Phones on Budget

After releasing their G4 series, Motorola is back with their new premium smartphones that can match even the best smartphones from Samsung and other popular brands.

The Motorola Moto Z and Moto Z Force (also known as Moto Z Droid Edition and Moto Z Force Droid Edition) are the new smartphones that can transform into something else with its Moto Mods.

Before we explore their awesome and unique features, let us look at the main differences between the Moto Z and Moto Z force.

Device Name: Motorola Moto Z
Release: September 2016
Display: 5.5 inches (1440 x 2560 pixels)
Camera: 13MP
Hardware: Snapdragon 820, Dual-core 2.15 GHz + Dual-core 1.6 GHz, 4 GB RAM
Battery: 2600 mAh
Expected Price: US$ 499

See Full Technical Specifications

Device Name: Motorola Moto Z Force
Release: September 2016
Display: 5.5 inches (1440 x 2560 pixels)
Camera: 21MP
Hardware: Snapdragon 820, Dual-core 2.15 GHz + Dual-core 1.6 GHz, 3 GB RAM
Battery: 3500 mAh
Expected Price: US$ 589

See Full Technical Specifications

Main Differences – Thickness, Camera, and Battery

One of the main differences between Motorola Moto Z and Moto Z Force is the thickness. The Moto Z is only 5.19 mm thin and it’s the thinnest premium smartphone around. The Moto Z Force, on the other hand, is only 7 mm thin.

Actually, a 7 mm profile is already super thin if you compare it with the thickness of various smartphones these days. So can you imagine how thin is the 5.19 mm profile of the Moto Z? It’s really crazy.

The iPhone 6s Plus, for example, is at 7.3 mm while the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge is at 7.7 mm. So if you like super thin smartphones, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are the best choices.

Another main difference between Moto Z and Moto Z Force is the camera resolution. The Moto Z Force has a 21 MP rear camera while the Moto Z has a 13 MP rear camera. The resolution directly affects the sharpness of the images you captured.

Aside from higher resolution, the Moto Z Force has Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) feature. PDAF will allow you a faster autofocus when capturing images of varying distances. The result.. fast and blur-free images and videos.

The third difference is in the battery capacity. The Moto Z has 2600 mAh while the Moto Z force has 3500 mAh. The lower battery capacity of the Moto Z accounts for its ultra thin profile.

So in terms of battery life, the Moto Z Force can last longer. You can use it up to 40 hours of mixed tasks. The Moto Z, on the other hand, can last up to 30 hours.

You just have to weigh your preference (including your budget) – the thinnest smartphone profile or a longer battery life plus a higher camera resolution, which one is it?

Also, although not specified on the Motorola website, other reliable online sources indicate an FM radio feature in the Moto Z only.

Design Transformation – We Need to Talk About Moto Mods

Moto Mods allows the Moto Z and Moto Z Force to transform into something else. These Moto Mods are additional parts that you may snap at the back of the Moto Z and Z Force. It uses strong magnets to fit perfectly.

Currently, there are few Moto Mods that are available, but we are expecting more soon. Motorola worked with third-party entities to design these awesome accessories.

One is the Moto Insta-Share Projector which transforms your phone into an instant movie projector. You can project it up to 70 inches! This is perfect when you want to watch with your friends and family anytime while on vacation or even just in your own room.

Another is the JBL SoundBoost Speaker which transforms your phone into a Boombox with a powerful stereo sound. Not only that, it has a built-in kickstand and built-in battery which adds up to 10 more hours of battery life!

There is also the Incipio offGRID™ Power Pack that can add up to 22 hours of extra battery life and allows the option for wireless charging. It has a sleek design so you don’t have to worry about too much bulk.

Another cool Moto Mods is the Moto Style Shell which is basically a rear cover that allows you to change the style of the rear side in just a snap. There are so many designs to choose from ranging from wood patterns, fabric textures, and more! This is so fun!

