Ready to see some pictures of the yet-to-be-announced Moto X4? Cool, here you go.
Now someone explain to me why this phone exists? Anyone?
Because we already have the super low-end Moto E4 line, the mid-tier Moto G5 line (with S models on the way), and the Moto Z2 line, so I’m just not sure how this phone fits in to anything that Motorola is trying to accomplish. Are we just throwing every single idea we have at the wall and seeing what sticks? It kind of seems that way.
Let’s compare this phone and its rumored specs to the Moto G5 Plus, just to get started. The Moto X4 is rumored to have a 5.2-inch FHD display, Snapdragon 630 processor, up to 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, dual rear cameras of 8MP and 12MP, front 16MP shooter, 3000mAh battery, and IP68 water and dust resistance. It has a fingerprint reader too, as well as a USB Type-C port and headphone jack. The Moto G5 Plus has a 5.2-inch FHD display, up to 64GB storage and 4GB RAM, 3000mAh battery, rear 12MP camera, fingerprint reader, and Snapdragon 625 processor. It does not have NFC, full water resistance, dual cameras, or a USB Type-C port. But it also only costs around $230.
Maybe that’s the point of the Moto X4, to fill a very narrow price point? The Moto E is here to fill the $100-$150 range of phones and the Moto G is for the $180-$250 range, while the Moto Z2 Play runs anywhere from $400-$500 and the Moto Z2 Force tops them all at over $700. Which price point does the Moto X4 fill, though? Are we talking a sub-$400 price or a $500+ price? If you look at the comparison I just made of it to a $230 Moto G5 Plus, would you really want to pay an extra $200-$300 for one? What about only $100 more? Hmmm.
On a somewhat related note, this thing is no Moto X. The Moto X started out as a line built from customers’ minds, where you got to choose colors, finishes, etc. I know that died a bit with the Moto X Pure Edition, but not entirely. This phone, as far as we know, has no customizations and will be billed as a premium metal and glass phone, though the processor doesn’t exactly match that thought. I know this is me being, “Back in the old days!” crusty grandpa, but this phone should be named something else unless it can match that personalized glory from the original Moto X releases.
Yeah, it looks somewhat sleek with this all-black paint job, but again, what’s the point? Who is this for? Why do we need 4 or 5 phone lines from a single manufacturer?
UPDATE: Want to see a really pretty press render of the Moto X4? Here you go.
// tudocelular | Anatel (03982-17-00330)
Do they have anything at the Moto X Pure price point and quality that you can customize? My boyfriend wanted one with the wood backing, but his design was never fully in stock, and now they got rid of the phone online. ????
Nope.
Maybe this is the phone for Google Fi? Or Did I miss the boat on that
I think it is obvious that the new Moto X is a hedge for Motorola in case the Moto z and the mod thing fails. Which is likely.
I get it, I think i get it.
Because they are trying to cater. What i mean is they are releasing phones from $79 to $799. They are trying to cater to all different kinds of folks with all different kinds of budgets. From tech fans to people who “just need a phone”.
While tech people like us think “damn this line up is outrageous”, or “are they really gonna have a successor to this whole damn lineup in 12 months” To us it looks greedy or maybe just over bearing. That’s kind of the only thing i can think of for a device outing like theirs.
All I’m asking from any manufacturer is…
1080P AMOLED/REAAAAALY GOOD IPS (or higher)
5.2 Inch Screen (or higher up to 6 inches)
4GB RAM (or higher)
32 GB INTERNAL (or higher)
MICRO SD
STOCK ANDROID
EASY BOOTLOADER UNLOCK
SD 62X or 63X
NFC
IP67 (or higher)
BATTERY 3300MAh (or higher)
You will automatically have 500$ from me.
Literally the only way I’ll ever come back to android. Until someone does this, I’ll stick with iOS.
The closest thing we have is the original moto z play or Z2 play. But the new one has crappier battery life than the original. I should have added a category for “don’t make a gimped successor to a last gen phone” looking at you Motorola.
Why does it exist? Mostly just as a way to get more money than they would have out of the G5, that’s my guess. I think this phone is the specific reason the G5 didn’t have NFC or USB-C.
