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Motorola Moto X
89
Engadget Review
The 2014 Moto X is a huge step forward from last year's model, and it's finally equipped to compete with a sea of strong competitors. With an impressive (not to mention customizable) design and some thoughtful software features, this is the flagship phone that Motorola should have made in the first place.
Chris VelazcoSeptember 11, 2014
Pros
- Runs near-stock Android
- Motorola's additional features are smart and useful
- Snappy performance
- Thoughtful, comfortable design
- Lots of customization options
Cons
- Cameras are average at best and frustrating at worst
- Unremarkable battery life
- Some carrier bloatware
View All Critic & User Reviews
Motorola Moto X
- Critic Reviews (10)
- User Reviews (29)
- 85AVERAGE CRITIC SCORE10 ReviewsZDNet90Moto X (2014) review: Bigger display, metal frame,I would like to have seen a better camera and improved battery life, but Moto took it a bit further with a larger display and improved internal specs. Thankfully they also enhanced the end-user experience and even added another choice for customization.Laptop Magazine80Motorola Moto X (2014) ReviewThe Motorola Moto X offers powerful performance, a stunning display and compelling voice commands in a head-turning design.Gizmodo90Moto X (2014) Review: Still the Android Phone ForThis phone offers the best user experience from anything we've yet seen in 2014. So, while we wish it were a bit smaller, we still give it a solid recommendation.Engadget80Moto X review (2014): from also-ran to amazing inThe 2014 Moto X is a huge step forward from last year's model, and it's finally equipped to compete with a sea of strong competitors. With an impressive ... design and some thoughtful software features, this is the flagship phone that Motorola should have made in the first place.Ars Technica80Review: In its second generation, the Moto X becomMotorola will now give you a nice, high-end Android flagship with all the trimmings for less than its competitors.SlashGear80Moto X (2014) Review: Finally, a true Motorola flaThe new Moto X is perhaps the best feeling Android handset in the hand - it's certainly the most customizable - and it has a fantastic display, excellent performance, and a restrained selection of software enhancements that actually manage to improve your day to day.TechRadar90The Moto G is dead! Long live the Moto G!The 2014 Motorola Moto G doesn't flatten last year's model in every respect. It's bigger and less comfortable to hold but a much-improved camera and larger screen make it a worthwhile update.phoneArena90Motorola Moto X ReviewIt’s a flagship device here without the flagship ownership cost.Digital Trends90Motorola Moto X (2014) reviewMotorola wowed us with the first Moto X, but the second generation is even better.Business Insider80REVIEW: Motorola's New Moto X Might Be The Best AnIf you use Google Now a lot and are looking for a phone that’s simple and has a great screen, the Moto X is an excellent choice.
- 89AVERAGE USER SCORE29 ReviewsSchroederRock80November 5, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I bought my Moto X (2nd Gen) in like-new condition from eBay for AT&T recently and started using it as my everyday phone over my HTC One M8 (win phone variant) because my work requires certain apps that are not-yet available on Microsoft's platform. I love WP but since my hand was forced I settled on this device. It was affordable and available somewhat widely online.I'll start with my favorite things about the device: it's light, the screen is quite vivid, it has enough CPU and memory to operate Android 5.1 smoothly, the edges of the glass are curved slightly to give a smooth runoff for your fingers, very good design, camera has plenty of detail and adjustments for most users, Motorola Connect is a joy to use in conjunction with your PC/Chrome device.As for the cons: camera is good in average or well-lit areas but suffers quite a bit in low-light (even with flash, you're not likely to get the results you really want), and battery life doesn't meet my expectations for a modern-day flagship device due to its relatively-small 2300 mAh battery. Granted this device launched a year ago at the time of this review, but it drains too fast for my liking and will require me to keep a portable battery in case I use the phone frequently throughout the day. It can go an entire day but that's if you're pretty light with its use and you keep your push notifications and social networking in-check.This phone is close to a perfect 10 rating for me. In an age where 1080p displays are commonplace and 5"+ screens are the new norm, it's incredibly important to offer higher capacity batteries and screens with power-saving tech. The 2nd gen Moto X doesn't quite nail those two items and, as a result, doesn't offer the best battery performance around. But the device is still quite good and if Motorola is willing to bump the initial price of the Moto X line $50 in favor of a bigger battery and a better low-light camera, this will be a device that goes toe-to-toe with the iPhones and Galaxy devices of this world. An 8.5/10 is a more appropriate numerical rating for this device.Engadget Reader80October 17, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I bought my Moto X2 from GoBol.in , and got it at a pretty cheap price as compared to the market price. It's an amazing phone at this price range.I expect Motorola to release their flagships in the 5" range and not go the Samsung way of bigger phonesEngadget Reader90June 13, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70April 20, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Overall a good