When it comes to any big design choice, especially one that’s expected to be pretty huge for an entire market, there has to be at least one device to lead the charge. The Lenovo-owned Motorola Moto Z may be the modular phone’s champion. Reviews for Motorola’s latest flagship handset, along with its variants, are starting to flow in, and the consensus seems to be that Motorola’s made a top-tier handset, and that it’s certainly the first device to make a strong case for modular design, but that there’s still work to be done, and others still see it as a drain rather than a bonus. Verizon Wireless recently opened pre-orders for its variants of the Moto Z, called the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid, with the launch planned for Thursday, July 28. Here are just a few snippets from the reviews of the Moto Z: Engadget Ars Technica BGR The Verge PC World In the meantime, the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid are both good, premium Android flagships with standout features: one of them is ridiculously thin, the other super strong. Between the two, I recommend the regular Moto Z over the Force. For me, the thinner profile wins out over the toughened display and big battery.” If you’re a Verizon Wireless subscriber, do you plan on picking up one of the new Moto Z models? And if you aren’t under Big Red’s umbrella, are you looking forward to September when Motorola starts selling the handsets unlocked? Let’s be real here: The Moto X was a great line of smartphones, but never particularly exemplary. The Moto Z, on the other hand, is the Lexus to the Moto X’s Toyota: It’s a sturdy, confidence-inspiring device that promises extra bits of luxury. In the Moto Z’s case, those luxury promises are the Moto Mods. Sure, you can opt for basic cosmetic flourishes with Power Packs featuring Kate Spade and TUMI branding, but you can also customize how you use the Moto Z. And that’s the whole point behind the Moto Z’s modularity: To help you to create your perfect smartphone.”
