Last time we took a look at Motorola’s future plans — back in March of this year — we began the conversation on several handsets that are either just coming to market now (think Edge 30 Lite “Miami” or Edge 30 Ultra “Frontier”) or poised for release in the next few months (a la Razr 3 “Maven”).
This report aims to push that timeline out a bit further, although such a long lead time comes with several tradeoffs and caveats: details about a portfolio that stretches into 2023 aren’t going to be as fully fleshed out as more immediate plans, and plenty can happen over the course of several months (and especially whole quarters) that may render certain models unrecognizable or even defunct by the time they were initially expected to go to market.
First up is Devon, a 4G-capable, low-mid-range model, powered by a Snapdragon 680 processor and tipped to come to market soon-ish as the Moto G32 – following prior launches of the Moto G22 (Hawaii+), G42 (Hawaii+ OLED), G52 (Rhode4G), G62 (Rhode5G), and G82 (Rhode5G+), plus the Moto E32 (Hawaii) and E32s (Hawaii+ Lite). Filling in the (tiny) hole in this year’s G-series, Devon will offer a 6.49-inch, hole-punch-embedded, 120Hz-capable, FHD LCD, either 4GB or 6GB of RAM, and 64GB or 128GB of storage capacity. Its cameras include a 50-megapixel main sensor, 8MP wide-angle module, and 2MP depth cam, plus a 16MP fixed focus shooter around front.
Next is Tundra, an aesthetics-focused, Edge-branded handset for the Chinese market that pairs a 6.55-inch, 144Hz-capable curved FHD+ POLED display with a slightly older but still powerful SM8350 Snapdragon 888+ system-on-chip from Qualcomm – a true full-screen smartphone in the original vein of the Edge lineup. Tundra’s expected to offer a number of memory configurations, consisting of 6GB, 8GB, or 12GB of LPDDR5 RAM and either 128GB or 256GB of internal storage, along with a 4400mAh battery. In the imaging department, it brings together a 50-megapixel primary camera with a 13MP combination wide angle / macro and 2MP depth sensor, alongside a 32MP selfie cam situated on the face. Release should be sometime in the third quarter.
After that we have Maui and Victoria, entry-level and high-mid-range models, respectively, both powered by Mediatek silicon: a Helio G37 for the former and unannounced MT6879 for the latter (the same chip beating at the heart of potential Edge 30 Fusion handset Dubai+.) Maui, whose display is just 720p, features 3GB of RAM and basic 16MP-2MP-2MP + 5MP camera configuration, while Victoria — with its FHD+ resolution — has RAM options starting at 4GB and extending to 6GB and 8GB, plus a much beefier imaging set: 108MP primary for the two SKUs with higher amounts of RAM (reduced to 48MP on the 4GB SKU), an 8MP that serves both wide angle and depth-sensing functions, and a 2MP macro sensor, plus 16MP selfie cam. Again, a third quarter release is likely for both phones.
Finally — at least for 2022 — a 5G version of Devon should hit the market before the end of the year, though a North American release for this device probably won’t happen until 2023. While it shares many of the same specs as its 4G sibling — including display resolution and available memory configurations — it swaps out the Snapdragon for a 5G-capable Mediatek chipset, and replaces two of the cameras, gaining a 64MP primary sensor but losing its wide-angle capabilities in favor of a 2MP module that merely serves depth-sensing functions.
As is typical for most device makers, Motorola stops releasing new handsets well before the Christmas season gets into high gear, with very few new products introduced after Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping scrum.
However, once the calendar flips over to 2023, Motorola already has a number of devices planned. Most notable are Bronco and Canyon, similarly spec’ed, flagship-class handsets that may end up anchoring next year’s Edge lineup (Edge 40?) To that end, Canyon is claimed to offer a 165Hz display and showcase Qualcomm’s next major top-of-range silicon, the SM8550 Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, while Bronco will be outfitted with either the same chip or the current Snapdragon flagship, the SM8475 8+ Gen 1. Both FHD+ phones will offer 8GB or 12GB of RAM, and 50-megapixel main rear cameras. But whereas Canyon boasts yet another 50MP sensor for wide angle and macro shots, along with a 60MP selfie cam (and throws in a 12MP telephoto module for good measure), Bronco promises more modest 13MP wide/macro and 16MP selfie options, plus a 2MP depth sensor.
And don’t forget a couple wild cards aiming to debut later next year or beyond: the shape-shifting vertical rollalble Felix, and Juno, a folding phone being characterized as an SM8475-powered followup to Maven and capable of 144Hz screen refresh.
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