Google Fi Price Drops Bring Its Basic Plan Down to $20 Per Month
Google Fi Price Drops Bring Its Basic Plan Down to $20 Per Month
Google said Friday that its Google Fi mobile plans would get price drops and minor upgrades across the board.
Both of Google Fi's monthly plans have gotten cheaper, according to a Google blog post. The basic Simply Unlimited plan has dropped from $60 per month for one line down to $50, or for the plan with four or more lines, from $30 per line down to $20. The cap on high-speed data has been increased from 22GB to 35GB, which now includes up to 5GB for mobile Wi-Fi hotspot tethering. Calls, texts and data for contact to Canada and Mexico are now free as well.
The higher-tier Unlimited Plus plan has gotten marginally cheaper, too. Plans for a single line have dropped from $70 per month to $65, while the plan for four or more lines has dropped from $45 per line to $40. The high-speed data cap has been increased from 22GB to 50GB, and like the cheaper plan, it also now includes unlimited calls, texts and data to Canada and Mexico.
Read more:Google Fi, Mint Mobile, Visible: Which Wireless Networks Do Smaller Providers Use?
The pay-as-you-go Flexible plan's pricing hasn't changed, costing $17 per month per line for four lines and $10 per GB of data used, but users on this tier will get to make unlimited calls to Canada and Mexico.
Google has slowly expanded its Google Fi service since it launched in 2015, and added its cheaper Simply Unlimited plan a year ago. The tech giant's wireless service, which relies on T-Mobile and US Cellular networks, has become an affordable alternative to bigger carriers, especially since all of its plans support 5G (so long as the device is compatible with T-Mobile's 5G network).
Toshiba Portege Z935-P300 review: An excellent ultrabook value
Toshiba Portege Z935-P300 review: An excellent ultrabook value
Editors' note: According to Toshiba's specification information for the Portege Z935-P300, the RAM is not user upgradeable. However, one of our readers, "fozzyfozborne," confirms that while 2GB of the Z935-P300 memory is fixed to the motherboard, there is a slot with a 2GB stick of removable memory. You will need a Phillips-head screwdriver as well as a T7 security bit to remove the entire bottom cover of the system. This review has been changed to reflect this.
The Toshiba Portege Z930 series is a textbook example of a mainstream ultrabook. It's thin, it's light, its battery life is very good, and the entry-point model I tested, the Z935-P300, has enough processing performance for normal everyday computing.
It also isn't any different on the outside than its predecessor, the Z835. We had a few quibbles about that model, which are amplified for higher-priced versions in the series, but at the Z935-P300's $862.50 MSRP they're not deal-breakers, and on the whole the Z935-P300 is an excellent value.
Design The Z935 is an inoffensive-looking laptop featuring a magnesium alloy chassis with a brushed finish. People likely won't be craning their necks to see what laptop you're using at the coffee shop; it's one that blends in. On the other hand, the large chrome "Toshiba" on the lid will definitely let people know what brand it is. And if you like stickers, this system's got plenty: six on the palm rests and three on the bottom. (You can always remove them with a little effort, but it's one of those things that is less than thrilling to see when you open up a new laptop.)
Sarah Tew/CNET
Other things that cheapen its appearance are the plastic chrome accents by the screen hinges and the chrome power and touch-pad buttons. Putting chrome on things you'll be touching isn't a good idea unless you like looking at fingerprints all the time, and while I understand the desire to add interest to the design, it's unnecessary. More importantly, there is a lot of flex to the lid, which, if you're not careful about handling it, could damage the screen. That said, if you care more about performance, size, and weight, then none of these things matter and certainly don't affect performance.
What might slow you down, however, is the keyboard. If you like big comfortable keys with a lot of travel, this probably isn't the laptop for you. The keys are shrunken; they're a normal width, but shortened. Basically, it can take some adjustment if you're a sloppy typist or are simply used to larger keys. The travel is quite shallow, too, but with a laptop this size that's understandable. On the upside, the keys are backlit and the keyboard itself is spill-resistant.
Other than the chrome buttons, the touch pad is fine: responsive and with the Synaptics' usual assortment of multitouch tools for two-finger scrolling, pinch-to-zoom, and rotate, among other options. I also didn't experience any cursor jumps from my palms brushing the touch pad while typing.
