Phones Lenovo Moto Z, modular phone (2016)

[spinedoc77]

So what's the differences between these 2? Looking at specs I see one has that shatterproof screen and 21mp camera, while the other has gorilla glass and a 15mpx camera. Is that it? Why would they release such similar phones?!?

Also I'm curious as to the difference in thickness. Are they measuring the camera hump and they are both 5.2mm thick with one havin a 6.9mm camera hump?? Or is one of the really 6.9mm thick all around?

Interesting phone, definitely one I'd consider. The aesthetics are terrible though, that bottom bezel is huge and unnecessarily so seeing how small the fp sensor is, and made worse with the onscreen buttons. The add on plates are pretty awesome, I could see getting the speaker one and the projector one. Shame, I would have preferred the thinner one, but looks like they compromised the camera for some reason.

 

[MRU]

So what's the differences between these 2? Looking at specs I see one has that shatterproof screen and 21mp camera, while the other has gorilla glass and a 15mpx camera. Is that it? Why would they release such similar phones?!?

Also I'm curious as to the difference in thickness. Are they measuring the camera hump and they are both 5.2mm thick with one havin a 6.9mm camera hump?? Or is one of the really 6.9mm thick all around?

The Z Force is 1.5mm thicker and has a 3450mah battery whereas the Z is thinner and has 2600mah. The camera hump is by all accounts just as pronounced on either device.

 

[nj-morris]

Lot of hate on this this thing, but I'll stick my neck out and say I kind of like it.

My biggest thing with android phones is finding one with decent hardware and close to stock software. The nexus 6p is the only one that fits the bill and sadly the camera still isn't all that great and it has some heft. I am used to my iphone 6 and oneplus x.

Its nice to see a phone with a massive screen only slightly larger than the iphone 6/6s. If the camera on this one is good, I might make the switch. They also have moto connect for chrome which allows me to send/receive messages from a desktop. One of the main reasons I am still on iOS. I know there is other software that does this, but with push bullet charging, I am not sure if anything is as good.

Also don't forget verizon LTE phones are GSM unlocked. So you may be able to use it on your network, but depends on the bands available.

Agreed. This phone is full of options. I'm actually thinking of getting it.

Regarding the hate, this is MacRumors. Nothing satisfies anybody here, even on the Alternatives forum.

 

[spinedoc77]

The Z Force is 1.5mm thicker and has a 3450mah battery whereas the Z is thinner and has 2600mah. The camera hump is by all accounts just as pronounced on either device.

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit miffed, I would have preferred the gorilla glass, and nicer camera with the thinner one, especially seeing how there is a battery pack already announced.

 

[Rangomango]

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit miffed, I would have preferred the gorilla glass, and nicer camera with the thinner one, especially seeing how there is a battery pack already announced.

Agreed. I'm not sure why they put a lesser spec camera in the thinner one. Lets hope the price reflects it

 

[spinedoc77]

The more I consider this phone the more it grows on me. That projector snap on is awesome, a freakin projector add on!! It's not even that thick and has more battery with it. 70" screen, sick...

 

[spinedoc77]

Ouch, $300 for the projector mod. http://www.ubergizmo.com/2016/06/verizon-lists-moto-mods-not-cheap/

 

[MRU]

Ouch, $300 for the projector mod. http://www.ubergizmo.com/2016/06/verizon-lists-moto-mods-not-cheap/

That's absolutely ridiculous.

The other ones are pricy enough, but not as big a kick in the balls as the projector case which costs more than some more powerful LED projectors.

 

[spinedoc77]

That's absolutely ridiculous.

The other ones are pricy enough, but not as big a kick in the balls as the projector case which costs more than some more powerful LED projectors.

yeah that's nuts, you can get a very good 1080p DLP projector for $400-$600, but I guess miniaturization has its cost. If it has decent brightness, resolution it may be worth it. Oh and battery life would be important as well. Still, it's a neat concept and to be able to do something like that is very interesting.

