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Watch out LG G5: New Moto X could be modular

It’s being reported that the new Moto X will be a modular phone that could potentially show the LG G5 how it’s done.

Recent days have seen a number of leaked images of Motorola’s next flagship phone. They reveal a slim phone with an all-metal design and an unusual Moto 360-shaped camera module.

But Motorola’s design overhaul might be even more extensive than first thought, if a new report is to be believed.

According to VentureBeat, the new Moto X will support a fresh modular customisation system. It seems the tight cluster of 16 little holes seen on the back of the device in those recent image leaks do not form a speaker grille, as many predicted.

Rather, they are actually connection pins for a new modular system. They enable different magnetically-attached backplates to be hooked up to the phone, with each capable of providing additional functionality.

Motorola is said to be readying six of these modules, known as ‘Amps,’ for launch. While the Amp that will ship with the new Moto X will be a plain one, others will add a battery pack, a camera grip with flash and optical zoom, a pico projector, and a ruggedised cover with a wide angle lens attachment. Third party manufacturers are also being invited to contribute.

It means that the Moto X’s unusual protruding camera lens won’t actually stick out at all once an Amp is attached.

Related: Best Android Smartphones 2016

We’re intrigued by Motorola’s integration of this modular concept. It certainly looks smarter and more accessible than LG’s execution with the LG G5, but we’ll reserve judgement until we get some hands-on time with the new Moto X.

Reports suggest that we could see the phone making its debut at Lenovo Tech World on June 9 (Lenovo now owns Motorola), so we may only have a month to wait.

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Are you intrigued by Motorola’s modular plans, or is the whole modular thing a gimmick? Let us know what you think in the comments below.

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