More Rumors About Moto X Phone: Kevlar Body, Huge Battery & Sony Exmor RS Camera

[dgstorm]

Another few days go by and another Motorola X Phone rumor hits the web. Today's newest tasty morsel of intel seems to both confirm and refute some of the previous rumors. For the most part, it is likely that this new intel is "suspect" at the very least, but that doesn't make it any less intriguing. Here's a quick-blast,

• Kevlar Chassis (seems a safe bet considering Larry Page's recent statements)
• Huge Battery (ditto above)
• 4.8" Display (this is contrary to earlier "rumint" suggesting a 5-inch display, but it wouldn't surprise us if it were true)
• Included microSD Card Slot (this is a bit contrary to Google's MO, but would follow Moto procedures, so we are hoping for this one)
• Sony Exmor RS Camera Sensor (this one rides the fence on credibility... on the one hand, Moto has never gone that far toward their competitors for their hardware, yet on the other, they have been hammered for having a mediocre camera for far too long)

Finally, the source of this intel claims they were able to actively use a prototype of the device for several hours of a roadtrip with the GPS constantly on. This bodes well for the large battery theory, although it is not really surprising. Of course, we hope with every fiber of our being that many of these ideas are true (especially the camera and microSD slot). If so, the X Phone could easily be the best smartphone of the year, or at least hold its own against everything else available, including the vaunted Samsung Galaxy S IV.

So far, we've already received a ton of intel on this new device, with varying degrees of credulity, yet only three things stand out as the most accurate. One: we know the phone exists because of the LinkedIn job posting. Two & three: we know it will likely have a strong battery and be made of damage resistant materials, (at least if we can reliably believe Larry Page's own comments on the matter).

As far as the rest of it is concerned, only time will tell, at least up until the final reveal of the device. Either way, the X Phone reminds us of the titular character, "Racer X," from the old-school Anime series Speed Racer. He was aloof, mysterious, powerful and intriguing. That pretty much sums up the Motorola X Phone, and is the reason it could be the most hotly anticipated smartphone of 2013.

For more discussions on the upcoming Moto X Phone, be sure to check out our dedicated section here: Motorola X Phone Forum

Source: PhoneArena

 

[bsweetness]

• Included microSD Card Slot (we highly doubt this one, since it would basically be completely contrary to previous behavior from both Motorola and Google)

It might be contrary to Google's Nexus devices, but it's certainly not contrary to Motorola's previous behavior. Motorola has always included a microSD card slot in their Android devices. If this doesn't have a microSD card slot, that would be contrary to Motorola's previous behavior.

• Sony Exmor RS Camera Sensor (this one rides the fence on credibility... on the one hand, Moto has never gone that far toward their competitors for their hardware, yet on the other, they have been hammered for having a mediocre camera for far too long)

I definitely hope this turns out to be true given Motorola's track record on cameras. It doesn't really "ride the fence on credibility" though. Plenty of rival manufacturers have been using Sony camera sensors for years now, including Samsung and HTC (as well as Apple). If Motorola went with a Sony sensor, it wouldn't be surprising in the slightest (beyond the surprise that Motorola wants to have a decent camera for once).

 

[dgstorm]

It might be contrary to Google's Nexus devices, but it's certainly not contrary to Motorola's previous behavior. Motorola has always included a microSD card slot in their Android devices. If this doesn't have a microSD card slot, that would be contrary to Motorola's previous behavior.

You are quite right bsweetness. We got a little ahead of ourselves on that one. I updated the OP to reflect. Thanks!

 

[jntdroid]

It might be contrary to Google's Nexus devices, but it's certainly not contrary to Motorola's previous behavior. Motorola has always included a microSD card slot in their Android devices. If this doesn't have a microSD card slot, that would be contrary to Motorola's previous behavior.

Was thinking the exact same thing... brother from another mother... :blink:

One other thought... This X phone won't do squat if they don't market the heck out of it, and in a "how this affects my real life" kind of way. There's a reason the S3 has become so popular and actually become almost a household name like the iPhone - Samsung's massive marketing campaign that cleverly chipped away at the iPhone in each ad. Motorola has done some hard marketing pushes before, but Google most definitely takes a more passive approach. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

It'll also be interesting to see if this ends up on Verizon (and Sprint, I guess). Once again, there's somewhat of a dichotomy between Google and Motorola here. Motorola has a pretty in depth relationship with Verizon and CDMA/LTE stuff. But Google avoided LTE and CDMA like the plague on the Nexus 4.

 

[bsweetness]

Was thinking the exact same thing... brother from another mother... :blink:

One other thought... This X phone won't do squat if they don't market the heck out of it, and in a "how this affects my real life" kind of way. There's a reason the S3 has become so popular and actually become almost a household name like the iPhone - Samsung's massive marketing campaign that cleverly chipped away at the iPhone in each ad. Motorola has done some hard marketing pushes before, but Google most definitely takes a more passive approach. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

It'll also be interesting to see if this ends up on Verizon (and Sprint, I guess). Once again, there's somewhat of a dichotomy between Google and Motorola here. Motorola has a pretty in depth relationship with Verizon and CDMA/LTE stuff. But Google avoided LTE and CDMA like the plague on the Nexus 4.

It's the combination of those things, or the lack thereof, that will make this interesting.

