Moto Z Force DROID review

The Moto Z (DROID) and Moto Z Force (DROID) were announced on June 9, meaning we have had quite a long time to get unexcited about these devices, but putting the delayed launch aside, let’s find out how they fare after a week in our pockets.

Here’s our Moto Z Force DROID review...

Specs

Before we dive into all of the finer details of the Moto Z Force DROID experience, let’s go over the specs. The phone features a 5.5″ QHD AMOLED display (2560 x 1440 at 535 ppi), Qualcomm-made Snapdragon 820 processor, 4GB of RAM, NFC, Bluetooth 4.1, USB Type-C, 21-megapixel rear-facing camera (OIS, Phase Detection and Laser autofocus) with ƒ/1.8 aperture, 5-megapixel front-facing camera with ƒ/2.2 aperture, 3,500mAh battery, Turbo Charging, 32GB and 64GB storage models (with microSD support up to 2TB), and Android 6.0.1.

These specs are good, but the only issue is, since this phone is launching in the later half of 2016, we as consumers are already looking toward what’s next. For example, Qualcomm has already announced the next step in the Snapdragon family, the Snapdragon 821. We expect to see this new Snapdragon in the next Nexus devices and maybe even the Galaxy Note 7. As you can see, when you launch a device in the later half of the year, it’s sorta hard to future proof a phone, even when you give it the best that is currently available. It essentially cuts short the potential lifespan of a device, if the buyer is interested in things such as specs.

Design & Hardware

The Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid feature an identical design, complete with the aluminum design, camera bump, Moto Mod pogo pins, and the USB Type-C charger. However, The difference between these two devices can be felt right off the jump.

The Moto Z Force Droid is a noticeably thicker and heavier than the Moto Z Droid but isn’t so heavy that it’s uncomfortable to hold in the hand. The thickness and weight are attributed to the larger battery (3,600mAh), and the ShatterShield display found within the device.

ShatterShield is a technology developed by Motorola that was introduced with the Droid Turbo 2 and features 5 different layers:

Layer 1: Exterior Protective Lens – A protective layer with a proprietary hardcoat designed to guard against dents and abrasion.
Layer 2: Interior Lens – This highly transparent layer provides a clear protective shield that won’t crack or shatter.
Layer 3: Dual touch layer – In the event of an impact that damages the primary touch-sensitive layer, a second layer takes over to maintain touchscreen performance.
Layer 4: Stunning AMOLED display – The flexible AMOLED display absorbs shock and provides amazing picture quality.
Layer 5: Aluminum chassis – A rigid aluminum chassis provides structural integrity and durability.

With the second generation Moto ShatterShield, Motorola has improved the technology by narrowing the edges of the display, while creating a thinner design. With this new display, the ShatterShield on the Moto Z Force is guaranteed to not crack or shatter upon impact. That doesn’t mean that you should start throwing the device around due to the fact that just because the display won’t crack. It’s important to still be mindful of the fact that there are parts within the devices that may stop working due to the abrupt stoppage of landing on concrete.

In order to help combat the issues that come with holding a thicker device, Motorola and Lenovo have added a chamfered edge that makes gripping the Moto Z Force Droid a bit easier. While carrying the device around (playing Pokemon GO), the metal back actually allows for some grip from your fingerprints. Of course, this is a moot point if you have a Moto Mod attached but is still convenient nonetheless.

As with the buttons on the Moto Z Force, the buttons on the Force Droid are in the same place, and are still a pain in the rear to easily interact with. The buttons could have either been moved down just a bit, or placed on opposite sides of one another. Another thought that comes to mind was using a volume rocker, which has been used on Motorola devices in the past.

When looking at the fingerprint scanner, it is just as fast as that found on the Moto Z Droid and we have run into no issues with the scanner not registering our attempts to unlock the device. Motorola and Lenovo really hit this one out of the park, and although the company could have opted to place some capacitive buttons on either side of the scanner, allowing the scanner to function as a home button, the fingerprint scanner itself is perfect.

Camera

One of the other big changes between the Moto Z Droid and Moto Z Force Droid is the upgraded camera. While the former includes a 13MP rear-facing camera, the latter packs a 21MP camera, and is definitely worthy of being your primary camera.

The camera interface is exactly the same as the one found on the Moto Z Droid due to it being Motorola’s home-baked software. So instead of taking time to look at the software, lets take a look at how the camera actually performs.

When looking at a picture taken by the Force Droid, you’ll see a much crisper image, and that’s without adjusting any of the settings within the app itself. Lowlight shots aren’t game-changing, but are definitely adequate enough for just about everyone.

Motorola included Optical Image Stabilization(OIS) and laser-autofocus with both devices, which allow for the device to quickly focus on a subject, but there were some qualms while trying to take pictures of a fountain. While the rest of the image was just okay, the fountain itself looked a bit off. Mileage may vary from user to user, but it’s something to keep in mind if you want to take a picture of the dogs in the park, or your kids running around.

Other than trying to take good pictures of moving subjects, the Moto Z Force Droid does an amazing job of taking a picture in regular lighting. HDR Mode is enabled by default, so some of the results can be really stunning and impressive.

Check out our camera samples to decide for yourself:

Battery Life

Part of the reason behind the Moto Z Force Droid being thicker than the Moto Z Droid is due to the larger battery. Packed in this device is a non-removable 3,500mAh battery that Motorola is stating will last for 40 hours. As someone who is always on their devices, this is an unrealistic number to reach, but the Moto Z Force Droid definitely gets me through a full day of heavy usage.

Of course, we had to test just how much the Moto Z Force would be charged depending upon how long it was plugged in for, and found that in the 15 minute time span, we went from 37% to 66%. This marks an increased charge of almost 30% in a short time span, which can be extremely useful if you have just a few minutes to charge up on the go.

Single Front-Facing Speaker

I’m just gonna say it, when phones are released with front-facing dual speakers, we get spoiled. Phones like the Nexus 6P are rare gems, catered to those who appreciate decent sounds emanating from a smartphone. On the Z Force DROID, there’s a single external speaker, located on the top frontside of the phone. It doubles as your call speaker. I will say, the placement is good. It’s on the frontside, so half of the equation is solved. However, it’s just not that good. It gets plenty loud, but the sound delivered is best described as lacking in depth. There’s no bass. If I want to bump some Skrillex, there’s no drop. If I want to rock out to Acacia Strain, there’s no brown note. As someone whose life is completely dominated by the love of the low end, it’s not good enough.

Other Notes

Verizon – This is the first phone I have used on Verizon’s network since last year. Over the past week, I have been more than impressed by where I get reception and how clear my calls sound. Coming from AT&T and T-Mobile, it’s nice to actually have a few bars in locales I don’t typically see service. Naturally, your experience will differ from mine, but nevertheless, I enjoyed it.
Girlfriend Test – “The size feels pretty good, not too big, especially for being a wider phone. I wish it felt heavier. It doesn’t feel premium because of how light it is. I like the rounded off edges and the back’s design [referring to camera and Moto Mod pins]. It’s kinda cool.”
Bloatware Count – The count for Verizon apps considered to be bloatware is 11, not counting the kiddie game shortcuts that are also baked inside. If we’re counting those, the number goes up to about 17. Thankfully, disabling all of this crap is quick and painless.
Fingerprints – Like a lot of other phones available right now, the Moto Z Force DROID is a fingerprint magent. Sadly, these prints aren’t the kind you can easily wipe away. No, with this phone, you really have to grind a microfiber cloth to get these prints off. Not a huge deal, but something I wanted to mention.