Tempted to forget iPhone 6s and order Moto X Pure instead

[BlueGoldAce]

I agree about the expense. That's what keeps me looking at Android. Were there an iPhone available in the price of a mid-range Android, I would probably go with it. For instance, I do not consider a high end Samsung because, for about the same money, I can have an iPhone that I know and keep the continuity among my devices.

I am no power phone user, that's for certain. I do like the idea of value, obvious since I take the limitations, such as they are, of an MVNO instead of paying at least twice that for a national carrier.

I am the same about a phone. You guys know more about this than I because you keep up with it and sample a lot, but if an iPhone 5s had a larger screen, I could be totally content with it and would probably buy it for the Apple continuity than a good mid-range Android. I know what the build quality of the 5s is and it remains a very capable phone. I don't doubt, considering my usage that I would keep it for three years.

But it's a 4-inch phone, and frankly, I don't want a phone that narrow. The display is simply an elongated 4S, and I want a bigger screen.

So I keep coming back to Android. I love what Motorola has done with the making the Moto X Pure carrier agnostic. That's the way phones should be made. I do need to check to see what LTE bands it has.

And the forthcoming 5.2" or so Google Nexus 5X looks very promising. That's really more in line with the size I prefer. Would I want to keep it for three or four years? That's part of my conundrum.

At any rate, I appreciate all that you folk are posting. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

The nexus series is always your best bet in terms of longevity. You could go by the 2013 Nexus 5 today, and keep it another 2 years at least, and get software updates. They are like the iPhone in that regard.

Some early nexus decided got left out in the cold due to using hardware that no longer was supported by the parent company (galaxy nexus with ti omap chipset).

That isn't an issue today.

I would say nexus, then motorola phones in terms of long-term support.

 

[Ulenspiegel]

Stay with the iPhone and iOS that you are used to, OP.

 

[MasterRyu2011]

if you're planning to keep your phone for 2-3 years, then I think the Moto Pure will do just fine. If you're planning to keep your phone 4+ years, then I think the iPhone would probably be best bet.

But let us think of this another way. You've just said that you will be saving $325 by going with Moto X Pure. Why not go with the Pure now and use it for 2 years. Then use that $325 (that you will have invested and accumulated interest) to get another new Moto X or other Android smartphone in late 2017. If you'd stuck with the iPhone 6S, you'd be stuck with a 2 year old phone in 2017. If you got the Moto X, you'd guarantee yourself another new "flagshipy" smartphone in 2017 (provided you don't spend that money).

 

[BlueGoldAce]

if you're planning to keep your phone for 2-3 years, then I think the Moto Pure will do just fine. If you're planning to keep your phone 4+ years, then I think the iPhone would probably be best bet.

But let us think of this another way. You've just said that you will be saving $325 by going with Moto X Pure. Why not go with the Pure now and use it for 2 years. Then use that $325 (that you will have invested and accumulated interest) to get another new Moto X or other Android smartphone in late 2017. If you'd stuck with the iPhone 6S, you'd be stuck with a 2 year old phone in 2017. If you got the Moto X, you'd guarantee yourself another new "flagshipy" smartphone in 2017 (provided you don't spend that money).

Really good point there....

 

[macjunk(ie)]

OnePlus hasn't been around long enough to prove one way or the other that they will provide long-term OS updates.

Agreed...What is true though is that they are not like HTC for example; HTC updated the M8 and M9 to 5.1 very quickly. OnePlus One has not received its Oxygen update yet whereas its Cyanogen version did (but that might be OnePlus's last update from Cyanogen ? Who knows!)

This link clearly shows the Android update conundrum...The only devices worth having in the Android family are the Nexus ones. That much is clear. If Google uses the same strategy for its Nexus devices like last year (high priced), then an iPhone is actually very good value (that made my insides turn!) - updates + continuity amongst my Apple devices

Edit: This link talks about Android M update. Damn...all my so called flagship devices of the yesteryear (Note 3, Z2) are left out in the cold

 

[Cozmosis]

Nearly all the reviews praise the camera especially in normal daylight scenarios where it's every bit as capable as the iPhone and the S6. The main criticism about the camera is that lowlight performance is not as good as those others resulting in very grainy or poor images by comparison.

However.... as someone who photographs a lot. ..

I have always questioned this emphasis on lowlight pecormance in smartphones. I don't know how many people in every day scenarios think 'hey its do you know I think I'm going to take a picture here despite it being near pitch black'.

Indeed from all the samples I've seen of the S6 / G4 / iPhone and new Moto X, whilst they are indeed better in lowlight shooting; the end results of all of them were frankly crap. It's like someone judging steaming piles of faeces for the one with the best chunks ignoring the fact they are all *****.

MKBHD summed it up perfectly. We don't judge phones anymore by how good they are, we judge them by their faults - picking away at a tiny blemish until it becomes gaping scab.

I agree with you - I was coming from a 6 Plus and looking for a change - I missed Android. I would have kept the Pure if it had an acceptable camera - even if it was worse than the Plus.

In outdoors and non motion photography, it was just peachy. Indoors, it was a totally different story. I do not care about true low light performance, but taking pictures simply indoors in a well lit room were noisy and the autofocus was abysmal. Trying to take pictures was an exercise in frustration of an even remotely moving scene was failure after failure.

