Moto X (2nd Gen) By Motorola Review
If you’re shopping for a high-end Android phone, chances are you’re considering models from Samsung, HTC, and LG. After having some hands-on time with the Moto X, we strongly encourage you to add this phone to your list of options. Not only does the Moto X have a great look and feel, but it also comes with a few features you won’t find elsewhere.
High-end hardware allows the phone to perform well, but it’s the user interface and experience that can make or break a phone. In the case of the Moto X, Motorola has chosen to let Android shine without a bunch of skins and overlays. This results in a user experience that is top-notch in our opinion. During our time with the Moto X, the phone never experienced a hiccup or lag of any kind. And overall, the Moto X performed very well in our benchmark tests.
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Real-world battery performance was excellent. Unfortunately, the Moto X didn’t perform well in the AnTuTu battery benchmark, which is what we’ve traditionally used to compare phones, but we suspect that result is not indicative of real-world use and have to investigate further.
In addition to smooth performance, we like some of the extras that Motorola has included on the Moto X which enable the phone to act as somewhat of a personal assistant. These features include Moto Assist, Moto Actions, Moto Voice, and Moto Display. It’s the little features such as the ability to approach the phone and instantly see the time and any relevant notifications that make it a joy to use.
One area where the Moto X could improve is the camera. Although it’s definitely not a bad camera, it doesn’t outshine the competition, especially in low light situations. The Moto X is a high-end device, but the camera is average.
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Moto Maker and the ability to customize the Moto X is a feature that will vary in utility and value depending on the user. For users like me who prefer to add a protective case to the phone, a custom back cover is a novelty that I’m not willing to pay extra for since I will cover it up anyway. That said, there are plenty of users who will appreciate having a one-of-a-kind phone customized to their likes.
Price is another factor in the Moto X’s favor. For just $99 on contract, this is a killer phone for a great price. We’ve seen a number of really great phones in the past few months, and have awarded a couple of them our Editor’s Choice award. When you consider the price, performance and features of the Moto X, this phone is hard to beat. As a result, we feel it should be considered alongside today's other high-end smartphones such as the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8. The Moto X is a great device for the money.
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