Just yesterday we published Motorola’s official word on the slight delay with the arrival of the Moto X Play, Moto X Style and Moto G (3rd Gen), and while the delay isn’t significant (“early September” has now been changed to “mid September”), it now looks as if we have — unofficially, at least — a precise date we can talk about.
Some well placed folk within Vodafone attended a briefing with Motorola last week, and they walked away with a timeframe for these handsets arriving in stores, as well as a better understanding of the pairing between Vodafone and Motorola for this release. First things first, the three handsets were due to go on sale tomorrow; 9 September 2015. However, some questions about stock availability led Vodafone and Motorola to jointly delay the launch until the 14th, when (presumably) more stock would be available in more stores, thus allowing a better and more consistent customer experience.
We expect the Moto G (3rd Gen) will arrive at other retailers around the same time, though as they’re not coming through Vodafone, this rumour doesn’t really apply there!
While further plans are to be confirmed, we know that the Moto X Style will launch on Vodafone’s Red $80 plan with a $3 handset payment each month, which includes 6GB of data, unlimited national calls and text, as well as Vodafone’s unlimited international calls to select destinations. Colours will be black front/back and white front/bamboo back. The Moto X Play, being a mid-tier handset, will launch on a Red $40 plan with $5 handset payment, including 1GB of data, unlimited calls and text, in the single black/grey combination (which we’ve seen; it looks good and feels better).
Both handset will be available for outright purchase, also from 14 September: $792 for the Moto X Style, and $528 for the Moto X Play.
Of course, while this information is current at the time of writing, until the stock appear in stores, we can’t be sure of anything … hopefully this won’t get pushed back further!
It’s also interesting to note there was a discussion about why Motorola chose to partner with Vodafone for the exclusive this time around. As we all know, Motorola handsets haven’t been available on carrier contracts since the Razr M and Razr HD from Telstra a couple of years back. Word is, Motorola have decided to re-enter that space to challenge the brand heavyweights, buoyed by a strong (even overwhelming) response to the Moto G range through direct retail sale.
Motorola share the same view of Vodafone — a challenger to the industry heavyweights Telstra and Optus. Given these synergies, Vodafone was a logical choice for Motorola this time around.
Let’s see if there’s stock in stores on the 14th; we’ll be checking our local Vodafone retailers at open on the 14th and we’ll let you know!
If I end up getting a Moto G 3rd Gen, I’ll get the 2GB/16GB variant…
Slow availability, Nexus and Moto X Force/Bounce rumours and Vodafone exclusivity might end up killing these phones here in Australia…
I emailed Motorola about the Moto X Play availability and got this canned response:
“we received an information that Moto X Play will be globally release this
September, however we can’t confirm the exact date. Definitely, it will
be available soon in Australia. We are still waiting for any update of
its official release date. I can assure you that any future releases
such as this one will surely be prominently advertised when appropriate.
I would advise you to visit our website from time to time for any
update of our upcoming Motorola product in Australia.”
I emailed Motorola about the release date of the Moto X Play and they replied with this canned response: “we received an information that Moto X Play will be globally release this September, however we can’t confirm the exact date. Definitely, it will be available soon in Australia. We are still waiting for any update of its official release date. I can assure you that any future releases such as this one will surely be prominently advertised when appropriate. I would advise you to visit our website from time to time for any update of our upcoming Motorola product in… Read more »
I talked to a Vodafone sales guy on the phone asking about the details of when it will be in store, and how much, 16gb or 32gb etc…
His reply was “Moto what?”. He had no idea that the phone even existed, let alone any info about it being put up for sale in Vodaphone stores.
It does not bode well for Australians 🙁
Same…
Went into a Vodafone store yesterday, the salesperson was like “Moto? Motorola? You mean the new Sony one? Yeah that’s coming”
Completely clueless. Not a good sign.
As I said above but not explicitly there are online retailers selling the 8gig version for around $300 so the proper Australian version with double the ram and storage could easy be $50-100(+) more. The Kogan one you linked is one of those overseas 8gig versions which while fine I would wait and get the proper version.
Any word on Moto 360 availability? Or even the huwai watch?
Damn, almost $800 for the X Style, when the price in the US is $399 – with Moto Maker no less!!
I’ll point out again. The LG G4 has been available for $558 recently. Why exactly would anyone pay north of $600 for the Moto X Style?
Really?
I believe Moto have been some of the fastest updates… if that’s your thing, which mine is, I’d gladly save up a bit and get the moto.
True, LG have never been great on the software side of things.
However, recent google ‘updates’ have been making things worse, so I’m not sure swift ‘upgrades’ is quite the draw it once was. Let’s just say the G4 is top of LGs list for at least the next year.
Not really a fan of the build materials on the G4 and that really bad software. The major advantage of the G4 is the camera and its great value at $558.
I wish the Moto X Style had a fingerprint scanner though
People might prefer the design, they might prefer the near stock software experience, they might prefer the motorola features, they might prefer a slightly bigger screen, they might dislike buttons on the back of the G4
Plenty of reasons, different people like different things. Phones are something you may keep 2-3 years, why be stuck with something you don’t really like just to save a few dollars if you have the money to spend more?
If we follow your theory why pay that much for the G4, why not get one of the many great value budget phones available?
Stock Android. LG UI sucks.
$399 USD = $570 AUD
Remember US adds Sales tax at point of sale, so thats $399 + TAX (aka GST). But yes we still pay more, but not as much as you make it out to be.
That’s still a big difference. Price it closer to $600 and that will be right.
I am very curious to know what the price of the Moto G 3rd Generation will be… I’ll be getting one if the new Nexus phones aren’t priced in line with the Nexus 4 and Nexus 5…
Same but I there there has been a suggestion it is likely to be $369 rrp. As it is said to also be going in to retail stores too I hope that might be sub $350 or less.
That’s still way under flagship prices… This is in all aspects a flagship in it’s own right. I’d love it to be cheap, but expect there to be a crazy AU$ conversion due to our current $ price.
True with the dollar on the down my hoped price may have been more realistic 6 months ago. That said the 8gig version is selling for around $300 AU online so in a retail shop on special I would think $350 is still very possible if not high as we get closer to Christmas.
All I know is, the maximum I am willing to spend on a phone is $500 AUD (and even then, it’s grudgingly). Between $300 and $400 is acceptable in my book. I suspect the new Nexus phones will be over $500, and if that is the case, a $369 Moto G 3rd Gen will be the way I go.
Wait a little while and the LG G4 prices will probably be less than $500 (they tend to drift down, and have been AU$550 recently).
Prefer stock Android (or as close to stock as I can get)
I am in a similar budget too but may be able to stretch to get the Play. While I am sure the Nexus phones will be good assuming they are like all of the previous models that do not have extra local storage possibility is just too much of a trade off I am not willing to chose.
Shame they’re not doing direct sales. I’ll be waiting for them to be available in Dick Smith’s so we can time a 20% off coupon. That is of course if the Huawei Nexus or LG G4 Pro doesn’t arrive sooner and grab my attention with a better value proposition.
I do want them to be sold direct, but for a major carrier to take them on will only mean direct sales in the future. We need motorola to really crack the market first. Bring on the Moto!
Oh I hope DSE has a 20% off them!
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