The Moto X+1

[MRU]

I'm not a fan of the new design. The camera/flash module and M logo circle on the back are much more clunky than on the old X. The speaker/mic grilles stick out way too much too. And on this one I actually don't dig the addition of the metal band at all, it just disturbs what already was a very slick shape. They "fixed" what wasn't broken, IMO.

I agree with you ... they've taken for me one of the best ergonomically designed phones of 2013/14 (depending on the continent) and utterly bastardised it to have the things some focus group has told them a phone needs in 2014, despite the empirical evidence being that the Moto G (which was moto's biggest selling smartphone ever despite a 4.5" screen) - and the the Moto X (not far behind it despite a 4.7" screen - garnered some of the best critical acclaim despite its specifications) .. But sod our sales figures, we need a bigger screen and metal round the sides - just because ............

 

[kevinof]

Hey Moto. Please do a semi-samsung on it and release a moto-x mini. 4.7ish screen, better camera, battery, body - I'll even pay you the same as the "full" moto x.

Same specs as the new X except for the screen size. Would be nice to add an sd card and wireless charging but not a deal breaker.

I agree with you ... they've taken for me one of the best ergonomically designed phones of 2013/14 (depending on the continent) and utterly bastardised it to have the things some focus group has told them a phone needs in 2014, despite the empirical evidence being that the Moto G (which was moto's biggest selling smartphone ever despite a 4.5" screen) - and the the Moto X (not far behind it despite a 4.7" screen - garnered some of the best critical acclaim despite its specifications) .. But sod our sales figures, we need a bigger screen and metal round the sides - just because ............

 

[AppleRobert]

I don't know folks. How did the Moto X sell? What could one really expect from the company? It would be another case from average Joe checking specs and dismissing the new X if it was not ramped up. The size though I concede on.

The G did not change much. Maybe because the original was their bread and butter for sales. Food for thought and my two bananas.

 

[jamezr]

Review: In its second generation, the Moto X becomes a true flagship

Here is a review from ARS..




http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2014/09/review-in-its-second-generation-the-moto-x-becomes-a-true-flagship/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arstechnica%2Findex+%28Ars+Technica+-+All+content%29

 

[kingalexthe1st]

I feel like I'm in a minority here when I say I actually prefer a phone slightly bigger than the 1st gen X. But hey, horses for courses.

As much I like the look of the new X, I think I'll be sticking with the current version because Motorola have said that the new software features will be passed on to it. I guess the hand-waving thing won't because it requires the IR on the front. But the increased no. of notifications on the lock screen? The custom wake command? Those are the best bits for me. Plus, it's getting the upgrade to L(ollipop) so I don't see the need to pump out £460 for this.

Alex

 

[Mindbender14]

I'm a little disappointed in battery life mentioned in both reviews posted.

 

[blackhand1001]

I would like to see some LTE battery life tests rather than WIFI. That's where the first Moto X trounced the competition because it just got so much better reception therefore using less power. I have a feeling that in low signal areas the new Moto X will trounce the competition when it comes to battery. I can't wait for the Motorola nexus. Finally a nexus phone with good reception.

The nexus 5 battery issues can most likely be traced to reception. That's why despite this chart saying that the Nexus 5 had better battery life than the first Moto X, almost every real world review has concluded that the Moto X performs much better regarding battery life.

 

[davidwes]

As much I like the look of the new X, I think I'll be sticking with the current version because Motorola have said that the new software features will be passed on to it. I guess the hand-waving thing won't because it requires the IR on the front. But the increased no. of notifications on the lock screen? The custom wake command? Those are the best bits for me. Plus, it's getting the upgrade to L(ollipop) so I don't see the need to pump out £460 for this.

Alex

Can you tell me how well this works with Mac OS X, and how it feels to keep in the Mac OS X family but not have an iPhone?

I will NEVER give up my Macbook Air (or retina if I could afford one) and I love my iPad and have not seen anything that I would consider using instead. But my iPhone ... I would be okay choosing something else if it was good and yet still fit my with everything else.

Thats the one big problem with non iPhones. I am already so invested in the ecosystem.

 

[kingalexthe1st]

Can you tell me how well this works with Mac OS X, and how it feels to keep in the Mac OS X family but not have an iPhone?

I will NEVER give up my Macbook Air (or retina if I could afford one) and I love my iPad and have not seen anything that I would consider using instead. But my iPhone ... I would be okay choosing something else if it was good and yet still fit my with everything else.

Thats the one big problem with non iPhones. I am already so invested in the ecosystem.

It essentially boils down to which way you prefer to move your media - I like to take photos and videos and then put them on my macbook air. Which is fine; you plug in the phone and then a new finder window appears (but with an android in the corner) with all your stuff on the phone. Just navigate it and copy whatever you want off it. However, if you have photos in iPhoto and want to put them on you Moto X then that would be a bit labourous. You'd have to export then copy in to the DCIM folder. I don't do it, not because it's hard but because I just don't move media in that direction with my devices.

I do kind of miss having my music collection on there, but I have an iPod touch for that. Though seeing the new iPhones today have made me wonder if I'd like to go back....

I had an advantage though beforehand because I used Gmail as my primary email, preferred google maps, used google now. So I was already 'in' the google system even though I had an iPhone before.

Alex

 

[smwatson]

If you invest in the Google system (which is perfectly possible on OSX) then you'll be fine.

Music manager can sync with your iTunes library. You can store up to 20,000 songs for free (free!) on Google Music which you can then listen to on your phone. You can download some onto your phone's hard drive or just stream.

I tend to use either Google photos or just dropbox to store pictures I've taken on my phone, which is easy peasy. I only use iPhoto for SLR pictures which I don't want to put on my phone so no experience of media going in that direction.

