Motorola claims that the Moto Z3 Mod is the "best" 5G platform. I do not agree

Motorola can boast of operating the first commercial phone on a real 5G network, but I would bet that money does not take pride into account. the Moto Z3 with its 5G Moto Mod can be a real phone that you can buy for a real 5G network, but its bulky magnetic attachment for a medium-priced phone is not the one you want to use.

I would know that because the Moto Z3, the Mod 5G and I were inseparable for six hours this week tested Verizon's newborn 5G network in downtown Chicago. Throughout the day, the Moto Z3 and the Mod climbed into my purse or passed out of my coat pocket, their "fin" thick, a beacon catching the 5G signal from above.

"We've seen reports with very good speeds and, of course, during our user trials," said Doug Michau, Motorola's Product Operations Manager for North America, when we spoke by phone .

Lily: Verizon defends the tough beginnings of its 5G network, shading AT & T and T-Mobile

This Moto Z3 was able to reduce speed to 600 Mbps, and although the home works, it is at best kludgy. The 5G Moto Mod is thick and heavy. You connect it magnetically and pin the random information and data connection of the Mod, which has a Snapdragon 855 processor, and the X50 modem that allows the 5G, to the phone.

The 5G Mod of the Moto Z3 is not necessary. 5G modems that connect to the network can already go into phones, in a much more transparent way and without creating a ridiculous clutter. Take, for example, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and a crowd of other 5G phones. Not a single Mod in sight.

This is not how Moto sees it. For the phone maker, the 5G Moto Mod was a good opportunity to partner again with Verizon, the largest US operator. What is the point of a new 5G network if there is no phone to use it?

The fatal flaw of the 5G Moto Mod: its battery

As cumbersome as the Moto Mod, he felt solidly attached to the Moto Z3, which is in itself a perfectly usable midrange handset.

The Achilles heel that I accidentally and unintentionally discovered happened at the end of a long day of testing. I had just arrived at a 5G Chicago Theater node, but, whatever I chose, I could not get any signal: go into airplane mode repeatedly, reattach the Mod, or even restart the phone.

It was not until I got back to my hotel that I realized that the Moto Mod was out of order. Michau has confirmed that the Mod 5G, which comes with its own 2000 mAh battery, will not charge your phone and will not accept the charge. It has its own USB-C charging port and, apart from signal sharing, operates independently of the Moto Z3.

If your Moto Mod battery dies before your Moto Z3, you can still use the phone in 4G, but then you carry a heavy weight. Michau said the goal was that the Mod's battery lasts all day, although streaming on 5G all day takes a heavy toll.

It would not be so bad if there had been a better way to clearly see the Moto Mod's battery counter directly on the phone's screen. The notification you receive in your notification feed can easily be lost.

I would like to congratulate Motorola for a clever design element that places four infrared sensors near four antennas. If your finger covers one, another antenna will pick up the signal.

Grace saved: Affordable 5G today

If the Z3 and Moto Mod have a quality that redeems, that's the price. "We still think the Mod is the best platform," Michau said.

Indeed, although you buy two devices instead of one, the total cost of ownership would be lower than that of a flagship phone, such as the Galaxy S10 5G. Although Samsung has not announced pricing for its 5G model, it is more advanced than the S10 Plus, which costs $ 1,000 and uses 4G.

Meanwhile, the Moto Z3 is on sale for $ 240 (instead of $ 480), while the 5G Moto Mod is reduced to $ 200 (usually $ 350). So, not counting Verizon's $ 10 monthly surplus, the total cost of the "phone" is $ 440.

Even the total retail cost, $ 830, should yield at least $ 300 with the Galaxy S10 5G premium. However, I have the feeling that Moto Z3 prices will remain lower than not higher.

Motorola's next slam dunk is literally turning

For Motorola, the last factor is that the Moto Z3 is a phone that you can buy and use on Verizon's 5G network as soon as it's available. But buying a 5G phone now is not very practical.

Deployment of the network will take time and will only work in some neighborhoods for now. The Qualcomm chip is already obsolete. Last month, Qualcomm announced a thinner chip this will make the phones thinner too. Mod is unlikely to succeed.

For me, the Moto Z3 with Moto 5G Mod is an empty "victory" that will quickly be overshadowed by other 5G phones coming to the market, even more affordable.

The real victory of Motorola is yet to come, as the brand is expected to make a comeback Motorola Razr as a foldable phone take the bonus Galaxy Fold and Huawei Mate X. Assuming the rumors are true, it's the best real opportunity for Motorola to make a name for itself – at top speed.