Google kicks off Android One in the U.S. with the Project Fi-equipped Moto X4

From PC World: Google is finally bringing its Android One program to the U.S., but not in the way you think. Instead of a super-low-priced phone with bare-minimum specs, the first U.S. Android One phone is actually the Moto X4. And it’s a Project Fi exclusive.

The Android One Moto X4 is essentially the same phone as the one you get direct from Motorola, with a 5.2-inch 1080p display, Snapdragon 630 processor, 3,000mAh battery, dual rear cameras (12MP and 8MP), and fast charging. What’s different is all on the inside.

For one, it will run on Google’s Project Fi network, which until now was limited to Pixel phones. It will also run what Google describes as a “pure Android experience with a clean software design and a carefully curated set of preinstalled apps to give you just what you need.” That means you’ll be leaving Alexa behind, as well as Moto’s suite of proprietary apps. But you will get timely updates.

Eventually, anyway. The Moto X4 Android One phone will ship with Nougat 7.1 installed, but Google is promising to deliver Android Oreo before the end of the year. It also said that the Android One Moto X4 "will be among the first phones" to receive an upgrade to Android P next year, presumably alongside the Pixel and Pixel 2 phones. The Moto X4 is certain to follow the standard Google upgrade guarantee, with two years of version updates and three years of security patches.

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