Moto X phone rumor round up – everything we think we know
As more and more Moto X rumors and reports keep on pouring in right alongside official mentions of the phone, we look at the big picture – here’s what you need to know about the future Motorola flagship device according to the information available before its official (second) announcement.
Update (July 15): Since this rumors collection has been published, we’ve seen a plethora of new Moto X reports, so we’ll update this post accordingly with the new information available including official images of the handset. (You’ll see the updates in italics below, under the initial information.)
Eric Schmidt using Moto X | Image Credit: Corriere.it
The phone has been confirmed back in May at the D11 event, where CEO Dennis Woodside talked about the device, revealing its official name and mentioning some of its features. But we didn’t get to see the handset, nor were we offered a complete list of specs for the smartphone.
Since then, we’ve seen plenty of rumors hitting the web, with more details being apparently revealed around July 4, a day Motorola chose to start its Moto X advertising campaign. After all, one of the company’s marketing pillars is the fact that the phone will be assembled in the USA, unlike its competitors, which are made overseas.
Is that just a cheap marketing campaign or is it actually important for Motorola?
Design and customization
Motorola is going to let users customize their Moto X handsets to a certain degree – this particular detail appeared in various rumors and was widely known by anyone following Android-related news well ahead being official – but buyers won’t actually be able to customize the hardware.
Additional details about customization options for the handset arrived via ABC News, which has learned from sources close to the matter that buyers would be able to “select from a palette of different colors” through a website – most likely Motorola’s – and choose a different color for the trim of the phone and the back case. Moreover, Moto X buyers will apparently be allowed to engrave a name of message on the back plate.
So while the fact that the phone will be assembled in the USA may be considered a marketing trick, it’ll also help Motorola ship customized Moto X handsets in a timely fashion. The same ABC News report revealed that the company will have orders shippped in a matter of days, which wouldn’t be exactly possible with a device made over in Asia.
The publication also mentioned that carriers will get “standard” versions, which sounds like carriers will have a certain model in stores, with users interested in customizing the handset having to order the handset directly from Motorola.
Update (July 15): In a leaked Rogers video, the carrier said it will have the handset available in white and black, suggesting that these colors may be among the “standard” versions carriers will get.
An image of the Moto X is still not available yet, although various rumors and purported leaked photos seem to indicate that the phone could be similar to .
” href=”https://www.androidauthority.com/unnamed-motorola-phone-leaks-not-google-x-phone-video-169560/”>the handset that starred in a hands-on report for a Vietnamese publication a day before the Galaxy S4 was unveiled.
Rogers Moto X shown in leaked video promo
During an event, he actually used a white version of the device for a phone call, while various photographers from different publications took photographs of the former Google CEO talking on the unannounced device.
Furthermore, the aforementioned Rogers video also showed the handset from various angles.
From the looks of it, the device is indeed similar to the handset spotted in Vietnam in mid-March.
Specs and features
Sadly for some handset buyers that would love to customize the internals of the Moto X, the company is not ready to offer such a thing, at least not with the first-generation model. However, the handset will be able in a variety of storage options, although it’s not clear what that means exactly.
Certain specs have leaked a bunch of times, and it looks like the handset will be a mid-ranger by 2013 standards for flagship devices, even though Woodside did say that the handset is supposed to be an iPhone and Galaxy contender.
Purported Moto X cases | Image credit: Nowhereelse.fr
The phone is expected to pack a display with 720p resolution, 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage (and other versions), 10-megapixel camera, 2-megapixel front-facing camera and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean under the hood. A recent report also said the phone will pack a dual LTE MIMO antenna for faster LTE speeds.
The screen size of the handset will most likely be somewhere around 4.7 inches, so don’t expect a 5-inch handset here – after all, Motorola wants to make phones that are of the right size.
Update (July 15): A leaked video purportedly showing the AT&T Moto X version revealed that the handset could indeed pack a 4.7-inch 720p display and a 1.7GHz dual-core processor – either a Snapdragon S4 Plus or a Snapdragon S4 Pro, the jury is still out on that.
Interestingly, the benchmark test performed on this AT&T handset version revealed a score that puts the Moto X right on par with Snapdragon 600-based devices, which is certainly puzzling.
Moto X always on voice support shown in leaked Rogers video promo.
