Why it matters to you
Lenovo has offered solid budget and midrange options under the Moto brand as of late, and hopefully the Moto X can continue that trend.
It looks like the much-loved and somewhat iconic Moto X may not be dead just yet. Once known as Motorola’s flagship, the Moto X could soon be reborn as a more midrange phone now that the Moto Z has taken over as the brand’s top-tier device.
Here’s everything we think we know about the Moto X’s return.
More: Lenovo Moto G5 Plus review
Design
Late last year, a new phone dubbed the “Moto X 2017” was first leaked online by prolific rumor purveyor @OnLeaks. Renders show a curved, chamfered handset somewhat resembling Lenovo’s Moto Z. Unlike the Moto Z, this device appeared to have a screen measuring 5.2 inches in length rather than the traditional 5.5 inches. It also retained a 3.5mm audio jack.
TechDroider followed that up with a series of photos showing a similar phone that very heavily resembled the Moto Z — only without the pins for Moto Mod functionality at the back. Moto Mods are something that Lenovo has said will remain consistent in top-tier Moto phones for the foreseeable future, so the Moto X wasn’t expected to support them anyway.
Most recently, a user on Google+ posted images of a device claimed to be the new Moto X. If it is, these are the clearest shots we’ve seen yet of Lenovo’s new midrange handset. While the exterior falls in line with prior reports, the one critical difference is the dual-camera design at the back. The phone in TechDroider’s leaks had only a single shooter, but these photos show two side by side, along with a flash underneath that has since been fully integrated into the lower portion of the circular housing.
In general, the device seems to be a mishmash of other Moto phones. For example, it has the same metal chassis that can be seen on the Moto M, as well as a front-mounted fingerprint sensor just like the one found on the new Moto G5. The camera also sports a similar design to that of the Moto Z.
Specs
That Google+ leak included a photo of the device’s recovery mode, which gives us a basic idea of the hardware that could power Motorola’s upcoming midrange offering. According to the image, we’re looking at a Qualcomm MSM8953 — in other words, a Snapdragon 625 — paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of flash storage.
For reference, the Moto G5 Plus that just launched in the United States features the same processor, alongside 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage in its base-level, $230 configuration. Spend $50 more, and the G5 Plus can actually be had with double the memory and storage, which would put it firmly above the specs listed here, despite purportedly being Lenovo’s “budget” smartphone.
At this time, we still have no idea on a timetable for release. It’s likely we’ll see continue to see images and specs leaked between now and its eventual launch, so stay tuned for more news.
Article originally published in November by Christian de Looper. Kyle Wiggers contributed to this report. Updated on 03-28-2017 by Adam Ismail: Added Google+ leaked photos and specs.