Moto Z3 review: When novel ideas get old
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- čas přidán 12. 08. 2018
- An unexciting smartphone that may get better with 5G. 2016's Moto Z and Z Force proved that a company could make sophisticated, truly modular smartphones. Fast-forward two years, and Motorola just doesn't seem as hopeful about its Z line now.
Read more: www.engadget.com/2018/08/13/m...
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priced as mid-range but review keeps comparing to the flagships
hoohjoe very true
I'm comparing it to OnePlus 6, P20 (even the Pro on sale) and honor 10 which both blow this out the water, as before anyone says those cheap Chinese phones, Motorola is a Chinese phone now.
hoohjoe ur right
Please explain how Motorola is a "chinese" phone? It's one of the top phone companies in the United States. The moto g6 is selling like hotcakes and phone companies can't keep them in the stores. I think the OnePlus 6 is an amazing phone, however it will not sell anywhere near as much phones as motorola. As a matter of fact, in the states none of the phones you mentioned are any competition for any moto z phone.
J Rhymes Motorola is owned by Lenovo now. And Lenovo really do interfere in the design choices. Their screens and cameras are significantly better now but the old physical ruggedness, seamless software experience battery life and the assurance that no matter what Moto phone you bought, it would not suck - it may have limitations but it would be very satisfying within those limitations - are gone
I just got my Z3 on Launch Day and I love it. It just works and is a much better phone than my Galaxy S8 ever could be. :)
I'm loving mine. Bought it first day also. The camera alone....
If i buy this phone moto z3 would it be good for me whos liveing in jamaica
Wait until it's on sale in Jamaica
@@jjcardinale1367 we dnt ave this phone company here so there no sale
Eventually it will be in Jamaica, try the Pocophone F1, it's a great phone and has great specs for this
If you cared little at all about the LG G6 having an 821 processor when all FLAGSHIP phones in 2017 had an 835(with FLAGSHIP PRICING FOR THE DEVICE), but are destroying this phone in your reviews because it has an 835 processor (marked as a midrange device) in a year where FLAGSHIP phones have 845 processor then shame on you.
$480 a really fast device, beautiful screen(wait til you see it in person), plays heavy games, and you can buy battery mods to make it last even longer years after battery life decreases. What is wrong with this?
Your logic has flaws my friend
Lg g6 did have a 2016 processor in snapdragon 821 but it still a minor upgrade over the previous generation g5 which had a 820 ......but Moto z3 has exact same processor 835 as previous generation z2......I think this must be the first time something like this has ever happen in the history
iPhone se.....a 2016 phone that has a 2015 CPU but let's not forget at the time when it came out .....which was early march 2016.???..the 2015 CPU still power the then flagship at the time....iPhone 6s and 6s plus......so it was still flagship specs when it first came out (the A10 powered iPhone 7 didn't come until half a year later at September)
OnePlus X which was released in late 2015 had a 2014 CPU snapdragon 801 but then the device was marketed as a midrange so it doesnt really matter but z3 is Motorola's current flagship
Poco F1
J Rhymes, I agree. Had the G5 not been a "mod" phone, and LG not thought changeable batteries were more important than "waterproofing", the G6 would've been a joke. This phone is honest. Its fulfills the need for one more year of support for the Moto Mods, and offers a phone attractive to budget conscious buyers who want a smartphone that works and little else.
Well said.
As a Z2 force owner I think the Z3 should have been the Z2 Force. But i get why the Z3 is marketed the way it is. its the last of the Moto mods that will be compatible with the Z line. Moto cant change the design too much. Its great for the price and its been upgraded where possible. only reason the 845 isn't in there is prolly due to the higher clock speed. which would make the phone hot when in use especially while charging. Better screen bigger battery. More camera features. got rid of the plastic screen that scratches super easy...
IDK what else you need in a phone. It ticks all the boxes.
You know how FEW people use VR, man? I mean if vr is your thing, cool but this is such a tiny matter of a technology people aren't caring about. Also most people complaining about 1080p are using it. The one plus 6 has it and is held as one of the best phones and all samsung galaxy device comes on with 1080p on out of the box to millions of customers that has no idea about it and never even changes it higher during their entire time with the device.
