Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the Moto Z Force goes up against the new LG G6. The devices differ in their design and materials – the Z Force uses an all-metal backing, and the LG G6 now uses a metal frame and a glass backing – but both share a solid build quality. The Moto Z Force can increase its functionality by accepting Moto Mods on the back of the device, or it can accept different backings to personalize its looks. Those Mods or backings take away from the large camera that protrudes out of the back. The LG G6 is a conventional looking device with small bezels and a new display with an 18:9 aspect ratio that makes the display slightly taller and narrower, but allows for two perfect squares for multi-window tasking. We are looking to find out which device offers the best specifications and performance. Let’s compare what they have in common first and then we will look at each device in more detail to pick the winner in this comparison.
The Moto Z Force and the LG G6 have a few things in common. The display on the LG G6 is only 0.2-inches larger, which makes their physical size very close and the devices weigh an identical 163 grams. The displays have the same QHD (QHD+ on the G6) resolutions but they use a different technology. They both use the same Snapdragon processor, with the LG G6 using the updated Snapdragon 821, and the same Adreno GPU. They both use the same 4GB of RAM and expandable memory via a microSD card. The primary camera areas are different but the front-facing cameras (FFCs) are both set at 5MP. Both have a fingerprint sensor for unlocking your device as well as authorizing mobile payments – the Z Force’s is on the front and the G6’s is located on the back. They both have a large, non-removable battery with rapid charge capabilities and both offer water resistance, although the Z Force is strictly a nano-coating while the LG G6 is IP68 certified. They both come with the usual suspects – WiFi, Bluetooth (v4.1 on the Z Force and v4.2 on the LG G6), GPS, NFC, and both use the newer reversible Type-C port for charging and data transfer.
Please take a thoughtful look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below, and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details. After that, we will look at each device in greater depth and point out some of its pros and cons. From all of this information, we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.
Specifications
Moto Z Force
Lenovo came out with their new Moto Z series that includes the Moto Z Play and the Moto Z that can be purchased as unlocked devices for all networks, and the top Moto Z Force found exclusively on the Verizon network. The Moto Z Force packs a QHD AMOLED display with an exclusive ShatterShield screen that includes a top layer of plastic that helps to prevent the screen from cracking/shattering when dropped. Moto created a great camera area with a 21MP primary camera, and then they threw in a large battery, and a Moto Turbo Charger. The Moto Z Force is a sturdy all-metal design, a solid build, and a thin stature with a protruding round camera and metal contact points on the back to secure the optional Moto Mods. Moto designed all three of the Z family devices to use the Moto Mods that quickly allows you to increase the functionality of the smartphone. The Mods grab onto the back with magnets and are stabilized by the protruding camera ring – quite an ingenious idea. There is no need to shut down the phone when adding or removing a Mod as the device automatically adjusts.
The Moto Z Force sports a 5.5-inch AMOLED QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 535 pixels-per-inch (PPI). It includes an exclusive Moto ShatterShield that adds a 5-layer protective shield over the display to help prevent breakage or shattering of the screen. Lenovo used the best processor it could at the time of the Z Force’s release – the Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with dual cores clocked at 1.6GHz and dual cores clocked at 2.15GHz. It is packaged with an Adreno 530 GPU to handle any difficult graphics you may encounter. The Moto Z Force packs 4GB of DDR4 RAM and offers 32GB of the faster UFS 2.0 internal memory with expansion capabilities to 256GB via a microSD card.
The primary camera on the Moto Z Force uses a 21MP sensor with a large aperture of f/1.8, laser and phase detection autofocus (PDAF), a dual-tone flash, and OIS. The FFC uses a 5MP lens with a f/2.2 aperture and Moto even threw in its own LED flash for selfies and video chatting. The Moto Z Force has a large 3500mAh non-removable battery that comes with a Moto Turbo Charger included in the box and is one of the fastest chargers available. If you spend $89 for the Moto Mod that is an additional 2200mAh battery, you will also add wireless charging capabilities.
We need to point out that the Moto Z Force does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack, although Lenovo provides an adapter that plugs into the Type-C reversible port to accept earphones. That setup actually does produce a better sound than the typical 3.5mm jack does, but you have to remember to carry around the dongle or look to purchase Bluetooth headsets, which you would have to keep charged. Either way, it is not a convenient option for the consumer. The ability to utilize Moto Mods allows you to add features to your device such as an extended battery with wireless charging, JBL speakers, a Hasselblad camera and much more. The Moto Z-Force comes with a decorative back cover in the box, but you can also add other customized covers to the back to help personalize its looks. The Moto Z Force is part of the Droid series that is exclusive to Verizon. It has an IP53 certification for water resistance, but it is not a sealed phone. It measures in at 155.9 x 75.8 x 7mm and weighs in at 163 grams. It comes in four colors – Black/Gray, Black/Rose Gold, Black/Gold, and White with pricing around $720.
