The Moto Z vs. the competition: Much more than a gimmick

If you take away all its fancy toys, how well does Motorola's new handset stand up to its rivals?

Contributing Reporter

Updated Thu, Jun 9, 2016, 3:00 PM·3 min read

The biggest selling point of the new Moto Z and its fancier sibling the Moto Z Force might be the trio of "Mods" that let you boost the device's battery life, pump up the volume or even make the it into a handheld projector. But how does this new handset compare with the other big accessory-adorned handset on the market, the LG G5? And should you choose either phone over more straightforward flagships like the Galaxy S7 or iPhone 6s Plus? We've lined up the specs of the Moto Z against these formidable competitors to see what it brings to the table, no frills attached.

	Moto Z	LG G5	HTC 10	Samsung Galaxy S7	iPhone 6s Plus
Pricing	TBA	varies by carrier on contract; $650 off-contract	$699 (off-contract)	$200 (on-contract)	$299, $399, $499 (on contract); $749, $849, $949 (off-contract)
Known dimensions	155.3 x 75.3 x 5.19mm (6.11 x 2.96 x 0.20 inches)	149.4 x 73.9 x 7.3mm (5.88 x 2.91 x 0.29 inches)	145.9 x 71.9 x 3.0-9.0mm (5.74 x 2.83 x 0.12-0.35 inches)	142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9mm (5.61 x 2.74 x 0.31 inches)	158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3mm (6.23 x 3.07 x 0.29 inches)
Weight	136g (4.8 ounces)	159g (5.61 ounces)	161g (5.68 ounces)	152g (5.36 ounces)	192g (6.77 ounces)
Screen size	5.5 inches (139.7mm)	5.3 inches (134.62mm)	5.2 inches (132.08mm)	5.1 inches (129.2mm)	5.5 inches (139.7mm)
Screen resolution	2,560 x 1,440 (535 ppi)	2,560 x 1,440 (554 ppi)	2,560 x 1,440 (564 ppi)	2,560 x 1,440 (577 ppi)	1,920 x 1,080 (401 ppi)
Screen type	Quad HD AMOLED	Quad HD IPS LCD Quantum	Super LCD 5	Quad HD Super AMOLED	Retina HD IPS LCD
Battery	2,600mAh	2,800mAh	3,000mAh	3,000mAh	2,750mAh
Internal storage	32 / 64GB	32GB	32GB	32GB	16 / 64 / 128GB
External storage	microSD	microSD	microSD	microSD	None
Rear camera	13MP, f/1.8, 1.12µm pixel size	16MP, f/1.8, 1.12µm pixel size	12MP, f/1.8, 1.55µm pixel size	12MP, f/1.7, 1.4µm pixel size	12MP iSight, f/2.2, 1.22µm pixel size
Front-facing cam	5MP	8MP	5MP, f/1.8, 1.34µm pixel size	5MP	5MP FaceTime HD, f/2.2
Video capture	4K at 30fps	4K	4K	4K at 30fps	4K at 30fps
NFC	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Bluetooth	v4.2	v4.2	v4.2	v4.2	v4.2
SoC	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	Qualcomm Snapdragon 820	Apple A9
CPU	2.2GHz quad-core	2.15GHz quad-core	2.2GHz quad-core	2.15GHz quad-core	1.8GHz dual-core
GPU	Adreno 530	Adreno 530	Adreno 530	Adreno 530	PowerVR Series 7XT GT7600
RAM	4GB	4GB	4GB	4GB	2GB
WiFi	Dual band, 802.11ac	Dual band, 802.11ac	Dual band, 802.11ac	Dual band, 802.11ac	Dual band, 802.11ac
Operating system	Android 6.0	Android 6.0	Android 6.0	Android 6.0	iOS 9
Standout features	Fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C	Fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C	Fingerprint sensor, USB Type-C	Fingerprint sensor, IP68 certified	3D Touch, 2nd-gen Touch ID, Retina flash
Accessories	Moto Mods: Insta-Share Projector, SoundBoost speaker, Power Pack	LG Friends: Cam, Cam Plus, Hi-Fi Plus (not available in US), VR	Not applicable	Not applicable	Not applicable

You'll have to wait for our review to get the final verdict on the Moto Z and its Mods, but be sure to check out our hands-on post from today's event for some initial impressions.

Get all the news from today's Lenovo and Motorola event right here!

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The Moto Z vs. the competition: Much more than a gimmick

If you take away all its fancy toys, how well does Motorola's new handset stand up to its rivals?

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