for some customers.

HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: Price & availability

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• How much does it cost? $399/€348.75
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? Direct from the HyperShop, Amazon.com, and authorised pro-audio/video retailers like B&H.

The HyperDrive Next Thunderbolt 5 Dock is available direct from Hyper, as well as retailers such as Amazon and B&H Photo.

The device sits firmly in the premium tiers of enterprise and prosumer desk hardware. At $399.99, it is explicitly targeted at those who can monetise the massive leaps in transfer speeds and potential display throughput.

When positioned against the broader marketplace, this is on the edge of the premium space for a dock that, in theory, has the features to justify it. For context, smaller "halfway house" Thunderbolt 5 docks like the Ugreen Maxidok 10-in-1 retail closer to $300 but cut out the internal storage slot, drop networking to standard 1GbE, and cap individual laptop charging to 100W.

To get equivalent feature parity from alternative brands, you typically have to move to massive 17-in-1 enterprise enclosures that carry bulkier footprints and larger PSUs.

The competitive landscape is interesting, since many makers still consider TB5 technology to be high-end rather than consumer products.

The key players that make this level of hardware are Anker, CalDigit, Kensington, OWC, and Ugreen.

However, at this time, only CalDigit, Kensington and UGREEN offer a dock with an M.2 slot

One that many will gravitate to is the CalDigit TS5 Plus, a dock that sports a 10GbE LAN port and 140W power profile. That 20-port option doesn’t have an M.2 slot, and it costs $499.99/£469.99 on Amazon.com.

I did notice that the Kensington SD7100T5 EQ Pro isn’t globally available, but it can be bought in the USA, if you have $449.99 burning a hole in your pocket. It’s a fully featured dock with three TB5 downstream ports, an M.2 slot, and a 2.5GbE LAN port.

The most recent arrival is the Ugreen Maxidok 17-to-1, a slightly cheaper option at $390, but it does have a DisplayPort output, M.2 and 2.5GbE LAN port.

While only undercut by the Ugreen Maxidok, the HyperDrive Next Thunderbolt 5 Dock is only a ten-port dock, and if it didn’t have the M.2 slot, I’d be comparing it to the likes of the Maxidok 10-to-1 option that costs only $250.

I should also point out that to make the most of this dock, you need Thunderbolt 5, though it will work with Thunderbolt 4, Thunderbolt 3, USB4 and even USB-C.

Buying this dock with a Thunderbolt 4 machine means paying a premium for capabilities you cannot yet access. The hardware is forward-looking, but the investment only pays off when the host catches up.

If you aren’t planning to upgrade to a machine with Thunderbolt 5 technology, then this hardware's best feature will mostly go unused.

• Value: 4 / 5

HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: Specs

Feature

Specification

Model

HD2801GL

Thunderbolt Protocol

Thunderbolt 5 (Intel Barlow Ridge JHL9580 controller family)

Upstream Host Port

1x TB5 rear, 140W EPR PD 3.1 pass-through

Downstream TB Ports

2x TB5 rear, 1x TB5 front

USB-A Rear

2x USB-A 10Gbps (4.5W each)

USB-A Front

1x USB-A 10Gbps 4.5W, 1x USB-A 10Gbps 7.5W

Network

1x RJ-45 2.5GbE

Audio

1x 3.5mm TRS/TRRS combo

Power Supply

DC 20V 180W external power brick

M.2 Expansion Slot

Full-size M.2 PCIe Gen 4 x4 / Gen 3 (NVMe or PCIe M.2 module)

Max NVMe Capacity

Up to 16TB

AI Module Support

Yes (compatible PCIe M.2 modules including inference accelerators)

Thunderbolt Share

Yes (dual-PC direct sharing without network)

Display Output Windows

3x 4K 144Hz or 8K 144Hz

Display Output macOS

3x 4K (M5 Pro/Max only) or 2x 4K (other Mac configs)

Bandwidth

80Gbps symmetric / 120Gbps display boost

Power Button

Yes (front panel)

Security Slots

Nano Kensington and standard Kensington

Dimensions

19.4 x 7.8 x 5.2 cm (L x W x H)

Materials

75% recycled PCR plastic and aluminium

Warranty

2 Years

HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: Design

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

• 3x TB downlinks
• No HDMI or DisplayPort
• M.2 slot on the underside

The success or failure of this design hinges on whether you intend to use a monitor attached to the dock. The cable/adapters to do this aren’t expensive, but they are an extra expense, and it would have been nice if Hyper had included at least one with the dock.

The design of this dock reminds me of others made by StarTech and OWC that use the same extruded aluminium tube with capped ends.

It’s not horrible, and it feels remarkably robust, but it's also not cutting edge or especially refined.

The HyperDrive Next TB5 dock is a horizontal desktop slab measuring 19.4 x 7.8 x 5.2 cm. It is compact without being cramped, and the low profile keeps it unobtrusive on a crowded desk.

