Skip to main content

Well, that was a quickie! Google sells Motorola

Motorola Moto G4
Simon Hill/Digital Trends

After a scant 29 months, the love affair between Google and Motorola has ended. On August 15, 2011, Google announced its intent to acquire Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion. Today, it announced its intent to sell it to Lenovo for $2.91 billion. Yes, Google wanted Moto out so badly it took a $7 billion plus hit to be free.

As a part of the separation, Google will retain all of Motorola’s stuff (it’s patents, especially) and Lenovo has promised to take on Motorola’s name when they wed.

“The smartphone market is super competitive, and to thrive it helps to be all-in when it comes to making mobile devices,” said Google CEO Larry Page. “It’s why we believe that Motorola will be better served by Lenovo – which has a rapidly growing smartphone business and is the largest (and fastest-growing) PC manufacturer in the world. This move will enable Google to devote our energy to driving innovation across the Android ecosystem, for the benefit of smartphone users everywhere.”

Page went on to say that Lenovo has the expertise needed to scale Motorola and make it a “major player” in the Android ecosystem, and intends to keep Motorola’s distinct brand identity, just as it did with the ThinkPad brand it bought from IBM in 2005. Google will retain the “vast majority” of Motorola’s patents, which it will then use to “defend the entire Android ecosystem.”

We do not have sales figures of the Moto X or Moto G. From what we understand, sales for these phones started out slow, but they were beginning to take off. In a Google blog post, Page said that “both the Moto G and the Moto X are doing really well, and I’m very excited about the smartphone lineup for 2014.”

The deal has to be approved by the U.S. and China, which will take up to a year — if you recall, Google’s 2011 acquisition of Motorola wasn’t completed until May 22, 2012.

“So until then, it’s business as usual,” Page said. “I’m phenomenally impressed with everything the Motorola team has achieved and confident that with Lenovo as a partner, Motorola will build more and more great products for people everywhere.”

Editors' Recommendations

Jeffrey Van Camp
Former Digital Trends Contributor
As DT's Deputy Editor, Jeff helps oversee editorial operations at Digital Trends. Previously, he ran the site's…
If you have one of these Motorola phones, you’re getting a big Android update
Someone holding the Motorola Edge Plus (2023).

If you bought a Motorola phone within the last couple of years, you'll want to keep your eyes out for a big Android update coming your way. Why? Motorola recently updated its support website, confirming which of its phones are getting Android 14, and it's a big list.

The folks at YTECHB went through the (somewhat complicated) support page and made a full list of all the Motorola phones slated to get Android 14. There are well over 20 phones, including ones sold in the U.S. and models Motorola sells in other markets.

Read more
Don’t update your Google Pixel phone — you might break it
A person holding the Google Pixel 8, showing the screen.

One of the reasons to buy a Google Pixel phone is to be first in line to receive software updates — from new Android versions to important security patches. Unfortunately, one of the latest updates from Google is breaking some Pixel phones.

Over the weekend, a Reddit user on the r/GooglePixel subreddit compiled a list of threads from nearly a dozen Pixel owners reporting issues with their phones after downloading the most recent January 2024 Google Play system update.

Read more
Motorola’s newest cheap Android phone looks shockingly good
A render of the front and back of the Moto G Play (2024).

Last year was the first in almost a decade without a Motorola Moto G Play launch of some kind. The last device, the Moto G Play (2023), launched in December 2022 and, well, it was a little disappointing. Thankfully, Motorola heard its critics, and has delivered the Moto G Play (2024) — the biggest upgrade for Motorola's budget range in years.

With a new processor, camera, and various small additions, Motorola hopes the new upgrades are enough to propel the Moto G Play (2024) to the top of lists of the best budget smartphones. But will it? Here's everything you need to know about Motorola's new $150 device, the Moto G Play (2024).
More power and a new camera

Read more