Specifications

• Android 7.1.1
• Display 5.5 inches, AMOLED, 1080x1920 pixels, 401 ppi, automatic brightness adjustment, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
• Li-Ion battery 3000 mAh, operating time in mixed mode up to 40 hours, fast charging
• Version for one nanoSIM card, two nanoSIM cards, separate memory card slot in the tray
• 3/32 GB memory or 4/64 GB memory, memory cards up to 256 GB
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 chipset, eight-core Cortex A53 with a frequency of up to 2.2 GHz, GPU Adreno 506
• Front camera 5 megapixels, dual-section flash
• Main camera 12 megapixels, f/1.7, phase detection autofocus
• Noise reduction system, three microphones
• Fingerprint sensor
• FM radio
• USB Type C, USB OTG, Bluetooth 4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, NFC
• GPS/GLONASS
• Color options – Lunar Gray, Fine Gold, Nimbus Blue
• Dimensions – 156.2x76.2x6 mm, weight – 145 grams

Contents of delivery

• Smartphone
• Charger, supporting fast charging
• Wired stereo headset
• SIM tray eject tool
• Additional panel for rear wall
• Instructions

Positioning

In 2017, the Z line becomes premium for Motorola, in fact these are the company’s flagships, but with one caveat - it is expensive, top flagship with the Force console, which uses a shatterproof ShutterShield screen, and the more affordable Z2 Play. The difference between these models in cost is noticeable, almost twofold. The question of positioning the Z2 Play is complex, since based on the cost of 400 euros in Europe (35,000 rubles in Russia), this is a mid-segment model, and the filling corresponds to this segment. In my opinion, this device meets a couple of requirements from potential buyers, namely, it has a long operating time on a single charge, clean and the most up-to-date Android without add-ons and additional functions, good materials housings. In fact, we have a device for those who choose a phone for a couple of years and want it to work for a long time on each charge. At the same time, such a buyer does not require the most top-end characteristics; for example, it is not important for him to have the most powerful processor, but the balance of the device comes to the fore. For fans of the brand that still exist, this is also an interesting decision.

Design, dimensions, control elements

The model is available in three colors, I don’t know which color suits you best, they are all interesting in some way.

The phone is easily recognizable, but, for example, I don’t like the case being too thin, its thickness is 6 mm! It cuts into your hand, and the camera window protrudes a lot and constantly clings to various objects if you carry the phone that way.

But the device comes with an additional cover, a kind of panel that removes this “defect”, the device becomes a couple of millimeters thicker, but there are no problems with ergonomics.

Please note that there are contacts on the back panel, they are intended for Moto Mods, with the help of these accessories you can expand the functionality of the device, the company has released enough big number“mods”, here is an external JBL speaker, a battery, and a camera.

In my opinion, the best way is to use external battery, its capacity is 3000 mAh, which gives you about 1.5 times more energy, and the device will work not for two days, but for all three days. In this aspect, the phone is a record holder, but we will talk about this later.

At the top end you see a tray for SIM cards, depending on the market there may be two or one (nanoSIM format), on the other side you can install a microSD card. That is, the slot allows you to use up to two SIM cards and a memory card at the same time.

On the right side there are two volume keys and an on/off button. The phone has three microphones and a well-implemented noise reduction system.

Above the screen there is a front camera and an LED flash, a proximity sensor, but the central key is a fingerprint sensor; pressing is not supported, but you can enable gesture support in the settings and scroll through lists on this button.

The device has a 3.5 mm jack, and at the bottom there is a standard USB Type C connector for charging your phone.

The dimensions of the device are 156.2x76.2x6 mm, weight - 145 grams. It's quite wide, but with an extra pad or some Moto Mods it fits well in the hand, it shouldn't be used without them, although it is possible. The case is made of metal, the front panel is covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the oleophobic coating is good.

There are no complaints about the build quality, it's still the same good old Motorola.

Display

Screen 5.5 inches, AMOLED, 1080x1920 pixels, 401 ppi, automatic brightness adjustment, Corning Gorilla Glass 3. As for me, automatic brightness adjustment often darkens the screen too much, this is done so that the device works longer. And if in normal modes this is not so noticeable, then when shooting with a camera on the street on a not very sunny day it becomes a problem; you have to peer into the screen. Exactly for this reason I turned off automatic brightness adjustment.

