Moto Z review (with Moto Mods!)
Marvin Velasco
Let's make this clear before we begin: If you're going to buy a $700 Moto Z, you must invest in Moto Mods to make the most out of your purchase.
Sure, Lenovo's flagship is excellent on its own, but without modular accessories, you're looking at a very bare phone without any compelling advantages over its competition.
Let's begin by reviewing the Moto Z as a "stock" smartphone.
It's unbelievably thin and light!
At 5.2mm in thickness and 136g in weight, nothing can match the Moto Z's power-to-slimness ratio.
Don't let the frame fool you; this phone blazes through every app and game.
You can't go wrong with Qualcomm's high-end Snapdragon 820 processor and 4GB of RAM. This handset can stand against the likes of Samsung's best and those high-end Chinese phones you keep hearing about. The only problem with making it so compact is the loss of the 3.5mm audio jack, but you do get a USB Type-C adapter bundled in case you must use your traditional headphones or speaker.
Its fingerprint scanner is just… a fingerprint scanner.
You can't use it as a home button, but it can be tapped to turn off the screen.
We love the AMOLED display.
5.5 inches is the perfect size, and the high-resolution Quad HD panel is so sharp. Colors are absolutely stunning by default, but if you want something more realistic, there's an option to display a less saturated look. Another advantage of having an AMOLED screen is its ability to show notifications even before entering the lock screen. It doesn't consume a lot of power thanks to the way OLED panels work, making it a quick and energy-efficient way to glance at incoming messages.
The 13-megapixel camera sticks out a lot.
But the package comes with a swappable Style Shell you can easily attach.
And it shoots excellent photos.
Only in daylight, though; it's terribly slow and grainy under lousy lighting, even though there's optical image stabilization and a bright f/1.8 aperture on board. In addition, its camera interface is terribly confusing. You'll spend at least half an hour figuring out what each icon does and getting used to them. Tips: The camera icon on the upper-right is for choosing modes such as video recording and manual settings, while swiping to the sides brings up general settings and photos taken.
Battery life is pretty bad.
With only 2600mAh in capacity, the battery will provide less than three hours of screen-on time when using full-time 4G connectivity, or a day of moderate usage at best. Cranking the connection down to 3G helps limit the energy consumption, but you're looking at four hours of usage on a single charge at best. This is the sacrifice you must deal with for having such a slim body. Although you could spend extra for the $60 Incipio offGRID Power Pack to add another 2220mAh (and 6.2mm to the overall thickness), you'd lose the premium physique you paid for in the first place.
And now for the Moto Mods.
We have two to play with: the Hasselblad True Zoom and JBL SoundBoost speaker.
Attaching Moto Mods is incredibly simple. Unlike the clunky process of the LG G5, all you have to do here is stick the Moto Z's rear to the mod of your choice, and then let the magnets do their magic. There's no pairing to be done in the interface; however, you can dive into the Moto Mods menu in Android's main settings to review the firmware version and update the software, depending on which mod you choose to attach.
The Hasselblad True Zoom is nothing more than extra zoom.
For the nitpicky photographers, this mod offers 10x optical zoom (25-250mm, 35mm equivalent), f/3.5-6.5 aperture, 1/2.3-inch 12MP BSI CMOS sensor, up to ISO 3200, and OIS.
With the True Zoom's size, you'd expect some amazing photos out of it, but it's not much better than the Moto Z's actual camera. That's because the Hasselblad uses an image sensor only as big as regular smartphone's, and the widest aperture opening is f/3.5, which means it can't take in as much light as the larger f/1.8 lens on the Moto Z. It doesn't help that it works at a snail's pace when zoomed to the max, plus the unit is bulkier and heavier than the Moto Z itself. You're basically paying for 10x optical zoom, a traditional shutter button, and more powerful Xenon flash at a staggering price of $300.
Here are some samples:
JBL's SoundBoost is more than just a speaker.
This mod has two 27mm speakers, 6 watts of power, and a frequency response of 200Hz to 20kHz.
If you're into multimedia consumption on the go, this JBL mod may be for you. It behaves a lot like a portable speaker you'd plug into a music player, because, well, that's what the SoundBoost is: a powerful pair of stereo speakers with a stand and its own 1000mAh battery. There's not much to say besides it being better than using the Moto Z's puny built-in speaker, though it's nowhere near as strong as a dedicated unit you'd plug into the phone using the audio jack adapter. For its $80 retail price, you could easily afford a more capable portable speaker; you'd just miss out on the convenience of having the SoundBoost with you at all times.