Features Compared with the components used in the Z835-P370 we tested earlier this year, the Z935-P300 has a new third-generation ultralow-voltage dual-core Core i5 processor and less, but faster RAM. It comes in at a lower price, too, all without sacrificing its 128GB solid-state drive (SSD) for storage or extras like Bluetooth and Intel Wireless Display support.
Price as reviewed
$862.50
Processor
1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U
Memory
4GB, 1,600MHz DDR3
Hard drive
128GB SSD
Chipset
Intel HM76 Express
Graphics
Intel HD
Operating system
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions (WD)
12.4x8.9 inches
Height
0.63 inch
Screen size (diagonal)
13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter
2.5 pounds / 3.1 pounds
Category
13-inch
The display on the Z935 has the same 1,366x768-pixel native resolution as the vast majority of 11- to 15-inch laptops. That's fine for a sub-$1,000 laptop, but some of the other thin 13-inch models offer more; the Asus Zenbook, for example, has a 1,920x1,080-pixel screen, and the MacBook Air is 1,440x900 pixels. Generally speaking, the screen gets the job done -- no more, no less. Horizontal off-axis viewing is OK, though you'll have to adjust the screen angle so it doesn't completely invert colors.
The front-firing stereo speakers are fine for impromptu music and movies, but you'll want to connect some headphones or desktop speakers for a more enjoyable experience.
Toshiba Portege Z935
Average for category [13-inch]
Video
VGA plus HDMI; Intel WiDi-ready
VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort
Audio
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data
2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, SD card reader
2 USB 2.0, 1 USB 3.0, SD card reader
Networking
Ethernet, Bluetooth, 802.11n Wi-Fi
Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Optical drive
None
DVD burner
The Z935-P300 has a well-rounded selection of ports and connections, including USB 3.0 and an Ethernet jack, the latter of which some of the other ultrabooks don't have. One of the USB 2.0 ports has Toshiba's Sleep and Charge feature that makes it possible to charge a device even while the computer is sleeping.
Sarah Tew/CNET
As for software, along with the stuff that's included with Windows 7, Toshiba installs a long list of utilities for everything from improving battery life to controlling the built-in Webcam to Toshiba's ReelTime, which gives you a visual timeline of recently opened documents, photos, and videos. And as part of the Intel Ultrabook package, you get Intel Anti-Theft Technology, which can disable the laptop if it is lost or stolen as soon as it's connected to the Internet or after a certain number of days.
Battery life The Portege Z935-P300 lasted for just more than 5 hours of running our video playback battery drain test. Both the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A and Samsung Series 9 were able to keep going past the 6-hour mark, but they're more expensive and the Toshiba essentially matches them or beats them in performance.
Running video really taxes the battery, too, so if you're just doing more basic tasks you can expect to get more than 5 hours of uptime with some power management. Also, if you like having the ability to swap batteries, the Z935-P300 does not have an easily replaceable battery pack.
Performance Despite having an ultralow-voltage processor and 2GB less memory than the Z835 we reviewed, the Z935-P300 outperformed it. It's also able to beat or keep pace with similarly configured ultrabooks from other manufacturers, but at a lower price.
As long as your needs don't stretch too far beyond the basics (such as Web browsing, streaming video and music, casual gaming, office tasks, and light photo and video editing), this ultrabook should be able to handle them relatively well.
That said, if you have more demanding tasks in mind for this laptop, Toshiba does sell other configurations with more memory and a faster Core i7 processor. Also, only 2GB of this system's RAM is fixed to the its motherboard; the other 2GB is a user-replaceable stick that can be swapped out for more memory.
Warranty and support Toshiba includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, and a customized support search page can direct you to online documents and driver downloads for this specific model.
Conclusion With the same design as its predecessor and improved components, Toshiba's Portege Z935-P300 is an excellent value for an ultrabook. Its physical flaws are harder to overlook in pricier versions of this model. But since the starting-point Z935-P300 model is currently available for less $850, I'm more concerned with performance and battery life, and it does just fine in those areas.
Find out more about how we test Windows laptops.
