After skipping for the smartphone scene for some time, Motorola has officially brought back its Moto X line. The fourth-gen Moto X, or the Moto X4 as it's called, isn't a flagship by current standards, but it's close.

It fills Motorola's midrange category but elevates it in unique ways. It doesn't look what you'd expect a midrange handset to look, covered with a metal and glass design combo that makes it look both fresh and premium. Its Gorilla Glass 4 protection prevents severe scratches, and it's also IP68 water and dust resistant.

Moto X4: Dual Cameras

Very few midrangers have dual cameras yet the Moto X4 does. It's a 12- and 8-megapixel combo with apertures of f/2.0 and f/2.2, respectively. The selfie shooter is also a stunner at 16 megapixels. It features what Motorola calls "adaptive low-light mode" which delivers better-lit photos in low-light scenes.

Moto X4: Processor And Memory

Because the Moto X4 is a midrange device, its Snapdragon 630 chip and 3 or 4 GB of RAM can't hold a candle to Snapdragon 835-carrying flagships with 4 or 6 GB of memory. That's just the kind corners Motorola had to cut to keep the price down.

The Moto X4 has a 5.2-inch screen with a 1080p resolution, which is already good for a midrange device. It packs a 3,000 mAh battery, which Motorola says can last up to 24 hours between charges. Included in the box is a TurboPower charger that gives six hours of power in just 15 minutes of charging.

Moto X4: Amazon Alexa

One of the Moto X4's key features is the native integration of the Amazon Alexa digital assistant, which is quite rare. Those in the United States, UK, or Germany will be able to make voice commands to Alexa. It also functions much of the same way as it does on Echo devices. If you don't fancy Alexa, there's still support for Google Assistant, which is just standard fare, this being an Android Nougat device.

Moto X4: Pricing And Availability

The Moto X4 launches in Europe for €399, which puts it around $475. Available in either Super Black or Sterling Blue, the phone is expected to launch in the United States later this fall.

The Moto X4 certainly looks like an excellent midrange device, but it's in an awkward sitting position among Motorola's other offerings. It almost costs as much as a Moto Z2 Play, which, unlike the Moto X4, supports Moto Mods accessories and is a truly premium device.

Thoughts about the Moto X4? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!