The casing of the Moto X Play is made entirely of plastic. Unlike OnePlus' 2 or Honor's 6 Plus, there is no sign of aluminum or fiberglass. However, it is better to accept a high-quality plastic casing with pleasant surfaces than a superimposed aluminum bezel at any cost, and thus we very much like the casing of the Moto X Play. The curved back gives the device a nice feel, and the lightly rubber-coated texture provides a good grip. Gorilla Glass covers the entire front, and wide speaker openings are situated at the top and bottom.

A certain degree of resemblance to Google's Nexus 6, which also comes from Motorola, is undeniable. The smartphones are very similar, especially on the front. As in that review, the design cannot quite compete with that of an iPhone 6 Plus, and overall, we also liked the more basic design of OnePlus' 2 better - but that is of course a matter of taste.

The material impression is also good, and the Moto Maker will certainly please individualists: The device can be personalized via many colors on Motorola's website, and the back is also available in either black or white. The colors actually highlight the speaker openings, camera module and the back. It is also possible to engrave something personal on the back. The options are not unlimited, but there are fourteen colors available for the back and seven for accents, making it possible to try different combinations.

Motorola has coated the casing with a nano finish, which makes it splash-water resistant. However, the smartphone should not be immersed in water because the ports are not protected against water, and the casing is not completely waterproof.

The back can be removed, but the relatively large battery cannot be replaced. To-date, there are no Teardown videos or repair guides so that we cannot say much about repair options. The related Nexus 6 is quite easy to repair thanks to its many screws and little use of glue, and the latest Moto X also seems comparatively easy for savvy users to repair, and thus chances are also good for the Moto X Play.

The curved back and large battery, measuring 10.9 millimeters (~0.43 in) at the thickest point, do not make it exactly slim. However, Asus' ZenFone 2 is just as bulky. The iPhone 6 Plus and Honor 6 Plus are considerably slimmer. On the other hand, Motorola's Moto X Play does not need to be ashamed of its weight: With a weight of 169 grams (~6 oz), it is lighter than many other phablets, and only HTC's Desire 820 significantly undercuts this weight.