But if you manually set the screen brightness, then in most cases it will be comfortable for you. After the flagships from Samsung, I did not have enough display brightness, it seemed dim, but this is typical for most models in this price segment, both with AMOLED and TFT screens. For example, Huawei uses exactly the same aggressive brightness reduction algorithms for most use cases.

For the average person, the screen on the Z2 Play will be more than enough, especially if you have not used devices with QHD displays, otherwise you will definitely not have enough of it.

Battery

The built-in Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh, according to Motorola, can provide up to 40 hours of phone operation in mixed mode, which means that you can easily do different things on the phone for two days. As a rule, the stated and real time Motorola's are the same, and so it happened in my case, the device worked on average for about two days with 5-6 hours of display operation (60% backlight).

The playback time for unconverted video is a little more than 16 hours at maximum brightness, this is a very decent result.

Considering that you can buy an external battery in the form of a mod (3000 mAh), you will easily get three days of battery life. And if you play on the device, then it will be 15 hours of pure time with such a battery, that is, a full day from morning to sunset. In terms of operating time, this device is very good, which will captivate many.

Fast charging is supported, the complete charging time with the complete device is about 1 hour 35 minutes.

Memory, RAM, chipset and performance

The phone has 4 GB random access memory, you can choose 64 GB of internal memory (there is an option for 3/32 GB), but there is also support for cards microSD memory up to 256 GB.

The chipset inside the phone is Snapdragon 626, 8 Cortex A53 cores up to 2.2 GHz, graphics accelerator– Adreno 506. The performance of this solution is not maximum, but it is quite enough for most typical tasks. Take a look at the synthetic benchmark results below.

USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities

Version BT 4.2, all profiles are supported, which can be considered a nice feature of the device. Depending on the model number, different frequencies are supported for LTE, there are always the following bands: 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13.

For Wi-Fi there is support for 802.11a/b/g/n/ac. The phone has NFC, but the USB version is 3.1 (Type C).

Camera

The front camera is 5 megapixel, it has a two-section (!) flash. The pictures are of average quality. The main camera has a rather interesting interface.

The characteristics of the main camera are as follows: 12 megapixels, f/1.7, phase detection autofocus. Unfortunately, the shooting quality is very average, it is not strong point device, however, look for yourself.

Software features

Just like other devices from Motorola, this one is built on pure Android 7.1.1, no add-ons and nothing superfluous.

From a multimedia point of view, I liked this device, it plays music well, and, comparing it with classmates of predominantly Chinese origin, I give preference to it, the sound is reproduced cleaner and better.

The Moto app shows you how you can swipe your wrist to activate the camera, how you can record a voice tag to wake up your phone, and introduce you to night mode.

The implementation of FM radio is normal, it works with a headset.

When you turn it on for the first time, you are prompted to install additional programs, including from Yandex, but you can safely refuse them. That is, the preset here is delicate, there is no need to delete anything.

Impression

Motorola always has everything in order with speech transmission, and no Chinese even came close to their noise reduction system, it is excellent. The ringer volume is above average, it can be heard quite well in noisy places, the vibration alert is average or a little muffled, you just can’t feel it.

With a Russian price of 34,990 rubles, this device did not turn out to be a win-win option, since for this money you can choose many alternatives among the “Chinese”. For example, the Honor 9 that just went on sale has the same battery size (almost the same), a 5.15-inch screen (IPS), fast charging and a price of 27,990 rubles. The difference in cost is quite noticeable, and not in favor of the device from Motorola. And this is a famous Chinese.

Or you can remember a device like the OnePlus 3T, which today costs about 34,000 rubles (27 thousand on the gray market). Good model in all respects, which looks like a good buy.

There are a huge number of models in the segment of about 35,000 rubles, and they are very different, these are former flagships and current devices from Chinese manufacturers. Against this background, Motorola Z2 Play stands out only due to its brand name and unusual appearance. It is difficult to say how much this will be enough. What do you think about this device and its cost?

P.S. Full review will appear in August, after studying not a prototype, but a commercial sample. Commercial samples will have a better camera, the operating speed will change a little, but overall the idea is clear to you at first glance.

