Still worth buying? - Moto Z Play Questions & Answers

I'm buying a new device and hard time deciding between G5 plus and Z play.
I like Z play as the battery and screen is better but it also costs 100€ more.
Also I'm concerned as this is a 2016 model. Will it get Android P update when the time comes?
I'd like some opinions and thoughts. Now I'm leaning towards Z play as it is more beautiful device overall.

T1mb3 said:
I'm buying a new device and hard time deciding between G5 plus and Z play.
I like Z play as the battery and screen is better but it also costs 100€ more.
Also I'm concerned as this is a 2016 model. Will it get Android P update when the time comes?
I'd like some opinions and thoughts. Now I'm leaning towards Z play as it is more beautiful device overall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You bet, I just bought a S7 Edge and went back to the Z Play. Even the Z2 play has a smaller battery and very similar specs.
I personally would pay a bit more to get the phone I really like. It will last a couple years easily. As for Android P, nobody knows, but by then it will be out of warranty and you can install a custom rom to get the latest version if you want.

If you want Moto mods then get the Z play over the g5

I just bought the z play 3 days ago I'm coming from a Lenovo p2 and I can say this is a much better built phone and I believe because of the way it is optimised it is likely to give me similar battery life to the P2. And regarding the moto g5 this phone is way better looking and feels very premium compared to the g5.

I personally would've saved a bit more money and gotten the Oneplust3T. You def should consider the Z play if you are on a budget. Its def nothing close to what a flagship would be but this phone gets the regular tasks done.

I bought the z play strictly for the battery life and durability. I could have gone with the z force or any of the iPhones but I work up to 15 hour days with no access to a phone charger so battery life was VERY important to me.... The z force shatter shield looked nice but i just put my z play into a OtterBox defender case, took out the plastic screen protector that came with it and put on tempered glass and it is AWESOME
Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk

I bought a Z Play two weeks ago. The battery life is absolutely fantastic. On a long trip by car my USB cable didn't connect properly and the phone was navigating about 8h. When I arrived I had still 20% battery left.
Fingerprint unlock is quick, the screen is gorgeous and the UI is fluent. DualSIM plus sd card is very nice. In some weeks my external keyboard Moto Mod will arrive and then I will have an extremely long running phone with slide-out keyboard and an additional battery.
So if you like to have a very long battery run-time, the Z Play is the phone to buy.

Hi... Could you post your review on the moto mod keyboard when you got it.?? When mind sharing the site you bought it.. Thanks..!
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

the main difference between them is battery size and screen technology. i really wanted an amoled screen since my last phone (nexus 5) had an lcd screen. the battery size difference is probably not a big deal, 3000mah should be enough to last the day. i was able to get a z play open box for $290 on ebay, with no tax. so i paid about $40 more than i would have for the g5s plus. worth it

ihatelolcats said:
the main difference between them is battery size and screen technology. i really wanted an amoled screen since my last phone (nexus 5) had an lcd screen. the battery size difference is probably not a big deal, 3000mah should be enough to last the day. i was able to get a z play open box for $290 on ebay, with no tax. so i paid about $40 more than i would have for the g5s plus. worth it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got a brand new Z Play off eBay for $260 boii

I am tempted to change from my aging Nexus 6P (battery sucks) to a used Z Play. I had a Pixel XL for a few days, but it wasn't worth the crazy price. Do you guys think a Z Play is still a good option now? I am a light user, but I want the best battery life I can get.

OT: keyboard mod
farsight73 said:
Hi... Could you post your review on the moto mod keyboard when you got it.?? When mind sharing the site you bought it.. Thanks..!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The keyboard mod is a indiegogo campaign. There's also several threads here on XDA.
The mod is not finished yet and it will take some time until you can buy it regularly. Estimated shipping is end of November / beginning of December. Retail starts later.

gman88667733 said:
I am tempted to change from my aging Nexus 6P (battery sucks) to a used Z Play. I had a Pixel XL for a few days, but it wasn't worth the crazy price. Do you guys think a Z Play is still a good option now? I am a light user, but I want the best battery life I can get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah this phone is crazy on battery and even performance doesn't drop. I'd say get it if you can. Its a great phone.

I have the option to get the Moto Z for the same price as the play, actually even 5% less. I'm sure many of Moto Z Play owners who purchased this phone recently might have thought about the regular Z as well. Do you prefer the Play over the regular Z and why? any other reason than battery life? Thanks

samitro said:
I have the option to get the Moto Z for the same price as the play, actually even 5% less. I'm sure many of Moto Z Play owners who purchased this phone recently might have thought about the regular Z as well. Do you prefer the Play over the regular Z and why? any other reason than battery life? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I could've got the regular Z for the same price as the Z play, but I've just ordered the Z Play, pretty much just for battery life

I have the G5, and am ordering a Z Play on monday.
Like the G5 for what it is, but i fwarked up and assumed it had a full suite of sensors. No magnetometer / compass which is bad for me.
Also, the Dual Sim on the G5 only works properly if you have 2G networks for the second sim to latch onto. In Oz those are now defunct so Dual Sim on the G5 doesn't do standby.
Moto Z meets my requirements a lot better and frankly looking forward to the battery life on the Z Play. G5 would do a day of light / med use. Always found the stock rom best for battery life.
"could've got the regular Z for the same price as the Z play, but I've just ordered the Z Play, pretty much just for battery life"
Me same same.

