Lenovo's Moto Z and Moto Z Force Droids Are Future-Proof Modular Smartphones
The Moto Z and Moto Z Force by Lenovo replace both the Moto X and the Droid Turbo in the tech giant's premium smartphone lineup. Announced in June, the duo of top-shelf handsets are another entry on the market by an industry heavyweight that offers modular components and are now available for preorder.
Modular phones entered the mainstream earlier this year with the LG G5. Such devices offer their users the chance to add additional functionality to them via various attachable components. In the case of the Moto Z family, those include an attachable speaker, a projector, and a battery pack, among others.
Lenovo has dubbed the swappable bits for the power couple Moto Mods and promises to be compatible with the devices' successors. The manufacturer has also worked hard to bring a comprehensive lineup of available mods that will hit the shelves alongside the Moto Z and the Moto Z Force.
Even though they share the same looks, the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid are two different characters. The Moto Z is obsessively thin and elegant with 5.1-millimeter waistline, while the Moto Z Force packs a larger battery and shatterproof display into a thicker and heavier body.
At launch, the devices will be exclusively available on Verizon Wireless, hence the Droid moniker in their names. Later this year, Lenovo will launch the smartphones in an unlocked guise, too.
A Few Nerdy Bits
The Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid are bona fide premium smartphones, so their spec sheets are quite lengthy. Below are the most important bits to know.
Both smartphones are powered by a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset. The latter is standard for all top-tier Android smartphones this year.
Each device has 4GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in memory, which can be further expanded via microSD card slot.
The Moto Z and Moto Z Force Droids feature a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. The screen of the Moto Z Droid is covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, while the Moto Z Force Droid features a ShatterShield glass.
Moto Z packs a 13MP main camera with f/1.8 lens. Moto Z Force on the other hand, features a more cable 21MP snapper with f/1.8 lens. Both cameras have dual-LED flash and the ability to capture 4K video.
Each handset has a 5MP front-facing camera with dedicated LED flash. The latter is still a rarity for a smartphone.
Both devices have all the wireless connectivity basics covered. USB Type-C is in charge of wired connections on each phone.
Neither device has a 3.5-millimeter audio jack. Lenovo has bundled a USB Type-C dongle with the connector with each phone.
The Moto Z features a 2,600 mAh non-removable battery, while the Moto Z Force packs a 3,500 mAh unit. Both handsets support fast charging.
Each smartphone runs Google's latest Android Marshmallow.
Moto Z is 5.2 millimeters thin and weighs 136 grams. The Moto Z Force is 7 millimeters thin and tips the scale at 163 grams.
In the Metal
Save for the odd-looking square fingerprint sensor that sits below the display of each device, both the Moto Z Droid and the Moto Z Force look good in the metal. Lenovo has combined design cues from the devices' predecessors with new materials and textures. The end result is a fresh look that's still unmistakably Moto.
Verizon deserves a hat tip for keeping its branding away from both smartphones — the carrier giant used to go overboard with their predecessors. Save for an ultra discreet Droid logo under the main camera of each device, there is no other way to tell that the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid are exclusive to the Big Red.
The square fingerprint sensor we mentioned above is not only a polarizing design element, but also an ergonomic quirk. It locks and unlocks the devices, but doesn't act as an Android home button. Such functionality is typical for fingerprint sensors placed on the back — most users will instinctively try to use it as button and end up being disappointed that it is not.
Lack of an audio jack is another feature of both phones that might put off some prospective buyers. Yes, there is a bundled dongle in the retail box, but it makes for one more thing whose whereabouts one needs to be mindful of.
Unsurprisingly, the build quality and the tactile finish of the Moto Z and Moto Z Force is excellent, as expected. On this instance, it's worth noting that, because of its shatterproof display, the Moto Z Force is even tougher than its sibling.
Lenovo's ShatterShield glass is not just a marketing gimmick, so it helps set the Moto Z Force apart from its competitors. Both smartphones also feature water-repellent nano coating, so they can walk away unscathed from an accidental spill. They are not fully waterproof, though.
The 5.5-inch AMOLED display found in both phones is plenty sharp and bright. Its QHD resolution is on par with the best in class, as are the contrast and the viewing angles.
Performance and Battery Life
Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 chipset is one of the fastest on the market, so both the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid felt incredibly snappy on all occasions. Having 4GB of RAM on board and practically stock Android build helped both phones even further on this instance.
Because of its ultra thin body, the Moto Z Droid packs a battery that's modest in size by today's standards for a premium Android smartphone. The manufacturer promises up to 30 hours of usage from a single charge of the 2,600 mAh battery.
In real life, a day of moderate use is a realistic expectation for the Moto Z. Heavy users will need to make at least one trip to an outlet with the bundled fast charger, so a Moto Mod with battery pack might turn out to be a good investment.
The Moto Z Force Droid on the other hand delivered excellent battery endurance thanks to its significantly larger battery. A day of heavy use has been easy to achieve with the device. Using a Moto Mod with a battery pack easily extends the device's power independence by another day.
Moto Mods
The Moto Mods are what makes the Moto Z and Moto Z Force special in today's premium segment. The modular components attach to the smartphones via magnets and instantly add additional functionality.
Most importantly, Lenovo promises that the devices will be compatible with future Moto Z generations as well, thus guaranteeing that the users' investment in the modules will last beyond the lifetime of the phone.
