The Moto X (2014) is well equipped on the inside, but it’s the customizable skin that really sets it apart from other top Android phones out there. Motorola lets you choose your own combination of colors and materials, including the yet to be matched leather and natural wood options.
The ability to harmonize its appearance to different styles makes the Moto a great gift for someone dear this holiday season. Other big selling points are the near-stock interface and Motorola’s proven commitment to bringing fast updates to it. If you’re looking for a balanced, stylish, and capable device, the Moto X (2014) should be high up your list.
Specs
- 5.2-inch AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
- 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU
- 2GB of RAM
- 16/32GB of on-board storage (no microSD slot)
- 13MP rear cam, 2MP front camera
- Non-removable 2300 mAh battery
- 140.8 x 72.4 x 10 mm, 144g
- Customizable via Moto Maker
- Water resistant
- Android 4.4.4 KitKat (Lollipop update coming very soon)
The new Moto X brings everything we loved about the original in a larger body, with an improved build quality, and specifications that now compete with other current flagships. With the Moto Maker, you have the opportunity to make this already good device really great, and truly your own.
Last year, we were witness to a comeback of sorts by Motorola, and what a return it was.
With the original Moto X, Motorola released a phone that championed user experience over specifications, personalization over cookie-cutting, and forced consumers to re-evaluate what they thought defined a smartphone as flagship. This year, despite some managerial and logistical changes, Motorola may have managed to outdo itself once again. So what does its latest flagship smartphone have to offer? We find out, in this comprehensive review of the Moto X (2014).
With the original Moto X, Motorola released a phone that championed user experience over specifications, personalization over cookie-cutting, and forced consumers to re-evaluate what they thought defined a smartphone as flagship. This year, despite some managerial and logistical changes, Motorola may have managed to outdo itself once again. So what does its latest flagship smartphone have to offer? We find out, in this comprehensive review of the Moto X (2014).
While customization has always been an part of the Moto X experience, the latest iteration has seen some updates across the board in terms of design elements. A new metallic frame holds together the 2.5D glass front with whatever back cover you may have decided on. The new addition of front speaker grills allows for another area of color customization. The Motorola logo on the back has been enlarged and given prime positioning under the rear camera, that comes with a dual ring flash.
A bump in the screen size results in a better viewing experience, but the handling experience may not be to the liking of those who preferred its more compact predecessor.
That said, the noticeable curve on the back hearkens back to the original design, making ergonomics a continued focus. Though a lot of people appreciated the fact that the original Moto X was not a very large phone, this iteration has been bumped up to the industry standard. 5.2-inches is the size now for the screen, with the resolution also jumping to 1080p, resulting in a pixel density of 424ppi.
AMOLED technology is also used here, bringing the kind of color saturation and contrast that you’d expect from it, but its usage is also advantageous for the Active Display, which only activates the needed pixels to show the time and notifications. Sharpness is where it should be, making text easy to read, and things like media and games are all enjoyable on this larger screen.
That said, the noticeable curve on the back hearkens back to the original design, making ergonomics a continued focus. Though a lot of people appreciated the fact that the original Moto X was not a very large phone, this iteration has been bumped up to the industry standard. 5.2-inches is the size now for the screen, with the resolution also jumping to 1080p, resulting in a pixel density of 424ppi.
AMOLED technology is also used here, bringing the kind of color saturation and contrast that you’d expect from it, but its usage is also advantageous for the Active Display, which only activates the needed pixels to show the time and notifications. Sharpness is where it should be, making text easy to read, and things like media and games are all enjoyable on this larger screen.
With the original Moto X, Motorola stayed far away from the specs race that is rampant in the Android world, but this time around, that is only somewhat the case. While what it packs under the hood isn't the bleeding edge, the quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, clocked at 2.5 GHz, along with the Adreno 330 GPU and 2 GB of RAM, is still the standard that is found with most 2014 flagships, save for the Galaxy Note 4 and the Nexus 6.
When it comes to hardware, there are a few places that Motorola seems to have held back on, but has clearly made up for it in other details. For starters, microSD expansion isn't available, so 16 GB or 32 GB internal storage options are what you will have to deal with.
Battery life looks to be another area of compromise on Motorola’s part, with the Moto X packing a rather small 2,300 mAh unit. Getting through a full day shouldn't be too difficult, but you will find yourself on the verge of running out of juice more often than not. The battery life can be pushed to almost a day and a half with less than average usage.
One hardware aspect that doesn’t get enough attention with regards to the Moto X (2014) is the fact that it is water-resistant. While not the full IP certification that some other devices may boast, a splash of water won’t easily destroy this device.
Nonetheless, the photo taking experience is pretty easy on this device, but once again, the quality does leave a bit to be desired. The performance in bright environments is nicely detailed, but the color reproduction can be hit and miss. For the most part, you’ll get a usable image, but it might take a few tries. It’s in lower light that I actually found there to be some higher than average performance. Higher ISO limits allow for a pretty good looking image without the incredible amounts of noise and blur, and that’s even without the flash.
The flash, though ingeniously wrapped around the optics, are still quite harsh and can actually bleed some light into the image due to how close they are. Though far from the best smartphone camera found in the Android world now, the new Moto X does offer an improved camera performance compared to its predecessor. That said, a far better experience would have certainly set the device apart.
When it comes to the software, it is still the very stock-like Android experience that includes Motorola’s very useful additions. Anyone that has used a Nexus device or any stock Android build will feel right at home here. Home screens, the app drawer, the notification drop down with quick settings shade, and the Google Now Launcher bring back a familiar experience.
After using the original Moto X, what is great about the software experience this time around are the small improvements. Being able to pick your own voice activation phrase is the right step forward from the already reliable “’OK Google Now.” In the Active Display, you can now select different notifications, and swipe to either side to dismiss them, and even the date is displayed up top when using the Active Display.
Nonetheless, the photo taking experience is pretty easy on this device, but once again, the quality does leave a bit to be desired. The performance in bright environments is nicely detailed, but the color reproduction can be hit and miss. For the most part, you’ll get a usable image, but it might take a few tries. It’s in lower light that I actually found there to be some higher than average performance. Higher ISO limits allow for a pretty good looking image without the incredible amounts of noise and blur, and that’s even without the flash.
The flash, though ingeniously wrapped around the optics, are still quite harsh and can actually bleed some light into the image due to how close they are. Though far from the best smartphone camera found in the Android world now, the new Moto X does offer an improved camera performance compared to its predecessor. That said, a far better experience would have certainly set the device apart.
When it comes to the software, it is still the very stock-like Android experience that includes Motorola’s very useful additions. Anyone that has used a Nexus device or any stock Android build will feel right at home here. Home screens, the app drawer, the notification drop down with quick settings shade, and the Google Now Launcher bring back a familiar experience.
After using the original Moto X, what is great about the software experience this time around are the small improvements. Being able to pick your own voice activation phrase is the right step forward from the already reliable “’OK Google Now.” In the Active Display, you can now select different notifications, and swipe to either side to dismiss them, and even the date is displayed up top when using the Active Display.
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