Phones Moto X vs Nexus 5

[smwatson]

I would definitely prefer the Moto X but unfortunately not allowed...

Better size, better battery, some great little features, and nice design.

 

[mattopotamus]

I wish the developer edition was all black. The white back makes me worry about wear on it.

 

[blackhand1001]

Considering the Nexus has the better display, processor and build quality, I think the answer is quite obvious.

I would actually argue that the moto X has a better display (size aside). The view angles and contrast leave a lot to be desired on the nexus 5. Which is a shame since the nexus 7 2013 has great view angles and colors. The difference between 720p (non pentile amoled btw), and 1080p is much smaller than the difference in colors and contrast. Build quality on the two is about equal with maybe a slight advantage to the moto.

I really hope the next nexus is not an LG. The nexus 5 is a nice phone for the money, but LG always seems to pick awful displays. Especially in comparison with other nexus/google devices.

 

[thadoggfather]

I really hope the next nexus is not an LG. The nexus 5 is a nice phone for the money, but LG always seems to pick awful displays. Especially in comparison with other nexus/google devices.

I am not an LG fan and with a passion.

But i've been pleasantly surprised with N5 and its screen. its bright even at low settings, sharp, and big. The only complaint I have is that off-axis, it certainly does look washed out. But even if you're looking at off angles from the side, or from where the LED notification is with it laying down on the table, it is undeniably an IPS panel. I think people on XDA were saying they could have used a polarizer to avoid the wash out effect from off axis. but not a deal breaker for me.

The stock calibration is a bit warm too, but not yellow (I guess it depends on the panel lottery, I've seen some N5 that are urine yellow) but with Franco's kernel it looks more saturated and whites look whiter

I've liked N5 screen a lot more than the handful of times I played with a Nexus 4 at the stores. I think they stepped their game up considerably.

And I like AMOLED for videos (from my experience with Galaxy Nexus two years ago) and the blacks are black, but for some reason on the UI and icons, it looks too cartoony for my preference.

Didn't realize Moto X was not pentile though, that's awesome!

 

[blackhand1001]

I am not an LG fan and with a passion.

But i've been pleasantly surprised with N5 and its screen. its bright even at low settings, sharp, and big. The only complaint I have is that off-axis, it certainly does look washed out. But even if you're looking at off angles from the side, or from where the LED notification is with it laying down on the table, it is undeniably an IPS panel. I think people on XDA were saying they could have used a polarizer to avoid the wash out effect from off axis. but not a deal breaker for me.

The stock calibration is a bit warm too, but not yellow (I guess it depends on the panel lottery, I've seen some N5 that are urine yellow) but with Franco's kernel it looks more saturated and whites look whiter

I've liked N5 screen a lot more than the handful of times I played with a Nexus 4 at the stores. I think they stepped their game up considerably.

And I like AMOLED for videos (from my experience with Galaxy Nexus two years ago) and the blacks are black, but for some reason on the UI and icons, it looks too cartoony for my preference.

Didn't realize Moto X was not pentile though, that's awesome!

Yeah, I actually would have liked to see google rather than go for the 1080p spec on the nexus 5's screen, go for the same quality panel the nexus 7 2013 has. Its 323 ppi but looks so much better than the panel on the nexus 5 its not even funny. Would have saved battery as well. The simple fact is that you can't see pixels on the 2013 nexus 7 so I don't know why they went 1080p on the nexus 5 other than for the spec sheet.

 

[WilliamBateman]

I would actually argue that the moto X has a better display (size aside). The view angles and contrast leave a lot to be desired on the nexus 5. Which is a shame since the nexus 7 2013 has great view angles and colors.

Its a 5 inch phone not a 50 inch TV, viewing angles are meaningless to the vast majority of people as they look at their phones straight on, not at an angle.

 

[gotluck]

I wish the developer edition was all black. The white back makes me worry about wear on it.

Afaik tmobile moto maker is the same as the dev edition (for gsm, verizon obv can't use tmobile)

Not sure if the dev editions unlocked boot loader warranty support carries over to tmobiles though.

My wife is debating one, I'm looking to buy tmobile version to use on att go phone for her. Sim unlocked and boot loader unlock able.

 

[mattopotamus]

Afaik tmobile moto maker is the same as the dev edition

Not sure if the dev editions unlocked boot loader warranty support carries over to tmobiles though.

My wife is debating one, I'm looking to buy tmobile version to use on att go phone for her. Sim unlocked and boot loader unlock able.

I would imagine the T-Mobile version would still have to pass through the carrier for updates though.

 

[gotluck]

I would imagine the T-Mobile version would still have to pass through the carrier for updates though.

Tmobile is bloat free though I believe, but yes. Fwiw att version moto x appears to have more bands than tmobile and dev edition too.

 

[mattopotamus]

Tmobile is bloat free though I believe, but yes.

I think you are right about bloat free. If the T-Mobile variant gets LTE on Att that may be the best route since I could get all black

 

[gotluck]

I think you are right about bloat free. If the T-Mobile variant gets LTE on Att that may be the best route since I could get all black

It should since it has same bands as gsm dev edition, but it is interesting that att variant seems to have more bands.