astmacca said:
I have the G5, and am ordering a Z Play on monday.
Like the G5 for what it is, but i fwarked up and assumed it had a full suite of sensors. No magnetometer / compass which is bad for me.
Also, the Dual Sim on the G5 only works properly if you have 2G networks for the second sim to latch onto. In Oz those are now defunct so Dual Sim on the G5 doesn't do standby.
Moto Z meets my requirements a lot better and frankly looking forward to the battery life on the Z Play. G5 would do a day of light / med use. Always found the stock rom best for battery life.
"could've got the regular Z for the same price as the Z play, but I've just ordered the Z Play, pretty much just for battery life"
Me same same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you enjoy your new phone when it arrives! I'm very much looking forward to mine arriving, I think I'll run it fully stock.

thebehemoth73 said:
I bought the z play strictly for the battery life and durability. I could have gone with the z force or any of the iPhones but I work up to 15 hour days with no access to a phone charger so battery life was VERY important to me.... The z force shatter shield looked nice but i just put my z play into a OtterBox defender case, took out the plastic screen protector that came with it and put on tempered glass and it is AWESOME
Sent from my XT1635-01 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the Z Play fit in the Otterbox? What about the headphone jack ?
---------- Post added at 04:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:15 PM ----------
Also I hope this helps, I had the OP2 and i bought the Moto Z Play. Got a crazy good deal just paying 50% of the cost in exchange of the OP2. The AMOLED, Type C and the most amazing battery life I have ever used. I'm literally the only one at work who doesn't carry a charger or a power bank, and most of them use flagships and iPhones. With heavy use I'm easily able to get a minimum of 7hrs SOT (WiFi and LTE).
If you can get a goo deal for it, definitely buy it. Moto has promised 8.0 Oreo, in the meanwhile buy the Moto Turbo Power pack for 80$ and you will forget to plug your phone in at all.

Which is the best battery pack mod for it? I don't think I'll ever need it, but it'd be nice to pick one up for the extra juice if I do need it ever

gman88667733 said:
Which is the best battery pack mod for it? I don't think I'll ever need it, but it'd be nice to pick one up for the extra juice if I do need it ever
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One from Moto. I'm thinking about but phone already has very good battery life, mod is adding extra thickness, it's a bit... not looking nice and cannot be used with case or at least I cannot find just a bumper to protect edges. So I have a feeling that most of the time will just stay at home. The same as power bank I have for years and used just couple of times.

Related

[Q] What device are you upgrading from and why?

I've had nexus devices (Nexus 4 then 5) over the last couple of years and had to get used built in battery and storage. This has always bothered me to some degree as i have always felt I've had to compromise one way or another.
The LG G3 now seems to tick all the boxes. Ive never spent the best part £500 on a phone, however i think the LG G3 covers all the bases with removable battery and Micro SD storage plus additional upgrades all round.
The one thing i do love about my nexus 5 is the screen, just hope the screen is a big enough improvement to warrant the expense.
What are your reasons for upgrading from your current device?
I have a RAZR MAXX (not HD). The battery doesn't hold a charge so well any more, and the radio is acting wonky (periodic loss of data connection, requires a phone restart). It's served me well, but time to retire it.
Personally I wish LG had stayed with a 5" 1080 screen, for overall size and run time, but the G3 looks like it gets me to a good point -- a phone that should be a solid performer for someone who keeps them for several years before replacing.
(I have a Nexus 7 2013 that I tether to my phone when I really want a larger display. It's a great replacement for a laptop at meetings, fitted with a BT keyboard/case and mouse, so the 5.5" on the G3 is a "mehh" -- not large enough to replace my Nexus, yet a bit too large for me to be thrilled by on a phone. Everything is a compromise )
S4 why... mmm to enjoy myself ^^ I love Phone and i like photophones... it's always better^^
I really liked my Moto X, but always prefer a phone with a replaceable battery.
Then I dropped it in a horrible (ie. minor) skateboard accident, and cracked the screen. I liked the Galaxy S's, but VERY DON'T LIKE the button placement. Turn off your phone? Oops... just lowered the volume first. Make it louder? Oops... turned it off. I can't believe the S5 *still* has that terrible button placement.
So because the Moto X screen was cracked, and the battery was getting a bit lame after almost a year of use, and because Samsung still can't place a button if their lives depended on it, I turned to the very nice LG G3.
Coming from the G2, stands between the G3 or the OnePlus if I can get an invite before the G3 comes in. Why? Because the screen on my G3 have gotten a crack!
I have a Galaxy S3. (fantastic phone in its prime.)
I feel like I'm due for an upgrade. The battery life has gone down hill and I just want something new.
The G3 has really caught my attention but the questionable battery life and locked bootloader has me questioning myself. If I don't get a G3, I'll wait for the Note 4.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using XDA Free mobile app
I had the Xperia Z before switching over to my G3.
There are so many reasons why I made the switch, but one that stands out is the poor battery life paired with the non-removable battery on the Z that always bugged me. The second reason was that the flaps of my Z were becoming lose and one even came off which rendered the water proof feature useless. The third is just the features that the G3 offers. Some say the screen and laser focus is a gimmick, but results speaks for itself. I am so glad i've purchase the G3.
stunt_101 said:
I had the Xperia Z before switching over to my G3.
There are so many reasons why I made the switch, but one that stands out is the poor battery life paired with the non-removable battery on the Z that always bugged me. The second reason was that the flaps of my Z were becoming lose and one even came off which rendered the water proof feature useless. The third is just the features that the G3 offers. Some say the screen and laser focus is a gimmick, but results speaks for itself. I am so glad i've purchase the G3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What a coincidence. I have Z Ultra, which is going to be ebayed soon.
And I got Z Ultra to replace G2.
Galaxy s4... fantastic phone but like the G3 better lol. And s5 doesn't add much over the s4 and more expensive too so lg is gettin my money this time
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Free mobile app
Maine_Coon said:
What a coincidence. I have Z Ultra, which is going to be ebayed soon.
And I got Z Ultra to replace G2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, nice to see some others here too. My Z Ultra is falling apart badly! That's one of 2 reasons. The other is in trying to get used to smaller screen size again. Z Ultra is pocket splitter when it comes to my work. I'm surprised I haven't broken it in 2 yet.
Sent from my C6833_GPe using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Jammol said:
Lol, nice to see some others here too. My Z Ultra is falling apart badly! That's one of 2 reasons. The other is in trying to get used to smaller screen size again. Z Ultra is pocket splitter when it comes to my work. I'm surprised I haven't broken it in 2 yet.
Sent from my C6833_GPe using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, mine is basically brand new, got it a month ago to replace my i6000 (6.5") and G2, which was just wrong phone for me.
Now really hope G3 will be my dream phone. For a while
Currently I am using Note 3 but I will get G3.
replacing my optimus 4x hd to g3
I had a Note 3 and even though I was very happy with it, I thought that a screen almost the same size with the one in Note 3 but in a smaller phone, can be a good exchange. I really want a big screen with the smallest bezels. Now I am using a Moto G and the only thing I hate is the 4.5 inch screen.
Sent from my XT1033 using Tapatalk