Although, according to the results of test tests, the Motorola Moto Z2 Play leaves a good impression, despite the partly better equipment this smartphone in our rating it is located slightly lower than the previous model. That's because the first Z Play has an excellent runtime battery life, and Z2 is just good. The manufacturer also took a step back in terms of photo quality. The pictures, while still fine, have a noticeable lack of detail. As with its predecessor, the capabilities of the second generation Z Play can, if desired, be easily expanded using modules, which opens up new possibilities for users, especially entertainment ones.

Advantages

somewhat practical modular system
good workmanship
Android updates for 2 years

Flaws

mediocre camera
high starting price for a mid-range smartphone

Motorola Moto Z2 Play 32GB test results

• Price-quality ratio
  Great

• Price/quality ratio: 75
• Performance and Control (35%): 84.4
• Equipment (25%): 80.9
• Battery (15%): 89.6
• Display (15%): 90.3
• Camera (10%): 69.9

Editorial rating

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Moto Z2 Play: Moto Mod makes music

On the back of the Moto Z2 Play there are several small contacts through which the Moto Mods connect to the smartphone. For fastening, a magnet hidden under the cover is used, as a result of which the modules can be changed without using any tools. And while there is something to this idea itself, its reception ultimately depends heavily on the quality of the modules.

To promote this distinctive feature on the market, in Europe, for example, Motorola sells the Moto Z2 Play complete with a module that is a branded JBL speaker. It's called Soundboost 2 and separately costs about 7,000 rubles. We really liked its sound - the same was the case with its predecessor, which we also tested earlier.

The sound here is loud and clear, with pleasant bass, and the sound quality of this module surpasses the speakers of any smartphone. Of course, the Moto Z2 Play with Soundboost 2 attached becomes quite bulky and can no longer fit comfortably in a tight trouser pocket.

The functionality of the Moto Z2 Play can be expanded by replacing the modules connected to the back side

Disadvantages of expansion modules

As alternative options, plug-in modules are offered in the form of a 3490 mAh battery (Moto TurboPower Pack, 69 euros - 4800 rubles) or with the function wireless charging Qi. A gamepad should also be available for sale. Those who love simplicity can choose back cover without any module, just to vary the appearance of the smartphone. On the home site Motorola there is an overview of all available modules.

The modular system does not entail any disadvantages, with the exception of some industrial design of the smartphone. However, some extravagant modules increase the dimensions of the device so much that users will have to carry the smartphone in a bag rather than in a trouser pocket.

In addition, some modules, such as the speaker, could theoretically connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth as an external accessory, so in our eyes such a system becomes not so valuable compared to the possibility of using separate Bluetooth speakers. In addition, the modules fidget a little back and forth relative to the smartphone, spoiling the otherwise pleasant tactile sensations of the Z2 Play.

The speaker can only be connected to the back of the smartphone. It is held by a magnet and automatically connects via a contact pad

Moto Z2 Play is thin and high quality

Regarding the quality of workmanship in the Moto Z2 Play, there is practically nothing to complain about. The smartphone (without connected modules) is very thin and, thanks to the metal back surface, looks expensive. Of course, if anyone wants, they can use it without modules, but then the appearance of the device will give the impression of incompleteness or excessive industrialism, since the contacts will be clearly visible on the back side, and the camera protrudes beyond the plane of the body very much.

Unfortunately, Motorola has decided to withdraw certification of this device to IP-67 or IP-68 standards to ensure protection against prolonged immersion in water. In an informal conversation, we were assured that the smartphone would be able to survive short swims, but users should not rely on these words.

Data transfer is carried out via USB port Type-C according to USB 3.1 standard. Motorola continues to use the headphone jack. At the same time, there is even an LED photo flash on the front side for selfies, which is rather rare. The wireless charging function is not supported by the device without the corresponding module.

Wired connection is via USB 3.1 Type-C

Z2 Play: a step back in terms of battery and camera

One of the former's selling points was its excellent battery life of almost 12 hours. Since the manufacturer reduced the battery capacity in the successor by 15 percent, to 3000 mAh, users of the Moto Z2 Play will not see the same endurance of the smartphone.

