Motorola Phablet spotted running Android L

Motorola has been long rumoured to be developing a phablet handset, and it appears that the device has finally leaked out online ahead of an official announcement from the company. However, with masking tape covering up the details and the leaked “video” actually being a slideshow of still images, this is one leak that should be treated with some caution.

A video, posted to YouTube by TK Tech News, appears to show the unannounced handset running Android L – or at least a third party launcher that looks an awful lot like the next version of Google’s mobile operating system. It has the updated icons and onscreen navigation buttons as Android L, but has the old Messages app rather than Google Hangouts in the app dock. 

Shown next to a Nexus 5 handset, the Motorola phablet is noticeably larger, and according to the report has a Full HD display – giving it a clear edge over the 720p panel found in the Moto X. It appears the device also has a front-facing speaker, although all other specifications remain a mystery.

A second video appears to show the handset switching on, with a new Motorola boot logo that differs from the Moto X and Moto G, but doesn’t actually show it reaching the Android home screen. 

The device is shown running on the Verizon network in the US, complete with several pre-installed Verizon apps, suggesting the leak may have come from within the network rather than from someone at Motorola. 

Motorola has yet to make a statement regarding the leak, but seeing as the company’s only smartphone output this year has been firmly in the budget market with the Moto E and Moto G 4G, it seems likely the company is indeed preparing a new high end device. 

Quite when we’ll get an official announcement remains to be seen.