LG G4 or Z2/3 ??

I was about to get Xperia Z2, but I found this phones with its brilliant Camera
Is it worth buying ? Is it a major step over Xperia Z2/Z3 ?
I will get : Better CameraS + Bigger Display + Dual Sim + IR remote.
I will sacrifice Front speakers + water and dust resistance + Battery life + Better UI -in my opinion- .. Is it worth it ?
I also read some topics here that its touch lags too much !!
I am afraid of that phone lol your opinions are appreciated
Thanks a lot )
I'm coming from Z3 and for me the G4 is better.
And why do you think Sony has an better UI? Because its more like stock Android? lol
Even with rooting, debloating, tweaking I couldn't get the Z3 fluid and the sides of the Touchscreen had problems recognizing the touches.
Sometimes I had to press a lot of times to open the menu.
Not to mention the Matrix Grid of the Touchscreen which was glowing like a Christmas tree in bright light.
After 2 months of use the glassback looked like the grand canyon...
It was just annoying in the end and thats why I sold it.
I have no touch problems on the G4 but when I bought it it already had 10c firmware available.
The front speakers of the Z3 were awesome thats true. Also the soundquality was very good.
The G4 is bigger but easier to handle than the Z3 and because of the plastic back its glued to the fingers.
I'm no fan of covers especially on these big phones. They make them bigger and uglier.
The next point on the official Sony Cover you had to glue the phone on the back. There were no holders lol.
Lol
mm what about the battery again ? when comparing the same use, either lite, medium or gaming on both phones.. how long did it last on both your Z3 and G4 ?? Cause that's my main problem with G4 now ://
battery is a BIG difference between the 2 , i also sold my dual sim Z3 for the dual sim G4 ...
easy 6 hours SOT with battery life to spare on the Z3 by the end of the day(sometimes ended with 50% and about 20-10% when i know i abused it)
and hardly 3 Hours with almost nothing to spare on the G4 but when it comes to battery life do remember this, u can pop in a new battery when needed unlike the wait to charge on the Z3...
my G4 came with a nice gift pack that included the circle cover, a bluetooth headset, a 32gb card, extra battery and charger to charge separately.
now to answer OPs
---------- Post added at 06:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:27 AM ----------
the only thing u will miss from the Z3 is its SOT and nothing else, My G4 did miss a few touches and its nothing crazy id complain about(some ppl found keyboard to be the cause and some the launcher), no lag what so ever accompanied by a lot heat which translates to lot of high freq. lg did a great job eliminating lag but heat is a killer and i know a better kernel/rom combo will fix it all up. Camera is out of this world for a smartphone, simply amazing when compared to the big players out there
what phone r u rocking currently ?
is it worth the upgrade price/performance wise?
i have my eyes set on the next Nexus(2015) made by lg and guess its a keeper with its crazy big community, just a month away for release i guess
LOL I wish I can get all of those gifts but no nothing .. not even a headset included in the box here
I am having now Xperia SP .. It is great but I was looking for a greater one
If the coming Nexus will have the same Camera, combined with a better battery + Water resistance .. this would be an Amazing phone
I will Google that now to check the rumours and last news
Thank you, mazroui )

