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Ausdroid has heard your feedback loud, very loud, and very clear. In our coverage of Motorola’s 2015 range, including the Moto G 3rd Gen, Moto X Play and Moto X Style, your feedback has been overwhelming. We’ve had over 175 comments across our recent coverage, and that tells us something. You guys are pretty damned excited about what Motorola’s offering, and that’s a good thing; we’re excited about it too.

We’ve also heard your feedback that you don’t like the idea of Vodafone’s exclusive on the handsets, and not being able to buy them outright. That feedback has come through comments on our articles, discussions on social media, and comments on Google+.

We’ve been talking to Motorola, and Vodafone, and talking to them a lot in the last couple of days. I’ll cut to the chase. Our advocacy, your demand for these phones, and Vodafone’s genuine desire to do the right thing by customers has come to a head, and we’re happy to announce this:

From today, and until close of business on Tuesday 29 September, you can buy both the Moto X Play and Moto X Style, outright, from any Vodafone store (provided they’ve got them in stock). The Moto X Play will be available outright for $528, and the Moto X Style available for $792.

This instruction has come from head office and has gone to all front-line staff, so there should be no issues. If you want either phone, pop into a Vodafone store and tell them you’d like to buy it outright. Show them a copy of this article if needs be, and walk out with your new Moto.

Will this development see you buying a Moto X Style or Play from a Vodafone store? Please let us know in the comments.

 

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Acelace

Kogan have the
Motorola Moto X Play 4G LTE XT1562 (16GB, Black)
for $499. I not sure if its the same?

Adam Malcontenti-Wilson

Seems I missed out, anyone know any stores that are still selling it outright? Seems like the only places I can find are a fair bit more expensive closer to the $820 mark.

Graye

Hello, I wrote to Motorola yesterday because I am not happy with the way some of you have been treated by Vodafone. Motorola’s reply says, ” the Moto X Style & Moto X Play is only available with Vodafone at the moment but definitely, the outright model will be available soon in the market with our partner retailers in Australia. We were informed that the Moto X Style & Moto X Play will be released this coming October, however we can’t confirm the exact date. So nothing to worry about because we will be releasing a Moto X Play &… Read more »

Chris

The phones on offer from Vodafone are identical to what will go on retail later this year, except that the retail versions MAY offer dual-SIM functionality, whereas the Vodafone ones won’t.

zeitgeb3r

Possibility of dual-SIM? Wow. Dual SIM rocks as I can take advantage of cheap data-only SIM no-commitment plans when there is a one-off promotion,
then throw away the SIM when promotion is over.

Graye

Thanks Chris, guess we’ll have to wait and see whether that’s the case. A dual-SIM phone is of zero interest to me though.

Naz

I went to Cannington Vodafone and they did not allow me to purchase the phone outright… until I showed them this article. Thanks to this article I was able to purchase my new Moto X style. Cheers Ausdroid

Zanthraz

Picked up the Black Style from Inalloo in WA outright after a little talking with the staff as they weren’t aware of the story from the start. Also Whitfords and Perth City had stock when last I checked and are more than happy to sell. Both the Style and Play outright. So far in WA the message has come through pretty well.

Matt Croker

hey does anyone know if the vodafone store in the macquarie centre sydney has stock? Ive been to the three closest stores to me and all of them have had no demo models and refused to sell one t me outright even if i showed them the article.

Christopher

Hey guys – I know it’s not the post that we’re talking about it, but it’s all Moto I guess – anyone know what’s going on with the Moto G? We’re now outside of the “Mid September” window and my mum is killing me to organise her new phone and I can’t keep telling her to keep waiting! Hahaha!

Paul

I received a reply from Motorola today on this very question, saying they are waiting for an update on the situation from higher management… So, no, unfortunately

Christopher

Such a joke… Nexus season is here so their window is getting very small very fast.

VR

I went to the Vodafone store in Parramatta to make my purchase, they denied this story. And I was told this was a false info and they have been advised by their management that even in the near future this is not gonna change.

Chris

lol is that right … I’ll forward that to Vodafone and see what they say.

Ashton

For anyone living on the Gold Coat, I just got X Style outright from Vodaphone in Robina Town Center. They said they weren’t selling it outright until I showed them this article and they changed their minds.

They only seem to have the black one, but its better than nothing.

