The Moto Z2 Play gets leaked again, making us wonder if it will replace the Moto Z [UPDATE]
Over the last two months, we have been learning more and more information about the Moto Z2 Play, but nothing has been seen like the leak that happened this weekend. Roland Quandt of WinFuture has shared new information on the device, which has seemingly confirmed many of the previous leaks.
This latest leak shows off 3 different color variants of the Moto Z2 Play, while also sharing that we’ll see the return of a few Moto Mods with the device. According to the renders, the Z2 Play will come in either black, silver, or gold, with the silver and gold variants featuring a white front panel.
As for the specs of the device, the Z2 Play will come with a 5.5-inch FHD display (1920 x 1080 resolution), while being powered by the Snapdragon 626 SoC and 4GB of RAM. Quandt also confirmed that the Z2 Play will come with 64GB of base storage, while also including a microSD card slot for expandable storage options.
As for the cameras, we can find a 5MP sensor for taking your selfies, while a front-facing flash will help make sure that you get enough lighting. The main camera will feature a 12MP sensor which is capable of shooting in 4K while including dual-LED flash sensors placed just below the camera.
Perhaps the biggest news regarding the Z2 Play over the past few weeks was regarding the battery. It seems that Motorola and Lenovo are looking to combine the Moto Z Play and original Moto Z by offering a slimmer device without flagship specs. This latest leak suggests that we’ll see a 3,000mAh battery, which lines up with previous rumors, but conflicts with recent TENAA certifications which saw a 2,820mAh battery.
However, there may be something interesting to consider, thanks to one Reddit user:
Meanwhile, with the Z2 Play is looking like the love child between the thinner, better picture-taking normal Moto Z, and the affordable, longer lasting Z Play. That way they can cut the normal Z which didn’t appeal to enough users, and leave the Z Force as the clear, solitary flagship.
In other words: I think people are whining about literally just a name. The Z2 Play is basically the Moto Z successor. The new Moto X will be the actual Moto Z Play successor, instead.
With all of the rumors recently surrounding the Z2 Play, personally, I think this move makes perfect sense. Instead of the base-model Moto Z being the forefront of the new lineup, the Moto Z2 Force (with a bigger battery and better camera) would take the foothold here. This would leave those wanting a slimmer device the option to snag a Z2 Play, without paying an outrageous premium.
The return of the Moto X 2017 (Moto X4) would appeal to those who love the nostalgia factor of everything and would replace the Moto Z Play in the lineup. This is starting to get a bit confusing with everything, but a quick look back at the leaked device schedule from Motorola and Lenovo provides a bit of clarity.
Of course, naming monikers are a bit frustrating nowadays, so hopefully Motorola and Lenovo will provide more clarity in the coming weeks. I, for one, like the idea of turning the Z Force into the flagship, with the Z2 Play and Moto X4 offering different aspects in the mid-range market.
UPDATE: A new video has been published on YouTube which shows the Moto Z2 Play being unboxed.
Just a couple of hours after this article was published, a new video appeared on YouTube which shows the Moto Z2 Play being unboxed. The video confirms many of the specifications of the device, including the smaller, 3,000mAh battery.
Check out the video above to see the Z2 Play in all its glory, but be warned, the video is not in English.