Z play vs oneplus 3

I'm looking for a phone for my father and need to narrow it down
Priorities (in order):
Fast
Battery
Good and simple(not in the way) software
reliable manufacturer, customer support, and warranty
Camera
Don't really care about:
Rootablity / devs
Build needs to be solid and decent, but doesn't have to be too "premium"
I'm probably also going to get my dad this phone just because of the battery life. I doubt performance will be an issue with the Moto Z Play tbh.
Just got the phone and I'm quite impressed with its speed (comming from a Moto Maxx, Droid turbo but unlocked international version) Battery life has been amazing, right now im at 70% with 2h 41m SoT and 2 hours of strava (been on for 13 hours)
Camera is WAY faster and in my opinion better (at least focus wise) than my Moto Maxx.
Cant complain about anything.
Performance wont be as good as one plus 3 because moto z play uses a 625 chip wich is a mid ranger chipset
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
this battery is awesome.. best battery life in world
StreetkillnHD said:
Performance wont be as good as one plus 3 because moto z play uses a 625 chip wich is a mid ranger chipset
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can't notice any difference in performance between these two ..i used both device ..& i can say z play run any app & game buttery smooth.. 0 lag
Want build quality than go for moto always
I've just got a z play as a work phone,and it was between it and the OP3
In the end the massive battery life won it for me, and tbh, compared to my Pixel xl, the speed difference is hardly noticeable in day to day use
Its certainly as fast as my colleagues OP3 that's for sure
Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk
tejasm1 said:
I'm looking for a phone for my father and need to narrow it down
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The replies here are naturally biased towards the Moto Z Play. But since I had the same decision to make, tried both devices and ended up with the Moto Z Play, here is my feedback:
Priorities (in order):
Fast
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The OP3 is faster on paper and will beat the Moto Z play in just about any benchmark. If you're looking into 60fps gaming at ultra high settings over the next years, your search has to end here: the OP3 wins.
That said, the Snapdragon 625 is an amazing SoC and the Moto Z Play is not only blazing fast, it stays cool under just about all conditions. It's fast, really fast and never throttles. Most reviews will tell you that during regular use, any difference in speed to the current SD 820/821 flagships is almost imperceptible and they are absolutely right. So if day-to-day performance is a something you worry about: don't. Both phones master just about every smartphone task without breaking a sweat. The Moto Z Play is absolutely buttery smooth - always. It's also a perfectly capable gaming machine and there is no current game it can't play, but it will dip below 60fps if you crank up the details on the most demanding titles.
Battery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No competition, the Moto Z Play is a battery monster - maybe the best on the market right now. It is effectively impossible to drain it in a single day of use. It will completely change the way you think about battery life and charging habits - it's an incredibly relaxing experience because battery life becomes a total non-issue with this phone. Do whatever you want with the phone all day and hook it up at night or quickly in the morning and you'll be good. Forgot to charge it one night? Not a problem, you'll still make it through the next day.
The OP3's battery life is fine, pretty much like any other flagship phone these days. You'll make it through the day most days but probably have to top it off once or twice on particularly demanding days. Luckily that's easily done via dash charge - it charges faster than just about any other phone.
Good and simple(not in the way) software
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both are great and offer a stock-like experience. Moto is closer to stock Android, uses Google apps just about everywhere and offers the better, hardware-aided features. It's a Nexus-like experience with some very well thought out enhancements. Moto Display is to this day the best implementation of an ambient display by a wide margin. The worst thing about it: once you get used to it, it's really hard to ever go back to a non-Moto device - it's that great.
reliable manufacturer, customer support, and warranty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both devices offer excellent build quality, with the Moto Z Play having less known issues and a (historically) better quality assurance. But it hasn't been out long enough to say this for certain.
Both manufacturers offer terrible customer service if something goes wrong. OnePlus may be a little worse, but that's debatable and things may have even turned. Don't expect a great experience if you need to make use of the warranty.
Camera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both offer good cameras, but they can't compete with current flagships. They take excellent pictures under good conditions and suffer under low light. The OP3's camera is slightly better but not by much.
The things you'll get with the OP3: better, theoretically more future proof specs.
The things you'll get with the Moto Z Play: "Never even think about it again" battery life, Moto Display, Moto Gestures, Moto Mods, Moto Voice (all brilliant hardware features that can't be replicated by software on the OP3), expandable storage.
The One Plus 3 is better on paper but Moto Z Play will offer likely the same real-world performance which MUCH better battery life.
I'm glad I got this bad boy today. Returned that crappy V20 I had and got the droid force edition. Bigger battery and better camera. So far so good. Mine even came with the Incipio extended battery moto mod.
I had the OP3 and this seems better so far. Runs just as fast with ZERO LAG. Motorola did good with this device.
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Can anyone comment on the screen brightness outdoors for the OP3 and Moto z play?
alfienoakes63 said:
Can anyone comment on the screen brightness outdoors for the OP3 and Moto z play?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maximum brightness for both is similar, the OnePlus 3 is slightly brighter. Neither AMOLED display is as bright as your typical IPS display but outdoor brightness hasn't been a real issue for me with either one.
If outside brightness is truly important to you, look into phones with IPS panels.

Still worth buying?