@3165dwayne the new one will be updated for a longer period of time than the z2, it also has better battery life and a nicer more modern design. Do you really need more than 1080p for a 6" screen? Personally, I reserve 4k requirements for my TV and home theater. Everything else has diminishing returns, especially on sub 32 inch screens.. For $480 it's a reasonable ask if you on Verizon, and even better if you can get it cheaper, there are deals out there.
@@Kareem-cx4fi There is a difference between 720 and 1080 on the smaller screen whether you see it or not. This coming from someone whose eyesight isn't as good as it once was.
it's priced as a mid-range device, so why are you comparing it to the S9 and iPhone. Jesus.
libtard
I'd consider it if it had shatter shield. I'm still using original Moto zforce and it still runs sflawless with little hick ups 2years later. This all without ever using a case! I liked that security. Not worried about water or dust, most of is break the glass. What phone to get now?
It’s on sale for 240$ at Verizon. Pretty great deal if you ask me. My moms always liked the Motorola phones for some reason so I’ll be picking up one for her soon.
Found one of these on swappa with the power battery mod and the game controllor for 285, think it's worth it? I'm really thinking about pulling the trigger. i still have an old Iphone 6s, but want a bigger phone and newer hardware.
In conclustion: motorola didn´t pay to engadget this time
Ha! Yes! Exactly what I was thinking.
Currently $240 with new line with a battery pack that fits perfectly on back. Also the speaker back is super dope.
It's a good phone just not a flagship for 2018. They could have just call it Moto Z3 Play Plus instead
Moto Z³ PP 😂
I got this phone on Cyber Monday for $5 a month. There's no other devices that could come close to this one for that price. And around me Verizon is the only carrier with decent coverage.
Best review and you explained it better.Greetings from India.
How can i get it?
I love this phone, it's very nice (it reminds me a lot of the design of a Nexus, especially the Nexus 4 and 5) but my question is, why did not they bet on the SD845? Attractive design, huge screen with super Amoled technology, rounded corners and I like that it brings the word Motorola down and in front, a decent battery and double camera; the thinness of the device is noticeable and that makes its design pleasant and attractive. I hope it is available here in LATAM. Greetings and short but substantial review! 😉👌🏻💯📱
Wouldve costed more money for a barely discernible difference.
i got a z3 instead of the s10 saved 500 bucks and got a great phone
I just got my Z3 yesterday...coming from the Z2 Play...I loved both phones ..this phone is fast and as smooth as can be. I love it!
@@anthonylawson518 i like mine too its super fast just gotta get it setup how i want it. i got mine thursday.
@@johnbarns5419 it is a shame it is such an underrated phone...but I also thing Samsun/iPhones are overrated... But it comes down to money...did you get yours half off at Verizon?
@@anthonylawson518 yes 10 bucks a month
@@johnbarns5419 same! Really a great deal!
Seems like a fair review. Will stick with my Z2 Force for a little while longer. Runs like a dream and I love how thin, light and snappy it is. But I wish it came with stereo speakers, and without the easily scratched shatter shield and dying AMOLED screen. These changes would have made the Z3 perfect, even with the old SD835.
Sidenote: The Z2 Force actually comes with 6 GB ram. At least mine did (EU).
As of sept 28th 2018 both the z2 force is 299.99.on Motorola’s website as is honestly the better deal.
Sounds like a great deal, but now Sprint also sells the Z2 Force for just $120.
Got one of this after owning a Samsung S7 Edge for a couple of years. I have to say that is a pretty amazing phone overall. The screen is beautiful, miles better than my previous phone. The phone ia very snappy and fast. The only thing I miss having is Samsung camera, they are awesome. Moto Z camera is good for day time only. Night time is not good, period. For $480 is a fair price to pay. By the way, by buying the phone, Verizon sell you the projector mod at $50, a $150 discount. That is a great deal since it works amazingly well.
I've had a Z2 Force for a little over a year. I like that it's thin and I like that it won't shatter. I don't like the many many screen protectors I've had to buy to keep it from getting scratched. Add a screen protector, a case so the protector doesn't break and battery mod and all of a sudden it's not so thin anymore. The mods are cool, especially the dock and the projector but the sound output failed on my first one and now its replacement has done the same thing. The camera is not anywhere close to being on par with others like my son's LG, there's no comparison. Unless you're in love with Moto mods, (and the phone doesn't quit working with them), I don't see anything that would make these super desirable.