What struck me first was how heavy it is, with the dock weighing an impressive 1.88kg (4.12 lbs). If you’ve had a dock that someone has knocked off your desk with their elbow in passing, this is not that type of dock. And, brushing this one at speed might result in a trip to the doctor.

Construction uses a mix of aluminium and recycled PCR plastics. Hyper states that 75% of the dock body is composed of post-consumer recycled material. The aluminium elements serve a thermal purpose as well as an aesthetic one, helping dissipate heat during extended running.

The front panel carries one TB5 downstream port, two USB-A ports at 10Gbps, a 3.5mm audio combo jack and a power button. The physical power button pays dividends in daily use. Powering the dock on and off without unplugging the host cable is a small convenience that quickly becomes an expectation.

Having a TB5 downlink on the front is nice, although some might get confused and think that it is the uplink.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The rear carries the host TB5 port, two further downstream TB5 ports, two USB-A ports, the 2.5GbE RJ-45 port, the DC power input and dual Kensington lock slots. The two-slot security provision, one nano and one standard, is a welcome professional-grade addition.

If you haven’t clicked already, Hyper traded away the dedicated monitor connection for the third TB5 downlink, meaning you will need adapters to connect any type of monitor.

The M.2 expansion bay is accessed via a removable panel on the underside of the chassis. Fitting a drive is straightforward. The bay supports full-size M.2 2280 modules at PCIe Gen 4 x4 or Gen 3 speeds, but it can also accept smaller M.2 form factors. Hyper also formally supports compatible PCIe M.2 accelerator cards here, including inference hardware such as the Hailo-8.

I’ll be frank and say that before Hyper mentioned such functionality, I was unaware that AI acceleration in the M.2 form factor was even a thing, but apparently it is, and this dock supports it.

• Design: 4 / 5

HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: Features

• TB5 Bandwidth
• M.2 Slot
• 140W charging

Thunderbolt 5 offers 80Gbps symmetric bandwidth, handles simultaneous data, display and power delivery. When the host machine supports bandwidth boost mode, that figure rises to 120Gbps on the display path, enabling the full triple 4K or 8K output scenarios.

Display support is platform-dependent. On Windows and on the MacBook Pro M5 Pro or M5 Max, three external displays run at up to 4K 144Hz or a single 8K at 144Hz. Other macOS configurations and Chrome OS devices are limited to two extended displays. This reflects the display engine capabilities of those platforms rather than any shortcoming in the dock itself.

Unless you have a Thunderbolt-capable display, you will need appropriate cables or adapters to connect screens, and as many of these use the USB-C protocol, results may vary.

On a more positive note, Thunderbolt Share is the feature that sets this dock apart from most competition. Connecting two computers via TB cables allows direct file, peripheral and control sharing at speeds Hyper claims are up to 64 times faster than Gigabit Ethernet. No network infrastructure is needed. A work Mac and a personal Windows machine can share a keyboard, mouse and monitor without touching a cable.

That’s especially useful if you have a desktop computer and a laptop, since it avoids the need to buy yet another gadget to attach them simultaneously.

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The M.2 slot deserves its own discussion. PCIe Gen 4 x4 bandwidth through a TB5 connection is theoretically sufficient for any current NVMe drive to operate near its rated speeds. The slot also supports PCIe-based AI accelerator modules. A Hailo-8 or similar inference card installed here allows a laptop to run local AI workloads without a desktop GPU.

Power delivery reaches 140W via EPR PD 3.1. This is the highest common tier for laptop charging, sufficient to keep high-performance MacBook Pros and demanding Windows workstations topped up even under load. The physical power button on the front allows the dock to be cycled without disturbing the host cable connection.

Port count totals ten across the front and rear. All four USB-A ports run at 10Gbps. Dual Kensington lock slots in nano and standard formats reflect Hyper's targeting of professional and enterprise environments.

• Features: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: Performance

• Intel created performance issues
• 140W power dilemma

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

I ran into issues with this dock, and they were identical to those I previously experienced on the Ugreen Maxidok 17-to-1, hardware built on the same Intel Barlow Ridge controller.

That suggests neither Ugreen nor Hyper is the culprit in these cases, and that there is an issue with the controller's bandwidth allocation to both the 2.5GbE LAN port and the M.2 slot.

In both cases, neither interface performs as it should, reducing file transfers over the LAN port to about 60% of what I would normally expect and making the Gen4x4 appear to be a Gen3x4 or Gen4x2 slot.

And, like the Ugreen dock, I was able to get the full 2.5GbE LAN experience by plugging an inexpensive $26 USB to Ethernet Adapter 2.5GbE into the dock. Which means that it allocates less bandwidth to the LAN port than it does to 10Gbps USB Type-A ports.

The issue appears to be the same with the M.2 slot, and again, I was able to get better performance from a Corsair EX400U USB4 external SSD attached to one of the TB5 downlinks than I was for a Gen4 drive installed in the M.2 slot.

Those are issues it inherited, it appears, but there are some others that I need to mention that were choices Hyper made.

