Motorola isn’t necessarily a pioneer when it comes to high-end smartphones, but the brand now owned by Lenovo is the creator of a concept that’s getting me excited every time when I’m using it.
The Modo Mod family of products, which is powered by the Moto Z series, is what I originally called a fun “LEGO for adults,” allowing you to provide your smartphone with a series of extra capabilities by attaching mods like cameras, external batteries, and even a Polaroid add-on.
Today, however, we won’t talk about the mods, but about the foundation behind this project. The Motorola Moto Z3 Play, the third generation of the series, is available with revised specs and an upgraded design that brings it in line with other smartphones out there.
The Moto Z3 Play is first and foremost one of the few modern smartphones that do not boast a notch. As I said before, I’m not a big fan of the notch, but I can live with it, though it feels really good not to have it. Many people are so committed to the iPhone that they forget there’s life beyond the notch, and the Moto Z3 Play is the living proof.
Motorola has changed a few things about the design of the phone, and you’re going to see this from the moment you hold it in hand for the first time.
The device features a 6.01-inch Super AMOLED display with smaller bezels, and because a home button is no more, the fingerprint sensor had to be moved to the side on the right edge. While the position isn’t the most convenient, it’s all just a matter of time until you get used to it, though you must be careful not to accidentally trigger the fingerprint scanner when trying to put the phone in the pocket or in a bag.
However, thanks to the smaller bezels, Motorola managed to achieve a screen-to-body ratio of 77.9%, which isn’t the best, but it makes the handset look and feel modern and fresh. The screen has a resolution of 1080x2160 pixels with an 18:9 ratio and 402 ppi pixel density, which translates to high-quality graphics, vivid colors, and true blacks all around when playing games and watching videos.
The design of the phone has also been improved with the removal of the headphone jack and… of the speaker grilles, which means that the audio now comes from the earpiece at the top. This is an interesting approach, though this means the sound won’t be as loud as you expect it to be.
The lock/power button has been moved to the left side of the device, which means that for people with small hands like me, it may be a challenge to press it when holding the device with one hand. Measuring 156.5 x 76.5 x 6.8 mm (6.16 x 3.01 x 0.27 inches) and tipping the scales at 156 grams, using the Moto Z3 Play isn’t really a challenge, though I found myself struggling to press the lock button.
Nevertheless, I believe that a 6.0-inch phone needs to be used with both hands at certain times, so pressing the power button with the other hand is quite recommended.
Motorola used an aluminum frame on the Moto Z3 Play, which gives it quite a neat look, while the display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. This isn’t the latest generation of the protective shield, but given it’s a mid-ranger we’re talking about here, this makes perfect sense, especially when taking into account the price factor.
In terms of design, there’s little to complain about the Moto Z3 Play, and although it’s not a high-end model, it’s getting pretty close to one.
As far as hardware goes, there are some odd points here.
First, the processor. Since it’s a mid-range model, the Moto Z3 Play is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 636 processor, quite a decent choice for this particular category of devices. The chip is optimized for longer battery life and improved performance, especially when multi-tasking, but there’s obviously room for improvements, especially if you’re a hardcore gamer, for instance.
However, you shouldn’t forget the Z3 Play isn’t supposed to be a flagship, so certain limitations are obviously to be expected.
The processor is paired with 4GB RAM and up to 64GB storage, but some markets are getting a special-edition model with 6GB RAM and 128GB storage. An Adreno 509 GPU unit is also offering, and while it runs the majority of tasks smoothly, there are moments when you may feel the need for a faster graphics processor, especially when playing games.
The phone no longer comes with a 3.5mm headphone connector, as the only port available now is the USB Type-C that is used for file transfers and recharging. And speaking of recharging, the Z3 Play is just impressive.
The Moto Z3 Play runs on a 3,000 mAh battery pack that for me provided some 26 hours on average, though you can obviously get more or less than that depending on your usage pattern. However, the actual battery life isn’t really that important given how fast it recharges.
Motorola’s very own fast charging system is available on the Z3 Play to provide you with a full battery in a little over 80 minutes.
Bluetooth 5,0, Wi-Fi, and an NFC sensor for payments are also available on the Z3 Play.
As I said earlier, there are some weird things about how Motorola planned the Z3 series. While the Z3 Play is a mid-range offered with decent specs, the Moto Z3, which is available at nearly the same price, boasts an identical look but with significantly upgraded hardware.
The Z3, for instance, is powered by a Snapdragon 835 processor, which last year was the best mobile processor around, and it is one again offered with up to 6GB RAM and 128GB storage.
A similar approach has been used for the camera department, which is substantially better on the standard Z3, again despite the nearly similar price tag.
Like many other modern smartphones, the Z3 Play is offered with a dual-camera configuration, so you get a 12-megapixel sensor and a 5-megapixel secondary unit whose purpose is to add the depth effect. This is quite a common approach these days, as several manufacturers employ a dedicated depth sensor to add that bokeh effect that everyone seems to love these days.
But as I said earlier, the Z3 boasts upgraded cameras, so the device is equipped with a dual-camera system that includes two 12-megapixel sensors with better specs.
The main Z3 Play sensor features f/1.7, 1/2.55”, and 1.4um sensor size, while the Z3 uses a 12-megapixel unit with f/2.0, 1.25um, laser autofocus, and a secondary sensor with black and white support and laser autofocus as well.
As a result, the Z3 Play doesn’t provide you with the best shooting capabilities in the Motorola lineup, but it serves its purpose right if there’s enough light around. I noticed that the second it gets a little dark, every photo you take with this phone comes with a healthy amount of noise, and it’s getting worse as you’re getting closer to total darkness.
Of course, there’s no dedicated mode for low-light shots like Google’s Night Sight, but Motorola offers all kinds of software gimmicks that many people don’t use.
Overall, the photo quality of the Z3 Play is good in perfect light and with a steady hand, but be ready to take the same shot several times if the conditions change even slightly.
Moto Z3 Play is powered by Android 8.1, and it is projected to receive the update to Android 9.0 sometime this year. However, as I learned the hard way, it’s better not to hold your breath for major Android software updates, especially because many phone makers today are even ignoring the monthly security patches.
Somewhat weird is that although the Motorola Z3 Play is an evolved product, the Lenovo-owned brand still hasn’t upgraded it to an IP68 rating. The device continues to be splash and dust resistant, and while water resistance should be there just for accidents, and not for actually taking a shower with a phone, it’s very convenient to know it’s there.