Hi,
I just wonder if you guys would refer to still buy this smartphone in 07/2017...
Also question:
Are there active ROM/Kernel Developers?
I would be happy if anyone could answer, thank you
4r44444 said:
Hi,
I just wonder if you guys would refer to still buy this smartphone in 07/2017...
Also question:
Are there active ROM/Kernel Developers?
I would be happy if anyone could answer, thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup it's worth buying if you do less photography in low light, but in the day light you won't see any difference..
Ans yes there are varieties in ROMs
i think it is. it has a bigger battery than the new models.
It is definately still worth buying.
I come from a Sony Xperia Z5 compact and when I compare pictures taken, I am surprised by Moto Z Play camera.................................................when sufficient light
Most of the reviews have mixed feelings about the camera, but I find it to be ok. Some issues with focusing, but you will get used to it.
I also use SnapCamera app as I find this to be very useful with the camera.
In low light, the camera is as bad as Z5 compact
Battery is excellent.
Screen is very good.
Phone respons very good, very fast and reliable.
Fingerprint sensor is brilliant.
Talk volume and sound is very good.
Music volume headphones (Bluetooth) is a bit low but it might as well be my BT headset causing this.
All in all a very good phone and cheap (at least compared to what is on the market here in Norway).
Sure. Bought last week this device for my wife too.
Love this device. It's so much better as our older x play.
Gesendet von meinem XT1635-02 mit Tapatalk
Still one of the best battery phone with good performance and no lags in day to day usage.
Don't know about others but i love this Camera!!
Reviews say that it's good in day light but not so in low light.
You just need to know how to take a good shot.
See this shot taken in lowlight with stock camera.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4j9V686UmfbSlNrd1pvMGFhRUk/view?usp=drivesdk
(Open the link and see, i have uploaded the image in drive)
Cheers!!
Thank you all for your help... I'm at the moment to decide to get this one or the Honor 8... Anybody got both and know which is "better"?
4r44444 said:
I just wonder if you guys would refer to still buy this smartphone in 07/2017...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would definitely still have the Z Play on my short list. Had mine since November, and have been extremely happy with it. But if I was shopping today, I'd also give the Moto G5+ a close look. From what I've read, the G5+ has similar hardware to the ZPlay, including a nice fat battery, but the one big thing it is missing is the Moto Mods. I honestly don't use Moto Mods much at all (I have a battery mod, but rarely use it.) And the G5 is $100 cheaper (at current Amazon prices for 64GB G5). Both of these phones would be an excellent choice. Happy shopping!
The Moto Z Play... I went to the shop yesterday ready to buy it. I've been reading every review, every video, so I have a good idea of what to expect. Well, the phone is on one of those stands, inside a store, with what I consider OK visibility and I decided to take a few photos while the phone is on the stand as it provides very good stability. Let just say that the word APPALLED comes to mind. My opinion of the photos I took:
Positives:
- Good color reproduction
- Good dynamic range (from what is shown in the phone screen)
- Blazing fast
- Awesome photo app in terms of the GUI
Negatives:
- Horrible and I mean 50 Euro camera quality horrible detail capture. It was like a joke, I could not believe my eyes. I focused on a 4K TV display maybe 4 meters from where the phone was, and if I wouldn't zoom, the photo was average to OK at best. I took several photos, played with the settings, tried to focus on different things to see if it would make a difference, but no avail. It was that bad. I then took few photos with my Z3 and other than the richness in color, my phone from 2014 blew it out of the water. I was devastated. After so much buying intent and hours upon hours of reviews, the photo quality is as bad as people say it is. I've read that using a different camera app does help, but I would like to see a live comparison.
- The auto-focus is annoying AF. That thing kept trying to focus even though it was on a stand and I've already selected the focus point. I bet this is one of the reasons so many people get bad photos.
Under the light that was there, my Z3 took good photos if a little washed out, but this has been an issue with the Xperia brand and their camera app since they were introduced. The other phones I tried for camera like the Huawei with their Laica camera, were uninspiring. The S8 and the G6 blew everything out of the water, amazing photography. I could't test the P2's camera as someone had done a factory reset and the phone was in the settings out of box mode. The P2 is a beautiful phone.
I decided not to buy the Moto Z Play and wait on how the Moto X4 turns out before jumping ship. I want to mention that I have the original Moto X and that phone across the board (except on battery life and to some degree on camera quality) is exceptional. Also, my Moto X takes better photos than the Moto Z Play. Another thing that turned me down was the size, weight and shape of the Z Play. It is not the most comfortable phone to hold, specially when I had the Lenovo P2 right in front to compare. I really wanted to love this phone because of it's battery life. Plus I love the Moto Android interface. I can only recommend to anyone wanting to buy it to play with it in real life and take a few photos with it and hold it in your hand and decide. If taking photos is not your main thing, then I would consider it, but for me the balance of good to OK photos and the battery life are a must and sadly, the Z Play failed miserably on the camera department.
Do you check the settings? Do u tried the Profimodus (short press on the lower right cam icon)
Gesendet von meinem XT1635-02 mit Tapatalk
Yeah Moto cameras are crap,it's almost a meme now.I don't buy phones for their camera though so I can't really comment.Other than the "appalling" camera there is still a lot to love about the Z play
I guess it comes down to what you want from the phone.
Ebrahim Ali said:
Yeah Moto cameras are crap,it's almost a meme now.I don't buy phones for their camera though so I can't really comment.Other than the "appalling" camera there is still a lot to love about the Z play
I guess it comes down to what you want from the phone.
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I love a lot of what I read and the Moto Android implementation is the best for me aside of a Pixel/Nexus. I will go again with my old Moto X (which still works like charm, it was just not good ever in the battery department) to take some photos again and see if I can ignore that part of the phone. Still, considering that the Moto X4 is around the corner, I may wait. Could be the new Moto X4 will have good enough battery.
I mean, is it too much to ask to have a phone like the Moto X (original) with a camera like the S8 the G6 and a battery like the P2?
It actually kinda is .I would assume to keep costs down manufacturers give and take things

