And the countdown starts for the Moto X 2016 release date as a leaked photo purportedly showed off key feature upgrades that Motorola and Lenovo plan for the flagship device. The next Moto X will include a front-located fingerprint reader and a USB Type-C port with the device build and design getting a significant redesign treatment.
In a photo posted by hellomotoHK via Google+, an evidently phablet-size smartphone was seen powered on and flashing the Motorola logo on the upper left corner. The screen size appears large or the same size of the 2015 version.
Easily noticeable is the button just below the display panel that likely will be the fingerprint reader, which according to Droid Life practically confirms an earlier hint by Lenovo that the biometric feature will become standard on all flagship devices that the company will roll out.
It is possible too that the bottom connectivity port of the Moto X 2016 is a USB Type-C, which indicates that the next-generation device is engineered for quick charging and faster data transfer. In a report, 9to5Google also noted that with the Moto X having a fingerprint reader on the front panel the device will inevitably lose its front-blasting stereo speakers.
The leaked image looks like a Moto prototype device that is currently being tested by a Motorola executive so the features displayed are unsure to make the final cut.
But in previous statements, Motorola has indicated that the follow up to the Moto X 2015 will have premium upgrades - high-end inside components and a solid metal build. It's highly likely that the device main engine is the Snapdragon 820 chip that is proving to be the preferred power source of Android flagships. And it should be safe to assume that SD 820 on the Moto X 2016 will be supported by at least 4GB of RAM.
As for the body, since Motorola will switch to metal and glass, a design overhaul can be expected with the curvy rear panel giving way to a flatter and slimmer build. It is unclear though if the next Moto X will continue to offer customization options in light of the impending design shift.
But one thing is clear - that on release date, predicted to happen between August and September, the Moto X 2016 will still rock near-stock Android, likely the pure form of Android N save for a few signature Moto add-ons.