Early this month, during the launch of its 3G-based Moto E (2 Gen), Motorola had said the 4G enabled variant will take at least a couple more months to hit stores in India. But now, it has come to light that the company might roll-out the phone sooner than anticipated.
The company's official online store partner Flipkart has listed the Moto E (2 Gen) 4G – Black and White models – with 'Coming Soon' tag, hinting that the device's launch is just around the corner. The e-commerce firm has not mentioned the price of the device yet, but it is likely to be revealed soon in few days.
For the uninitiated, 4G and 3G models of Moto E (2 Gen) have pretty much the same hardware configuration except the SoC (System on Chip). The former houses more advanced 64-bit class 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 410 series SoC (System on Chip), whereas the latter comes packed with 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 200 series processor.
It is learnt that the new Moto E (4G) will cost more than the 3G model, but it is certain to be priced below ₹10,000.
Besides listing the Moto E (2 Gen) 4G, Flipkart has begun selling the official Motorola device accessories Moto Grip back-covers and bands.
[Read more: Motorola Moto E (2 Gen) vs. Xiaomi Redmi 2: Clash of Top Budget Smartphones]
Why the 4G-enabled Moto E (2 Gen) release in India got delayed?
The delay in releasing 4G-LTE Moto E (2 Gen) has to do with non-compatibility of phone's radio-modem with India's network bandwidth. The 4G model, which is currently selling in North America is only compatible with the telecommunication network bands in the US.
The company needs to first initiate testing on Moto E to re-calibrate modem chip to make it compatible with India network bandwidth. After thorough testing, the company is required to get a nod from the India's telecommunication agency and only then can the Motorola device hits stores in the subcontinent.
Even Motorola Mobility's foster parent Lenovo is testing its own smartphone A7000 in India for an early launch this month.
[Read more: Lenovo A7000 Under Test for Indian Cellular Network Compatibility, to Hit Stores in March]
Key specifications of Motorola Moto E (2 Gen):
Model | Motorola Moto E (2 Gen) |
Display |
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OS | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
Processor |
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RAM | 1GB |
Storage capacity | 8GB, expandable up to 32GB |
Camera |
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Network | 3G & 4G-LTE Both features in individual optional models
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Battery | 2390 mAh With Mixed usage, the phone can lasts up to 24 hours |
Add-ons | Single-SIM (Type: micro), Dual-SIM slots in India confirmed, Bluetooth v4.0 (with LE), Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), micro-USB v2.0, microSD card slot, FM radio, water-resisting coating |
Dimensions | 129.9 x 66.8 x 5.2-12.3 mm |
Weight | 145 g |
Price | ₹6,999/- |