Motorola's products have become the first phones for many. Once upon a time, their devices were among the most stylish. But lately, the company has not been doing very well, it was sold several times. In 2016, Motorola is owned by Lenovo, and the new Moto Z is one of the first phones released under their control.
Appearance
There is some continuity of generations in the phone. If you put Moto devices from 2006 nearby, this becomes obvious.
The flagship phone turned out to be very thin, despite the top specifications. Without the complete panel, the thickness is only 5.2 mm. At the same time, the phone sits perfectly in the hand.
The design of the device is “for an amateur”, but I can’t call it terrible. Rather, it is "technological". Compared to the younger model Z Play, the flagship looks like a more complete device. Most of the technological holes are centered, and the contact base does not look "underdeveloped mechanical keyboard”, as it was in Z Play.
I will not make a separate item for the fingerprint scanner, because it appearance and placement seriously affected my perception of the phone. Even from the first photos that appeared on the network, I did not understand why this stupid square button, which is not a button at all?
Of course, I understand that because of the modularity, the engineers had to move the scanner to the front panel, but, guys, why do it THAT is what? If you have already made a button, then give the opportunity to click it. Make separate hardware keys and you will be happy. But no, the keys are on-screen. And for the first week, I constantly thought that something was clearly broken in the phone, since nothing happens when you press the button.
And then something really went wrong. Literally before shooting the video, the scanner simply forgot my fingerprint. The phone refused to recognize the fingerprint, I had to manually enter the password. Even re-entry of the finger into the system did not help, it was determined from the twentieth time. So for this "embossed meaningless square" I put a minus.
The back panel is metal. It can even be called beautiful, but until you pick up the phone. The case is instantly covered with prints.
The hump of the camera is huge, but this is justified by modularity. It helps additional panels to hold more securely.
I note that all of the above applies to the black version of the phone. We also had a white Moto in the office, but I won’t show it to you so that you don’t get an aesthetic injury. So remember - we watch / buy Moto Z only in black.
Screen
The front panel is covered with fourth-generation 2.5D Gorilla Glass with an excellent oleophobic coating.
Under it, in addition to the display, are: a mass of sensors, front-camera, flash and multiple microphones.
On a black phone, they are almost invisible, but they are there. Sensors are needed to implement Moto branded chips, which I will talk about a little later.
The screen here is 5.5-inch with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, it is built on the basis of an AMOLED matrix. The saturation of the picture is familiar to this type of display.
The picture is excellent. No glare or distortion was noticed. And it’s not worth talking about the black color - no one has yet bypassed AMOLED screens in this parameter.
Characteristics
They are here, as befits a flagship, top-end: Snapdragon processor 820, 4 GB random access memory, 32 or 64 GB of internal memory and a slot for microSD cards combined with a SIM card tray. phone works on stock android version 6.0 and literally this week will begin updating to Android 7.0.
There are no complaints about the daily operation of the phone. He is very fast. Probably one of the fastest devices I've ever used. True, there were some oddities with the tests. In Antutu, the phone scored only 59 thousand points several times in a row.
The program, for unknown reasons, could not test the video accelerator. After several reboots and resetting the phone, I got the usual results for the 820 processor.
There are some performance issues in games. For example, the new NFS is completely unoptimized for this phone. It runs at 720p and even manages to slow down sometimes.
Asphalt is already working at maximum speeds, but after 10-15 minutes of playing the phone heats up well and starts throttling.
It looks like the engineers failed to establish normal processor cooling. After a long game, the phone becomes simply uncomfortable to hold in your hands.
Modularity and Moto branding
All proprietary features migrated to Moto Z with little or no change. To turn on the camera, you can rotate the phone, and if you repeat this action, the phone will switch from the main module to the front one. Built-in sensors understand when you pick up the phone, or hold your palm over the screen. Such movement turns on a display that shows the time and any notifications received. In addition, you can configure the recognition of your voice, the phone will constantly listen to you.
As for modularity, I can call its implementation one of the best on the market. The phone instantly switches between Moto Mods and there is no need to reboot it or manually configure anything. Everything happens automatically. But the need for all this remains in question.