These relate to the power distribution, as this dock only has an 180W PSU, yet it claims it can charge at 140W. It can probably charge at 140W, assuming none of the other ports is drawing power. But if the M.2 is occupied, and something is pulling 15W from each of the Thunderbolt downlinks, there is a mathematical problem with getting those numbers and the overhead of running the dock from a total of 180W.

It’s interesting to note that other flagship docks come with 240W or even 330W in one case to avoid the power pinch, but not this one.

I feel bad talking about the performance issues on this dock because I don’t think the maker can be blamed, but equally, anyone handing over $400 for one of these needs to know what to expect.

• Performance: 3.5 / 5

HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: Final verdict

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)

The HyperDrive Next Thunderbolt 5 Dock is a strong entry into a rapidly maturing market. Hyper has delivered on the headline promises of TB5 bandwidth, triple 4K display output, Thunderbolt Share connectivity, a built-in M.2 expansion slot and 140W EPR charging. However, the devil is certainly in the details of many aspects.

The performance ceiling of the M.2 slot and the 2.5GbE port under load is a real limitation. But the context is that these shortfalls have appeared consistently across every dock built on the Intel Barlow Ridge TB5 controller family. They are not a Hyper problem; they are an Intel architecture problem. Buyers who understand that tradeoff will find this dock a genuinely capable daily driver, if it fits their specific workflow.

At $399.99, the dock is priced in the thick of the premium TB5 segment. The built-in M.2 bay and Thunderbolt Share support give it a differentiated position, but the lack of at least one dedicated monitor connection or any card slots could be showstoppers for some.

But for others, the inclusion of three TB5 downlinks opens up the dock to be a highly flexible option.

HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock: Report card

Value

Not the cheapest TB5 dock with M.2, but hardly expensive.

4 / 5

Design

Solid and chunky, but with limited ports for a flagship design

4 / 5

Features

Offers 140W charging, but it probably shouldn’t

4 / 5

Performance

Marred performance on LAN and M.2 courtesy of Intel

3.5 / 5

Overall

For those who want TB5 downlinks, this is an attractive dock

4 / 5

Should I buy a HyperDrive Next TB5 Dock?

(Image credit: Mark Pickavance)Buy it if...

You have Thunderbolt 5
If you have the right ports, you can extract levels of performance from this dock that TB4 and USB4 could only dream. And, it can also handle dual 8K video, should you have the monitors and adapters to connect.

You have TB5 peripherals
With three TSB5 downlinks, this dock is aggressively positioned to exploit them. These include TB monitors and external storage. But if you want to use the Thunderbolt Share feature, that will immediately remove one of those ports from general use.View Deal

Don't buy it if...

You need true M.2 NVMe Gen4x4 performance
The Intel controller architecture cannot sustain those figures under simultaneous load, unfortunately. Either get a TB5 external SSD or connect a USB4 SSD directly to your PC, which will deliver better results.

You need more than 140W charging
The maximum amount of power that the TB5 uplink port on this dock can deliver is 140W. If you need more than that for other ports, then you might need to connect a dedicated PSU to your laptop or find a more power-capable design, like Ugreen's flagship 17-to-1 model.

Also consider

Ugreen Maxidok 10-to-1 TB5 dock
Fewer ports but the same underlying TB5 technology, and a much lower price. The 10-to-1 dock offers two TB5 downlink ports and a single HDMI monitor output at only 60% of the price of its 17-to-1 big brother.

Check out my Ugreen Maxidok 10-to-1 TB5 dock review

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Motorola Razr Plus 2026: Two-minute review

The Motorola Razr Plus 2026 (or Razr 70 Plus, as it's known in some regions) is as puzzling as it is pleasing to use. On the plus side, it boasts a sturdier hinge, all-day battery life thanks to its 4,500mAh cell, two displays that are easily visible in direct sunlight, and a main camera that takes stunning portrait photos that are sure to impress your friends and family.

But Motorola made some odd decisions with the Razr Plus that I'm still scratching my head over. In the US, it costs $100 more than its predecessor, which, given the rising cost of pretty much everything right now, might make sense on its own. However, Motorola used the same processor in this new model as it used in the previous two generations of the Razr Plus family. And while it's still snappy and can handle everyday tasks and some gaming with ease, paying more for the same ol' tech doesn't sit right.

What's more, Motorola is promising Razr Plus 2026 owners three years of OS upgrades and five years of security updates, both of which trail Samsung and Google's seven-year guarantee.

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

The camera setup is a mixed bag. Motorola removed the telephoto camera and replaced it with an ultra-wide shooter. If you take a lot of wide-angle photos, you'll be smitten. However, if you ever find yourself wanting to zoom in on anything — your kid's performance at school or a sign across the room — you're sure to be disappointed.

Ultimately, the Razr Plus 2026 is an excellent clamshell flip phone that is incredibly fun to use, but its recycled hardware places it in an awkward position. If you want a phone that will confidently turn heads, give you an intuitive cover screen experience, and last all day, it delivers — just don't expect it to keep up with the fast-evolving world of on-device AI a few years down the road.