System configurations:
Toshiba Portege Z935-P300 Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Toshiba SSD
Lenovo IdeaPad U310 Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Samsung 5,400rpm
HP Envy Spectre XT 13-2050nr Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Samsung SSD
Samsung Series 9 NP900X3C (13-inch, 2012) Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB SanDisk SSD
Dell Inspiron 13z - 5323 Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 6GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 500GB Western Digital 5,400rpm
Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-3317U; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 4000; 128GB Adata XM11 SSD
Crypto Security: Protect Your Coins and NFTs From Being Stolen
Crypto Security: Protect Your Coins and NFTs From Being Stolen
With crypto prices in free fall, crypto firms laying off thousands of workers and coins that are considered "stable" losing all their value, it's more important than ever to secure your remaining portfolio.
The current crypto crash isn't the only way people are losing their money. There have been an increasing number of scams that give thieves access to your accounts and crypto assets. Just recently in May, Seth Green had several NFTs worth over $300,000 stolen, after the actor connected his crypto wallet to a scam website pretending to be a credible NFT project.
Protecting your crypto means taking some of the same steps you'd use to safeguard your other digital accounts, such as creating and using strong passwords. However, crypto accounts have unique characteristics like seed phrases that require additional security. Also, the crypto industry still lacks the regulatory framework necessary for the retrieval of your crypto assets if they're stolen.
In this story, we'll cover several ways you can protect your cryptocurrency and NFTs from being purloined and explain why it's worth taking the time to properly secure your digital assets from being stolen. For more on crypto, learn five questions every investor should ask about cryptocurrency and the latest details on bitcoin's wild price swings.
Always follow these two basic password security rules
One of the easiest ways to protect your digital assets is with strong passwords. Ideally, you want your passwords to be at least eight characters long and include random capital letters, numbers and other special characters. If you can make your password longer, however, you should, because the longer the password, the harder it is to crack, in theory.
If you're worried about remembering all of your long, complicated and unique passwords, consider using a password manager, which makes it simple and secure to store and use your passwords from one place. We recommended choosing a password manager with encrypted storage and two-factor authentication for extra security.
Also, when creating an account, never repeat your passwords. If one of your accounts is compromised, your others will also be at risk.
A strong password is vital to keeping your digital assets secure.
James Martin/CNET
Use a hardware crypto wallet for your most treasured assets
Your crypto wallet serves as the gateway to your crypto assets. "Hot" wallets such as software or mobile apps operate online, while "cold" wallets are hardware devices that work offline. Crypto wallets don't hold the actual coins or tokens -- they store the private keys that prove you own your crypto assets and let you buy, sell or trade on blockchains.
Anytime you purchase cryptocurrency or NFTs, they must be stored somewhere. Most people keep their assets in a digital wallet or marketplace, such as Coinbase or MetaMask, because they're free and easy to use, but for your most valuable holdings, you may want to consider a physical wallet.
A hardware, or cold, wallet allows you to store cryptocurrency and NFTs on a physical drive, which you can connect to a computer to access. Hardware wallets are generally more difficult to hack into, so they're a preferred option when storing digital assets that are especially high in value.
The Trezor One hardware wallet ($48.49) works with bitcoin, ethereum, litecoin and a variety of other cryptocurrencies.
Trezor
Here's more on the different types of crypto wallets.
Keep the seed phrase for your crypto wallet secure and offline
In addition to a password, most crypto wallets use a seed phrase for additional security. This seed phrase acts like a master password and is created whenever you set up a new wallet. A seed phrase is made up of 12 or 24 words that you can use to sign in to your account on other devices, or recover your account if you forget your password.
While this seed phrase provides additional security, it also comes with risk -- anyone who learns your seed phrase could potentially steal all the crypto assets recorded in your wallet. While you might be tempted to store your seed phrase somewhere online, it's crucial to write it down -- offline -- to prevent anyone from accessing it.
Once you write down your seed phrase, store it in a safe or lockbox, so that it's not easy for anyone else to access. Specialized seed phrase hardware tools, like Cryptosteel and Crypt Keeper, can securely store your 12 or 24 words in a portable system that's protected from fire and flooding.
If your seed phrase is either lost or stolen, but you still know your password, immediately log in to your wallet and generate a brand new seed phrase.
This is an example of a randomly created 24-word seed phrase.
Nelson Aguilar/CNET
Be wary of frauds in direct messages on Discord
Discord is one of the unofficial homes of crypto and NFT communities. It's where many crypto enthusiasts go to discuss upcoming NFT projects, cryptocurrency prices, real-life events and even personal lives. Fans of NFT projects use Discord to form communities -- but it's also where hackers and thieves go to compromise accounts.
