Motorola Announces the Moto Z2 Play, New Moto Mods
Today, Motorola announced the second generation of its modular Moto Z Play lineup, along with new Moto Mods that extend its functionality.
“The Moto Z family of smartphones with Moto Mods has allowed people to do things they never thought were possible with a phone,” the Motorola announcement notes. “From projecting a 70-inch screen wherever you are to turning your phone into a camera with 10x optical zoom, the Moto Mods platform offers unprecedented mobile innovation.”
This idea has always seemed solid to me, but like previous Motorola innovations—the incredible online configuration utility it provided for the Moto X, for example—modular, Mods-based extensibility doesn’t seem to have really taken off with consumers.
It should. But I’m glad Motorola keeps trying.
For the generation 2 Moto X2 Play, Motorola is providing a thinner and lighter body, a 12 MP “dual autofocus pixel” camera, and improved performance and battery life with fast charging capabilities. The device offers a 2.2 GHz octa-core processor, a 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display, 3 GB of 4 GB of RAM (depending on the model), 32 GB or 64 GB of storage, and microSD expansion.
The phone will be available exclusively via Verizon starting in July, but anyone will be able to purchase it directly from Motorola for $499 later in the summer.
Additionally, Motorola has announced some new Moto Mods, including:
Moto GamePad. As you might expect, this Mod adds gamepad-like controls to either side of the phone so you can play video games more naturally. It also includes an extra battery for keeping your phone alive longer. The cost is $79.99.
JBL SoundBoost 2. This updated version of a first generation Mod costs $79.99 and provides a water-repellent coating, three color choices, and 10 hours of playtime.
Moto TurboPower Pack. This $79.99 Mod adds an extra day of battery life with fast-charging capabilities: You can charge to 50 percent of capacity in just 20 minutes, Motorola says.
Moto Style Shell with Wireless Charging. As its name suggests, this $39.99 Mod adds wireless charging capabilities in a variety of sleek styles.
You can find out more on the Moto website.