It’s finally happening – Motorola announced this morning that it’s bringing the Moto X to Australia.
The device has appeared on the Australian Motorola site, although it’s listed as coming soon.
If you can’t remember the phone that caused such a stir in 2013, you get 16GB of internal storage behind the device’s 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED display, with a customised 1.7GHz Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro Krait CPU, 2GB RAM and a 2200 mAh battery. There’s a 10MP rear camera and 2MP front, and it’s running the latest version of Android (KitKat 4.4.2) out of the box.
The phone will offer 4G LTE connectivity on Telstra, Optus and Vodafone, although it only supports 800, 1800 and 2600 Mhz so won’t work on some of the more niche networks like Optus’s “4G Plus” network that operates on the 2300MHz frequency in various markets.
Motorola’s playing up the always-listening aspect of the device, with today’s press release making a big point of the voice control features of the phone. It’s a good choice on Motorola’s part, as the voice control has been widely regarded as a high point for the phone in overseas markets.
Disappointingly, the Moto Maker service isn’t part of the Australian launch. This was a customisation service in the US that allowed customers to order a personalised Moto X with their choice of colours – we have to settle for black or white. Hopefully Motorola will see fit to bring customisation options to Australia soon.
We haven’t heard details of retailers or carriers for the device yet, but it’ll be available for an outright purchase of around $549, and we heard a rumour last week that it’ll be sold through Telechoice.
We’re pretty sure that the Moto X will find a userbase here, but there’s no denying that Motorola’s quite late in bringing the Moto X to market here. The device’s specs were a little outdated at its US launch in mid-2013, but it brought some pretty awesome battery life to compensate, as did its little brother, the Moto G.
Given that the rumour mill is already heating up for the Moto X2, and the 2014 flagships from Samsung and HTC are about to be unleashed here, we have to wonder if the Australian release of the Moto X is a case of too little, too late?
Either way, we’re looking forward to finally putting the Moto X through its paces and will have a review of the Australian model in the coming weeks.
Full press release follows:
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Motorola Introduces Moto X in Australia.
Moto X™. Ready when you are.
AUSTRALIA, March 17th, 2014 – Meet Moto X™ by Motorola: the ultimate wingman, because your smartphone should work for you — not the other way around. Moto X represents the best of Motorola and Google, and it’s coming to Australian customers.
Moto X has a unique curved back, designed to fit your hand. Talk to Moto X and it learns your voice. With Google Now, it tells you what you need to know – even when you’re not touching it. With two flicks of your wrist, Moto X becomes your camera and captures the shots you used to miss. It’s ready when you are.
“At Motorola our roots are deep in mobile hardware – we invented mobile communications,” says John Demezieres, Account Director Motorola Mobility Australia. “Moto X fuses our history of mobile innovation with the best of Google mobile services to create experiences that no other smartphone can match.”
No touching.
To use your Moto X, you only need your voice. Without touching it at all, you can get directions, set an alarm or do just about anything—just by talking. Say “OK Google Now” to get started. Ask it if you need an umbrella and it gives you up-to-the-minute weather for your location. Tell it you’re going home, and your Moto X will get you there. Because it knows your voice, Moto X can do things other phones can’t.
Moto X is always ready to tell you what you need to know. Instead of a uselessly blinking light, Moto X gives you useful info at a glance with Active Notifications, which appear right on screen. Even while it’s asleep, it’s always on top of things. A last-minute dinner invite? A missed call from your boss? A key email while an important meeting is going on? It doesn’t interrupt.
Get the shot.
Moto X knows you need a camera, and it’s always ready to go. Just twist your wrist twice and it’s ready. Touch anywhere on the screen, and you’ll get the shot. All in just a few seconds. Continuous shooting capabilities, as well as a 10MP camera, mean the photos you do take are the ones you want. With Moto X, you’ll always get the shot.
Even smarter.
Don’t have your Moto X nearby? The Motorola Connect extension for Google ChromeTM lets you see and respond to notifications and text messages – right from your desktop. Hate the hassle of switching phones? Motorola Migrate makes it easy to transfer the contents of your old phone1 onto your Moto X. Just pair your phone to your Moto X through WiFi direct and your photos, texts, SIM contacts and even your call history and some settings will be transferred. Just a few example of how Moto X puts the smart in smartphone.
Availability
Moto X will be available in black or white this month for as little as AUD $549.00. For more information, please visit motorola.com.au
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How do you feel about the Australian release of the Moto X? Will you be switching to Motorola’s new flagship? Tell us in the comments!