During our online tests, the device was able to last 9 hours and 16 minutes. Thanks to the support of the fast charging function, the battery restores its energy reserves in just 96 minutes. Those who need more solid battery life should purchase the Moto Mod with an additional battery.

During our testing, we were more than surprised by the fact that the Moto Z2 Play scored lower in the Camera category than the previous model. The effective resolution of the 12-megapixel camera (measured in the number of line pairs per frame height) was lower than that of its 16-megapixel predecessor, which is not surprising.

At the same time, we measured a higher noise level, and in the subjective part of the test we were really hampered by the pronounced blur, which smoothes out textures, but does it too hard. This effect is especially pronounced in low light conditions. Unfortunately, there is no optical stabilizer here either. As a result, the quality of the photographs, although still “okay,” nevertheless, there is a certain regression in this direction.

The Moto Z2 Play is very thin - but its battery is noticeably smaller than its predecessor

Moto Z2 Play has a good display

With its 5.5-inch Full-HD display, the Moto Z2 Play is aimed at enthusiasts large screens. With its 460 cd/m2 it shines not sensationally, but quite brightly. As long as sunlight does not begin to fall directly on the front side of the smartphone, you can use it absolutely without problems. Thanks to AMOLED technology, you can enjoy rich colors and almost perfect blacks.

Inside the device is a mid-range processor with eight cores, which is called Snapdragon 626 and offers solid performance. The system responds to commands quickly, and there are no jerks in the browser when scrolling - however, for gamers there are more powerful models, for example the Snapdragon 835.

The fingerprint scanner also responds quickly to touches, which with standard settings does not serve as a “Home” button, since Motorola uses a software control panel in agreement with Google. In this case, we regret it a little because there is enough space on the body to accommodate capacitive buttons, and the software panel, when enabled, reduces the effective area for displaying images.

Despite its size, the Z2 Play still fits well in the hand

Solid equipment

However, the situation can be corrected through the Moto application by assigning all control functions to the fingerprint scanner button. At the same time, once again in its current models, Motorola refuses to use an LED status indicator to signal missed notifications. Instead, you need to touch or hold the smartphone in order for the so-called “activity display” to turn on. In this state, the screen briefly displays the time and important information.

In WLAN networks, Z2 Play operates only in accordance with the n standard and can receive data from LTE networks at speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s. We find the size of the built-in storage really quite good, offering almost 51 GB for efficient use by the user. free space. In addition, it can be expanded using memory cards. When traveling outside of Europe or using a smartphone for work purposes, a slot that supports the Dual SIM function may come in handy.

With a speaker module, the smartphone becomes quite bulky, but the sound is really good

Android 7.1 with promised updates

As has become typical for smartphones from Motorola in recent years, there is an almost unchanged operating system Android. Thus, there is no extravagantly modified user interface or dozens of additional functions hidden directly in the firmware.

Instead, users get a neat, responsive system that Motorola wants to keep up to date for two years or two new "major" versions. In addition, monthly security updates will be released. It's great.

Motorola (and, accordingly, the parent concern Lenovo) sells the Moto Z2 Play in European stores at the time of launch, complete with a speaker module at a price of 519 euros (36,000 rubles). Thus, the cost turns out to be quite high if you think about the fact that the previous model, as of July 2017, is estimated at an average of 26,600 rubles.

Alternative: Motorola Moto Z Play

Those who like Motorola's modular system and who want to get a longer battery life even without an additional module can, with a clear conscience, take the first one, which during our tests performed better than its successor, and is cheaper. As of July 2017, it is estimated at approximately 26,600 rubles - but you can find offers for 19,500 he,ktq. This is a very good price.

