Motorola Moto X (2014) Pro Reviews

Moto X 2nd Generation gives pure Android fans a reason to opt for this budget-friendly phone with a 1080p display and premium design. The camera isn't perfect and its features aren't as exciting as other cheap phones, but it's still stylish as ever.

Despite being the newer and better-spec'd phone, the HTC One M9 is not necessarily running circles around the Motorola Moto X 2014. Yes, it's more powerful and future-proof, but the Moto X still holds its ground. To sum things up, the HTC One M9 will woo customers with its sleek build and powerful hardware; meanwhile, the Moto X doesn't shine hardware-wise, but it still has what it takes to be an attractive and affordable alternative to a number of newer phones, the HTC One M9 included.

The second-generation Motorola Moto X smartphone is a welcome return to form, thanks to its excellent performance and smooth, unadulterated Android 4.4 interface.

Motorola’s second generation Moto X hits most of the right notes, coupling beautiful design with a hatful of innovative - and useful - features

Apple doesn’t have to do a lot of fighting in the space, just because its iPhones continue to be at the top of the charts. Month after month, smartphone after smartphone, it simply has the rounded appeal and performance to be a choice winner amongst consumers. Considering all things, it makes plenty of sense why the iPhone 6 is already finding itself in a similar position of being king of the hill in the smartphone space. Heck, if we’re to objectively tally its performance in all key categories, there’s absolutely a lot more going for the iPhone 6. Unlike its rival, Motorola is in an interesting predicament – one where they’re still trying to recapture the top spot in the leaderboards. We’ll be the first one to admit that the new Moto X is a solid offering, one that’s most notable for its customizable design and simple Android experience. Those two particular aspects are undeniably unique in the general smartphone space, and something that we continue to appreciate. However, for all work Motorola has done with its latest model, it still falls just a little short of the totality that comes along with the iPhone 6. Its saving grace, however, is that it’s sporting the cheaper price - $99.99 on-contract for the base model, in comparison to the $200 on-contract cost for the iPhone 6. Naturally, if you’re tight with your budget, then the Moto X surely has plenty of value for you to like – not to mention, you’ll be saving some money in the process. However, if cost isn’t a factor to you, then we’d suggest picking up the iPhone 6. Well, that’s unless, of course, you prefer the cool and handy software features in tow with the Moto X.

There’s a reason why the Samsung Galaxy S5 continues to be a noteworthy smartphone, despite the fact that it’s been out for some time now. Frankly, it just works in being a high performing smartphone – one that’s usually a top finisher in key categories. From its superior battery life, sharp camera quality, and its rich set of software features, the Galaxy S5 is without a doubt a few steps ahead of the Moto X. Even though Motorola has made some tweaks to enhance the Moto X over its predecessor, it can’t stop the steamrolling action of its rival. Still, we’ll hand it to Motorola for designing one heck of a beautiful phone, one that’s customizable and premium – plus, its $100 on-contract cost from the onset is pretty attractive too. Then again, we’re pretty sure that the Galaxy S5 can be picked up at or nearly around the same price point now, so it’s just as valuable as its new competitor. Unless you’re all about design, we’d suggest picking up the Galaxy S5 for its supreme performance.

Almost everything about the new Moto X is improved over its predecessor, not solely for its specs, but for its overall performance. From call quality, design, and its camera performance, the new Moto X bears all of the incremental improvements to earn the rigid qualities of a true successor. The only thing that most people will face when deciding between the two is their size – where we feel that the old Moto X has the perfect one for comfort and usability. Now, if you currently own the original Moto X and you’re contemplating on making the switch, it’s a tough call because they have several superficial qualities that are similar. Unless you prefer a larger sized smartphone, it might not be all that logical to ditch the old for the new. Nevertheless, you can’t go wrong picking up the new phone either because it’s priced affordably at $99.99 on contract. If you’re not up for an upgrade, it’s best to sit still with the original Moto X, though.

It's hard not to be impressed with the new Moto X. Its predecessor built a solid reputation among those "in the know" for its clean Android build and useful features, but its plastic casing and underwhelming display left it overshadowed on store shelves by rival devices.Motorola has addressed nearly every criticism for its 2014 flagship. The 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 time with the phone. Only the average camera performance blots an otherwise stellar report card. if you're a mobile photographer first and foremost, that may be enough to push you in the direction of LG's G3 or Samsung's Galaxy S5, both of which have cameras that outclass Motorola's. Everyone else in the market for a new smartphone should have the new Moto X high up on their shortlist.

Yes. You should. Despite our gripes over the increased size, there's no getting around that it's just a much better version of one of our very favorite phones. It's fast, it's intuitive, the software is killer, the screen is great, and you can make it look however you want. Last year's Moto X was great despite being a bit mid-range in terms of screen and processor. This year's version isn't mid-range anything, and the experience reaps the rewards. Last year's Moto X gave you a lot of bang for your buck, and the 2014 version is no different. On-contract, it looks like the Moto X will be going for $100, which is a lot less than most flagships. If you want the unlocked/contract-free version, you'll be able to get it straight from Motorola.com or Google Play for $500, which isn't as cheap as a Nexus device, but again, it's cheaper than most unlocked flagships. It will be available "later this month" on AT&T, Verizon and US Cellular for sure, with Moto Maker being limited to the AT&T, Verizon, and unlocked versions at the get-go. We think it's probably coming to T-Mobile and Sprint, too, but we don't have confirmation of that yet. Bottom line: This 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.

The second-generation Motorola Moto X smartphone is a welcome return to form, thanks to its excellent performance and smooth, unadulterated Android 4.4 interface.

Motorola didn’t deviate from the recipe it concocted with last year’s model, but in making the new Moto X, they added enough changes and new features to warrant some merit from us. First and foremost, the design is more aggressive than before – complemented by the rich personalization of Moto Maker. Secondly, the phone performs super smoothly. Finally, the unique software features have continued to be kept at a minimum – though, the few that are present have been enhanced enough to our liking. Add in the fact that it’s sporting a base cost of $99.99 on-contract for the 16GB model, it’s priced to sell and give the competition something to think about. Undercutting its rivals in the price department is one thing, but it’s another when consumers are given direct control of how the phone is designed. Sure, it’s not perfect, but for the things it has to offer, it provides class, simplicity, and elegance to how we use and interact with the phone. Frankly, it’s a hip looking thing that works well. It’s a flagship device here without the flagship ownership cost.