Second-gen Moto E target of latest Motorola rumors

We didn’t plan on it, but this is sure turning into one Motorola-packed day at the smartphone news desk. Following the release of an app update that’s getting last year’s Moto G ready for Lollipop, and whispers about a possible high-end phablet due sometime next year, we now find ourselves checking in with the latest rumors about the most budget-friendly of Motorola’s already pretty affordable lineup, as sources start talking about what to expect for a follow-up to the Moto E.

A report from the site Techmaniacs in Greece claims to have spent some hands-on time with Motorola’s second-gen Moto E. It mentions a 4.5-inch quarter HD display, a tiny bit larger than the 4.3-inch panel on the original version (a phone itself only six months old). The account is a little less specific about other components, but suggests that the phone could end up graduating from its Snapdragon 200 to a 400. It’s also worth remembering, at least, that we talked about an unidentified Snapdragon 410-based Motorola handset a few weeks back, which might be close enough to intersect with this rumor (at least if we’re reading this more as “400-series”).

A five-megapixel camera could be back for this new Moto E, and again with no flash. Custom color options (presumably through interchangeable shells) should also be available, making this one apple that doesn’t fall far from the tree. On the software side, look for Lollipop right out of the gate. And as far as an ETA, all this source offers is “soon.”