Google’s Project Fi Adds Moto G6, LG G7 ThinQ, and LG V35 ThinQ
Google launched its Project Fi virtual cell service in 2015, and at first it only supported Nexus phones. Later, Google rolled out the Pixel family of devices, and they too were available through Fi. However, the selection of Fi enabled phones hasn’t expanded much since then. There was just a single non-Google phone on Fi, but today Google has added three more phones in a single announcement.
Starting today, you can pre-order the Moto G6 on Project Fi. In the coming weeks, you’ll also be able to get the LG G7 ThinQ and LG V35 ThinQ on Fi. It’s nice to finally see some choices on Project Fi, in particular the new Moto G phone. The hybrid nature of Fi, which operates on several different cellular networks and technologies, means most phones aren’t compatible. These new devices all have the necessary radios and software support for switching between networks.
The appearance of the Moto G6 serves as the budget offering Fi has always needed. Ever since Google stopped offering the Nexus 5X, all the phones you could get on Fi were quite expensive. The Moto X4 joined Fi last year, but it was still $400. It sold poorly enough that Google often has it on sale for $250-300. The Moto G6 retails for $250, but it’s on sale for $200 if you pre-order.
The Moto G6 has a 5.7-inch 18:9 LCD, a Snapdragon 450, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage. That’s not bad for $200. Fi service is inexpensive — it’s as little as $20 if you don’t use data, and you’ll never pay more than $60 for up to 15GB of LTE. So, many people interested in Fi want a cheaper phone than the $650 Pixel 2.
The V35 and G7 probably won’t be as popular because of the high asking price — $900 and $750, respectively. These phones have flagship specs, including a Snapdragon 845, 4-6GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. The displays are also larger and more vibrant. The G7 ThinQ has a display notch, though. Some people will turn up their nose at that, but the V35 screen is almost as big and has no notch. You can’t pre-order the LG phones yet, but you can sign up to be notified when they are available.
Fi service is available nationwide in the US through a combination of T-Mobile, Sprint, and US Cellular. Your phone will connect to whichever network has the best signal in your current location. Fi also offers free international roaming with high-speed data.
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