Last summer, Lenovo and Motorola introduced the Moto Z line of smartphones. What made Moto Z unique was their ability to support MotoMods, modules designed to improve or add certain features to the phone. Lenovo and Motorola weren’t the first to test this method out last year as LG attempted something similar with the G5, but LG reverted to more a more traditional setup this year with the LG G6. Motorola, however, found success in with Moto Mods and have already begun releasing its second generation of Moto Z devices starting with the Moto Z2 Play early last month.
Today brings another addition to the Moto Z2 line, this time in flagship form: the Moto Z2 Force.
Last year, Motorola released two variants of the Moto Z: Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force. The differences were negligible, with the main difference being that the Moto Z Force was slightly thicker and heavier to support a larger battery. This year, Motorola opted to release only the Moto Z2 Force. Sounds like a good trade-off if you’re into good battery life, but the kicker is that the Moto Z2 Force comes with a thinner body and unfortunately a smaller battery, from 3,500 mAh in last year’s Z Force to 2,730 mAh battery in the Z2 Force.
Here is the complete list of specs for the Moto Z2 Force:
- 5.5-inch QHD display with ShatterShield technology
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor
- 4GB of RAM
- 64GB of internal storage, microSD support
- 12-megapixel dual rear-facing cameras, f/2.0
- 5-megapixel front-facing camera
- 2,750 mAh battery
- USB Type-C
- Android 7.1.1 out of the box; promised update to Android O
- Comes in Black, White/Gold color options; "Lunar Gray" option exclusive to T-Mobile
- 6GB RAM/128GB internal storage variant available outside of U.S.
The Moto Z2 Force didn’t bring back the 3.5mm headphone jack, which was removed last year in the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force, but was kept in the cheaper Moto Z2 Play. The Moto Z2 Force also does not natively support wireless charging and it isn't waterproof, just water-resistant. On the plus side, the Moto Z2 Force’s ShatterShield technology promises to deliver another difficult to destroy device, which is something that we can all appreciate.
One upside to the Z2 Force is that it will be available through every carrier this year rather than the Verizon exclusive it was last year. The model officially retails for $799 outright (unlocked) from Motorola directly, but carrier prices may vary (for example, AT&T will sell it for $810, or $27/mo. for 30 months).
Many carriers are offering promotions with the purchase of a Moto Z2 Force. Verizon Wireless will sell the Moto Z2 Force for $15/mo. for 24 months for a limited time, and T-Mobile is offering a BOGO promotion and will send a Prepaid MasterCard in the amount of $750 to pay for one of the two Moto Z2 Force devices activated on an EIP plan. U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, and T-Mobile all announced pre-orders beginning today; AT&T's will begin tomorrow. For a limited time, buyers will receive a free Insta-Share Projector MotoMod ($299 value) with the purchase of a Moto Z2 Force through many carriers. The Moto Z2 Force will officially launch on August 10th.
Although the Moto Z2 Force brings upgrades in regards to processing power, internal storage, and a new dual-camera setup, the smaller battery and lack of 3.5mm headphone jack may serve as a hindrance to the device’s popularity this year despite its unique ability to support MotoMods and availability across carriers.
Readers, what are your thoughts on the Moto Z2 Force? Is its smaller battery and lack of headphone jack a deal breaker for you, or are you willing to overlook those aspects for a flagship device that also supports mods? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!