Moto Z Play review: Playmodo

23 December 2016
Few names in the fast-paced mobile industry can boast such a long-standing and universal brand recognition such as the legendary Motorola. Even now, after the glory GSM age is long gone, and the brand is under Lenovo leadership, the Moto badge still has a special place in the minds of the tech-savvy.

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  • A
  • Andy L
  • HX1
  • 16 Mar 2024

I bought mine in late 2016, used it as a phone for two years, great solid phone. Build quality is really up there IMO.

My wife is still using it to surf social media and the internet while her main phone is charging. So 7 plus years of use, only now is the battery life noticeably fading, but it's still okay at the moment.

    • M
    • Minivanman007
    • 4%f
    • 27 Dec 2022

    Got it back in 2016. It is after Christmas 2022. I took it to have the battery replaced. I hope they can replace it. I can't complain about this phone. The camera is amazing. I don't want a new phone, I want this one.

      • S
      • Sarfraaz
      • 6p{
      • 01 Oct 2019

      Moto z series is great

        • J
        • Jabi
        • 6u2
        • 02 Mar 2019

        awesome performance from my the purchase date(since 2016)

          For the moto z play, I have NO mods and never have used a moto mod. I am getting an irksome message repeatedly - "The Moto Mod isn't lined up correctly. Make sure the connector is clean and try attaching it again." Message repeats every few seconds. Is an intermittent message - started again yesterday, also happened in December. HELP!

            AnonD-727454, 31 Dec 2017Best phone ever... It totally surprised me with its long la... moreCamera shows sentence "camera app needs restart" or camera force closed. Please restart" happen in Android Marshmallow, if you update to Android Nougat 7.1.1 or Android Oreo, the problem will be fixed.

              AnonD-722802, 05 Jan 2018this phone or honor 6x guys???I am using Moto Z Play, had been used for 5 months. So far I like it. This Moto Z Play is very good, performance okay. and it gets Android Oreo update.

                • S
                • Snehashish Sen
                • bES
                • 01 Feb 2018

                It's a Real Beast! One of the best phone Motorola has ever made.

                The performance is phenomenal and camera is superb even in low light.

                Enjoy!

                  • D
                  • AnonD-722802
                  • N0n
                  • 05 Jan 2018

                  this phone or honor 6x guys???

                    • D
                    • AnonD-727454
                    • kvw
                    • 31 Dec 2017

                    Best phone ever... It totally surprised me with its long lasting battery life, screen... As a parent of 2, of course I can say it's shattered proof, dust proof.. Water resistant.. Only thing that's annoying is lag in some software sync.. Like in camera, sometimes it's kept on prompting to. Restart the camera as in restarting the phone.... Except. That it's totally. Awesome battery, nice big screen with amoled display... Loud speakers..... Love it... Keep Up good work Lenovo....

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • g30
                      • 16 Dec 2017

                      Aloof, 12 Jan 2017Dynamic range on Moto phones is still lagging, and Moto fla... moreI want Moto z ply

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • gNU
                        • 30 Jul 2017

                        I Am Unable To Set-up Audio Effect Of My Device Moto Z Play ! How To Restore Audio Effect Please Help Me By Sending Mail
                        For Information My One Device
                        App Is Disabled Audio Effect
                        Please Suggest How I Will Enable The Same
                        I Am Waiting For Your Quick Reply
                        Thank You

                          • C
                          • Copy man
                          • 4Kd
                          • 23 Jul 2017

                          This Moto play is my first expensive phone I have purchased, ( before Walmart phones ). This phone rocks it has the best battery life, camera, display, and with the Moto mods I am constantly amazing friends. My only minor complain is the texting feature of the ( I am driving ) and I can't turn it off permanently. No big deal but this phone has nougat 7.1.1 and I the it will upgrade to 8.0 best phone

                            • A
                            • Aloof
                            • tZ4
                            • 08 Jul 2017

                            AnonD-543906, 07 Jul 2017Moto Z play day light photos and videos are as good as I ph... morehttp://images.anandtech.com/doci/10625/Hasselblad_TZ_Review-Daylight-Landscape-Moto_Z_Play.jpg

                            http://images.anandtech.com/doci/10625/Hasselblad_TZ_Review-Daylight-Landscape-Galaxy_S7.jpg

                            For pixel peepers, the Z Play is significantly softer than s7's. Do 3rd party apps improve that?

                              • D
                              • AnonD-543906
                              • XNW
                              • 07 Jul 2017

                              Aloof, 09 Jun 2017In real world, from what I see from others, it focuses quit... moreMoto Z play day light photos and videos are as good as I phone, S7 Edge. However, my camera experience in low light and lack of OIS in Z play has also been quite good. I tried a number of camera apps available in Google play store and found that open camera and snap camera apps covered up the deficiencies of OIS and low light performance in Z play remarkably well. Snap camera app in my Z play beat S7 Edge hands down in poor light conditions photos and videos with hardly visible noise. Some photos in street light came as if taken in day light. Can anybody share his/her experience with camera apps ?

                                • A
                                • Aloof
                                • tZ4
                                • 09 Jun 2017

                                AnonD-249802, 09 Jun 2017I was Searching for a phone with the best camera on the gsm... moreIn real world, from what I see from others, it focuses quite badly at times, producing blurry shots even in daylight. Studio comparison may only show their best results, but the process of getting there may differ. I'm surprised to hear you say Z Play is that strong though, detail wise, Moto phones don't have much sharpening going on, and dynamic range is not great (underexpose and overexpose different areas in the same photo)

                                  • D
                                  • AnonD-249802
                                  • GXp
                                  • 09 Jun 2017

                                  Aloof, 25 Dec 2016Camera actually isn't that bad when I used the studio compa... moreI was Searching for a phone with the best camera on the gsmarena compare tool. And gyess what!!!!


                                  In good light, moto z play beats S8+, LG G6, S7 edge, Iphone 7+, hands down. Only one plus 3t is just below because of the noise factor. Just compare yourself, the green mesh on donkey is only visible in moto z play pic.

                                  In low light it beats every other phone and just below s8+. It beats every other phone hands down.

                                  In real world I don't know. Can anybody put some light on it.

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • MQn
                                    • 02 Jun 2017

                                    Clearly GSMArena missed the exact point of this phone. It´s different, and the whole package is far more complete than a OnePlus. The 625 is a very efficient processor, and 3Gb is more than enough. None of the phones above have a dedicated slot for micro sd and two sims, mot z play has!
                                    Also has water splash resistance! And you have moto mods. Also the batery life is one of the best outhere without compromise the weight or the phone dimensions.
                                    Honestly the ones who have this phone can agree with me this one the best phones released by motorola ever!

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-632062
                                      • 3Yc
                                      • 26 Feb 2017

                                      The Moto Z Play makes for a very decent upper mid-ranger with amazing battery life too. A good review for a good phone.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-442158
                                        • inW
                                        • 19 Feb 2017

                                        anon, 18 Feb 2017No led, but there is active display and every1 who is using... moreMy consideration to adopt a Motorola began with X Play, and that doesn't come with AMOLED, but this Z Play does.
                                        So i agree with your point.