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How the Lack of COVID Funding is Impacting Health Care

How the Lack of COVID Funding is Impacting Health Care

For the most up-to-date news and information about the coronavirus pandemic, visit the

WHO

and

CDC

websites.

Americans without health insurance may have started to feel the impacts of dwindling COVID-19 funding as federal officials and experts in health care alike continue the call for replenished pandemic resources.

Congress has agreed on a new $10 billion COVID-19 package that would fill some of the holes that have started forming in the country's pandemic response, but it's stalled in the Senate over a Title 42 dispute, an immigration order Senate Republicans want to vote on before passing the package, Roll Call and other media reported. Members of Congress have returned from a spring recess, raising hope that the dispute will be settled soon.

The new bill is much smaller than what federal officials originally requested, but it includes funding for things such as new vaccines, COVID-19 treatments and testing resources. What it doesn't include, however, is funding for the country's pandemic response abroad. 

It also doesn't set aside money for the Uninsured Program, which is no longer accepting claims from health care providers to cover costs for uninsured Americans seeking COVID-19 testing, treatments and even vaccines. This leaves it up to providers to "absorb the cost or turn away people who are uninsured," the White House said. 

Additional funding is also needed to purchase more monoclonal antibody treatments, which the government said will run out as soon as late May, as well as other treatments including Paxlovid. 

Here's what to know about how COVID-19 funding and its impact on health care services. 

Aitor Diago/Getty Images

Can I still get a COVID vaccine or test if I don't have health insurance?

The Uninsured Americans program stopped accepting claims on April 5 from health care providers for vaccinating people without health insurance. The same government program for Americans without health insurance, citing "lack of sufficient funds," stopped accepting claims for COVID-19 tests and treatments on March 22.

How exactly it will unfold without more funding remains unclear and may also depend on your state's resources or other local programs. It can also vary by the provider or clinic, though many still seem to be waiting for more guidance from the White House or action from Congress before turning away patients without health insurance.

COVID-19 vaccines and treatments are purchased by the federal government, so the drugs themselves are free to patients when they're shipped out to states and clinics. The worry is over the administration cost, or what people are charged for actually receiving treatment. 

A spokesperson for CVS told CNET: "At this time, there is no cost for COVID-19 testing or vaccinations at CVS Pharmacy for uninsured individuals." 

A Walgreens spokesperson said the company "continues to provide access to vital COVID-19 services and medications at no cost to patients." They noted the company is waiting for further guidance from federal agencies.

Quest Diagnostics, a large testing provider, may now charge up to $125 for a PCR test without insurance, ABC News reported. 

Even without funding from the Uninsured Program, it is unlikely Americans without health insurance will be stuck with a bill for a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot -- at least right now. The CDC warned pharmacies participating in its Federal Retail Pharmacy Program that COVID-19 vaccines are still to be given out to patients for free, regardless of insurance status, or risk getting kicked out of the program. But as CNBC reported, pharmacies themselves can move out of the program, potentially exposing some uninsured patients to vaccination fees or narrowing their options.

If you need a COVID-19 test or treatment and don't have insurance, you can call ahead to the clinic you plan to visit to see if, or how much, you'll be charged for the administration fee. If you haven't already, you can order a second round of home COVID-19 tests paid for by the government by visiting the US Postal Service website.

If I need a fourth shot or extra booster, will it still be free?

The CDC recently signed off on second COVID-19 boosters for adults over age 50, immunocompromised people and people who've received Johnson & Johnson's vaccine plus booster dose. 

At a recent media briefing with the White House COVID-19 Response Team, coordinator Jeff Zients said there's enough government supply of vaccines to get eligible immunocompromised people a fourth shot, and also enough to secure fourth doses for other vulnerable populations, including seniors.

The bigger booster funding concern is for the general population, for which health regulators could authorize or recommend extra doses ahead of an anticipated fall or winter COVID-19 spike.

Should health agencies call for fourth doses for all adults, or even "if things change and there's a need for a new vaccine," Zients said, the US government won't be able to fulfill the need if Congress doesn't replenish the funding.

Will we still get free vaccines for children?

Zients also said that when a COVID-19 vaccine is available to children under age 5, the US will have the supply needed to vaccinate that age group. Moderna and Pfizer are both pursuing a vaccine for the youngest and last age group to be vaccinated, but neither has received FDA authorization yet.

Alessandro Biascioli/Getty Images

What else will happen if funds run dry? 

In addition to affecting future supplies of monoclonal antibodies and pill treatments for COVID-19, the supply of AstraZeneca's prevention drug for immunocompromised people may also dwindle, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said at a White House COVID-19 briefing. The White House says it also needs more money to fund research on different vaccines, including pan-coronavirus vaccines.

Other countries may also be impacted by a lack of US COVID-19 funding, as some of the money for the pandemic response goes to vaccination aid abroad. Only 15.2% of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to Our World in Data. 

Dr. Anna Durbin, a professor in the Department of International Health at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, suggested at a recent media briefing that the concern in lack of funding extends beyond the current COVID-19 wave, and into future pandemics of different viruses. Will we be prepared? 

"We've had previous examples where we were concerned about pandemics -- whether it be from another H1N1, another avian influenza virus, SARS-CoV-1," she said. "And we realize we didn't put the money into prevention that we could've at the time." 

When COVID-19 came around, the US was not prepared, she said. 

