Motorola Moto Z3

Motorola Moto Z3 Review

The Motorola Moto Z3 is the "first 5G phone," in that it will have an optional add-on for Verizon's 5G network next year. Until then, it stands on its own merits as a solid phone and a good way to try out Moto Mods. The Moto Z3 is the first 5G phone—with an asterisk. Motorola has been promising a 5G add-on Moto Mod for its modular Z line of phones for a while now, and the Z3 is the first one that will officially get it. It'll be for Verizon's 5G network, and it will come "early in 2019," according to Verizon network chief Nicola Palmer. That means until then the Z3 has to stand on its own merits. The specs are fairly midrange, consisting of last year's processor and a 1080p screen. Fortunately, the Z3 is priced accordingly at $479.99, making it more affordable than the unlocked Z3 Play. It doesn't match top-tier phones like the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in sheer power, but its combination of price, performance, and the unique Moto Mods functionality allow it to hold its own among midrange competitors. Design, Features, and Display The Z3 is easy to confuse with the rest of Motorola's Z-series. It looks a lot like the Moto Z2 Force Edition ( at Amazon) and is almost identical to the Z3 Play. Th...

Motorola Moto Z3 review review

Moto Z3

ImageTagInstance gallery-5ab4087d-f797-4555-a5ba-ba21e5d858e0 Review index HTMLTagInstance html-tag-a0cf3583-e0f3-4cf4-9b46-f44f115b3b5d Design | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-cbeb38a3-e127-470e-81c6-872e5173926f Display | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-9a71cc09-8bba-4805-a8a4-00bfd9bb8693 Interface and Functionality | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-d27b0e4b-df75-422b-b084-7b9c50b8e8c7 Processor, Memory, and Performance | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-e10e6755-9751-4fb4-9914-1756f8f4a61b Connectivity | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-5e9a67ca-8d78-4682-b6e6-a1041933ab6d Camera | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-058b6bf9-f22b-465d-b25f-6b0e8bbae30f Call quality | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-c20d6d45-b23f-4e2b-bdb0-4c6f206c0dc5 Media | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-073906fe-59fc-40eb-82da-18b0d447aabd Battery life | HTMLTagInstance html-tag-6c6c3ff7-44a2-43ef-8c0d-98484fa3571a ConclusionIn recent years, Motorola has established itself as something of a bar-setter in the entry-level and mid-range phone markets. High-end success seem...

Motorola Moto Z3 review: Solid, midprice phone with a bright 5G tomorrow

The Moto Z3 is living on a prayer. A Verizon exclusive billed as the first phone to be upgradable to 5G speeds, the Moto Z3 does not actually have 5G capability built-in. For that, it needs the attachment known as the 5G Moto Mod, which is currently in prototype form and won't go on sale until early 2019.

Motorola Moto Z3 review

The Motorola Moto Z3 is much like the other Moto Z devices: if you like the idea of modular accessories, then it's pretty compelling. If you don't see the point of Moto Mods, then you've got a lot of other options - some of which are arugably more compelling. The excellent OnePlus 6, for example, packs in a faster processor, great camera, and sharp design for just $50 more. And since the Z3 uses a year-old processor, you could even look at something like Samsung's Galaxy S8. Last year's best flagship can now be had for about the same price as the Z3, and it's still a fantastic handset with a whole lot of great perks of its own. Things could change dramatically once the 5G Moto Mod comes out. If there aren't a lot of phones with 5G support at the time, let alone 5G-capable phones below the flagship price point, then that capability could make the Z3 a must-have. But there are a lot of question marks, and it's tough to recommend buying a phone today based on a nebulous accessory that'll be out in six or more months. You can plan and try to future-proof all you want, but if you're buying a phone today, then I think you need to make the decision that's good for you both now and into the short-term future. The Moto Z3 is a very fine upper-midrange handset with an attractive build, great screen, and very fine performance. But there are sleeker, sexier, and faster phones in this general price range, and the Moto Mods are really the deciding factor. If you don't see must-have attachments in the lineup today, then consider other options. On the other hand, if you love the idea of modular upgrades, then the Moto Z3 is a great base phone to build upon. And who knows? Maybe you'll be one of the first to ride the 5G wave early next year if the timeline holds up and the price isn't overwhelming. Maybe.