A worthy replacement?

The Z Play is by far the best phone I've owned. It is fast, has a passable camera, the battery life is crazy (especially with the Moto turbo power pack) and the screen is very good too. I've been trying to find a replacement for the past 6 months, but nothing I've tried is a better all round package than this. The OnePlus 5 was nice, but the battery wasn't fantastic and screen wasn't as good. The iPhone 7 I just tried was a whole level below this in performance, screen and battery.
Have any Z Play users tried the Z2 play? If so, was it worth the upgrade. I want to upgrade as I like changing phones, but nothing really compares still!
gman88667733 said:
The Z Play is by far the best phone I've owned. It is fast, has a passable camera, the battery life is crazy (especially with the Moto turbo power pack) and the screen is very good too. I've been trying to find a replacement for the past 6 months, but nothing I've tried is a better all round package than this. The OnePlus 5 was nice, but the battery wasn't fantastic and screen wasn't as good. The iPhone 7 I just tried was a whole level below this in performance, screen and battery.
Have any Z Play users tried the Z2 play? If so, was it worth the upgrade. I want to upgrade as I like changing phones, but nothing really compares still!
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If I we're going to stick with the Z line, I'd go with the Z3 play rather than the 2.
But none of the newer Z phones feel like enough of an upgrade to me to make it worth the jump.
Based on what I've seen, the OnePlus 6T looks like the best next option to me. I've seen a bunch of screen shots showing 6-8h SoT with long day use, so while it's not up there with the Z play, it seems better than just about anything out there. Better camera is a bonus. I can live with no headphone jack. My biggest 'missing' feature is wireless charging. Price is definitely higher than the z line, but not by the huge margin it would take to get to an S9+ or pixel 3.
I am tempted by the 6T, no headphone jack does annoy me a bit though ...
I think to moto one power or moto z3 play next year when prices have gone down
Or a xiaomi , may be next redmi note pro, the note 6 pro was not really a big update vs Z play
The Z3 play seems to have rubbish battery life though. I do have the turbo power pack to use with it, but even so...
What's it like in terms of camera and speed? I'd rather stick to a Z line phone than go to the OnePlus 6T really, I just prefer these. My 2nd hand Z Play is faultless apart from a very slow camera app!
A brand new Z3 play just sold on eBay for £275, which is only a bit more than I paid for my used Z Play when I got it.
gman88667733 said:
The Z Play is by far the best phone I've owned. It is fast, has a passable camera, the battery life is crazy (especially with the Moto turbo power pack) and the screen is very good too. I've been trying to find a replacement for the past 6 months, but nothing I've tried is a better all round package than this. The OnePlus 5 was nice, but the battery wasn't fantastic and screen wasn't as good. The iPhone 7 I just tried was a whole level below this in performance, screen and battery.
Have any Z Play users tried the Z2 play? If so, was it worth the upgrade. I want to upgrade as I like changing phones, but nothing really compares still!
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Click to collapse
Yup, same boat. At this point the only true upgrade without braking the bank would be a pixel 2 xl for the on-time updates, complete API support and truly superior camera and even then I would still get a bit less battery life out of it, Moto Z play truly is battery king.
I ordered the 6T yesterday, but got buyer's remorse and cancelled it. After only spending £231 on my Z Play, I don't really want to spend £529! Looking at used 6's on eBay, but the battery life seems a bit bad. I keep coming back to the Z2 Play... £199 brand new and I can keep using my turbo power pack. Is the performance much better? My Z play is getting a tad sluggish sometimes...
I ordered the 6T yesterday, but got buyer's remorse and cancelled it. After only spending £231 on my Z Play, I don't really want to spend £529! Looking at used 6's on eBay, but the battery life seems a bit bad. I keep coming back to the Z2 Play... £199 brand new and I can keep using my turbo power pack. Is the performance much better? My Z play is getting a tad sluggish sometimes...
If not, then a Z3 play comes up every now and then for about £275, but the design/functionality seems a bit weird to me
Then again, a 5T would probably be sufficient for my tasks nowadays. My Z Play only drops 20% on my usual work day during the week, so I can't image a 6 or a 5T will drop too much more. The big question is, is the 6 worth £100 more than the 5T currently is?
*** Double post - sorry!! ***
Waiting on the international release of the Nokia 8.1 plus (same hardware as the X7 in China)
Then I'll probably retire my Z Play.
gman88667733 said:
The Z3 play seems to have rubbish battery life though. I do have the turbo power pack to use with it, but even so...
What's it like in terms of camera and speed? I'd rather stick to a Z line phone than go to the OnePlus 6T really, I just prefer these. My 2nd hand Z Play is faultless apart from a very slow camera app!
A brand new Z3 play just sold on eBay for £275, which is only a bit more than I paid for my used Z Play when I got it.
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Click to collapse
even if you did not have one already, keep in mind that it's packaged with a 2220mAh powerpack , in the box, so 5220 mAh
True.
I have done a bit more research and I think I'm going to go for a OnePlus 6 or 5T (whichever one comes up as a better deal) I think the lesser battery life is worth it for the bigger screen, better camera and better performance.
