BY LISA EADICICCO
The back of the new Moto X In a smartphone market that’s largely dominated by Apple and Samsung, it can be hard to stand out. With its Moto X, Motorola plans to do this in two ways — by offering more customization options and creating an experience that truly makes the Moto X feel like a phone powered by Google.
The second-generation Moto X builds on its predecessor in all the right ways. Complete with a better screen, more attractive design, and upgraded processor, the Moto X is poised to take on the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, and LG G3 for the title of best Android phone.
The Basics
The Moto X has metal edges One of the first things you’ll notice about the new Moto X compared to the previous model is that it’s larger. The second Moto X comes with a 5.2-inch screen compared to the first Moto X’s 4.7-inch display. Not only is the screen bigger, but it’s also sharper since it has a 1080p HD resolution versus the original Moto X’s 720p display.
Motorola has generally left the Moto X’s design untouched, but there are a few minor tweaks that make a big difference. The new Moto X comes with metal edges that make the phone feel more premium and durable than the last model. It’s a small addition, but it really does make a huge difference.
There’s also a newer quad-core processor on the inside, which means the new Moto X should be better at multitasking. Motorola has bumped the camera’s sensor up to 13 megapixels rather than 10 megapixels, so expect the newer model to capture clearer photos.
Like the original Moto X, the second-generation version specializes in listening to your voice commands. Even when the screen is turned off, you can summon the phone to answer a question or set a reminder. The phone is also specifically trained to recognize your own voice, so you won’t have to worry about other people dictating commands to your phone.
Again, Motorola is really promoting the customization aspect of its new Moto X. Motorola lets you choose the color of even the tiniest, most minuscule accents for your phone in addition to choosing between black and white colors for the front panel. For the back, you have the option of choosing between different colored soft-touch backs, four different types of genuine Horween leather, or wood. My review unit came with a black soft-touch back.
What It’s Like To Use It
The new Moto X truly feels like a phone powered by Google. It runs on the pure version of Android, which means there aren’t any skins over the interface. Other manufacturers such as Samsung and LG add extra features to their phones, like the ability to open more than one app at a time and access certain settings by swiping down from the top.
Although some might argue that pure Android is limiting, I find it to be cleaner and more intuitive than skinned versions of the software. The user interface is very barebones and minimalist — there aren’t any unnecessary apps or widgets cluttering your home screen.
One swipe to the right will pull up a second home screen for storing apps and widgets of your choosing, and a swipe to the right or up from the bottom pulls up Google Now, the digital assistant for Android. As is the case with other Android phones, pulling down from the top shows you your most recent notifications and includes a button for navigating to your phone’s settings menu.
The Moto X also has a vibrant, colorful screen that’s easy to read in sunlight. It’s not quite as bright as the iPhone, but its certainly luminous enough to remain visible in outdoor conditions without sucking power from your battery.
More importantly, the screen is incredibly colorful. When playing games like Deer Hunter 2014, the scenery and wildlife really popped.
The Moto X’s voice controls continue to be one of its strongest features. The ability to ask a question or request information without having to interrupt what you’re doing can be extremely helpful. There’s no need to hold down a button or even turn the display on to summon Google Now.