In summary, here's what we got:
Moto Z: Yes, as long as you're willing to add Moto Mods to your purchase.
Hasselblad True Zoom: No, because its image quality and added zoom aren't enough to justify the excessive bulk.
JBL SoundBoost: Yes, but only if you don't already have a portable speaker on you.
Without mods to pair with, the Moto Z doesn't have a distinct advantage over other flagship smartphones. Yes, it has some of the best specs and build quality of its class, but on its own, the handset sacrifices too much battery life for the sake of an extremely thin frame. On the other hand, adding Moto Mods creates new problems, such as additional weight and size without enough benefits in return.
Alternatively, you can opt for the more affordable $449 Moto Z Play. It's thicker and has a slower midrange chipset, but you get much better battery endurance and a traditional audio port in exchange. Our video covers the basics:
[irp posts="7935″ name="Moto Z and Z Force get special feature from Nougat update"]
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From the moment I picked up the Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G, it's been hard to let go. But I had a very different impression of the phone when it was just first announced. I thought it was boring and is just another cash-grab attempt by Samsung. Boy was I wrong.
Spending roughly a little over two weeks with it, my opinion definitely shifted. From just another boring phone, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G started to look to me like the ideal smartphone for most users.
Designed for optimal use
The first thing that really caught my attention was when I first held the Galaxy S21 FE 5G. It felt… perfect. But really, the word I was looking for is ergonomic. It's not too light and thin that you don't feel like you're carrying nothing. But it's also not too hefty and thick that it'll put a strain on your hand if you hold it for too long. It feels like the sweet spot for most hand sizes.
The look also feels streamlined. Initially, I thought it was too simple. However, after prolonged use, it looked more sleek and subtle than plain and bland. If your taste skews towards minimalism, you'll likely gravitate towards this phone's design. It comes in Graphite, Olive, Lavender, and White so there's a healthy selection of colorways.
It also felt durable. The 'glasstic' material used didn't make me feel compelled to get a case while using it. You just get the feeling that it won't break easily. It's perfect for clumsy types who often drop their phones unintentionally.
Our Associate Creative Producer did point out that the back can be a sweat magnet. Not encouraging for people with sweaty palms. Although, this might easily be addressed by getting a case anyway.
Powered by Samsung's Exynos 2100 chip, the phone didn't leave me wanting in terms of performance. Over the course of my usage, it learned the apps I use the most and kept them active in the background. This means they load right from where I left them during instances that I switch from app to app.
ONE UI 4 also felt smooth and snappy. Navigating the phone felt fast, but this has been the case with most flagship-level Samsung smartphones over the past 3-4 years.
There's a feature where you can open certain apps as if it was floating. Kind of like a chat head but for different apps. It worked on Telegram and Twitter during my time with the phone. It's cool for quick glances, but I found it mostly annoying, but that's just me.
The sensors felt snappy, too. Whether it's Face Unlock or the fingerprint scanner, the Galaxy S21 FE 5G unlocked pretty quickly. This is underrated as some smartphones still struggle with speed and consistency on this matter.
Great for watching and gaming
In line with its overall design, the weight also makes it easy to hold even for extended periods of time. That means interacting with and watching on the 6.4-inch Dynamic AMOLED display (120Hz, HDR10+) was extremely satisfying.
I watched The Journalist and Single's Inferno (Best girl 안예원 An Yea-Won deserved more screentime!) before bed on the Galaxy S21 FE 5G. Despite both shows having nearly hour-long episodes, I didn't feel any strain at all holding the phone while watching.
The display was also okay and usable under direct sunlight. The team didn't completely agree on this matter so ultimately, it'll likely come down to how sharp your eyes are. Our general advice is still to find a shade when you can.
Like most other Samsung phones, the heating is still there especially when your playtime goes from minutes to hours. I recently decided to finally really play some Genshin Impact over the holidays. I ran the game and had a pretty desirable experience. No unnecessary lags or stutters for one of the most graphic heavy mobile games today. So, it's safe to say your other games will likely perform well here too.