"Now is the time to really cement that funding and think about the future and prevention," Durbin said. "Not just of COVID, but of future pandemics that are surely going to come." 

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

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'Conversations With Friends' Review: A Delicate Drama Driven By Sparkling Chemistry

'Conversations With Friends' Review: A Delicate Drama Driven By Sparkling Chemistry

"Who knows what happens between two people when they're alone?" Frances asks her ex-girlfriend Bobbi this question as they contemplate the marriage between two semi-famous strangers with whom they're forming a friendship -- or something like it.

But if deciphering what happens between two people is hard work, trying to untangle the crossed wires between four individuals caught up in creative, professional, emotional and romantic fixations with one another is even more complex. This is the task at the heart of Conversation With Friends, an atmospheric and emotionally fraught adaptation of Sally Rooney's 2017 debut novel premiering on May 15 on Hulu (US) and BBC Three (UK), and on May 16 on Amazon Prime Video (Australia).

Inevitably, the show will draw comparisons not only to its source material, but to the 2020 adaptation of Rooney's novel 2018 Normal People. Thanks to this earlier BBC/Hulu effort, we have a model for how Rooney's deeply studied interiority successfully translates to the screen. 

Conversations With Friends is a thoughtful companion piece to its source material, a truly artful flip of the coin.

Normal People was the more critically acclaimed of the two novels, making the prestigious Booker longlist. The TV adaptation then racked up multiple award nominations, although it didn't win any of the Emmys it was nominated for. The much-anticipated Conversations with Friends has a lot to live up to, but proves itself equally accomplished. Deciding which of the adaptations Rooney fans prefer may be a simple reflection of how they feel about her novels.

Normal People's writer-director team of Alice Birch and Lenny Abrahamson return here (with the addition of Leanne Welham), and it's clear from the off the two shows share the same DNA. Long, lingering shots and a generally unhurried pacing create negative space for even the smallest gestures (painkillers slipped under the bathroom door, a wince, a sly sideways glance) to take on significance that speaks to the tensions building in all directions between the central characters.

While both stories are concerned with the intricacies of attraction, the two diverge distinctly. Where Normal People neatly ticked the coming-of-age box, Conversations With Friends is a post-coming-of-age tale, examining what happens when young adults begin to stray away from the cocoon-like world of education and find themselves messily thrust into the mix with the rest of us.

Playing the established adults we have Jemima Kirke (Girls and Sex Education) as extroverted writer Melissa, and Joe Alywn (The Favourite) as diffident actor Nick. Their marriage is something of a puzzle to current students and former girlfriends Bobbi, played by Sasha Lane (The Miseducation of Cameron Post), and Frances, played by newcomer Alison Oliver. Frances and Bobbi find themselves pulled into Melissa's orbit when she attends one of their spoken-word poetry performances, and while Bobbi quickly grows close to Melissa, Frances embarks on an affair with Nick.

Taking on any of these roles wouldn't be for the faint of heart -- with a cast this small and a script packed with this much raw vulnerability, there's nowhere to hide. But the strong and capable ensemble convened by the directorial team carries the intensity of the drama with sparkling chemistry.

As a result, Conversations With Friends is a thoughtful companion piece to its source material, a truly artful flip of the coin. Rooney's novel occupies the space inside of Frances' mind, narrating her experiences and observations of those around her, often with cynicism and sharpness. But here we have the bird's-eye view, and from the outside, all four characters are rounded out, showing each of them as frustrating, sympathetic and conflicted in turn.

Die-hard Rooney fans often describe feeling as though the author is inside their head. I've always interpreted this to mean she allows her protagonists to verbalize ideas and emotions they may not have thought or dared to, perhaps helping crystallize the half-formed ideas that have rolled around in their minds.

Here, there is much less telling and much more showing, meaning much of the eloquence of Rooney's (and therefore Frances') voice is gone. Depending on how you enjoy Rooney's writing, this may either be to the show's detriment or its benefit. Instead, we're left to observe and interpret. Fortunately, Oliver and Alwyn are hypnotic to watch, especially in their attempts to communicate coherently with one another.

The show doesn't avert its gaze from the awkward hesitations and stilted, sometimes stuttering attempts at conversation between Frances and Nick, which are offset by the instant camaraderie between Melissa and Bobbi. This contrast serves as a good reminder that attraction doesn't always manifest in two people slipping into easy, flirtatious banter, and in reality can result in a struggle as we attempt to make ourselves seen, understood and admired, all while second guessing ourselves and trying to get a read on someone new.

Prudish viewers who balked at the sex scenes in Normal People should be aware that while there's none of its full-frontal nudity here (at least in the first five episodes of 12), Frances and Nick's affair is depicted in explicit detail. This feels like an entirely necessary extension of their conversations, as physically, they seem able to articulate all that they struggle to when simply talking or texting. There's also real delight to be found in how Frances and Nick seem to surprise themselves by what they're doing, even more than they surprise each other.

As well suited as Alwyn is to playing an enigma, Kirke thrives in portraying a character as charismatic as Melissa, creating a perfectly balanced juxtaposition of personalities that convincingly fuel Bobbi and Frances' curiosity about their marriage. Lane as Bobbi matches Kirke's brightness and warmth, but she's not simply a foil to Oliver's watchfulness. In her quieter moments of observance, Lane allows Bobbi's youthful insecurity to emerge, which helps keep the power dynamic between her and Frances in flux.