So i wouldn't be able to buy this in Europe?
My Moto Z Force is still fantastic but the battery dies randomly and one of the gold pins is missing so my mods don't work. I'd love to be able to buy that phone again but I can't find it anywhere. The later phones seem like downgrades.
Can you put an xfinity mobile sim card in this
Is it better 835 than 845?
I wish there was an unlocked version of this. Seems odd to me that you can't buy a sub $500 Moto phone that runs on a high end chipset and has decent cameras. The only options you have now all run 600 series chipsets and have lackluster cameras. I guess there's the Z2 Force on discount, but it has a plastic display that scratches easily and huge bezels.
I own a first gen Moto Z and i would like to continue with Moto phones, but there's not much of an upgrade path for me within this budget.
Innovation is not change in design -.- they cannot change too much the body due to compatibility with mods
I love the fluidity of the Z series, awesome heat management, the camera quality and also the build. Lot's of people commenting here have never used the Z series before, hence their negative comments.
😏. I just got a new Z3. I just traded in a 3 year old Droid II, and I'm pretty impressed.
At least I don't have to put up with Apple's proprietary BS. I don't have to worry about it exploding. I don't feel like I'm caught between Apple's and Samsung's pissing contests. The four Samsung phones I've owned all failed just out of warranty.
I don't agree with your criticism. What more do you want it to do? The phone in your hand right now could not be had for a trillion dollars 20 years ago. Be happy!
Totally agree with you!
So the screen isn't like the old? I drop mine all the time I have like 12 pixles out from a drop that would have folded any other phone
Agreed.. a 2017 flagship processor is better than a 2018 mid-tier. The Samsung Tab S4 runs an 835 and it powers the crazy dex system Samsung includes. In many ways this is the upgrade to the original Moto Z that I wanted last year, but I'm happy to have it this year. Moto's marketing department is really to blame, with a confusing back and forth as to what makes their phones different from other flagship phones. But the mods are what the buyers like me are interested in, and the Moto Z3 is the best way to enjoy them. I use the jbl speaker, projector, battery pack and camera mods constantly, and it's awesome.
It's funny how he's comparing the z2 force to the z3, when he should be comparing the z2 to the z3. The z3 force will be better than the z2 force. Comparing the battery for them is like comparing the battery on the iPhone 6 plus to the iPhone 7.
There won't be a z3 force anymore, indeed there won't be the force version anymore from now on due to the low on sales from the previous force version. So he was right when compared the last year z2 forced with the new z3 since they both have the snapdragon 835 and 4gb of ram.
SD 835 is still a high end processor and it is no way outdated... Would love to buy it when it is available in my place...
Would it be an upgrade to a Samsung Convoy2?
Yes
The price is right just wanted a little bit more like larger battery would be nice.
When the only reason to get a phone is because you are carrier locked, that's a pretty crap reason...
Also good to warn people that 5G is most likely not getting anywhere as soon as carriers and manufacturers are saying, and the naming is deceptive - it should be seen not as next gen to 4G, and more like a complementary tech to reach fast speeds with very limited ranges. It'll also either take far longer to get coverages like 4G, or cost a whole lot more which will be paid for by costumers - just how the tech works.
Thanks for the early morning
Never had a Moto, got the z3 in August no complaints. Until watching this video 🤣😂
Well, this is the play version, not the force version. You can't compare a play with force version.
Lenovo has simply destroyed the Motorola brand. As per my own experience, their phones are solid but it seems lenovo doesn't wanna compete with others.
Making a mid tier phone that's affordable and isnt over priced and allows you to use Moto mods to improve your phone in ways even higher end phones can't compete with. You really should give them more credit. I would easily take this phone over any of the newer iPhones easily.
Do One Plus phones really 'not work' on Verizon lacking the required hardware, or does Verizon 'not certify' OP phones for its network? There IS a difference.
Just bought one 6/4/19 and am a happy camper.
Literally.
Bought the LG V30 last weekend and went stomping around various estate sales and homes it kept dropping signal. Even in my trailer. No signal anywhere except at home.
