All in the family: 2015 Moto G sounds like a 2013 Moto X for less money
Next week, Motorola is holding a press event where it's expected to launch one, if not two, new Moto X handset models, as well as an updated Moto G phone. I'll be there to report from the event and expect to have a device or two in hand.
While we wait, however, a fair amount of information has leaked about the Moto G, including alleged pictures and specifications for the device. Here's a shot of new handset from Laptopmedia.com who says it has the phone in hand.
I'm struck by the potential similarity here between what's likely the 2015 Moto G and the 2013 Moto X; one of my all-time favorite Android handsets.
And not just in the looks department; frankly, the Moto X, G, E and Nexus 6 all share very similar design cues. It's what's reportedly on the inside of the next Moto G that reminds me of the phone I bought two years ago.
The Moto G is expected to have a quad-core 1.36 GHz Snapdragon 410 paired with 1 GB of memory, although there have been reports of a more expensive model with double the RAM.
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The 2013 Moto X also came with 2 GB of memory and ran on a 1.7 GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 that Motorola modified to include a natural-language processor and other sensors. I'm anticipating the Moto G configuration to rival the performance of the two-year old Moto X as a result.
That year, the Moto X display was 4.7-inches in size with a 1280 x 720 resolution. This year's Moto G? It looks like a slightly larger 5-inch screen with the same resolution. And the Moto G's anticipated 2470 mAh battery is similar to the 2200 mAh unit in the old Moto X.
In the case of the cameras, this year's Moto G should actually exceed those found in the 2013 Moto X: The unit Laptopmedia.com has uses a 13 megapixel rear sensor and 5 megapixel front camera.
Keep in mind that when the Moto X debuted in September 2013 the base model carried a price tag of $199 with a two-year contract, or $499 off-contract. In contrast, the Moto G has started at $179 without a contract; a massive price difference.
We don't know yet how Motorola will price this year's model, but the Moto G line has always represented a solid value and I don't expect that to change. You may be getting a budget-friendly phone that's at least as capable, if not more so, than Motorola's 2013 flagship.