Lenovo Tech World 2016. Moto Z, Moto Z Force and MotoMods

Perhaps the most anticipated event of Lenovo Tech World 16 was supposed to be the announcement of the new flagship Moto. Yes, some information about the device already leaked to the network, but it is one thing – to look at the pictures of poor quality and guess what of the rumors be true and what is not, and quite another – to see live machines. The company really showed news on Tech World – justified expectations or not?

All Moto presentation can be divided into three parts: a little about Moto Z, a little about Moto Z Force and also separately about motomods. I will try to briefly tell you about all this and share my very subjective opinion concluded.

Moto Z

The first device Moto Z line of smartphones from Lenovo. It replaces the Moto X. To say that this rethinking Series Moto X, you can not, this is a new product with a different design, and other features of other accents.

Characteristics

Materials used: metal, Gorilla Glass 4 Glass
Operating System: Android 6
Network: GSM / EDGE, UMTS / HSDPA, LTE
Screen: AMOLED (Samsung), a diagonal of 5.5 “, Resolution 2560×1440 pixels, 535-ppi
Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
Processor: quad, 64-bit, Kryo at a frequency of 2.2 GHz
Graphics: Adreno 530
RAM: 4 GB
Data Memory: 32/64 GB
Slot for memory card: yes, microSD (up to 256GB)
The main camera is 13 megapixels, f / 1.8, laser focus, dual LED flash, video is recorded in 4k
Front camera: 5 megapixel, f / 2.2
Interfaces: Wi-Fi Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.1 (LE), connector USB Type-C (USB-OTG) for charging / syncing / headset / headphone jack, FM-radio
Navigation: GPS (support A-GPS), GLONASS
Optional: a fingerprint reader, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
Battery: 2600 mAh
Dimensions: 153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2 mm
Weight: 136 grams

New Moto Z – a very thin smartphone. No, not so – it is very, very, very slim smartphone, one of the thinnest on the market at the moment. To be honest, I do not know what the task was to achieve such incredible thickness, because the camera module still sticks out, and the battery capacity because of this suffering, but it looks impressive, I will not argue.

C in terms of design it’s not quite clear in my mind. Personally, I liked the black machine, without sockets, it looks very cool and fun. Option golden brown, then again, for my taste, some faded. The case marks – is the fee for effective appearance.

The camera module is beaten quite strange, apparently, the developers would like to emphasize that in Moto Z camera is not “just any”, but very good. In fact happened is debatable. Contact area also does not paint a smartphone, but without it there would be a modular system, as I understand it.

The bottom line is we have an interesting design, but not so simple as in the Moto X, for example, where the bamboo panel immediately caused a reaction like “oh, what a cute smart!” And you do not pay attention to any shortcomings. In Moto Z also has panels, but they are implemented as modules and, accordingly, increase the thickness of the smartphone. In addition, mounting of panels – magnetic, so you can not say that they sit on the device “like a glove”. At the exhibition samples attached to the smartphone panels were a little backlash, frankly, it’s disturbing.

The characteristics of the machine in all excellent – top-end platform from Qualcomm’s, Mighty AMOLED-display, a lot of memory and a slot for microSD card. Confused only the battery capacity of 2600 mAh in all, I feel that Moto Z will often charge or use battery-modules.

Dimensions of the average, the smartphone is not the most compact among the “classmates”, but not the biggest. In his hand is quite convenient.

Front panel in Moto Z made of glass Gorilla Glass 4 with the effect of 2.5D. It looks beautiful.

Slightly below the screen about a square area. The fact that it is not a mechanical key (both Samsung) and sensor (both HTC), respectively, it is not exactly sensory-mechanical (as Meizu), it is simply a fingerprint scanner. So far, it seems to me that this is the main drawback of the smartphone. Not only does he square of some small and did not fit into the design of the case, since he is also “knows” nothing but a finger scan. Strange, is not it?

Total: interesting, but not quite unambiguous smartphone. On the one hand, the new Moto Z handsome (like me!), Very thin, efficient, on a pure Android OS and supports plug-in modules. On the other – a strange realization of the camera module and the contact area makes the unit with the “back” to some designer. Implementation of a fingerprint scanner frankly unsuccessful, and the battery capacity is hardly enough for a smartphone on the top chipset with QuadHD-screen TV and a “full ground meat” of the interfaces.