Alison Oliver and Sasha Lane star as former girlfriends Frances and Bobbi.

Hulu/BBC Three

How their clearly unresolved feelings for one another will play out amid their ongoing entanglement with Melissa and Nick is the question that drives the show from the moment after the opening credits have rolled.

We see Frances pursue "impermanence" both through her performance poetry and her affair with Nick, even though she confesses permanence is something she's "trying for" -- "it just doesn't feel possible," she says. Whether she finds her way to anything resembling permanence is something that will keep viewers glued to their screens. In this compelling drama, we become attuned to every fluctuation in Oliver's delicate portrayal of Frances at every step and misstep of her journey.

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2022 Kia EV6 priced from $42,115, more expensive than Hyundai Ioniq 5

2022 Kia EV6 priced from $42,115, more expensive than Hyundai Ioniq 5

Kia's stylish EV6 electric crossover is hitting dealerships in just a few weeks, and now we know how much it will cost. The entry-level EV6 Light, as the trim level is being called, will start at $42,115 including a $1,215 destination charge, making the Kia slightly more expensive than its Hyundai Ioniq 5 sibling.

The EV6 Light uses a 58-kilowatt-hour battery pack and a 167-horsepower electric motor powering the rear wheels, with an EPA-estimated range of 232 miles. Standard features include 19-inch wheels, LED exterior lights, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch central touchscreen, heated front seats, a power driver's seat with memory, second-row seats that recline and slide, automatic climate control, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless phone charger and phone-as-key capability. Every EV6 also comes with adaptive cruise control with stop and go, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning with cyclist and pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assist, a driver attention monitor, rear cross-traffic alert and rear occupant alert.

Its interior is packed with tech.

Kia

Next up is the EV6 Wind, which gets a 77.4-kWh battery pack and 225-hp motor good for 310 miles of range. With rear-wheel drive, the EV6 Wind costs $48,215, but a dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with 320 hp and a 274-mile range is offered for an extra $3,900. The Wind trim adds items like a power liftgate, gloss black exterior trim, Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) charging capability, artificial leather seats, a power passenger seat, ventilated front seats and a Meridian sound system. Optional features for the Wind trim are a heat pump system, surround-view camera, blind-spot cameras, remote smart park and a heated steering wheel.

The top-of-the-line trim level -- at least until the GT arrives --  is the GT-Line. It costs $52,415 with rear-wheel drive or $57,115 with AWD and adds sportier exterior styling elements and different interior trimmings. The GT-Line gets door handles that automatically pop out, a power sunroof, an auto up/down front passenger window, rear park distance warning, Kia's Highway Drive Assist 2 suite of systems that includes automatic lane changes, an electro-chromic rear-view mirror and some other safety features. The GT-Line is also available with options like a heated steering wheel, heated rear seats, 20-inch wheels and suede upholstery.

There will also be an EV6 First Edition model limited to just 1,500 units that comes with an Apple Watch and unique design features, but Kia hasn't put a price on it just yet. 

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Best budget smartwatches under 100 best budget smartwatches under 50 best budget smartwatches for iphone best budget software best budget gaming laptop best budget tablet best budget phones best budget gaming pc

Best Budget Smartwatches Under $100

Best Budget Smartwatches Under $100

Smartwatches are becoming more and more popular -- and for good reason. They can do numerous wonders, like keeping an eye on your overall health and well-being to taking calls on your wrist. However, well-known brands like the Apple Watch Series 7, Galaxy Watch 5, Fitbit Versa 4 and Fitbit Sense 2 can get expensive. For people looking for a smartwatch that won't break the bank, we've curated a list of affordable alternatives. It's true that even the best smartwatch under $100 won't give you every feature the latest and greatest model will, but you can get a solid smartwatch with a lot of the basic tools that make these devices so convenient. 

These three watches work with all smartphones -- both iOS and Android -- and they come with great features like step, calorie, sleep and activity tracking, GPS, touchscreens, water resistance and a heart-rate monitor.

You can find my full impressions and reviews of each of these Android smartwatches in the video below, or read on for the cheat sheet.

Lexy Savvides/CNET

In addition to the basics that I listed before, this cheap smartwatch displays smart notifications from your Android device and has a sleep monitor. In fact, I found this budget smartwatch had the most accurate sleep tracking of the three watches in this comparison

Its 1.3-inch color display is decent, but doesn't get as bright as one of the other watches on this list. Plus you only get four watch faces to choose from.

The ID205L tracks eight workout types -- walking, running, cycling, climbing, yoga, treadmill cardio, hiking and stationary biking -- and can sync your fitness tracking data with Apple Health. This is the best smartwatch that tracks distance during an outdoor workout, you'll need to take your phone with you as this watch has connected GPS, rather than onboard GPS. 

The battery lasts for up to 10 days with regular use, which can be extended to 30 days if you keep it in standby mode. 

Lexy Savvides/CNET

This best budget smartwatch proves that looks can be deceiving, because the $65 price tag doesn't match its premium exterior and smart features. NDur's smartwatch has a sleek metal frame and comfortable strap, and the 1.4-inch color touchscreen was the brightest of the watches I tested for this. It's easy enough to see in direct sunlight.

