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.

The predecessor to the Moto Z2 Play, the original modular Z mid-range phone, had a small but devoted cult following.

Simple and intuitive UI; Improved design; Useful and fun Mods

Decreased battery power; Mediocre camera; High price point

If you've read any of my reviews of Motorola's phones then you may remember that I'm a really big Moto phone fan. I love the way that Motorola typically takes the vanilla Android experience and pumps it up a bit with some cool features.

Premium build and quality screen – even at 1080p; Silky performance and great battery life; Nifty modular accessories ;

Camera lacks colour punch; Moto Mods quickly get expensive; Phone still looks weird without a Mod in place;

The Moto Z2 Play is a premium mid-range smartphone that follows the Moto Z Play from last year. Lenovo/Motorola is committed to making the Moto Z series an integral part of the Moto Mods ecosystem so the Moto Z2 Play will be backward and forward compatible with the existing Moto Mods accessories.

* Solid build and beautiful design; * Very good battery life; * Good performance; * Support for Moto Mods; * Great camera quality; * Affordable pricing

* Expensive Moto Mods; * Camera bump at the back

It's no surprise last year's Moto Z Play remains a top-tier smartphone. It cooked up almost everything to perfection, coupling top-notch looks with a long-lasting battery, a great camera and the ability to add capabilities via Mods.

Attractive price; Decent performance boost; Fantastic low-light camera

Battery isn't as long-lasting

When it showed up at the tail end of 2016, we loved the Moto Z Play and its weird yet wonderful take on the modular mobile. It had fantastic battery life, too, but couldn’t quite edge out the cheaper OnePlus 3 as our go-to phone below £350. Now that the OnePlus 5 has upped the budget to £450, though, Motorola’s second try looks a lot more appealing. And not just because the price has only gone up by a Brexit-beating tenner here in the UK. It doesn’t have the most powerful parts, the battery might not be quite so long-lasting any more, and the similarly-priced Honor 9 might have a more comprehensive dual-camera setup, but there’s something undeniably cool about those Moto Mods. Ignore the optional upgrades and you’re still left with a keenly-priced handset that feels quick to use, looks great and takes a decent picture. Unless you’ve got the extra cash to splash on the OnePlus 5, or don’t mind Honor’s overbearing spin on Android, it’s a great buy.

Premium build and quality screen - even at 1080p; Silky performance and great battery life; Nifty modular accessories ;

Camera lacks colour punch; Moto Mods quickly get expensive; Phone still looks weird without a Mod in place;

Last year's Moto Z Play was widely considered as one of the best devices in the company's line up. A perfect balance between performance and stellar battery life, the phone also served as a showcase for the Moto Mod ecosystem at a lower price point.

The Moto Z2 Play is currently a Verizon exclusive , and if you buy it by July 26, the JBL SoundBoost Moto Mod is included for free. If you are not on Verizon , there is an unlocked version that will be available later this summer, priced at $500.

Solid metal build quality Sleek design Moto Mods enhance phone's functionality MicroSD card slot Water repellent nano-coating Close to stock Android experience Smooth performance All-day battery life Speedy fingerprint sensor

Pricier than the original Moto Z Play Moto Mods are still expensive Verizon version is preloaded with bloatware Camera is sub-par Display difficult to see outdoors

If you want a sleek modular smartphone running stock Android then the Moto Z2 Play is pretty much your only option. However, if you aren't interested in the Moto Mods then you can go for some other options available in the market.

Super AMOLED Display; Light; and well-designed; Good battery

Expensive Moto Mods