The Moto Z2 Force Smartphone Has a Shatterproof Display That Works
With a shatterproof display, the high-end Moto Z2 Force wants to put an end to one of humanity's greatest phone-related fears. In case this feature isn't enough to capture your attention, the phone also supports the excellent Moto Mods. Introduced alongside the device's predecessor last year, the growing collection of modular components allows you to add more functionality to your device, depending on the occasion.
Familiar Design
In order to be compatible with the Moto Mods ecosystem, the Moto Z2 Force looks almost identical to its predecessor, only thinner. However, thankfully Lenovo has swapped the odd-looking, square fingerprint sensor of last year's model with a much better-looking oval component.
The phone's metal body is unsurprisingly superbly crafted, though it's not fully waterproof — the Moto Z2 Force can only handle rain and light splashes of water. On this instance, the device lags behind competitors from Apple, Samsung, LG, and HTC.
The much-advertised shatterproof display of the smartphone really works. Lenovo even backs the screen with a robust four-year warranty against shattering and cracking.
However, even though it doesn't fear a sidewalk or a marble floor, the shatterproof display of the Moto Z2 Force is incredibly prone to scratches. In order to prevent them, Motorola encourages users to put on a screen protector. We find the situation a tad perplexing, as you're a lot more likely to scratch your display than to shatter it.
The Specs
The specs of the Moto Z2 Force are mostly typical for a high-end Android phone these days. They include a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of expandable storage. Like last year's model, the device lacks a standard audio jack.
The 5.5-inch QHD (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) display utilizes a high-quality OLED panel with excellent contrast and punchy colors. It also ensures that the phone supports Google's Daydream VR headset.
The Moto Z2 Force packs two 12-megapixel camera sensors on its back, with laser-assisted autofocus and LED flash. One of them is monochrome, enabling the phone to capture true black-and-white images.
Oddly, Motorola decided on a 2,730 mAh battery, which is 25% smaller than the 3,600 mAh unit found in the device's predecessor. It's also less than what the device's competitors offer — most have batteries larger than 3,000 mAh. Our guess about the small battery is that Motorola really wants you to purchase a battery pack Moto Mod for your Moto Z2 Force.
The phone boots the practically stock Android Nougat. Motorola's enhancements are minimal. They include gesture controls and seamless delivery of your most important notifications right on your lockscreen.
Moto Mods
The Moto Mods are what truly separates the Moto Z2 Force from any other high-end Android phone out there. The accessories allow you to instantly add more hardware features to your phone when you need them.
You can choose from a multitude of options, ranging from a JBL-made speaker Mod, to battery Mods, all the way to a 360-degree camera and a mini projector. You can also add wireless charging to your Moto Z2 Force via a dedicated Moto Mod, too. There's even a gaming Mod that turns your phone into a portable gaming console.
The thing about the Moto Mods is that building a collection of them gets expensive fast. An essential battery pack will set you back $100, while the JBL speaker goes for $80. Fancier ones like the Moto 360 camera, the Hasselblad True Zoom, and the Insta Share Projector have eye-watering $300 price tags. Thankfully, on many occasions, wireless carriers or Motorola will offer you a free Moto Mod if you choose their phone.
Speedy Performance
We weren't surprised to find out that the Moto Z2 Force is impressively fast. By combining a fast chipset with stock Android, the phone can handle any task you throw at it. On this instance, the device is as good as any other high-end Android phone out there.
The battery life is OK, but it's far from great. The phone will typically make it through a full day, though power users should definitely spend extra on a battery pack Moto Mod, or risk a trip to a power outlet at some point throughout their day. On this instance, the Moto Z2 Force is a huge step down from its predecessor, whose large battery made it perfect for heavy use.
Dual Camera
The 12 MP cameras of the Moto Z2 Force take nice color and monochrome photos, but they can't compete with the best phones in the class. The low-light performance in particular is held back by the high aperture for a phone in this price point.
The dual sensor setup allows the camera of the phone to deliver a couple of tricks. They include the ability to blur the background behind the object you capture, as well as the option to edit parts of your image to be black-and-white. Full manual mode is also available.
Wrap Up
The Moto Z2 Force is a good smartphone, but it doesn't stack up well against the competition from Samsung, LG, HTC, and Google. Unless you're hellbent on having the pricey Moto Mods in your life, you'll be better off with one of the handset's many alternatives.
The scratch-prone display and the small battery hold the device back instead of setting it apart from the competition. We also wish that Motorola kept the big battery of the device's predecessor.
The Moto Z2 Force is priced at $720. For a limited time, you can snag a free projector Moto Mod with the purchase of the device.
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Photos by Stefan Vazharov
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