phone. Disappointed in the camera. Its ease of use is fine, but the dim light pictures are unbearable. I'm coming from having used Blackberrys for most of my professional life, so I've found the call quality for the Moto X is not as superior as what I'm accustomed to with Blackberry. Having said that, the apps and overall bells and whistles far exceed Blackberry. The battery life disappointed me as well, I find I'm just barely making to night time before the battery is red-lining. Those are just the negative things. Otherwise, the phone is very fast, internet use is extremely quick and efficient. The maneuverability of swiping in and out of apps is very user friendly.Engadget Reader90April 6, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90February 22, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The Android phone for the masses. If you're new to Android or just smartphones in general, this is where to start.Engadget Reader90February 10, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Working for a competitor I catch hell for trying out other phones but I"m always curious to see if there is something better out there. I owned the 1st gen moto x and thought it was a great phone other than the camera. This phone is a very nice upgrade with the bigger and more high definiting screen.The design of the moto x's is fabulous. They are curved in just the right way, they are light and sexy. The moto software is definitely my favorite feature. I love the fact that this phone knows when i'm driving and will read me a text message. I can listen and respond without ever picking the phone up. It has decent battery life, meaning I can easily make it through the day. Everything about this phone is perfect except the camera. The camera has definitely improved over the past generation and I feel that it's faults are in the software and could be easily remedied. The 4k video is excellent and outdoor (brighter light) photos are perfect. It's low light and has always been lowlight that is it's problem. Those pictures are just a bit grainey.I can summarize this in one sentence: If this phone had a camera that equaled the iphone 6, it would be the perfect smartphone and would be unbeatable. If the camera is not that important to you, then this is the phone to own.Rob90January 26, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80January 25, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I am currently typing this review on an iPhone 6 plus. Let me explain my journey. In September I was one of the first to receive their brand new moto x (2014). While absolutely beautiful there was some doubt about the firm factor. They doubt was quickly dismissed with its subtle curves and exceptional attention to every detail ; ranging from the speakers being raised a millimeter or two to the grippy texture on the power button. There was one major defeat moto had not yet mastered and to be advertised as one of its main selling points- www disappointing. The mal craftsmanship of the moto voice feature turned me off from this phone. Even when switching to the term "okay moto x" awakening the phone would take seconds (which felt like ages ). Fast forward to the lollipop upgrade and my little android lovin' fingers were ecstatic to play with this tasty OS. Sadly the once smooth operating system of the moto x was plagued by slow downs and mishaps. I was already compromising with the camera and battery life, now apps were crashing and taking a lot longer to load. Don't get me wrong, I have never owned a more beautiful phone, but the operating system was plagued with bugs that I could not look over any longer. From the original droid to threesome Galaxy phones and two nexus devices- my android run had come to a halt. I am currently using an iPhone. And currently anticipating (more than ever ) the onslaught on new devices that comes with every spring . While the battery life screen and camera is amazing. The operating system of Apple has bugs of its own. And the usability if android is friendlier and more intuitive than the iPhone.Engadget Reader90January 25, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader80January 25, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I absolutely love my 2014 Moto X. Premium Look & Feel, Amazing Display, basically Vanilla Android (thank you) Camera definitely needs to be upgraded. I love Android 5.0 Lollipop, but it seems to have slowed the phone down considerably & it's quite buggy. I wish I could go back to 4.4.4 Kitkat. Don't get me wrong 5.0 is beautiful, but I'll take function over form any day. I like the big screen, but it's awkward in regular use and I'm 6.4" not a small guy. I hold my 2013 Moto X and wonder why they didn't go with a 5.0" Display and a smaller bezel? I almost want to use my 2013 over the 2014 (almost) Battery life almost always gets me through the day. I take it off the charger at 6:30am and by 11pm I still usually have around 10% but my roomate has to have an app open all day to be clocked in for work and by 4pm he's looking for an outlet to charge his phone, so I guess it all depends on you. I do love my Moto X 2014, but I am still looking for a perfect phone. Definitely recommend this phone over any Android phone out.. . . .louisd90January 17, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100January 6, 2015Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This phone replaced a Sprint Galaxy S3. For the first time in what seems like forever I really love my phone. The pure Android (no nonremovable bloatware) experience is excellent. The small additions by Motorola are VERY useful. The audio quality is excellent. My wife called me from the grocery store the other day. It