Moto Mods Hands-on, First Impressions

Moto has just made a comeback in the Philippines with a big launch of their current lineup. Along with the Moto Z and Z Play that they brought here are the Moto Mods. These are the modular accessories you can instantly snap on the back of the phones. Good news is that Moto came with the whole batch of it. Let’s check them out.

First off, we have the Moto Style Shell. They act an additional back panel like a normal case would. The Moto Z and Z Play already have a good-looking rear but if you wish to protect or add a different character to it, this would do the job. The available shells are made from Nylon or Leather. We personally prefer the leather due to its classic look and the additional grip it provides for the hand. The Nylon ones are more stylish thanks to its intricate patterns. There are also wood panels but they’ll come for free for every purchase of the phone.

The Herringbone (Black) Nylon and Crimson Nylon are priced at Php699 while the Black Leather goes for Php999.

Next, we have the Incipio offGRID Power Pack. This mod adds juice to the built-in battery of the Moto Zs. It has a matte black finish and is more than a half centimeter thick. It’s got a 2220mAh cell that’ll give you a total of 22 hours of battery life according to Moto. The international market has wireless charging option for this but it’s currently not available in PH. It retails for Php4,999 which makes it a very expensive power bank.

Then there’s the JBL Soundboost Speaker Mod. As you’ve expected, it’s a loudspeaker from JBL. It’s similar to your usual Bluetooth speaker but it’s attached to your phone. We currently have one of these for our Moto Z review (check it out soon!) and it’s a convenient amplifier when listening to the loaded tunes on your phone. It’s bulky though so it’s not something you’d keep on the Moto Z and slip into your pocket. So far, it’s okay. It gets loud but for its price, we expected better quality. Its SRP is Php5,499.

If you want to step up your game in mobile photography, why not transform your phone into a full-pledged digital camera? You can equip your Moto Z with 10x optical zoom, a bright Xenon flash, and support for RAW format. You also get a full grip with a dedicated shutter button and zoom lever. We tried it during the launch and it makes the Moto Z indistinguishable as a phone. While it’s fun to use, it left a lot to be desired when it comes to performance as we find it slow to focus. You can grab it for Php14,099.

Lastly, we have the Moto Insta-Share Projector. If you’ve been following Lenovo, Motorola’s parent company, they have been very keen in making pico projectors for mobile. This mod will be able to transform your phone into an instant home theater. It projects up to 70-inches and has a kickstand so you just place it on a table and enjoy. Its built-in battery can last for up to an hour before consuming your phone’s own juice. Its projected resolution is 480p with 50 lumens which are ideal for casual sharing in a very dark room. This mod is the most expensive of all at Php14,999.

So far, these are the Moto Mods that are available for purchase in the country. We hope to see more soon and wishing that they’ll be compatible even with future Moto flagships since they don’t come in cheap.