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Verizon links a Moto Z3 to its 5G network in a 'world's first'
Verizon, Motorola, Qualcomm and Samsung announced that they've achieved the world's first 5G data transmission to a smartphone using a "commercial 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) network." How'd they do it? Using a Moto Z3 with a 5G Moto Mod attached, which is scheduled to become available when its service for phones starts in 2019. Verizon kicked in the spectrum and network, Samsung made the radio, Motorola obviously built the phone and it's Qualcomm's Snapdragon X50 5G modem inside that little backpack. Instead of downloading the latest Overwatch or Fortnite patch, they tested the link with a video call and internet browsing. Currently, Verizon's 5G service is available only in a few cities, pushing broadband for home internet but many providers are racing to launch services. AT&T has said its 5G network will be ready to go live this month, while Sprint and LG have said they'll try to be first to launch a phone next year. While Intel gets its 5G modem technology together Qualcomm has a head start there, and has said it expects a couple waves of flagship phones launching in 2019.
Moto Z3 review: When novel ideas get old
2016's Moto Z and Z Force proved that a company could make sophisticated, truly modular smartphones. Need better battery life? Slap a new one onto the Z's back. Not loving the built-in camera? Go ahead and add one made by Hasselblad. The list goes on. Motorola's system of magnetically attached Mods was -- and remains -- an elegant way to make a phone better than it was out of the box.
Motorola's new Moto Z3 is a Verizon exclusive with 5G ambitions
We're not sure that Moto's Mods were the game-changers they were intended to be, but that hasn't stopped Motorola from making one more modular smartphone. The Lenovo subsidiary just unveiled the new Moto Z3 at its Chicago headquarters, and there are a few things worth noting right off the bat.
Motorola's smartphone Mods weren't the game-changers we hoped for
Two years ago, Lenovo-owned Motorola embarked on a grand plan to build modular smartphones that weren't cumbersome. It worked. Moto Mods are accessories that magnetically attach to the company's Moto Z smartphones, and they let people easily expand their phones' feature sets. And later this week, we're expecting Motorola to unveil what might be its most ambitious Mod yet: a 5G modem for high-speed data. (Never mind the fact that, as of this writing, there are no commercially accessible 5G networks in the US.) The brand's execs first started talking about the possibility of a 5G mod in late 2016, and the idea of adding next-generation wireless performance to an existing smartphone is as enticing as ever.
The Moto Z's keyboard mod feels like an imperfect blast from the past
Motorola's first great Android phone had a physical keyboard, and when I stuck Livermorium's keyboard Moto Mod onto a Moto Z2 Play, waves of nostalgia started washing over me. After I started using the keyboard, though, I suddenly remembered why the smartphone world had moved on from these designs. You'll be able to pick up one of these Mods for $99 before the winter ends, but it's going to be a hard sell for anyone who didn't grow up pounding out texts on actual buttons.
Moto’s chunky gamepad arrives August 25th
Motorola has announced the release date and price of its gamepad Moto Mod. On sale August 25th, the attachment costs $80 and is only available through Verizon.
The next wave of Moto Mods turn your phone into a gamepad
Motorola is teaming up with Amazon for an Alexa smartphone mod, but that's just one of a several new hardware add-ons set to become available for compatible Moto phones. The next wave includes a Moto-made battery extender (rather than the third-party options that are already on sale); a new charging adapter that connects to mods, allowing charge them separately from the phone; and a wireless charging back for even more juice options. Finally, there's a gamepad that packs in four speakers, lights and some preloaded games. Even more intriguing, however, were the concept accessories also on display at MWC this weekend.
Motorola adds a Mophie battery and a car dock to its pile of Mods
Motorola's magnetic Mods are the reason to own a Moto Z, and the company just pulled back the curtain on two more of them. If the existing bolt-on batteries weren't big enough for you, a new 3,000mAh Mophie JuicePack (with a USB Type-C port for independent charging) is now available for $80. And since the holidays are nearly upon us -- meaning lots of roadtrips to see family -- Motorola also teamed up with Incipio on a $65 car dock that charges your Z and can be used to automatically launch apps like Android Auto. Keep your eyes peeled for that next week.
Hasselblad reveals a MotoMod that replaces your Moto Z's camera
Remember the days before the Moto Z launched, when a mysterious camera MotoMod was leaked along with a handful of other snap-on accessories? Remember when the Z and Z Force launched, and that camera was nowhere in sight? Well, the wait is (almost) over. Motorola just revealed the fruit of its close collaboration with Hasselblad today -- the $250/£200 True Zoom -- and it's set to launch on September 15th.
