The world is wrapped up in 5G, and nowhere is this more the case than MWC 19, currently underway in Barcelona. Several manufacturers have unveiled devices that can support the yet-to-be tolled out broadband standard, and Lenovo too has given us a closer look at their interpretation – the 5G Moto Mod.
The device was showcased a couple of months earlier, but MWC offered Lenovo the chance to introduce it to a larger audience, as well as talk up the benefits that Mod packs.
We’ve been on the fence when it comes to the Moto Mod system, especially as Lenovo’s Motorola presence in South Africa has died down a bit ever since launching a few years ago.
As such, we’re a little skeptical of the Mod itself, as it’s unclear whether local consumers will be able to purchase it at this stage.
Nevertheless it warrants further inspection, especially as Lenovo confirmed that Verizon would make this Mod, along with the Moto Z3, one of the first devices in the US to support 5G.
Should you own a Z3 already then, the prospect of upgrading and purchasing the 5G Moto Mod should be far cheaper than buying an entirely new handset like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G or LG V50 ThinQ 5G, both of which are on show at MWC 19.
So what are some of the things we’ve learned about the 5G Moto Mod this week. For one its large, and makes the Moto Z3 a far bulkier looking device when attached. As such it’s not exactly the most aesthetically pleasing device, especially when you compare it to the Z3 sans any Mods.
The trade-off for style is significant, however, with Lenovo claiming up to 10 times faster broadband speeds than 4G. They also boast that a 4K movie can be downloaded in seconds, but precisely how many seconds is not mentioned.
The Mod also features a 2 000mAh battery, which means the 5G connectivity will not have an impact on battery life, but would instead extend it, which is nice.
While all of this is exciting, like much of the new 5G hardware shown off at MWC 19 this week, the local availability of the 5G Moto Mod, and indeed the Moto Z3, remain unknown.
This therefore begs the question, when is government going to sort out our spectrum issues?