Here's how it works: A hacker may directly message you, pretending to be part of a project that you're following and interested in. The DM looks official and usually claims that you can mint an NFT that's difficult to get, at a relatively cheap price, and includes a link to follow. But when you click the link, connect your wallet and attempt to purchase the NFT, your wallet is drained of all your NFTs and crypto. And there's really no way to get it all back.
The most important research you can do to avoid falling for a fake NFT website is to use verified channels to find the correct website when attempting to mint or purchase a newly created NFT. Even if you receive a link from what seems like a credible source, use multiple online sources like Google, Twitter and Opensea to verify that you have the correct URL for the project.
An even simpler method to avoid falling into a scam is to disable DMs on Discord. On your mobile device, launch the Discord app, tap your profile picture on the bottom right, go into Privacy & Safety, and toggle off Allow Direct Messages From Server Members. You'll no longer receive direct messages on Discord.
Discord is where people go to discuss cryptocurrency and NFTs, as well as prey on potential victims.
Discord
Don't fall for support scams on Twitter
Like Discord, Twitter is a hunting ground for hackers looking to swindle unsuspecting victims into giving away their assets.
On Twitter, anytime someone mentions "stolen account," "lost password" or even "MetaMask," an army of hackers may respond, offering to help recover stolen assets or restore access into accounts. Hackers may then ask for your seed phrase via DM and use it to steal your crypto or NFTs.
If you need support, go straight to the official customer service site on Twitter. Never give anyone your seed phrase, ever, even if an account is verified -- sometimes hackers have access to verified accounts. And never share your screen.
Not even Elon Musk can stop these Twitter scammers.
James Martin/CNET
For more about cryptocurrency security, learn whether it's possible to insure bitcoin and how the Securities and Exchange Commission is taking on crypto fraud.
Shoot amazing photos with this DIY filter for your phone's camera
Shoot amazing photos with this DIY filter for your phone's camera
1 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Professional photographers use filters that attach to their camera lens to create various effects in their photos. You can do the same by making detachable filters for your phone's camera. It's easy and inexpensive.
2 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
What you need to make a DIY camera filter
To make your homemade filters you need scissors, markers, tape, a phone case, a piece of cardboard or thick paper, and adhesive Velcro.
3 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Trace your phone case
Start by laying your phone case on the paper or cardboard and tracing around the camera hole with a marker.
4 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Draw a circle
Draw a circle around the the circle or square you just made. The second circle should be around 1/4 inch (0.63 centimeters) away from the first. This will be the base of your filter.
5 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Cut the circle
Now, cut out the circles so that you have a donut shape.
6 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Add Velcro
Cut a small strip of Velcro. Stick one side to the phone case right beside the camera hole and stick the other side on the filter.
7 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Choose your filter
Now comes the fun part. You can experiment with a wide range of materials to add to your filter base. Each material will make your photos look different. Some materials I've tried are colored nylons, latex gloves and colored celophane.
8 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Add your filter material to the base
For this filter, I chose red nylon. To add the material to the base, just cut a small swatch and tape it to the base with clear tape. Make sure the material is taped so that it covers the entire hole in the center of the base.
Now attach the Velcro on the filter to the Velcro on the phone case. Slip your phone into the case and try out your filter.
9 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Red nylon filter
Here's what my red nylon photo looked like.
11 of 11 Alina Bradford/CNET
Cellophane filter
To make colorful cellophane filters, tape a piece of clear cellophane from a food wrapper to a filter base. Then, color it with a marker. You can make the filter a solid color or several different colors.
Stranger Things haunted mazes turn Halloween Upside Down
Stranger Things haunted mazes turn Halloween Upside Down
Stranger Things loves Halloween. Last season, the boys on the Netflix hit dressed up like Ghostbusters for a full holiday-themed episode. The show itself won't be returning until 2019, but it will still be marking the spooky holiday this year. Three different Universal theme parks will be unveiling Stranger Things-themed mazes as part of the parks' Halloween Horror Nights events.
The creepy goings-on at Hawkins Lab make it a prime theme for part of the maze.
