[Update: Moto Z4] A new Moto Z smartphone passes through the FCC, here are its specifications

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Update 1 (5/7/19 @ 00:21 AM ET): We have obtained evidence that the device that was recently certified by the FCC, code-named “foles,” is actually the Motorola Moto Z4. More details below.

We haven’t seen a new Moto Z smartphone since the Verizon Moto Z3 was announced back in August of 2018, but there’s evidence that Motorola is preparing to launch at least two new smartphones with Moto Z branding. Earlier today, press renders for what’s reportedly the flagship Moto Z4 were leaked. These press renders show a device that looks very similar to what was previously thought to be the Moto Z4 Play. It turns out that those CAD renders of the Moto Z4 Play may actually have been for the Moto Z4. So will Motorola actually launch a smartphone marketed as the Moto Z4 Play in 2019? While we can’t answer that question, we do have evidence that Motorola will launch a new mid-range Moto Z smartphone. Assuming the Moto Z4 is a flagship smartphone, that means this second Moto Z device is not the Moto Z4. Here’s what we know about this second Moto Z device.

What was originally thought to be the Moto Z4 Play (left, via @OnLeaks/CompareRaja) looks an awful lot like the alleged Moto Z4 (right, via 91Mobiles) that leaked today. @OnLeaks now believes that his CAD renders are actually for the Moto Z4 and not the Play model.

The Second 2019 Moto Z Smartphone

Since early January, we were provided information about a new Motorola smartphone internally code-named “stingray” and publicly code-named “foles.” (Motorola uses two code-names for each of their smartphones. For instance, the upcoming Motorola One Vision‘s internal code-name is “Robusta2” while its public code-name is “kane.”) We obtained most of the specifications for the device, but held off on publishing them until we could obtain some clarification on the details. Just the other day, a new Motorola smartphone passed through the FCC with ID IHDT56XS2. The smartphone’s model name is XT1980-3 and all the devices used for FCC certification had IMEIs matching Motorola devices with code-name “foles.” (We cross-referenced some of the IMEIs published in the FCC documents with a public IMEI database.) Thus, we know that this new Motorola smartphone that just got certified is code-named “foles,” a device for which we have a lot details to share.

First, we can confirm that “foles” is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 675 mobile platform. The Snapdragon 675 has two ARM Cortex-A76-based Kryo 460 cores clocked at up to 2.0GHz and six ARM Cortex-A55-based cores clocked at up to 1.7GHz. The GPU is the Adreno 612. The device will have either 4 or 6GB RAM and 64 or 128GB of UFS 2.1 storage. The 64GB storage chip is either the Samsung KLUCG4J1ED or SK Hynix H28U73401AMR while the 128GB storage chip is the Samsung KLUDG8V1EE. The device will have a 3,600mAh battery, which we confirmed both via our source and with the FCC documents. The FCC documents shows that the stock power adapter is capable of delivering 18W power, which is less than the 27W charger bundled with the Motorola Moto G7 Plus.

Regarding the cameras, the primary rear-facing camera’s default picture-taking resolution is 12MP, although the camera module is the 48MP S5KGM1SP from Q Technology. According to the detailed camera specifications of the Snapdragon 675, the mobile platform’s ISP is capable of processing a 25MP resolution image with multi-frame noise reduction (MFNR) and zero shutter lag (ZSL) from a single camera. Thus, the device won’t be able to quickly take 48MP images since it misses the 30fps rate necessary for ZSL. However, “foles,” like the Motorola One Vision, has a QCFA (Quad Color Filter Array) to take advantage of the 48MP sensor to deliver better noise reduction, dynamic range, and per-pixel detail when pictures are taken at 12MP resolution. On the front, we expect a 25MP Samsung S5K2X5, though we don’t know if the device has any other front camera sensors.

For the display, we sadly don’t know of many details. We expect to see a 6.39-inch FHD+ panel, though it’s unclear to us if it’ll be a notched display like on the Moto Z4 or a punch hole display like on the Motorola One Vision. According to the FCC documents, the device measures 157 x 75mm which are roughly the same dimensions as the Motorola Moto G7 Plus. The Moto G7 Plus has a 6.2-inch display with an approximately 81.4% screen-to-body ratio, so we expect the more premium Moto Z device to have slimmer bezels. One last detail about the display is that it’ll have an in-display fingerprint scanner module from Goodix.

Speaking of dimensions, the dimensions for what was originally thought to be the Moto Z4 Play (158 x 75 x 7.25 mm) are pretty close to the dimensions for the device submitted to the FCC. There are two possibilities here: Either this Moto Z device and the Moto Z4 are one and the same, or they’re simply the same size. I doubt Motorola will follow up their Snapdragon 835-powered Moto Z3 with a Snapdragon 675-powered Moto Z4, so I’m leaning towards this device simply being the same size as the standard Moto Z4. If that’s the case, CompareRaja estimated the display size to be 6.2-inches, which is smaller than what we were told. Our information is similarly dated from early January, though, so it’s possible it’s outdated on this front.

Lastly, we have evidence that Motorola is testing support for Moto Mods like the 360 degree camera mod, the Hasselbad mod, and the wireless charging mod. Motorola only promised three generations of Moto Mod support, but there’s good evidence that their Moto Mod ecosystem will work with the upcoming fourth generation Moto Z devices. The device will launch with Android 9 Pie, so we expect Motorola to at least update it to Android Q after launch if not Android R as well.

Availability

Like other Moto Z smartphones, this device is headed to America. There’s a model for North America and one specifically for Verizon. There are also models for Brazil, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. There are models with NFC and dual SIM support and models without one or the other depending on the region. The only color that we know of is gray. If we learn more information about this upcoming Moto Z smartphone, we’ll let you all know.

Update 1: It’s likely the Moto Z4

According to new information we obtained from our source, the device code-named “foles” will be marketed as the Moto Z4. That means the Moto Z4 isn’t a flagship smartphone as we once thought. Instead, it’ll be a mid-range device with Moto Mod support. Here’s a summary of what we know about “foles:”