Moto Z Moto Z Play and Moto Mods

Finally! The Moto Z and Moto Z Play smartphones have now been officially launched here in Malaysia. The launch not only marks the return of a flagship Moto device in the country, but also the unveiling of the modular smartphone concept that works instantly.

The Moto RAZR incarnate

Moto Z front

With its razor-thin design, the Moto Z follows in the steps of the iconic Moto RAZR. Even though its just 5.2mm thin, it packs top of the line specs in its thin frame. It has a 5.5″ Quad HD AMOLED display and runs on a 1.8GHz Snapdragon 820 processor with 4GB RAM. Storage is a decent 64GB with an expandable microSD slot.

The back camera is a 13MP f/1.8 camera with OIS, Laser Auto Focus and dual-tone LED flash. And selfie-lovers will get a front 5MP f/2.2 camera.

Also, while the iPhone 7 might be known for its lack of a headphone jack, it was the Moto Z that started that ball rolling first. Don’t worry, though; it also comes with a USB Type-C to 3.5mm adapter. For Malaysians, you’ll be glad to know that the Moto Z is a dual-SIM device and it supports 4G VoLTE. And for extra security, there’s even a fingerprint reader at the front.

Worried about battery life? No problem as there’s a 2,600mAh battery which is rated to last up to 24 hours. Slow charging isn’t a problem as well as the Moto Z has Turbo Charging technology that’ll give it 7 hours of battery life with just a 15 minutes charge. And while the Moto Z isn’t waterproof, it does get a water repellent nano-coating for splash resistance.

The Moto Z comes in Black/Lunar Grey and White/Fine Gold colours and of course supports all the Moto Mods. It’ll be retailing at RM2,699.

Play on with the Moto Z Play

Moto Z Play

Want most of the Moto Z’s features but at a lower price point? Then there’s the Moto Z Play. Build wise; you get the same slick design of the Moto Z but with some changes to its specs and a slightly thicker design. Instead of a Quad HD AMOLED, the Moto Z Play comes with 5.5″ Full HD AMOLED display. The insides also get some change as the phone runs on a Snapdragon 625 processor with 3GB of RAM, and instead of 64GB of storage, there’s 32GB storage which is also expandable via microSD.

However, where the Moto Z excels in terms of performance, the Moto Z Play gets a bump when it comes into the optics department. It gets a 16MP f/2.0 camera with Laser AutoFocus and PDAF, while the front gets a 5MP camera with LED flash.

That’s not all. The Moto Z Play also has a larger 3,510mAh battery which explains why it’s thicker at 6.9mm. Like the Moto Z it also supports TurboPower charging technology so you’ll get 7 hours of usage out of 15 minutes charge time.

Like the Moto Z, the Moto Z Play is also a Dual-SIM smartphone and supports 4G Volte. If you missed the headphone jack, don’t worry, the Moto Z Play has kept the 3.5mm headphone jack which is good news for music enthusiast (and those who just can’t bear to pony up for new Bluetooth headsets).

So how much cheaper is the Moto Z play? At RM1,799 it’s definitely a good alternative to the Moto Z if you’re looking for a better camera, longer battery life and a headphone jack.

Modulate your life with the Moto Mods

Moto Mods for Moto Z

We, of course, can’t forget just what sets both the Moto Z and Moto Z Play apart from the rest of the other smartphones out there, their modular concept. The snap-on Moto Mods, are a snap to use, literally. Just snap them on, and without having to power the devices down, it works almost immediately, unlike other implementations (we’re looking at you LG G5).

There are a total of four different Moto Mods; the Hasselblad True Zoom, the Insta-Share projector, the JBL SoundBoost Speaker and the Incipio offGRID Power Pack.

Moto Mod Hasslebad

The Hasselblad True Zoom Moto Mod turns your Moto Z into a 10X Optical Zoom camera. It has a 12MP 1/2.3″ sensor that has a pixel size of 1.55 micron and also a xenon flash for better illumination. It even has a dedicated Pro mode and is capable of shooting in RAW format. It’ll be available for RM1,299.

Moto Mod Projector Moto Z

Then there’s the Insta-Share projector which is a pico projector that attaches to the back of either the Moto Z or Moto Z Play. It has a kickstand for you to tilt and it works best in landscape mode which is ideal for presentations or watching videos. It’ll retail at RM1,399.

Moto Mods JBL Speaker

Need a music boombox on the go? That’s where the JBL SoundBoost Speaker. Just attach it to either of the Moto Zs and boom, you’ve got a music blasting machine on the go. It’s going for RM599.

And if you need more juice, that’s where the Incipio offGRID Power Pack comes in. It’ll add an additional 2,200 mAh to your Moto Zs and will be priced at RM399.

Moto Style Shells for Moto Z

But what if you don’t want to use the Moto Mods, you’re not just going to leave the back of the Moto Zs exposed just like that right? That’s where the Shell Cases come in. You’ll be able to personalise the back of the Moto Zs with six different Style Shells that’ll easily magnetise to the back of the phones. The Crimson Ballistic Nylon and Black Herring covers will cost RM59, while the more premium Black Leather, Charcoal Ash, Silver Oak and Washed Oak covers are priced at RM79.

So there you have it, the new Moto Z, Moto Z Play and their Moto Mods, finally here in Malaysia. The devices will be available at the end of November but pre-orders for the devices can be made in Lazada or 11Street on 4 November. And if you want a great deal, there’ll be a promotion for the first 50 pre-order customers of the Moto Z and Moto Z Play, who will get a JBL SoundBoost Speaker Mod for free.