Google-owned Motorola Mobility moved Wednesday to shake up the global smartphone market with an entry-level handset aimed at cost-sensitive consumers around the world, many in emerging markets.
The new Moto G handset will sell at less than US$200 without a contract in the US market and, around the world, will be about one-third the price of top-line Apple iPhones and Samsung devices, the company said.
“Moto G is a smartphone that delivers a premium experience with today’s technology,” Motorola chief Dennis Woodside said in unveiling the phone in the Brazilian business hub Sao Paulo.
“Half a billion people will buy a phone for under US$200.”
The new device is a low-cost version of the Moto X released earlier this year in the United States, lacking some features such as a high-resolution camera and the ability to access the fastest networks.
The Moto G features a 4.5-inch display and all-day battery and will include the latest versions of the Google Android operating system.
Half a billion people will buy a phone for under US$200