The Motorola Moto Z2 Play has been officially introduced in India as a mid-tier handset. The new semi-modular phone comes with the slightly slimmer body, bumped up specs, and improved cameras.
It will be offered via both online and offline channels where it will directly compete against the likes of OnePlus 3T (review) and Vivo V5 Plus (review). Well, there is still some time before Moto Z2 Play goes on sale. Till then, to help you make up your mind, we have decided to compare its specs with its primary rivals.
Specs Comparison: Moto Z2 Play Vs OnePlus 3T vs Vivo V5 Plus
| Model | Moto Z2 Play | OnePlus 3T | Vivo V5 Plus |
| Display | 5.5-Inch, Full HD, AMOLED | 5.5-Inch, Full HD, Optic AMOLED | 5.5-Inch, Full HD, IPS LCD |
| Processor | Snapdragon 626 Processor | Snapdragon 821 Processor | Snapdragon 625 Processor |
| RAM | 3GB/4GB | 6GB | 4GB |
| Internal Storage | 32GB/64GB,expandable up to 128GB | 64GB/128GB | 64GB |
| Software | Android Nougat 7.0 | Android Nougat 7.0 | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Primary Camera | 12MP | 16MP | 16MP |
| Selfie Camera | 5MP | 16MP | 20MP + 8MP |
| Battery | 3,000 mAh | 3,400mAh | 3,160mAh |
| Others | 4G VoLTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, microUSB, 3.5mm | 4G VoLTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, microUSB, 3.5mm | 4G VoLTE, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, microUSB, 3.5mm |
| Price | Rs. 27,990 | Rs. 29,999/Rs. 34,999 | Rs. 23,180 |
Design and Build
The Moto Z2 Play design and build don’t stray too far from its predecessor. It has gone through refinements and that’s why the first thing you will notice about the phone is how slim and light it is. Even though it features a regular 5.5-inch display, 3.5mm audio jack, and metal body, it is just 5.99mm thick and weighs about 145grams. Just like its predecessor, it too has a protruding camera bump. Just below the camera setup, there is a moto logo followed by pogo pins to snap in Moto Mods which are sold separately.
In comparison, OnePlus 3T is just a tad thicker on the edges that measure 7.4mm (trust me they are not that bad) and about 13grams heavier than Moto Z2 Play despite featuring almost bigger battery. It has a good ergonomic build and 2.5D curved glass on the top adds glamor to the phone.
The Vivo V5 Plus doesn’t fall behind either. It boasts iPhone 7 like (Ironically, that’s exactly where OnePlus is heading with the upcoming ‘5’) metal unibody design with rounded edges and U-shaped band. It is 7.3mm thick and weighs 158.6grams.
Also Read: OnePlus 5 Coming To India On June 22, This Is How It Looks
Display
The Moto Z2 Play, OnePlus 3T, and Vivo V5 Plus- all three flaunt full HD displays. However, OnePlus and Motorola have opted for AMOLED screens while Vivo went for an IPS display for its phone. Moto Z2 Play and OnePlus 3T gets Corning Gorilla Glass 3 whereas, the lone dual camera smartphone in this list comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
Hardware, Software, and Battery
In this segment, the OnePlus 3T seems to be ticking all the right boxes. It is powered by last generation flagship – Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 – chipset coupled with 6GB of RAM and 64GB or 128GB onboard storage. Only weak link here is the missing microSD card slot. The popular flagship killer runs on Android Nougat based Oxygen OS which is one of the few custom UI’s that receives regular OTA updates. It features a 3400mAh battery which is the best you get among these three devices. It also comes with dash charge which is also the fastest in refilling the battery.
The Vivo V5 Plus, on the other hand, employs Snapdragon 625 octa-core chipset which is mated to 4GB of RAM and 64GB internal storage. It also lacks microSD card slot. In terms of battery, it comes with 3160mAh battery which is second to OnePlus 3T in comparison. It also supports fast charging which is certainly helpful. The phone boots in Marshmallow based FunTouch UI.
The Moto Z2 Play relies upon the 2.2GHz Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 626 octa-core chipset to do all the heavy lifting. Though it’s not as fast as the OnePlus 3T, it gets the work done without any glaring faults or flaws. It comes with Adreno 506 GPU, 4GB of RAM and 64GB onboard storage, and a microSD card slot for further expansion is also present. It features Qualcomm’s TruSignal antenna boost technology and Bluetooth 4.2. Moto Z2 Play is once at par with OnePlus 3 when it comes to software part. The phone comes running on latest Android with added layer of gestures. The Z2 Play comes with 3000mAh battery which is the smallest among all three.
Also Read: 5 Best 6GB RAM Smartphones In India Right Now
Camera
Let’s start with the Moto Z2 play camera, it features a 12-megapixel dual-pixel rear camera with LED flash and Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF). On the other side, there is a 5-megapixel selfie camera with dual-tone LED flash. One thing is clear here, the new Moto phone lacks Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) which comes handy will clicking in low light or on the move.
The OnePlus 3, on the other hand, comes with a 16-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and ability to shoot 4K videos. Up front, it packs a 16-megapixel front-facing camera.
The Vivo V5 Plus, on the other hand, selfie cameras are its real highlight. It features a 20-megapixel primary sensor and an 8-megapixel depth sensing camera to create bokeh effect in your selfies. It also comes with a 16-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and full HD video recording.
Also Read: 5 Simple Ways To Convert Your Home Into A SmartHome
Where does the Z2 Play stand?
Apart from some cosmetic changes and chipset upgrade, the Moto Z2 Play is almost the same package that we saw last year. The only real advantage it has over the OnePlus 3T and the Vivo V5 Plus are the Moto Mods. There are snap attachments like external battery, a mini projector, a speaker mod or a camera mod, that enhances your smartphone experience, but mind you, they don’t come cheap.