It can track seven workout types: walking, running, cycling, skipping, badminton, basketball and football. It has connected GPS like the Fitbit Charge 4, meaning you'll need your phone on hand to track distance and see your workout route mapped.

Sleep tracking doesn't seem to be as accurate, however, as it thought I was sleeping while I was sitting on the couch watching TV and doing the dishes before bed. But it is the only one out of these smartwatches that monitors blood oxygen levels, or SpO2 on the spot. It can even monitor blood pressure with on-demand reading. That said, be aware that the notifications from this watch's app sensors are not medically cleared and should never be used to replace a medical device or to determine whether or not to seek treatment.

The battery lasts for around seven days of continued use.

Lexy Savvides/CNET

The priciest smartwatch on this list doesn't have as many features as its pricier sibling, the Amazfit GTS, but for it's here for good reason. Its 1.3-inch TFT touchscreen stays on at all times, similar to the Apple Watch Series 6, Galaxy Watch 3, TicWatch Pro, and Fitbit's Inspire and Sense watches, so you won't have to raise your wrist every time you want the time. The touchscreen doesn't look as premium as more expensive watches, but this watch does have a backlight.

The Bip S also has built-in GPS, so you can leave your phone behind when you're out for a run or another outdoor workout. It has the most robust exercise tracking, too, with support for 10 workout types: running, cycling, elliptical, treadmill cardio, walking, spin, weights/freestyle, yoga, indoor/outdoor swimming. It also automatically pauses your workout when it detects you haven't moved for a while. This affordable smartwatch has the biggest selection of watch faces to choose from, plus the option to customize some of the metrics displayed -- like weather, activity tracking or heart rate monitoring.

As for battery life, the company claims the Bip S can get up to 40 days of use on standby. But with regular use, including a few GPS workouts, you're more likely to get 15 days between charges.

Read our Amazfit Bip S review.

More smartwatch and fitness advice

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How to Sign Up for the Disney Bundle (If You Already Have Hulu)

How to Sign Up for the Disney Bundle (If You Already Have Hulu)

The Disney Bundle offers access to all of the content on Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus for a $14 monthly fee. While each streaming service can be had individually -- Hulu and ESPN Plus cost $7 a month, while Disney Plus is $8 -- those who take advantage of the Bundle end up saving a not insignificant $8 a month when compared to the price of each individual service. 

Signing up for the Disney Bundle is a fairly straightforward process for those who do not already subscribe to any of the included services. All you have to do is go to disneyplus.com, enter your email, and hit "subscribe to the Disney Bundle". You'll fill out your payment information and then be able to easily activate each streaming channel.

But what happens if you already subscribe to one service and want to upgrade to the bundle? That's where things get trickier. You'll need to do some digging into your account and jump through a few hoops in order to set up your other services. Luckily, we've created a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the process of signing up for the Disney Bundle when you already have a subscription to Hulu. Here's how to do it: 

Step 1: Sign into your Hulu account

Sign in and navigate to your account.

Hulu

Click on your name on the upper-right corner of the screen. When the menu pops up, scroll down and click on Account.

Step 2: Scroll down and click on 'Manage Plan'

Click on "Manage Plan."

Hulu

In the account screen, you should see your upcoming charges and payment information on the left and your personal information and email on the right. Scrolling down the page will lead you to the Your Subscription boxon the left hand side of the screen. You will see your current Hulu plan and next to it will be the blue Manage Plan button.Click it. 

If you don't have this option it could be because you signed up for a promotion such as the Spotify Hulu bundle, you won't be able to upgrade to the Disney bundle on this account. 

Step 3: Toggle on the Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus plan

To get the Disney Bundle, click the toggle on the Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus plan for $13.99.

Hulu

Your current plan will be outlined in a green box, but there are a number of plans you can activate via a toggle switch. These include:

• Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus plan – otherwise known as the Disney Bundle

• Hulu with No Ads, Disney Plus, and ESPN Plus

• Hulu's plans with live TV 

Click the toggle on for the Hulu, Disney Plus and ESPN Plus Plan. Nowclick Review Changes at the bottom of the screen. Make sure everything looks OK, andhit Submit.

Step 4: Activate Disney Plus and ESPN Plus

Now click on "Activate Disney Plus and ESPN Plus."

Hulu

After hitting Submit, you'll get a screen that proclaims, "You're all set." Next step is setting up logins for the other two services, so let's do that next. To set up the rest of the Disney Bundle there are two methods:

• Hit the blue Activate Disney Plus and ESPN Plus button located right below Start Watching Hulu after the setup process above.

• Or if you miss this step, enter your Hulu account and scroll down to the Activation tab to start the activation process. Select Activate next to Disney Plus and ESPN Plus. 

Step 5: Enter your email in the signup page

Enter your email and hit "agree and continue." 

Disney Plus

Clicking the activation button will whisk you away to a Disney Bundle activation page. Enter your email address that you used for your Hulu account and hit Agree and Continue.

Step 6: Create a password 

Use the same password as your Hulu account to save yourself a lot of hassle. 

Disney Plus

The prompt asks you to create a new password for your account. Save yourself a huge headache and type in the same password you already use for your Hulu account. Otherwise, you'll have two different sets of passwords -- one for Hulu and one for the rest of the Disney Bundle. Press Submit.

Step 7: Click on 'Start Streaming ESPN Plus'

Click on the small "Start streaming ESPN Plus" link.

