Motorola’s Moto X4 Combines Amazon Alexa With Project Fi Connectivity

Motorola has long been synonymous with high-quality and affordable smartphones. It also hasn’t been shy about trying new things and delivering features that other phone makers weren’t offering. The company is again sticking to that philosophy with the new Moto X4, a smartphone that combines affordability with some differentiating features, such as Project Fi mobile connectivity support and an unencumbered version of Android, which could attract customers on a budget. Motorola, a division of Chinese computer giant Motorola, is addressing the affordability issue by prices the Moto X4 at $399. But there are some caveats regarding power and functionality that users will need to keep in mind before choosing the Moto X4. Take a look at this slide show to learn more about this smartphone’s high and low points.

The Moto X4 won’t be a showcase for the latest power-hungry mobile applications. Rather, the device runs a midrange Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, which has a 2.2GHz octa-core CPU coupled with the Adreno 508, a GPU that should allow it to run most games and apps.

Motorola has signed on with Amazon to include the Alexa virtual assistant in the Moto X4. Users will be able to call on Alexa to make appointments, listen to music, shop online and control smart-home devices.

The Moto X4 ships with Android 7.1 Nougat. But unlike most other Android devices, the Moto X4 doesn’t have a specialized user interface skin developed by Motorola. The Moto X4 is running on a standard Nougat version, complete with all of Google’s services including Chrome, YouTube and Google Play.

Moto X4 will support Google’s Project Fi, a wireless service that aims to give mobile users the best wireless connection regardless of where they are. It’s unknown whether Project Fi support will help increase the Moto X4’s sales, but Motorola is pitching it as an important differentiating point.

Although it’s a lower-priced midrange smartphone, the Moto X4 will ship with a dual-lens camera. One camera will feature a 12-megapixel dual autofocus sensor, while the other will have an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle lens. The front-facing camera also has a 16-megapixel sensor and an adaptive low-light mode for selfies.

Motorola’s smartphone ships with a 3,000mAh battery pack, which should be capable of delivering power throughout the day, according to the company. It also supports TurboPower charging, providing six hours of power after just 15 minutes of charging time.

Those looking for a new-age design won’t find it in the Moto X4. It has a traditional flat display and large bezels all around. It also has a physical home button, making the handset look outdated next to higher-end smartphones including the Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Essential Phone, and iPhone X.

Although the Moto X 4 ships with just 32GB of onboard storage, it has an expandable memory slot for a microSD card to boost the amount of space available. According to Motorola, the Moto X4 can accommodate cards with up to 2TB of storage.

Like other smartphones Motorola announced this year, the Moto X4 offers protection from both moisture and dust, thanks to an IP68 safety rating. The device can operate in dusty environments, and will still work if dropped in puddles or splashed with water.

Motorola will start shipping the Moto X4 this fall, first in Asia. The company hasn’t said when it will hit North American store shelves, but when it does, the smartphone will be available for $399 in the U.S.