Motorola has long used a “stock plus” user interface and experience on its devices. This approach keeps many people happy – those customers who enjoy Google’s clean, fluid and fast look and feel are kept happy, whereas individuals who appreciate Motorola’s additional features over and above the stock interface are also kept happy. These additional features include software such as Moto Assist, the software that controls certain aspects of the device when the owner was driving (or potentially driving), together with Moto Display (the forerunner to Google’s Ambient Display), which shows notifications on the screen when the device is touched or held up after a period of time not being used. Under the skin, Motorola optimized Android’s core software, adjusting features to improve the blend of performance and battery life, but the look and feel was very much stock. Motorola also released its additional applications on the Google Play Store, which meant customers were able to update these features on their devices without waiting for the manufacturer and carrier to approve and release a software update.
Motorola are now a part of Chinese company, Lenovo, who have promised to keep the Moto E, Moto G and Moto X lines but earlier in the year introduced two new flagship devices: the slimline Moto Z and the thicker, but better specified, Moto Z Force. These two devices are both based on some of the latest smartphone technologies available in 2016 including the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 System-on-Chip and Moto Mods, Motorola’s take on snap-on modular enhancements and accessories for the device. So far, Moto Mods have included a JBL speaker, a projector, additional battery pack and more. As regards to the Moto Z and Moto Z Force smartphones, these have now been released as an exclusive for America’s largest carrier, Verizon Wireless, but will soon be available elsewhere around the world. These devices follow Motorola’s “stock plus” user interface; the device comes with an enhanced but looking very much stock interface. However, this interface will be different for the Chinese market, where we have finally seen what Lenovo’s “One” user interface will look like.
The One UI shares some features of Motorola’s “stock plus” approach for other regions of the world – the clock and weather widget on the home screen have a familiar look, there are stock looking software buttons at the bottom of the screen and there’s even the same Moto application, which is used to control Motorola’s special software features including Moto Display and Moto Assist. However, as with many Chinese handsets the device does not come with an application drawer but instead applications are placed on the home screen of the device. Also, as Google’s services are essentially barred from the Chinese market, there is no Google Play Store but instead there appears to be a Chinese app store showing. However, whilst the user interface is certainly different, given that Motorola’s current plan is to keep the One UI skinned models as a Chinese exclusive device, those not in China are unlikely to see one of these devices any time soon.