Last year's reinvention of Motorola centered around the short-lived buzz over modular smartphones. Its Moto Z and Moto Mods platform were the most practical take on the modular phone concept, but they didn't exactly ignite the smartphone world.

Slim; light design; Excellent battery life; Smart software enhancements

Camera could use optical stabilization; Fingerprint gestures are clumsy; Only available unlocked or from Verizon

Lenovo introduced their family last year with high hopes of being something different. The evolution of smartphone design has been more iterative than innovate in recent years from most manufacturers.

Modular phones are in a rather interesting spot. At the end of 2016 Google canned Project Ara , its open-source modular mobile project. In 2017, the latest LG G-series unceremoniously ditched the company's lacklustre "Friends" modules .

Incredible battery life (even more incredible with a relevant battery Mod); Mods work with minimal fuss and can be genuinely useful; great fingerprint scanner with gesture controls; flagship-level smoothness and operation - including for games

The OnePlus 5 will likely give it a run for the money; not all Mods fit perfectly and phone looks bizarre without one fitted; why buy into Mods when you could buy separate accessories for any phone

nice mobile with ultimate battery backup sleek design with premium look & delivered in 2 days.

If the multifunction aspect of modern smartphones is not enough for you then Lenovo offers a modular approach.

The Moto Z Play was launched in 2016 as a more affordable alternative to the Moto Z, aimed at those looking for long-lasting battery modules. The Moto Z2 Play arrived to the market while maintaining some of the same features, although it has a lower battery capacity compared to the predecessor.

Stylish appearance; Display; Software with intelligent voice commands

Camera isn't outstanding; Reduced battery life; New interface icons

Motorola used to send regular phones to be reviewed and then they became part of Lenovo who have a different reviews team, so it's been a while since one has crossed my desk and this only because it is one of a range promoted by Vodafone.

The Z2 Play is a unique unlocked phone that combines solid performance with a modular design that taps into Motorola's Moto Mods add-ons.

Useful modular design; Current software and virtually no bloatware; Compatible with all major US carriers; Long battery life

Difficult to use with one hand; Tinny speaker; Slightly pricey for the specs

The Moto Z2 Play is a great mid-range smartphone; it features a gorgeous design, premium build and the Moto Mods support provides extended functionality based on what you require from the smartphone, from extra battery power to an improved speaker and even a built-in projector. Despite the smaller battery, the Snapdragon 626 processor is incredibly efficient and we comfortably lasted a day on a single charge, and when we did run out it was quick to top up thanks to the included fast charging tech. It holds its own against competitors in our benchmark tests, and real world use is decent.

New aspect ratios, curved displays, and iris scanners—manufacturers have spent the past six months doing just about everything to make their phones stand out from the crowd. The $499 unlocked Moto Z2 Play, on the other hand, builds on a concept Motorola established last year. It has a unique design that works with Motos Mods, useful modular back panels that bring new functionality. It also has snappy performance, great battery life, and is compatible with all major US carriers. And unlike the Z Droid, you even get a headphone jack. That makes the Z2 Play a great phone if you're sold on the modular build. Otherwise, the ZTE Axon 7 gets you a bit more power for less money. A Slim, Smooth, Familiar Design Available in black, blue, gold, and gray (pictured here), the Moto Z2 Play is largely the same phone as the Moto Z Droid and Play Droid in terms of design. The svelte device is ringed by a band of metal along the sides, with a set of clicky volume buttons and a ridged power button ...

The Z2 Play is a unique unlocked phone that combines solid performance with a modular design that taps into Motorola's Moto Mods add-ons.

Useful modular design; Current software and virtually no bloatware; Compatible with all major US carriers; Long battery life

Difficult to use with one hand; Tinny speaker; Slightly pricey for the specs