An outside perspective on the features of perhaps one of the most unusual flagships of the current model year.
Even at the stage of rumors and 'accidental' leaks of smartphone prototype photos, it was clear that the Moto Z would not be easy. And so it happened, at least judging by the reviews of journalists who have already received the device for review. What does the novelty offer us?
| Dimensions
Weight |
153.3 x 75.3 x 5.2
136 g (4.80 oz) |
| SIM type | Nano-SIM |
| Display | A type | AMOLED |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 5.5 ″ | |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 (~ 535 ppi) | |
| Multitouch | Yes | |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 |
| Platform | OS | Android 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 | |
| CPU | 2 cores 2.15 Gg2 Kryo + 2 cores 1.6 GHz Kryo | |
| GPU | Adreno 530 |
| Memory | Memory card support | microSD, up to 256 GB (separate slot) |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in memory | 32/64 GB, 4 GB RAM |
| Camera | Main camera | 13 MP, f / 1.8, laser autofocus, OIS, dual LED flash |
|---|---|---|
| Functions | Geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, HDR, panorama | |
| Video | 2160p @ 30fps, 1080p @ 60fps, HDR | |
| Front-camera | 5 megapixels, f / 2.2, pixel size 1.4 µm, LED flash, 1080p |
| Sound | Types of alerts | Vibration, MP3, WAV ringtones |
|---|---|---|
| Speaker | Yes | |
| 3.5mm jack | No | |
| Features: | 3.5mm to USB -C adapter included Active noise cancellation, dedicated microphone |
| Communications | WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, dual band, WiFi Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | v4.1, A2DP, LE | |
| GPS | A-GPS, Glonass | |
| NFC | Yes | |
| FM radio | Yes | |
| USB | double-sided Type-C 1.0, USB On-The-Go; magnetic connector |
| Features: | Sensors | Fingerprint scanner, accelerometer, proximity sensor, gyroscope, compass |
|---|---|---|
| Types of messages | SMS, MMS, Email, Push Email, IM | |
| Browser | HTML5 | |
| Java | No | |
| Other | Fast charging MP3 / AAC + / WAV / Flac player MP4 / H.264 player Photo / video processing View documents |
| Battery | Non-removable, Li-Ion, 2600 mAh |
|---|
| miscellanea | Colors | Black / Gray, Black / Rose Gold, Black / Gold, White |
|---|
And now about the main advantages and controversial points.
Case thickness
First of all, the elegant and thin body of the smartphone catches the eye. The value of 5.2 mm may not be a record, but it is still a decent indicator.
Such a thin profile could not but affect the 'stuffing' of the Moto Z, for the sake of an attractive appearance, we had to compromise on the battery, the capacity of which is 2600 mAh. The main point here will be software and hardware optimization, QHD and 5.5 ″ diagonal will do their job anyway. Optimists, of course, are not discouraged, relying on Quick Charge support. We'll talk about another 'beauty victim' a little later. Be that as it may, the wow-effect from the point of view of the thickness of the body is provided to the device.
Materials
The front of the smartphone is almost identical to previous models of the G and X series, it is protected by 4th generation Gorilla Glass. At the back, we see a material with a brushed steel texture, which is also covered with glass.
From the first shots from the presentation of the smartphone, it became clear that the back of the Moto Z, by analogy with other smartphones with a glass coating, will easily collect all kinds of prints and smudges, offering in return the tactile satisfaction from premium materials. Convenience? Future owners will have to adapt, with its thickness, the smartphone will tend to fall out of hand at certain intervals.
Camera module
From the first photo, you may already have noticed that the camera module protrudes significantly from the body.
This decision caused a fair amount of bewilderment. Why violate the holistic design of a smartphone with such a hump? So that the user, instead of typing on a smartphone lying on the table, would pick it up and show it to everyone around? It's hard to say, it is likely that such a move was due to the increased attention to the camera when creating a smartphone.
About camera
The team responsible for the camera image quality of recent smartphones in the Moto line consists of former employees of the former photographic pioneer and now having a hard time Kodak. According to them, Moto Z pays great attention to the shooting speed, as well as parameters such as light sensitivity and white balance. I hope this is so, otherwise there is nothing more to justify the design of the camera module.
Sensors and logo
Let's go back to the front of the smartphone. In addition to the familiar proximity sensor and front camera, here we can see two infrared sensors, with which the device 'understands' when it is picked up, as well as a key with a fingerprint scanner .. and the Moto inscription. In the white version of the device, all this 'splendor', in my opinion, does not look very nice, in the place of designers, I would refuse the inscription and, if possible, think about a way to hide the sensors, as in the black version, which looks stricter and more solid.
One speaker?
Apparently, the work on the sound was not carried out at such a deep level as, for example, in the case of the camera. This is evidenced by the use of a single speaker on the top edge of the Moto Z, which also acts as a mono speaker for hands-free calling.
Keys
The smartphone controls are concentrated on the right side of the device, these are two volume control keys and a screen on / off button. Not everyone will like this configuration, many are accustomed to the fact that these elements are spaced at different ends. Apparently, in Lenovo it was considered that the user would take such a step and rebuild his habits, in principle, there is nothing complicated about this, but 'there is still a residue'. Of course, you won't be able to confuse the keys, the power button has a ribbed surface.
Fingerprint scanner
Even before it became known about the abandonment of the X in the name, there was already information about the presence of a fingerprint sensor in the phone, which inspired fans of the brand. In fact, it turned out to be a very fast sensor, examples of its operation can be seen in numerous video reviews, in fact it is impressive. For the sake of such speed, you can get used to the slightly unusual shape of the sensor.
Rejection of 3.5 mm jack
Moto Z was the first smartphone from a major manufacturer without the so beloved and now standard headphone jack. Let's omit the numerous attacks to the side Apple, in the case of Moto Z, the connector was most likely decided to be neglected for the sake of a thin case, and the designers succeeded. What should those who are so used to their headphones do? For such users, a USB Type-C adapter is included. A wireless future? No, have not heard.
Moto Mods
One of the main differences between the smartphone, which distinguishes it from others on the market, is the system of modular accessories, developed specifically for it both internally and by third-party manufacturers. Accessories are attached to the back panel, on which there are special pins. At this stage, the following accessories are available to users: panels with different textures that eliminate the problem of a 'sticking' camera module, a projector, an external speaker from JBL and an additional battery from Incipio. This suggests an accessory for the camera, most likely, similar products will appear later, after the device goes on sale all over the world.
Of course, I would like to 'get acquainted' with the device personally, in order to form my opinion about it, I will try to do this after the start of sales. In any case, the Moto Z turned out not like everyone else, with its own characteristics, but outwardly everything looks very good, and the Force version is even better. Hopefully the transition to the Z does not mean the end of the Moto line and that we will see a decent continuation ahead.