Amid all the hype about Apple's iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, another smartphone maker has just started accepting pre-orders for its flagship smartphone.
Motorola opened pre-orders for its new Moto X at 12 noon Eastern Time on Sept 15. Along with the Moto X, the Google-owned company also said it is selling a lower-end Moto G smartphone, the Moto Hint Bluetooth earpiece, the Turbo Charger and, last but not the least, the Moto 360 Android Wear smart watch, which sold out in a few hours when it first went on sale last week.
The Moto X is a second-generation smartphone, with a well-liked predecessor having received positive reviews from users who wanted a pure Android experience. The new Moto X seems to be another solid piece of technology, with a 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, a 5.2-inch display, a 13-megapixel camera that can take videos in 4K, voice commands and gesture controls.
Owners can also customize their smartphones with a bamboo or black leather back for an additional $25 on top of the $499 price tag for the Moto X Pure unlocked edition, another feature which makes the Moto X desirable for users who want a high-end smartphone without wanting to burn a hole in their bank accounts.
Motorola says the Moto X is also available from AT&T for $99 for a two-year contract or $526.99 off contract. Customers can also avail of AT&T's Next 12 plan, where they pay $26.35 a month for the next 20 months and are able to upgrade to a new phone after 12 months. Under AT&T's Next 18 plan, users pay $21.96 each month and have the option to upgrade after 18 months.
The $250 Moto 360 is also back on Motorola's shelves after the company and partner retailers rapidly ran out of stock last week due to "high customer interest." Motorola, however, encourages customers to order their Moto 360 early as it is only back in stock "in limited quantities." The Moto 360's classic round watch face and the slim bezel has caught the attention of many a smart watch fan, since most smart watches released before the Moto 360 looked nothing more like miniature smartphones slapped to the user's wrist.
Also available for sale is the Moto G, an updated mid-range smartphone users can buy for $179.99 if they are not obsessed with having a top-of-the-line phone all the time. The Moto Hint, a small, discreet Bluetooth headset with smart features and can sync with more than 150 devices, is also now available for $150, along with the Turbo Charger, which Motorola claims can charge up its high-end phones to eight hours for a 15-minute charge.
Motorola will start shipping the Moto X on Sept. 26. AT&T's website, however, says the new phone will become available on Sept. 23.
