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Moto G2 Release: What Buyers Can Expect

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The Moto G2 launch date is confirmed for September 4th. And with just a few days left before the new smartphone is officially announced, we want to make a few predictions and share multiple reports and rumors surrounding the new Moto G2 release date. To be more precise, the Moto G2 release in the United States.

Back in February the first rumors started when Motorola tweeted that a new Moto X would arrive later this summer, but they never mentioned a new Moto G. However, the past month we’ve seen countless leaks arrive that all but confirm the new Moto G2.

Read: Moto G2 Release: 5 Things You Need to Know

More and more details continue to arrive suggesting the Moto G2 will launch along side the new Moto X+1, as well as the Moto 360 smartwatch all early this month. While this weekend more reports leaks suggesting the price and a global launch, there’s still plenty we don’t know about the release in the US. Below is everything we know so far, and what buyers may need to know as well.

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Last year the Moto G was released, a lower-cost version of the Moto X for those on a budget or emerging markets, and it was an instant success. The Moto G was actually the company’s most successful smartphone to date. It sold millions of units and a successor is about to be announced that should have many prospective buyers excited.

Back in July the first Moto G2 rumors started to surface, and since then a few small leaks have appeared that shed some light on what we can expect. Then last week a full set of images arrived as well as a few Brazilian retailers posting specs, details, and eventually a price. Remember though, Brazil prices are much higher than the US, and a $400 price for the Moto G2 isn’t likely.

The most detailed bit of information finally surfaced a few weeks ago, but it still doesn’t confirm anything. A retailer posted up the full Moto G2 specs, but until Motorola takes the stage and makes it all official, these are still mostly based on rumors and leaks. Even though they’re pretty accurate and from reliable sources.

Release Date

First things first, the release date is important, as buyers are waiting to get new phones or preparing for back to school purchases. While these are only rumors, and could be more aimed at the Moto X+1 and not the Moto G2, sources suggest both phones will arrive on the same day.

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Rumors initially suggested middle August for the Moto 360 and these new phones, which clearly won’t be happening, so we’ll have to assume it will be sometime in September as well. According to BGR millions of Moto G2 units are shipping around the world preparing for a major launch, including some leaked screenshots of inventory in India.

Multiple leaks out of UK retailers, as well as some “official sources” from GSMArena suggest September 10th will be the global release date of the Moto 360, Moto X+1, and the new Moto G2. This means a week after being announced, we can expect carrier to start offering the handset, or at least make announcements on when an arrival can be expected.

This middle of September date keeps appearing, so most likely buyers can expect a major launch of three new products from Motorola in the near future.

Read: Moto G Review

Specs

Original rumors suggested a small improvement over the original Moto G from 2013, but if the latest reports and leaks are accurate this may be an excellent smartphone that will be priced perfectly under the Moto X+1, and offer one of the best price/performance handsets in all of 2014. In fact, latest leaks suggest it will actually be quite close to the Moto X, only priced much lower.

The online site Livaria Lovos, a Brazilian retailer that’s accurately leaked multiple Motorola devices as of late, had this to say about the Moto G2.

Moto G2 Specs (Rumored)

  • 5.0-inch 720p HD Display
  • 1.2 GHz Quad-core processor with 1GB of RAM. Likely Snapdragon 400 (or 410)
  • 16GB of storage (Micro-SD expansion)
  • Android 4.4.4 KitKat
  • 8 Megapixel and 1.3 cameras
  • Dual Front-facing speakers
  • Dual-SIM (outside the US)
  • and more

The information above suggests the new Moto G2 will be a budget device, but a pretty impressive one to say the least. If they can hit a low price point this will be an extremely popular smartphone.. The original Moto G offered a small 4.5-inch display, a 5 megapixel camera, and only had 8GB of internal storage with no micro-SD slot. It was a decent overall smartphone, considering it was under $200, but the new Moto G2 sounds like a serious improvement.

At least one rumor suggested the screen would be 4.7-inches, the same size as the Moto X from 2013 and not 5.0, but we’ll have to wait and see. Either way this phone is stacking up to be quite impressive.

Customization

The Moto X was the most customizable smartphone ever released, and the new Moto X+1 looks to build on that by offering tons of color choices, accent colors, engravings, wood backs, and even leather options for this impressive phone. Last year the Moto G didn’t get all those options, buy buyers could still choose from an array of custom back-plate colors.

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Above are a few of the custom colors available which can easily be swapped out on the original Moto G, and we’re expecting a similar selection to be available once the new Moto G2 arrives. The company could add it to their MotoMaker customization suite, but that’s doubtful for the budget device.

Latest leaks and shipping details have the new Moto G2 listed as “Motorola G2 XT1069 Colors” in inventory, suggesting multiple colors options are indeed on board.

Price

Last but not least, is the price tag. This will be key for the Moto G2′s success, and Motorola knows that. The original was $179 from multiple carriers, and eventually was $99 from places like Verizon Wireless with pre-paid plans. In early 2014 Motorola released a revised Moto G with 4G LTE and a micro-SD slot for $229. Which gives us an idea of where this new model is headed.

Motorola could shock buyers and the competition with a low price, but given the bigger screen, better internals, and front facing speakers, we doubt that same impressive $229 price point will be met. Instead, rumor has it $249 or $279 may be the asking price in the US for the Moto G2.

MotoX-deal

The Brazilian retailer leak this weekend has the Moto G2 priced at BRL 999. In US and Euro currency that price comes out to $445/€340 for the Moto G2. Then again, electronics always have a huge markup in Brazil, and something under $300 is much more realistic for the Moto G2.

The Moto X is still over $600 in Brazil, meaning you can clearly see the hefty markup and tax on electronics. Meaning take the above rumored price with a grain of salt. Come September 4th Motorola will likely confirm everything for us.

Availability

The original Moto G launched as a global device for emerging markets, rather than something offered by all carriers in the United States. The initial launch didn’t have 4G LTE, making it a slow 3G-only phone which wasn’t offered by most US carriers. However, Verizon’s pre-paid lineup sold the Moto G, and multiple other regional carriers or smaller options like MetroPCS eventually sold the handset.

Until Motorola confirms all the details on September 4th, the launch and full retail availability is still a mystery. We know the new G2 is stacking up to be a good device, shipping to many regions around the globe that are emerging markets, but it could also get a big push in the United States from carriers as well.

With a new, bigger, better Moto G2 with 4G LTE it wouldn’t surprise us if all major US carriers offered the device for a low price, but we’ll have to wait and see. Stay tuned! We’ll be live in Chicago with all the details as they’re announced.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Joe

    09/04/2014 at 10:39 pm

    If the Moto G is 5″ expect it not to do as well. I think Motorola is missing the boat (again) at why last years was so popular. Yes, price played a part, but there are millions of phone users out there who want smaller phones, not larger ones. Guess what they buy… iPhones. The Moto g offered them an alternative. I was contemplating buying this new one, but not at 5″. Maybe I’ll look at Sony’s new sub 5″ phone.

  2. Laurence Harvey

    09/05/2014 at 2:16 am

    2070mah it seems for the moto g2 ! A what size battery ? Your having a laugh right ? 2070mah battery for a phone with that spec ? OMG motorola have really drop a b*****k this time ! The moto g 3g had the same battery which was ok but for a phone with a 5″ screen,dual stereo front speakers needs at least a 2600mah battery not a tiny 2070mah one . o`dear !

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