LG G6
LG teased us last year with a modular LG G5 and a promise that capability would be around for a while. However, due to poor sales and execution, LG threw out the idea when they designed the new LG G6. The LG G6 does away with the LG G5’s unpopular painted metal and modular body for a new sleek, all glass design with smaller bezels. The new design of the LG G6 allowed it to gain an IP68 certification, but does away one of LG’s most beloved features – the removable battery. To compensate for that change, LG did increase the battery size from 2800mAh to 3300mAh and gave it standard wireless charging. LG did a remake on the display area by increasing it from 5.3-inches to 5.7-inches and threw in an 18:9 screen ratio that makes it taller and slightly narrower to better watch videos, movies, and games. LG also tinkered with the camera – they kept the dual cameras, but changed their megapixels. Because of the smaller bezels, LG had to keep the fingerprint sensor on the back of the device. Let’s see if LG did enough to their LG G6 and see just how it holds up to the Moto Z Force.
The LG G6 sports a larger 5.7-inch IPS LCD QHD+ display with a new 18:9 screen ratio making the display slightly taller and narrower. LG went the route of the ‘always on’ feature to save battery life on the LG, in contrast to their LG V20 that uses a second display. The resolution comes in at 2880 x 1440 pixels with an impressive 564 PPI and is now Dolby Vision/HDR10 compliant. This ratio gives the user two perfect squares for on-screen multi-tasking and a more natural theater-like view when watching movies. Although LG is getting some criticism for not waiting for the new Snapdragon 835 processor, due to the processor’s availability issues, it may turn out to be a wise move that LG chose the 2016 Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 quad-core processor. It has dual cores clocked at 1.6GHz and another dual-core clocked at 2.35GHz. The SD821 should have increased speeds up to 10-percent over the SD820 used in the LG G5. That processor uses the same Adreno 530 GPU for graphics found in the LG G5. The LG G6 packs the same 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of internal memory that is expandable to 2TB via a microUSB card.
It is no secret that LG is into dual cameras – just look at the LG V20 – so it comes as no surprise that the G6 carries over the dual cameras from the LG G5. However, they did change the megapixels of both cameras to the same 13MP sensor on both the primary and secondary camera. The LG G6’s primary shooter comes with an f/1.8 aperture, PDAF, OIS, and dual-tone LED flash for normal picture taking. Again, for capturing a wider group shot or a landscape, they can use the 13MP ultra wide-angle lens with a fixed focus and an f/2.4 aperture. LG lowered the FFC from an 8MP to a 5MP and gave it an f/2.4 aperture for selfies and video chatting. The battery size increased from a removable 2800mAh to a non-removable 3300mAh with Quick Charge 3.0 and due to the glass backing LG was able to add standard wireless charging.
With such small bezels, LG had to keep the fingerprint sensor on the back of the device, but the good news is that LG kept the fingerprint sensor able to act as an on/off switch. LG G6 did away with its perennial IR Blaster, but kept the FM radio around in certain markets. The LG G6 is the first non-Google smartphone to include Google Assistant into the device, so if you are into the Google ecosystem, you can use your LG G6 to communicate with Google Home and Chromecast. The LG G6 measures 148.9 x 71.9 x 7.9 mm, weighs in at 163 grams and comes in Mystic White, Astro Black, or Ice Platinum. The device is available on all the leading carriers for about $700 for the 32GB model.
…And The Winner Is…
The Final Word
This is really a tough one to pick. I put up the LG G6 as the winner, but only because it does have a slightly faster processor, the IP68 certification, the Hi-Res audio, and the built-in wireless charging. Those features give the LG G6 the edge in specifications, but not necessarily the edge in technology.
The Moto Z Force may use the SD820 processor, but with Moto’s optimization, it runs fast and smooth with no lag. The Z Force has the ShatterShield protection, an excellent 21MP camera, an AMOLED display, a Turbo Charger, and the ability to use Moto Mods. If you are not into the Mods, it is an excellent device in its own right, but the Moto Mods do add a lot of versatility to the user experience.
Both devices come in at the same price, have a solid build, and both devices should make their users happy. It is up to the buyer if they want an 18:9 display, IP68, and dual cameras or if they want to use the Moto Mods on an already excellent smartphone. Once you make that decision, you can pick your device.