Soon a separate material will be released on the channel and the website, where I will talk in detail about each of the available Moto Mods. I will only note that the interchangeable panels play a little, and their constant replacement leaves scratches on the case.
cameras
The main module here is 13 MP with f1.8 aperture, there is optical stabilization, laser autofocus and dual flash. good performance but the quality is normal. Moto phones have never been devices for mobile photographers. And with the advent of the Z-series, the situation has not changed.
The pictures are good, but still do not reach the market leaders. The better the lighting, the better the shot will turn out. At night, problems with noise and lubrication are noticeable. Even stabilization does not always help to correct the situation.
The video is recorded in 4K, but its quality does not stand out either. So for the blogger this phone fit poorly.
The front camera received a 5 MP module with a pixel size of 1.4 µm, f / 2.2 aperture and a flash. The image quality is good even in the dark, so you are provided with acceptable selfies.
Sound quality and battery life
Let's talk about the connector that phone manufacturers buried in 2016. This is a 3.5mm miniJack. It is not here, so you have to use a special adapter or Bluetooth headphones to listen to music.
The sound quality is good, and the volume reserve is enough with the head. But adjusting the volume level with the side keys is inconvenient. They are small and easy to confuse with the power button.
The volume of the main speaker, which doubles as a speaker, is enough to hear a call in a noisy place. And during a conversation on the phone, your interlocutor will be heard by the entire minibus.
Battery life is another pain for the device. It has a 2600 mAh battery. With active use (photo, music, Internet, social networks), the phone lives up to 7-8 pm and asks for charging. The complete power supply that supports fast charging saves the situation a little, but it is inconvenient to wear it all the time.
Soon there will be several panels with built-in power bank, which can extend the battery life of the device.
Conclusion
As a result, no matter how I try to find advantages in the phone, there are more disadvantages in it. Yes, the system is lightning fast, the screen good quality and the implementation of modularity is great. But remembering the cost, you understand that for his money he has a lot of shortcomings. Overheating, short time battery life, backlash of replaceable modules, problems with the fingerprint sensor, a very controversial design and a useless square under the screen - all this spoils the impression of the device.
Unfortunately, Moto turned out to be a very expensive and niche phone, which will be of interest only to fans of the company. So I would not recommend it for purchase. These are the disappointing results.
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At the end of November, 2016 the Lenovo company provided for Russian market new smartphones Moto Z and Moto Z Play. A notable feature of the new products is the interchangeable modules Moto Mods, which allow you to turn your phone into a projector, a full-fledged camera or a music speaker. In this review, we will compare the flagship Moto Z with the powerful "mid-range" Moto Z Play, and also test all the optional Mods.
Equipment and appearance
Moto Z smartphones came to us for review in black, Moto Z Play - in white. Included with the first: Charger with a non-removable USB Type C cable, a clip for a tray with SIM cards and a flash drive, a Type C to 3.5mm headphone adapter, a protective bumper and a panel for the back cover. Z Play, unfortunately, does not have a complete bumper, but an adapter is not needed - the smartphone has a classic 3.5 mm jack connector.
Smartphone batteries are non-removable, the charger and both smartphones support TurboPower technology, which allows you to increase the operating time of devices by 9 hours in 15 minutes of charging!
Both devices are sold in white with a golden rim and black with dark gray. The glasses on the front and back have an oleophobic coating, thanks to which smartphones feel good in the hand, and prints are easily erased.
Recently, many manufacturers have begun to combine slots for SIM and flash cards, which limited users - to insert a second SIM or flash drive? But Lenovo made an excellent move - a feature of these models is the presence of two slots for a SIM card and a separate (!) For a microSD flash drive.
The included panel is very handy. First, it protects the magnetic contacts on the back cover and the protruding camera. Secondly, it is very pleasant to the touch, reminiscent of a textured fabric.
Despite the rather impressive dimensions, smartphones fit perfectly in the hand. And if Moto Z Play is comparable in thickness to the products of the "apple" brand, then Moto Z is surprisingly thin, just over 5 millimeters!
Both smartphones are equipped with all the necessary sensors: proximity, lighting, accelerometer, as well as a fingerprint scanner, which is located under the screen. This scanner recognizes up to 5 prints simultaneously in just a fraction of a second, stunningly fast and convenient!