Bought the Moto z and it's been reliable everywhere I've gone. I've been a Motorola user all my life and decided to stray this one time using something else and well, that didn't work out.
Moto for the win.
Show me a phone of this quality at $240 price point.
Get it at Verizon online.
I'm having a hard time you can make a phone for that price let alone charge that.
I've had it for a week now and only shortcoming is the screen and aonso camera. A tad too blue otherwise it does everything pretty well. For $240? A smoking deal.
Look, I think you are seeing a smart business decision. I haven't been able to dig up the numbers, but I would love to see how many Play phones last year were sold compared to Force phones. I think Motorola had to offer one more phone compliant with their mods. They knew this would limit the phone's appeal to high-end buyers. So rather than sink a ton of development money into a flagship with all the bells and whistles, Motorola added features to the existing phone (which mods dictated it be anyhow) that they need to test for their next true flagship. edge to edge display, a fingerprint sensor not on the front, these are things the next phone will have. Same with 5G. Motorola doesn't expect the Z3 to sell because it has 5G. It generates buzz and allows you to work out issues before you release it baked into your next flagship. I don't know if Moto will use Z4 next year or pick another letter of the alphabet, but I think the Z3 is what made financial sense this year. The company is making money, you don't want to jinx that by dumping a ton of development money into the third year of a 3 year design on the hope it will attract Galaxy or Pixel buyers, who your data shows are not interested in this phone.
Damn it dont have the quashed screen anymore
Isn't this phone more a vehicle commissioned by Verizon for 5g more than anything else.I maybe mistaken but isnt 5g technology is currently extremely complicated and the mod just happened to be a way to get around this. The mods specifications are quite impressive and a glimpse to the technology complexities. Flagships may support 5g technology but i doubt they will cost $480....(yes suppose need to factor addition cost of mod). Is the note 9 5g compatible....and that's a special beast. also the mod thing was supposed to be a 3yr commitment...that's coming to end and probably not as successful so makes sense that no real exciting new ones have been released. Just my thoughts
Love u Motorola an user of moto g5s plus 😘😘😘
WOW, the first 5G.
From what a tech company which brought us RAZR phones it was Moto that gave us water resistance first. I don’t why they are losing ground on budget and mid level phones with mindless strategy. Is it really because of Lenovo ?
Where is the phone ???! When I watch a review I want to see the phone .
At 3:10 why deos it look like tomas the train
I just upgraded to the Z3 at Verizon for $280, that is a bargain. The smartphone tech specs are strong enough for the average user and at a fraction of the price compared to the iPhone and newer Galaxy models. My feeling is that you can be a purist and spend excessively on the latest and greatest, or you can be practical and modest. Maybe you can even give more money away to meaningful causes instead of spend it on marginal performance enhancements and novelty.
It's really weird how much Moto nerfed the Z3 in the US compared to the Z3 Play in Latin America! Of course, the Z has a better processor, but the Z3 Play here (at around the same price point) has 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. And you get the Moto Speaker for free.
I broke my Galaxy 9+ Screen last week. Back to BestBuy. I didn't want to spend another $1k. Bought this Moto Z3 in sealed box and not activated. Verizon Web site allowed me to buy $40. Prepaid plan. Installed a $10. good case on it. It's a great phone. Also I had 5 different iPhones and I like Z3 better.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Dam price already cut in half
Actually, this is the phone that I was looking for. I don't need a snapdragon 845 or even 899 if it exist. The problem wasn't with the Soc or amount of RAM, the problem was the Z2 line doesn't have a non-force model. I know it is well built, pretty much shatterproof and everything. But I hate when It scratches easily.
Z2 Play
I am having trouble with accessing my internet at home-- my previous Moto play as soon as I was in my home the internet came on and the data would shut off-- went to Verizon twice and the Z3 would work there? Do you have any recommendations?
The Z3 unlocked is compatible with Sprint and T-Mobile network and more... The ram could be 6 g at least 128 g. External. Motorola needs to step up with the spec and by the way their phone names are all over the place and can be confusing.
I love my Droid Turbo which I've had for 4 years now, and it still works great! I skipped the Turbo 2 and I keep wishing they would come out with a Droid Turbo 3. Screw these stupid mods and make a phone with a great battery life, 21 megapixel camera a fast processor and ram. I'm ready for a new phone and want to stay with Motorolla but now and guess I will have to go with the Samsung 9 for lack of a better choice. Would prefer a Motorolla US company phone though.