Characteristics and test results of Motorola Moto Z2 Play 32GB

Price-quality ratio	75
OS during testing	Android 7.1.1
Current OS	Android 7.1.1
Is there an OS update planned?	Android 8 (date to be determined)
App Store
Weight	144 g.
Length x Width	156 x 76 mm;
Thickness	8.8 mm;
Expert design review	Very good
Expert assessment of work speed	Fine
Download speed: PDF 800 KB via WLAN	3.8 s
Download speed: main chip.de via WLAN	0.4 s
Download speed: chip.de test chart via WLAN	10.7 s
Sound quality (speakerphone)	Very good
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 626
Processor architecture
CPU frequency	2.200 MHz
Number of CPU cores	4+4
RAM capacity	4.0 GB
Battery: capacity	3.000 mAh
Battery: easy to remove	-
Battery: surfing time	9:16 h:min
Battery: charging time	1:36 h:min
Fast charging function	Yes
Charger and fast charging cable included
Battery: discharging time/charging time	5,8
Wireless charging function	-
WLAN	802.11n
Voice over LTE
LTE: frequencies	800, 1.800, 2.600 MHz
LTE: Cat. 4	up to 150 Mbit/s
LTE: Cat. 6	up to 300 Mbit/s
LTE: Cat. 9	-
LTE: Cat. 12	-
Screen: type	OLED
Screen: diagonal	5.5 inches
Screen: size in mm	68 x 121 mm;
Screen: resolution	1.080 x 1.920 pixels
Screen: Dot Density	403 ppi
Screen: max. brightness in a dark room	460.2 cd/m²
Screen: staggered contrast in a bright room	37:1
Screen: staggered contrast in a dark room	147:1
Camera: resolution	12.2 megapixels
Camera: measured resolution	1,553 line pairs
Camera: expert assessment of image quality	Fine
Camera: VN1 noise	2.0 VN1
Camera: minimum focal length	4.3 mm;
Camera: minimum shooting distance	8 cm;
Camera: Shutter Time with Autofocus	0.72 s
Camera: optical stabilizer	-
Camera: autofocus	Yes
Camera: flash	Double LED, LED
Video resolution	3.840 x 2.160 pixels
Front camera: resolution	5.0 megapixels
LED indicator	-
Radio	Yes
SIM card type	Nano-SIM
Dual SIM	Yes
Protection against dust and moisture (IP certificate)
Fingerprint's scanner
User accessible memory	49.7 GB
Memory card slot	Yes
USB connector	Type-C-USB 3.1
Bluetooth	4.2
NFC	Yes
Headphone output	3.5 mm;
HD Voice	Yes
SAR	0.67 W/kg
Firmware version during testing	NPS26.74-38
Test date	2017-07-13

The brand has been confirming its competitiveness for several years thanks to technical features devices and unique design finds. Interest in the company's products did not subside even during a forced break of several years, when its activities practically came to a standstill.

After they made the decision to purchase, many experts feared for the future fate of the brand.

Contrary to their guesses about the closure of the company, Motorola models not only continued the previously started series of smartphones, but also borrowed from their buyer some technical solutions that made it possible to introduce new, previously unused improvements into the development process.

We got our hands on the Motorola Moto Z2 Play, a modular smartphone in the mid-high price segment that provides the user with the opportunity to customize and selectively improve the functions of the device, which is currently a rare occurrence in the industry. smart technology. There are really a lot of modules and each of them, comparable in cost to stand-alone smartphones, has special functions.

Specifications Motorola Moto Z2 Play

Device type	Smartphone
Model	Motorola Moto Z2 Play
Housing materials	Glass + metal
Screen	5.5", Super Amoled, 1920 x 1080
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 (8 cores 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53)
Video processor	Adreno 506
operating system	Android 7.1.1 Nougat
RAM, GB	4
Built-in storage, GB	64
Memory card slot	Yes
Cameras, Mpix	12.0 + 5.0
Battery, mAh	3 000
Dimensions, mm	156.2 x 76.2 x 5.9
Weight, g	145
price, rub.	~30 500

The main feature of the smartphone is modular retrofitting. The company's arsenal includes a projector, speaker, camera, joystick, additional battery and more budget-friendly cosmetic pads with wireless charging function.

In addition to this feature, the device boasts a far from weak Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 processor, support for memory cards up to 2 terabytes and a built-in 3,000 mAh battery. The positioning of the model allows us to judge it as a confident mid-ranger, almost a flagship with attractive features and a good list of characteristics, which can be found below:

Packaging and equipment Motorola Moto Z2 Play

Getting to know a device, as you know, begins with its packaging, which in our case immediately evokes a pleasant impression thanks to the thick cardboard and bright design. On the front of the box there is a company designation and an indication of the model, supplemented by an image of some crystals inscribed in a contour circle with the Moto logo. The interior of the box, which protrudes outward a couple of centimeters, is also made in the style of the latter. On the removable part there is a Lenovo logo, which reminds of the owner of the brand.