sounded like she was calling from a land line. With the Galaxy S3, the audio quality was so poor and our words so unintelligible that my wife and I would resort to texting. Every time I use this phone, I find myself just appreciating it.Engadget Reader90December 25, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90December 4, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Just a superfantastic phone!Engadget Reader80December 3, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!There's a lot to like about this in spite of a few flaws. - EngadgetEngadget Reader70November 21, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I loved this phone at first, the display and features are wonderful. But my can knocked it off my nightstand and the screen shattered. This was only about a 2 foot drop onto a laminate floor, it should be built better than this. I upgraded from a Atrix HD which I had ran over with a truck and it still works. Very disappointed in the durability ox the X gen 2..rydad100November 8, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!This was my first step into Android for a phone after having been swimming in the Microsoft and Apple ecosystems for a while. The Moto 360 I purchased with the phone brought me over. This phone is well designed and feels solid. The metal, glass and leather materials all provide a premium feel.Performance is great and the gesture and voice commands (double twist to bring up camera) are surprisingly useful.I probably say this every year when I get a new phone, but this is definitely the best phone I have owned.Engadget Reader100November 2, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader90November 2, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The Moto X is a pleasure to use. It fits perfectly in my hand, has an excellent screen, and is very responsive. The speaker is good, and voice recognition and command work really well. My only markdown was for low light photography. Overall, I'm really enjoying this phone.Engadget Reader100October 29, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader90October 14, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90October 8, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Great phone. Super fast, very sleek, fits in my pocket well. Spotify doesn't love it - all songs start herky jerkey and then smooth out. Lots of problems between Moto and AT&T - phone showed up unactivated because it was provisioned wrong. Couple of hours on the phone. Had to go to an AT*T store to figure it out.Engadget Reader100October 7, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!A gadget unicorn - EngadgetEngadget Reader90October 5, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader100October 2, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!Motorola has a plan, and it is a great one. Build a flagship that you will want to show off to everyone you meet! If the marketing is as appealing as the Moto X(2nd Gen) is, then this phone will fly off the shelves. Today, you could argue that any flagship is worthy of being called, "The Best". They all have a great display, solid camera, a battery that will last longer than you will be awake, are fairly durable, and are lightning fast. Heck, they all can even make phone calls! So, why not buy the flagship that truly differentiates itself? Motorola has done this for sure with Moto Maker, Moto Voice, Moto Display, Moto Assist, and Moto Actions. Other OEMs may have a lot more software features, but they are not useful in the way Motorola's are. They have truly changed the way I use a smartphone. For my money, this is the best looking smartphone, the best feel in the hand, and the most useful (I cannot live without Moto Voice and Moto Display) And is lightning fast and smooth. I have the Cognac Leather, and it is stunning! I cannot go out in public with out people wanting to fondle my phone. I let them look, but not touch! :)Engadget Reader90October 2, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!The best in its category. We highly recommend it. - EngadgetEngadget Reader90September 30, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I ordered this new Moto X immediately after I got back from Apple store the day iPhone 6 went on sale. I've used most past iPhones and Nexus 5 and decided to ditch the 6 because of its back cover. After less than a week since I got the leather edition, I have to say this thing works great. Screen takes up almost the whole front panel. Color is not noticeably oversaturated as I thought a super AMOLED would be. Black is really BLACK. Stainless steel feels both thin and comfortable in hand. The only improvement needed is the battery which is OK for regular usage. I don't use the camera a lot but outdoor pics is good enough but is apparently not as good as the iPhone 6. Needs to check if android L will improve its battery life.Engadget Reader90September 27, 2014Feedback submitted!Unable to submit feedback!I got my Moto X2 today and it is just fabulous, It blows out the iphone 6 in every way. I mean it. The HD display is one of the best available. Dont think to wait for Nexus 6, Moto x2 is a unique user experience and it is not about just having gr8 hardware.The design is the best available out there today. It's so sleek & stylish. iphone 6 black looks great for me but this is a rich and stylish with a metallic finish.The voice recognition is so great and the touch less function is just blowing away.
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Key Specs
TYPE
Smartphone
OPERATING SYSTEM
Android
SCREEN SIZE
5.222
INTERNAL MEMORY
161
CAMERA
Yes
CARRIERS (US)
Att, Verizon, Other
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