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Motorola Launches Verizon-Exclusive Moto Z3 Smartphone, 5G Moto Mod (phonedog.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the future-proof dept.

Motorola unveiled their new flagship Moto Z3 smartphone today that's upgradeable to 5G. Like other Moto Z phones, the Z3 includes support for Moto Mods, including a new 5G Moto Mod that will let you use Verizon's mobile 5G network when it launches in 2019. The new Mod contains a Snapdragon X50 modem and 2,000mAh battery to help you stay connected to the 5G network. PhoneDog reports: The Moto Z3 is a Motorola phone that's exclusive to Verizon in the U.S. Specs for this Android 8.1-powered smartphone include a 6.01-inch 2160x1080 Super AMOLED screen and 8MP wide angle front-facing camera with f/2.0 aperture. Around back there's a dual rear camera setup with two 12MP cameras, one RGB and one monochrome, along with laser autofocus and portrait mode support. Inside the Moto Z3 lives an octa-core Snapdragon 835 processor along with 4GB of RAM, 64GB of built-in storage, and a microSD card slot. There's a 3000mAh battery and a USB-C port for recharging that battery, as well as support for Motorola's TurboPower solution to recharge in a hurry. Unfortunately, there's no 3.5mm headphone jack to be found here. All of those features are crammed into a body with a water repellent coating. Rounding things out is a side-mounted fingerprint reader and support for face unlock.

26 of 52 comments (clear)

  1. "... exclusive to Verizon..." by Futurepower(R) · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "... exclusive to Verizon..."

    Locked to a cell phone carrier? It seems every month there is another move toward dominating the customer. When companies find that they were able to sell an abuse, they work on developing other abuses.

    Most customers don't have the technical ability or the time to defend themselves.

    1. Re: "... exclusive to Verizon..." by Zorpheus · · Score: 1

      I don't know what this is about, I already see it unlocked on Google shopping and Amazon

    2. Re: "... exclusive to Verizon..." by JackieBrown · · Score: 1

      I think it means the only carrier directly selling it is Verizon. So if you want to buy your phone via 24 month payments added to your phone bill, you have to buy it from Verizon.

    3. Re:"... exclusive to Verizon..." by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      It's very normal, though it's becoming less normal. But that said, it's stupid, and it's not a feature. "Exclusive" is one of those terms like "Proprietary" that marketers think sells products, but actually makes them less desirable.

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    4. Re: "... exclusive to Verizon..." by nmr_andrew · · Score: 1

      We mostly do. But assume the phone costs $480 to make the math easier and you can:

      1. Buy from VZ and pay over 24 months, adds exactly $20/month to the bill
      2. Put on plastic, then either pay the entire $480 at the end of the first month OR pay usurious interest until you've paid it off. It will take way longer than 2 years to pay off if you only pay $20/month toward the credit card bill.
  2. Re:Love Motorola by GerryGilmore · · Score: 1

    I have one smartphone for some occasional development (Ugh!), but overall I'm really happy to see Motorola hanging in there. They may never achieve the scale of Samsung, Apple, etc., but....hang in there, Motorola!!!'

  3. Get the Moto E4 instead. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

    Removable battery, good quality, cheap, like $125. Who needs a flagship when they can have an inexpensive working phone that's not noosed to a given carrier?

    1. Re:Get the Moto E4 instead. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Removable battery, good quality, cheap, like $125. Who needs a flagship when they can have an inexpensive working phone that's not noosed to a given carrier?

      In fact, wally world has it for $99. I'm not a big fan of those guys, but I do like money

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Get the Moto E4 instead. by b0s0z0ku · · Score: 1

      Without Scamazon ads? Moto's firmware is usually pretty clean, but some cheaper versions of devices came with Scamazon ads on their home screen.

    3. Re:Get the Moto E4 instead. by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      Yeah, it's a clean, unlocked phone. Also, you can supposedly remove that Amazon stuff using adb commands, although I haven't looked into it because I don't have an Amazon phone.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    4. Re:Get the Moto E4 instead. by dafradu · · Score: 1

      Moto E is their most basic phones, usable but the Moto G or Moto Z Play are so much better and still cheap compared to the options from most manufactures. Only ASUS phones compare price/performance wise to Motorola here.