Screens on smartphones are made using AMOLED technology and have a protective coating of Corning Gorilla Glass. The resolution of the displays is impressive: FullHD on Moto Z Play and Ultra HD (4K) on Moto Z. The screen behaves well in the sun, does not fade, and adaptive brightness adjustment adjusts to the current lighting.
The back camera in Moto Z Play has a resolution of 16 megapixels, dual flash and laser autofocus. The resolution of Moto Z is slightly lower - 13 megapixels, but the camera of this smartphone is equipped with a system optical stabilization images and allows you to shoot Full HD video at a frame rate of 60 fps.
Smartphones work on operating system Android. Moto Z has already been updated to the most latest version 7.0, Moto Z Play is still "working" on the 6.0.1 system, soon they promise an OS update.
Both devices have built-in “chips” that allow you to increase ease of use: when you swipe up from the bottom, the screen “shrinks” for one-handed control, if you make a chopping motion with your smartphone down, the flashlight will turn on, and if you turn it left and right, the camera application will open. If you take the smartphone in your hand during a call, it will switch to vibration mode, and if you turn the screen down, it will switch to completely silent.
Moto Z has a flagship filling: the latest generation processor from Qualcomm - a quad-core Snapdragon 820, 4 GB of RAM, 32 GB of internal memory and an Adreno 530 video accelerator. , 3 GB of RAM, everything else is the same.
The rear cameras of smartphones, although they differ in resolution, are almost impossible to see the difference on the screens. They are equipped with dual LED flash, laser and phase detection autofocus. The Moto Z also features Optical Image Stabilization, which allows for sharper, blur-free shots through lens movement. The front cameras are identical - 5 MP and LED flash.
Specifications
| Moto Z | Moto Z Play | |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Monoblock | Monoblock |
| Housing materials | aluminum and glass | aluminum and glass |
| Operating system | Android 7.0 | Android 6.0 (upgrade to 7.0 planned) |
| Net | 2G/3G/LTE (800/1800/2600), two nanoSIM cards | |
| Platform | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 |
| CPU | Quad-core, 1.8 GHz | Octa-core, 2 GHz |
| video accelerator | Adreno 530 | Adreno 530 |
| Inner memory | 32 GB | 32 GB |
| RAM | 4 GB | 3 GB |
| Memory card slot | Yes, separate, up to 2 TB | Yes, separate, up to 2 TB |
| WiFi | Yes, a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band | Yes, a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.1LE, A2DP | Yes, 4.1LE, A2DP |
| NFC | There is | There is |
| Display | 5.5" Quad HD AMOLED display (1440p/535ppi), CorningⓇ GorillaⓇ Glass | 5.5" Super AMOLED display, (1080p HD/403ppi) CorningⓇ GorillaⓇ Glass |
| Oleophobic coating | There is | There is |
| Main camera | 13M, f/1.8, laser and phase detection autofocus, LED flash, optical image stabilization | 16 MP, f/2.0, laser and phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash |
| Front-camera | 5 MP, f/2.2, LED flash | 5 MP, f/2.2, front flash |
| Navigation | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS | GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, light sensor, multiple motion sensors, fingerprint reader | Accelerometer, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor, Fingerprint Reader |
| Battery | Fixed, Li-Ion 2600 mAh | Fixed, Li-Ion 3500 mAh |
| Headphone jack | USB Type-C, 3.5 mm adapter included | 3.5mm |
| Dimensions | 153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2mm | 156.4 x 76.4 x 7 mm |
| The weight | 136 g | 165 g |
Additional Moto Mods
One of the main features of the new Moto smartphones- modularity. For both models, you can additionally purchase various Mods that expand the functionality or change the appearance of the devices.
photomodule Hasselblad True Zoom able to turn your smartphone into a real full-fledged camera! Tenx optical zoom, xenon flash, optical stabilization, RAW photo - why do you need your "soap box" now, when everything now fits in your pocket?
True Zoom comes with a nice black case that allows you to keep the module in excellent condition.
Below are examples of photos without zooming and with a 10x zoom.