All information related to specific device, that is serial numbers, located in the form of a sticker on the bottom edge. On the opposite side is the company logo. On the back of the packaging there is again the "M" logo.

After the moving part is removed, the gaze involuntarily concentrates on the device in a special cardboard niche.

Underneath is a cardboard envelope with the slogan “HelloMoto,” familiar to users since the company produced push-button phones.

Inside the envelope are documentation and a paperclip for opening the SIM tray. Also in the box are:

• Charger;
• USB cable.

As for the quality of all accessories, there is not even the slightest complaint about it. Everything is made extremely carefully and pleases the eye.

Note that along with the smartphone we received an additional cover with a 360-degree lens. The materials of the box are similar to those of the hero of the review.

On the front and back sides, the manufacturer conveys to the buyer basic information about the advantages of the additional device.

It can only be noted right away high quality performance of the accessory, as well as the presence of an additional rubber lens cover.

For now, let's move on to studying the smartphone itself.

As expected, the Moto Z2 Play smartphone was presented today, the successor to the smartphone, which turned out to be unexpectedly successful and managed to achieve good sales around the world.

The new Moto Z2 Play continues the ideas laid down in last year's model, both externally (with the exception of a few minor changes) and internally. Like the first-generation model, the second-generation Moto Z Play is a solid mid-ranger with a 5.5-inch screen and support for MotoMods. But new model became thinner and lighter than its predecessor.

More precisely, the thickness has decreased to 5.99 mm, and the weight is now 145 g. Let us recall that for the original model these parameters were 6.99 mm and 165 g, respectively.

In addition, the new Moto Z2 Play has a new processor, more RAM and an improved camera.

All specifications We have collected the Moto Z2 Play smartphone in the table below:

	Moto Z2 Play
Dimensions	156.2 x 76.2 x 5.99 mm
CPU	Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 626, up to 2.2 GHz 8-core
OS	Android™ 7.1.1
Display	5.5″ Full HD SuperAMOLED (1080p / 401 ppi)
Memory (ROM)	64 GB, expandable with microSD up to 2 TB
Random Access Memory (RAM)	4 GB
Main camera	12 MP with dual autofocus pixels technology, f/1.7 aperture, 1.4 µm, color-evening dual LED flash
Front-camera	5 MP, wide angle, aperture f/ 2.2,1.4 µm
Battery	3000 mAh
SIM	Nano-SIM Dual-SIM
Bluetooth®	Bluetooth 4.2
WiFi	802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz)
Networks:	GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
Connectors	USB Type C, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Scanner	Fingerprint's scanner

Regarding the camera improvements mentioned above. Compared to its predecessor, it received a more light-sensitive lens with a maximum aperture of F/1.7, a Dual Pixel autofocus system, as well as an improved laser autofocus assistant with more advanced low-light capabilities.

We have known for a long time that the battery capacity will decrease. The manufacturer claims 30 hours of work in mixed mode (Moto Z Play had 50 hours). Fast charging technology should compensate for this - in just 15 minutes the device can be charged enough for eight hours of operation. In addition, there is a new Moto TurboPower Pack module with an additional 3490 mAh battery, which also supports fast charging (15 W) - the battery is charged from 0 to 50% in 20 minutes.

In addition to the Moto TurboPower Pack, other modules were presented. Perhaps the most interesting is the Moto GamePad, which turns your smartphone into a full-fledged handheld console. It has dual control sticks, a D-Pad and four navigation buttons. The additional battery built into the module has a capacity of 1035 mAh.

The updated JBL SoundBoost 2 speaker module can play music continuously for 10 hours and is compatible with the new JBL EQ app. Now it is splash-proof and is available in three colors - red, blue and black.

And finally, Moto Style Shell is a module that supports wireless charging technology (up to 10 W). It is available in several designs and colors.

Note that this year the manufacturer will release at least a dozen more new MotoMods modules. Besides, in model range The manufacturer has several more smartphones awaiting updates.