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Price and availability

• 12GB + 256GB for $1,099 in the US
• 12GB + 512GB for £1,000 in the UK
• Not available in Australia

The Motorola Razr Plus launched on May 21, 2026 and is available to purchase from Motorola directly. In the US, it's also available at third-party retailers like Amazon, but only in a single configuration of 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, for $1,099. That's a price increase of $100 over last year's model.

In the UK, Motorola sells a slightly different configuration of the Razr Plus, known as the Razr 70 Plus. It also comes with 12 GB of RAM, but doubles the storage to 512GB for £1,000.

At the time of writing, the Razr Plus 2026 is not available in Australia.

For reference, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE cost $1,099 / £1,049 / AU$1,799 and $899 / £849 / AU$1,499, respectively, while the cheaper Razr 2026 and Razr Ultra 2026 cost $799.99 / £799.99 and $1,499.99 / £1,199.99, respectively.

In other words, the Razr Plus 2026 is in the middle of the pack in terms of price. It's not the most expensive flip phone you can buy, but it's far from cheap.

• Value score: 3 / 5

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Specs

Here's a breakdown of the Motorola Razr Plus 2026's key specs:

Dimensions:

Closed: 3.5 x 2.9 x 0.6 in
Open: 2.9 x 6.7 x 0.3 in

Weight:

189g

Display:

Cover display: 4-inch AMOLED
Main display: 6.9-inch AMOLED

Resolution:

Cover display: 1272 x 1080
Main display: 1084 x 2640

Refresh rate:

Cover display: 165Hz
Main display: 165Hz

Peak brightness:

Cover display: 2,400 nits
Main display: 3,000 nits

CPU:

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

RAM:

12GB

Storage:

256GB

OS:

Android 16

Cameras:

50MP main, 50MP ultra-wide

Selfie Camera:

32MP

Battery:

4,500mAh

Charging:

45W wired, 15W wireless, 5W reverse wireless

Colors:

Pantone Mountain View

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: DesignFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason Cipriani

• New titanium hinge is more durable
• Mesh pattern on the back adds some grip

The 2026 version of the Motorola Razr Plus is available in one color: Pantone Mountain View. That's a fancy name for what I'd consider forest green. Although, because of the flip design, the color of the phone doesn't dominate the overall aesthetic, with the back panel (when closed) and the frame of the phone being the only areas that show off any sort of color. The rest of the phone is black — well, until you wake it up and realize it's all screen.

The back panel features a textured pattern Motorola is referring to as a "woven jacquard-inspired finish." The woven pattern adds some much-needed grip to the back of an otherwise slick phone. You won't find any MagSafe-like support on the Razr Plus, nor does it support Qi2 wireless charging. Instead, you'll get 15W wireless charging and 5W reverse wireless charging for topping off your smartwatch or wireless earbuds.

It's been a few years since I last used a foldable phone that flips instead of opening like a book, and I've definitely missed using a clamshell phone. When it's closed, its compact size doesn't feel overly bulky in my pocket like my iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

When closed, the Razr Plus fits almost perfectly in the palm of my hand, allowing one-handed use of the front display. The volume buttons, along with the lock/wake button that doubles as a fingerprint sensor, are easily accessible, making unlocking the phone or adjusting the volume while listening to music or streaming a YouTube video a breeze.

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

I do wish the front screen wasn't broken up by the two camera lenses in the bottom right corner, but that's a byproduct of this form factor.

When opened, the phone is narrower and taller than my iPhone 15 Pro Max and Pixel 10 Pro XL, which means there's a bit of a learning curve at first. I found it difficult to reach the top third of the screen or so when using the phone one-handed. The taller aspect ratio also puts the volume controls and that fingerprint sensor higher up on the right side of the housing. This positioning isn't a deal-breaker, by any means, but it does take some getting used to.

There's a new titanium-reinforced hinge in this year's model, and while I can't speak to how much more durable it is than previous hinges in the Razr line, I can say it feels smooth and sturdy.

The USB-C charge port, capable of charging at up to 45W, is located on the bottom of the phone, as is common practice for all modern smartphones.

The Razr Plus has an IP48 rating, meaning it'll survive an accidental swim in a pool or bathtub. It'll also stand up to pocket lint and everyday debris, but don't drop it at the beach — the sand could wreak havoc.

The Razr Plus doesn't break the design mold for a clamshell-style flip phone, and adapting to the taller design takes some time, but it's a phone that's sure to garner some attention whenever you pull it out and flip it open.

• Design score: 4 / 5

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Displays

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

• Plenty of brightness, inside and out
• Two displays are better than one

The Motorola Razr Plus has two different displays. When closed, the front of the phone features a 4-inch AMOLED cover display with a resolution of 1272 x 1080, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 2,400 nits. All of that distills down to a compact screen that looks clear, crisp, and is easy to see in direct sunlight.

As I said earlier, my biggest gripe is that even though the cover display is listed at 4 inches, you don't get to take full advantage of that space because the dual-camera lens setup in the bottom-right corner gets in the way.

