Today during IFA 2017, Motorola took time to announce its latest mid-range smartphone, the Moto X4. The company is resurrecting the X brand after it died last year with the introduction of the flagship Z series. Now, it appears X-marked smartphones will be mid-rangers but offer pretty decent specs, such as this one does.
For instance, we’re looking at an all glass and metal design that’s IP68 rated, meaning you don’t have to worry about your phone if it gets wet. This is much better than what the Z series features (which is just a splash-proof coating, although I’d fear if I sneezed on it too hard it might break) and that’s saying something since the X4 is beating a flagship. There’s also a 5.2-inch 1080p display which, if it’s anything like its flagship counterparts, is OLED. Below that sits a fingerprint sensor, and along the right side are volume and power buttons.
Regarding internals, we’re looking at a Snapdragon 630 processor paired with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. There’s also a 3000mAh battery powering everything which Moto claims can get you through the day on a single charge, while Android 7.1.2 Nougat with Moto’s light customizations ships as the OS. Some new additions for the X4 include the ability to pair up to four Bluetooth devices for outputting sound to and the ability to log into websites using Moto Key, a new authentication platform that lets you scan your finger to log into websites and such. It even works on your laptop or PC.
Also arriving software-wise is Amazon’s Alexa. We’ve only really seen HTC include this AI assistant on its phones before, so it’s interesting to see another OEM throw its hat into the ring. What’s more, users can activate Alexa at any time with the X4 thanks to the far-field microphones onboard. In other words, you won’t have to worry about whether your phone is unlocked to use it.
Of course, the Google Assistant is also on board if that’s your jam, but you should try out Alexa anyway if you pick this phone up.
As for cameras, Moto is doing something different. For the X4, they’ve included one main 12MP shooter with an f/2.0 aperture and a secondary wide-angle 8MP shooter with an f/2.2 aperture. This combination will allow users to not only use fancy depth effects but also take 120-degree wide angle photos. This is similar to what LG is doing with the V30. It also goes against what Moto has done in the past since with the Z2 Force, they include one main sensor and one monochrome sensor for bokeh shots and natural black-and-white photos. For selfies, there’s a low-light-capable 16MP sensor.
The Moto X4 will go on sale this September in Europe for €399. The company says it plans to release the handset here in the States later this fall, however at an undisclosed price. Converting €399 to USD, and you find roughly $475 as the result. Therefore, expect a similar price point in the US when it lands. We’ll let you know when that day comes, obviously.
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