Motorola has announced a Z3 handset that’s far more interesting than the usual Verizon-exclusive fare. The new Snapdragon 835-powered handset will receive 5G connectivity via a Moto Mod add-on.
Announced on August 2, the new Motorola Z3 will only be available at the US network for $480. However, the headline here is undoubtedly the new Moto Mod, making it the first smartphone that can actually upgrade to 5G.
The 5G Moto Mod, which essentially adds the Snapdragon X50 5G modem to the device (along with a bit more battery juice), will be available in early 2019 and will be also compatible with other Moto Z devices. Of course, the Moto Mod will only offer access to Verizon’s 5G network, which is currently in testing.
Related: What is 5G?
Verizon plans to launch 5G speeds in Houston, Los Angeles, Sacramento and a yet-to-be-named city before the end of 2018, ahead of a wider switch-on sometime next year.
Meet the new moto z³, the world's first 5G-upgradable smartphone. Get an all-day battery, watch your videos on a virtually borderless 6" display, and take your phone further with moto mods. Learn more here: https://t.co/njSsXu8LYJ #hellomoto #motoz3 pic.twitter.com/7y2mKvKnrU
— Motorola US (@MotorolaUS) August 2, 2018
As with other Moto Mods, the 5G add-on will simply snap on to the back of the Moto Z devices at the convenience of the user. Verizon isn’t saying how much it’ll cost yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
As for the phone itself? Well, beyond the Snapdragon 835 SoC, it’s pretty standard for an upper mid-range Moto handset. There’s a 6-inch Super AMOLED 2,160 x 1,080 display, with 4GB of RAM. There’s a 12-megapixel dual-lens camera combined with an 8-megapixel selfie wide-angle camera. There’s a fingerprint sensor and USB-C charging, but no headphone jack. The battery weighs in at 3,000mAh, while the 5G Moto Mod will offer an additional 2,000mAh.
Is this finally the Moto Mod that makes it worth investing in a Z-Series phone? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
