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Review: Motorola Moto Z3 for Verizon Wireless

The Motorola Moto Z3 for Verizon Wireless is a solid contender in the $500 range. It covers the basics and then some, while offering flexibility thanks to the selection of Moto Mods accessories.

The Z3 may be about the same size/shape as last year's Z2, but it has a brand new screen, reduced bezels, and a more modern look. The button placement — including the side-mounted fingerprint reader — works well, and Motorola made the right choice in including support for memory cards and USB-C. The screen looks great; call/data performance is up to snuff; and battery life is good even without a battery Mod attached.

Motorola's variation of Android is one of the best, thanks to its light touch and usable enhancements. The camera software is powerful, and the image quality matches the phone's price point well.

Further, the Z3 will eventually be able to upgrade to 5G thanks to a forthcoming Moto Mod from Motorola and Verizon.

Verizon sells the Moto Z3 for $480. In this segment of the market, few phones offer as much value as the Motorola Z3, particularly if you're looking to future-proof your phone against the pending arrival of 5G.

Our Ratings

Overall

Reception

Battery Life

Hardware Usability

Hardware Quality

Display

Interface Speed

Audio Volume

Camera

Related

Motorola's 5G Moto Mod Explained

Motorola and Verizon Wireless hope consumers will buy into the idea of upgrading their Moto Z3 phone with a modular 5G attachment some time next year. The Mod promises to bring a 10x improvement in data download speeds without sapping the battery too much.

Hands On with the Motorola Moto Z3

The latest entry in Motorola's Moto Z series of devices is the Z3, a thin slab that's compatible with Moto Mods modular attachments. The Z3 is an improved version of the Z3 Play thanks to a better processor and camera configuration.

Motorola Updates 5G Moto Mod, Adds Z2 Force Compatibility

Aug 16, 2019
Motorola has updated the software for its Moto Mod accessory that adds 5G to existing Moto Z-series phones, improving functionality for all phones, and adding compatibility with the Z2 Force for Verizon. The update improves both 5G download speeds, and enables two-way charging between the phone and the Mod when the battery is low in either.

Verizon Launching 5G on April 11 in Chicago, Minneapolis

Mar 13, 2019
Verizon's first standards-compliant mobile 5G network will launch in select areas of Chicago and Minneapolis on April 11th. 5G service will cost an extra $10/month.

Motorola, Verizon Successfully Test Data On Moto Z3's 5G Mod

Nov 14, 2018
Motorola and Verizon Wireless say they've successfully completed a 5G NR data transmission test between the Moto Z3 paired with a 5G Moto Mod and Verizon's network. Motorola announced the Moto Z3 for Verizon in August along with a Moto Mod capable of adding 5G to the Z3.

Motorola Moto z3

6" display FHD+ resolution
Snapdragon 835 processor 4 GB RAM
3,000 mAh battery
Memory Card Slot, NFC, Fingerprint Reader, Water-Resistant

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