The second of the modules announced to date is a projector insta-share. One movement - and a full-fledged picture from the smartphone screen is displayed on your wall! Even a small resolution of 480p is enough to display an image of 70 inches, which is larger than almost any modern TV. The projector has a built-in battery that can provide 60 minutes of viewing, after discharging the module starts to be powered by the smartphone battery. If you plug your phone into a power outlet while watching, both the phone itself and the projector will be charged.
To extend the life of the smartphone itself, it is no longer necessary to buy external battery, getting in the way in a bag or pocket. It is enough to connect a thin module-battery Incipio offGRID™ Power Pack and the operating time will increase to 22 hours!
Decorative trims on the back Moto Style Shells allow you to change the style of your smartphone every day according to your mood.
And the last module JBL Soundboost Speaker– will appeal to all music lovers. This portable speaker also connects in one motion, has two 6-watt speakers and a built-in 10-hour battery. Now music is with you everywhere!
Conclusion
Moto has made great stylish smartphones with powerful stuffing, quality camera and long time work. And modules that expand the functionality of devices help to make a final choice: Moto Z smartphones are the most interesting novelties of 2016!
This year, Motorola decided to ditch the sequel to its main flagship Moto Z in favor of a stripped-down successor to the Moto Z Force. And while Motorola's new flagship model is our hottest interest, we really expected more from the new Moto Z2 Force than we got. However, the phone turned out to be pretty good! We bring to your attention our review of the new flagship Motorola device!
For review, we received an initially unlocked Moto Z2 Force smartphone from the American operator Verizon, which
Overall, we really liked the new Moto Z2 Force. I love how responsive it is and how fast the fingerprint sensor responds, as well as the little things like the front flash that you don't see on other devices. And of course how easy it is to add a Moto Z2 Force additional features, using Moto modules such as the Moto 360 camera or the GamePad game controller.
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The time, from the mid-1990s to the mid-2000s, was a time of innovation in the field cellular communication. We saw the creation of the first flip phone, the Moto RAZR, the first QWERTY smartphone, the first app ecosystem, and, of course, the first touchscreen phone.
But, since then, the field of innovation has stagnated. Small changes in display sizes or camera megapixels were presented as a new breakthrough, but had little effect on the overall experience, and in the end, all new smartphones became predictable.
Result? Limited selection, similar products and bored consumers. And it's not fair.
We see a world where people are not limited by what the smartphone manufacturer has to offer. Instead, we believe that people should be able to choose the capabilities of their smartphone themselves.
Meet new line Moto Z smartphones with Moto Mods that will turn your smartphone into a constructor!
Moto Z: The world's thinnest premium smartphone
Constructed from military-grade aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel, the stunning new Moto Z is durable and razor thin at just 5.2mm and ultra-light with a 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display. It's also incredibly powerful - with a Qualcomm® Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage. You can get more space for photos, videos, and apps by adding microSD card up to 2 TB.
Motorola knows that perfect timing doesn't always mean perfect conditions. That's why Moto Z got a 13 MP camera high definition with optical image stabilization and laser autofocus to help you capture beautiful, life-like photos in any light. The front-facing 5MP camera has a wide-angle lens that's great for chats and photos with friends, and thanks to the optional front-facing flash, all photos look great, even in low light.
The water-repellent finish means that rain, splashes or spills won't damage your phone. Tired of entering a password to log in? With a fingerprint scanner, a touch is all you need to instantly unlock your phone. The battery, with a run time of 30 hours, will allow you to move all day and night without the need to stop and recharge. You will receive up to 8 hours additional work in just 15 minutes with TurboPower™ when you need extra power.
Moto Z Force: performance and sophisticated design
Keep your expectations high with the sleek, all-metal Moto Z Force, featuring a second-generation display featuring Moto ShatterShield™ technology that ensures the display won't crack or shatter if dropped.
Equipped with the same specs as the Moto Z, it boosts gaming time to 40 hours of battery life and fast charging TurboPower™ ever made! Get up to 15 hours of battery life with just 15 minutes of charging. Capture crystal-clear pictures in any lighting condition with the industry-leading 21MP camera, featuring optical image stabilization, phase-detection autofocus (PDAF) and laser autofocus.
It's unmatched power, speed, performance and protection all rolled into one.
