Table of Contents 64q43
The device family Moto Z is one of the most innovative in Motorola's history. Several manufacturers have tried to implement the concept of modular accessories in their smartphones, but none has been as successful as the one recently acquired by Lenovo. g2t67
The differential of the Z line is the compatibility with the Motorcycle Snaps, accessories that connect with the device, expanding its functionality. In Speakers, extra batteries e até joysticks, there's Moto Snap for every taste.
O Moto Z2 Play is the first member of the second generation of the line. Bringing compatibility with the first generation Snaps, the device fixes some of the flaws of its big brother. Check out our full review.
Strengths 411a58
- Compatibility with first generation Moto Snaps;
- Thinner, lighter and more anatomical in the hands;
- Navigation by fingerprint reader;
- Even with the reduction of battery capacity, it maintains a good autonomy;
- Great cost-benefit ratio.
Negative points 362i2j
- Lack of in-camera stabilization;
- Moto Snaps price is too high.
Design 145g70
Same as the Moto Z Play, the Z2 Play has its own charm. Thinner, the device retains the same layout and shape as its predecessor – ensuring retroactive for Moto Snaps (we'll get to that soon). Of course, the camera still bounces and you'll have to continue to be careful when placing the device on tables. On the front, the main change was in the fingerprint reader – which is now deep and has no edges as in the first model. This makes it much more natural to use and was an essential change for the addition of the fingerprint reader navigation feature. The device became more anatomical, and its grip more pleasant and secure. In short, the Z2 Play's design is the natural and necessary evolution of the Z Play.
Fabric 3c653a
The device has a screen 5.5 ″ Super AMOLED with resolution Full HD (1080×1920). The brightness is excellent and even at the minimum level it is reasonably intense. Colors are displayed with good quality and saturation. The screen is also one of those responsible for the good battery life. As AMOLED displays are able to turn pixels on and off independently, displaying completely black backgrounds (#000000) does not consume power as these pixels do not light up.
Audio 3n1j5g
The Moto Z2 Play has only one speaker, positioned on the top front. The volume is satisfactory for most uses, but if you want to listen to loud music, you're better off getting the Snap JBL SoundBoost.
the exit to 3.5mm headphones is present at the bottom of the device, just like its predecessor. Points to Motorola for not removing it!
Dual Sim and Slots 321t60
The device continues to be dual sim, and has a tray non-hybrid. This means that you can use two nano-sim chips and a MicroSD card simultaneously.
Performance 2o6s4l
Before getting into the details, let's take a look at a small table comparing the main specs of the Moto Z2 Play with its predecessor:
| Moto Z Play | Moto Z2 Play | |
| chipset | Snapdragon 625 | Snapdragon 626 |
| Clock Max. of the processor | 2GHz | 2.2GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 506 | Adreno 506 |
| RAM memory | 3GB | 4GB |
Like the design, hardware has also undergone a natural evolution. You can expect the robust performance of its predecessor, even better. During the tests the device did not crash even once. Everything is very fluid: apps open and switch instantly, the split-screen feature works incredibly well (even better with the biometric reader navigation mode) and games run without the slightest problem. Speaking of which, we tested Lara Croft:GO, Injustice 2, Rayman Adventures, Mortal Kombat X e Horizon Chase. They all ran perfectly.
Storage 225u60
Are 64GB internal memory, being 50GB free for the to use. That's plenty of room for a device in this price range. There is even a MicroSD card slot up to 2TB in case you wanted to expand the storage capacity.
Operational system 1a5246
Following the tradition of the Moto line, the Z2 Play offers an almost pure experience of Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Particularly, I consider this one of the strengths of the Moto line. Keeping the system lean and skinless (unlike most manufacturers) makes it easier to launch updates for future versions of android. launcher pattern follows the style of Pixel Launcher, no central button: just drag the screen up to access the app drawer.
Motorcycle Resources c665l
The main additions to the operating system are the Moto features, present in the other devices in the line. The leap of the cat here is the new features exclusive to the Z2 Play.