Video files are much easier than an iPhone, unless all your videos are bought from iTunes I suppose. Not sure how that would work.

Basically it's really damn easy.

 

[TechGod]

It essentially boils down to which way you prefer to move your media - I like to take photos and videos and then put them on my macbook air. Which is fine; you plug in the phone and then a new finder window appears (but with an android in the corner) with all your stuff on the phone. Just navigate it and copy whatever you want off it. However, if you have photos in iPhoto and want to put them on you Moto X then that would be a bit labourous. You'd have to export then copy in to the DCIM folder. I don't do it, not because it's hard but because I just don't move media in that direction with my devices.

I do kind of miss having my music collection on there, but I have an iPod touch for that. Though seeing the new iPhones today have made me wonder if I'd like to go back....

I had an advantage though beforehand because I used Gmail as my primary email, preferred google maps, used google now. So I was already 'in' the google system even though I had an iPhone before.

Alex

Yeah the new iPhones have pushed me towards them. Apple done good this time.

 

[kingalexthe1st]

Music manager can sync with your iTunes library. You can store up to 20,000 songs for free (free!) on Google Music which you can then listen to on your phone. You can download some onto your phone's hard drive or just stream.

Top tip! I'll do this. Thanks Watson!

Alex

 

[Tig Bitties]

Our Moto X (2014) battery life test is done and the results ain't pretty
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Our-...t-is-done-and-the-results-aint-pretty_id60564

But the Moto X is not without weaknesses, and perhaps the most significant one is its 2300 mAh battery -- on par with the now aging Google Nexus 5. As you can imagine, that kind of capacity isn't going to be a chart-topper, and our battery life test proved this

 

[Sensamic]

Our Moto X (2014) battery life test is done and the results ain't pretty
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Our-...t-is-done-and-the-results-aint-pretty_id60564

But the Moto X is not without weaknesses, and perhaps the most significant one is its 2300 mAh battery -- on par with the now aging Google Nexus 5. As you can imagine, that kind of capacity isn't going to be a chart-topper, and our battery life test proved this

Man, I can't catch a break! Been waiting months for the new Moto X and now look at that battery... Who could have guessed it was going to be so small in late 2014??

 

[kenypowa]

Our Moto X (2014) battery life test is done and the results ain't pretty
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Our-...t-is-done-and-the-results-aint-pretty_id60564

But the Moto X is not without weaknesses, and perhaps the most significant one is its 2300 mAh battery -- on par with the now aging Google Nexus 5. As you can imagine, that kind of capacity isn't going to be a chart-topper, and our battery life test proved this

Talk about BS headline. The actual test result:

MOTOROLA MOTO X (2014): 5h 45 min (Good)

 

[mel823]

Motorola posted on their blog that pre-orders begin on Tuesday, at 11:00 AM CT. They'll also have some 360's in stock.

 

[midwestfisherma]

From the reviews that I have watched so far, I'm liking the new X. I like the form factor, the leather back option, improved camera, and the new size and screen. The dual front facing speakers is a nice plus! I could care less about the dimple. The battery is the only thing that's got me concerned. I also wish it had an SD card slot but, it's not a deal breaker for me.

 

[BoxerGT2.5]

Man, I can't catch a break! Been waiting months for the new Moto X and now look at that battery... Who could have guessed it was going to be so small in late 2014??

If their charger is capable of giving you 8hrs of battery life in 15min, does it really matter if the batter is just "average"?

 

[phobic99]

New Motomaker is up for US.

https://www.motorola.com/us/motomaker?pid=FLEXR2

 

[ucfgrad93]

New Motomaker is up for US.

https://www.motorola.com/us/motomaker?pid=FLEXR2

Yep. I might get this one depending on what the reviews look like.

 

[ozaz]

Our Moto X (2014) battery life test is done and the results ain't pretty
http://www.phonearena.com/news/Our-...t-is-done-and-the-results-aint-pretty_id60564

But the Moto X is not without weaknesses, and perhaps the most significant one is its 2300 mAh battery -- on par with the now aging Google Nexus 5. As you can imagine, that kind of capacity isn't going to be a chart-topper, and our battery life test proved this

Talk about BS headline. The actual test result:

MOTOROLA MOTO X (2014): 5h 45 min (Good)

Another battery test now in: Endurance rating of 48hr on gsmarena's battery test. This is poor, or mediocre at best (HTC One, GS5 & LG G3 all get around 70 hr, Z3 compact gets 100 hr). Puts me right off the phone as I'm fed up with mediocre battery life.

http://www.gsmarena.com/motorola_moto_x_2014-review-1136p3.php

 

[Tig Bitties]

The piss poor battery life on this phone, will keep me a mile away from buying it. Why, just why did Motorola do this

Motorola is the maker of the MAXX battery technology, cramming in huge 3,500mAh batteries in thin phones. Why wouldn't they do that again in this new phone ? It would become a blockbuster Android nerd phone.

----------

If You Plan to Buy a New Moto X, Buy a Turbo Charger Just in Case.
http://www.droid-life.com/2014/09/1...-new-moto-x-buy-a-turbo-charger-just-in-case/

 

[mel823]

I honestly don't care that much about the battery. How I use my phone is different from how somebody else uses it. I do need 64GB storage though.

 

[kevinof]

No so complimentary review from anandtech. They highlight the camera and battery as poor performers.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8523/the-new-motorola-moto-x-2014-review

 

[Sensamic]

After seeing the battery life I'm getting with my new SGS5 (almost 6 hours of on screen time) I'm happy I decided to go with this one instead of the new X.

I waited months for it only to be disappointed with the battery. No way it can even get close to the SGS5 (or any other flagship for that matter).