To solve this problem, I have tried to do a little help if you are planning between to buy Moto Z Play or Zenfone 3. Here is a quick comparison between both after a month of usage. Hope it helps.
Moto Z Play vs Zenfone 3 (ZE552KL) Specifications
Design & Build
In terms of design and build, the Zenfone 3 comes with dual curved glass on front and back, with rounded edges for a better hold. It has the same concentric circle design we saw on the bottom of previous generation Zenfones. No doubt the phone looks premium and different compared to the Zenfones we have seen so far. Processor CPU GPU [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] [email protected] Moto Z Play also boasts of a glass back and metal sides just like the Zenfone 3 but the edges are not curved and have a different design. Moto Z Play looks stunning from the back and also gives a good feel when you hold it but it feels thick if you snap on the back cover given in the box. In terms of looks, both the smartphones have a style of their own but I personally liked the Moto Z Play more.
The quality of material used in both the phones is solid and well finished, although the Zenfone 3 feels a slightly slippery and you may need to get a back cover to protect it. One major plus point with Moto Z Play is the snap on covers, if you love to play with the looks of your phone.
Display
Both the phones have the same display in terms of size and pixel density with a 5.5 panel with a pixel density of 401ppi. The only difference is with the technology that is being used in the display. The Moto Z Play’s screen is a Super AMOLED panel. It is bright and sharp, with the same eye-popping colours from the AMOLED technology. Whereas the Zenfone 3 comes with an IPS+ display which is is pleasing to eyes and looks good in almost every aspect.
But as we all know, AMOLED has its own benefits, the Z Play’s display can light up certain pixels without impacting battery life. You won’t experience a major difference in both the displays with naked eyes but the AMOLED panel on Z Play is surely much better overall.
Camera
The reason why I am writing this comparison is that I have used both the smartphones for more than 25 days and I have experienced the differences between the two. One difference was with the front camera.
The phones have a good camera individually, Zenfone has a really good rear camera and I have taken some beautiful shots from it. In terms of front camera the Moto Z Play has an upper hand over the ZF 3 whereas the rear camera was very much alike.
Moto Z Play Camera Samples
Zenfone 3 Camera Samples
Performance & Hardware
The most common aspect of both the phones is the hardware. Both the phones boast of exactly the same hardware that is Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 clocked at 2.0 GHz and 3 GB of RAM. The GPU is Adreno 506 on both the handsets. The performance is found better on Moto Z during our initial testing. May be the stock Android and better software optimization is the reason. But let me remind you that I have been using the Zenfone 3 from over 3 weeks, and it has not given me any chance of complain till now.
Battery
Moto Z Play has 3510 mAh battery; Zenfone 3 has 3000 mAh. Even if we don’t look at the higher numbers, the Moto Z Play still has an advantage of a lighter software and an AMOLED display. Without much discussion, we can easily call the Moto Z Play a clear winner in this department. But I must mention during my usage the Zenfone 3 gave a better battery backup in comparison with the OnePlus 3.
Storage
Both the phones offer 32GB internal storage. Luckily, both the phones also offer an option to put a SIM card up to 256GB. But Moto Z Play allows you to use 2 SIM cards and a microSD card at once. On the other hand, the Zenfone 3 has a hybrid SIM tray which restricts you to either 2 SIM or 1 SIM and a microSD.
Pricing & Availability
Conclusion
Both the phones are very different from each other, still they are alike. Zenfone 3 has a very good performance as I have tested it for almost a month and also the rear camera is a plus. The case is same with Moto Z Play, as it offers good performance with a new design and impressive camera performance. So the deciding factor lands on your choice between the two on the basis of their design, software and some extra features that both of them offer. The Mod support in Moto Z Play is a big factor that misses out on Zenfone 3 , but don’t forget you will have to shed extra cash for it. Also note that the 3GB RAM variant will save you Rs. 3000 if you buy the Zenfone 3, now its up to you.