      I'm still very happy with my 1st gen Moto Z Play, it is rocking Oreo with Junes security update. When i had a Samsung i rarely got this security updates. Battery is very good, fast charging, decent performance, headphone jack and all :)

  4. Re:Love Motorola by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    The got my loyalty for one, by giving me this solid, good looking phone for a more than decent price. Not a single glitch with it.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  5. Huawei Kirin 980 is on 7nm node by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    https://wccftech.com/kirin-980-new-arm-mali-gpu-second-gen-npu/

    And yes, it's from TSMC fab

    1. Re:Huawei Kirin 980 is on 7nm node by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      reading comprehension issues, missed your meds?

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    2. Re:Huawei Kirin 980 is on 7nm node by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      It is in production of unreleased chips

      That is not production, that is sampling. And better get back on your meds.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    3. Re:Huawei Kirin 980 is on 7nm node by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      Yes, it's not always clear which anon coward is which, maybe consider logging in. I appreciate the sensible engineering call of going with the snapdragon 630 instead of 800 series. The word for that is "value", not to mention risk reduction. I'm looking forward to 7nm (more realistically, 30nm fin pitch) but not for a phone. I want it for my next workstation upgrade, and I want a GPU refresh, 7nm Vega looks like a good place to jump in. The miner-targeted parts also look tempting because I'm actually more interested in playing with OpenCL than games.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
    4. Re:Huawei Kirin 980 is on 7nm node by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

      reading comprehension issues, missed your meds?

      The asshole who downmodded apparently didn't check the article posted by original (same?) asshole, which reports nothing whatsover about 7nm node ramp, only speculation about some future SoC.

      --
      When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  6. Re: Another untrustworthy Chinese gadget by spinitch · · Score: 1

    U forgets the sale of Cellular Networks to Nokia. Forgot what happened to the satellite group after Iridium bankruptcy. The Computer group made PowerPCs for a bit. RFID stuff now at Zebra. And much more. They should retire the brand Moto mobility. It comes from car radios. WTF ?

  7. Where do Americans buy their showers & AC's fr by Frankie70 · · Score: 1

    Do you buy your shower heads & other plumbing from your water utility company?

    Do you buy your Air-Conditioners from your Electricity Company?

  8. Warranty? by Frankie70 · · Score: 1

    Do you have warranty in your country?

    1. Re:Warranty? by Junta · · Score: 1

      Sounds like his issue was that Motorola would replace the device, but not repair.

      Motorola in general will replace phones rather than repair them (remanufacture them). I'm assuming because the repair time would be too long and they feel like phones are more disposable because 'cloud' (and microsd). Even for something like a cracked screen, warranty replaces, rather than repairs, with no option to say 'repair only'.

      This may be normal for cell phone manufacturers, I don't know.

      --
      XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
  9. An odd choice.... by Junta · · Score: 1

    It's largely the same, except a lower res, albeit larger display than last gen.

    Except it's priced higher... locked to Verizon... and ditches the shatterproof screen...

    I don't see this as a winning strategy to make a comeback...

    They may be doing good in the low/mid range phone models, but at the high end they don't seem to be doing themselves any favors this year...

    --
    XML is like violence. If it doesn't solve the problem, use more.
  10. Re:Where do Americans buy their showers & AC's by fred6666 · · Score: 1

    do you buy your computer from your ISP?

  11. Re:Love Motorola by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    TSMC 7nm isn't in production asshole.

    The knuckledragging ape that downmodded is apparently incapable of comprehending you can't buy a 7nm part of anything as of today. Fact. Maybe some time before Christmas assuming production ramps up smoothly with acceptable yields. Nobody knows that yet. Until then flagship phones are 10nm.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  12. Re:Love Motorola by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    Did not see the value in a Pixel or latest Samsung flagship this time round. Got a G6+ for half the price and how sweet it is. Solid and sensible while still being slim and light. Two sim cards, how sweet, and micro SD. Front and back cameras are fine. Great sound. 8 core processor at 2.2 Ghz on an energy sipping 14nm process. More or less vanilla Android. Having trouble seeing why I want more phone than this.

    Now, what kind of asshole would downmod a sensible post like that, which points out the great value you get from Motorola's not-quite-flagship lineup? Process of elimination leaves: Samsung employee. Doesn't look good on you.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
  13. Re:Love Motorola by Tough+Love · · Score: 1

    14nm? LOL that's two gens behind.

    No it isn't, please wash your lolcat drivel mouth out with soap.

    Fact: Galaxy S8 was unveiled 18 months ago. That is the 10nm node, still used by S9, so it is the current node. 7nm is months away from retail channels, assuming it is does not get delayed to 2019 for yield reasons, like Intel. Don't believe it until you see it.

    14nm is one node back, not two, and 600 series Snapdragons remain current and highly respectable, contrary to what a lolcat weenie might think.

    --
    When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.