Does all it needs to and does it well

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

Have had the mobile for about three weeks now and am very satisfied. I find that the screen is good and also the battery life I'm impressed with. Ready for about two days on a charge, even in fairly high usage. Another thing that appeals to me is that it's a very "clean" version of Android on it.

ImageTagInstance gallery-245bdbc2-bfc2-43d0-a304-a48ec638730f IntroductionModular smartphone hardware is, at the very least, an intriguing concept: since phones are far from one-size-fits-all, it makes sense to let users choose the hardware features that matter most to them, and by making this hardware modular, it saves shoppers the expense of picking up a whole new phone every time their desires shift. But for as nice as the idea is, actually making modular smartphones work is an uphill battle, and even giants like Google have looked long and hard at such projects before eventually declaring, “Nope!”But last year Lenovo-owned Motorola did the impossible, and launched not just a modular smartphone, but a whole family of both modular phones and the modules that attach to them: the Moto Mods. We were promised that this wouldn't be a one-shot phenomenon, and this year they're indeed back, as we get a new phone and some new Moto Mods add-ons. ImageTagInstance gallery-1bedc816-02ad-41d5-a55...

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;

The Moto Z3 Play is an actual real thing we've had our hands on! It arrives this summer for $499 with an extra battery pack.

Strong battery life, clever software and magnetic Mod add-ons make the Motorola Z2 Play a compelling midrange choice.

The Moto Z2 Play has a beautiful screen and all-day battery life; There’s expandable storage, lots of software tricks and even a headphone jack.

Its best software feature doesn’t always work; The phone feels wide and uncomfortable without a magnetic back cover, and not much better with covers that don’t fit well; Last year’s Z Play had much longer battery life.

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

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;