 

[Surf Donkey]

Verizon's Moto Z Droid Edition launches July 14 in New York

http://www.androidcentral.com/motorola-and-verizon-set-moto-z-announcement-july-14-new-york

To be clear this is an event to announce the details (price and launch) for the Moto Z Droid edition. Like the phone quite a bit, just super crazy it is Verizon exclusive I guess they are trying to drum up more excitement during the wait to actually launch this thing.

 

[jamezr]

Verizon's Moto Z Droid Edition launches July 14 in New York

http://www.androidcentral.com/motorola-and-verizon-set-moto-z-announcement-july-14-new-york

To be clear this is an event to announce the details (price and launch) for the Moto Z Droid edition. Like the phone quite a bit, just super crazy it is Verizon exclusive I guess they are trying to drum up more excitement during the wait to actually launch this thing.

Yeah not liking the VZW exclusivity at launch. This has hurt other phones in past to be only available on one carrier. The Droid phones usually come with a ton of VZW bloat. More than other VZW phones because of the Droid branding.
I hope this phone does well for Moto!

The Z Force specs look awesome

 

[Surf Donkey]

The Verizon launch event was this morning. There must still be an embargo because Mashable had a link and took it down. Google cache caught it.

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...7/14/moto-z-force-verizon-release-date-price/

July 21st pre-order.... July 28th availability. Typical monthly price plans on Verizon. But works out to $720 for the Force.

Verizon's also offering users the ability to trade in their old devices for up to a $300 credit toward the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, even if the screen is cracked.

This is why I usually keep an old phone around (Currently have the Samsung Note 1 on deck for something like this). But sadly Verizon only so I won't be buying it.

 

[co.ag.2005]

Droid-Life has some unboxing and software tours available as well as a Q&A post. I'm intrigued by this phone and although I have Verizon, I would not want to get the VZW version due to the bloat.

Unboxing:
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/14/moto-z-droid-unboxing-moto-z-force-droid/

Software Tour:
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/14/moto-z-droid-software-tour/

Q&A:
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/14/moto-z-moto-z-force-want-know/

 

[jamezr]

Droid-Life has some unboxing and software tours available as well as a Q&A post. I'm intrigued by this phone and although I have Verizon, I would not want to get the VZW version due to the bloat.

Unboxing:
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/14/moto-z-droid-unboxing-moto-z-force-droid/

Software Tour:
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/14/moto-z-droid-software-tour/

Q&A:
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/07/14/moto-z-moto-z-force-want-know/

I watched a couple of videos on the Moto phones. The camera bump is HUGE! Then when they started to use the mods or add-ons you see why the camera bump is so pronounced. The camera is almost flush when use one of the add on mod paks. But those mod paks add so much heft and thickness to the phone. I wonder if they will have them the VZW stores to demo and play around with.
The bloat on the Droid branded phones is overkill imho.

 

[co.ag.2005]

I watched a couple of videos on the Moto phones. The camera bump is HUGE! Then when they started to use the mods or add-ons you see why the camera bump is so pronounced. The camera is almost flush when use one of the add on mod paks. But those mod paks add so much heft and thickness to the phone. I wonder if they will have them the VZW stores to demo and play around with.
The bloat on the Droid branded phones is overkill imho.

I agree on all accounts. But I will say, I do like how Moto did the mods / packs compared to LG and others who have tried it. I'd be curious to know the heft and thickness of the battery mod but if not too bad, I can see that being an added bonus of always having it on and not having to worry about battery life everyday. I'm very curious to try this phone out. But if I would purchase, it'd be the unlocked, VZW free device... but will that device work on Verizon? (ala 6p, 5x, Moto XPE, etc.) or is it GSM only? I need to do some digging.

 

[jamezr]

I agree on all accounts. But I will say, I do like how Moto did the mods / packs compared to LG and others who have tried it. I'd be curious ot know the heft and thickness of the battery mod but if not too bad, I can see that being an added bonus of always having it on and not having to worry about battery life everyday. I'm very curious to try this phone out. But if I would purchase, it'd be the unlocked, VZW free device... but will that device work on Verizon? (ala 6p, 5x, Moto XPE, etc.) or is it GSM only? I need to do some digging.