Still, I rather enjoyed quickly checking my email or scrolling through my Reddit feed while waiting in line at a food truck. I didn't enjoy typing out long messages on a cramped keyboard, but it was nice to send a quick yes/no or short message without opening the phone.

On the inside is a 6.9-inch AMOLED display, with a 1084 x 2640 resolution, a 165Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. That peak brightness is on par with the likes of the Pixel 10 Pro XL and iPhone 17 Pro Max, and beats out the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7's 2,600-nit peak brightness. At those levels, you should have no issues seeing the display in direct sunlight.

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

The inner display uses LTPO technology to adjust the refresh rate all the way down to 1Hz when you're looking at a webpage or reading an email, and all the way up to 165Hz when you're gaming or quickly scrolling a social feed.

There's a noticeable crease in the screen that's easily seen and felt as you tap and swipe across the display. But doesn't get in the way or completely distract from the overall experience — in fact, after a few days, I rarely even thought about its presence.

Specifications aside, the inner screen looks sharp, with deep blacks and bright, vivid colors. The surrounding bezel is thin and sits slightly higher than the screen panel itself. That means there's a slight lip around the edge, similar to the raised border of a phone case.

• Display score: 4 / 5

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Software

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

• Comes with Android 16
• Will only get 3 years of OS updates
• 5 years of security updates

The Motorola Razr Plus runs Android 16 with Motorola's custom Hello UI skin layered on top, adding customizations and features. I'm a big fan of Google's Pixel lineup and the clean Android experience it offers, but I also appreciate when phone makers like Motorola tweak Android and add to the overall experience.

Google Gemini is baked into the Razr Plus, of course. You can easily access the AI service using your voice or through the Gemini app. It's confusing to me, then, that Motorola has its own Moto AI app on the Razr Plus that duplicates a lot (if not all?) of what Gemini brings to the table.

Inside the Moto AI app, you can use Image Studio to create images from scratch and make stickers to use in your messages. There's also a feature that catches you up on your missed notifications, a playlist creation feature, and even a note-taking transcription service.

I totally get the desire to add AI to all the things right now, but as someone who regularly uses Gemini across all of my devices, I don't want to start investing my time (and data) into another AI tool.

Moto AI aside, my long-standing favorite tweaks Motorola makes to Android are present: Gestures. I love being able to twist my wrist a couple of times and launch the camera app, for example. I wish more phones had a similar capability.

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

With the cover screen, Motorola effectively manages two different home screens. There's, of course, the internal screen, but instead of just duplicating and shrinking it down to fit the cover screen's size, it's an entirely different experience. You can add apps to a dedicated app drawer, manage calendar or weather panels (basically widgets) you swipe between, and even take pictures of video right from the front of the phone. It's all super easy to understand and intuitive to navigate.

Motorola promises three years of major OS updates and five years of security updates for the Razr Plus, falling well short of Google and Samsung, both of which promise seven years of OS updates and security patches to their respective foldables. Motorola's equivalent commitment is disappointing, even more so when you consider the nearly $1,100 price tag of the Razr Plus 2026.

• Software score: 3 / 5

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Cameras

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

• 50MP main camera
• 50MP ultra-wide camera
• No telephoto camera this year

The two camera lenses that break up the front display I've complained about a few times already are a 50MP wide camera and a 50MP ultra-wide camera. On the inside is a 32MP hole-punch selfie camera.

For the 2026 version of the Razr Plus, Motorola did away with the telephoto lens and replaced it with an ultra-wide camera. When I first read about the lack of a telephoto lens, I didn't give it much thought — until I actually started taking pictures and realized just how much I was going to miss it.

When I took the Razr Plus to an Alex Warren concert at an outdoor amphitheater, I was really disappointed as I tried to zoom in on the stage and saw nothing but out-of-focus blobs.

Future / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason Cipriani

The first few selfies I took using the main camera and the front display as a viewfinder didn't leave me overly impressed, either. Each one was muted and downright blurry.

It wasn't until a night out with my family, as we waited for our dinner to arrive, and I started taking portrait photos of everyone, that I realized just how much potential the Razr Plus 2026 has as a camera phone.

Future / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason Cipriani

Every portrait shot was clear, crisp, and had ample color saturation. You could make a case that the colors are a little too saturated and unnatural-looking, but that's nitpicking. Every person at the table wouldn't stop talking about how good the photos looked, and I was equally impressed.

Then I started taking pictures of our pizzas as they arrived, and I saw that same blurry, out-of-focus look start to creep into some shots. Maybe it's user error? Maybe the camera is just finicky.

Future / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason CiprianiFuture / Jason Cipriani

The ultra-wide camera has a 122-degree field of view, which was more than enough to capture the entire amphitheater and the audience. However, if you look at the edges of the picture, you'll see it gets blurry and out of focus, while the back of my son's head is perfectly in focus.

