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Moto Z2 Play deals and reviews

Moto Z2 Play

81/100
38 Critic Reviews

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Release Date (UK): July 2017

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What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100

Stuff | Tom Morgan

A magnificent mid-ranger that might not wow on sheer specs, but still impresses with modular magic.

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100

Expert Reviews | Nathan Spendelow

The Motorola Moto Z2 Play might be a mouthful but this modular smartphone builds on everything we loved about the original

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93

TechAeris | Jason Bouwmeester

While the Moto Z2 Play is a solid mid-range smartphone with Moto Mod support, the minor upgrades don't justify the increased cost over the original Moto Z Play.

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91

TechDissected | Cliff Wade

Overall it's a decent device.

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91

Techdissected | Cliff Wade

Don't expect a Pixel type device, but you can expect a really decent device for the price you're paying.

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90

TechPP (Technology Personalized) | Shubham Agarwal

If someone asks me to suggest a smartphone which both stands out and is powerful enough to stand straight for at least two years, I would, without hesitations, suggest them the Moto Z2 Play.

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90

Recombu | Alex Todd

Despite its name, the Motorola Moto Z2 Play is anything but fooling around, offering a flagship-like experience for almost half the price.

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90

Phone Scoop | Eric Z. Zeman

Verizon is selling the Motorola Moto Z2 Play for a bargain. This phone punches way above its mid-range status. It's a better buy than the OnePlus 5, and an excellent phone for all but the most finicky flagship seekers. Go buy this phone now.

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90

Android Central | Daniel Bader

Motorola went iterative for its Moto Z Play sequel, announcing it just nine months after the original. It's not a complete overhaul, and in two major ways is a downgrade, but it's also one of the most well-rounded and enjoyable-to-use Android phones on the market.

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85

NotebookCheck | Florian Wimmer

We would have welcomed more risk taking for the update. Lenovo's Moto Z2 Play is just a reworked version of the Moto Z Play with a slimmer silhouette, as well as smaller battery that hardly offers any real innovations.

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84

Coolsmartphone | Dan Carter

A small upgrade to the original but keeps the key selling points for upgrading customers.

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84

Android Authority | Lanh Nguyen

The Moto Z2 Play is another solid mid-range offering from Motorola that follows in the footsteps of its predecessor quite well, but with a $50 price increase and a smaller battery, it may not be as compelling of a purchase without investing in the Moto Mod ecosystem.

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82

CNET UK | Jessica Dolcourt

Strong battery life, clever software and magnetic Mod add-ons make the Motorola Z2 Play a compelling midrange choice.

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80

The Mobile Indian | Rohan Pal

Moto Z2 Play has more checks than crosses. The smartphones sport a sleek design, coupled with some well-optimised software and impressive battery life, but it shimmers a bit in gaming and camera department.

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80

GadgetMatch | Michael Josh Villanueva

If amazing photos are important to you, look elsewhere. But if battery life is critical, the Z2 Play plus a battery mod can last you the entire weekend on a single charge.

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80

Gadgets Now | Rajat Sharma

The Z2 Play isn't just any other mid-range smartphone. It's a one-of-a-kind device that opens a gateway to a whole new modular ecosystem. It's a smartphone that can be transformed into anything from a portable music system to a superzoom camera in a jiffy. And considering all of that, it's value-for-money, even with the additional cost of the Moto Mods included.

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80

AndroidPit | Bruno Salutes

The Moto Z2 Play is overall of a higher caliber than the Galaxy A7, Zenfone 3 and Quantum Fly.

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80

Firstpost | Rehan Hooda

To conclude, if you want stock Android with great battery life and you don't really care about the flagship specifications, you can invest your money in the Moto Z2 Play. But, if you want the latest and greatest, it's better to look at OnePlus 3T or Xiaomi Mi 5 for those specs.

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80

GadgetSpeak | mfereday

If the multifunction aspect of modern smartphones is not enough for you then Lenovo offers a modular approach.

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80

The Mirror | Jeff Parsons

A great mid-level smartphone that can be upgraded through a series of clip-on accessories. Great battery life and plenty of versatility thanks to 'Moto Mods' accessories. Even without the Moto Mods, the Z2 Play is a decent Android device that wins points.

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80

What Mobile | Thomas Wellburn

The Lenovo Moto Z2 Play is an excellent mid-range contender and the Moto Mods are the best attempt at modular capabilities to date.

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80

YourTechExplained | Andrew Allen

I really like where Moto is going with the new Z2 Play and the next generation of Mods. I'm relieved that they have stayed true to their word that Mods would support multiple generations.

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80

Trusted Reviews | Max Parker

Moto can't quite dominate the mid-range like it does with its G5, but the Z2 Play is a solid device with plenty going for it. I just wish it didn't feel compromised by Moto Mods.

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80

Android Headlines | Alexander Maxham

If you need/want something that has incredible battery life – and don't want a physical keyboard that the BlackBerry KEYone provides – then this is probably your best option. The Moto Z2 Play does check a lot of the boxes on a list for a smartphone. So if you're in the market for a new smartphone, it's hard to go wrong with the Moto Z2 Play.

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80

NDTV Gadgets | Aditya Shenoy

If you want a sleek modular smartphone running stock Android then the Moto Z2 Play is pretty much your only option.

