Hello Moto

Motorola is one of the most well known names in mobile, however they’ve been missing from local shores for a number of years.

In October 2016, the brand returned to South Africa with the introduction of the Moto Z.

Graham Braum, General Manager for Mobile Business Group, Lenovo Africa, commented, “We are excited to be launching the flagship Moto Z smartphone in South Africa, as we believe that there is a definite gap in our cellular phone market for smartphones that are truly innovative, and don’t merely make small improvements to existing models. The Moto Z empowers users to choose the capabilities of their smartphones so that they can instantly transform their mobiles into whatever they need, whenever they need it. Ultimately, we believe this new Moto Z ecosystem is the future of mobile and will come to define a new era of consumer expectations. The pioneering Moto Mods enable users to reach the maximum potential in a snap. Whether users are into photography, music, videos or fashion, we have teamed up with experts in each industry to provide our customers with a device that meets all expectations.’’

The Moto Z has a 13MP camera with optical image stabilisation (OIS) and laser autofocus. The front-facing 5 MP camera includes a wide-angle lens, which is great for fitting friends in the picture. Motorola has also included an extra flash on the front camera to ensure that you look your best, even in low light.

The smartphone comes with a water-repellant coating, which shields the phone from rain, splashes or spills, however it is not IP rated. As is standard with high-end smartphones, the Moto Z has a fingerprint reader (on the front of the phone). The Moto Z is made from military aircraft-grade aluminum and stainless steel and has a 5.5” Quad HD AMOLED display. The smartphone is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 32 GB or 64 GB of storage inside.  If you’re looking for additional storage then you’ll be happy to know that you can add a microSD card of up to 2 TB. Motorola also says that the Moto Z provides up to 30 hours of battery.

While all of this might sound fairly decent, what makes the Moto Z different is not how thin it is (5.2mm) or the fact that it has no 3.5mm headphone jack, no, it’s the Moto Mods.

Moto Mods are the company’s way of introducing modular capabilities to their flagship handset without taking away from the core functionality of the phone itself.

Unlike other handset manufacturers who wanted you to unclip parts of your phone and then clip in the modular attachment, Motorola’s Moto Mods attach to the back of your handset using powerful magnets.

The Moto Mods Family includes the JBL SoundBoost speakers, the Insta-Share Projector, power packs from Incipio and the Hasselblad True Zoom.

JBL SoundBoost
If you enjoy listening to loud music, the Moto Z offers the JBL SoundBoost that will give the smartphone a boost with powerful stereo sound in a snap. The Mod includes a built-in kickstand and 10 hours of battery life that lets you listen longer without using your phone’s battery. What’s great is that you can charge the SoundBoost separately from your phone. The speakerphone also ensures that calls come in loud and clear no matter the location

InstaShare Projector

The Moto Insta-Share Projector snaps easily onto the Moto Z phone and enables instant sharing of photos and videos. The Mod projects up to 70” on any flat surface. With the integrated kickstand, people can project at any angle which allows friends and families to gather together to watch their favorite pictures, shows, and even games.

The Insta-Share Projector comes with built-in battery that provides users with up to one extra hour of screen time before using the phone’s battery.

Incipio Offgrid Powerpack

If you’re always wishing for a bit more battery life from your smartphone, then the Incipio Powerpack is for you. It offers up to 22 hours additional battery life and can be charged while connected to your phone.

Hasselblad True Zoom

Moto has teamed up with Hasselblad, who has been at the forefront of the imaging industry, to design an imaging experience that completely transforms mobile photography. Add advanced imaging capabilities to the phone in a snap, and create and share like never before. Featuring 10x Optical Zoom and a Xenon flash, all is needed is to just focus on getting the shot. Motorola says that you can expect even more control and flexibility with the ability to shoot in RAW format, in addition to the physical shutter and zoom controls, guaranteeing a great handling experience. With True Zoom, you”ll also get free access to Hasselblad’s Phocus software for streamlined editing control and the highest quality output. You’ll also be able to share beautiful results with your family and friends  thanks to automatic backup and unlimited free storage for two years with Google Photos.

The Moto Z Play is available from R6 499.00 while the Moto Z is available from R7 899.00