Smaller battery, better camera, for an extra ~$50-100. Could be worth it for some folks, others, maybe not.
But everyone should stay away from Motorola phones just because of Lenovo's terrible update policy. There are absolutely no guaranteed security or system updates, and security updates may show themselves every 6-8 months.
Yes, this is why I would never buy any of their phones that costs more than $300. But the Moto G line, in spite of the lack of updates, is simply too good of a value to pass up, especially if you factor in the Amazon discount.
My Moto Z Play is still on a April 1 2017 security patch level, and still on 7.0! Battery life is the overriding factor for me so I'm willing to be a little lenient... but the situation is still annoying.
Step 1 Make a decent phone Step 2 Give it a marquee feature such as VERY long battery life Step 3 Get very good reviews and sales of the phone Step 4 Make a new version of the phone Remove what made the phone desirable Give it incremental updates everywhere and charge more Step 5 Stop producing the phone because of low sales and make a new phone
I think that's the product development roadmap at Moto now that Lenovo is in charge.
I really liked my DROIDs. My wife has the Droid Turbo and I have the Turbo 2. But, alas, this looks like the end. Seems like they are trying to get their long time customers to leave. I don't want "middle of the road." I want the basic Droid platform with unique innovation, like in the old days. It seems that is no longer the standard.
Still hanging on to my turbo 1. I have not found a worthy replacement yet. I will see what the z force 2 looks like and even what the new x does as well (although I would really like a larger than 5.2" screen this time). Otherwise, I may have to wait and see what the pixel 2 has to offer.
The big battery+efficient cpu was the only thing interesting about this phone. Now that they've taken that away this is just a mediocre mid-ranger. They don't even have AC Wi-Fi?? Why not? A note 4 has AC....and a battery that's essentially infinite.
Ugh after the terrible update support for my Moto X 2014 I will not be fooled again. Plus, what's with these bulging cameras, can you even set that thing down without scratching the lens?
I pretty strongly disagree that the original Z Play should have come with the sd 650 or 652. Yes they are technically faster than the 625, they were also technically the 618 and 620: The 625 is overall the better processor that generally performs better when weighed with the power and heating efficiency. For example, this article is pretty good: https://technewswith.me/snapdragon-625-vs-650-vs-6...
I think Qualcomm's numbering strategy was pretty dumb and also confused me for a while, but the 625 is a great cpu for almost all users.
This. I have run into no workloads that the 625 didn't breeze through. It's an amazing SoC, fast, snappy, no throttling. Game all day on the highest settings and still have a lot of battery left at the end of the day.
That's not a 6mm thick phone with a camel hump of a camera housing. They may as well have made the entire thing a few mm thicker and given it more battery life if they're going to do something like that.
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negusp - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
Smaller battery, better camera, for an extra ~$50-100. Could be worth it for some folks, others, maybe not.But everyone should stay away from Motorola phones just because of Lenovo's terrible update policy. There are absolutely no guaranteed security or system updates, and security updates may show themselves every 6-8 months.
Stochastic - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
Yes, this is why I would never buy any of their phones that costs more than $300. But the Moto G line, in spite of the lack of updates, is simply too good of a value to pass up, especially if you factor in the Amazon discount.Traumadog - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
I'll say - although not perfect, they have been doing better.My Moto Z Play is now on May 1's security update, though it's still Android 7.0 not 7.1.1.
Beyond that, my Moto X Pure is on 7.0/April 1 security update.
ayqazi - Monday, June 5, 2017 - link
My Moto Z Play is still on a April 1 2017 security patch level, and still on 7.0! Battery life is the overriding factor for me so I'm willing to be a little lenient... but the situation is still annoying.erikiksaz - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
The Z Play was just updated to 7.1.1Samus - Monday, June 5, 2017 - link
Seriously, why did the price go up $100 bucks!?I mean if you just need a cheap basic Android phone get a new Xperia Z3 (in box) for <$150.
I don't understand how some of these phones are selling for $400-$500. Who do they think they are Apple?
shabby - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
Since they put a smaller battery into the phone they should of also went with a slower cpu and a worse camera... way to go moto/Reinolds3 - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
Step 1Make a decent phone
Step 2
Give it a marquee feature such as VERY long battery life
Step 3
Get very good reviews and sales of the phone
Step 4
Make a new version of the phone
Remove what made the phone desirable
Give it incremental updates everywhere and charge more
Step 5
Stop producing the phone because of low sales and make a new phone
I think that's the product development roadmap at Moto now that Lenovo is in charge.
Motomanster - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
I really liked my DROIDs. My wife has the Droid Turbo and I have the Turbo 2. But, alas, this looks like the end. Seems like they are trying to get their long time customers to leave. I don't want "middle of the road." I want the basic Droid platform with unique innovation, like in the old days. It seems that is no longer the standard.Chidoro - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
Still hanging on to my turbo 1. I have not found a worthy replacement yet. I will see what the z force 2 looks like and even what the new x does as well (although I would really like a larger than 5.2" screen this time). Otherwise, I may have to wait and see what the pixel 2 has to offer.vladx - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
One of the worst updates in a phone line that I've ever seen.Infy2 - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
If you don't need MotoMods, you are better off with $300 Moto G5 Plus that has SD625 and the same camera.Note 4 still the best - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
The big battery+efficient cpu was the only thing interesting about this phone. Now that they've taken that away this is just a mediocre mid-ranger. They don't even have AC Wi-Fi?? Why not? A note 4 has AC....and a battery that's essentially infinite.zodiacfml - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
The brand still has a thing with consumers considering they are making such a move.blakflag - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
Ugh after the terrible update support for my Moto X 2014 I will not be fooled again. Plus, what's with these bulging cameras, can you even set that thing down without scratching the lens?Nato31 - Sunday, June 4, 2017 - link
I pretty strongly disagree that the original Z Play should have come with the sd 650 or 652. Yes they are technically faster than the 625, they were also technically the 618 and 620: The 625 is overall the better processor that generally performs better when weighed with the power and heating efficiency. For example, this article is pretty good:https://technewswith.me/snapdragon-625-vs-650-vs-6...
I think Qualcomm's numbering strategy was pretty dumb and also confused me for a while, but the 625 is a great cpu for almost all users.
Wardrive86 - Monday, June 5, 2017 - link
This. I have run into no workloads that the 625 didn't breeze through. It's an amazing SoC, fast, snappy, no throttling. Game all day on the highest settings and still have a lot of battery left at the end of the day.BrokenCrayons - Monday, June 5, 2017 - link
That's not a 6mm thick phone with a camel hump of a camera housing. They may as well have made the entire thing a few mm thicker and given it more battery life if they're going to do something like that.peevee - Monday, June 5, 2017 - link
Same old thing, smaller battery. Pass.MrSpadge - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
Looks like a decent phone for ~250$.furfoot - Wednesday, July 5, 2017 - link
Available for $385 from Verizon if you ask for the discount at checkout. Plus the free JBL mod.