2017 Motorola lineup and hierarchy:
Moto Z2 Force
Moto X4 Plus
Moto X4
Moto Z2 Play
Moto G5S Plus
Moto G5 Plus
Moto G5S
Moto G5
Moto E4 Plus
Moto E4
Moto C Plus
Moto C
I’m sure we’ll eventually see the Moto X4S Plus Play Edition.
However, the price points make this even more confusing. A Moto E4 Plus is near the same price as the G5 Plus. The use of Plus and Play within the lines is part of the problem. If you want to have different tiers, fine, but then don’t confuse everyone by creating variations that then crossover into the next model in terms of specs and price.
I think they’re doing easy iterations constantly to just keep the Moto name out there all the time.
you forgot the Moto M… It looks like every year they add another variant to the Moto line-up.
I believe that the Moto M came out in 2016? Though not in my country.
Oh yes, I thought that it was released this year…It was released November 2016.
Compared to Samsung? Really? Only one mfg has the right to flood the market?
Quite: “so I’m just not sure how this phone fits in to anything that Motorola is trying to accomplish. Are we just throwing every single idea we have at the wall and seeing what sticks?”
Doesn’t this apply to Android world in general? How many messaging apps do we have now?!
What I dont get is why I haven’t received Nougat on my MXPE yet. =/
I see the appeal of it… Not to Moto X owners but definitely to other people.
5 years ago when Google bought Moto, Dennis Woodside said in one of the meetings that building smartphones is not about filling every single market niche. It’s about innovation. That’s why we have to cut a lot of product lines that don’t make sense, and focus on what the customer really wants.
Then here comes Lenovo…
And how much money did Motorola make when Dennis Woodside ran it?
I’m not saying that Motorola made money with Woodside at the helm, but he did have a positive vision and the right idea for Motorola. He could’ve had the chance to turn Motorola around, but he never stayed long enough for us to find out…
i think it’d make more sense if it had a 4.7″ display like the OG moto X, right now it just seems like an extra
So much hate…but I dig this one
Just by looks it looks better than ahem….some other recent leaks.
Wow, Droidlife dissing Motorola for once. But I agree with you, this is a well written article
like… from a business standpoint i don’t get why lenovo is building this and the G5S. that said as a consumer who cares? its gonna be a great choice in its price bracked especially if its a snapdragon 660. I will probably buy one if its a 660. So yeah, do you care if lenovo company that makes tons of money has way too many phones? no really you dont. you just want a phone and given the volumes they will be building maybe they figure if they just flood the market with phones they can chip away at getting some market share
Why does nobody care when Lagsung puts 50,000 different lines of crap phones out there, but by God when Motorola has 6 or 7, everyone has a conniption. Other than the top of the line phones, would anybody in their right mind choose laggy Samsung garbage over a Motorola?
This is for someone who wants a normal phone and not some goofy 18:9 curved glass, no headphone jack monstrosity. I welcome it.
To be fair to the “X” moniker, it came first in 2013 (I use the Moto X 2013 and its running very well) so in all fairness, its good to see the X legacy continuing under Lenovo.
However, I agree with the basic premise of this article which is to say there are too many iterations, sub iterations with all possible alphabets in play. Just merge E with G (G, G Plus), X & of course, the mighty Z (Z, Z Force) .. thats it. AND MAKE SMALLER SCREEN SIZED DEVICES (below 5 inches within 69mm breadth so people can actually ergonomically handle them with one hand and not have to drop them to eventually lead to cracked screens – why only large sized devices (5 inch +) are being manufactured is beyond me).
So, Kellen is correct to point this out but Kellen seems to forget that X came first so it has the right of legacy before E. In my opinion E can merge with G, X can stay with that “lil’ extra” from both the low end & high end models as a norm i.e., keep X as the special one always.
You know who was really bad about releasing 5+ phones a year? Pre-Google Motorola and Sanjay Jha. They pumped out so many models normal people couldn’t keep track and the time frame to get software updates was pretty much as bad as now.
I wish every day that Google hadn’t sold Motorola off to Lenovo. Moto is nothing but a shell of its former glory. Really. Imagine if Google had kept them. Motorola could have been used for building the next Pixels. AND they’d probably still have that Texas plant which in my opinion was a win-win for everyone.
Google, bad move. Killing off american jobs.
