Motorola has refuted reports that its Moto G and Moto E smartphone lines are to be culled.
The company’s Chinese owner, Lenovo, recently revealed that the Motorola brand was to be phased out, and that the American entity’s phone range was to be assimilated into its own. It seemed as if the “Moto” brand would represent Lenovo’s high-end offerings, while its own “Vibe” brand would pick up the low-end.
This led many to speculate that the popular – and highly affordable – Moto G and and Moto E lines would be discontinued. That doesn’t seem to be the case, however.
“Although we’re simplifying the combined Motorola and Lenovo portfolio, we have no plans to retire Moto G, our most successful smartphone, or Moto E,” a Motorola representative told The Verge.
It seems there won’t be a clean divide between top-end Moto and low-end Vibe, either. Rather, regional differences will dictate which handsets are released where.
Cutting the Moto G would have been an extraordinary move. It’s been one of the most popular smartphone lines of recent years, and has helped establish the current trend for high-quality but low-price Android handsets.
However, prior to this statement, the future of the even more affordable Moto E seemed in doubt. Just recently, a Chinese interview with Lenovo executive Chen Xudong suggested that Motorola’s entire 2016 range would feature fingerprint sensors and 5-inch or bigger displays.
Related: Moto G3 vs Moto G2
It seemed doubtful that an £80 smartphone could pack in such components. It still seems a little doubtful.
So, will the next Moto E receive a price hike? Or are we looking at the bargain of the year?
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