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

Overall, then, the Razr Plus' camera setup is mixed. It's impressive when taking portrait photos, and occasionally when taking normal photos. But replacing the telephoto camera with an ultra-wide shooter feels like a step backward from last year's model — the ability to zoom and take high-quality pictures feels like a must-have in 2026, and the Razr Plus 2026 can't deliver.

• Camera score: 3 / 5

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Performance

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

• It's plenty fast... for now
• Same exact processor used in the previous two models

Probably the most controversial thing Motorola did with the 2026 Razr Plus is stick with the exact same processor it used in the 2024 and 2025 Razr Plus, while also raising the price of the new phone by $100. Motorola even kept the memory at 12GB and storage at 256GB across all three generations.

In all fairness, the processor — the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 — is no slouch. Over the last month, I haven't noted any glaring performance issues. I've been able to move between apps and multitask, and the Razr Plus kept up with whatever paces I put it through. That often meant watching a YouTube video in picture-in-picture mode, while checking my email, texting my wife, or browsing the web in Chrome. Doing a few laps in Asphalt: Legends also presented no issues (and was actually quite fun).

With AI as a whole at the forefront of almost every tech-related conversation right now, the Razr Plus would surely benefit from an upgraded processor, but I digress.

Just know that if you opt to pick up a Razr Plus, you shouldn't expect any performance issues today — but with an already aging chipset, there's no promise that it won't start showing signs of its age as Android and Motorola's Hello UI software continue to evolve.

For those interested, here's a summary of the Razr Plus' benchmark scores:

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 benchmark scores

Motorola Razr Plus 2026

Geekbench 6 single-core

1835

Geekbench 6 multi-core

4476

3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Best

2202

3D Mark Wildlife Extreme Low

1660

3D Mark Solar Bay

5110

• Performance score: 3 / 5

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Battery

(Image credit: Future / Jason Cipriani)

• 4,500mAh battery
• 45W wired charging
• All-day battery life

Tucked inside the thin housing of the Razr Plus is a 4,500mAh battery, which Motorola promises will deliver over 31 hours of use.

From my testing, I'd say that's only slightly more than what you get in everyday use. I was routinely able to go an entire day of doom scrolling, bouncing between basically any social media app you can name, chatting with friends in Slack, managing my inbox, and texting my wife and kids without needing to charge.

Like most people, I find it's second nature to plug in my phone as I get ready for bed and start the next day with a full charge. On several occasions, I forgot to plug in the Razr Plus, but instead of waking to a phone that had turned off, I found anywhere from 20% to 30% of its juice left.

When you run out of juice, though, using a 45W wall adapter will net you a 20% charge in 15 minutes. A full charge from a completely drained tank, meanwhile, took around 1 hour and 35 minutes in my testing.

As mentioned earlier, there's no MagSafe-equivalent wireless charging feature, nor does the Razr Plus support Qi2. However, you can wirelessly charge at 15W or charge another device using reverse wireless charging at 5W. You won't want to use the latter feature to charge another phone; it's incredibly slow and inefficient.

• Battery score: 5 / 5

Should you buy the Motorola Razr Plus 2026?Motorola Razr Plus 2026 scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Value

A $100 increase year-over-year for old tech.

3 / 5

Design

An upgraded hinge, IP48 rating and a very usable front display are all welcome features.

4 / 5

Displays

The front and inner displays look great, even in direct sunlight.

4 / 5

Software

Three years of OS updates falls well short of industry standards.

3 / 5

Camera

Swapping the telephoto camera out for an ultra-wide isn't ideal, but the main camera takes solid pics.

3 / 5

Performance

The older processor powers through daily tasks with relative ease.

3 / 5

Battery

It just keeps going and going and going.

5 / 5

Buy it if...

You want a compact foldable phone
The cover display is fully functional, allowing you to triage your messages or quickly check your calendar, then it opens to a full-size smartphone that fits easily in your pocket. Win-win.

You want all-day battery life
The 4,500mAh battery provides more than enough power to get through a full day of use and then some.

You want high-quality portrait photos
If you primarily take portrait photos of friends and family, then this phone will be your jam.

Don't buy it if...

You want the latest tech
Motorola's reuse of a processor from 2024 is sure to show signs of its age as we move further into the AI era and Android continues to evolve.

You want a telephoto lens
Do not get the Razr Plus if you routinely zoom in and take photos. It just doesn't do a great job at a distance.

Motorola Razr Plus 2026 review: Also consider

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7
If you want a foldable flip phone, Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7 offers a similar experience to the Razr Plus, but with Samsung's software (love or hate it) and a front display that's just as useful.

Read our full Samsung Z Galaxy 7 Flip review

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025
Last year's Moto Razr Ultra checks a lot of the same boxes as the 2026 Razr Plus, but adds in a better processor, more memory, and more storage. However, it too lacks a telephoto lens.

Read our full Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 review

How I tested the Motorola Razr Plus 2026

I lived with the Razr Plus 2026 for over a month. I used Android's restore tool to transfer over accounts and apps from my Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, then signed into the apps I use every day — Slack, Fastmail, Reddit, Mastodon, YouTube, Facebook, Immich, Instagram, and Gemini, to name a few.