A source of ours revealed that the handset would pack a 4.4-inch display with 720p resolution, 16GB of storage (of it 11.9GB available to the users), 10-megapixel camera, 2,000mAh battery life (the source said battery life is great), and Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean under the hood
Moreover, Motorola recently took to Twitter to troll – for lack of a better word – all the other smartphone makers by suggesting the cameras on their devices aren’t fast enough to capture great photos of important moments in one’s life. Is the company suggesting that the Moto X will feature a camera that will reduce blur? Or is it simply implying that the Moto X will offer faster access to the camera app than other apps (more on camera features below)?
Purported Moto X benchmark on AT&T test version of the phone.
We’re certainly more interested in the software of the Moto X, because that’s where the innovation apparently is with the handset. The Moto X will likely run a stock Android version – or close to it – although the device won’t be a Nexus handset.
Update (July 15): The device is expected to run the latest Android version available – test units are apparently running stock Android. The same report taht mentioned the Clear Pixel camera also said that Moto X users should expect a “pure Android” experience and “fast” software updates.
But the handset will come with some smarter features, as Google is reportedly relying on a lot of sensors to create the phone’s already confirmed contextual awareness. The phone will also pack a standalone language processing chip, according to Wimberly, that will likely offer advanced language recognition features.
Full Moto X phone ad. The body shapes of the jumpers, combined with a recent rumor, suggest that the handset could be unveiled on July 11.
ABC News apparently confirmed the advanced voice recognition technology behind the Moto X and detailed the kind of context-aware features the phone will pack. The Moto X will supposedly know when you want to take a picture and launch the camera app without the user having to manually do it. The phone would also know when you’re driving, and enable speakerphone functionality automatically.
Update (July 15): The Rogers promo video of the Moto X revealed how some of these smart features will work. For example, a special gesture – twisting the wrist twice – would instantly turn on the camera. Once inside the app, users will be able to take pictures by tapping anywhere on the screen, and they’ll be able to take multiple shots by holding the finger pressed on the display.
The same video suggested that LED notifications won’t be available for the Moto X. Instead the display will come to life whenever there’s a new notifications, and users will be able to act accordingly.
Moto X active updates feature shown in leaked Rogers video promo.
The promo video also mentioned voice-recognition support. The Moto X will be listening at all times, and you’ll be able to search for things, ask for directions, play with settings (and supposedly other things) by simply talking to the device, without turning on the display or pressing any buttons.
A distinct report offered a name for the feature – Open Mic – saying that the technology will help you make calls and even open webpages with your voice. Voice commands can apparently be activated by saying “ok moto magic, [and then your question/demand],” but this default activation mode can be customized by the user.
Our source also mentioned that always on listening feature, and said that the users will have to say “ok Google Now” to activate it – which is how Rogers also tells us to use the feature.
Release date and pricing
After confirming the phone at D11, Motorola did say the handset would arrive this summer. Speculation around purported ad work for Motorola said the handset will arrive on August 1, although there’s no actual indication that’s the date we’ll see the device in stores. Wimberly also said the handset will be available at some point in August in the USA, with other markets to follow in the fourth quarter.
The private Motorola event that never was. Moto exec Rick Osterloch apparently uses the Moto X to take a picture.
Moto X sign-up page on Motorola’s website
The phone is expected to be quite affordable, with a starting price of $299 or less for an unlocked unit.
In addition to buying it directly from Motorola, the Moto X will also be available from a variety of U.S. carriers. FCC documentation for four distinct Motorola handsets suggest the device will be available from AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and U.S. Cellular.
Rogers is also expected to launch the Moto X in August – although a release date is not available just yet – and it looks like the carrier will have an exclusivity deal with Motorola for Canada.
Purported Verizon Moto X model | Image credit: Android Central
Speaking about exclusivity deals, AT&T is also rumored to get some sort of Moto X exclusivity deal – although it’s really not clear what that means.
Wrap up
We’ll remind you that few details are actually confirmed about the device: its official name, the fact it’s launching this summer, its context awareness features and user-personalization.
Leading to this summer’s Moto X launch, various Google execs including chairman Eric Schmidt, CEO Larry Page and Motorola design chief Jim Wicks have independently praised Moto’s upcoming creations in mid-April, which looked like a building anticipation campaign for an already hyped-up device, the Google X Phone – that’s what we called the Moto X back then. However, the phone was not even mentioned during Google’s 2013 edition of its IO developers conference.
That said we’ll continue to keep tabs on the Moto X rumors and leaks for you, as we’re waiting for Google to actually unveil the handset.
Will you be buying a device that’s more or less as the Moto X portrayed in these recent reports? Or are you looking for a different kind of flagship Android handset?
We’ll update this post once we have more details about the device, assuming that Motorola won’t publicly unveil it.
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