Moto Mod - everything changes
Welcome to the new era mobile technology. FROM new technology Moto Mod, now you have the ability to transform your Moto Z exactly the way you want it! Are you going to have a party? JBL® SoundBoost speakers are very, very loud. Or, grab some popcorn and turn your phone into a 70-inch movie projector with the Moto Insta-Share Projector. Need an extra boost? The Power Pack instantly adds up to 22 hours of use - and it comes from the most different manufacturers like Kate Spade New York, TUMI and Incipio.
Your phone will match your style with new interchangeable covers. Choose panels made from high quality materials such as natural wood and leather, or patterned fabric. You can change them whenever you want.
The process of attaching a Moto Mod is incredibly simple. Powerful magnets allow you to connect your Moto Mod to your phone so you can easily change them as your needs change. And since the feature never goes out of style, rest assured that Moto Mods developed today are designed to work with future generations of Moto Z.
Bring your ideas to life
Have a great idea for a Moto Mod? Not only is Motorola working on a mod ecosystem, it also provides an open architecture and tools that let you bring your own idea to life. Thanks to new program for Moto Mod Developers, small developers will have an unparalleled opportunity to help build a complete ecosystem that maximizes innovation and redefines the future of mobile.
Need a little help with your Moto Mod idea? The Lenovo Capital and Incubator Group (LCIG) will offer equity funding to drive innovation on the Moto Mod platform. In addition, LCIG has allocated $1 million in equity funding for a developer or company that builds the best Moto Mod prototype through March 31, 2017.
For getting additional information For the Development Moto Mod kit and certification process, visit developer.motorola.com.
How to buy Moto Z and Moto Mod phones?
Moto Z DROID™ Edition and Moto Z Force DROID™ Edition will be available in the US this summer through exclusive partner Verizon and retailers such as Best Buy and moto.com. Moto Mod presented today will be available at the same time.
Moto Z will also be available without an operator contract on moto.com and various retailers this fall.
The Moto Z line will be available worldwide starting in September with the Moto Mod.
In our lineup, the Moto Z and Moto Mod will be available from the start of sales in the US.
In nature, the strongest individuals survive, and in the smartphone industry, the most profitable devices for the user. I returned to IT journalism from gaming journalism just as the rivalry between LG and Lenovo was gaining momentum, but the G5 with interchangeable modules was not talked about well, unlike the Moto Z. The “module war” was, unfortunately, completed faster than the battle for Earth between the first and second Half-Life - and not so long ago I had the opportunity to actively test the winner of this war, Motorola Moto Z with all existing modules for it.
Predecessors of the Motorola Moto Z
To begin with, a little of my life story with smartphones. The first was a budget Samsung Galaxy Geo who introduced me to little green man, but I didn’t pull anything more seriously than basic arcades, and then I earned bread by reviewing games. After him - that paid off in a month. He introduced me to the segment of premium devices with durable batteries like Rasputin, as well as the lack of memory cards and an iron button that heated up during the game like the old ones. NVIDIA graphics cards. Yes, it was they who used to warm up, it’s not for nothing that the GTX on the wrong layout sounds like “PECH”.
Then there was Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, which didn’t suit me except for the camera, well, she didn’t want to work well with me under any sauce. Further - ASUS Zenfone Selfie, where the camera was excellent from any angle, but the updates and system stability ... Not very, let's say.
The whole story goes like this:
a) I have never had a smartphone that satisfies me completely, and
b) my devices have always been “dumplings”, rather thick units, and I didn’t really imagine something really thin, but at the same time called a smartphone.
Comfort and body
Moto Z is one. After the rounded Selfie, it is felt in contrast, like a sheet of paper next to a chipboard bar. Very impressive, but I will not say that in a radically good way. The smartphone is thin, elegant and pleasant, but holding it in your hands is unusual and at first terribly uncomfortable. Besides, all rear end metallic, which I don't like except for a couple of cases, but Moto Z is not one of them. Everything is solved by installing the back cover-fashion, one of these comes in the kit, and the rest can be purchased at will.
In terms of dimensions, Moto Z is almost the same as many other 5.5-inch smartphones, including Redmi Note 3 Pro. The white version that I got may seem terribly chaotic to someone else. In the sense that the front of the device is white, the screen is in the center, and around it is glass, under which black and gray stuff is visible. Bottom fingerprint scanner, two microphones and two sensors, top front camera, flash, speaker and another sensor. And, of course, the black frame around the edges of the display is not the thickest, but noticeable to the naked eye, but I generally keep quiet about the armed one.