 

[mattopotamus]

It should since it has same bands as gsm dev edition, but it is interesting that att variant seems to have more bands.

I think that is what I will do. Get the T-Mobile version since I can customize it. It will probably be my phone for a year so the updates are not super important since it already has kit Kat.

 

[vikingjunior]

I know the X has miracast but does the nexus 5?

 

[hashholly]

Thanks for all the input!

Im still on the fence however, honestly if the Moto X's screen was 5" I would get it in a heartbeat, but coming from an iPhone 5S, the Nexus 5 extra room seems like its worth it. Still not too sure though....

Is the Nexus 5 speaker really bad? One thing i noticed is with my 5S I can easily put it on a table and hear it loud and clear while I'm BBQ in the backyard, but i have heard of some issue with the Nexus 5 speaker?

Thanks

 

[gotluck]

I think that is what I will do. Get the T-Mobile version since I can customize it. It will probably be my phone for a year so the updates are not super important since it already has kit Kat.

I would hope the tmobile phone will be good on updates it seems to be untouched (does not have wifi calling to the complaint of some), but you can always rom if it gets to that point.

 

[mattopotamus]

I would hope the tmobile phone will be good on updates it seems to be untouched (does not have wifi calling to the complaint of some), but you can always rom if it gets to that point.

I assume I would need to get it unlocked since I am on Att, or would it be unlocked from the get go since bought off contract?

 

[gotluck]

I assume I would need to get it unlocked since I am on Att, or would it be unlocked from the get go since bought off contract?

I've read that it comes sim unlocked and is totally unbranded. Xda I think it was from. Or androidcentral.

 

[blackhand1001]

Tmobile is bloat free though I believe, but yes. Fwiw att version moto x appears to have more bands than tmobile and dev edition too.

Pretty much all the moto x's are bloat free. Even the Verizon verson only has about a page and half of apps total out of the box. Its pretty much stock android. Theres no extra games, amazon app store, or any of that other crap installed.

 

[thadoggfather]

I'm sure I could just scan XDA to see if Moto X has a healthy and abundant dev community, but does anyone who owns that phone know? I could see it going either way, either its good to go out of the box so most people dont bother modding, or because its close to Nexus bloat-free, maybe people take it to a new level with ROMs/bootloaders/baseband/apps etc.

 

[blackhand1001]

I'm sure I could just scan XDA to see if Moto X has a healthy and abundant dev community, but does anyone who owns that phone know? I could see it going either way, either its good to go out of the box so most people dont bother modding, or because its close to Nexus bloat-free, maybe people take it to a new level with ROMs/bootloaders/baseband/apps etc.

I think cm10.2 and 11 are being built for it now, but as far as debloated stock roms there really aren't any as it literally has no bloat to remove. The stock rom is really barebones and is already all AOSP apps. As far as android stock roms go, this is probably bar none the best one out there.

 

[gotluck]

Pretty much all the moto x's are bloat free. Even the Verizon verson only has about a page and half of apps total out of the box. Its pretty much stock android. Theres no extra games, amazon app store, or any of that other crap installed.

Fair enough, but I've read Verizon and att come with some (minor) bloat. I dont follow Verizon, but att has att address book and att voicemail bloat. Tmobile has nothing at all I believe.

Just knowing Verizon there has to be at least some

But yes, moto x is largely bloat free in general.

 

[blackhand1001]

Fair enough, but I've read Verizon and att come with some (minor) bloat. I dont follow Verizon, but att has att address book and att voicemail bloat. Tmobile has nothing at all I believe.

Just knowing Verizon there has to be at least some

But yes, moto x is largely bloat free in general.

If anything, I may have one my verizon app, although thats it. I don't remember seeing it though and if it is there its fully disable-able.

 

[WilliamBateman]

If anything, I may have one my verizon app, although thats it. I don't remember seeing it though and if it is there its fully disable-able.

The Verizon version has several Verizon apps. Caller Name ID, NFL Mobile, QuickOffice, Verizon Tones, Voicemail, Setup, My Verizon, and VZ Navigator

 

[blackhand1001]

The Verizon version has several Verizon apps. Caller Name ID, NFL Mobile, QuickOffice, Verizon Tones, Voicemail, Setup, My Verizon, and VZ Navigator

I found a screenshot of the app drawer. The good thing is these are all able to be fully disabled and none of those are intrusive. The only ones I would truly consider bloatware are vz nav, vz tones, and nfl mobile. Quick office was bought by google earlier this year which is why its there. It ships on the nexus 5 if I remember correctly.

Compared to phones like the galaxy s4 which literally has like 50 extra system services running in the background on top of the base android, this is very barebones.

 

[appledes7]

I assume I would need to get it unlocked since I am on Att, or would it be unlocked from the get go since bought off contract?

According to the dude from Motorola on Live Chat just now, the contract-free AT&T version is still locked to AT&T.