The new Moto Voice allows the to display useful information on the screen without having to touch the device. The difference from Moto Voice on Z2 Play is that there is a whole independent system, separate from Google / Google Now. For example, when saying “Show me the weather”, the screen automatically displays a page with the current temperature natively. You can say “Show me the next event”, for example, and your Google Calendar appointments will appear. Or “Show me Chrome”, “Show me Instagram” or “Show me Whatsapp” and the respective apps will be displayed. It is one of the most useful features of the device.
O Motorbike Fabric lets you view and interact with on-screen notifications and is especially useful on the Z line. With its Super AMOLED screens, only the pixels needed to display notifications and their contents are lit. Fewer pixels lit, less battery consumption.
O Moto Actions uses smartphone sensors to access applications or activate and deactivate functions. For example, the famous twist to open the camera and the shake to turn on the LEDs and use the device as a flashlight. But the main feature here (also exclusive to the Z2 Play) is the possibility to activate the fingerprint reader navigation. When activating it, the lower navigation bar disappears and the functions of the buttons back, menu and switch between applications are transferred to the fingerprint reader. Just swipe left to go back, tap to go home and swipe right to switch between apps. I thought this feature was great. As much as I prefer digital buttons to physical ones, navigating the fingerprint sensor is very pleasant and you get some pixels on the screen.
Camera 2xzk
The rear camera has 12 megapixels and follows the same quality standard as the camera of its predecessor. Focus is slightly more accurate, mainly due to the laser focus + pixel autofocus combination. The new camera has an f/1.7 aperture, which allows it to capture 25% more light compared to the camera on the first-gen Moto Z Play.
It is possible to record video up to 4k resolution, running at 30 frames per second.
The front camera has also been improved. With 5 megapixels, a lens with an angle of 85º (ideal for selfies with a lot of people), it has a dual flash and color correction technology. We now have the Beauty Mode, which “corrects” small blemishes and smoothes the skin. This mode is already common in smartphones from other brands, and it is interesting to appear here as well.
The camera software has been updated and now has a professional mode. Here you can fine-tune settings such as manual focus, white balance, shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation. It is with this mode that you get the best results, especially at night or in low light.
It's certainly a good camera, but nothing compared to cameras on high-end devices. The biggest problem is the lack of stabilization: if you don't hold the device well, the chances of taking pictures or recording videos that are shaky or blurry are high.
It is worth noting that the camera glass appears to be more resistant than in the previous model. One of the biggest complaints from owners of the first-gen Moto Z Play is how easy it is to scratch the glass. Even carrying my Z Play 1 in a padded compartment in the backpack, with no other items inside, within a few days the glass was already scratched. During the testing week, I carried the Z2 Play in the same compartment and no scratches.
Battery 554u5p
The internet went into an uproar when the Moto Z2 Play specs began to surface. The main reason? The battery capable of 3000mAh, which even with great capacity, was still smaller than the 3510mAh of its predecessor. Unfortunately, it was a necessary measure to make the device thinner and the grip more anatomical.
During the tests, the average duration of the charge was 29 hours with moderate-heavy usage of the device: screen brightness above half, 2 hours of Spotify, few hours of web browsing and video playback. 3G and Wi-Fi connection active at all times. Under the same conditions of use, a charge of my first generation Z Play can last more than 36 hours.
It's obvious that the reduction in battery capacity has had an impact, but the device still easily manages to stay away from the wall for more than a day. the processor Snapdragon 626 (which is quite economical) and the screen Super AMOLED contribute significantly to this result. Motorola's right decision to keep them from the device.
Moto Snaps + Backward Compatibility t2ka
One of the most fun and interesting parts of the analysis. My primary device is a Moto Z Play Sound Edition (which includes JBL's Snap SoundBoost). Since the announcement of the Z line, Motorola has promised snaps compatibility with future devices in the family. And of course that was one of the things I wanted to test the most.
Motorola sent us a kit with three Snaps for review:
- Moto Insta-Share Projector (included in the kit with the device, in the Projector Edition version)
- Motorcycle Power Pack
- Moto Style Shell Wood
I'll let you know: all the ed Snaps worked perfectly with the first generation Moto Z Play, and the JBL SoundBoost (first generation) also worked perfectly with the Moto Z2 Play. The promise of compatibility between versions has been fulfilled.