Ken Kinzie
Different mazes will be set up at Universal Studios Hollywood in California, Universal Orlando Resort in Florida and Universal Studios Singapore. They'll include familiar eerie scenes from the show, including the Byers' flashing Christmas-light wall, Hawkins National Laboratory in the Upside Down, the hallway at Hawkins Middle School and more.
Halloween Horror Nights begins Sept. 14 in Hollywood and Orlando, and Sept. 27 in Singapore.
Just in time for summer, I gathered a handful of my favorite seasonal gadgets and took them on my favorite morning news show, CBS Mornings. Whenever I'm asked to pick tech products to recommend for a TV audience, I try to cover all the bases -- expensive items and budget items, serious products and fun products.
You can watch the full segment above, and if you're interested in any of the gadgets, I've gone into a little detail about each below. I thought the Ninja Creami ice cream maker would be the big hit, but the hosts (and everyone backstage) were surprisingly smitten with the light-up grill tools. My takeaway: You can almost never go wrong sticking a flashlight on something.
Amazon
Especially during summer trips, everyone should bring a backup power bank along. There are thousands of choices, and frankly they're mostly all fine. I happen to like this ambitious model that has a solar panel, wireless charging for phones, a flashlight and, most importantly, built-in USB-C, Lightning and Micro-USB cables.
Ninja
I've tried old-fashioned ice cream makers, the kind with the big metal bowl you have to freeze beforehand and clean out after. It's a pretty time-consuming process. The Ninja Creami flips the concept on its head -- you mix your ingredients in little pint-size plastic containers, freeze those overnight (the Creami comes with three pint containers, extras are about $10), then the machine mixes up really excellent ice cream in 90 seconds. I was dubious, but now I'm a believer.
Read our full review of the Ninja Creami here.
GrilLight
The surprise hit of this TV segment, and frankly a pretty useful idea. I used to have a tiny patio behind my Manhattan apartment, sandwiched between buildings, and it was usually pretty dark. I definitely could have used something like this (as it was, I had a big clip-on light attached to my grill).
2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Review: Your Mileage Will Vary
2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid Review: Your Mileage Will Vary
Six-figure ultra-luxe sedans are usually perfect from top to bottom. Every detail is painstakingly pored over and the result is something that feels like it was born from a book of Victorian poetry. But when these pillars of perfection butt up against the specter of zero-emissions mandates and regulations, the result is something that feels like it's still a few hours of climbing away from the top of the mountain. Such is the case with the 2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid.
The great
First impressions always matter, and the Flying Spur Hybrid makes one hell of a splash. A sedan this large stands out everywhere, even in my tester's normcore white paint. When the sun lands at the right angles, the brightwork in the grille and on the Flying B hood ornament can be seen from space, and that light also brings out the impressively strong body lines above both wheels. If you want something flashier, go for it -- as my esteemed colleague notes in his first drive, there are 56 billion different ways to configure this car -- but even a subtle spec like this one still leaves its mark.
By comparison, the Flying Spur Hybrid's interior is anything but subtle. My tester includes the Odyssean Edition specification, a $50,050 (!!!) package that ramps up the visual drama with a leather headliner, diamond quilting on the seats, 3D diamond leather on the door panels and some outright stunning open-pore Hawaiian Koa wood trim.
Every single millimeter of material is carefully executed, and the result is the best automotive interior I've ever experienced. Everything looks and feels top-notch, and I really dig the nautical blue/white/brown colorway throughout. It's so nice, I'm constantly hiding the infotainment screen (thanks, Bentley Rotating Display) just to see more wood. If I had to find a complaint, it's that all this real metal can introduce some gnarly sun reflections, but if you can afford this car, I assume you can also afford sunglasses.
Brand geeks might notice the Audi switchgear on the steering wheel, a hint that Bentley leaned on its VW Group parentage for the cabin tech. A 12.3-inch touchscreen runs a modified version of Porsche's PCM software; it's the last-gen stuff, though, so boot times are a little lazy, but the dock on the left side makes it easy to swap between the various menus when everything is up and running. Four USB-A ports are split evenly between the two rows, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard. A tweaked version of Audi's Virtual Cockpit resides in the gauge display, so you can bounce between all sorts of things to display, but I prefer the classy old-school gauge cluster layout.
My tester's interior color combo is basically yacht rock come to life. Somebody call Christopher Cross, stat.