Attaching the modules to the smartphones is seamless and intuitive via powerful magnets. All users have to do is align the device's camera with the opening in the module and they are good to to. Once attached, the module instantly connects to the Moto Z and it's ready to use.
Lenovo offers several modules alongside the Moto Z Droid and the Moto Z Force Droid at launch. They include JBL speakers, battery packs designed by Tumi, Kate Spade, and Incipio, as well as a module with built-in projector.
The JBL Moto Mod packs two speakers and a cool orange kickstand. It delivers stellar sound quality for its size for up to 10 hours at a time. The gadget's 1,000 mAh battery is rechargeable via the charger of both phones.
The Moto Mod with a built-in projector is another cool option to add to both phones. It can project image up to 70 inches in diagonal on any flat surface, thus making watching videos or playing a game on each Moto Z quite an event.
Like the speaker Moto Mot, the projector has its own battery that can deliver up to an hour of screen time before tapping into the handset's unit. The projector lamp has a life rating of up to 10,000 hours.
The power pack Moto Mods have been developed by the industry giant Incipio. They feature a 2,200 mAh battery, which adds significantly to the endurance of each Moto Z.
There are three power pack designs at launch. A matte black one with Incipio branding, a Tumi modal with a cool brushed-metal pattern, as well as one designed by Kate Spade.
The Moto Style Shells wrap up the list of available Moto Mods at launch. They harken back to the days when buyers could choose the back finish of their smartphone in Moto Maker, except they are much better now.
Moto Z and Moto Z Force users can now change the look of their phone altogether with a simple snap. Available Style Shells include options with wood, leather, and fabric patterns in various colors. More options will be added in the near future.
Lenovo is keen to develop the Moto Mods ecosystem even further, so a developer module is also available. It will allow anyone to develop a Moto Mod and potentially add it to the existing ecosystem.
Almost Stock Android Experience
Both the Moto Z Droid and the Moto Z Force Droid run Android Marshmallow with almost stock user interface, which is fluid and responsive. It also allows for quick future firmware updates.
Unsurprisingly, the phones come with several Verizon apps preinstalled. Users can opt to disable those in case they don't plan to use them. They're easy to tell apart from the rest of the apps via their poorly designed large red icons.
Camera
The Moto Z has a 13MP camera with f/1.8 lens, while the Moto Z Force packs a more capable 21MP snapper sitting behind the same lens. Both cameras are fast to start and lock focus thanks to the powerful chipsets that the phones pack. Moto's signature twist to launch camera gesture is also available on each phone.
Users can choose between simple and more advanced camera interface depending on their photography skills. Mobile shutterbugs will appreciate the manual mode, which gives them full control over the camera settings of each phone.
The 13MP camera of the Moto Z captured good photos with nice exposure and dynamic range. The colors are pleasant and the amount of resolved detail is stellar for a mobile device.
Thanks to its more capable 21MP camera sensor, the Moto Z Force is the superior photography tool from the duo. It can capture more detail and give its users more post-processing options thanks to larger photos it can capture.
For a deeper dive into the camera abilities of both devices, check out the highly reputable DxOMark Mobile report. You can find the Moto Z analysis here, and the Moto Z Force camera breakdown here.
Both smartphones can captures crisp 4K videos with solid quality. Of course, users can also choose to record clips with lower resolution as well.
Wrap Up
The Moto Z Force Droid and Moto Z Force Droid are proof that modular smartphones have a bright future when cleverly designed and executed. The already available Moto Mods should be enough to get potential users excited, and we are curious to see what new additions will join the lineup in the near future.
Both smartphones offer solid performance and build quality, but the Moto Z Force Droid is head and shoulders above its ultra thin sibling. Packing a shatterproof screen, bigger battery, and more capable camera make the thicker device the one to get in our book, and well worth the extra weight and thickness it carries.
The oddly placed fingerprint sensor and lack of audio jack take a bit of shine from both devices. However, the cleverly made Moto Mods will make the tradeoffs well worth it for many.
With a 5.2-millimeter metal frame and smaller battery, the Moto Z feels like an odd vanity project in today's smartphone scene. Today's smartphone buyers have already proven that they are willing to take an extra millimeter of thickness for better functionality, so we expect that the Moto Z will simply have a role in steering customers towards its slightly pricier Moto Z Force sibling.
Speaking of pricing, Verizon is asking $624 for the Moto Z Droid, or $26 a month. The more capable Moto Z Force Droid costs $720 outright, or $30 per month — it's the one we'd go for. Verizon will offer up to $300 to users who trade in their current smartphone for a Moto Z.
The Moto Mods start at only $15 for Incipio back plates in various styles. The JBL speaker module costs $80, while the projector Moto Mod goes for $300. Incipio's battery pack mods are priced between $60 and $90 depending on the style.
It's worth noting that Verizon will offer 20% off each additional Moto Mod that users purchase. This will give users the chance to start a collection from the get-go.
There are more polished Android smartphone rivals out there, headed by Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 edge, and the HTC 10. However, with the Moto Mods' army behind them, the Moto Z Force and Moto Z Droids have plenty of unique appeal themselves, thanks to their additional snap-on talents and future-proof Moto Mods.
Photos by Stefan Vazharov
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