I used the Razr Plus as I would my own personal phone throughout each day and over the weeks, taking pictures, watching YouTube, listening to music, and doing all of the other mundane tasks one does on a phone, being sure to take note of my overall impressions along the way.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed June 2026

Doom isn't the only game to get weird ports, but it's by far the most famous.

Anthropic has launched Claude Tag for Slack users at a moment when Australian enterprises are among the world's most active users of both tools.

The post Claude Tag Arrives in Slack as Australia Embraces Enterprise AI appeared first on TechRepublic.

The New Jersey Republican was missing for months with no explanation for his constituents. He explained in a House floor speech that after his diagnosis, there was no timeline for recovery.

(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)

• Though mostly known for photo lighting equipment, Godox has announced a small 'transparent viewfinder camera' that weighs just 65g.
• It features a transparent(ish) window for composition that also doubles as a settings display — and it can also function as a light meter.
• We don't yet have information on key internal specs like sensor size and resolution (but you can expect them to be low).

Very cheap cameras are back in vogue these days, so I wasn't necessarily surprised to see another one released — but I was surprised to see it coming from Godox.

The Godox C100 is a 'transparent viewfinder camera', announced by the Chinese firm who heretofore have been better known for producing the kind of high-end lighting equipment you'd find in the studios of professional photographers, as well as more affordable flashguns. However, with an announced price of just ¥199 (equivalent to about $29 / £22 / AU$42), the C100 is considerably more affordable than anything else on the Godox books.

As you can see, the C100 is built around quite an unusual form factor. A palm-sized rectangle, it doesn't feature a display exactly, but instead a transparent window that you use to compose your images. This window is also able to display key information like exposure settings and battery life.

(Image credit: Godox)

Now, I said 'unusual' form factor, not 'unique'. This is because, as a few people have already observed, the Godox C100 looks a lot like a camera that debuted at CP+ in 2025, the Escura InstantSnap. The Godox version looks a bit more advanced, offering a few interesting features that the Escura version doesn't. But we can make a few inferences — the Escura camera produces images at a resolution of 1.3MP, and I'd be surprised if the Godox offered a great deal more than that.

The Godox C100 features a USB-C connection for charging and file transfer, and it accepts 128GB micro SD cards for storage. It also records video and can do so continuously for up to 1.5 hours, and offers shooting in a number of different aspect ratios: 16:9, 4:3, 3:2 and 1:1. There are a couple of physical buttons for shooting and changing settings, and it weighs just 65g.

A handheld light meter

At first glance, the Godox C100 looks like another cheap novelty camera in a market beginning to be saturated with them. However, there was one feature announced that really caught my attention, since I'm an avid film photographer — the C100 can also act as a light meter.

Like any good handheld light meter, Godox C100 can read the levels of brightness in a scene's central area, and provide the optimal exposure settings with which to capture a balanced image. Once hugely invaluable tools, light meters have been rendered mostly entirely redundant in the digital age. However, anyone who habitually buys a lot of old film SLRs will tell you that the metering system is always one of the first things to go. I have several beautiful Pentax SLRs in the drawer beside me that still shoot and wind on beautifully, but can't meter a scene because the electronics are shot.

So, the idea of an elegant little pocketable device, costing just $29, that I can carry everywhere with me and use to quickly meter a scene, and maybe even use to take a couple of comparison shots for reviewing alongside my developed and scanned frames — that interests me.

GodoxGodoxGodox

Granted, the metering functionality is only going to be of interest to a small percentage of users. But still, I wouldn't be surprised if the Godox C100 is a huge hit, if and when it eventually arrives at international retailers (it's currently only announced in China). Tiny cameras have been big hits of late, most notably the keyring-sized Kodak Charmera, and screen-free cameras that offer a purer, more immersive shooting experience have also seen success, the poster child for the movement being the Camp Snap.

People like cute cameras. People like cheap cameras. And the Godox C100 is both! I'm sure once we get hold of it for a review we'll discover that the image quality is no great shakes — but did that stop the Kodak Charmera? No, it did not.

(Image credit: Godox)

When summer temperatures spike, a mediocre cooler won't cut it. We tracked the temperature retention of 12 new models to find the top six ice chests and electric coolers to help keep your beverages cold and your ice from melting.

• 2026's breakout movie Obsession has finally made its home debut
• The supernatural horror film is available to rent or buy on specific platforms
• Unfortunately, it isn't available to stream everywhere yet

Obssession, 2026's breakout movie that's had the whole world talking since it landed in theaters on May 15, is finally available to watch at home — but only if you live in specific countries.

The year's biggest surprise package, which cost a reported $750,000 to make and — at the time of publication — has almost surpassed $400m globally, is out now on some of the world's best streaming services.

Right now in the US, you can rent the Curry Barker-directed supernatural horror-romance movie is on premium video on-demand (PVOD) platforms like Apple TV and Amazon for $19.99. Alternatively, you can permanently add it to your digital film collection for $24.99.

