OnePlus 5T vs Motorola Moto Z2 Force: Which One’s Worth the Buy?

We compare the latest OnePlus 5T with Motorola’s Moto Z2 Force, which comes with a shatterproof screen.

OnePlus 5T (in red) and Moto Z2 Force (Black).

(Photo: The Quint)

The mid-range smartphone segment is flooded with multiple options, and the latest to enter the fray is Motorola with its Moto Z2 Force. The word Force might ring a bell, and take you back to 2016, when Motorola launched its shatterproof display-laden Moto X Force in the country.

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This time, the Moto Z2 Force looks to take the Force heritage forward, and we’re pitting it against the OnePlus 5T. Both phones come with a price tag of Rs 35,000, pack dual cameras and offer 6GB RAM. So, which one is worth going for? Here’s everything that could help you make that decision:

How these two phones compare. 

Design

Both these phones have a separate design appeal, which is likely to work in a skewed manner. The OnePlus 5T gets a longer 5.99-inch screen, merely refreshing the design we saw with the OnePlus 5, last year. The fingerprint scanner goes to the back on the 5T, and the dual camera lens stays affixed on the top right side at the back.

Motorola’s focus with the Moto Z2 Force is more of an evolutionary update to the Moto Z. It has a slim design profile, with a rugged metal body and fingerprint scanner on the front, right below the Moto branding. The dual cameras are placed at the center, with a smiling face design (similar to that on Moto X4).

Moto Z2 Force gets a 5.5-inch 2560x1440 pixels display. 

The power button, and volume rockers are placed on the right side of the phone, with USB Type C at the bottom. However, the phone misses out on the 3.5-mm audio jack.

Both phones have a slim-design profile, which makes them easier to use. 

The Moto Z2 Force has a dated design compared to that of the OnePlus 5T which gets an 18:9 ratio screen, the on-going trend in the market, but all in all, there will be those who might prefer either of these two devices.

Display

Motorola seems content going for a 5.5-inch, 16:9 form size with the Moto Z2 Force, even when most brands have started adopting 18:9 profile for their phone screens. Having said that, the Moto Z2 Force gets a shatterproof screen, which is still powerful enough for viewing content with its 2560x1440 pixels resolution.

The display remains crisp without going overboard in the contrast department, which keeps it soothing for your eyes. The 2K screen resolution might not be ideal, but doesn’t overpower in real-time usage.

The stark different in display format of Moto Z2 Force (left), OnePlus 5T (right)

The Moto Z2 Force can handle sudden low to mid-level phone drops. The display can hold its fort, which cannot be said for most mid-range devices. 

The OnePlus 5T comes with a 5.99-inch 2160x1080 pixels resolution, and an 18:9 ratio screen that serves the needs of a modern smartphone user.

OnePlus 5T (left) and Moto Z2 Force (right)

The new display is significantly more immersive on a day-to-day-basis, particularly when you’re watching videos or playing games, even though it doesn't deviate significantly from the OnePlus 5 in terms of resolution.

Hardware and Software

As you can see above, neither of these two phones are found lacking in the power department. They have the same processor, paired with 6GB of RAM, offering sufficient storage space for photos, video and others. It’s because of this that both the phones offer a power-packed performance, ably supported by the latest version of Android Oreo.

While Motorola, as always prefers to keep the software side of its devices simple and clean, OnePlus with the Oxygen OS tries to ape a similar design formula, while adding its own impression with minor tweaks here and there. The Moto Z2 Force also offers Motorola’s special products like Moto Actions, Display and Voice for hands-free usage of the phone.

OnePlus 5T has fingerprint scanner at the back while Moto Z2 Force still keeps it at the front.

Moto Z2 Force has a 2,730mAh battery (supporting Turbo charge), which is likely to suffice for its smaller screen footprint. While OnePlus 5T comes loaded with a 3300mAh unit (with Dash charging in tow), same as the one we saw on the OnePlus 5.

Motorola and OnePlus have pioneered in the fast charging space, a feat which has been recognised widely by their users. 

Camera

While both the phones have dual cameras at the back, everything comes down to how effectively their sensors tune up with the software running on-board. Motorola has gone with a duo of 12-megapixel sensors with f/2.0 aperture. This snapper ensures that the Moto Z2 Force is a reliable shooter in daylight conditions, as seen below.

Different design of dual rear cameras on the two phones. 

Shot with the Moto Z2 Force. 

However, the moment the light starts to fade in the background, the phone starts struggling, mostly because of its inability to capture more light. The details in both these visuals are quite pronounced, yet you feel something is amiss.

Shot with the Moto Z2 Force. 

Even in the bokeh mode, we felt that the Moto Z2 Force is trying too hard to make an impression. While the edges do clean up nicely, the lack of detail ensures the muting effect in the background is prominent and not up to the scratch.

Bokeh shot on the Moto Z2 Force. 

With the OnePlus 5T, the brand has gone back to the basics, discarding its telephoto lens in favour of dual 20-megapixel and 16-megapixel lenses with f/1.7 aperture to aid better low-light photography.

As you see here, this picture (clicked in the 18:9 ratio), not only manages to throw better lighting to the subject, but also keeps the colour true to its nature.

Shot on the OnePlus 5T. 

The difference in imaging quality of both these devices is noticeable from these images and we’ll be a doing further tests to ascertain which of these can do better in low-light conditions.

Shot on the OnePlus 5T. 

Which One to Pick?

Between the two, Motorola Moto Z2 Force is aiming to solve basic smartphone problems of users. The shatterproof display does work as advertised, and if you’re a power user, then the Moto Mod battery unit ensures you get more juice out of the phone in a single charge.

Moto Z2 Force gets a shatterproof display. 

However, the design is dated and the form size might not appeal to everyone, and the camera does a decent job but doesn’t match up to its rivals in the segment.

The OnePlus 5T, on the other hand, carries a modern design template, 18:9 ratio screen and is power-packed in every sense. The cameras do get the job done, and its low-light shooting prowess isn’t too bad either.

So, if you’re someone willing to invest in the Moto Mod ecosystem, then the Moto Z2 Force, with its rugged display won’t be a bad pick. For everything else, just get the OnePlus 5T.

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