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Here are the best Moto Mods available
While we’ve seen many smartphone makers try and fail to sell smartphones with “modular” hardware features, Motorola seems to have been the most successful with its Moto Mods. Okay, they may not technically be “modular” accessories since they attach to the back of Moto Z phones via magnets, but it’s the next best thing, and these Moto Mods work really well.
The only downside is Moto Mods are starting to become rare and seem to be slowly phasing out of existence. Newer phones no longer support them, and even the official Moto Mods site only offers a few options, and they are on clearance. With that said, those of you rocking a Moto Mods-supported phone can still find some of them online. Here’s a quick look at the best Moto Mods you can buy right now.
The best Moto Mods available:
Which phones work with Moto Mods?
At the moment, seven handsets support Moto Mods:
That’s a pretty solid base, consisting of phones released in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. If you have any of these, you can take advantage of the Moto Mods listed below. If you are interested in buying one, we recommend getting the latest Moto Z4, which is still pretty affordable and offers great value for your hard-earned cash.
1. 5G Moto Mod
Verizon started to sell the 5G Moto Mod even as it was just beginning to roll out its 5G network. Now, if you want to take advantage of blazing-fast 5G speeds with the Moto Z3 and Moto Z4, you’ll have to get this add-on.
This Moto Mod incorporates the Qualcomm Snapdragon X50 modem for the 5G network connection, and it also has its own 2,000mAh battery inside. It’s costly for an accessory, but it is a better way to go if you already have the Moto Z3 or Z4 and don’t want to upgrade to an even more expensive 5G smartphone.
2. Moto Insta-Share Projector
The Moto Insta-Share Projector is perfect for business users who may want to show a presentation on the road without the need for a standalone projector or PC.
The projector contains a 1,100mAh battery and a 50-lumen projector that should last about an hour on a full charge. It also comes with a stiff folding stand that allows the image from the projector to be placed on any surface. The image projected by the Moto Mod can go up to 70 inches at a 480p resolution on a wall.
3. JBL SoundBoost 2 Speaker
The 2017 successor to the original JBL Moto Mod Speaker, this newer version comes in two different colors (red and blue) and has a more rounded shape than the 2016 edition. Aside from that, the speaker still has a 1,000mAh battery, which should allow it to last up to 10 hours, and a built-in kickstand.
4. Moto Battery Case
There are quite a few battery Moto Mods available for Moto Z phones, but it’s always good to get the manufacturer option. Motorola’s own battery case comes with a 2,220mAh battery and a thin profile that will ad no bulk.
5. TUMI Wireless Charging Power Pack
The TUMI Moto Z battery mod helps add up to 22 hours of battery life to the Moto Z family. But it’s a standout feature compared to other battery packs because it can also be charged wirelessly. Essentially, this battery mod adds wireless charging to the mix by adding that support for both the phone and the battery pack.
Related: The best portable battery chargers
6. Moto 360 Camera
As its name suggests, this Moto Mod camera will add a 360-degree sensor to any Moto Z device, allowing users to create 360-degree images and videos designed to be viewed by virtual reality headsets. It has two 13MP cameras with support for taking 4K 360-degree videos at 24fps. It can also take 150-degree videos and images that will be perfect for extra-wide selfies.
7. Moto GamePad
This is perhaps the most anticipated Moto Mod of all time. The Moto GamePad will turn your Moto Z device into a portable game console similar to the PlayStation Vita. It adds dual control sticks, a D-pad, and four tactile action buttons to your device, and also includes its own 1,035mAh battery that should offer owners up to eight hours of gaming.
Here: The best Bluetooth gaming controllers for mobile and PC
8. Moto Smart Speaker with Amazon Alexa
This speaker is similar to the two JBL SoundBoost Moto Mods but adds support for Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant. It includes four far-field microphones that can pick up voice commands from the owners and handle anything that Amazon’s Echo speakers can do. You can ask it to give you news and weather reports, play your favorite songs, remind you of your calendar appointments, and more.
9. Polaroid Insta-Share Printer
Putting this Moto Mod on the back of your phone model will allow you not only to take pictures with its physical camera button, but it then also instantly prints any photo you take with the Moto Mod — or any image you can access online on your phone, for that matter. You can even apply filters and other photo effects to images before printing them.
The photos are printed as 2×3-inch prints that use Zero-Ink Paper, with peel-off adhesive backs. That allows those photos to be placed pretty much anywhere you want. The Polaroid Insta-Share Printer holds 10 sheets of the Zero-Ink Paper, and the printer’s built-in 500mAh battery is supposed to handle 20 prints for a single charge.
10. Moto Stereo Speaker
This new Moto Mods entry from Motorola is the Stereo Speaker add-on. Like the JBL branded Moto Mod speakers, this product snaps on the back of a Moto Z phone and offers a better audio experience, and even includes an embedded kickstand. The biggest difference between the two is that the Moto Stereo Speaker does not have its own internal battery, which means your phone’s battery is powering this Moto Mod. The JBL Moto Mod speakers have their own internal battery.