Today at Lenovo’s TechWorld event, Motorola unveiled two brand new devices that aim to change the smartphone game. The Moto Z and the Moto Z Force have been officially announced. Scaling in at only 5.2 millimeters thick and sporting full metal body chassis, these devices look to be rugged additions to the Android ecosystem. Motorola is calling these “SnapPhones,” alluding to an allegedly groundbreaking technology that underscores their modular nature. Both of these devices are coming in ‘DROID Editions’ on Verizon before eventually rolling out unlocked versions in September.
In a “snap like magic,” these devices can have whole modules attached to them, converting them into outdoor speakers, improved photography devices, or anything else that you can imagine. Motorola is calling this modular design a “full blown game changer” that appears to take the groundwork laid by the LG G5 and run with it. Called Moto Mods, these add-ons can be ‘snapped’ to the smartphone on the fly, without need for rebooting.
See also: Moto Z leaked teaser poster hints at three frame colors
What’s the downside? Well, neither of these devices will have standard headphone jacks. This feature was abandoned in the interest of making the smartphones thinner and leaner, so if you want to plug in conventional earbuds, you’ll have to use the USB-C to 3.5mm jack included with the smartphones.
Design and Specs
| Display | 5.5-inch 2650×1440 AMOLED screen |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage | 32GB of internal storage with MicroSD expansion |
| Camera | Main: 13MP |
| Battery | 2600mAh, 3500mAh for the Z Force Fast Charging |
| Software | Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow |
| Colors | Customizable via Moto Maker |
These specs pit the Moto Z devices against the current frontrunners of the 2016 flagship lineup.
Additionally, Motorola is saying that the Moto Z Force is guaranteed not to break or shatter thanks to Shatter Shield technology. The real-life capabilities of this have yet to be seen, but these are pretty large promises from Lenovo and Motorola. Specs on the Moto Z are clocking in at 5.5-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 SoC, and 4GB of RAM. Optical image stabilization and laser auto focus make the camera the Moto line’s most powerful offering yet.
Expected Availability
We don’t have specific release dates on these devices yet. The closest we have from Lenovo is that they will be available sometime “this summer.” These smartphones will originally be available on Verizon, and we’ll see the unlocked versions sometime during September. The much-touted Moto Mods will go on sale this fall, also hitting markets in September.
All in all, these appear to be very powerful offering from Motorola, and we’re looking forward to seeing how they fare up against the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the LG G5.
This topic is developing as we receive information from Lenovo.
Source: ANDRIOD AUTHORITY