Motorola is owned by Lenovo, a Chinese company. If you want to buy American (ugh gross), then your only options are a Pixel and and an iPhone.
All still made in China
Nathan Dunham - You don't want to make the mistake of switching to Samsung. You'll regret it wholeheartedly
There was not much Motorola could do with the design of the phone they obviously wanted to keep the same Moto mods compatible with the Moto z3 without changing the Mod it self to be compatible with the device
but as an motorola brand price ia great
Seems like a great phone for the price. Verizon is blowing them out for $240 if you do the 2 year contract ($10 a month for 24 months).
Z one z2 z3 compared plz
I think Alexa and the gaming mod would increase the longevity of this phone dramatically
They are fulfilling the agreement they made to keep the moto mods, they are currently working on several new flagships, including a bendable phone. We all tend to focus on apples and samsung. Motorola is cooking something big up.
Confusing marketing but for the price it’s a killer phone
I miss the google/moto days
Good brutally honest review. Great job
Thank you so much for the Verizon purchasing page clips and highlights. An absolute necessity to have in the review of this phone. But I think the phone does have a purpose but it is not the purpose that the moto branding tells you. They are mudding their own branding. The regular Z is supposed to be their flagship and the z3 play is supposed to under cut that. Now the play is overpriced and the Z is undercut, both landing at about the same price range which seems confusing and foolish. In reality, Motorola is just trying to catch a few bucks off of dumb Verizon customers because Moto needs every penny they can get because they're dying... Fast. Personally, I Iove the move. I'll wait for the tanking resale values due to poor decisions on the z3 and snag an unlocked one off of swappa in a year for $200 and use it on an mvno.
Personally I'll never pay $1,000 for a phone. At this price point (affordable), it can't be beat, especially if you don't have the cash to shell out and rather pay monthly on your cell bill. Basically the same phone as the Google Pixel XL (besides the camera) but about half the price.
I feel really bad for Moto... this brand becoming too underrated, overshadowed by huawei, and other chinnese brands...Moto is used to be respectable brand, but now I almost forget this brand still around. Under Lenovo is just going wrong, even Lenovo is simply non existed recently (okay lenovo z5, but thats about it)
I don't agree with your review. Comparing this phone to higher end phones isn't fair to this phone. I will say tho, for what this phone can do and how much it costs, it puts up a pretty solid fight against $800-$1000 phones and you're paying half that for it. It's not a oneplus 6 by any means, but it's not trying to be either. It's a mid tier phone that gives you great quality for a damn good price.
Why Verizon only, that means many people have to abandon z3 for this year.
Cool, would you consider using my music for free? Cant wait to see more!
Can't wait for lenovo to buy another good brand and then ruin it.
They ruined it since they remove the headphone jack and the standard battery before the mods is very small
Yup, that alone is ruining them.
Currently priced at 240.00 on VZW.
Where did you find that price?
I would buy it if it wasn't on Verizon . I am sick of paying 800$ and up for phones .
The price is fair for the phone .
I switched from my samsung to the moto z....... Couldn't wait to go back to samsung.
Who in the world wants to pay $500 for a phone in 2019 too many other phone still in the box from 2018 half the price.
LOL if you are due for an upgrade it's $200 off on line only that's $280 bucks! Now it's the best value in the market
For me, Motorola totally lost the plot with these gimmicky Mod phones.
I've never seen anybody using one..
The Style Shells looked non too stable on the back and now they've gone full tilt into glass backs, jutting cameras and no doubt a notch is on its way, some time soon? :O)
Maybe because a Moto Z is not your main device, that's the problem with youtubers, you guys place a phone 3m underground thinking that you are the end user for this, for me looks awesome, I have my Moto Z2 and mods, better wait for the Z4, but someone with a first generation Z looks like an awesome upgrade, I mean, like the lame excuse of iPhone users to not change to android because of their cables, but with real usage on our upgrade
I love Verizon I love Motorola Z3 and I love Chicago.
Best mid range price phone.