Moto Z Force

Smartphone Moto Z Force – not just a version of Moto Z-protected screen from damage, some characteristics are improved, so that this model can be called a true flagship of the range.

Characteristics

Materials used: metal, glass Gorilla Glass 4 (ShatterShield technology)
Operating System: Android 6
Network: GSM / EDGE, UMTS / HSDPA, LTE
Screen: AMOLED (Samsung), a diagonal of 5.5 “, Resolution 2560×1440 pixels, 535-ppi
Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 820
Processor: quad, 64-bit, Kryo at a frequency of 2.2 GHz
Graphics: Adreno 530
RAM: 4 GB
Data Memory: 32/64 GB
Slot for memory card: yes, microSD (up to 256GB)
Main Camera: 21 megapixel, f / 1.8, laser focusing, optical stabilization, dual LED flash, video is recorded in 4k
Front camera: 5 megapixel, f / 2.2
Interfaces: Wi-Fi Dual-Band, Bluetooth 4.1 (LE), connector USB Type-C (USB-OTG) for charging / syncing / headset / headphone jack, FM-radio
Navigation: GPS (support A-GPS), GLONASS
Optional: a fingerprint reader, accelerometer, light sensor, proximity sensor
Battery: 3500 mAh
Dimensions: 156 x 75.8 x 7 mm
Weight: 163 grams

Because of the technology ShatterShield and more capacious battery Moto Z Force a little larger and heavier than usual Moto Z. «On paper,” a small difference, but in practice Moto Z Force with a module attached to it, there is a huge socket device, in particular, is very thick .

Model with a white front panel looks questionable, in my view, it can be seen on all the sensors, cameras, sensors – very ugly. The device is black – a different story: a strict and stylish.

In Moto Z Force screen is protected by ShatterShield technology, it uses a kind of “sandwich”, whereby the screen is not damaged by falling smartphone, even if you try. Even in Moto Z Force larger capacity battery, so that work on a single charge smartphone must noticeably longer. Both, of course, support the fast charging technology from Qualcomm.

I have a major concern in the new line Moto caused the camera to be honest. It so happened that this year, followed by Samsung could make a good camera and HTC (HTC 10, in for once!), And Huawei with them P9 is, but the Sony, for example, create interesting smartphones are not the best camera and continue. The presentation was to evaluate the photos I took better quality from this point of view the device, Moto Z Force. I find it difficult to estimate the camera in Moto Z Force on a pair of shots, but at first (very first!) Opinion, it worked well and accurately is much better than it was in the Moto X Pure Edition and Moto X Force.

Below is a few examples of pictures, they are made in conditions not the best lighting for comparison – photos from Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge series. The comments await your opinions!

Both devices run on Android 6.0.1, which will be the updates – is still unknown, but the very existence of pure Android system for some users is a significant advantage.

In general, the machines turned out interesting, though not as uncompromising as we would like. And the cause is the desire to bring a line of Lenovo Moto something new, it seems to me – namely modules.

Motomods

The idea of plug-in modules for the smartphone is not new, as the most relevant and simple example we have a company LG with their smartphones LG G5 Reputation: and LG G5 SE, where it is possible to pull out the battery (thus turning off the device) and install in his place a module with battery and anything yet. In Moto more elegant solution – on the “back” of the smartphone has a pad, due to which the module is attached to the body and, most magnetic mount. Currently presented modules pikoproektorom with powerful speakers, with an extra battery (in various designs).

Replacement panels are now – as modules. Why it’s bad, I already wrote above. And this is good, because it is no longer necessary to order specific smartphone with “back”, without being able to change it. Now, you simply buy the unit and additional panels modules to it, and can change them at any time.

The company also announced a program motomods developers, in which every developer and manufacturer can gain access to a set of tools for creating your own modules. The idea would be interesting if Lenovo will be able to sell new Moto Z and Moto Z Force in amounts comparable with sales of at least Samsung Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge, but rather something cheaper and mass. Then developers will rush to do the modules to make them. But, it seems to me, wanting to create modules for the champions, whose sales hardly expected to be very large, is not very much – mostly likely other major Lenovo’s level, who want to take part in all this fun is the idea on the rise.

Information on prices is not in smartphone sales will go roughly in September (in the US).