Plus, buying used means that if in 3-6 months time I decide I need better battery again, I'll just sell it and get a Z3 Play because OnePlus phones hold their value very well.
Update on this. I have now purchased a pristine OnePlus 6 128gb for £379 (bargain!) I'll let you know how I get on compared to the Z Play
Honestly same, I love my Moto Z Play. If it weren't for the bad experiences I've had a couple times with security patches and the lack of software support I'd stick with it for much longer. But there are other options now that make what this accomplishes seem sub par. Don't get me wrong though. This phone is stable to a fault and I've got a lot of battery life to boot with the power pack attached as well. But The weight, the storage limitations, sub 4GB RAM (which I wouldn't mind if 2 or 3 of my apps weren't so hungry for the stuff) and the aforementioned lack of software support is starting to become more apparent. I'm probably going to keep the phone as a trusty backup though but I think I'm going to save up for the top-end model of the OnePlus 6T because it seems to have everything I love about this phone give or take a few brand specific quirks swapped out (Moto Gestures for Oxygen gestures) plus a better camera and just more overall fluidity. It kinda annoys me too about the headphone jack but I've been mostly using my Sony WH-1000XM3s which support AptX HD and LDAC so I won't be missing it too much plus I'm probably gonna spend a bit extra for all the sense of security stuff plus a case and bullets wired for the sake of convenience. However I'm terms of how much I love the Moto Z Play I'd say it's earned a place in my heart right next to my Nexus 5.
It has also earned a place on my shelf next to the N5 as well lol (sadly the Nexus 5's screen recently shattered finally so thusly the MZP takes it's place as my trusty backup should anything go awry.)
---------- Post added at 04:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:29 AM ----------
Nyoir said:
Honestly same, I love my Moto Z Play. If it weren't for the bad experiences I've had a couple times with security patches and the lack of software support I'd stick with it for much longer. But there are other options now that make what this accomplishes seem sub par. Don't get me wrong though. This phone is stable to a fault and I've got a lot of battery life to boot with the power pack attached as well. But The weight, the storage limitations, sub 4GB RAM (which I wouldn't mind if 2 or 3 of my apps weren't so hungry for the stuff) and the aforementioned lack of software support is starting to become more apparent. I'm probably going to keep the phone as a trusty backup though but I think I'm going to save up for the top-end model of the OnePlus 6T because it seems to have everything I love about this phone give or take a few brand specific quirks swapped out (Moto Gestures for Oxygen gestures) plus a better camera and just more overall fluidity. It kinda annoys me too about the headphone jack but I've been mostly using my Sony WH-1000XM3s which support AptX HD and LDAC so I won't be missing it too much plus I'm probably gonna spend a bit extra for all the sense of security stuff plus a case and bullets wired for the sake of convenience. However I'm terms of how much I love the Moto Z Play I'd say it's earned a place in my heart right next to my Nexus 5.
It has also earned a place on my shelf next to the N5 as well lol (sadly the Nexus 5's screen recently shattered finally so thusly the MZP takes it's place as my trusty backup should anything go awry.)
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I realized I digressed haha, just really love the time I've had with this.
Actual advice I'd say is a real toss up for good choices. I really don't like Apple as a company but as of recently I'd say the iPhone X is a pretty good value in terms of optimization but the OS and insistent use of the lightning connector as opposed to USB-C is a deal breaker for me. If those don't mean much to you however I'd say it's a pretty good option.
Huawei has seen similar optimizations in terms of hardware what with the new 7nm SoC soaking up much less battery and pumping out much more performance but I don't know much of their software support in terms of updates or individual app developers considering their devices. I've heard the firmware and camera are amazing though this time around. Again, from my POV the heavy skin is a bit much for me with too many things I wouldn't use personally.
I can't honestly recommend the Pixel 3 devices due to their questionable specs for the price unless all you're looking for is a DSLR camera with optional onboard editing software. But of course software support is amazing.
ANY of the gaming branded phones (Xiaomi Black Shark 2, Razer Phone 2, and the ROG Phone) aren't half bad values disregarding the lack of history for their lines so you won't know if they have good software support at all. The skins are all pretty heavy UI wise minus the Razer Phone 2. Of all of them though I've only seen the Razer Phone 2 in person and it's pretty sleek tbh.
Sony is a mixed bag, I can't think of a specific model off the top of my head but they're generally amazing in one aspect and maybe pretty good in a couple of others but then tank every other category so that's your gamble to take if you wish.
Samsung kinda takes the same page as Google in you're paying a bunch but you're getting that heavy skin on the UI (with some admittedly neat features like Ultra Battery Saver) meh update support, and a nice camera. The difference being that you're also getting a huge battery and more RAM options so it's not as bad a value as the Pixel devices.
