With the release of the Moto Z in 2016, Motorola introduced a modular system that would prove to be one of the most successful attempts at a modular smartphone that we have seen. The Moto Mods use a series of magnets and a contact pin system to attach to the back of the phone, providing options such as a larger battery, a JBL speaker, a small pico-projector, or the recently announced Moto GamePad. The downside to this system was that for future compatibility, any upcoming phones in the Moto Z line had to have the same rear body shape. To put prospective buyers at ease, Motorola guaranteed that the mods would be compatible for at least two generations (e.g. Moto Z and the Moto Z2 family line).
Since the second generation has now arrived, the question returns of whether it is worth buying into a modular system with no guarantee that the mods will be compatible with any future phones. TechRadar asked a Motorola spokesperson for a comment on this future compatibility, and they received this response "Motorola has confirmed three generations of support for Moto Mods, so the next gen devices will support current mods."
This confirmation shows that Motorola is dedicated to their modular concept, and is serious about maintaining it into 2018. With a bit of luck, Motorola might announce next year that they will extend support into a fourth generation.
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I grew up in a family surrounded by technology, starting with my father loading up games for me on a Commodore 64, and later on a 486. In the late 90's and early 00's I started learning how to tinker with Windows, while also playing around with Linux distributions, both of which gave me an interest for learning how to make software do what you want it to do, and modifying settings that aren't normally user accessible. After this I started building my own computers, and tearing laptops apart, which gave me an insight into hardware and how it works in a complete system. Now keeping up with the latest in hardware and software news is a passion of mine.
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2017 07 > Moto Mod compatibility confirmed with future Moto Z-based devices
Craig Ward, 2017-07-31 (Update: 2017-07-31)