You Will Definitely Like The Additional Design Features

Even without the Moto Mods, the Motorola Moto Z and Moto Z Force looks very beautiful and it comes in various color combinations such as Black/Gray, Black/Rose Gold, Black/Gold, and there’s a plain White version as well.

The rear has a textured design that I really like. It also has a nice round camera that is encircled by a color accent. The sides also have the color accents if you choose a design with color combinations. This is exactly what I like in a smartphone.

When it comes to weight, the Motorola Moto Z is super light compared to other 5.5-inch smartphones. It weighs 136 g while the Moto Z Force weighs 163 g.

Both smartphones underwent a nano-coating technology which protects it from water spills, splashes, and light rain. This is perfect for rainy locations.

Another awesome feature is that it is shatter-proof. The display is very sturdy and it will not crack so easily. Both the display and camera lens are warranted against shattering and cracking for 4 years! That’s how confident Motorola is with the shatter-proof design.

Moreover, the body is made of metal with a high strength to density ratio. The overall style in the design is the same for both smartphones.

The Fastest Chipset in The Market Today + Quad-HD Display

Yes, both smartphones have Snapdragon 820 which is the most powerful chipset right now. So expect the fastest and smoothest Android experience whatever you are doing.

The Adreno 530 is the best graphics processor so you will never be disappointed even when paying heavy 3D games.

Both smartphones have 4 GB RAM size, just like the flagships of other brands. It runs on the latest Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) OS.

The internal storage comes in two variants: 32 GB and 64 GB. Both can be expanded up to 256 GB using a microSD card with a dedicated slot.

The display has a Quad-HD resolution with 535 pixels per inch. That is close to the sharpness of the flagships of Samsung and LG. They also use AMOLED display technology for better color vividness and saturation.

More Awesome Camera Features

Aside from very high resolutions, both smartphones have a 1.12 um pixel size which means both can capture quality images even in a low-light environment.

The aperture size is f/1.8 for a very excellent dimensional effect on photos.

They also have OIS feature that reduces further blurring if the subject of the image is in motion or if your hands are shaky when taking pictures.

Both can also capture 4K videos which is the resolution for an Ultra HD TV.

The camera is also capable of 8X digital zoom, Professional mode, Burst mode, Auto Night mode, Auto HDR, Closed loop processing, and Panorama shooting mode.

The front camera has a 5MP resolution with 1.4 um pixel size that is quite high. It can also record Full HD videos and it has a LED flash. Other front camera features include Auto Night mode, Beautification software, and Professional mode.

Other Awesome Features

Both smartphones have fingerprint sensors and NFC support.

Because of the super thin profiles of these smartphones, they have to sacrifice the 3.5 mm jack. Instead, you can use a 3.5 mm to USB-C headphone adapter that is included in the package.

They are also LTE-capable with an amazing LTE Cat9 speed (450/50 Mbps). That’s actually a lot faster compared to other expensive smartphones.

The Moto Z LTE bands in the USA are LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 13(700) – USA while the Moto Z Force also has the same bands except for band 1(2100).

Both are capable of USB On-The-Go so you can just plug-in any compatible storage device with a USB Type-C 1.0 reversible connector.

Basic features that are included are Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth for your wireless accessories, and GPS with A-GPS for finding locations.

You Can Never Go Wrong with Moto Z and Moto Z Force

The Motorola Moto Z and Moto Z Force are excellent premium smartphones that bring something new to the table. One feature that stands out is the Moto Mods which allows the transformation of these smartphones into very useful and entertaining devices.

It can transform into a projector, a loud stereo speaker, and it can snap with different designs. The design is also very sturdy despite the super thin profile.

You will like the excellent performance of this smartphone because it contains the fastest chipset in the market right now! The display is amazingly sharp and vivid and the battery life can last longer that your average smartphone.

What do you think of these new smartphones from Motorola? I would love to hear from you.

Just leave your comment in the comments section below. ?