Disney Plus

You'll now be sent to a page that says "Your Disney Plus account is good to go." In between the text and the big "Start streaming Disney Plus" button is a small link that says "Start streaming ESPN Plus." Click on it.

Step 8: Log in to ESPN Plus

Log in to ESPN Plus with the same email and password you used for the Disney Plus and Hulu. 

ESPN Plus

You'll now be taken to the ESPN Plus welcome page. Here it will tell you to log in with the same email and password you used when signing up for the Disney Bundle. This is the email and password you used for step 6. Click "Login and Stream" and enter your email and password.

Step 9: Update your ESPN Plus account

Enter your name to update your account. 

ESPN Plus

A popup will ask you to update your ESPN Plus account with your first and last name. Fill in the information and hit "Update My Account."

Finally, you will be taken back to the main ESPN Plus screen, but this time it will tell you that you're already logged in. Click the yellow "Stream Now" button to start watching. 

You should be good to go.

Of course, not every person wants or needs all three streaming services, but it'll be worth it to get the Bundle if you use any two of them. Ultimately you will save more money by ditching the Bundle if you find yourself watching only one of the channels.

How we test and a word of warning

We test and verify all of our tech tips ourselves. In this case, we set up a new Hulu account using an email address created specifically for this purpose. Once our Hulu account was up and running, we went through the steps to upgrade to the Disney Bundle while taking notes of the process along the way.

In this instance, we ran into trouble while initially attempting to log into ESPN Plus. Multiple members of our team repeated the testing process and found a similar issue. We reached out to Disney, who acknowledged the issue and claimed to have fixed it. We've retested it once more and can confirm that it currently works properly. That said, if you run into any issues with the signup process, it's worth a call to customer service. They were incredibly responsive and were eventually able to fix all the issues we encountered.

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'Jumanji' Theme Park Land Opening in 2023

'Jumanji' Theme Park Land Opening in 2023

A theme park land based on the Jumanji movies is coming to Chessington World of Adventures Resort. The theme park, located just south of London in the UK, will be adding the new area in spring of next year.

World of Jumanji will cost £17 million (around $20.5 million) to develop and will include an overgrown Jumanji-esque jungle, a 55-foot Jaguar Shrine and what looks to be a roller coaster track wrapping around the shrine.

The theme park promises announcements about "wild rides, adventurous attractions and drama-filled experiences" over the next few months.

The popular movies kicked off when the original Jumanji was released back in 1995, starring Robin Williams. It was followed by a sequel called Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Jack Black, Karen Gillan and Kevin Hart in 2017 that moved the storyline from a magical board game to a video game. Jumanji: The Next Level was released in 2019, and another sequel is reportedly in development.

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Motorola moto x pure edition battery motorola moto x pure manual motorola moto x pure 4g reviews motorola moto x pure edition motorola moto x xt1060 google bypass motorola moto x motorola moto e motorola moto e6 motorola moto g play

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (unlocked) review: Customization champ, but middle-of-the-pack phablet overall

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition (unlocked) review: Customization champ, but middle-of-the-pack phablet overall

I like the Moto X Pure Edition (or Style as its globally known), but I was honestly ready to love it. For one thing, it's an unlocked phone available directly from Motorola at a reasonable price, and it's designed to work on all of the major US wireless carriers (AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and Sprint) -- that's a big step up from most unlocked phones that only work on the first two in that list. Likewise, the international Moto X Style should work on all the carriers in whichever territory it's sold -- and many countries will also get the stepdown Moto X Play phone, which is not currently slated for a US release.

In addition, this 5.7-inch follow-up to 2014's Motorola Moto X also promises the same customization options, like choosing between different trim colors and the material of the backing, that made me buy that model as my personal device. And in this sea of lookalike phones, this is a distinct advantage that the Moto X Pure Edition has over its rivals.

But instead, I was disappointed. Its larger design (up from 5.2 inches) feels far too cumbersome for smaller hands like mine. Battery life was unexceptional, its camera wasn't massively impressive and aside from a few minor tweaks, Motorola's Moto services don't feature anything substantially new.

When you compare it to a top-tier large-screen device like the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 , its drawbacks become even more obvious. And if you consider the current diverse landscape of unlocked handsets with the OnePlus 2 and ZTE Axon Pro , Motorola's phone doesn't quite come out on top. Though the Moto X was one of our favorite budget flagships last year, the same can't be said for the Moto X Pure Edition.

Availability

In the US, the handset starts at $400 unlocked ($100 less than last year's starting price). The price will increase, however, depending on storage capacity and certain design options.

In the UK the Style, as it's known, starts at £399 for 32GB of storage, with 64GB setting you back £434.

In Australia the Style is exclusive to Vodafone and only available on contract. It's available on both the AU$80 and AU$100 plans, for AU$3 of monthly handset repayments. That's a total cost over 24 months of AU$1,992 and AU$2,472 respectively.

Design and build

• 5.7-inch display with 2,560x1,440-pixel (2K) resolution
• 6.1 by 3 by 0.4 inches (154 by 76 by 11.1mm)
• 6.3 ounces (179 grams)

Compared to the 2014 Moto X , Motorola increased the Moto X Pure Edition's display by half an inch, bumping up the device's overall footprint. Though it isn't as big as the Google Nexus 6 (which was manufactured by Motorola before Google sold it off to Lenovo), the size jump still makes it notably bigger than the previous 5.2-inch Moto X . That means -- for some -- it won't fit in your front pockets easily and you can't maneuver it with one hand comfortably. I passed it around for several opinions, and even tall people with large hands noted problems reaching for the notifications shade with their thumbs.

