Motorola’s Moto Z3 is now a 5G-Ready smartphone. The company is rolling out the Android Pie update from today, which includes support for the previously-announced Moto Mod 5G.
The magnetic modular attachment, which clips to the back of the Moto Z3, features the ingredients necessary to access 5G services, when they begin widely rolling out across the US.
The add-on contains a Snapdragon 855 SoC, which includes the all-important Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 5G modem, supporting downloads speeds of up to 5Gbps, and boasting four 5G antennas.
The Moto Z3 shipped with the Snapdragon 835 chip, so the add-on is designed to allow owners to retrofit their phone, rather than buying a brand new 5G handset.
Although the 5G networks aren’t yet up and running across the United States, the update will give Moto Z3 owners the opportunity to jump on board as soon as the speeds become available.
Related: Android Pie phones
Unfortunately, it’s only the Verizon-exclusive Moto Z3 that’s compatible with the Moto Mod 5G at present, but if Moto expands the line-up this year, there’ a good chance support would improve.
Announced in August last year, the Moto Mod 5G is designed to work on the Verizon network in the United States. The company hasn’t announced a price or release date for the Moto Mod 5G, which is scheduled to arrive in “early 2019.”
We can expected a wide release when Verizon makes 5G services available, beyond trials currently taking place in a number of US cities.
Alongside Android Pie and the support for the clip-on accessory, Moto Z3 owners can also nab the most recent Android security update for January 2019.
Would you buy a modular 5G add-on for your smartphone, rather than upgrade to a 5G smartphone, given the opportunity? Or are you happy enough with 4G LTE? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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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.
