While technically not the first Lenovo-made Moto device, the Moto Z is the most important. After dropping Motorola for just Moto and replacing long time head Rick Osterloh, Lenovo is finally fleshing out its 2014 acquisition from Google. The Moto Z lineup consists of two devices with nearly identical designs and compatibility with backplate modules that add extra functionality and styling.
Update: The reliable HelloMotoHK has posted a new picture (below) of the phone’s front panel that features ‘Moto’ above the fingerprint sensor.
Following yesterday’s leak of the upcoming Moto X, Venture Beat has gotten details of the device’s specs and a new modular ecosystem that will launch alongside the phone.
The LG G5 is a weird phone, but that’s not a bad thing. If you only look at the spec sheet, there’s not much about LG’s latest G series handset that sets it apart from the other Snapdragon 820-powered competition. On paper, it might as well just be another option available for those perusing the shelves at their local carrier store. It has USB Type-C, a fingerprint sensor on the back, a nice camera set up, and a decent build. All of these things are expected of a 2016 flagship.
But the weirdness of the LG G5 is what makes it intriguing to me. Samsung ditched its plastic in favor of a premium metal and glass build with last year’s handset, and this year LG is following in step with an obvious evolution in the design of the phone. The all-metal beast now just has a single lock button around the back, the volume rockers have been moved to the sides, there’s a dual-camera set up, and most of all, this phone is modular…
Update: T-Mobile has just announced that customers will be able to order the LG G5 from its online store from March 29th. Anyone who orders before April 5th will be able to claim a free LG 360 CAM, and those who buy before April 17th can get a the free battery bundle mentioned below.
Following the recent announcement that the LG G5 would be available from major US retailers in early April, Best Buy has launched pre-orders through its online store for the all-metal modular flagship.
Both AT&T and Sprint versions are available in gold, silver and titanium, but if you want pink, you’ll need to go with Sprint. And while Verizon models aren’t available to pre-order yet, Best Buy will be accepting orders for those on Thursday, March 24th.
The BLOCKS smartwatch platform was unveiled a few months ago, and it’s still very much in development. But the company building the modular wrist-worn computer recently had a chance to sit down with the Project Ara team at Google, and it seems that the Mountain View corporation might be interested in working with the team to bring the best of the market’s modular devices together in harmony.