Our Associate Creative Director did point out that the heating was prevalent even when you're not gaming. Personally, I only experienced the heating while playing and charging. But there've been several instances of heating with Exynos-powered smartphones so it's worth mentioning here.
Battery life and charging
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G has a 4,500mAh battery and supports 25W fast charging, 15W fast wireless charging, and reverse wireless charging.
I was most pleasantly surprised with the addition of wireless charging. It's a feature I constantly look for in smartphones now. You also don't have to use a Samsung power brick to take advantage of the fast charging speeds. Which is great if you've invested in a multiport GaN charger.
So, how long does the phone last? Naturally, this depends on each person's usage. But the three of us in the team who used the phone all felt like it drained pretty fast. You can mitigate this by turning off a few features, but a software update to address power consumption seems in order.
Flagship-grade cameras
The phone has a main camera array featuring the following: 12MP main, 8MP telephoto, and 12MP ultrawide. It doesn't have the extreme zoom capabilities of its S21 siblings, but it trumps them in the selfie shooter department with 32MP compared to the 10MP on the S21 and S21+.
The selfies, by default, don't apply too much filter. It's just a healthy amount to make you look fresh while still looking like yourself.
There's also a wide-angle option so you can fit in more than one person in the selfie.
The main cameras are fantastic. The images taken are flagship-grade.
The ultra wide angle lens is a dream to use.
And even though the telephoto lens doesn't have a high megapixel count, it still came out with some decent shots.
Night shots are more varied. It'll struggle when there's very little light source, but with enough of them to go around, you still get detailed images.
The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is just a few notches off base flagship smartphones when it comes to pricing (US$ 699/ PhP 41,990/ SG$ 1,048). But the performance, design, and camera capabilities are all nearly at that level.
The pricing might give you some pause. However, we're 100 percent certain you won't feel cheated once you start using the phone. It's great all around and I'm comfortable calling it the best smartphone for most users as early as now. Granted, you might have to make sure you bring around a powerbank with you, but I'm willing to bet most people already do that anyway.
Personally, this is the first time since I reviewed the OPPO Find X3 Pro that I've been extremely satisfied with using a smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G is an absolute joy to use and is a worthy buy even with new, more advanced phones on the horizon.
While the X-series is vivo's line of flagship smartphones with the best in class rear cameras, the V-series is for those who want a great midranger option with star-studded selfie cameras.
Apart from the color-changing back due to Fluorite AG glass, the vivo V23 5G offers more than meets the eye. It's packed with well-rounded hardware if you may ask.
But should you get the vivo V23 5G? Head over to our vivo V23 5G unboxing and review now to help yourself out.
Smartwatches rarely stay on my wrist for a long period of time. Not because I don't like them, but because I have to test wearables every month or so.
Having a job that requires you to test different smartwatches from several brands might be a dream come true for some people, but I find it highly cumbersome especially when I'm still trying to build the lifestyle that I want.
After I reviewed the Huawei Watch 3, I decided to slap the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic on my wrist. Permanently. After all, I'm neck-deep in the Samsung ecosystem. It makes so much sense to use a smartwatch that will work with all my other devices.
Breaking and building habits
For a quarter, I made a pact to myself that I will build the lifestyle that I want. And boy, after months of using Samsung's latest smartwatch, I realized I turned my life around using a small, functional accessory.
I never realized I've been changing my habits — which I consider the building blocks of a lifestyle, based on what I learned from a transformative book called Atomic Habits — through this nifty device.
If you're reading this, you're probably curious why I keep blabbering about turning my life around with just a wearable. And you're probably skeptical, thinking I'm just selling an idea. But, trust me, this is a personal account of my transformation.
While changing my beliefs, mindset, habits, and learning more about myself are the main factors to consider, having a smartwatch helped me attain my goals in little, simple ways.
And based on Atomic Habits, change starts in the little things you do within yourself and your surroundings. (I won't spoil you, so go ahead and read the book. It will change your life.)
Using my smartphone less
Like many young adults, I struggle with using my smartphone too much. With a job revolving around the latest gadgets, particularly these high-tech slates, it's easy to fall into the rabbit hole of building an automated life.
But everything's within your reach, right? Yes. Except I also deal with cranky mornings dashed with a little rush from all the emails and messages. I'm certain I'm not the only one bombarded with notifications as soon as connecting to the Wi-Fi. On top of that, I'm exposed to too much blue light — smartphones, tablets, laptops, televisions, and portable gaming consoles.
