Let me just start this by saying that the Moto Z has an unfair edge over other smartphones in the market. And no, it’s not because when we hear ‘Moto’ we’re transported back in time to the iconic Moto Razr which could make any flip phone fan swoon (who didn’t want one?!). It’s because the Moto Z can’t be judged as a stand-alone phone. It’s very identity stems from its modular add-on accessories which the company refers to as “mods”.
While posing as just another high-end smartphone sharing specs with the likes of Samsung S7 or HTC 10, the Moto Z’s break from convention lies in the innovative Moto Mods. These, along with the phone, were revealed at a launch event for the Moto Z recently organised by Lenovo in Karachi.
So, if it’s basically just like a Samsung S7 (minus the mods), is it worth your time and money? Let’s find out:
Moto Z Pros
Design
It’s the world’s thinnest premium smartphone to date. It’s also very light but thankfully didn’t feel like it would break when I held it. It seems quite sturdy for its dimensions.
Memory
It comes with 32 GB or 64 GB built-in memory which is extendable up to 2 TB.
Camera
High-resolution 13MP camera with optical image stabilization and laser autofocus. The front-facing 5MP camera includes a wide-angle lens and an extra flash.
Water Resistance
The smartphone comes with a water-repellant coating, which shields the phone from any rain, splashes or spills that might come its way.
Battery life
The Moto Z supports up to 30 hours of battery, which is pretty amazing for a smartphone of its stature.
Finger Print Sensor
You can wake your Moto Z or put it to sleep with one touch. The finger print sensor serves a dual purpose so there’s no need to reach for a sleep-wake button on the side.
Moto Mods
I saved the best for last. These are the true winners that give the Moto Z it’s crowning moment in the competitive world of smartphones. Currently, the company has launched four of these though they announced at the launch event that they’re in the process of developing more. These connect seamlessly to the phone’s back, through magnets, with minimal user intervention. These can also be used with other Moto models and will probably be compatible with future Moto phones as well.
There’s, of course, the predictable extended battery mod but it’s the other three that I found really exciting :
The Hasselblad True Zoom: The Hasselblad True Zoom enhances the phone’s camera, allowing you to take crisp, zoomed in pictures. Random trivia: Did you know that the very first picture of Neil Armstrong on the moon was taken with a Hasselblad camera?
JBL Soundboost: Gives your Moto Z’s speakers quite an upgrade and is great for a small party or video calls on speaker etc.
Moto Insta-Share: My personal favourite is the Insta-Share Mod which allows you to project videos or photos on any nearby surface such as a wall. It projects up to 70 inches without distortion.
Moto Z Cons
Price
Priced at PKR 75,000, the Moto Z is quite expensive. The phone comes with a Moto Style Shell but each of the mods has to be bought separately and they’re not cheap either!
Headphone Jack
It seems Apple isn’t the only company to have done away with the headphone jack. The Moto Z’s super-slim design has meant that it also comes without a headphone jack. It does come with a converter though and you can always use Bluetooth!
Verdict
If you’re in the market for a high-end smartphone then the Moto Z is definitely a worthy candidate. Spending about the same amount as you would on any other phone in its category (such as the Samsung S7 or Huawei Mate 9), what the Moto Z promises you is the potential of adding on even more with its Moto Mods. You don’t necessarily need to invest in all of them but it definitely gives you the option to keep upgrading your phone over time. And needless to say, there’s no other phone currently out there that can turn into a projector!
The Moto Z Anthem
As part of the phone launch, Lenovo also revealed a video of the national anthem with sound and footage recorded completely on the Moto Z using Moto Mods. A collaboration between Hira Tareen, Amean J and Mehreen Jabbar, this might you give you a better idea of what the phone is capable of rather than all those endless, technical specs.
Good review of the phone , I’m not sure I’d want to buy it though I miss simple phones now all the smartphones are like carrying around your computer in your pocket
Thanks! Haha that’s true. I know what you mean! I was using an old Nokia recently and it brought back so many memories. I like disconnecting sometimes but it’s so difficult to survive without smartphones once you get used to them!
The specs are scarily good… Not impressed with the cam resolution though. Lenovo isn’t really a popular brand here, hmmm. Curious.
Yeah, I’ve only recently seen people using Lenovo phones. But the fact that they’ve acquire Motorola is a good sign, I think considering Moto has a pretty long lineage of good phones behind it!
I haven’t even heard of this phone yet. Never realized what the differences may be when launched in different areas! Good to know!
Yeah, I hadn’t either until I was invited to the launch event! But I was quite pleasantly surprised by the specs 🙂
Thanks for sharing all the deets on this moto phone! I used to own a razr back in the day – haha! I loved it…thought it was too cool! Now I have an iPhone. But, so many options on there now that its important to know all the details before making a purchase.
Lol I always wanted a Razr but ended up with an LG Chocolate instead. I am an iPhone person too but I thought this was one was pretty cool!
I always love the Moto commercials. And this looks like an amazing gadget to have. I love that phones now-a-days have improved so much giving everyone access to a camera to capture memories on.
I know! That “Hello Moto” from the commercials always gets stuck in my head lol
I had a moto back in the day, it was pink and had a flip screen. This new version has a very impressive camera , which is great if you need to take pictures on the go!