Shoo Shoebridge

Hi all, I’m excited that this topic is trending. I’ve been into a couple of different Canberra stores and the George St Sydney store, and nobody seems to have stock of the white/bamboo model. There’s also a fair bit of confusion – one salesperson at Belconnen told me on the phone she can order it in for me, another I spoke to this morning said she can’t. I’m really surprised and disappointed at Motorola particularly over this botched launch. I’d love to buy a white/bamboo model outright, but I can’t do it on the website, and none of the stores… Read more »

Ammad

I went to the store in Woden, ACT again. The phones were finally there, but no working demos and the guy simply refused to sell it outright.

freshj1ve

Was the white version there?

Ammad

The ones on display were black ones. Not sure if they had the white ones in stock.

freshj1ve

All good mate, thanks anyway!

Shahid Hasan

As of just now civic has one and Belconnen had two of the blacks. They’ll deny being able to sell outright until you show them proof (ausdroid article worked for me). Unfortunately I’m at woden who don’t have any…

BrainBeat

I got my X Play yesterday from TTP in Adelaide. Both the stores there knew were happy to sell it outright. The first one I went to in the hope of getting some hands on time with real one needed to just check to make sure they could do it which they could. They did however not have any demo units and suggested I go to DSE to see if they had one. I went there and they still do not even have the models in their system so it would seem these Motos are not getting to the 3rd… Read more »

Daniel Tyson

The Moto X Play will be heading to retail, the Moto X Style is definitely a Vodafone only exclusive. Whatever the Moto Mobility support staff said isn’t coming unfortunately.

We spoke with the management at Motorola vs the front line staff at Moto Mobility support staff

Shahid Hasan

I’ll take your word for it and see tomorrow if any of the places nearby have changed their mind since Friday.

Snoozin

Can you confirm if this retail version will be 2 sims next time you talk to Moto management?

Peter

Bought a Moto X style from Vodafone Knox Shopping centre in Melbourne. Guy thought I was a bit weird but no questions ask and they put it through. They had a few in stock but I was only asking about the black. So far loving this phone. The phone comes with a turbo charger (12v), a usb cable, a pair of headphones and a clear not very good bumper.

Peter

Just wanted to comment about my choice of pulling the trigger on this phone. I am absolutely loving this phone. Such a massive upgrade from the Nexus 5. Downsides are it is big and hard to handle compared to the Nexus 5, but no different to almost every flagship except the S6. It is heavy which makes it easy to drop of your trying to use it one handed. But coming from the Nexus 5 it is absolutely lovely to see how together all the features are. Moto assist, Moto Actions, Moto voice, and Moto Display are all awesome! I… Read more »

John Bousattout

Hey mate, thanks for the feedback.

I’ll be upgrading from a Nexus 5 also, so this info is invaluable to me.

I’d love to know how it all works for you after a week of use? Particularly in regards to charging and everyday use. How does it feel in the hand? How does it feel in the pocket?

Have you gotten used to the size?

Peter

I probably cant sum up that well yet. But here is a few things. Like I is said before Moto features are awesome! Way better than any 3rd party app on the play store. One thing is there is no Moto Connect Chrome extension to write sms from a desktop browser, looks like Motorola is killing this feature off. But everyone says PushBullet is better anyway. Getting used to the size and weigh. It feels surprisingly OK in the pocket, probably from not having sharp corners and a curved back. The display’s backlight goes really low which is great for… Read more »

John Bousattout

Thanks for that mate. I’m certain that i can get my money back on the G4 i recently bought.
So i’m going to hold out for the new N5. Then make up my mind from there.
Either I’ll stick to the G4, Grab a Moto or N5.

Kosta Markovic

I purchased mine yesterday from Vodafone Warringah Mall in Brookvale and they had six in stock. They asked if I could unpack it in the store so they could see the how the phone looks like and what you get in the box.

Lauren

Hi just wondering if you have a vodafone account? I have tried to buy the moto x style outright but they will not let me as I dont have an account with Vodafone.

Kosta Markovic

I do have an Vodafone account but in this article they say that they sould be selling the phone to anyone who wants to buy it till the 29th at least. You sould push them on the matter and show them this article and they should capitulate.

Lauren

I think I will make it my mission tomorrow. You would think they would be happy for the sale but clearly not

peter

Just bought the moto x style from Vodafone store in Waurn Ponds (Geelong, Vic) without any trouble. They have more stock there if you guys are looking for a store to buy from

freshj1ve

Thanks Chris for all your efforts in regards to the Moto “saga”. Any word on the street when the white ones will be in stock in stores? Cheers!

Chris

We’ve raised feedback with Vodafone; QVB and Westfield Chatswood should have received a reminder to sell the phone outright if available. Allphones we can’t do anything about. Sounds like people are having a fairly good chance of finding the phones they want in stock though 🙂

freshj1ve

Thanks for all your efforts Chris. Any word on the street about seeing white versions turning up in stores? Cheers!