I think this Moto-Mod thing should have been retired with the Z2 versions. I'm almost sure the next versions next year will drop the support. It's done, it's over, it wasn't mind blowing and the required limitations (or oversizing, camera placement, ugly contact pins) just holding the Moto designs back. Let it go already.
This is the reason to not listen to reviews. Especially from these opinionated reviewers. Got this today. Just amazing.
Can you use it on another carrier
@@tunde37 I believe so, you just have to get it from the Motorola website. I'm still in love with this phone by the way
@@tunde37 easily a whole day of battery life and it's fast AF with the snapdragon 835
Feels like the reviewer phoned in this review. Do not listen to this review. This phone is great for what it supposed to be an alternative to paying hundreds for quote on quote top of the line phones. Seems this days a prerequisite for an amazing phone is it's price tag.
They did phone it in. The Z3 exists to satisfy a contractual obligation to Verizon.
cool
you broke down your entire argument yourself by showing how well it's priced for it's segment
I've been a Motorola owner for 10 years now, but I'm tired of its laggy hardware, the only thing my Z Force had going for it was the shatter proof screen, switching to Samaung.
Don't you mean Asus for the ROG Phone..
3165dwayne
I've used the Note 9 with no issues, that phone was probably molested to death on display.
3165dwayne
My brother has an S9, never so much as lagged once
PC Principal - Laggy and Motorola don't mix at all... That's why many people are turning in their Samsung phones for iPhones or other Android smartphones because the Samsung phones lag like crazy over time. No matter how many times you factory reset it.
DeadofWinter321
That's every smartphone. Also, Motorolas have decent build quslity, but shit software, especially when it comes to camera focus
I had moto Z1. It's still much better than samsung !!
The only reasons I get these phones are because of the fact that they don't Crack and the battery pack
I can give a shit less about specs, I just just buy it for the thumbprint entry
In almost the same breath he says its an excellent phone in a price point with no good alternatives then says the phone has no reason to exist. 04:40 then 05:12 riddle me that Batman.
"priced right" for that much you can get:
A galaxy note 8: 400 new
A Sony xperia Xz2: 400
Galaxy s8: 250
Galaxy s9: 500
LG g7: 280
LG v40: 400
One plus 6
Yeah
I got mine for $240...and will get another Android update...most the phones you listed won't get anymore Android updates...
"Phoned it in..." xD
First off let's update this the Moto Z3 play unlocked with 128 gb variant is readily available at 349 dollars easily it has 6gbs of ram to 4gb it has 6inch super AMOLED display with edge to edge dual cameras a can take 4k videos it has a 636 processor it has added bonus of Moto mods you have to ask yourself at this price point in 2019 does anything even remotely give you this type bang for you bucks nope not at all.the 3000mah is enough to get you little over a day that's with crazy usage that I do with playing fps games watching TV shows movies watching CZcams videos so imagine adding a battery mod on it most of the times that battery mod come with the phone. It isn't rocket science and the math adds up big time nothing else gives you more bang for you money at this price point in 2019 and with the smallest battery mod with heavy usage I was getting over two days easily not that anyone needs that but you can always get 10000mah mod or 20000 mAh mod but I was getting 2 days with a 2200mah mod battery.dont let biased CZcamsrs tell you what you should do just use common sense and I use this phone as my daily driver dispite having 2 other phones.
Please iPhone has been serving us the same slice of pizza for years and the only mod you can stick on an iPhone is a case. At least Motorola shows the consumer mercy and lowers the price of the Zs every now again making it easy to own a decent smartphone. The iPhone may be king, but Motorola is the pimp sleeping with the Queen. Say wha?
Motorola is dying slowly in the budget section and it will be soon if it dies in the mid tier as well
You do know the moto g6 is one of the best selling phones in the world, right?
Prateek Khari - Motorola phones are King in the budget and mid-range department.
DeadofWinter321 well i dont think so.... US maybe!? But here the competition is so tight that motorola doesnt even stand up on its own now not in bettery not in processor and not in camera too.... Companies like Asus, Huawei and xiaomi gives snapdragon 660 while moto gives the 450 in the same budget and that goes for battery too 3000mAh in moto while others go upto 5000mAh.... Moto is quite dead as the update cycle is trash as well... I know so much cause i am a moto owner as well