Google acquired Motorola Mobility a year ago but we're still yet to see a handset slide out bearing the search giant's brand and Moto's design.
Google and Motorola finally confirmed the existence of the Moto X in early July, promising that you - yes, you - may be able to design certain elements of the phone yourself.
Rumours surrounding the handset we previously knew as the Motorola X Phone have been around since December 2012 and, until the joint announcement, speculation and leaks were rife.
It would make sense for Google to use Motorola as the manufacturer of its next Nexus-branded smartphone, as this would give the firm greater control at every stage of production but it doesn't look as though the Moto X will be a Nexus handset after all.
The advert that revealed the first official details described Motorola as a 'a Google company' but made no mention of the Google-owned Nexus brand.
- Read: Google Nexus 4 review
The Moto X and 'that' ad
On July 2, Ad Age revealed an ad scheduled for US newspapers over the July 4 holiday, which confirmed the Moto X name.
It promises that the handset will be "designed, engineered and assembled in the USA". And who'll be doing that design work?
The ex-X Phone will be "the first smartphone that you can design yourself," the ad says. What that really means is not yet clear.
After the ad surfaced, ABC News cited sources who claim that Moto X buyers will be able to choose the colour of their handset.
What's more, you'll be able to have a name or quote or whatever engraved on the back of the handset, just as you can do with Apple iPods and the like.
So far so not that exciting, and the only other choice that ABC's sources say we'll get is when it comes to storage options.
It doesn't sound abundantly as though the handset is "a real breakthrough, a game changer that will put pressure on Samsung and Apple" as one Australian network promised of the X Phone.
However, we've pulled together all the rest of the internet chatter surrounding the Moto X and stuffed it into one manageable article, just for you.
Motorola X phone release date and price
Original reports surrounding the Motorola X Phone release date seemed to point towards the annual Google IO conference which took place in mid-May - although no such product was announced.
This means that initial reports suggesting the X Phone would arrive in stores in either June or July are way off, and word that it's been delayed until August or later look more likely.
When the X Phone actually does launch consumers may still have a lengthy wait before the handset lands in their sweaty palms - especially if the Nexus 4 is anything to go by which sold out in minutes when the first stock was made available, leaving many waiting for more units to turn up.
Update: The latest on the X Phone release date hunt is word from Motorola's CEO Dennis Woodside, who spilled the beans to reveal the firm's next hero device would be called the Moto X while hinting that it could see an October launch.
If the Motorola X does carry Google's name, we could also see some rather competitive pricing as the search giant looks to undercut the top phones of the moment - such as the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One.
Pie or Beans
Google-branded handsets usually usher in a new version of the Android operating system, so if the Motorola X Phone does eventually end up adopting the search giant's name you can expect it to arrive running the latest Android platform.
Key Lime Pie seemed to be on the cards for the X Phone in the swathe of early rumours although more recently there's been a change of tack.
Update: We've seen reports saying that Key Lime Pie has been delayed, with an updated version of Jelly Bean, known as Android 4.3 possibly gracing the Moto X.
However a few leaks have popped up claiming that the Motorola X Phone is actually packing the current version of Google's mobile platform - Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.
Look at this
The X Phone might build on the 4.7-inch display found on the Nexus 4 and rock up with a 5-inch screen with almost no bezel.
Another "tipster" doesn't agree though, claiming the Motorola X will stick with the 4.7-inch format and instead up the resolution to Full HD, for a truly eye-popping display - something which has also been "confirmed" by a separate source.
We're not done there though, with 4.65-inch also being bandied about as the potential screen size for the X Phone, although the unconvincing renders this information arrived with makes us question it.
Maybe we should ignore all that though, as a source which claims to actually have an X Phone states it sports a 4.8-inch display.
Update: The 4.6-inch argument has been given more fuel after an image leaked apparently showing the Moto X, claiming it had a 720p screen around the 4.5 to 4.6-inch mark.
Specs
In terms of power the Motorola X phone is hotly tipped to pack a 1.7GHz quad-core processor - various sources say the same thing - along with 2GB of RAM.
That's not the only processor which has been linked to the X though, with Android World claiming it's been told it could carry a powerful 2.3GHz Nvidia 4i chip.
The same leak also points towards the Motorola X packing a punchy 16MP camera which would put the handset head and shoulders above the current crop of flagship smartphones, plus it could measure a pocket friendly 131.2 x 66.7 x 7.9mm.
Another rumour claims that the new UI that will feature on the X phone will integrate a host of new features to rival Samsung's S-Beam, S-Voice and the like.
In terms of storage we could well see the Motorola X offered in a 32GB guise, which will be music to some people's ears after being left frustrated that the Nexus 4 was only available in 8GB and 16GB variants.
Update: The 2GB of RAM looks like it's pretty much nailed on to be inside the X Phone after another source revealed the RAM for the handset, and it was also mentioned in a report in mid-June which also highlighted a 1.7GHz dual-core chip, 16GB of internal storage and 10MP and 2MP back and front cameras.
Real or render?
In terms of what the Motorola X Phone could potentially look like we've had a few leaks claiming to show the handset.
First up are a set of images picked up by Vietnamese site Tinhte and while the handset in question looks pretty impressive in terms of style, they appear to be renders instead of photos of the actual device.
The next set of images come courtesy of @evleaks and apparently show the X phone with a prototype chassis in order to protect its identity.
Comparisons can be drawn between the handset in these images and the renders above - with the front facing Motorola logo sitting in the same place.
The latest image appears to show a handset which bares far more of a resemblance to previous Motorola handsets such as the Razr HD and Razr i - and we hope this isn't the design as we're rather fond of the curvaceous render above.
Update: Another day, another Moto X phone leak, and by looks of it another design too. The image appears to mirror the earlier renders we saw - sporting a more rounded finish.
Source : techradar[dot]com
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