Moto Z3 hands-on preview: A Verizon exclusive that adds a 5G flourish

It may look familiar, but this phone goes to 5G.

Motorola's newest phone looks a lot like its other newest phone — and that's no accident.

The Moto Z3 (no Force) is a Verizon-exclusive version of the Moto Z3 Play, and while it shares much the same spec sheet, there are a couple of upgrades — and one particular exclusive feature — that will keep it differentiated. Of course, it supports Moto Mods (more on that in a bit), but at its core, it's a 2017-era smartphone from a specs perspective in a 2018 body.

Spec	Moto Z3 Specs
Operating system	Android 8.1 Moto Display, Voice, Actions
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor Octa-core Kryo 260 @ 1.8GHz GHz 10nm process
GPU	Adreno 540 GPU
Screen	6.01-inch Full HD (2160x1080) AMOLED
Materials	Gorilla Glass 3 6000 series aluminum
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB
Expandability	microSD up to 2TB
Rear camera	12MP, Dual Autofocus Pixel phase-detect, laser autofocus 1.4-micron pixels f/1.7 lens dual-LED flash
Rear camera 2	12MP
Video capture	720p (120fps), 1080p, 4K (30fps)
Front camera	8MP 1.12-micron pixels f/2.0 wide-angle lens
Connectivity	USB-C (USB-C to 3.5mm adapter included)
Speaker	Single front-facing
Moto Mods support	Yes
Water resistance	Water-repellent coating
Security	Side fingerprint sensor, face unlock
NFC	Yes
Battery	2730mAh TurboPower charger (8 hrs battery in 15 min)
Colors	Deep Indigo
Dimensions	TBD
Weight	TBD

That means a Snapdragon 835 instead of an 845, and 4GB of RAM instead of the increasingly common 6GB or 8GB. The battery is actually smaller than the Moto Z3 Play's, too, at 2730mAh instead of 3,000mAh. The 6.01-inch screen is the same AMOLED panel as on the Play, too, for better or worse, with a 2160x1080 pixel resolution.

On the camera side, there's a dual 12MP camera setup, with 4K video support. Around front, there's an 8MP front-facer.

The phone's design is a known quantity: covered with Gorilla Glass 3 on both sides, there's a right-side fingerprint sensor, a left-side power button, and very fast face unlock support. Moto Mods support is particularly important here, too, because this is the only phone in the Moto Z lineup to support 5G.

As part of the launch, Motorola and Verizon are co-launching a 5G-compatible Moto Mod that will launch in the second half of the year, allowing the carrier's four supported cities (Houston, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and another unannounced one). While Verizon will officially launch at-home broadband-based 5G in 2018, a mobility rollout will begin in earnest in early 2019.

This article is developing. Check back for updates.