This is supposed to infuriate, anger and strain, but it ... does not bother. On the contrary - I am satisfied with this decision, even more than it should be! Let's just say, when I saw the first smartphones with translucent cases, my eyes lit up like a Kepler supernova - and the amount of detail on the front part reminds me of this very benevolent design. All in all, the white Moto Z looks like it came out of Doc Brown's lab, and for some people like me, there's no downside. By the way, if you lock your smartphone, then in the dark you will see how the right infrared sensor shines.
Interface and display
I confess, I use the Super AMOLED screen for the first time, and the transition from IPS was difficult. Incomprehensible blue at the corners, a sign of the display of "blueblood, ”it seemed to me something unpleasant, but this is a matter of habit, like brightness. Super AMOLED is Super AMOLED, the picture is so juicy that you can squeeze a can of juice out of it, and it consumes the screen not so much more than IPS, but if you use dark theme, then even less.
2K resolution is difficult to distinguish from FullHD, but in tests with VR headsets it works perfectly, making the picture almost perfect. I can only imagine what 4K would look like in this situation. It is worth noting that the oleophobic coating of the display is somewhat uncertain, the finger moves on the glass worse than other smartphones. Or is it because of the non-retractable touch keys...
Power and stuffing
The Motorola Moto Z is the most powerful Android smartphone I've ever owned, considering the AnTuTu rating of 130,000 parrots. It's all thanks to Qualcomm processor Snapdragon 820, Adreno 530 GPU and 4 GB of RAM. The speed of work, among other things, is affected by “clean” Android, which is devoid of any third-party pre-installed programs, such as Chinese garbage, games or other stuff that pulls RAM onto itself from the very start.
However, I used quotation marks for a reason, because conscience will not allow to call it really pure Android - there are pre-installed applications, but from Motorola. Yes, apps like Moto Mods and My Moto (for touch customization) are not from Google. And yes, it does not affect performance, and yes, they are vital for working with important smartphone functions, but these third-party programs.
In addition to the classic soup set in the form of Google Play, Play Music and so on, the smartphone has the Daydream app installed, since Moto Z is compatible with virtual reality new generation from Google. I couldn’t utilize this program, because I don’t have a VR helmet with Daydream support, but this is a matter of time, not desire, so I’m glad for the support.
Speed of work and nuances
In terms of actual speed, the Moto Z is a monster. Launching the camera in a fraction of a second with any of three ways(double-click on the power button, a special shake, start from the lock screen), storage of a large number of applications in memory (at least five instant messengers and a player), excellent speed of opening web pages, no problems in working with 4K, and at the same time, the smartphone is decisively refuses to warm up until the last moment, when you won’t stay cool at all.
There are, however, "jambs". Oddly enough, I noticed the slowest operation of the interface in the settings - when scrolling, the image twitching is clearly noticeable. Why - only Krishna knows. Another trouble is the stability of the system, in particular, work with the Hasselblad photo module. Several times the module remained active even after turning off the camera program, that is, the lens remained extended and open, with the lenses wide open - and it remained so even after disconnecting the mod from the Moto Z.
In addition, the module does not work well with camera zoom FX, which I put for comparison with the standard one - the program crashes in case of idle time that lasts longer than 5-6 seconds. Flying steadily. I will attribute this to incompatibility with the first version of the mod, it is unlikely that the most stable Android or the oldest and most popular camera application from Google Play is to blame.
Camera and My Moto
The stock camera app on the Moto Z is interesting, but surprisingly underpowered. Yes, there is a professional shooting mode, and there are settings, but for video there are practically no options - including ISO adjustment and so on, everything is done automatically. Hasselblad has even fewer options, although the image quality is higher.
As for My Moto, this little application reveals the strongest side of Moto Z. Let's just say that all these sensors, scanners and other RoboCop accessories are "attached" to the smartphone's face for a reason. They work all the time, and this helps to implement a variety of functions, from Always on Display to the ability to keep the backlight of the smartphone on while the user is looking at the screen. It would seem that such work should drain the battery of the device to the state of raisins, but in real work I did not notice a lack of mAh.
