Motorola's smartphone release plans for 2018 look to be as busy as ever

No one would blame you if you were thrown off by Motorola‘s confusing and busy 2017 smartphone lineup. Unfortunately, if Evan Blass’ intel is correct, that feeling will likely get exacerbated in 2018.

According to the famed leaker, Motorola will return to making Play versions of its E and G smartphone lines. That is a strategy the company adopted in 2016, but abandoned for its 2017 smartphones. In other words, you can expect the Moto E5 Play, E5, and E5 Plus, as well as the Moto G6 Play, G6, and G6 Plus in 2018.

In addition to the Play variants, Blass also shared a logo for the Moto X5, which is likely the sequel to this year’s Moto X4. If its predecessor is anything to go by, the Moto X5 could be destined for Android One and positioned as a mid-range smartphone with flagship-level features.

Blass is normally on the money when it comes to leaks, which is why I’m so frustrated by this. Ever since the company was purchased by Lenovo, its smartphone offerings have significantly increased in volume. Even though this means that Motorola has an offering at various price points, it also means that the company has complicated its lineups more than it needs to.

I also don’t know what the purpose of these Play variants is. I understand that they are meant to be more affordable versions of smartphones that are already affordable, but isn’t that a bit redundant? From where I sit, they only further complicate Motorola’s lineups, but that’s just my opinion.

What are your thoughts on Motorola’s possible lineup for 2018? Do you think the Lenovo subsidiary should simplify its future offerings? Let us know in the comments below.