Moto X Review – Android Bargain is Bigger, But is it Better?

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Last year’s Moto X won praise for being an Android flagship smartphone that was mostly free of third-party clutter bogging down the user experience and had good customization options. And unlike Samsung (SSNLF) fans who only seem to want bigger phones, the Moto X wast so huge it was clumsy to hold onto.

Moto X Review, Intro
Source: Motorola

However, there was grumbling about its 720p display, middling performance, $579 price tag and the $199 contract price; For a device Google (GOOG) was positioning as a less expensive alternative to other Android phones, the Moto X was a little pricey given some of the compromises.

This year’s Moto X addresses those issues.

The price tag is lower, the contract price has been dropped to $99, the CPU is a high performance one that allows for better speeds, and the display is Full HD. The Moto X also grew quite a bit, however, a development that not everyone is thrilled about.

Moto X Review: The Best $499 Smartphone?

When smartphone manufacturers release new flagship models, $650 is the typical sweet spot for the base model, unlocked. That translates into $199 on contract.

Moto X Review, Better and Cheaper
Source: Motorola

If you want a Samsung (SSNLF) Galaxy S5 or Apple (AAPL) iPhone 6, that’s what you’re looking at. The Moto X is priced at just $499, or $99 on contract. That puts Motorola’s flagship smartphone in the same price range as last year’s models from the big players.

Despite the bargain price, this year’s Moto X gets a big boost in processing power (from a dual-core Snapdragon S4 processor to a quad-core Snapdragon 801), a big display upgrade and the primary camera has been upgraded from a 10 megapixel shooter to 13MP.

Motorola is continuing to offer a large range of customization options, so if you were searching for a smartphone with a bamboo back cover, you are in luck. Also carried over from last year is Motorola’s voice control, with the new Moto X version adding gesture control to the mix.

Those specs aren’t just competitive, they put the Moto X in the top tier of flagship smartphones.

Moto X Review: Bigger Isn’t Always Better

Everyone knows consumers want bigger smartphones, right? Phablet sales are taking off and even Apple (AAPL) broke down after years of resistance and released the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus.

Moto X Review, Bigger
Source: Motorola

Motorola did what most manufacturers have done and super-sized this year’s version of the Moto X. However, by choosing to expand the display to 5.2-inches, Motorola went bigger than some fans of last year’s device would have liked.

While iPhone buyers still have the bigger (but not overly big) iPhone 6 to choose from, if you decide to upgrade your Moto X, that means going from its previous 4.7-inch display to the 5.2-inch second generation model. And not everyone is happy about Motorola hopping on the “bigger is better” bandwagon.

Bigger means smaller hands may have a difficult time holding the Moto X. Narrow bezels and a nicely curved back do help to minimize the effect, though. And despite gaining so much screen real estate, Motorola switched to an aluminum frame, so the 2014 version of the Moto X weighs just half of an ounce more than last year.

On a positive note, that bigger display is now Full HD (the original was 720p), making for a sharper view.

Moto X Review: Specs

Moto X Review, Specs
Source: Motorola
  • 5.2-inch Super AMOLED Full HD display (423 ppi) and Corning (GLW) Gorilla Glass 3
  • Qualcomm (QCOM) quad-core Snapdragon 801 CPU @2.5GHz and 2GB RAM
  • 16GB or 32GB storage
  • 13MP primary camera with 4K video capture, dual LED flash and burst mode
  • 2300 mAh battery rated at 24 hours mixed use
  • 802.11a/g/b/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, Micro USB
  • Water resistant
  • Runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Android Lollipop upgrade has been announced)
  • Weighs 5.08 ounces
  • Option Turbo Charger, recharges battery to 8 hours in 15 minutes
  • 25 custom backs available (colored plastic, wood and leather), 10 accent colors

Moto X Review: Conclusion

There’s a lot to like about the new Moto X and not much to find fault with.

Moto X Review, Conclusion
Source: Motorola

If it’s a little large for some people, most consumers have voted with their wallets for bigger and the 5.2-inch Moto X is what the majority seems to want. Besides, that display is crisper than last year and the case makes holding onto the big phone easier than many similar sized competitors.

And at least Motorola didn’t go to the extreme of the Nexus 6… The camera isn’t the best in class either –results are inconsistent and colors can be over-saturated.

But this is a flagship quality smartphone that costs just $499 unlocked, or $99 on contract. Despite the bargain price, the Moto X feels anything but bargain basement, from its metal trim and customizable case, to the big sharp display, powerful CPU and relative lack of third party clutter.

Anyone looking for a good, big, Android smartphone should check out the Moto X. And for anyone who wants a flagship smartphone that costs $499 instead of the usual $650 –this one is at the top of the list.

As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.  


Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, https://investorplace.com/2014/10/moto-x-review-goog/.

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