Operating system
Android 7 is just a fairy tale. Banal multi-window makes working with a 5.5-inch screen terribly pleasant, and gives a real challenge to the processor, increasing the load, in fact, twice. At the same time, multi-windowing is implemented with almost all programs. Also, among other things, there was support for physical keyboards and customization of key combinations. For example, my newly bought on GearBest.com () keyboard-stand, suitable for any phablets, on Android 6.0 needed a bunch of crutches for normal operation. No problems with seven.
The trouble with "pure" Android is that the system is devoid of any third-party functions, both useful and harmful. For example, when typing text through the keyboard, the control keys constantly popped up from below, and remove them without third party programs will not work. Well, perhaps the most revealing example concerns rebooting the smartphone - in clean versions, it appeared only in Android 7.1, so Moto Z is deprived of this possibility.
Working with music
The thin body of Moto Z played a cruel joke in the form of a lack of a 3.5 mm jack. It would seem that after my work with external USB sound cards, I realized that it is much better with them than without them. Therefore, I am 146% sure that the headphones connected to the phablet via USB Type-C will work like an angelic choir, but something else upsets me, namely, working with Bluetooth.
Shot with ASUS Zenfone Selfie I don't know why, but when dealing with some wireless headsets Moto Z produces sound intermittently. In particular, the problem concerned - interruptions are barely noticeable, but vacuum headphones famous and useful for their contribution to temporary escapism, escape from reality into the world of the subconscious - and any interference, any wheezing and any hesitation will pull the user out of this most valuable state in a split second.
Moto Z is radically different from anything we've seen before from this manufacturer. The smartphone is very thin, only 5.2 mm (for comparison, the iPhone 7 case is 7.3 mm). On the front there is an abundance of sensors and microphones, on the back there is a round camera module in the form of a Moto 360 watch display. The device looks more like a futuristic concept. This gadget is definitely not to be confused with others.
The abundance of sensors is, of course, technologically advanced, but frankly ugly. And the camera protrudes by as much as 3 mm. In a word, out of habit, the appearance of the smartphone causes irritation and hostility. But, as they say, you get used to everything. So after a week you stop noticing all these roughnesses.
The body of the Moto Z is made of metal, with a glass insert at the back. The device is assembled with high quality. However, Motorola was famous for its solid build. Three colors will be on sale: silver, gold and black. The latter, by the way, is the most advantageous option: all these numerous sensors and holes are not so noticeable on it. But we have, as you can see, golden.
The rear of the Moto Z looks cool, but the bezel will take some getting used to. It is better to buy the black version: it does not show numerous sensors and microphone holes.
We emphasize right away that Moto Z is not suitable for working in a “naked” form. The fact is that the case is thin, the edges are sharp, and the dimensions are rather big - it is inconvenient to hold in your hand, the device strives to slip out. Replaceable covers are quite a solution.
The manufacturer provided panels from different materials, which are attached to the smartphone with magnets. I put on the cover - the feeling of working with Moto Z changes dramatically. It is comfortable to hold, fingers do not slip, the camera does not stick out. At the same time, the smartphone remains beautiful and thin.
On sale you can find panels made of plastic, wood, fabric and leather. The fabric one comes with a smartphone, and the new one will cost 1990 rubles.
The magnets on the back of the Moto Z aren't just for replacement covers. They are attached modules Moto Mods, which will be sold separately. The idea is implemented successfully: modules can be quickly changed without turning off the phone. Engineers from LG did not think of this when developing the G5 model, by the way.
There are already 6 such modules:
- JBL speaker with stereo sound and its own battery. It costs 80 dollars.
- Hasselblad photomodule with 12 megapixel camera, optical stabilization and 10x zoom.
- Two battery covers: 2200 mAh and 3000 mAh.
- Insta Share mini projector for the price of a large projector: $300
- Car mount with fast charging function.
True, the modules are expensive. Battery for 4000 rubles? Thank you, I'd rather buy an external battery 5 times cheaper. Column for 5000? For the same money you can find portable acoustics several times more powerful. Of interest is perhaps the Hasselblad photomodule, but few will buy it for $ 250.