Moto Z 2 Play runs on pure Android 7.1.1 Nougat OS with Google Assistant virtual assistant. The smartphone is available in colors: Lunar Gray and Fine Gold. Approximate date The start of sales in Ukraine is August 2017. The Ukrainian price of the device has not yet been announced; for the US market the price is announced at $499.

The waltz between Lenovo and its Motorola is very interesting to watch. At first it was about preserving both the Moto line and the VIBE series, then VIBE disappeared, but the “double” brand Lenovo Moto and Lenovo smartphones without sub-brand (in small quantities). Now we are talking about the fact that smartphones will be produced only under the Moto brand - I don’t think, however, that the epic will stop there.

The gadgets themselves can get lost in this fuss, but that’s not the case. Unlike another revived legend, Nokia, which so far is mainly selling its “face,” Moto has very interesting developments behind its soul. Moto Mods are not a thing of the past - the topic continues to develop, new modules appear, and Z2 is already the second generation of smartphones that support Mods.

But Moto Z2 Play is notable not only for its ability to expand functionality. This is a smartphone that is curious in its positioning. On the one hand, it has an AMOLED display, a front-facing fingerprint scanner, an ultra-thin body, and splash protection. On the other hand, it has a middle-class platform, Qualcomm Snapdragon 626, LTE only category seven (and not category 9 or 12, like modern flagships), RAM only 3-4 GB. And the price is 35 thousand rubles. Z2 Play seems to freeze at the junction of two worlds - a semi-flagship.

⇡ Specifications

	Moto Z2 Play
Display	5.5 inches, AMOLED,	5.5 inches, AMOLED, 2560 × 1440 pixels, 535 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.15 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 423 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.15 inches, IPS, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 428 ppi, capacitive multi-touch	5.5 inches, AMOLED, 1920 × 1080 pixels, 401 ppi, capacitive multi-touch
Protective glass	Corning Gorilla Glass 3	Corning Gorilla Glass 4	No information	Yes, manufacturer unknown	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
CPU	Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 (eight ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 2.2 GHz)	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 (dual Kryo cores clock frequency 2.2 GHz + two Kryo cores clocked at 1.6 GHz)	HiSilicone Kirin 960 (four ARM Cortex-A73 cores, 2.4 GHz + four ARM Cortex-A53 cores, 1.8 GHz)		Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 MSM8996 (quad Kryo cores, 2.45 GHz + quad Kryo cores, 1.9 GHz)
Graphics controller	Adreno 506, 650 MHz	Adreno 530, 624 MHz	ARM Mali-G71 MP8, 850 MHz	Adreno 540, 710 MHz	Adreno 540, 710 MHz
RAM	3/4 GB	4 GB	4 GB (6 GB version available)	6 GB	6/8 GB
Flash memory	32/64 GB	32 GB	64 GB (there is a version with 128 GB)	64/128 GB	64/128 GB
Memory card support	Eat	Eat	Eat	No	No
Connectors	USB Type-C, 3.5 mm mini-jack	USB Type-C	USB Type-C, 3.5 mm mini-jack	USB Type-C	USB Type-C, 3.5 mm mini-jack
SIM cards	Two nano-SIM	Two nano-SIM	Two nano-SIM	Two nano-SIM	Two nano-SIM
Cellular connection 2G	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz CDMA 800, 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz	GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz CDMA 800
Cellular 3G		UMTS/HSPA+ 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100	HSDPA 850/900/1900/2100	HSDPA 850/900/1700/1900/2100 MHz
Cellular 4G	LTE Cat. 7 (300/150 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 41, 66	LTE Cat. 9 (up to 450 Mbit/s): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 19, 20, 28	LTE Cat. 6 (300/50 Mbit/s): bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40, 41	LTE Cat. 16 (1000/150 Mbit/s): bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 38, 39, 40, 41	LTE Cat. 12 (600/150 Mbps): bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40 , 41, 66
WiFi	802.11a/b/g/n/ac	802.11a/b/g/n/ac	802.11a/b/g/n/ac	802.11a/b/g/n/ac	802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth	4.2	4.1	4.2	5.0	5.0
NFC	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat
Navigation	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS (BeiDou and Galileo are implemented by the chipset, but not declared)	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou	GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo
Sensors	Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), ultrasonic		Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), IR sensor	Light, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass), barometer, IR sensor	Illumination, proximity, accelerometer/gyroscope, magnetometer (digital compass)
Fingerprint's scanner	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat	Eat
Main camera	12 MP, ƒ/1.7, hybrid autofocus, dual LED flash, 4K video recording	13 MP, ƒ/1.8, contrast autofocus with laser illumination, LED flash	Dual module, 20 + 12 MP, ƒ/2.2, hybrid autofocus, dual LED flash	Dual module, 12 MP: 27 mm, ƒ/1.8 + 52 mm, ƒ/2.6 (2x zoom); Optical stabilizer operates at wide angles; phase detection autofocus, dual LED flash	Dual module, 16 + 20 MP, ƒ/1.7 + ƒ/2.6, contrast autofocus on the wide-angle module + phase detection autofocus on the telephoto module, dual LED flash
Front-camera	4 MP, fixed focus, flash	5 MP, fixed focus, flash	8 MP, ƒ/2.4, fixed focus	8 MP, fixed focus	16 MP, fixed focus
Nutrition	Non-removable battery: 11.4 Wh (3000 mAh, 3.8 V)	Non-removable battery 9.88 Wh (2600 mAh, 3.8 V)	Non-removable battery 12.16 Wh (3200 mAh, 3.8 V)	Non-removable 12.73 Wh battery (3350 mAh, 3.8 V)	Non-removable battery: 12.54 Wh (3300 mAh, 3.8 V)
Size	156.2 × 76.2 × 5.99 mm	155.3 × 75.3 × 5.19 mm	147.3 x 70.9 x 7.45 mm	145.2 x 70.5 x 7.45 mm	154.2 × 74.1 × 7.25 mm
Weight	145 grams	136 grams	155 grams	168/182 grams ( regular version/ ceramic)	153 grams
Housing protection	Splash protection	Splash protection	No	Splash protection	No
operating system	Android 7.1.1 Nougat	Android 6.0 Marshmallow	Android 7.0 Nougat, EMUI shell	Android 7.1.1 Nougat, MIUI shell	Android 7.1.1 Nougat, OxygenOS shell
Current price	34,990 rubles (for 4/64 GB version)	40,000 rubles	26,990 rubles	29,990 rubles	32,000-36,000 rubles

