Motorola
The father of the smartphone has some of Android's best
Motorola is a longtime communications company, the manufacturer of the first cellular telephone — and it may well be responsible for making Android what it is today.
Motorola wasn't the first smartphone maker, but it was the Motorola Droid on Verizon that helped make Android the household name it is today. The original Droid (known as the Milestone in Europe) sold millions and spawned a number of successors. The Droid MAXX on Verizon continues to be popular, though aging.
But Motorola struggled to make money, and in August 2011 it was announced that Google would purchase Motorola Mobility — they company previously spun off Motorola Solutions — for $12.5 billion. Hardware was just one reason for the purchase — patents were very much another. Google insisted that it didn't buy Motorola with the intention of continuing to lose money, and indeed Motorola began to lose less. But in January 2014, Google announced it was effectively unloading Motorola to Chinese company Lenovo for $2.91. (Much of the disparity in price is due to the paring down of the company, as well as Google retaining "the vast majority" of patents.)
Much of 2012 and 2013 was quiet for Motorola, but in August 2013 Motorola rolled out its rebirth — the Moto X. Wonderfully designed, with customizable features such as the front color, back casing (including wood!) and camera housing — and it was to be assembled in Texas. (Sadly, that assembly line shut down.) The Moto X was heralded as an above-average smartphone that bucked the oversized trend, and didn't fall into the trap of packing in unwanted features and redesigned software.
The Moto X paved the way for two lower-cost smartphones — the Moto G and Moto E.
Motorola also has the excellent Moto 360 for Android Wear.
Latest about Motorola
Black Friday Motorola deals 2024 — historic Razr savings, $150 off Moto G Stylus, and more
By Patrick Farmer published
Save big on Moto Best Buy has just released a massive sale on Motorola phones and I'm gathering my favorite deals into this guide.
Motorola is finally catching up to Samsung and Google with these AI features
By Jay Bonggolto published
It took a while Google's Circle to Search is coming to Motorola phones.
Motorola is testing AI that skips words and gets straight to doing what you ask
By Jay Bonggolto published
Moto AI Motorola’s proof-of-concept LAM tech lets your phone understand your surroundings in order to tackle tough tasks with just a few words.
It's the last day to score October Prime Day Motorola deals with up to 50% off on flip phones and more
By Patrick Farmer last updated
Go Moto for less Amazon's Big Deal Days sale is here, and we're keeping track of all the seriously impressive Motorola deals.
Wow! Amazon has slashed $100 off the Motorola Razr (2024) for October Prime Day
By Roydon Cerejo published
Flippin' good deal The Motorola Razr (2024) is one of the best midrange foldable phones ever made, and it gets a sweet $100 discount this Prime Day. Don't miss this fantastic deal!
Motorola's new Moto G phone now has 'military-grade' toughness and an IP68 rating
By Vishnu Sarangapurkar published
Solid protection Motorola unveils its new budget Android handset for European and Middle Eastern markets.
The new Motorola ThinkPhone 25 is all business, comes with five years of updates
By Nickolas Diaz published
You better Think! Motorola detailed the launch of the ThinkPhone 25 with strong security features to protect business workers.
One of our favorite Motorola phones could be getting a sequel soon
By Nickolas Diaz published
Think v2 Rumors claimed Motorola could create a second iteration of its 2023 ThinkPhone.
How serious should we be taking Motorola's five-year OS update promise?
By Brady Snyder published
Better late than never Motorola has had issues with providing timely Android version updates in the past, but now it's promising five years of upgrades on the Edge 50 Neo.
You don't have to wait for Black Friday to save big on a foldable phone
By Andrew Myrick published
Flip for cheap Take advantage of Motorola's "Harvest Sale."
Best Motorola phones 2024
By Patrick Farmer last updated
Hello Moto! Here are the best Motorola phones you should consider if you're planning to buy a new phone. From budget options to foldables, there are many choices.
Motorola's rumored 'Razr 50s' could walk the affordability line
By Nickolas Diaz published
How low can ya go A new Motorola foldable was spotted picking up certification and it could be dubbed the "Razr 50s."
Back-to-school phone sales 2024 — epic deals on Samsung, Pixel, and more
By Patrick Farmer last updated
Student savings Whether you're shopping for a kid or heading back to campus for fall semester, these are the best student-friendly phone deals for Android users.
Motorola may have teased the Edge 50 Neo ahead of its impending launch
By Nickolas Diaz published
Mid-range Motorola teased an upcoming device launch that rumors claim could be the Edge 50 Neo.
The best Motorola deals of October 2024: save big on foldable phones, flagships, and more
By Patrick Farmer last updated
Go Moto! Whether you need a budget phone or an innovative foldable, these are the best Motorola deals on the web today.
I miss the old days of smartphones
By Andrew Myrick published
Beyond the Alphabet Don't you ever wish we could go back to the days of when phones were fun? Yeah, me neither.
The already dirt-cheap Moto G Play (2023) is now under $100 with this exclusive Prime Day deal
By Roydon Cerejo published
Save up Typically retailing for around $170, this 41% discount on the 2023 Moto G Play during Prime Day is a pretty good deal, if you want a smartphone for just calls and messages, but not much else.
It's the last day of Prime Day! Grab the best Motorola phone deals before they're gone for good
By Derrek Lee published
Go Moto! Prime Day 2024 has officially begun and we're already seeing some truly remarkable smartphone deals from the minds of Samsung, Google, and of course, Motorola.
I literally get paid to hunt down Android deals, and I'm collecting all my favorite Prime Day discounts LIVE
By Patrick Farmer last updated
Here we go!! Whether you want a sweet phone deal or a historic discount on a popular Android watch, we're gathering all of the best Prime Day deals LIVE.
Be an expert in 5 minutes
Get the latest news from Android Central, your trusted companion in the world of Android