It was a joke compared to the Plus, which is pretty idiotproof all told. All I really care about is the ability to take decent shots quickly without fuss - I'm no photographer and don't mess with settings.

For me, it wasn't worth the drop in quality to save a couple hundred bucks. I did love pretty much everything else about the phone - even battery was OK. Not great, but OK.

 

[macjunk(ie)]

For me, it wasn't worth the drop in quality to save a couple hundred bucks.

This is how I am beginning to think about the Apple premium now...The amount of time I waste in trying to fit Windows and Android to my taste and workflow AND the amount of money I spend on the respective devices probably makes the Windows + Android ecosystem (is there even one? ) much more expensive than Apple's ecosystem...

 

[Saturn1217]

I have a moto x pure. I am typing on it right now. It is a good phone. But it will absolutely not last 4 years. If you are happy with iOS and you use your phones for 4yrs before upgrading then please get the 6s. $375 dollars is not that much money to risk being unhappy with your smartphone for 4yrs.

I am pretty happy with the moto x pure thus far but the battery life has me worried and it definitely needs a software update to smooth out the performance (which is just fine but not quite as smooth as my Nexus 5).

 

[WrenFGun]

This is how I am beginning to think about the Apple premium now...The amount of time I waste in trying to fit Windows and Android to my taste and workflow AND the amount of money I spend on the respective devices probably makes the Windows + Android ecosystem (is there even one? ) much more expensive than Apple's ecosystem...

I think you're probably right; at the same time, I think most of us have a hard time sticking with a single phone and Android suits it better.

 

[BlueDragon22]

If I was going back to Android for this round, I'd go with the Nexus. You're *almost* guaranteed longer support as Google's "main" product is the Nexus.

Don't get me wrong, I love Android and iOS (they both have their pros and cons), but I think that iOS "lasts" longer. Apple seems to support their devices much longer than Android manufacturers do. Most of them do the 2yr cycle and immediately drop support. When I got my Turbo (a Moto product), they promised Android 5.0 (Lollipop) by the end of 2014. The phone was released late Oct 2014. I purchased mine in December and patiently waited for the 5.0 update. The months passed and I didn't get my "end of the year" 5.0 update until July 2015. Needless to say, I (and many, many, MANY other owners) were furious. That being said, I wouldn't count on the Pure getting M a month or so after launch.

Android is great for customization and such and many of their products are great, but I feel if you're going to keep your phone longer than 2yrs, iOS/iPhone is definitely the winner here.

 

[macjunk(ie)]

I think you're probably right; at the same time, I think most of us have a hard time sticking with a single phone and Android suits it better.

True that! I have the same problem too More importantly, I hate being tied down to the whims of one manufacturer but unfortunately it looks like Apple has captured the heart...so no amount of logic is gonna save me from fattening Apple's bank account.

Ah...is this how being an iSheep feels like ?

/ducks for cover

 

[Broadus]

Usually when I think all this through long enough, I end up keeping my 4S. I'm not a power user, am on my computer most of the time, and don't really need much out of a phone. When I think about a lower-cost Android, the only thing I like about them is the larger screen. Otherwise, my 4S is fine and I keep the continuity among my devices (as well as my money ).

I may just talk myself into staying content with what I have for another year.

It's funny, but I would have already preordered a 6s if I could have gotten a Verizon phone without having a Verizon account. Because I'm on Selectel, a Verizon MVNO, a phone designated for Verizon is the safest to be assured of being whitelisted. However, no Verizon account, no Verizon-designated 6s preorder. I'm a bit put out with Apple about that. I will probably get over it, but not right now.

 

[chagla]

Go with Moto X Pure. I bought the bamboo back with custom engravings. it's a great way to physically personalize your device. despite of having 5.5+ inch screen, its still very manageable and fine with one hand operation. phone is fast, camera much improved from previous generation.

if u really dissect, guts are similar. iphones and other high end android devices are quite identical. so what are you really paying for?

I've held onto my iPhone 4S since October 2011, waiting till Apple came out with a larger iPhone screen. The 4-inch 5 and 5s didn't tempt me, merely lengthening the 4S. When the 6 was released, I thought that was the size the 5 should have been. So I decided to wait till the 6s "perfected" the 6.
....
But will I really save money with the Pure in the long run? I would probably keep the 6s for four years. Would I be content with the 2015 Moto X Pure for that long?

Any thoughts?

 

[Technarchy]

The new Moto is slick looking. The Camera looks like it finally stepped up too.

For the price, it would be the phone I would consider first. The only concern is the size. I prefer smaller phones in the 5" range.

 

[Broadus]

The new Moto is slick looking. The Camera looks like it finally stepped up too.

For the price, it would be the phone I would consider first. The only concern is the size. I prefer smaller phones in the 5" range.

The size of the Pure gives me a little pause, too. I also prefer the 5" range.

 

[MRU]

Moto X Style has been delayed in UK

Amazon now 21st October

Clove.co.uk was supposed to receive today and ship - but I got an email saying they will be 29th September before shipping now.

Feck