Then last but far from least would be the current king of value (due to the Poco F1 DRM failure) which would be the OnePlus 6T. Buying new from OnePlus it's the same price set as the OP6 but the 6T has a larger battery and smaller notch not to mention the first considerably fast in display fingerprint scanner. Dash charging is already a good bonus considering it's one of the fastest charging technologies I'm the phone market. As far as I've seen the phone scores 10s all around (I don't know about speaker performance however) Topping it off with the fact the UI has everything I love about Motorola's tweaking plus a couple more things. Setting the settings and other context menus to black to save a bunch of battery, more options for screen calibration, optimized to be light on the processor and battery to keep it from running down in your pocket. Big downer however is the loss of our dearly departed headphone jack, it's unfortunate but OnePlus said it was time. On the upside however it includes the dongle, the dongle includes a DAC, and the BT codecs included aren't bad either. OnePlus also made a statement not long ago that they're essentially going to be giving their devices Pixel/Nexus-like software support roadmaps further supported by Google's new software support policy.
Ah and frosting on top; It's not $1,000 for 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, and a huge AMOLED panel but about $650
Even with a case/bullets bundle with all the added warranty/damage protection stuff it's still under $1,000 at about $816 so that's why I'm picking the 6T myself.
All those considered however it's largely you're decision what you're most comfortable with getting based off your own experiences and judgement. I just hope it's a purchase you'll wholeheartedly love
OnePlus 6 arrived today.
So far is seems pretty good, it is so quick.
Screen isn't as bright, it is quite dim up until 100%, but not terrible.
Can't comment on the battery yet, but it won't be like the Z Play.
Lovely big screen though! I'll update this in a few days
Update on this, a few weeks on.
Battery life is decent enough, I still get 1-2 days from it with my light usage, heavy usage gets about 7 hours SOT. I'd imagine the 6T is far better though.
It is very fast, I'm yet to notice any slow downs or lag at all, it does everything quickly.
The camera is a mixed bag.. the stock camera app I've found to be slow to capture, but GCAM fixed this. Quality of photos is decent, I still prefer my old Nexus 6P I think though, but this is definitely good enough for most people and if a big upgrade from the Z play.
The screen is fantastic, not as bright as the Z play, but it is lovely to look at.
I think I've covered everything that most people care about.
Overall, I am happy with the upgrade, I wouldn't want to go back to a small screen again I think. It isn't exactly incredible, but it seems to be a good all around phone. It isn't the best in any one category, but it is good in all of them!
The only thing I'd really like to be improved is the battery life, I miss not being about to guarantee 2 days between charges with heavy use!
gman88667733 said:
Update on this, a few weeks on.
Battery life is decent enough, I still get 1-2 days from it with my light usage, heavy usage gets about 7 hours SOT. I'd imagine the 6T is far better though.
It is very fast, I'm yet to notice any slow downs or lag at all, it does everything quickly.
The camera is a mixed bag.. the stock camera app I've found to be slow to capture, but GCAM fixed this. Quality of photos is decent, I still prefer my old Nexus 6P I think though, but this is definitely good enough for most people and if a big upgrade from the Z play.
The screen is fantastic, not as bright as the Z play, but it is lovely to look at.
I think I've covered everything that most people care about.
Overall, I am happy with the upgrade, I wouldn't want to go back to a small screen again I think. It isn't exactly incredible, but it seems to be a good all around phone. It isn't the best in any one category, but it is good in all of them!
The only thing I'd really like to be improved is the battery life, I miss not being about to guarantee 2 days between charges with heavy use!
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Thanks for the follow up on this thread. I'm still on the fence. Had I caught the essential ph-1 deal for $170 on Black Friday that would have been it for me. Then I missed the Z2 Force for $99 yesterday - would have done that too.
Still bouncing around all the $400 - $500 phones. Currently leaning towards the Xiaomi Mi Mix 2s, but nearly impossible to find new with 128gb storage.
MZP is still just too good to let go - let's me be too indecisive about upgrades!
I nearly got an essential, but the average battery life put me off. I would say that for most people, it is worth stepping up the price and getting a 6T over a 6, just for the battery life (IMO). However, I am definitely not unhappy with battery life. It is probably on par if not a tad better than my old OnePlus 5
gman88667733 said:
I nearly got an essential, but the average battery life put me off. I would say that for most people, it is worth stepping up the price and getting a 6T over a 6, just for the battery life (IMO). However, I am definitely not unhappy with battery life. It is probably on par if not a tad better than my old OnePlus 5
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Yeah battery life was a concern for me - though I saw some fairly decent numbers on some of the threads here.
For me it's very much about "bang for the buck" when I get phones. MZP has been the best I've ever had in that regard. LG Optimus G and Moto E 2015 are right up there too.
My Z Play was £231 second hand, so not exactly a bargain, but stepping up to £370 for my OP6 was still a big step in the price. My Z Play will still get used very often as I switch between them frequently
https://www.xda-developers.com/moto-z4-play-leak-48mp-camera-display-fingerprint-sensor/
Finally a worthy replacement

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