Yeah...I like the look of the Moto X Force except for the camera bump. But love how easy the mods can be attached and removed. I agree with you.....they got the mods right compared to LG. You can attach a battery pack and not have to reboot the phone if I read it right.
Maybe Moto will have them unlocked from their website?

 

[co.ag.2005]

Yeah...I like the look of the Moto X Force except for the camera bump. But love how easy the mods can be attached and removed. I agree with you.....they got the mods right compared to LG. You can attach a battery pack and not have to reboot the phone if I read it right.
Maybe Moto will have them unlocked from their website?

Ah, looks like the unlocked Z will be GSM only and launches later this fall after the VZW exclusivity period is over

http://www.droid-life.com/2016/06/09/unlocked-moto-z-will-gsm/

 

[Surf Donkey]

Ah, looks like the unlocked Z will be GSM only and launches later this fall after the VZW exclusivity period is over

http://www.droid-life.com/2016/06/09/unlocked-moto-z-will-gsm/

That's what happens when you sleep with the carrier devil. It has a SD 820, so the ONLY reason to disable CDMA on the unlocked versison is so that it doesn't cut into the sales of the Verizon Droid model. What a joke.

This thing is official DOA. Shame too, because there is potential in the innovation here.

Mostly all because Americans keep supporting their $25 per month and Jump leasing carrier BS promotions because they think it is cheaper. Ruin it for everyone. Get out of the carriers pockets... they should provide the NETWORK not the phones! Only hope is if the exclusives keep flopping, hopefully they stop doing them.

 

[co.ag.2005]

That's what happens when you sleep with the carrier devil. It has a SD 820, so the ONLY reason to disable CDMA on the unlocked versison is so that it doesn't cut into the sales of the Verizon Droid model. What a joke.

This thing is official DOA. Shame too, because there is potential in the innovation here.

Mostly all because Americans keep supporting their $25 per month and Jump leasing carrier BS promotions because they think it is cheaper. Ruin it for everyone. Get out of the carriers pockets... they should provide the NETWORK not the phones!

Yep. I agree. But I still stay with Verizon due to the coverage but I am glad that certain manufacturers are allowing their phones to be sold unlocked, carrier-free, and still support the CDMA carriers.

 

[jamezr]

Ah, looks like the unlocked Z will be GSM only and launches later this fall after the VZW exclusivity period is over

http://www.droid-life.com/2016/06/09/unlocked-moto-z-will-gsm/

Ahhh... so you will still be able to get it if you wanted because you are a Verizon customer. But you just won't be able to get it unlocked. Maybe some Devs at XDA will figure a way to remove all the bloat and Droid branding.....

 

[Surf Donkey]

Not a big flossy fan from a review standpoint, but it was fun to see his reaction to the speaker mod. I really like what they are doing something different here from everyone else. I do hope others implement and expand the idea. Just sucks Moto is so in bed with Verizon.

@13:45 since I can't timestamp youtube directly in here

 

[MRU]

Watched all the videos. I'm sadly still not sold at all.

2nd Half of 2016 is shaping up to be a real disappointment personally device wise.

 

[Surf Donkey]

MKBHD.... "This is definitely one of the sleekest and prettiest phones I think I've ever held."

 

[jamezr]

MKBHD.... "This is definitely one of the sleekest and prettiest phones I think I've ever held."

Then he calls out the huge camera bump and ridiculously placed buttons....and no headphone jack. then he calls out the VZW bloat..... Love the style shells though.

 

[tbayrgs]

Watched all the videos. I'm sadly still not sold at all.

2nd Half of 2016 is shaping up to be a real disappointment personally device wise.

i'm right there with ya MRU. I'm not a Samsung fan so the Note doesn't peak my interest, the next iPhone seems very incremental and adds very little over the current generation, and the Nexus devices also seem like minor bumps from last years models. If the renders for the Nexii turn out to even be moderately close, they're ugly as hell and have the same flaws i find in last years models (bezels and rear finger print reader).

I have ever so small an amount of hope for the 'Google' phone first, even being made (Pixel phone please), and second, having flagship level hardware and performance. But i seriously doubt it's happening (anyone remember Android Silver? )