For those who've been living under a rock for the past seven weeks and know nothing about it, Obsession tells the tale of Bear (Michael Johnston), a lovesick loser who doesn't know how to tell long-time crush Nicki (Inde Navarette) how he truly feels.

However, Bear soon discovers a mysterious item called a 'One Wish Willow', which is said to grant any wish that an individual desires. Long story short: Bear buys one and wishes for Nicki to love him more than anything in the world — and it doesn't take long for him to realize he's made a terrible, terrible mistake.

Fuelled by Navarette's award-worthy standout performance and positive word of mouth, Obsession has had fans, well, obsessed for almost two months now. Armed with a simple but highly effective tale, deeply uncomfortable themes and subject matter, and scenes that'll stay with you long after its credits have rolled, it's essentially this year's Kpop Demon Hunters, albeit without an album's worth of earworm songs and, you know, definitely not being for kids.

Why can't I watch Obsession at home yet?

Ever since Obsession's home release was confirmed via whentostream.com, fans have been desperate to check out one of this year's best-performing and best-rated new movies from the comfort of their couch.

Unfortunately, while cinephiles in the US can definitely check it out from today (June 30), movie fans in other territories aren't so lucky. Indeed, in a thread relating to its digital platform release on r/movies, numerous fans have expressed disappointment that the darkly comedic, jump scare-laden flick isn't available to watch at home in their world region.

Right now, it seems that Obsession can be rented or bought in the US and New Zealand. However, I've checked Prime Video and Apple TV in the UK, and it isn't available on either video on demand (VoD) service. There's no indication as to when it will be, either.

Hopefully, it won't be much longer Obsession makes its way onto PVOD platforms globally — and, once its juggernaut box office run finally comes to end, other streamers including Peacock (US) and Netflix (internationally). Until then, you'll just have to watch it at your local theater for the umpteenth time.

I spent a few days testing the Reon Pocket Pro Plus ahead of its US launch. Here's how it went.

Firmus Technologies plans a 360MW Nvidia-powered AI data center in Batam, Indonesia, as APAC demand for AI compute capacity grows.

The post Firmus Plans 360MW Nvidia AI Data Center in Indonesia appeared first on TechRepublic.

Bose headphones and earbuds are some of the best in the business. I'm a fan, having used a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones for many years now. And our audio experts rate them highly too, with many of the latest models scoring maximum five-star reviews. Now, several of those top-rated cans and buds are down to record-low prices at Amazon.

• Browse all Bose deals at Amazon

Let's start with these Bose QuietComfort Headphones at Amazon for $179 (was $359). This is the lowest price they've been all year and amazingly even lower than what they fell to during last year's Black Friday. It's a fantastic time to buy if you want some brilliant four-star Bose headphones for a price that I don't think will be beaten for a while.

You'd have thought that Prime Day was still going on with the level of deals available on these Bose headphones and earbuds. The sale is definitely over for another year, though, so I wouldn't wait too long if you're tempted by any of these offers. They could end at any moment now and likely won't be back until Black Friday in November.

Today's 5 best Bose deals at Amazon

If you want affordable over-ears that don't compromise on quality, then consider these Bose QuietComfort Headphones. I've been using a pair for a long time now and rate them highly, while our expert testers also scored them an impressive four stars in our review. You get impressive noise cancellation, top-tier audio quality, and 24 hours of battery life in a surprisingly affordable package.View Deal

The fantastic Bose QuestComfort Ultra Headphones are still available at a record-low price following this year's Prime Day sale. These offer a clear step up in audio compared to other premium cans, with superbly detailed and energetic sound and the best noise cancellation you can get right now, in a light and comfortable design.View Deal

Bose's affordable earbuds offer top-tier active noise cancellation, but without a massive price tag. In our 4.5-star Bose QuietComfort Earbuds review, we said they were already "arguably best-in-class value" at full price, so now that you can get them for even less, they're hard to beat. We praised their comfort and sound quality as well as the amazing ANC.View Deal

The second-generation version of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are some of the manufacturer's best in terms of audio quality and noise cancellation — so good, in fact, that we awarded them the full five stars in our review. This latest model lasts up to 24 hours between both the buds and the case and features new CustomTune technology that adjusts the audio based on your ear shape. The Spatial Audio also makes the listening experience more immersive than ever with the option to swap between listening modes, depending on if you want to lose yourself in audio or stay alert.View Deal

These unique earbuds from Bose are back to a record-low price and well worth the money if you prefer the open-ear design. The impressive sound is delivered through comfortable headphones, which can be worn all day. They also boast up to 7.5 hours of playtime, which will be more than enough for most people.View Deal

WhatsApp is rolling out usernames so people can chat without sharing phone numbers. Here’s how reservations, username keys, and rules work.

The post Meta Adds WhatsApp Usernames: Here’s What You Need to Know appeared first on TechRepublic.

The design-forward startup looks like it's getting bolder and more colorful with every product.