Andrew Krok/CNET
If you don't spec your Flying Spur Hybrid with Bentley's $8,970 Naim audio upgrade, you're a dum-dum. This 2,200-watt system absolutely bumps, providing brilliant audio clarity across a range of frequencies, so fans of either Bach or Death Grips will have an unparalleled listening experience.
Unsurprisingly, Bentley's next high-water mark comes by way of the chassis. An air suspension with adaptive dampers provide one of the softest rides around. The Flying Spur is unbelievably cushy in Comfort mode, and it does stiffen up a smidge in Sport, but the best-of-both-worlds Bentley mode is where I prefer to keep it, since the ride remains almost illegally plush. I don't find myself missing the active sway bars and rear-wheel steering found on non-PHEV models, but it is a bummer that they can't be optioned on this variant. Then again, I can't exactly say I'm in a hurry to hustle through the corners.
You'll never guess what this B stands for.
Andrew Krok/CNET
The not-so-great
The Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid combines a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6, an 18.9-kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor for a net 536 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque. By itself, the e-motor puts out 134 hp and 295 lb-ft, and it'll cruise for an EPA-estimated 21 miles on electrons alone.
In the default EV mode, this big-body boss baby carries me around in hushed brilliance, but once it runs out of juice, the 2.9-liter V6 elbows its way into the conversation with a harsh exhaust note that sounds fine in a Porsche -- the original source for this powertrain -- but awkward in a Bentley. It never gets too loud in the cabin, though, so a little extra speaker bumpage will thankfully silence that uncouth V6 yowl.
The V6 underhood sounds OK in other vehicles, but it doesn't really scream "Bentley" under load.
Andrew Krok/CNET
Operating in its hybrid modes is where the Flying Spur Hybrid's execution falls off a cliff. Full-fat acceleration requires electro-involvement, and if that half of the equation is run dry, this hefty hauler feels a little underpowered. Hybrid mode is fine, although the crossover to internal combustion can be jarring under heavier throttle applications.
Trying to keep some electrons in the Bentley's battery is a surprisingly frustrating affair, too. Hold mode is perhaps the most vexing, because as far as I can tell, it doesn't actually hold anything. Over the course of two days of driving exclusively in this mode, I watched the lithium-ion pack drop from 40% state of charge to just 10%. In heavy traffic, I never depress the gas enough to kick the V6 to life, so even with Hold activated, I get to sit there and watch my electrons disappear into the ether.
Pro tip: Keep the Flying Spur Hybrid in pure EV mode as often as possible. You won't regret it.
Andrew Krok/CNET
Regenerative braking exists, but I cannot suss out its programming for the life of me. Whether or not the coasting feature is activated in the vehicle menu, the Flying Spur Hybrid loves to do nothing when I lift off the gas -- but only sometimes. Other times, regen will kick in, but not at a level that feels like it's really doing anything. This happens whether the battery is at a high or low state of charge, and it's truly confounding. The brake-pedal feel also leaves a lot to be desired, with a very obvious crossover point between regeneration and friction. It is surprisingly hard to brake smoothly in this car, which is a little point-defeating, being a luxo-barge and all.
Most owners will likely have homes with charging solutions, and it only takes 2.5 hours to juice up to full with a standard Level 2 setup, so I recommend keeping that bad boy topped off as much as possible. Although the braking issue is present across all modes, operating on pure electricity is where the Flying Spur Hybrid truly shines, and it leaves me incredibly optimistic that the first battery-electric Bentley will slap harder than Will Smith.
No matter where you park it, expect to draw some serious attention.
Andrew Krok/CNET
Down to brass tacks
Is this PHEV expensive? You betcha. A base Flying Spur Hybrid will set you back $217,525, including $2,725 in mandatory destination fees. My tester's Odyssean Edition spec brings the window sticker up to a spit-take-friendly $267,575, including destination. Go crazy on the custom touches, and it wouldn't be hard to spend even more. The 2022 Bentley Flying Spur might be five times more expensive than the average new car in the US, but hey, it's still $130,000 less expensive than the average home price, so there's a feather for your cap.
There are so many things to like about the 2022 Bentley Flying Spur Hybrid. Sadly, the powertrain isn't really one of them. But that's an easy fix, because the available V8 and W12 engines are both fantastic and less complex from an end-user standpoint. If you really want an electric Bentley, and I think you might, you're better off waiting for the real thing.
