Moto Z and Moto Mods Release Date Arrived

The impressive new Lenovo-made Moto Z smartphone and unique Moto Mod accessories will finally be available on July 28. A few minutes ago Motorola and Verizon confirmed all the Moto Z’s release details and pricing, and we have all the information below for potential buyers.

In June, Motorola took the stage at the annual Lenovo TechWorld and introduced two new flagship smartphones for 2016. These are the Z Force DROID, exclusive to Moto Z and Verizon. Both phones will be available first on Verizon, then in more regions in the near future.

This year Motorola abandoned the popular Moto X series and instead completely redesigned, reimagined and turned the smartphone into a highly capable and modular device with lots of magnetic accessories. Our hands-on and first impressions will give users a good idea of ​​what to expect, then read after the break for all the release date details, pricing, and more.

The new Moto Z and Moto Z Force have a large 5.5-inch Quad-HD display, a fingerprint scanner for enhanced security, the latest powerful internals for excellent performance, great camera options, a front-facing flash, long battery life, micro-SD support and more. Powerful flagship smartphones, but the most exciting aspect is Moto Mods. Before we get into that, let’s talk about the release details.

Moto Z and Z Force Release Date

Verizon Wireless will be the first carrier to offer both of Motorola’s new smartphones. Starting July 21, the Moto Z DROID and Moto Z Force DROID will be available for pre-order only from Verizon.

Both the devices and all Moto Mod accessories will be available in stores and online from July 28. This is the official release date.

It’s worth noting that the Moto Z is a phone that will be available unlocked all over the world and can be used with other carriers in the US. The slightly better Moto Z Force will only be available from Verizon Wireless, not from anyone else in the states.

So what’s the difference? The Moto Z Force DROID has a better 21-megapixel camera, 3,500mAh battery and “unbreakable” Motorola Shattershield display. The regular model has a smaller 2,600mAh battery, a capable 13-megapixel camera, and a regular display instead of the DROID series-exclusive unbreakable tech. The batter is the biggest concern, but there are countless Moto Mods that make up for it.

Moto Z and Moto Z Power Pricing

Both the Moto Z and Z Force will be available for pre-order in stores on July 21 and July 28, so how much will these stunning metal phones cost?

The Moto Z DROID will be available for $26 per month on a payment plan or $624 outright. Gone are the days of a sub-$500 Moto smartphone. Then the Moto Z Force DROID will be $30 a month, or $720 outright. It is very similar in price to the Galaxy S7 and other flagship smartphones.

However, the best aspect of these phones is the customization and modularity. Owners can purchase great Moto Mod accessories that open and close easily from the back, using a flat back with magnets for attachment and some pogo pins. Just drop it in and the magnets will do the rest. No setup is required as the pins do everything from communication and setup. It’s easy, it’s flawless, and it turns this smartphone into a portable speaker, projector, TV, or extends battery life so these phones can last 2-3 days or even more.

Moto Mod Release Date and Pricing

Reviews everywhere have suggested that users are extremely excited about Moto Mods and everything this phone can turn into as long as the pricing is fair and realistic. They’re pretty reasonable, but spending $600-720 on a phone and then spending more on accessories can add up fast. That being said, here’s what to expect.

Motorola and its partners have designed some great accessories for this phone, but it comes at a price. For those wondering, here’s the cast.

Adding genuine leather, real wood backs, carbon fiber, ballistic nylon and other styles and textures to the back of the phone, Motorola “Style Shells” will also be available on July 28 and on Motorola.com. We hear they’ll be between $29-$39, but pricing for these has yet to be confirmed.

So far we’ve enjoyed three Moto Mods in the past week and users can expect more details and a full review in the near future. The JBL Soundboost sounds great, works instantly with no setup required, and has a nice kickstand with a textured rubber base to prevent slipping. The InstaShare projector is quite expensive and only appears to stream at 480p resolution, so it’s not even HD, but it could still be useful to many. Battery packs and style shells are probably the best bet to get owners interested.

Stay tuned for more details and a full Moto Z and Moto Z Force DROID review in the coming days, and get yours on July 28 from Verizon Wireless. Motorola has not yet announced when the regular Moto Z Unlocked Edition will be available for other carriers, but an announcement is expected in the next 2-3 weeks.