Chris

Not that we’ve heard, but we’ve not asked. We can raise it Monday.

freshj1ve

That would be awesome.. if you don’t mind of course. 😉

Shahid Hasan

No luck in Canberra. The store I went to had no clue they were even new Motorola phones out

Omja Das

The store at casuarina (darwin) did not want to sell outright

Omja Das

Scratch that, went back and showed them the article and they let me have one

chow88chow

In Sydney…

Made a few more calls around.
1. Chatswood Chase Vodafone has stock, 3 left. (i just bought my one there).
2. Blacktown Vodafone is preorder only on plan
3. Allphones Blacktown has stock but is plan only.
4. Voadfone Rouse Hill has two in stock (black), will sell outright.

Good luck to all purchasing this phone outright.

TheDeviant

Just walked out of Vodafone in Victoria Gardens Shopping Centre, Richmond, Victoria. They have the phones on show but wouldn’t sell me one.

toast

Okay then. That p!ace is off my list.

John Bousattout

Furthermore, they claimed to have it in this week. I am yet to check it out.

wangsquared

Vodafone Carlingford Court (NSW) only had one in stock and refused to sell outright. Allphones in the same shopping centre were happy to sell one to me though

Paul Kelly

I was considering the Moto G (3rd gen) also, but no NFC (useful for the Opal Travel App in Sydney) and the MicroSD card only 32gb as against 128gb in Moto X. The speed on Moto G rather good. I have a 2nd Gen (1gb ram/8gb internal). I am only contemplating upgrading not for speed, but for extra storage, and NFC.

BrainBeat

My current phone is a cheap Chinese brand phone (Leagoo Lead 2) which is perfectly fine as a smart phone. It’s biggest issues are that the battery does not last super long like I hope the new Moto’s do, it’s storage is partitioned with only 2gb primary partition and another 4 for everything else. It is also only 3G which is fine but I figure if I am getting a new phone I may as well get 4G. I have considered other Chinese options but none seem to either have all the right 4G and or 3G frequencies for full… Read more »

Bootloops Anonymous

$494.99 from expansys for the 16GB Style. I’m just gonna go with that I think.

Shahid Hasan

You mean the Moto X Play.

leetrevor81

Android Central are reporting that version 5.3 of the google app makes the launcher on the X Play run a lot smoother.

Mine is still on version 5.2.33.19.arm I’ll be interested to see if there is any noticeable difference when I get the update

BrainBeat

Sorry for going off topic but do these comments have be be approved as my last 2 posts are not visible and are showing as pending on Disqus?

freshj1ve

I had the same issue the other day as well.

toast

Did you use a rude word?
A few days ago I mentioned a store once owned by a Mr D Smtih, and that got blocked.

BrainBeat

Ah yest I did mention Mr D Smith in both.

Daniel Tyson

Yes – unfortunately there are people who still insult others, insert links to dodgy stuff etc. The D word was the problem in your comment (Which I just approved) just say DSE as a way to get round it or ping one of us on Twitter/G+/Facebook etc.

toast

Anyone successful in Melbourne? I don’t care about the colour.
If I can walk into a Melbourne store and buy a Style without begging and hassling, I just might do it this evening.

freshj1ve

I went to the one on Elizabeth Street this morning (9 AM) and they had 2 black ones left in stock and would sell outright. The store on the corner of Bourke/Swanston didn’t have any in stock.

AdobeWanKenobi

Vodafone Watergardens were happy to sell but I’m not sure if they had any left in stock.

chow88chow

If you are in Sydney area 1. QVB wont sell outright even if the article. 2. George street will but only have one in stock 3. Westfield Chatswood wont sell outright even with the article (same moron who wont sell outright even if I bought the sim only plan) 4. North Sydney Vodafone out of stock Vodafone stores are inconsistent. When I asked for colour, they all seem to have black only. They could not specify when stock will arrive. Some offered for pre-order to get the white but they said the outright offer only applies to existing stock. Anyone… Read more »

leetrevor81

If you can be bothered, and for anyone else, is there a way you guys can write/email vodafone to inform them that stores are refusing to sell the phones outright. Hold them accountable

chow88chow

I probably will for the Chatswood one. I think they get more commission if they sell with a plan.

Chris

Will pass that feedback back to Vodafone corporate comms…

chow88chow

Thanks Chris! Appreciate it.