We got our hands on a black variant with a walnut wood backing and silver trim.

Josh Miller/CNET

But putting aside the size, it's still an attractive, quality built handset. Its curved backing conforms to your palm and the screen's glass panel smoothly curves down the side edges. The control buttons are narrow, and the ridges on the power/sleep button makes it easier to identify by touch. And Motorola's metal M-dimple on the back of the previous generation has now shrunken in size and sits in an elegant metal strip that runs between it and the camera lens.

Keep in mind that unlike its cheaper Moto G counterpart that came out this year, the phone is not submersible underwater. It is water repellent though, so you won't have to worry about a few water droplets here and there.

The Moto X Pure Edition also has dual front speakers -- as in both speakers will output audio for music and movies (though only the bottom grille will output phone calls on speaker), resulting in a louder and fuller experience. This is different from last year's, which only used one stereo speaker for media, and the other served as the in-ear speaker for calls.

Most importantly, Motorola continues its legacy to enable users to customize the look of the device. You can start with either a black or white base color, choose the accent colors (as in, the color of the speaker grilles on the front and the metal strip on the back), and the color of the back, which also comes in different materials: plastic, wood, bamboo and leather.

Some may argue that the ability to customize the handsets is trivial. But when the mobile market is saturated with so many phones that look the same, having a say over how yours looks (without the use of a case), is one of the few ways to have it stand out and make it truly yours. That matters to people, and it's a need that Motorola has tapped into well.

Other different design options for the Moto X Pure Edition.

Motorola

As for device's display, it's bigger as I mentioned before. It also has a sharp 1,440p resolution and it's maximum brightness level is bright enough to view comfortably outdoors in sunlight. Likewise, the minimum brightness level is also extremely dim, which is useful for avoiding eye-strain when viewing your handset in the dark.

The screen has a wide viewing angle and is responsive to the touch. I had no problems reading text and playing games, and streaming YouTube videos and watching the HD movie "Gravity" looked smooth and crisp. There's also a new setting under Display where you can choose between two color modes: normal or vibrant. Under normal mode, colors are already bright and vivid. But with the latter, hues are more saturated and richer.

Software and features

• Google Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OS
• Minimal Motorola software
• Useful gesture controls

Despite its name, the Moto X Pure Edition isn't exactly the "purest" Android device, at least not compared to the Google's own Nexus family (understandably) and Play Edition handsets (though the latter has ceased all production since January). Don't be too disappointed, though -- if you want an untouched Android experience, Motorola's Moto line comes pretty close.

First, because you can get it unlocked, you won't get any carrier bloatware and branding. Instead, you'll get the usual set of Google apps such as the Chrome Web browser, Gmail, YouTube and more. Second, while you won't have a manufacturer user interface overlaid on top of the phone in the same way TouchWiz and Sense skins Samsung and HTC devices, respectively, Motorola still included some useful features under its Moto app.

These features are accessible under a single Moto app, which has Moto Assist, Actions, Voice and Display. Assist adjusts your Moto X Pure Edition settings depending on where you are or what you're doing. If you've scheduled a meeting into Google Calendar, for example, the device can switch to vibrate right and reply to any missed calls with a predetermined message.

Motorola's suite of software features (left), including Moto Voice commands (right).

Lynn La/CNET

Actions is all about gesture controls: Twist your wrist with the phone in your hand to launch the camera or chop your hand in the air to turn on and off the flash to use as a flashlight.

Motorola's voice input, called Voice, works similarly to Google Now, so if you've used that feature before, you have a good idea of what to do here. It works with both built-in and third-party apps and you can set an alarm, navigate to a destination with Maps, look up a song title that's playing at the moment, begin a Twitter post and more.

Display shows any missed notifications you have, even while the device is sleeping, with a wave gesture. The current time and any missed notifications will pop up in white. You can preview a missed notification by longpressing its app icon, or press-and-swipe to launch it directly from the screen.

Because it offers a nearly vanilla Android experience, you won't get any carrier bloatware.

Josh Miller/CNET

Two other apps, Moto Connect and Migrate, round up the last of the handset's Motorola software. Connect manages all peripheral Motorola gadgets you may have like the Moto 360 smartwatch or a pair of its wireless headphones. Migrate helps you port over your contacts, apps and other files from a previous phone onto your new Moto X Pure Edition.

For the most part, Motorola's software works well. I am a fan of Moto Display, which doesn't sound like much, but it saves you from having to press the power button throughout the day to see any missed notifications. And while it isn't a new feature, flicking the device to fire up the camera is convenient and saves a lot of time.

The handset is, however, loaded with your standard line of Google apps.

Josh Miller/CNET

I did run into some issues, however. For one thing, you'll need the latest version of the Moto app to update your status on Facebook hands-free through Moto Voice. Otherwise, the handset will reply that it can't connect to "the cloud" after you dictate a post. And while you can dictate Facebook posts and text messages, you can't do the same on Twitter. Voice just activates a small Twitter window so you can begin posting, but you'll need to type out the actual message.