The dream is to lessen the time spent holding my smartphone and create a balanced life of being connected through my devices while being in tune with my physical surroundings.
Streamlining reliance on gadgets
Having had the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic for more than a quarter now, I found appreciation for its basic features, especially when they all work seamlessly without delays. I answer calls, respond to chats, and check important messages at a glance.
I stopped using my smartphone for alarms, and instead of reverting to an old-school alarm clock, I just customized the smartwatch to ring and vibrate in a way that would really wake me up.
And there are a lot more features to enjoy; things we take for granted because we don't know how to incorporate these features in our lifestyle simply because we don't have to.
Years of covering smartwatches made me realize that these wearables are already advanced and have everything we need. People just really don't know how to maximize these features to make their lives more efficient. And I, regretfully, fell in the same trap despite being able to test the latest smartwatches regularly.
Nevertheless, the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic still stood out among the smartwatches that came across my wrists, especially in 2021.
To reserving my brainpower for more fruitful activities in life
Change my mind: Google makes navigating your digital life easier, especially if you've been with the Android ecosystem for years. This is why I still prefer using Samsung over Huawei — especially with the loss of Google Mobile Services. Surely, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic is the perfect Android smartwatch right now.
I've had my fair share of Huawei's smartwatches (Yes, I do love them), and while they all pack unique tools in a robust build with flagship-rated power and a long-lasting battery that lasts for several days — they still require brainpower to seamlessly integrate the smartwatch to your devices and your day-to-day life.
And that isn't something I don't want to welcome in my life, moving forward. I prefer to make things simple and efficient. I prefer to use the last of my brain cells by doing things that are meaningful to me e.g. reading a book, playing a strategy game, doing more architectural sketches and gouache paintings, and learning new hobbies that make life more exciting.
If a device calls itself smart, it should be able to figure things out on its own so I can live my life to the fullest without worrying about how things work.
Compatibility is so important — in relationships or smartwatches
The experience with Galaxy Watch4 Classic, as compared to Huawei's flagship Watch3 and Watch GT3, is much easier for someone with only three brain cells left functioning. One instance is when connecting the device and using the Samsung Health app — even on a non-Samsung device.
I've had trouble navigating Huawei's Health app and connecting the devices to various smartphones, even with the likes of Honor 50. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic works well with any smartphone. Although to maximize the device to the fullest, it's best to use a Samsung smartphone — even if they're old like the Galaxy S8 or an affordable one like the Galaxy A52.
Using apps that are appropriate for my lifestyle and compatible with my devices
One reason why we believe the Apple Watch is still considered the gold standard when it comes to smartwatches is because of its ecosystem, plethora of compatible apps, and plenty of straps and designs that match different personalities and lifestyles.
While the Galaxy Watch4 series isn't enough to rival the Apple Watch, Samsung holds the crown when it comes to Android smartwatches.
Samsung really did it right, collaborating with Google for WearOS. Now, I get to route my map before heading out for a drive using Google Maps. And everything I download on my smartphone, if compatible with the smartwatch, gets automatically downloaded.
I get to respond to annoying Viber messages, control my music playback on Spotify or YouTube Music, and even use apps that help me continue the fitness journey that I started a year ago.
The Galaxy Watch4 Classic lets me track my progress during my Indoor Climbing session at Climb Central Manila
And there's a reason why most of my friends use the Galaxy Watch4 series as well. It's compatible with fitness apps we deem important in our lives. There's Google Fit, Strava for my cyclist friends, adidas Running app for those who have a lot of will to run, Calm for my meditative chicas, and myFitnessPal which I also use for tracking my nutrition intake.
Overcoming the love-hate relationship with fitness
I used to have a love-hate relationship with smartwatches when they used to look like workout gears. It made it impossible to wear it in casual settings, which is counter-productive for those who aim to make fitness their lifestyle.
When I was still training with my coach, we came to a conclusion that it's easier to make fitness a lifestyle when your space, clothes, and accessories are all workout-ready. I had to install dip bars, make the exercise ball and dumbbells visible right when I wake up and use a rubber mat to create a conducive space for my physical activities.