David Johnson

Anyone heard if the X Play is coming outright to other retailers anytime soon? I’ve been trying to keep my Galaxy S4 running a bit longer as I would be better placed dropping $500 odd on a phone closer to Christmas than now, but if past the 28th it’s going Voda contract only, and no outright option, then I might have to bit the bullet and get it now

probate

Interesting that the outright purchase offer expires on the day the next Nexus is expected to be announced. Just sayin’.

zeitgeb3r

If Google press announcement is made on Tue 12pm 29 September 2015 in San Francisco, it will be Wed 5am 30 Sep 2015 in Australian Eastern time.

So Vodafone offer expires on Tue 29 Sep 2015,
but Google Nexii won’t be announced until Wed 30 Sep 2015 in Australian Eastern time.

Zanthraz

I presume I know the answer to this question, but I just want to be really sure before I pull the trigger on this. If I buy the Style outright from Vodafone, will Android updates come to my device straight away when Motorola makes them available, or do I still have to wait for Vodafone to approve them?

Jamie S

My Moto X Play is completely unlocked with no additional bloat ware and I’m on Optus so I’d be pretty confident that Voda won’t need to approve updates

bhislop

Any word on Moto G release from any retailers?

lu99ke

I think Kogan have the G now… Although it is only the 8gb / 1gb ram model.

BrainBeat

There are many online retailers who have that version but that is not the official Australian one.
I am starting to think India must have taken up all of the stock as I hear it has already sold over 1/2 an million of them. That said I am not sure if they have to 8 or 16gb version.

reijin64

The Canberra store told me they’re only selling them online. It’s this kinda crap that made me go to Telstra years ago.

peter

Sorry if this question has already been asked, but will the Moto x style be unlocked so I can use it with the Telstra network?
Cheers

freshj1ve

Yes, it’s unlocked & unbranded. 🙂

peter

Sweet thanks!

Phillip Molly Malone

Also, any word from your Motorola contacts on when the 360 will be released here?

Myk

I bought my 360 from JB HiFi months ago.

Phillip Molly Malone

Yeah, I bought the 2014 model in 2014 but I was interested in the 2015 model!

Myk

Ah, claro.

Phillip Molly Malone

Think I’ll continue my wait for the Nexus phones. Slightly tempted though!

Snoozin

So how long does “Exclusive to carrier” normally last (On average)?

Snoozin

These Vodafone versions are not dual sims 🙁

Chris

No, that’s correct. No carrier is going to want to sell a dual sim handset. Not in their interests. Dual sim Play may come to retail soon but Style will stay a Moto exclusive, so no dual sim there unless you import it.

Paul Kelly

You say Moto X Play might go to retail soon, any chance that might include a dual sim 32 GB version?

Daniel Tyson

Moto X Play was definitely announced as going to retail at their launch event. It was only the Moto X Style that would only be sold at Vodafone.

Paul Kelly

That is excellent news that the Moto X Play will go retail and is not exclusive to Vodafone. Is there anything in writing like a Press Release.

I preferred to have no dealings with Vodafone after the Vodafone brand has been irreparably damaged after my partner’s $6000 contact with them was prematurely terminated over a $100 shortfall.

Daniel Tyson

That’s what was announced at the Press launch though we haven’t heard any more details yet

Myk

Do you mean a Vodafone exclusive?

Matt Croker

will motomaker be available for australians later this year or is that just a rumour?

Aaron

Motorola said next year for AU

Matt Croker

Better run to a voda store tomorrow then i guess

Kevin Mak

did you end up getting one outright?

Aaron

Waiting for stock of the white version

shaboogen

Kudos to Ausdroid for the advocacy here. Good on Vodafone for listening.

Meh on the 29th date though. I legitimately don’t want to pull the trigger on anything pre-Nexus. Frustrating decision.

david

Just setting up my Moto X Style now… It is super fast. Faster than the HTC M9 I’m coming from.

Lucas Burnett

you get black? can confirm 15W turbo charger?

Bryan Kwong

I can confirm it’s the 15W charger

Lucas Burnett

Cheers, devo though 🙁

david

Yeah, got black, and yes 15W. I’m sure the 15W will still charge fast? Or buy an aftermarket one?

Bryan Kwong

Yeah it still charges fast, at least from what I can tell as fast as my Note 4 did but the 25w is supposed to be insanely fast. Hoping Motorola will sell it as a separate accessory

Lucas Burnett

would be interested to know.

Lucas Burnett

Well done guys reaching out and pushing, Great result for your readers

Paul Kelly

Any news about the Moto X Play with 32GB. Currently I have a Moto G (2nd Gen) with 8GB and had to trim App count down to 100 Apps and I am forever juggling Apps into SD card and clearing system cache (settings – > Storage – > Cached data) whenever doing App updates.