That one is a classic! Yeah, I feel like this camera might be a good alternative to lugging around a heavy DSLR
I think it’s quite awesome. I love that you can customize the phone according to what you want it to be at the moment. It’s really functional and fun to use.
Exactly! It’s like it can turn into whatever you need it to be atm
It looks like a really good product! It has such neat functions and an interesting style.
Wow, that camera alone would get me away from iPhone. Love it. Thanks for the complete and thorough review.
Haha wow! I think that’s the best compliment a phone could get 😉
This is very interesting. I am a huge iPhone fan so I never really know about anything else but this phone looks great. Loving the camera attachment.
Same here! I was a bit skeptical before going to the launch but I was quite impressed with all the features 😮
It’s all about the camera for me when I decide to upgrade my phone! I’ll have to play around with that first before making solid decision, but overall it looks great!
Agreed! The camera is super important to me too!
I’m not one for spending all my money on phones. I love a simple andriod, it gets the job done, and if I really wanted to take awesome photos, I’ll whip out my DSLR.
Even though I am team iphone it seems like a great phone to have. Definitely getting a phone with a good camera especially as a blogger is key.
Totally agree!
This phone looks really good! I like the camera on it which is key for me because I’m constantly taking pictures of whenever I go out!
I know! Can’t live with a phone that has a sucky camera
Oh I’ve never considered Lenovo before but it does look well swanky! I love when phones are robust rather than round and slippy! And the camera is a great selling point too! x
Right? I was quite impressed with the specs!
good to see something new from moto. or am i late t the party and missed out some tech news ?
Haha no, I think you’re just in time 😉
It looks like a gorgeous phone! I have an iPhone that I love, and honestly, I don’t think I could go to a different phone because I am not tech savvy enough to figure them out 🙂
I know what you mean! Switching to a completely new OS always takes an adjustment period. I’m also a pretty loyal iPhone user so going back to Android will require quite a bit of back and forth inside my head.
Lenovo has really great products. I had a tablet of theirs and it was great. It looks like a really nice phone.
Ooh! I’m yet to use Lenovo products but this might be the turning point hehe
Yes they have launched it but it’s quite expensive at least for a poor person like me?
Anyways it’s beautiful & this review is even better❤
Haha, join the club! We’ll just admire it from afar 😛
Looks like there is a lot to consider with this phone. There are always pros and cons to phones but you will never know until it’s in your hands.
True that!
Looks really gorgeous…I have never used a Lenovo before. I could do with the sleekness
Sounds pretty sleek plus looks gorgeous. I have never used any Lenovo but who knows….
This looks like an awesome phone and very pretty but not sure I could get over the price tag, bit too much for me to justify!
Oh gosh I remember those moto flip phones! They were so cool at the time. Fun fact: We found one in the yoga studio parking lot about 6 months ago. Took me 10 minutes to remember how to use it! How times have changed!!!
Haha wow! I know what you mean. Whenever I’ve had to use an old phone, it takes me a while to figure it out 😛
Thanks for your tech review! I actually had a chance to play around with the Moto Z and I was actually impressed by it. I like the build quality. And for the price, I think it’s a good deal!
Yeah, I think so too!
I used to love motorola phones and recently had the moto g for a while but I realized when I had it that I have grown to prefer Samsung much more. I do like the idea of all the add ons for the moto z but i’m sure samsung will catch up to that soon.
True, eventually all the major players come up with their own variations!
These are all super cool! I had a razor in high school! Love the different pop on features you can add!
I have a friend who has a Moto Z and she loves it! I’m an Apple girl but this phone looks and sounds great
I had a Lenovo computer and I was really disappointed, so I am not so sure I would be interested in this but the specs sound great!
Aw. Yeah, it’s difficult to go back to a brand that’s disappointed you once!
As a mom, camera is the most important aspect of my smartphone. I’d have to play around with it first to see if I liked it.
I honestly can’t keep up to date with the latest phones, latest technology in general . But I always choose the most user friendly and simple option!
Sounds like a pretty smart thing to do 🙂
This looks like a great phone. I will definitely have to keep this in mind the next time I am due for an upgrade!
This sounds like an amazing phone! I love the camera on it and that is is splash proof. What a great concerpt.
Moto is a phone I have never considered. I stick to IPhones or Samsung at a push.
We all have our favourites 🙂
I own the Moto Z Droid, and I love it. It is a thin phone, but also heavy, in my opinion. I think overall…it has a lot of really cool features. I bought the wireless charging battery mod for my brother’s birthday. I wish it had a headphone jack, but I can live without it. I am absolutely in love with the fingerprint sensor.
Yeah, the lack of a headphone jack is definitely a con for me. But otherwise I liked it quite a bit!
This phone sounds perfect, especially since I’ve been wanting to upgrade my iPhone lately. I love taking pictures and this one sounds like it has superb picture quality.
Yeah, I was actually quite impressed with the photo quality!
The reviews are mind blowing….13 MP camera, 2 TB memory wow…that’s a jackpot in budget…..Wonderfully done review…
Thanks Lubna! 🙂
I’m not so tech savvy so I really appreciate posts like this. Thank you for sharing! (Www.beautywithzainy.com and http://www.spicyfusionkitchen.com)