In the same way, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic was always ready to join me in my conquests. Aside from the health and fitness features it possesses, I like how it's unassumingly a fitness-oriented device since I can sport it while wearing a dress shirt. And when used to accompany me in my workouts, it brims with features that will make the most out of your workout.
Living an active lifestyle
While it's hard to be consistent when you live in an erratic, hectic schedule, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic reminded me to stay active. It asks me to move around, or perform stretches while I'm working consistently, sitting for hours. Even without its alerts, subconsciously, I get reminded to choose situations that will require me to be active.
Morning runs with my celebrity best friend
I used to take my electric scooter to move around the neighborhood, or use the car even when going to run my errands — which are sometimes within a kilometer or two away from home.
I struggled, of course, but the visibility of a lifestyle companion made me walk despite the unbearable, scorching heat. That, or I take the bicycle.
When I forget to choose the walking mode among the workout options, the Galaxy Watch4 Classic is smart enough to record your movements, and automatically switches to workout mode.
My forgetfulness is somehow saved by the highly perceptive sensors found on the smartwatch. And that high-tech functionality is what I welcome in my life.
Paying more attention to my health
I'm no stranger when it comes to a smartwatch's health features. Every smartwatch I've tested has the same monitoring features to help you pay more attention to your health.
With my experience working with smartwatches, it's the last habit I have to change. I've been paying more attention to my health ever since I slapped a smartwatch on my wrist.
But it's still worth mentioning how you can solidify the habit you've started. It's easy to forget stuff when you're overwhelmed — tracking your health included.
The Galaxy Watch4 Classic's rotating bezels made it easier for me to monitor my health. You can customize the tiles depending on your priority, but from the get-go, they have the necessary features presented accordingly.
At a glance, you can check the steps you've taken, the minutes you've been active, and the calories you've burned. I know, you're already familiar with this one. These data are also accessible depending on your watch face.
Then, there are also tiles for heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen, stress levels, food and water intake, and even cycle tracking for women. Having easy access to these important data made me more aware of what changes I need to do.
To better night routines
There's also Sleep Tracking which also coordinates with your phone, tracking your sleep through the snore or sound you make. Sometimes, I forget to wear my watch and leave it charging on the dock
There are days where you just really hit the snooze button and shut down from the world. Those times made my smartwatch and smartphone work together to record my sleep.
It won't be able to check my pulse though. This is why I learned to take my smartwatch off when I'm taking a shower and doing my night routine. I get to pamper myself while my smartwatch recharges, so it's ready to monitor my sleep and heart rate when I'm asleep.
That may be the only thing I didn't like about the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic. The shorter runtime could've been longer so I don't need to recharge time and time again.
Anyhow, it helped me to really make an effort to perform a self-care routine. Even when I'm dead tired from a long day at work.
Working on my ideal body
It's also worth mentioning how the Galaxy Watch4 Classic takes the spotlight with its body composition tool.
The new feature uses a technology called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA). They're basically little charges shot through your body to tell how much is fat and how much is skeletal muscle.
When you're working on your dream body, knowing your body composition is essential to understand what changes you should make to your fitness program and diet.
Weekly, I check my body composition through the tool. It helps me decide how to adjust my lifestyle so I can reach my body goals. It can be tiresome to stay on this journey, but I've committed to taking better care of myself. And I'm elated that the smartwatch is well-rounded enough to accompany me in everything I wanted to do.
Designing the lifestyle I've been dreaming of
Frankly, I know I'm not yet there — living the life I've always dreamt about. A routine that works perfectly with my activities and schedule. A body that I can confidently flaunt across the cameras.
I'm still susceptible to the big changes in life that can shake my foundations, or push me back to square one and revert to my old, bad habits.
But I know I'm also far from where I've been. When I look in the mirror, I see a new version of myself. I jokingly state how I'm now in my version 2.4.9 as if I was a smartphone update. Although, it's also true that I do get better over time. Because that's what I intend to do with my life.
When you recognize the habits you want to change and take necessary actions to improve, you'll get the results. Anything can be a tool to accompany you, as long as it fits the lifestyle you want to work for.
It just happens to be the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic. And I'm happy to have it on my wrist and stay with me as long as it works.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Classic retails for PhP 17,990 for the 42mm variant, and PhP 19,990 for the 46mm variant. Both sizes are available in Black or Silver colorways. You can purchase it in Samsung's Online Store, official stores, and authorized retailers nationwide.