It's also unclear what requires you to say your PIN when you use Voice commands while the phone is locked. For example, posting to Facebook prompts a PIN confirmation, but sending a text doesn't. The chopping gesture to activate the flash also doesn't feel natural or work as smoothly, and half the time I'm afraid I'll end up chucking my device across the room.

But perhaps the most disappointing thing is that compared to its predecessor, the Moto X Pure Edition doesn't offer anything substantial in terms of new software. A small amount of tweaks have been made, but overall, nothing substantial has been added. In some ways that's understandable since Motorola is purposely staying as close to the pure Android experience as one can get. But it's still a bit of a letdown to know that your new handset carries the same bag of tricks as it did last year.

Cameras and video

• 21-megapixel rear-facing camera
• 5-megapixel front-facing camera
• Can record 4K (rear) and 1,080p (front) video
• Night mode shooting and wide-angle front-facing camera has its own flash

The native camera app isn't loaded with tons of editing features, but both cameras do have HDR (high dynamic range) shooting, a touch-focus module where you can adjust the exposure as well, a digital zoom, a timer and geotagging. They also have a flash (yes, even the front-facing camera so you can brighten up your selfies) and a new shooting mode called "night mode" for low-light environments. Photos can be taken in either the wide 16:9 aspect ratio or the more squarish 4:3.

As for video, both front and rear cameras can record 1,080p HD footage and slow-mo videos in 720p (a change from the predecessor's better 1,080p slow-mo capabilities). While shooting video, you can also take pictures and pause recording.

The rear camera in particular can also take panoramic photos and scan QR codes and bar codes to look up via Google or copy onto the clipboard. And on top of already shooting 1,080p video, it can also record ultra-HD 4K video, which -- at 3,840x2,160p -- offers four times the resolution of 1,080p. That's state of the art -- albeit of dubious value, however.

Say cheese! The front-facing camera comes with its own flash. Josh Miller/CNET

In this well-lit indoor photo, objects are still clear and easy to make out, and lighting is evenly exposed. Lynn La/CNET

As for picture quality, photos looked decent, and the camera does well for everyday informal shots. Though they didn't manage to blow me away, it's still adequate enough to post online or print out a small photo.

Pictures taken outdoors or in amply-lit indoor environments looked great: colors were accurate, objects were clear with defined outlines and you can still see a lot of details retained at full resolution. There were a few times when the phone took a couple of tries to focus on an object up close, but eventually it'd lock on and snap a clear picture. Photos taken in low-light environments didn't fare as well, which is a common occurrence in smartphone photography. Though night mode improved exposure somewhat, I still saw a noticeable amount of digital noise, graininess and muted colors.

Because the front-facing camera has a wide-angle lens, my photos captured more content and space into the frame. As such, however, do expect to get some elongated angles near the corners of your pictures. For more information on camera quality, click the photos below to view them at their full resolution.

Video quality was solid. Nearby and distant audio was picked up well without any noticeable noise distortion, and both moving and still objects looked smooth and sharp. There was no discernible lag between my moving of the camera and what I saw in the viewfinder, and the camera was able to swiftly shift focus and exposure as I moved it around.

Night mode brightened up this dimly lit bar a tad -- but the photo is still not so great.

Lynn La/CNET

In our standard studio shot, these items look clear and defined, and the flash didn't leave any harsh reflections against the background.

Lynn La/CNET

This photo taken on a sunny day shows true-to-life colors and images that are sharp and in focus.

Lynn La/CNET

Though the stems and leaves on the right are clear, the right pomegranate gets blurry around the edges.

Lynn La/CNET

With its wide-angle front-facing camera, you can capture more content with your selfies (or groupies if you have friends).

Lynn La/CNET

Hardware performance

• 1.8GHz 6-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808
• 600MHz Adreno 418 graphics processing unit
• 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with up to 128GB of expandable memory
• 3GB of RAM
• 3,000mAh nonremovable battery

Though the Moto X Pure Edition's processor has a lower clock speed than its predecessor (from 2.5 to 1.8GHz), its Snapdragon 808 processor still operates swiftly and smoothly. For one thing, the CPU is no slacker (it's the same one featured in the LG G4 ) and the RAM has been bumped up to 3GB. In general, I didn't notice any stuttering issues or lag while executing a number of everyday tasks like calling up the app drawer, opening the camera and switching between apps. Images for graphics-intensive games like Riptide GP 2 and Kill Shot were rendered fast and smooth, and the overall gaming experience was solid. It took about 37 seconds to power off and restart the device and 1.38 seconds to launch the camera.

Also, unlike the previous two versions of the Moto X, Motorola added a MicroSD card slot that can hold up to 128GB of extra memory -- giving you more breathing room for your photos and files.

But while the handset provides plenty of power to satisfy your daily smartphone needs, its benchmark scores falls behind its competitors. That's not surprising since the Galaxy Note 5 belongs to a more premium caliber, and both the OnePlus 2 and the ZTE Axon Pro sport the 8-core Snapdragon 810 processor. In that sense, the Moto X Pure Edition performed well for itself, but aside from having the second-highest single-core Geekbench 3 result among the latter two, it altogether fell a bit short of the other devices.

