Preorders are now open for what Motorola calls its most advanced smartphone, the $800 Moto Z2 Force Edition, which will go on sale starting Aug. 10 in the United States and be compatible with major carriers’ networks including AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon.
The new handset was announced by Motorola on July 25, along with a new, optional 360 Camera Moto Mod attachment which snaps on to turn the smartphone into a 360-degree camera.
The 4G LTE phone includes Motorola’s Moto ShatterShield display screen, which is guaranteed not to crack or shatter for four years if the device is dropped, though the handset itself is not built to be shockproof.
With a 5.5-inch quad HD AMOLED display, the handset also includes a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 octa-core processor, 4GB of memory, 64GB of built-in storage, a microSD card slot for up to 2TB of storage and a 2,730mAh battery with TurboPower fast-charging capabilities.
The handset, which runs the Android 7.1.1, Nougat, also includes a main rear camera with dual side-by-side 12-megapixel f/2.0 lenses with Phase Detection Auto Focus and 4K video capabilities, as well as a 5-megapixel front camera with an f/2.2 wide-angle 85-degree lens.
Also featured are a fingerprint sensor for security and Bluetooth 4.2 and WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz with MIMO connectivity options.
Other features include a USB-C port for headphones, charging and data transfer, an included 3.5mm to USB-C headphone port adapter and a water repellent nano-coating to help protect the phone from moisture.
The Moto Z2 Force phones are available in Black or Gold colors. T-Mobile customers can also get the handset in a Grey color. The devices, which are compatible with all Moto Mods attachments including a gaming console, stereo speaker, video projector and battery powerhouse, are 6.13 inches long, 2.99 inches wide, 0.24 inches thick and weighs 5.04 ounces.
Pricing for the Moto Z2 Force Edition is $799.99 directly from Motorola, or at reduced prices from individual carriers. T-Mobile offers the phone for $750 or for $30 down and $30 a month for 24 months, while also offering a buy-one, get-one-free deal with a $750 rebate on the second Moto Z2 Force handset.
Verizon is offering the phone for $756 or for $15 per month for 24 months when activated on a Verizon Unlimited mobile plan, while AT&T offers it through its AT&T Next program for $27 a month for 30 months for a total cost of $810.
Sprint customers can get the phone for one payment of $792 or for $0 down and $33 per month on an 18-month Sprint Flex lease. For a limited time Sprint is offering a free lease on a second identical phone, giving customers two handsets for one monthly lease payment. The handsets will also be available from Best Buy.
The handsets will roll out in Mexico, Brazil and various countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa starting later this summer, according to Motorola.
Adding to its growing line of Moto Mod attachments, Moto also introduced its $300 Moto 360 Camera, which will also be available globally starting Aug. 10. The 360 Camera Moto Mod attaches to the Moto Z2 Force smartphone to turn it into a 360-degree camera which can record interactive 360-degree 4K video, along with immersive 3D audio.
The device also allows the capture of 150-degree ultra-wide-angle still front and rear photos. Users can edit their 360-degree photos and videos using advanced editing software on their handsets.