We shouldn’t compare devices when one of the devices we don’t have full specs for. That being said, I believe there is more supporting evidence for the phone being a SD 660 with 3800 mAh battery. With Z2 Force Dual Tech Camera Array, Water Proofing, More Premium Materials (“3D Glass”)… all these things plus the spec bump over the G5 Plus gives the X4 its own niche.
You can definitely argue that Moto makes too many phones although that’s kind of an Armchair CEO move. If it didn’t make business sense, I think they would’ve stopped by now. Maybe it’s working for them to release a bunch of phones and then use those phones to target various countries/demographics. It’s probably really cost efficient to do because so many of the phones share the same materials/screens/batteries/etc.
I wish we could go back to the time of 2013-2015 Moto X. Believe me. I’m a huge fan. But this phone is the closest thing to the original Moto X that we have right now so I’m going to defend it like hell.
Go make phone of the G5S Plus if you’re going to make fun of a phone. 😉
I miss moto maker 🙁
It’s the only phone LeMovo should’ve made…
I’m repeating myself: I just picked up a pristine, mint Pixel XL (not even one of my all time favorite phones) on Swappa for $420 as my next Project Fi phone. I should get 2 years out of it.
I don’t need Moto for Project Fi.
The Moto X4 will be customizable. My employer is finalizing a deal with Lenovo for an aspect of said customization. Wish I could say more but don’t feel like being f’ed by the long dik of the law. I will not be returning to this thread.
Per Sarge?
The glory days of Moto is over
I would rather this phone go after the super mid category. Moto could have gone with a 660 while leaving the rest of the specs the same and I bet it would put a dent in the super mid market. But simply giving the phone water resistance probably a mediocre dual camera set up and a 630 doesn’t interest me.
“Now someone explain to me why this phone exists? Anyone?”
I’m not sure why any Motorola phone exists after they went away from the DROID days. I used to love Moto until they let Google pimp them for pattents. If the DROID Maxx would’ve had an SD card slot, I would’ve kept it. But the lack of that PLUS the mediocre camera was enough for me to say let me try this Note 3 out, and it’s been #notegang ever since.
Another junk phone from LeMoto. This is no Moto X. This is a phone that is trying to take advantage of the OG Moto X name from 4 years ago. They share no kinship whatsoever. Just a moniker applied to another mediocre offering…
I would consider buying this depending on the camera and if it worked with Fi, and if it is one of the phones that could get Samsung Pay. I used to have the Galaxy S7 (I had the original Jump plan from TMobile, but decided to pay off the phone and cancel JUMP, since the phone did everything I needed it to for at least the next year), but then the battery would not hold a charge long enough, even with factory resets. I had started reading some finance blogs, and realized I didn’t always want to be stuck with constant phone payments/spending as much for top end phones. Started looking for a replacement and settled on the G5 Plus. Does everything I need, except for the camera in low light (living around NYC, there are a lot of good sunset/night photo opportunities, but I don’t always feel like carrying my micro 4/3). I would pay $100-$200 more for the better camera, if this had one. Right now with phones I feel like having the better camera, is like getting the sunroof/navigation package in cars. Need to take the bundle vs being able to choose separately. I don’t need the latest/greatest processor, would actually prefer something optimized towards battery life (on T-Mobile, building penetration isn’t the best, so sometimes searching for signal can drain).
If this fixes/upgrades just a few key items from the G5+ for ~$100 more, say $350/400, I’m all for it. Just needs USBC, NFC, OLED, waterproofing, and I always want a bigger battery. Seems like it should have a Snap 660, but if this checks most of those boxes this should be significantly better than the G for a lot less than the Z.
Chrome now crashes after a min when trying to view dl.
Disable all Chrome extensions, install the latest version, close all other tabs, and try again. I’ve never had Droid Life crash on me in Chrome.
Thanks for the helpful response, unlike below.
The specs you show for the G5 Plus are for the $300 version.
Actually the author is posting prices for the Amazon version of the G5 Plus with Ads.
Agreed. After it didn’t ship with a bamboo back with available engraving or custom colors I just wasn’t interested. Made a sweet grey and black one with red accents and “The North Remembers” on boot up and “Winter is Coming” on the back. Damn I miss the 2013 Moto X.
