Did the Moto Z2 Play Just Kill the Droid Brand for Verizon? Michael Kwan June 1, 2017 News Droid does. Remember years ago when Verizon and Motorola first partnered up to really promote the Droid brand as a powerful alternative to the iPhone? Instead of the light and airy approach of Apple commercials, Droid went bold with Terminator-like imagery and a more masculine black and red color scheme. It looks like it could be the end of an era with the arrival of the newly announced Motorola Moto Z2 Play. Unlike so many other Motorola smartphones that came before it, the Verizon-exclusive (at least in the US) Moto Z2 Play has no Droid branding on it whatsoever. You might recall that last year’s Moto Z Play had the “Droid” name right on the camera glass on the back. This time around, there’s no mention on the product or press materials at all. A Verizon spokesperson told the Verge that they will “continue using the Droid name on future smartphones when it makes sense,” but then you’ve got to ask why it didn’t make sense in this case. The Moto Z2 Play looks every bit a Droid as all the others that came before it. In terms of specs, you get a 5.5-inch FHD Super AMOLED screen, all-metal unibody design, Snapdragon 626, up to 4GB of RAM, up to 64GB of storage (expandable), a 12MP f/1.7 main shooter, 5MP f/2.0 front camera, and Android 7.1.1. Remember the giant 3900mAh battery on the Droid Turbo from 2014? The Z2 Play goes in the opposite direction, shrinking down to just a 3000mAh battery, compared to the 3510mAh unit in its predecessor. Pricing has been set at $499 in the US, including an unlocked model direct from Motorola. It’s also coming to Canada, though carrier partners and pricing have not yet been revealed. Share This With The World!
