We compare the new Moto Z and Moto Z Force phones with the Nexus 6P, to see which mobile packs the best specs, performance, battery life, features and the rest. Check out our Moto Z vs Nexus 6P vs Moto Z Force comparison review to see which is best for you.
Last night saw the launch of the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, Motorola’s flagship phones for 2016. Both the Z and the Z Force boast some very funky accessories called ‘MotoMods’ which clip onto the handsets to add all-new features including a projector and a powerful speaker. Check out our feature on all of the launch MotoMods for more info.
So, what’s the difference between the Moto Z and Moto Z Force, and how do they compare to the best Google phone out there, the Nexus 6P? Here’s our Moto Z vs Moto Z Force vs Nexus 6P comparison review to clue you in.
Moto Z vs Moto Z Force vs Nexus 6P: At a glance
| Phone | Moto Z | Moto Z Force | Nexus 6P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 5.5-inch | 5.5-inch | 5.7-inch |
| Screen resolution | 2560×1440 | 2560×1440 | 2560×1440 |
| Fingerprint sensor? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drop resistant? | No | Yes | No |
| OS | Android N? | Android N? | Android Marshmallow |
| Processor | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 820 | Snapdragon 810 |
| Memory | 4GB | 4GB | 3GB |
| Storage | 32/64GB | 32/64GB | 32/64/128GB |
| MicroSD? | Yes | Yes | No |
| Battery | 2600mAh | 3500mAh | 3450mAh |
| Cameras | 13MP + 5MP | 21MP + 5MP | 12.3MP + 5MP |
Moto Z vs Moto Z Force vs Nexus 6P: Design
Design-wise, the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are very similar in terms of size and look. These 5.5-inch phones are hand-fillers, but the rounded edges and textured backs should make for a comfortable grip. However, the Moto Z Force is a little chunkier and heavier than the Moto Z, partly thanks to its upgraded specs and party thanks to its super-rugged design. The Moto Z Force is the only phone here that’s guaranteed to survive a drop onto a hard surface like concrete.
The Nexus 6P is a mite larger than the Moto Z siblings, with a funky jutting camera bar around the back. It’s the heaviest phone here, but that sleek aluminum frame and intricate detailing makes it the most elegant and attractive Nexus phone ever launched. Whether it’s more gorgeous than the new Moto Z phones is of course personal opinion, but we reckon it’s a close contest.
Moto Z vs Moto Z Force vs Nexus 6P: Features
The major selling point of the Moto Z and Moto Z Force is their MotoMods, a family of accessories that expand the phones’ functionality. MotoMods that are launching with the Z mobiles include a projector add-on, a JBL speaker and a battery pack that nearly doubles their life. Of course, you can still connect the Nexus 6P to accessories like Bluetooth speakers, but MotoMods are a more portable (and pretty damn cool) solution.
All three handsets boast a fingerprint sensor for added security. The Nexus 6P’s scanner is housed on the back, where your finger naturally rests when you grip the phone, while the Moto Z phones ape Apple’s TouchID sensor, hiding it in the home button beneath the screen. We love the 6P’s sensor and the Moto Z scanners should also prove to be accurate and responsive, if they’re anything like the Moto G4 Plus‘ hardware.
We’re still fans of the Nexus 6P’s 12.3-megapixel camera, but the Moto Z and Moto Z Force boast Motorola’s latest camera tech which should be highly dependable and simple-to-use. All three phone snappers have Optical Image Stabilisation and Laser Autofocus built in, while the Moto Z Force’s super-powered 21-megapixel camera also packs in Phase Detection Autofocus. You can shoot 4K footage on all three handsets.
You get a 5-megapixel selfie camera on these phones too, for capturing your gorgeous mug in plenty of detail.
Moto Z vs Moto Z Force vs Nexus 6P: Media
These phones all boast big screens for enjoying your movies, shows, games and the rest when you’re on the move. The 5.5-inch Moto Z and Moto Z Force are only a tad smaller than the 5.7-inch Nexus 6P, and all three handsets enjoy Quad HD resolutions so images are supremely sharp and clear. They’re all AMOLED panels too, so you can expect punchy colours.
However, media fans may be swayed by the Moto Z or Z Force instead of the Nexus 6P. For one, the 6P doesn’t support microSD memory cards, so you can’t expand the on-board storage to carry around a large collection of videos and music. That’s no biggie if you stream your media, but a pain if you don’t.
Secondly, the Moto Z phones support some very cool MotoMods like the Projector Mod (which can beam your videos onto a wall, producing a 70-inch screen) and the JBL speaker which blasts out your tracks.
Moto Z vs Moto Z Force vs Nexus 6P: Performance
When it comes to performance, the Moto Z and Z Force both use Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 820 processor, backed by 4GB of RAM. They should perform as strongly as the biggest phones around right now, including the Galaxy S7, HTC 10 and LG G5.
And while the Nexus 6P uses the older Snapdragon 810 processor, we still get solid, dependable performance from the phone. It may start to age before the Moto Z and Z Force, but not for a while, and you can happily play the latest games and run demanding apps in the meantime.
Moto Z vs Moto Z Force vs Nexus 6P: Battery life
The Nexus 6P gives you a day and a half of life from each charge, thanks to its mighty 3450mAh battery, which also supports fast charging so you can get hours of play time from just ten minutes at the plug.
The Moto Z and Moto Z Force also support fast charging, but while the Moto Z Force boasts a battery as big as the Nexus 6, the Moto Z sports a smaller 2600mAh cell. So while the Moto Z Force will give you 40 hours of life per charge (according to Motorola’s own estimates), the Moto Z gives just 30 hours.
You can buy the Nexus 6P right now, but the Moto Z and Moto Z Force won’t be available in the UK until September 2016. Stay tuned for our full reviews.
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