Another victim thin body became a headphone jack - there was no place for it (as is the case with Apple iPhone 7). Now the headphones are connected either via Bluetooth or via USB Type-C. Luckily, the Moto Z comes with a 3.5mm adapter.
Fortunately, this did not affect the sound quality. Clear, loud, but not as bassy as HTC 10. On par with other flagships: Huawei P9 Plus, LG G5 and Galaxy S7.
It is strange that there is no support for the Bluetooth aptX codec. It is needed for high sound quality when it comes to connecting headphones "over the air". That is, Motorola wants us to give up wires, but forgot to ensure high sound quality.
But the external speaker impressed. There is only one, but it produces a loud and clear sound. What is nice, while playing games and watching movies, the speaker does not overlap.
It is too early to remove the 3.5mm jack from smartphones. Even for the sake of thickness. It's good that an adapter is included with the Moto Z.
When talking to the interlocutor, you can hear perfectly, and the interlocutors themselves also liked the sound. This is the merit of four microphones scattered throughout the body of the Moto Z. They help out great in a noisy subway and in strong winds.
The fingerprint scanner is built into the unsightly square below the screen. This is not a key, as it might seem at first glance, and it cannot be pressed. There is a sensor, but it has only two functions: with a long press, the smartphone is blocked, when touched in full screen applications- the navigation bar pops up.
The scanner reads prints instantly. They quickly touched the square - and the smartphone is immediately ready for work. In terms of response speed, Moto Z is not inferior to the leaders OnePLus 3 and Huawei P9 Plus.
Moto Z has an AMOLED-matrix with a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels. For a 5.5-inch screen, this is more than enough. The image is clear, contrast. The black color is perfect. The brightness of the backlight is high, but there is almost no margin. That is, on a bright sunny day, the screen may be dim.
At the same time, if you turn the brightness to a minimum in the dark, the screen still remains merciless to the eyes: this is because the minimum level is not as low as we would like.
The screen is made using AMOLED technology, energy saving. The image is clear and contrasting, but with the brightness settings, not everything is as great as we would like.
The weak side of Motorola's flagships has always been the camera. However, here the situation has changed. Moto Z installed a module with a resolution of 13 megapixels and f1.8 aperture. Moreover, an optical stabilizer and laser autofocus were added here.
During the day, the camera shoots perfectly: high detail, a traced sky, the correct reproduction of colors and shades. Automation works flawlessly. I liked the work of automatic HDR. Even against a bright sun, the processor draws out dark areas, removes glare and does not lighten bright objects.
With the onset of darkness, the focus begins to play pranks. Either it hits by, or it frantically tries to grab onto the light source. Exposure sacrifices noise reduction: there is little graininess, but moving objects are blurred. Static images remain sharp thanks to stabilization.
The front 5-megapixel camera has a flash. At night and indoors, it will help out selfie lovers. The image capture angle is large, so if you try, you can put a large company in the frame.
The camera in Moto Z caught up with the current flagships from other manufacturers in terms of quality. But inferior in poor lighting samsung galaxy S7, Google Pixel and iPhone 7 Plus.
Motorola Moto Z is one of the fastest smartphones in the world. The novelty is powered by a proven Snapdragon 820 chip with a frequency of 2.15 GHz. The same processor is in the LG G5, HTC 10, OnePlus 3. According to the results of tests, Moto Z is in the top three.
In Geekbench 4, the smartphone scored suspiciously low points. Moto Z earned 5200 points from foreign colleagues. Let's write off the lags of the test sample.
RAM 4 GB, physical - either 32 or 64 GB. For most users, this will be enough, but just in case, there is a slot for memory cards. Then you can increase the volume by another 256 GB. But keep in mind: the flash drive is installed instead of one of the two SIM cards.
In reality, the smartphone is very fast. He doesn't care what to do - run games, play 4K video or keep several applications in the background. Everything is so smooth that you involuntarily compare Moto Z with Google Pixel.
The analogy with the Pixel suggests itself when looking at the system. Motorola Moto Z is the only flagship that runs on "pure" Android. No heavy shells and heaps of useless applications. Everything is neat and to the point. Yes, Moto Z is not the first in tests, but in terms of optimization it can compete with Google's own devices.