Benchmark test comparison

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition 19,725 1,271 3,528 Samsung Galaxy Note 5 24,589 1,488 4,939 OnePlus 2 22,645 1,142 4,461 ZTE Axon Pro 25,742 868 3,958

• 3DMark Ice Storm (unlimited)
• Geekbench 3 (single-core)
• Geekbench 3 (multi-core)

Note: Longer bars indicate better performance

Call quality and data speeds

• GSM/GPRS/EDGE: (850/900/1800/1900 MHz)
• CDMA: (800/850/1900MHz)
• UMTS/HSPA+: (850/900/1700(AWS)/1900/2100MHz)
• LTE B1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/25/26/38/41
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g/b/n/ac + MIMO
• Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g/b/n/ac + MIMO

For US customers, Motorola's handset is unique because it works for carriers that operate on either GSM or CDMA technology. Meaning, for example, the phone can make calls and surf the Internet on AT&T and T-Mobile's network (which uses the GSM standard) and do the same on Verizon and Sprint (which uses CDMA). This isn't a huge deal if you don't plan on leaving your carrier, but for those switching from a GSM to CDMA carrier or vice versa, or already have two devices on these different platforms, know that you can use the same Moto X no matter what network you go with.

Motorola Moto X Pure Edition average data speeds

4G LTE download rate	11.7Mbps
4G LTE upload rate	15.82Mbps
CNET mobile site load	4 seconds
CNET desktop site load	4 seconds
Temple Run 2 app download (44.52MB)	34 seconds
"Gravity" movie download (1.7GB)	24 minutes and 31 seconds

As for call quality, I tested the unlocked handset using AT&T's cellular network. Call quality was great. Volume range was appropriate (with the maximum volume being satisfyingly loud), my calling partner was clear and easy to understand and I didn't pick up any extraneous buzzing or static. Audio speaker was also reliable. As I mentioned before, speaker calls only comes out from the bottom grille, but that's still enough to hear my partner well, even when I was outdoors nearby noisy traffic. Likewise, I was told that I sounded good too, and when I stepped outdoors, my partner did not pick up any background sounds from the surrounding environment.

The phone's fast-charging Turbo Charger.

Josh Miller/CNET

Data speeds on AT&T's 4G LTE network were fast. According to Ookla's speed test, it had an average download rate of 11.7Mbps and upload rate of 15.82Mbps. It took about 4 seconds to load each of CNET's mobile and desktop site and 34 seconds to download and install the 44.52MB game Temple Run 2. One attempt to download the 1.7GB, high-definition movie "Gravity" took 24 minutes and 31 seconds.

Battery Life

With heavy usage, the Motorola X Pure Edition's non-removable battery can deplete quickly. After spending a workday surfing the Web, downloading apps and making calls, I hit 30 percent by late afternoon. To last the rest of the evening, I had to plug in the device for a charge.

During our battery drain test for continuous video playback, the handset lasted an average of 8 hours and 46 minutes. Although last year's Moto X had a smaller screen, its lower-capacity 2,300mAh battery lasted over 10 hours. And compared to its rivals, the OnePlus 2's 3,300mAh battery lasted 9 hours and 46 minutes (though we weren't very impressed with that performance either), and the Axon Pro's 3,000mAh battery lasted shorter at 8 hours and 8 minutes (again, not the best from all parties). I you want to know what does impress us, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 -- while admittedly a higher-tiered phone and expensive than all these devices -- lasted a whopping 15 hours of continuous playback on its 3,000mAh battery.

Motorola's handset, however, does come with a 25-watt Turbo Power charger, which promises to juice up your battery quickly. It does, in fact, charge the phone in a jiffy. When completely drained, it took only about an hour and 15 minutes to charge to 100 percent. And if you need to charge in a pinch, shutting it off and plugging it in for 10 minutes will gain about 20 percent battery life.

Conclusion

The Motorola Moto X Pure Edition is a great device for specific users. Google Android fans who can't wait until late September for the next Nexus reveal will enjoy the handset's nearly unsullied Android experience. The $400 phone bucks the current trend by offering external storage, and loops in support for the world's most prevalent network technologies -- CDMA and GSM -- so it should work with almost every carrier.

And with its numerous choices of color accents, engravings and materials, having a Moto X Pure Edition means having a device that reflects your own style. Heavily consider this handset if that's an important asset for you.

If it's not, however, there are lots of viable alternatives. If money isn't an issue, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is the reigning Android supersize phone: It's powerful, stylish and has a long-lasting battery.

The Moto X Pure Edition is witnessing a far more competitive landscape for unlocked handsets than its predecessor.

Josh Miller/CNET

In addition, the mobile landscape for unlocked phones has changed a lot since last year's Moto X came out. They are getting more powerful at a lower cost.

For US customers, the $500 ZTE Axon Pro costs $100 more but has a 8-core Snapdragon 810 processor, 4GB of RAM and tons of native camera features. Globally, you can try and nab the OnePlus 2 . Due to its limited availability it can be hard to get, but if you do, it starts at the very competitive price of $330 (£215 or AU$450, converted). It's also equipped with the 810 CPU and if you're keen on wood backings like the ones that come with the Moto Xs, the OnePlus 2 has that as well.

All in all, the Moto X Pure Edition is a reliable and quality-built device, but if you have the previous model, don't feel like you're missing out on anything. The competition is fierce these days, and while the Moto X may be partially to blame for setting my expectations too high, the X Pure Edition just doesn't deliver that winning combination of style, power and value that I've come to expect.

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