Motorola Moto Z Play
-
Display
5.5 inches
1920 x 1080
-
Storage
32GB
-
Battery size
3,510 mAh
We still love the idea of a modular smartphone, and Motorola has made the best stab at it that we’ve seen so far. The Moto Z is a more powerful phone, but it works in the same way with the mods as the cheaper Moto Z Play.
The good
- Moto Mods improvements.
- Good battery life.
- Fair mid-range performance.
- Low-key Android.
The bad
- Mods are an untested commodity.
- Terrible button/fingerprint positioning.
- Chunky design.
- No contract options.
The Moto Z Play gives you access to Motorola's Moto Mods at a lower price, although its general performance isn't spectacular.
It’s pretty common for mobile manufacturers to follow up a hero device with a slightly lower-cost option. It’s why there are so many Samsung "Galaxy" phones in a given year, but only one Galaxy S9.
Sometimes, the lower-cost option comes along at the same time as the hero phone, and that’s precisely what Motorola has done with the Moto Z Play. It’s a slightly lower-specced version of the Motorola Moto Z in a thicker frame with a lower price point.
Design
- Moto Mods support at a cheaper price point than the Moto Z.
- Chunky design may not appeal to those with smaller hands.
Camera
- Solid mid-range camera hardware should be sufficient for general photography.
- Camera pundits can upgrade further with the Hasselblad camera mod.
Performance
- Decent mid-range power delivers solid performance in general use.
- Performance in 3D games is a little on the low side.
Battery life
- Plenty of battery capacity and a low-power processor allow for easy all-day battery life.
- Light phone users can even get multiple days of use out of a single charge.
Verdict
- A more accessible take on the modular smartphone that doesn't quite live up to its potential.
Pricing and availability
Motorola Moto Z Play
Motorola goes modular
With its modular attachments, the Motorola Moto Z Play gives you the freedom to customise its capabilities to your liking.
- The Motorola Moto Z Play retails for $699 but can be found cheaper at online retailers like Buy Mobile.
Motorola Moto Z Play specs
| OS | Android 6 |
|---|---|
| Display size (inches) | 5.5 |
| Display resolution (pixels) | 1920 x 1080 |
| Pixels per inch (PPI) | 403 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 625 |
| Height (mm) | 156.4 |
| Width (mm) | 76.4 |
| Depth (mm) | 7 |
| Weight (g) | 165 |
| Battery size (mAh) | 3,510 |
| Wireless charging |
No |
| Internal storage |
32GB |
| MicroSD expansion | 2TB |
| Fingerprint scanner | Yes |
| RAM | 3 |
| Water resistance | N/A |
| Rear camera (1) resolution | 16 |
|---|---|
| Rear camera (1) aperture | f/2.0 |
| Rear camera (2) resolution | |
| Rear camera (2) aperture | |
| Rear camera (3) resolution | |
| Rear camera (3) aperture | |
| Front camera (1) resolution | 5 |
| Front camera (1) aperture | f/2.2 |
| Front camera (2) resolution | |
| Front camera (2) aperture |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n |
|---|---|
| Network category speed | N/A |
| NFC support | Yes |
Compare SIM-only plans for the Motorola Moto Z Play
Latest Motorola news
Motorola Moto G7 Plus: Features | Specifications | Pricing
The flagship phone of the Moto G series for 2019 is Motorola's Moto G7 Plus. Read on for full pricing and specifications for this mid-range powerhouse. Read more…
Motorola Moto G7 Power: Features | Specifications | Pricing
The Moto G7 Power is the phone for folks who don't want to spend a fortune but hate having their phone battery cut out too soon. Read more…
Motorola Moto G7 Play: Features | Specifications | Pricing
Motorola's lowest-cost Moto G7 handset has plenty that you might want to play with, although the price difference might tempt you to one of the fancier G7 models. Read more…
Image: Shutterstock
