Moto Z (2017) release date, specs rumors: device with Snapdragon 835 and Android 7.1.1 Nougat spotted on Geekbench

Georgia Gana Monday, January 23, 2017

A promotional image for the current Moto Z. A new version, the Moto Z (2017), is said to be in development. | Motorola

Motorola could be getting ready to launch a new flagship smartphone as a new device has recently been spotted on a benchmarking website and it is believed to the be Moto Z (2017).

According to reports, a new device with the model number XT1650 recently appeared in the Geekbench benchmark database. While there is no official confirmation that this particular smartphone is indeed the next-generation Moto Z, it has been previously suggested that Motorola is already developing the said device.

Based on the listing, the upcoming device will be powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 with 4 GB of random-access memory (RAM). The rumored Moto Z (2017) will also come preinstalled with the Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system (OS).

Unfortunately, there is no information yet on the other specs of this year's Moto Z including screen size and resolution, the cameras and battery capacity. However, if the current Moto Z's technical specifications are to be based on, then its successor will also come with premium features and components.

To recall, Motorola introduced the first-generation Moto Z in June 2016 with a 5.5-inch active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) display, a quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor and 4 GB of RAM. Other notable features include a 13-megapixel (MP) rear camera, a 5 MP front snapper, a fingerprint sensor, a 2,600 mAh battery and a USB Type-C port.

The current Moto Z is still able to compete with newer devices in the market so if Motorola is planning to release an upgraded version of the smartphone, then it could become a force to be reckoned with.

In terms of release date, the upcoming Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona this February will be a suitable platform for the introduction of the Moto Z (2017). Although, it's also possible that similar to its predecessor, the upcoming smartphone will be launched sometime in June. Unfortunately, Motorola has not commented on anything related to the Moto Z (2017). As such, information should be taken with a grain of salt.