Skip to main content

FCC docs show new Motorola devices: Kinzie, a mid-range Droid, and the third-gen Moto G

fcc docs show new motorola devices kinzie a mid range droid and the third gen moto g 2015
HelloMotoHK
Motorola has historically refreshed its various smartphone lineups in late summer, and new evidence suggests it’s sticking with this precedent. FCC device testing documents, the type of paperwork that typically goes public shortly before a press event or formal launch, reveal a trio of Motorola smartphones headed for carriers large and small.

One of the FCC filings reveal a phone — codenamed “Kinzie” according to sleuths at Droid-Life, and potentially pictured above — that seems likely the spiritual successor of last year’s Droid Turbo. It measures 153.6×75.3 and 161.8mm diagonally, or slightly taller (by 10.11mm), wider (by about 2mm), and longer (by 7.31mm) than the Turbo, and features connectivity out the wazoo. Networking highlights include 802.11ac MIMO WiFi, LTE Advanced, and compatiblity with AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon LTE bands. The last bit’s notable — with the exception of the Nexus 6, phones on Verizon typically don’t play nicely with other carriers.

That’s not all the FCC documents revealed about Kinzie. Motorola’s latest sports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 hardware — the phone’s been tested with a standard AC plug, Motorola’s Turbo Charger, and a third, mystery power adapter — as well as with a microSD slot in some configurations.

Somewhat less exciting than Kinzie is a mid-range phone bound for Verizon. Its specs are harder to come by — the FCC filing shows a removable back cover and a glaring lack of 802.11ac WiFi — but the dimensions (it’s slightly smaller than the Turbo) and carrier exclusivity suggest an addition to Motorola’s enduring Droid lineup. It’s an admittedly peculiar one — Motorola hasn’t made an entry-level Droid phone since the Droid Mini in 2013, and it isn’t clear why the company would want to risk cannibalizing sales of its mid-specced Moto G — but it is a phone that might be positioned as an affordable, compact alternative to the Turbo for buyers inclined to the Droid series.

The dimensions of the third and final Motorola phone detailed in the FCC documents hint heavily at its identity — its measurements match those of the second-generation Moto G. Assuming it is, indeed, a new and improved Moto G, it’ll lack a few of the bells and whistles of its pricier cousins but will carry a subsequently lower price tag (last year’s Moto G retailed for $179 unlocked). The FCC tested the Sprint variant, but it’ll likely hit all four carriers at launch if history is any indication.

The FCC filings give no indication of when and at what price to expect new phones, of course, but the wait probably won’t drag on for much longer. Assuming Motorola adheres to its informal timeline, we’ll hear about the new phones in September at the latest.

Editors' Recommendations

Kyle Wiggers
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kyle Wiggers is a writer, Web designer, and podcaster with an acute interest in all things tech. When not reviewing gadgets…
Motorola adds 5G to its Moto G series of phones
Front left view of Moto Motorola Moto G Stylus 5G and Moto G 5G.

Motorola has just brought 5G to its 2022 Moto G product lineup with the introduction of two new models, the Moto G 5G and the Moto G Stylus 5G.

Following the trend from last year, the new Moto G Stylus 5G is essentially the 5G version of the standard 2022 Moto G Stylus. It packs the same battery, camera modules, and display, but moves from the MediaTek Helio G88 CPU to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 to deliver its 5G capabilities.

Read more
Moto G Power (2022) finally meanders its way into the U.S.
The Moto G Power (2022) in the Ice Blue color option shown with a blank, while background.

After being available for pre-order for the past couple of days, Motorola's new budget smartphone -- the Moto G Power (2022) --is on sale in the U.S. via Motorola's retail channels. The phone, originally announced in November, was until now, was only available for purchase through Metro by T-Mobile, Verizon, Boost Mobile, and Xfinity Mobile. Before making it to the U.S., this budget smartphone was already on sale in select overseas markets. As evident from the (2022) suffix, this is the latest edition of the Moto G Power lineup and logically succeeds last year's model -- the Moto G Power (2021).

Motorola's G series smartphones are positioned as affordable, feature-loaded devices that usually have a value for money tag attached to them. And by the looks of it, the Moto G Power (2022) is no exception. If you're wondering what the "Power" tag signifies, it's Motorola's way of branding smartphones with larger than average battery capacity. In the case of the Moto G Power, it's a 5,000 mAh cell.

Read more
Moto G Stylus 2022 launches with better cameras and display
A person holding the Motorola Moto G Stylus 2022 in Metallic Rose gold color sitting on a table in a room with a window in the background.

Motorola has been trying to stave off bad times with the help of offbeat design elements. From magnetically attaching Moto mods to phones with nontraditional display sizes, action cameras, and more, Motorola has been experimenting with different features to keep its sales from drying up, especially in the U.S. In 2020, the company announced its first Android phone with a stylus, which mitigated the burden of buying a flagship Samsung phone for users who needed a stylus. The phone -- along with its successor from 2021 and another 5G model later in the year -- garnered reasonable attention. And now, Motorola is announcing the third phone in the series, the new Moto G Stylus (2022).

As seen in the previous leaks, the Moto G Stylus (2022) brings only a handful of external changes with Motorola focusing its energy on inward transformation. The phone comes with a 6.8-inch Full HD+ display that supports a 90Hz refresh rate, an update over the 2021 version of the smartphone. The phone comes in Twilight Blue and Metallic Rose colors.

Read more