⇡ Appearance, ergonomics and software

Making a phone with your own face today is a real feat. The days of the RAZR or N98 are long gone, experiments with form are crushed by a huge touch display - the space for designers to express themselves is reduced to some tiny details. Nevertheless, compared to the general (especially Chinese) background, Moto is doing very well with this.

The main thing that distinguishes the latest generations of older Moto smartphones is their thinness: less than six millimeters on average without taking into account the additional cover. Well, a very unique look “out of the box” - with open contacts on the back panel. The smartphone looks like a model for assembly, and not a final device, which, however, is not far from the truth, given the modular concept.

It is not necessary to use Moto Mods - you can simply cover the back panel with a replaceable cover. This is also nice - I don’t think that many people will regularly buy new covers for themselves to refresh their impressions of their own smartphone, but the opportunity to immediately choose, for example, a back panel “like wood” or with some kind of print, is very Fine.

Replaceable modules, like covers, are attached to the back with magnets - in one movement and very securely. Realized great.

Other distinctive features Z2 Play: a round main camera unit with an integrated lens and dual flash, as well as a flash for front camera on the front panel - a rarity these days. An oval key with touch rather than mechanical control and a fingerprint scanner integrated into it will not surprise anyone today. You can also note the absence of a visible grille for the main speaker - the conversational speaker takes the rap for two here, and I wouldn’t say that this is such a brilliant solution.

Moto Z2 Play, back panel: camera unit with lens and dual flash, microphone at the bottom

But there is a mini-jack, which tragically disappeared from the Moto Z. In the end, we are talking about Play version- it’s still simpler, it shouldn’t make user revolutions. It's still more convenient to live with a mini-jack - that's why it's here. And those who want to proudly stand at the forefront of progress can choose flagship devices.