Moto Z Force review

It's about time we got to talking about MotoMods. The Moto Z Force has plenty of killer features, but this is obviously the one that sticks out the most.

Motorola has partnered with a batch of companies to make compatible modules for its current lineup of Moto Z devices, which are guaranteed to work with future iterations.

Though plenty more are on the way in 2016, we've gotten to try a few of the first MotoMods to debut alongside the phone's launch: the JBL SoundBoost, the Moto Insta-Share projector, and the Tumi battery pack.

Each of the mods attach to the Moto Z Force by aligning and snapping together the strong magnets, which yields an affirming vibration.

The US$79 JBL mod re-routes the audio through a much more capable speaker, which also sports a kickstand. It's essentially like connecting to a small Bluetooth speaker, except the sound here isn't as robust due to the thin form factor. However, it's a clear step-up in a pinch and can provide an extra 10 hours of battery life with its built-in 1,000mAh capacity, too.

Moto's Insta-Projector mod does exactly what you'd expect: it projects your phone's screen up to 70 inches onto a wall. This is the ideal mod if you're someone who likes to share YouTube videos or watch a nighttime movie while camping out. This is the coolest of all the available mods, but doesn't come cheap at US$299. Projecting at 50 lumens and a max resolution of 480p means that this addition isn't for home theater enthusiasts, but it provides a stellar added function that can still fit in your pocket.

The most form-fitting mod so far is the Tumi battery pack, which only adds a few millimeters to the thickness of the Moto Z Force. It offers an extra 2,200mAh of additional battery, meaning that you could be packing 5,700mAh of power if you leave the house with a fully-charged Z Force.

Lastly, Motorola includes a Style Shell with each phone. You could say this is a mod, as it attaches magnetically in a snap to the back. If the wooden style isn't your flavor, you'll be able to pick out a different shell in the future.

It's easy to imagine MotoMods arriving in the future that can expand the storage capacity, or offer solar charging solutions. Motorola showed off a few examples of mods that were whipped up using the developer kit, which can be purchased for US$125 if you want to make your own.

Here's one that simply mirrors the front screen. While it might sound silly, it could be useful if you're taking a selfie with the 21MP rear-facing camera. As you can see, it's in a proof-of-concept state and not ready for retail.

We look forward to seeing how the MotoMods community grows and will be keeping track of their pricing and availability info in this round-up article.