Motorola may have been the pioneers in mobile phone technology, but over the years the company faded into the background as other tech giants clawed their way into center stage. However, having been acquired by Lenovo, well, partially anyways, the American MNC seems to be making a comeback of sorts. Today, at the ASEAN launch of the Moto Z2 Play and the latest Moto ModsTM in Bangkok, the key message was “Different is better”. It was a clever little dig at how the latest flagship phones today are uncannily similar to one another.

Moto Z2 Play

Moto Z2 Play, Rearview
It was a bold statement, but lucky for them, the Moto Z2 play exceeds expectations. I’ve only spent a short time with this midrange smartphone, but the more I play with it, the more it’s winning me over. It has a beautiful display, a battery life to be reckoned with, supports microSD cards of up to 2TB, but most of all, it has really intriguing magnetic Moto Mods that will make you as giddy as a schoolboy. These mods are what separates the Moto Z2 Play from the pack of flagship smartphones that are converging toward each other.

A range of Moto Mods to pick from
Here’s a quick look at a few that we were introduced to today. This list is not exhaustive, but will give you an idea about what is in store. More in-depth reviews will be conducted soon, so watch this space for updates. Scroll to the bottom for specs on the Moto Z2 Play.

JBL SoundBoost 2
JBL SoundBoost 2
This handy little Moto Mod will transform your mobile phone into a portable speaker with surprising power and sound quality. It is great for a dinner party or the gym. It is by no means groundbreaking, but this iteration of the mod has been improved in terms of build quality and now comes in various colours.

Moto TurboPower Pack, available in other colours too. TBC
TurboPower Charger
This mod needs very little explanation. It’ll give your Moto Z2 Play the boost it needs when you’re running out of juice. The good news is you’ll get up to 8 hours in standy power from just 15 minutes of charge. The even better news is it comes in a range of designs, so pick whatever tickles your fancy.

The Moto Gamepad in action
Moto Gamepad
Finally, the mod that I’m personally most excited about, is a gamepad that’ll elevate your gaming experience. We’re talking about a D-pad, control sticks, and tactile buttons that resemble gaming controllers that we’re all too familiar with. Your phone is also directly connected to the device, so you don’t have to worry about any input lag.
Moto Z2 Play Technical Specifications
Moto Z2 Play |
|
Dimensions |
Height: 156.2 mm Width: 76.2 mm Depth: 5.99 mm Weight: 145 g |
Processor |
Qualcomm® SnapdragonTM 626 processor with up to 2.2GHz octa-core CPU with Adreno 506 GPU |
Software |
AndroidTM 7.1.1, Nougat with Moto Experiences (Moto Display, Moto Actions, Moto Voice) |
Display |
13.97cm (5.5″) FHD Super AMOLED display (1080p [1920×1080] / 401 ppi), CorningRGorillaRGlass |
Storage (ROM)* Varies by country |
32GB or 64GB ROM with microSD card support (up to 2TB) |
Memory (RAM)* Varies by country |
3 GB or 4GB |
Rear Camera |
12MP, dual autofocus pixel camera with 1.4um sensor, f/ 1.7 aperture, laser autofocus, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), and dual LED color correlated temperature (CCT) flash |
Front Camera |
5MP camera with a wide view lens, f/ 2.2 aperture, and dual LED color correlated temperature (CCT) flash |
Video Capture |
480p (30fps) 720p (120fps) 1080p (30/60fps), 4K (30fps) |
Battery** |
3000mAh Up to 24 hours mixed usage |
Turbo Charging+ |
TurboPowerTM gives you up to 7 hours of power in just 15 minutes of charging |
Colors Varies by country and channel |
Lunar Gray, Fine Gold, Nimbus Blue, Super Black |
SIM |
Nano-SIM; Dual-SIM available in select markets |
Audio |
Front-ported loudspeaker, 3-mic support |
Bluetooth® Technology |
Bluetooth version 4.2 LE + EDR |
Wi-Fi |
802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz |
Water- repellent |
Water repellent nano-coating |
NFC |
Yes |
Network Bands |
APAC (except India): GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 850+, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) 4G LTE (B1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 19, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41) |
Connectivity |
Moto Mods connector, USB-CTM port with USB 3.1 support, 3.5mm headset port |
Authentication |
Fingerprint reader |
For more information about the Moto Z2 Play, including its price and availability in Singapore, keep watching this space. We’ll updated when we get more information.