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80

Pocket-lint | Mike Lowe

If you find Moto Mods enticing then the Z2 Play is a super phone with plenty to offer beyond its quirky unique selling point. This phone is secured a commendable position in the mid-range market. And if battery life is your all then it ought to be the perfect companion.

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80

The Verge | Dan Seifert

t's a very well-executed device that gets all of the basics you need in a phone correct without spoiling the recipe with gimmicks or an unreasonable price.

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79

TheEffect.Net | Derek Reilly

As a standalone phone, the Moto Z2 Play is an impressive handset made all the more appealing by its customisation options in the form of the Moto Mods.

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76

phoneArena | Stephen S.

If you like modular hardware, you like your phones on the thinner side, and you dig a screen with bold colors over one that's super-bright and easy to read outdoors, the Moto Z2 Play won't do you wrong. It's a solid handset, and the ability to add new capabilities really does help offset some of our misgivings. But there's also a lot of room for improvement here.

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75

ZDNet | Jason Cipriani

Between the outstanding battery life that never wants to quit, and the expandability of Moto Mods, which at this point have moved past being a gimmick, it's hard not to recommend the Moto Z2 Play to those wanting a respectable device at an affordable price.

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70

91mobiles | Prateek Pandey

If you want a smartphone which will last you upwards of a day off a single charge and is futuristic, then the Moto Z2 Play is probably your best bet. Otherwise, if you have no intention of investing in a Moto Mod, then the notion of buying the Z2 Play is a little unconvincing.

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70

Wired | Jeffrey Van Camp

The Moto Z2 Play and Z2 Force give you maximum customization at a minimal price. There are a few truly high-end phones you can buy for $500 or less. That's the reason to choose a Moto Z phone. The 64GB Unlocked Moto Z2 Play is a fantastic phone, if Moto Mods interest you.

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70

PC Mag | Ajay Kumar

The Z2 Play is a unique unlocked phone that combines solid performance with a modular design that taps into Motorola's Moto Mods add-ons. The Moto Z2 Play is yet another solid modular phone from Motorola.

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70

Tom's Guide | Sam Rutherford

The Moto Z2 Play is an even thinner version version of Moto's fun modular phone, but it takes a hit on battery life.

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70

The Telegraph | Matthew Field

The Z2 Play is a solid, mid-range buy, but the knock to battery power and so-so look and feel mean put a dampener on the sole champion of modular smartphones.

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70

Mobile Syrup | Rose Behar

The Moto Z2 Play is a good phone, but its pricing puts it at a disadvantage. For overall quality, however, I'm giving the phone a 7 out of 10 -- if pricing is a lesser consideration for you, or if it happens to go on sale, I'd happily recommend this as a solid mid-range choice.

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70

Digital Trends | Julian Chokkatu

Motorola's Moto Z2 Play combines fun mods with enviable battery life.

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65

TechSpot | Tim Schiesser

The Z2 Play needs to cut its price to make it an attractive option. This way the handset would be a decent choice, but up against budget flagships for the same price, it just doesn't provide good enough value.

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Every day, we search through thousands of tariffs and offers from UK online retailers to find the best Moto Z2 Play deals and contracts across a selection of price points and needs.

Select 'Pay Monthly' if you're looking to get the Moto Z2 Play as part of a monthly contract with minutes, data and texts. Alternatively, choose 'No Contract' if you prefer to buy the Moto Z2 Play SIM Free or on Pay as You Go.
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Compare Moto Z2 Play specs side-by-side with other phones
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Form factor and dimensions
Dimensions & Form

Form factor: Touchscreen bar
Dimensions 156.2 x 76.2 x 5.99 mm (6.15 x 3 x 0.24 in)
Weight: 145 g (5.11 oz)

Screen
Screen

Size: 5.5 inches diagonal
Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels
Screen Density: 401 ppi
Screen-to-Body Ratio: 70.1 %

Display Type: Super AMOLED

Operating System
Runs

Android

Performance
Performance

Chipset: Qualcomm MSM8953-Pro Snapdragon 626
CPU: Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53
GPU: Adreno 506
RAM: 4GB

Camera
Camera

Main Camera: 12 megapixels with dual LED flash
Secondary Camera: 5 megapixels

Storage
Storage

Built-in Storage: 64GB
Expandable Storage: Micro SD

Battery
Battery & Charging

Capacity: 3000 mAh
Removable Battery: No
Wireless Charging: No
Quick Charge: Yes (v2)

SIM Standard
SIM standard

Nano SIM
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Water and Dust Resistance
Water & Dust Resistance

Not Available

Fingerprint Reader
Fingerprint Reader

Front

More info
References & More info

Official website
GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Moto Z2 Play

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Moto Z2 Play camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Moto Z2 Play.

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.

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Last Updated: 19th May 2020

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Important notes

  • We aim to compare as many tariffs in the marketplace from the UK as possible. However, we do not include every package (e.g. legacy tariffs no longer available, or tariffs only available to existing/specific customers), nor do we detail every aspect of every tariff (e.g. international out of bundle rates, on-network minutes, etc).
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  • Data only SIM cards, mobile broadband packages, and pay monthly tablets are currently not included in the comparison.
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  • Providers may increase the cost of your contract by RPI (inflation). However, if prices are increased that then cause a materially detrimental impact, you have the right to exit your contract without penalty. More details available from Ofcom plus comparative information on customer service and complaints handling & their guide on how to complain.
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