At this point of time, we know nearly everything about the Moto X. The device has leaked numerous times over the last couple of months in pictures, press renders, and in an advert video from Rogers as well. With Motorola sending out the invites for the Moto X event on 1st August earlier this week, its time we did a quick run down of what all is known about the Moto X. 

The first thing that you must be wondering is why the Moto X is getting so much attention from the press, when it seemingly looks like another Android device? Well, the Moto X is going to be the first phone from the Motorola stable that has been manufactured with inputs from Google. With the X, Motorola and Google are aiming to provide consumers with the option to customize their phone right from the factory, along with providing freedom from the carriers with an ultra-low unlocked price. The X is not a high-end Android phone, but instead, it is a mid-range Android device that is completely going to revolutionise the mid-range Android phone segment.

Specs

As stated, the Motorola X phone is not going to compete with the likes of the One or the Galaxy S4. It is going to be a mid-range spec’d Android device that will still offer a very smooth Android experience. The specs of the handset have leaked numerous times, and are near confirmed at this point. The spec sheet of the Moto X are as follows -:

• Dual core Qualcomm Krait cores clocked at 1.7GHz
• Adreno 320 GPU
• 4.5-inch 720p screen
• 2GB RAM, 16GB of storage
• 10MP rear camera with ‘ClearPixel’ technology, 2MP front-snapper
• Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with ‘Hello Moto’ feature
• 2200mAh non-removable battery
• Bunch of sensors for contextual awareness

If the rumored unlocked price of the Moto X of $329 turns out to be true, then the handset is truly going to be a game changer. No Android phone in that price range can hold a candle to the X’s spec sheet. More than the processors, it is the array of sensors and how Motorola is going to use them, that is going to make this handset a hit-or-a-miss in the market.

The build quality of the handset is also going to be typical Motorola with a kevlar back. The design is also not too different from the previous DROID phones. The leaked pictures have confirmed though, that the phone is going to have a highly curved back like on the HTC One, which should greatly help ergonomics.

Features

One of the Moto X most highlighted features is going to be its ‘Always On’ voice commands capability. Using the ‘Hello Moto’ feature, the user can directly command the phone to call a person or do a Google search, even when the phone is locked and the screen is switched off. People who have already played around with the phone have confirmed that the phrase to wake up the phone from sleep and say a command is fully customizable as well.

Another highlight of the Moto X is going to be its ClearPixel camera and the new gesture to start the camera. The ‘ClearPixel’ camera should greatly improve low-light picture quality and reduce the blur as well. There is also a unique new gesture to start the camera, as seen on the leaked Rogers video. Whether this gesture is a hit or miss, is something that only time can tell.

http://youtu.be/PMoAl6MnB5c

Customization is also going to be one of the Moto X most highlighted feature. The phone will be assembled in the USA by Motorola, and from what the rumors and leak suggests, the buyer is going to have a certain degree of customization options at his disposal as well.

Battery Life, Price and Availability

Motorola phones have been known for killer battery life, and the Moto X is going to be no different. The phone sports a dual-core processor, a bunch of sensors, a 4.5-inch screen and is powered by a beefy 2200mAh battery. This should be more than enough to make the phone last one full day of heavy usage. While it is not going to be like the Note 2 or the DROID MAXX, it will certainly be among the best.

As I stated in the beginning of the article, the Moto X is going to be a game changer in the mid-range market. The rumored price of the handset is $329, unlocked, which has never been heard of before for a device with such specs. Motorola and Google are also expected to sell the Moto X on all the major US networks, including Sprint, T-Mobile, AT&T and even Verizon. There is no news on how much the device will cost on contract, but if the unlocked price of the handset is correct, it will make little sense buying the phone on-contract.

With Motorola unveiling the Moto X on 1st August, the device should hit the retail stores by the end of the 2nd week of August itself.

Rumors

The initial rumors of the Moto X pegged the phone as a super-phone with super-features and super-customizable features. That was a one ‘super’ too many. The handset is not going to provide users with the option to customize its spec sheet, or the design, or even use a wooden back. Instead, the customization options are going to be limited to say different colors, wallpapers and ringtones etc.

These rumors were, and still are, too good to be true. The technology, the economics of large-scale production are still not there, that a company can afford to make a highly customizable phone for its buyers.