The Moto E isn’t on Motorola’s list of phones slated for an upgrade to Marshmallow. It’s a major disappointment because the device was released this year and Motorola touted, “we won’t forget about you” when referencing updates in marketing material.
Android Police noted the fine print specifies the Moto E would get “at least one” software update, so Motorola technically met its obligation, because the phone got a boost from Android 5.0 to 5.1 earlier this year. C’est la vie.
In other bad news, the 2014 Verizon and AT&T Moto X also didn’t make the cut. While it’s not unheard of for some Android phones over a year old to get cut loose, it’s sure to anger those who may have gone with a Motorola device because they believed the company was committed to timely updates.
This whole issue feels like a cost-cutting move: it takes a lot of engineering time and resources to support devices for different carriers. Motorola’s new master Lenovo recently slashed some jobs, and it’s entirely possible that some of the personnel who would have taken on these tasks aren’t there anymore.
The story behind the story: One of Motorola’s major claims to fame is how well the company updates its phones. Despite that pledge, it’s been more of a mixed bag lately. The 2013 Moto X finally got Lollipop a couple of weeks ago. But no support for the Moto E is downright ridiculous. There are always engineering challenges with older hardware, but this is a current-generation phone. If Apple can get the iPhone 4S to work with iOS 9, you’d think Motorola could perform a similar feat.