What does the world of modular phones look like? A world of larger carry bags.
This Verizon tote looks like the thing I used to carry my Game Boy in. Bulky, zippered nylon. But it came in the reviewer's bag for the Moto Z, a phone coming via Verizon in the US.
Motorola's Moto Z is a sleek phone, full of features. It also has a unique magnetic accessory port on the back that taps into "MotoMods," which range from extra battery packs to pocket projectors and speakers. Those mods are, individually, anywhere in size from a slim slab to something as large as (or even larger than) the phone itself.
Meet the Moto Z, its mods...and its case.
How many would you carry? One? Two? Five? Verizon's case holds six -- or five plus the phone, from what I can see. Plus, a zippered storage pocket for cables and other things.
The Moto Z's modular snap-on accessorizing isn't totally unique. The LG G5 has snap-on extra parts. And the concept Google Ara phone imagines a whole range of truly modular phone pieces that attach like a phone Voltron.
Feels like a lunchbox
The only problem is, the more parts you have, the more you have to carry. I like my phones small and portable. And contained. I don't want a zipper bag. I use phones because I like the idea of convergence, of many gadgets being contained in one. I'd carry one extra snap-on, max.
The Moto Z phone itself seems nice, though. Stay tuned for a full review soon.