These days 16GB (with 11GB available) doesn’t cut it anymore for latest Apps especially Games. I was of course excited about the SD card being bumped up to 128gb from 32gb for pictures and Google Play Music downloads for offline listening

Chris

32gb won’t be sold via Voda, we know that much.

Jamie S

I have been able to move most apps including offline navigation (here) and games to microSD so you should be OK with 16GB. It’s a great midrange and feels like a flagship in performance. It’s smoother than my S6 was IMO

Jonny Osorio

moto x style a bit too overpriced though its 399USD on moto maker which is 556 AUD… not impressed

Chris

We’ve discussed this in depth. There’s a lot more to it than just an fx conversion. It’s not as simple as that.

Jonny Osorio

then what more?

SachmoJoe

We certainly did! Unfortunately though the Style isn’t a great example to make your otherwise solid case. There’s probably $100 in gouging there.

Sad truth is that Moto just aren’t that interested in our market – so why price aggressively?

Aaron

Maybe compare it with the UK moto maker rather than the US. A white moto x with bamboo and 32Gb comes in at £419 or about $908. On the US site, this would be US$475 (AU$663) + tax

Tristan

But honestly, why is it advertised in their brochure as $792 outright when we have had to push for a *special* 12 day outright sale?

Chris

Basically it should never have been offered outright, however they have decided to honour it anyway but not indefinitely. I think it may align with the current catalogue period.

Mathew

I’m surprised that it isn’t contract only until 29-Sep so employees can make a higher commission and then available outright after that.

Chris

That thought had occurred to me, too. But hey.

AdobeWanKenobi

Just went to a store and they won’t sell outright. Does this start Friday 18 or something?

freshj1ve

They probably haven’t got the memo yet. Did you show them this webpage?

AdobeWanKenobi

Yeah but they were acting on internal messages. Hard to prove when this page is just a webpage. Anyone can post anything on the Internet without citation.

freshj1ve

Hopefully by tomorrow they would of got the comms, otherwise tell them to contact head office. 😉

Chris

Bingo

leetrevor81

Walk out the store, call Vodafone, inform them of the mistake, walk back in the store with a sh*t eating grin asking them again if you can buy the phone? 🙂

Chris

Haha, anyone can, but it’s harder to get fake news on Ausdroid 😉 If anyone comes across a store refusing to sell it, tell them to check their front line comms for instructions. It has been sent to all stores to act upon.

Chris

Supposed to be available from today. Some stores may not have seen or passed on the update to their staff, as it only came out late afternoon today, so give it until tomorrow.

AdobeWanKenobi

Thanks for the response. Guess they didn’t get the memo. Will try tomorrow.

Worth noting that kiosks did seem happy to sell.

Jason Murray

Try tomorrow. I tried at Chatswood Chase tonight and they were willing to sell both phones outright, no questions asked. It might take time for the message to filter down to all the stores.

Andrew

Nice scoop.

If the Nexus phones fail to impress, I’ll probably look at the Moto X Style.

phill360

Great work Ausdroid.

BPP

I ordered two Bamboo white models today and have been told from the Twitter team as well as live chat that they have 0 of that style in stock, but plenty of black.

Do we have an update on this?

Lucas Burnett

this is the issue ive faced. Stores don’t have stock and don’t know when stock will arrive. Online says 3-4 business days yet calling CS to check stock they have none and dont know when they will. Its a shame the website doesn’t reflect this.

Jamie S

2 black ones in Glenorchy Tas store Lucas. I could have bought one or two yesterday and was very tempted except I already have an X Play and loving it.

david

Excellent result- thanks Ausdroid for your support on this issue. I was one of the lucky ones able to pick up an outright Moto X Style today.

Was there any explanation as to why outright purchases are available only up to September 29? Just curious more than anything…

Chris

Basically it wasn’t intended to sell them outright, but due to overwhelming demand, and an ambiguity in their advertising, they’ve decided to offer it outright anyway, for a limited time.

david

Strange… You’d think selling an unlocked handset with no carrier modifications would be designed to be sold outright.

Regardless, thanks so much for your help Chris and Ausdroid!

Aaron

It may be designed to be sold outright, but usually the point of ‘exclusive’ phone deals are to get people onto a network (IMO anyway…)

Lucas Burnett

This is exactly the reason. We used to refuse outright purchases on phones when first released to capitalise on commission as money made on outright phones was very slim.