Since jumping into Android, Motorola has actually done very little marketing of their own in the U.S. Most of the advertising for Motorola devices has been Droid-based, which means it was actually being done by Verizon. Really about the only other big marketing push that Motorola has had in the U.S. for an Android phone was for the Atrix, and that was done in great part by AT&T.

So you're definitely right - Motorola will have to step up to the marketing plate in a major way. That's something they haven't really done before on their own for quite some time. Samsung and Apple do the vast majority of their advertising on their own. You see very few Apple or Samsung based advertisements funded and released by carriers outside of the stores, because carriers don't want to put marketing dollars into devices that are available on multiple carriers (because someone could see their advertisement, and then go buy that device on another carrier). If Motorola wants to put their devices on all carriers, or go the carrier-free route, they'll have to do pretty much everything on their own. Google certainly has the financial and creative resources to do it, but like you said, they've taken a more passive approach until now. It will definitely be interesting to see what they do.

 

[hotice]

I hope it has a MicroHDMI port to go along with everything else that looks right about it! I'm glad Moto finally got a clue about the camera. It would be cool to see them go from worst camera to best!

 

[MacLeod]

What's the current rumored release date of this thing? Sounds like the perfect phone!

Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt using Tapatalk 2.

 

[tornado]

Was thinking the exact same thing... brother from another mother... :blink:

One other thought... This X phone won't do squat if they don't market the heck out of it, and in a "how this affects my real life" kind of way. There's a reason the S3 has become so popular and actually become almost a household name like the iPhone - Samsung's massive marketing campaign that cleverly chipped away at the iPhone in each ad. Motorola has done some hard marketing pushes before, but Google most definitely takes a more passive approach. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out.

It'll also be interesting to see if this ends up on Verizon (and Sprint, I guess). Once again, there's somewhat of a dichotomy between Google and Motorola here. Motorola has a pretty in depth relationship with Verizon and CDMA/LTE stuff. But Google avoided LTE and CDMA like the plague on the Nexus 4.

I sadly agree that it's more about the marketing than the phone. That said, I love that it is supposed to have KEVLAR. I'm a sucker for anything Kevlar. Something tells me they could create a great marketing campaign around the whole Kevlar theme. I can just image the ad possibilities. Of course, my friends say I have a very creative imagination.

 

[WestOkid]

It's the combination of those things, or the lack thereof, that will make this interesting.

Since jumping into Android, Motorola has actually done very little marketing of their own in the U.S. Most of the advertising for Motorola devices has been Droid-based, which means it was actually being done by Verizon. Really about the only other big marketing push that Motorola has had in the U.S. for an Android phone was for the Atrix, and that was done in great part by AT&T.

So you're definitely right - Motorola will have to step up to the marketing plate in a major way. That's something they haven't really done before on their own for quite some time. Samsung and Apple do the vast majority of their advertising on their own. You see very few Apple or Samsung based advertisements funded and released by carriers outside of the stores, because carriers don't want to put marketing dollars into devices that are available on multiple carriers (because someone could see their advertisement, and then go buy that device on another carrier). If Motorola wants to put their devices on all carriers, or go the carrier-free route, they'll have to do pretty much everything on their own. Google certainly has the financial and creative resources to do it, but like you said, they've taken a more passive approach until now. It will definitely be interesting to see what they do.

Agreed.

The only problem with phone companies not named Samsung or Apple is they have no clue on how to market. Odd, since Apple has shown them the way. Like @jntdroid says tell me "how this affects my real life". Everything Apple does points to how life's daily stress will instantly be alleviated upon purchasing an iPhone.
Droids? let's examine the evidence...
OG Razr - first it flies through the air slicing street signs (wow, I want that), If that didn't send you to a Verizon store, then a secret agent riding a high powered black sport bike with his Razr Maxx sure will.
Razr Maxx HD - Guy wakes up in a room with no doors and uses the power of his phone to blow a hole in a 12 inch thick wall (I really that!).
Droid DNA - the Phone is fused to a human body altering his DNA and giving him new abilities "6 million dollar man" style (Wholly crap! I'm having that operation. Can I get it done at Verizon?).

I rest my case.

 

[MissionImprobable]

Agreed.

The only problem with phone companies not named Samsung or Apple is they have no clue on how to market. Odd, since Apple has shown them the way. Like @jntdroid says tell me "how this affects my real life". Everything Apple does points to how life's daily stress will instantly be alleviated upon purchasing an iPhone.
Droids? let's examine the evidence...
OG Razr - first it flies through the air slicing street signs (wow, I want that), If that didn't send you to a Verizon store, then a secret agent riding a high powered black sport bike with his Razr Maxx sure will.
Razr Maxx HD - Guy wakes up in a room with no doors and uses the power of his phone to blow a hole in a 12 inch thick wall (I really that!).
Droid DNA - the Phone is fused to a human body altering his DNA and giving him new abilities "6 million dollar man" style (Wholly crap! I'm having that operation. Can I get it done at Verizon?).

I rest my case.

Well put. Samsung and Apple seem to be the only ones who get that it's the practical that sells. We do our research and know what's coming out before it reaches the market. For the majority the flashy commercials might throw some desire deep in their brains, but that's not going to be what moves devices once they're in the store and looking to pick up something new.

 

[PereDroid]

Agree. Marketing is KING.
HTC Droid INceridlbe was a huge hit for HTC. The TBolt did even better. The ONE was considered a success.
Hmmm. How many HTC commercials have I seen? One for the DINC and one for the ONE and one for the TBolt.
Funny how that works, right?