Moto Style Shell Wood 4fo3d
Constructed of wood, the Snap Style Shell is basically a back case for the device. It's not just an accessory to style the device: by giving the device a little more volume (almost nothing, believe me), the footprint improves considerably. This is clearer on the first-gen Moto Z Play, compared to the red snap included in the kit that makes the device very slippery. Another advantage the Style Shell offers (again, with greater impact than the first-gen Z Play) is the fact that the cover sits on a par with the camera ledge. This gives a great sense of security when placing the phone on surfaces such as tables. I say from experience: I am very careful with my devices. Even so, my first-gen Z Play's camera glass is all scratched up. Surely Style Shell could have avoided that.
Suggested price: R$99,00
Motorcycle Power Pack 5s2w5l
O Power Pack, is nothing more than an external battery for the device. The Snap is thin, unobtrusive and has a very light texture – keeping the phone securely in your hands during use. There are no details about the technical specifications of the Moto Snap on the box. In tests, the Power Pack was able to charge about 45% of the Moto Z2 Play battery, providing about 10 additional hours of use. I missed a USB-C input on the Snap so it can be charged independently. It is only possible to charge it together with the device, while connected.
At the time of writing this review, the Power Pack was not available for sale.
Moto Insta-Share Projector 1h2143
O Moto Insta-Share Projector It's one of the coolest snaps. It turns the device into a portable projector up to 70″. It has an independent battery with an autonomy of about 1 hour. When the projector's battery runs out, the Snap starts to be powered by the device's own energy, in the same way as with JBL's Audio Snap, for example. If you have a nearby outlet available, it is still possible to keep the phone plugged into the charger during use – so both the device and the Snap will charge during use.
You can connect an external speaker (through the headphone jack) and watch series and movies, or connect a bluetooth joystick and play games on a huge screen (the Xbox One S is a great request). You can also use it at college or at work to show videos or slideshows. By allowing the projection of any content displayed on the smartphone screen, the possibilities are many. Just use your creativity!
Suggested price: R$1499,00
Is it worth buying Moto Snaps? 551jo
Moto Snaps have a great quality overall. They connect with all devices in the Z family, are portable and significantly expand functionality. Unfortunately, the individual prices of some Snaps are so high, they cost almost the same as the Moto Z2 Play without any Snaps.
If you are interested in a Moto Z2 Play and some Moto Snap, the best thing is to buy a kit. The kits available are Power Edition (as in PowerPack), sound edition (with JBL SoundBoost) to projector edition (like Insta-Share Projector). All with values reasonably higher than the basic version, but that make up a lot if we consider the individual price of the Snaps.
That said, they are great investments if you intend to stay in the Z line for a few years, as Motorola has delivered well on its promise of compatibility between Snaps and handsets.
Worth it? 3g3a2x
O Moto Z2 Play It is one of the best, if not the best, smartphone in its category. The basic version, without any Moto Snap, costs R$1999,90 at Motorola's official store, but it can already be found in the range of R$1600,00 available in several online stores.
It is difficult for any other smartphone in this price range to have such an advantageous cost-benefit ratio, especially if purchased in a kit with Moto Snap included.
O Moto Z2 Play It's a mid-ranger with style and performance for the high end without any flaws.
Technical Specifications 4n1h3u
| Operational system | Android 7.1.1 Nougat |
| Battery | 3000mAh (non-removable) |
| Fabric | 5.5 ″ Super AMOLED |
| Resolution | Full HD (1080×1920) |
| pixel density | ~400ppi |
| Protection | Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Camera | 12MP, with f/1.7 aperture, laser focus and dual-LED flash |
| chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 |
| Processor | Cortex A-53 Octa-Core 2.2GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 506 |
| RAM memory | 4GB |
| Internal Storage | 64GB, with 50GB available to the |
| Expansion | MicroSD slot up to 2TB |
| Biometric Sensor | Yes, with navigation function |
| Other Sensors | Accelerometer, com and gyroscope |
| Connectors | USB Type-C and P2 3.5mm |
| Box Contents | USB Type-C cable, Turbo plug adapter and headphones |
Images: @elciofotografia
