Moto done right? Moto X4 coming to Project Fi, will receive two years of updates

Google may have just out-Motoed Motorola. The search engine giant announced that the upcoming Moto X4 is coming to the Project Fi network for USD$399. Oh, and it’ll receive two years of support and software updates straight from Google.

As a quick refresher, the Moto X4 is a mid-range handset that was recently announced by Motorola at IFA 2017 a few weeks ago. Sporting a Snapdragon 630 and either 3 or 4 GB of RAM, the smartphone is the latest iteration in the once-venerable Moto X line. So far, reactions to the announcement have been mixed, with some decrying the design as too far a departure from what made Moto X phones popular. Mix this with the latest missteps by Motorola (and their parent company Lenovo) concerning the update schedule of last year’s Moto G4 lineup and it’s easy to see why consumers are skeptical of the brand. However, while some mourn the Moto of old, some redemption may come from an outside source: Google.

Google announced earlier today that the Moto X4 would be available as an Android One device compatible with their Project Fi cellular network. Since it falls under the Android One umbrella, this version of the Moto X4 will run Stock Android and is guaranteed to receive support and software updates from Google for at least two years. The tech giant has a fairly good track record when it comes to updating their Nexus, Pixel, and Android One device families, so there’s good reason to be optimistic about the software side of the Android One Moto X4. Given Moto’s less than stellar device support since their purchase by Lenovo, this may be the Moto that Android enthusiasts will want to buy.

This also marks the first phone outside of Google’s Nexus or Pixel lines to be compatible with their Project Fi network. Prior to this announcement, consumers wanting to hop on Project Fi would have to purchase a Nexus or Pixel device, which some saw as an expensive barrier to entry. The Moto X4 will retail for a more affordable $399; while some may still see this price tag as too high, it’s a good deal less than the $700+ they’d have to shell out for a Pixel or Pixel XL. The Moto X4 is up for preorder now, and Google is offering a trade-in program that can reduce the cost up to $388, depending on the device traded. Full details are available here.

The benefit of Project Fi is its modular pricing structure. For $20/month, Project Fi customers get unlimited calls and texts, and data rates are charged at $10 per gigabyte used, purchased in whole gigabytes. Any unused data is credited at a calculated rate in the form of a refund, which makes the network enticing for some budget-conscious callers. A modern smartphone that doesn’t break the bank may be the push some consumers need to make the jump.

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