Motorola Moto X to use nano SIM, like iPhone 5


The Motorola Moto X, the 2013 flagship Android phone from the once-great phone maker, reportedly has a tiny nano SIM slot like the iPhone 5.


In many respects, phone makers are all too happy to follow where the iPhone series goes, but the Moto X is to be just the third big-name phone to use a tiny nano SIM slot, following on from the iPhone 5 and PadFone Infinity.


This shot of the upcoming phone that reveals this was taken by GSM Insider, which got an early look at the Moto X in Hong Kong.


The Motorola Moto X is due to launch on 1 August at an event in New York.


Anatomy of a nano SIM

Although the nano SIM uses the same kind of metallic sensors as both the full-size SIM of old and the 'industry-standard' microSIM, the nano SIM is generally smaller than the sensor area alone in the larger SIMs.


However, if you’re looking to upgrade to the Moto X, it is possible to make your own modifications with some careful scissor work. The nano SIM cuts out almost all extraneous plastic, to ensure the SIM takes up as little space as possible.


Moto X – A Google phone

The Moto X is the first phone to be co-designed by Google and Motorola since the companies merged. Google bought Motorola Mobility back in 2011, fuelling rumours that Motorola would make the next Nexus phone.


However, all rumours indicate the Moto X is a thoroughly Motorola-branded device.


The Motorola Moto X will feature a 4.7-inch 720p resolution screen, a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, a 10-megapixel camera and 2GB of RAM.


This positions the Moto X closer to upper-mid range phones like the HTC One Mini and Galaxy S4 Mini than top-end mobiles like the HTC One, which use Full HD screens and quad-core processors.


We’ll be back with all the official Moto X news as it’s unveiled on 1 August.