REVIEW Moto Z4 in 2023 - End of the Modular Smartphone Craze - Underrated Device?

[@OSReviews]

Note: yep there's no desktop mode on the Moto Z series. However, one extra feature on the Z4 which didn't make the video is support for pressure sensitive, active stylus pens via MPP (Microsoft Pen Protocol). That means the Surface pen / Wacom Bamboo Ink are compatible and makes for a pretty decent note-taking / doodling experience, similar to Samsung Galaxy Note devices. Kind of ironic since the Moto G Stylus phones are still in production today but uses a passive stylus which doesn't respond to pressure...yet despite the stronger stylus capability, this wasn't even advertised well on the Z4 😥Yet another instance of unfortunate marketing...

[@Solarsystemrdffdfyyhh]

Moto never realize the power of this device. I had the projector and the speakers. They should have just kept the design and connectors to the lower range phones. That projector was so much fun! The one thing that killed this product was the critics bashing the 5g mod. The phone to them looked dated. This phone was truly ahead of its time. Camping trips and a wall on a hotel room was a portable theater. Moto really drop the ball on this one.

[@kathleenbrockman4208]

I still have mine and use the mods.. best phones ever. I agree that they made the biggest mistake by stopping the motorola mods.

[@danielchristmaslee]

I still have mine as well and using it with the 360 cam mod and polaroid printer mod. I'm hoping to keep using it well throughout 2024!@@kathleenbrockman4208

[@mm-2018]

Apple probably paid the critics

[@Solarsystemrdffdfyyhh]

@@mm-2018 I think so. Mr mobile and others just bashed it.

[@Anjula321]

do you think it's worth buying one today + the mods? I'm thinking about it

[@regis4204]

Z4 was the perfect phone to me. So sad that the customers did not understand the interest of modularity. To be fair, Motorola did their best to provide the market with moto mods from generation Z1 to Z4, and eventually aborted the concept. A pity actually. Now, all recent phones look the same... Hey Moto, bring us back the Z line!!!

[@RetroGamerBB]

It was locked to Verizon in the states and that limited it's reach. Even after unlocking mine, I can't do 4g volte calls on T-Mobile with the Verizon variant. Idk if the global version can.

[@idessaoutlaw]

I'm just now retiring my Moto Z Force Droid tonight after seven years cause the battery is going out.I bought a new Moto Z4 phone from Motorola in 2019 and I can finally start using it now. After you get used to listening to music on the JBL speaker mod you can never tolerate anything less.. Motorola is run by idiots to discontinue the Moto Z modular platform..🍷😎👌

[@brokenhero6828]

They’re so dumb they should have kept going

[@RetroGamerBB]

Will any pen work in the surface series or 2 & up

[@xBatmanxBroncofanx]

Commenting from my moto Z4 😏 still love this phone. The mods are great. Had the z2 as well.

[@brokenhero6828]

I’m buying one too. Had the Z play.

[@Nokia_N93]

Same here

[@trippin6210]

My z4 will be here next week 🤙

[@kirogt]

I don't understand how there's a perception that this phone looks dated. It has all the modern design ques from modern phones with the thin bezels and in display fingerprint censor along with face unlock. I believe smart phones reached their peak of evolution in 2020. Current smart phones only make existing features slightly better. I had originally stared with a moto g play which I sadly broke the screen but the upgrade to the z4 was worth the phone breaking as the reviewer stated this phone still holds it's own in 2023 and was a huge upgrade from my z play. I've invested in multiple mods, mostly for the battery and even bought a second z4 the last new one available in Canada in 2020 as a backup should I ever break the original. All my friends think this phone was ahead of it's time they all have the latest Apple's and Samsung's. The phone is still going strong with heavy daily use. It's lasted 4 years with the battery mods and still going strong. I personally wonder if I'll ever end up using the second z4 in storage since my original z4 from June 2019 is still going strong. This phone with its mods and current resilience has made it impossible for me to ever go to another phone. Android 10 still feels modern and with the moto gestures it's has all the modern bells and whistles. Although reviewers we're harsh on this phone, for people like myself that truly appreciated what it has to offer it's irreplaceable.

[@Aran.Tech.Television]

Agreed, it hardly looks dated at all! The only thing that looks dated aesthetically is the single camera. But I'll take one good camera over 3 mediocre ones any day!

[@christopher7310]

I just bought a renewed z4 to go with all my mods. My original z Force is finally toast.

[@SuburbanBeard]

this is still my second phone / backup. i just recently switched. i have all the attachments so i dont think i will ever get rid of it just buy backups lol

[@TheDestroyer702]

I want a higher powered version of this phone

[@broncosforlife6612]

The Z series was fkn amazingly awesome!!!! Why wouldn't they want to continue this series!?!? Blows my mind!!!! I really enjoyed having the Z3 Play!!!! Bring em back Motorola!!!!!!

[@SkylerThomas-ie8rv]

Still use the phone to this day I love it and still plan on keeping it a bit longer def still recommend

[@sunnys_day]

👍🏽 I'm writing this comment on a Z4 lol. This is my second one and I'm thinking of getting a third. The listening experience from the JBL module is unmatched and let's not forget the kickstand. I've always wanted to try the projector and now can afford it on eBay. The interchangeable backs made of different materials like bamboo are fun. And all held on by strong magnets so it always feels sturdy no matter how light or heavy the mod is. This is the most comprehensive review of this phone I have seen. You are showing this phone the love it deserves. I've decided to get the white one 👍🏼

[@keshawncross23]

This device was actually pretty good at that time when it was released in 2019

[@andrewchristiansen8311]

The non VZW Z4 is what I have. I wanted it without the carrier bloat, from motorola. That way my hotspot button works in Android with prepaid networx. Incipio wireless charging battery pack is wonderful & gives you 5w Qi wireless charging(only get 700mAh). I just wireless charge the pack then pop it on. Ive plugged in the phone 10 times in 2 years. Projector is my favorite mod. The JBL speaker I use for almost all calls. Make a Z5!

