Motorola's new Moto Z line made the news well before becoming official, with various leaks and reports anticipating what to expect.
As Motorola was setting out to formally introduce its latest Moto Z smartphones, the general belief was that the new series would come to replace the Moto X line. The rebranding of the Moto X as Moto Z was considered part of Motorola's metamorphosis under its new parent's wing, as it is now a Lenovo company.
Motorola, for its part, unveiled the new Moto G line last month, and announced the Moto Z series this week, but made no mention of the Moto X up until now.
Android Police reached out to Motorola to clarify what the new Moto Z series actually means for the Moto X. Based on Motorola's response, it seems that we're not looking at a replacement here, just a new addition.
The Moto Z smartphones are a new experience, boasting higher specs and adding modular options called Moto Mods, but they're not designed to replace the Moto X line - at least not at this point.
"Moto X is alive and well. In fact, Moto X Force recently launched in multiple new markets around the world," says Motorola, as cited by Android Police. "Moto X and Moto Z do share some great qualities, but they ultimately provide different experiences and make our portfolio more robust for consumers looking for the perfect smartphone to fit their needs."
Motorola adds that the Moto Z targets power users who want the latest and greatest.
In other words, it seems that the Moto X will live on, but its position will slightly shift. Whereas the Moto X used to be the flagship lineup and the Moto G the more affordable, budget offering, the new scheme paints a different picture with the Moto Z as the flagship. The new Moto Z smartphones have all the bells and whistles to make them worthy of the flagship title and the Moto X pales in comparison, so future Moto X devices will likely come in the upper-mid-range segment.
It will be interesting to see how Motorola will evolve under Lenovo and how it will make the distinction between its different lines, but at least the Moto X is not going anywhere.
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