Motorola announces slew of new Moto Mods

There’s no doubt that the Motorola is leading the wave of modular smartphones. Some devices have tried bringing modularity into the mainstream with limited success, like LG’s G5 last year. Others, like Andy Rubin’s upcoming Essential Phone, are also looking to capitalize on the market. However, due in part to both their “snap-on” ease of use and Lenovo’s massive support, Moto Mods currently reign supreme in the modular market. The accessories are likely to continue this push, especially after Lenovo announced several new Mods at a press event in Ghana earlier this week.

One of the headlining devices is a new 360-degree camera. The camera sits atop a plastic shell that attaches to the back of a compatible Moto phone, much like a smartphone case. The Mod communicates with the phone through the “pogo pin” array on the back of the phone just like other Mods. The camera looks like other 360-degree cameras with two lenses on either side of a small protrusion from the top of the Mod.

Some of the other Mods include a ROKR speaker made by Marshall, one of the bigger names in music equipment. There’s also a Studio Moto Mod that has a dedicated microphone, presumably for recording purposes, also made by Marshall. DirecTV also contributed their own Mod that will allow access to the broadcast company’s satellite television services. Rounding out the imaging accessories is a DSLR Mod that can support different kinds of lenses, a feature usually seen on larger DSLR lenses. Unfortunately, there’s no information on the types or sizes of lenses that will be supported (e.g., Micro Four-thirds or Sony’s E Mount). Lastly, an Action Mod will be coming that looks to operate like a GoPro style action camera. The actual sensor should be rotatable on the Mod itself.

Keep in mind that these Mods are still in the concept phase. Also, their revelation at an event Ghana raises some questions as to their availability in other markets. However, Motorola is fairly popular here in the West, so I would expect to see some (if not all) of these Mods released here soon, especially with Motorola’s flagship Z2 coming soon.

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