[@cringycoyote1958]

So out of all the moto z series which one do you think would be the best for shooting short videos camera quality wise Also out of all the smartphones you've reviewed which in your opinion has the best camera for recording videos

[@therealslimshady8034]

Is it still in date?

[@Amoamifamilia0445]

Motorola needs to bring the moto z series back, i had the moto moto z2 force up until i broke it last year, and im trying to get a z4 on rbay

[@GiveEmBeansBAFC]

I was always quite fascinated with the modular design and owned a LG G5 and a few mods. Unfortunately the Z range didn't get an official UK release so I missed out on this one. It certainly looks much better than the G5 in the way implemented mods.

[@kaylastewart9370]

I had the G3 and G4 before I got the Z2 Play and now the Z4. I didn't know any of them had mods.

[@Mutt_Buncher4]

I thought the back glass was plastic because it felt so soft, Im glad to hear my z4 is even more premium than i thought

[@Aran.Tech.Television]

I disagree, I wish it was metal. It's more durable that way. Plus I'm just going to slap a Style Shell on it anyway. Not to mention it lacks wireless charging, phones should only have glass or plastic backs if they need it for wireless charging, otherwise give me metal.

[@Mutt_Buncher4]

@@Aran.Tech.Television true, but glass doesnt scratch as easy as metal, which can be nice when taking mods on and off. but i agree metal would be more durable overall

[@farishanafiah8461]

Moto Mods is still the best idea to add external accessories. I never like using Bluetooth since it always has latency and you have to charge it separately. With Moto Mods, you just simply clip it and some mods allow you to charge it simultaneously with the phone.

[@Amoamifamilia0445]

I used to have the moto z2 force but I had to sell it and now I'm debating getting another one, my question is should I get the z2 force because it has the flagship SD 835 or is it worth getting this z4 just for the bigger screen and the headphone jack, also the z2 force has the shatterproof screen

[@alonzolopez1853]

Get the Moto z4 it’s newer and you can get the 5G Moto mod

[@rmendez011]

@@alonzolopez1853 Only the Verizon Moto Z4 can use the 5G Moto Mod, same with the Verizon Moto Z3, plus the Z3 has the Snapdragon 835. But the Z4 has 128GB of internal storage, better cameras, bigger battery, and a headphone jack.

[@JTManuel]

What irks me about the z4 was that the mods were no longer flush to the phone.

[@Slixbrah]

my motorola phones, moto razr M, omg that form factor was amazing, the kevlar back, but battery was not good and pentile amoled. moto G from 2013 or something, had like a 720p display, i really liked that phone, it was pretty cheap, moto g5s plus i still have laying around, battery life for a 3000mah was godly, it just sips power on snapdragon 660 or 665 whataver it was, nice screen, good single speaker, it was better on nougat in my opnion, more snappier than i bought a moto edge 2020 (i still have, still my fav phone, its not the best at anything, but good at everything, really like form factor and speakers) and i also have moto g8 power i use when chillin, or in bed, great battery 5000mah, nice lcd 1080p and great dual speakers, for the price, great media phone to just play around with at home

[@PhillipBosier]

Hands down the absolutely Best phone I've ever owned. That's excluding the badass mods. I cannot believe people completely missed this gem of a phone. I would give my s23 ultra up in a second to have another one.

[@Bmxracerx]

The game controller is exactly like the nintendo switch lmao. I realized after my cousin show me the nintendo switch, did they sell the design??

[@Wyld1one]

On-the-fly hot-swap batteries! NO other phone supported that. Infinite power glitch 😋 can keep a spare(s) in your pocket if you need to, charge separately from the phone. don't have to trash the phone if the external battery goes bad.

[@Kyzekrem]

My battery finally started swelling and it needs to be replaced. Don't know where to get a new battery or a place to get it fixed.

[@rafaynadeem4696]

When u start using it?

[@Kyzekrem]

@@rafaynadeem4696 I got mine in August 2020. So it basically lasted me 3 years.

[@719kenny]

Ebay you can order parts and there's videos on KZbin how to fix it.. pretty easy. Just order my parts to fix the screen and it's time for a new battery also soo since I have to fix the screen mine well replaced the battery while I have it open.

[@kaylastewart9370]

I had the Z2 Play, then got the Z4. I still have both and the Z4 is the phone i still use every day. The battery has gone to pot now though, so I'm looking for a new phone now 😔 The Edge seems cool, but i hate that tbere is not a headphone jack. The waterfall edges arent very appealing since my mom has a phone with waterfall edges and she cant get a screen protector to stay on it.

[@georgepierre3594]

G stylus 2023 5g. i upgraded from z4,

[@ChrisB-Truth]

This need to be tried again, Magsafe in now a thing.

[@georgepierre3594]

Bought a g power 2022, hated it. it was good enough for use on browsing, but to big. But not good enough for emulation, this one hits the spot in size and specs! PPSSPP emulation 2x 30 fps!

[@nathanbaldwin5782]

Watching on my z4

[@firefly8718]

The best innovation with asus padfone. I hope other company will steal their idea.

[@travisadragna8933]

Just bought one from Amazon in 2024, why not.

[@ihuezeemmanuel4239]

Please 🙏 dash me this device

[@TempoLOOKING]

No dex..then it is trash.😅

[@carson9903]

Uh, Dex is a Samsung thing

[@trippin6210]

Bruh unless you use it for work or something Dex is literally pointless