If it weren’t for the 630, I’d really be considering it!
How did the MXPE kill customization exactly…? That was the last one WITH custom options.
With the lack of stereo speakers and and customization options this phone is a Moto X in name only if these rumors pan out to be true. Also, if this phone matches the $349.99 to $399.99 starting point of previous Moto X’s it’ll really eat away at the Moto Z2 lineup and make the G5 Plus seem less great.
Don’t forget the Moto E4 Plus in the $180-200 range. Moto is going nuts with all these devices. With those specs, I’m guessing it’ll fall in the $300-400 range. Since Project Fi is rumored to be getting this, it’ll be like a successor to the 5X in terms of pricing.
That actually might be the most exciting thing about this phone, that it’s a mid-tier affordable option for Project Fi. And who knows, maybe it’ll open the door for many Fi phones.
Too much headphone jack?
Definitely too much headphone.
tee hee
Conflicting reports on that battery. Just read 3800 on another site.
That number is from @evleaks, so I’ll go with it for now.
EVLeaks was wrong on the X4.
https://twitter.com/evleaks/status/893126882190929921
Really?! You “don’t get it”?
Come on… you just said it: NFC, full water resistance, dual cameras, or a USB Type-C port AND its the rumored phone for Google Fi.
Boom. I may have just found my next Fi device. I loved my Moto Xs (had 3 of them) and I will definitely look at this device.
Well it’s no Moto X, that’s for sure. It’s a cheap attempt to grab some of the still-in-existence Moto X owners. But what i’m saying is, why not make the Moto G5 this? Or this random Moto G5S thing? Why do we need 4 or 5 or however many phone lines? Why isn’t the flagship Moto Z2 line water resistant? Why is this random phone, that isn’t a true Moto X, getting Type-C and water resistance?
It’s all dumb.
I believe you exactly laid out why. Because there’s nothing between $250 and $700. If the G5S was actually good this “X” wouldn’t be necessary.
Dude, the Z2 Play is $400 (Verizon) and $500 unlocked. Covers that $250 to $700 range (that was also clearly stated in the article)…
I think once you try it out you will be in love with the phone.
If it’s around the $400 price I paid for my original Moto X with the Z2 Force cameras, giant battery, and keep the 1080p I’d love it as a secondary/back up phone. I love my Z2 Play, other than the meh battery life and horrible camera. Also they should throw in a free moto mod style back like they did last year.
But wait a little and you can buy S8 for that price.
I bought an S8+ for $380 with trade in and I friggin hate it. Took it off the charger and the bottom of the glass above the port had a crack. Only used it 3 weeks then had to pay $240 to get it fixed. Samsung refused to give me a loaner so I bought a Z2 Play. Now the S8+ is sitting in its box til I trade the damn thing. Never buying Samsung again.
I agree with you this phone seems very redundant
You should reach out to Moto… errrr, Lenovo for the answers to your vehement quest. Not sure why you didn’t, and just ranted for the sake of telling Lemotonevorollolola passively to DIAFJB. I’m with you there 🙂
Count me in on one of those Moto X fans. I wish this was a true Moto X instead of what’s being shown. A true X would still include Moto Maker…without it and based off the specs I have decided to get a G5Plus.
It would be great if it had AMOLED display + stereo speakers. Or also it should have Moto maker thing
One manufacturer that has over 5 models is Samsung, they have about 500 models. Seems to work for them
Beauty30a
Cross38i
Tip37h
Right. But Kellen’s point was why does this have high end features that Moto’s true high end phone doesnt?
Tracker162s
Market120s
Why is this getting at least an acceptable battery size (still too small by at least 500 mAh), when the Moto Z phones have been gimped?
Do you know what I don’t get it?
The original Moto X 2013 was a very good phone where Google, at that time, told us that its size of 4.7 inches was perfect and a limit for one hand usage.
The iPhone (excluding the plus size) is one of the best selling phones and it is a 4.7 inches phone.
Why in the world they don’t release another Moto X (or any other brand) with 4.7 inches and all the new goodies!?!?!?!?
Is there anyone from Motorola, Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi, HTC, Sony or any other manufacturer to answer me?
me too. I’m jacked..
And so is the phone.