Why can't I let go of my original Moto X? I have a 2013 XT1053 Dev Edition, which I love greatly. I finally went ahead and, after much debate, bought a 2014 XT1095 Pure Edition last year to replace the 1st gen because it felt like it was getting a little slow, it has a bit of screen burn, and a little chip in the glass. The XT1095 is a great phone, just like the 1st gen but faster, and bigger. I've had it for 11 months now, and I've gotten used to it's larger size... but...
Yesterday I pulled the XT1053 out to clean my crap off of it, format it, install a fresh rom, and set it up as a backup. I was working with the phone for a couple hours getting everything sorted in my anal-retentive sort of way, and when I picked up the XT1095 afterward, it felt huge again! 11 months of getting used it it was undone in 2 hours!
Why does the original Moto X fit so perfectly in your hand? Why does it feel just right? Why does the screen look so smooth and deep? Why is the harmony of that phone so strong that I seriously considered pulling my sim card out of the XT1095 and going back to the XT1053?
It's not just the size or proportions either. I have a Nokia which is the same height, 5mm wider, and exactly the same depth. The extra width is barely perceptible. But it doesn't feel the same. Even though it too has a slightly rounded back... the edges, the corners... it's just not right. Especially the corners, they're half square.
And about that screen... I know both the 1st and 2nd gen Motos are AMOLED, the XT1053 being 720x1280 @ 312 ppi and the XT1095 being 1080x1920 @ 424 ppi, but the XT1053 looks smoother and has deeper colors, even though it has a lower resolution with fewer pixels per inch... and has some screen burn.
And on top of that, why, oh WHY am I looking at another 1st Gen Moto X on eBay?? To have as a backup for the backup that I don't even use as it is? Nevermind the three other non-Motorola "backup" phones.
Is it just me? It must be. Otherwise there would be something on the market to fill this void of design language harmony that seemingly only I perceive. But no, we have these giant phablets that took over the market, except for the Xperia Compact series, which are shaped like thick subway tiles. (Don't you dare even mention The A Word!)
So I suppose this is my re-appreciation post for my original Moto X. May it, and its siblings, live forever.
DrvLikHell said:
Why can't I let go of my original Moto X? I have a 2013 XT1053 Dev Edition, which I love greatly. I finally went ahead and, after much debate, bought a 2014 XT1095 Pure Edition last year to replace the 1st gen because it felt like it was getting a little slow, it has a bit of screen burn, and a little chip in the glass. The XT1095 is a great phone, just like the 1st gen but faster, and bigger. I've had it for 11 months now, and I've gotten used to it's larger size... but...
Yesterday I pulled the XT1053 out to clean my crap off of it, format it, install a fresh rom, and set it up as a backup. I was working with the phone for a couple hours getting everything sorted in my anal-retentive sort of way, and when I picked up the XT1095 afterward, it felt huge again! 11 months of getting used it it was undone in 2 hours!
Why does the original Moto X fit so perfectly in your hand? Why does it feel just right? Why does the screen look so smooth and deep? Why is the harmony of that phone so strong that I seriously considered pulling my sim card out of the XT1095 and going back to the XT1053?
It's not just the size or proportions either. I have a Nokia which is the same height, 5mm wider, and exactly the same depth. The extra width is barely perceptible. But it doesn't feel the same. Even though it too has a slightly rounded back... the edges, the corners... it's just not right. Especially the corners, they're half square.
And about that screen... I know both the 1st and 2nd gen Motos are AMOLED, the XT1053 being 720x1280 @ 312 ppi and the XT1095 being 1080x1920 @ 424 ppi, but the XT1053 looks smoother and has deeper colors, even though it has a lower resolution with fewer pixels per inch... and has some screen burn.
And on top of that, why, oh WHY am I looking at another 1st Gen Moto X on eBay?? To have as a backup for the backup that I don't even use as it is? Nevermind the three other non-Motorola "backup" phones.
Is it just me? It must be. Otherwise there would be something on the market to fill this void of design language harmony that seemingly only I perceive. But no, we have these giant phablets that took over the market, except for the Xperia Compact series, which are shaped like thick subway tiles. (Don't you dare even mention The A Word!)
So I suppose this is my re-appreciation post for my original Moto X. May it, and its siblings, live forever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel the same feelings, more or less, and I'm still using old ghost as my daily driver. Long life to this super special phone :fingers-crossed:
Same here. Love the device. Hope we gonna see a revived version of moto x 2013
About 80%+ screen to body ratio would be great. See the galaxy s 8 ...
Who actually cares about the thickness of a device?
Thick & small or big & thin?
This is a great love letter to this (in part) forgotten device nowadays, like Stefano I use aa daily driver as today.
It's fell right because for me it's a win project with many thing got rights, sure have defect at time and more compared to today too spec but for me it's a special phone (also the first Android phone for me).
Probably I will use as secondary phone when (TBA xD) I have new one, sure I don't sell this little gems
Size to screen ratio was great for 2013.
The phone is special indeed and if it had a sdcard I would still be using it.
In my opinion, a thin device is actually harder to hold and pick up. On top of that, a large number of people are going to put these super thin devices in a super thick and bulky case, totally negating the developers' efforts to slim down the device. Forget thick vs thin, ergonomics is where it's at.
I'll give a good example. Just today I had a Galaxy S7 handed to me. It's unlocked and I could likely buy it for a cheap price. But I don't want it. Sure, the screen looks snazzy and "Oooh, it's an S7". But I keep pushing the buttons when I pick it up, and I can't seem to set it down without it going "thunk." I never noticed how the Motos curved back makes it so much nicer to simply pick it up and set it down, something I do 50+ times a day. At least Samsung is starting to get the idea with its "always on display." Except you can't do anything with it. No interactions are possible like with Moto Display.
Previously Motorola might have heard our cries of love and cherish for the wonderfully designed original Moto X and actually done something about it. Now that they're owned by the Chinese, they're just like every other phone company, competing for specs and speed. I notice that the Moto Z lost its curved back in favor of overpriced gimmicks that most people won't use.
When my 2nd gen Moto is too old to continue, I have no idea what I'll do. Maybe I'll just strap a Microsoft Surface Pro to my head and call it a year.
What os version are you running? I think kitkat, although old, runs best on the device and everything works, although battery is bad on kitkat.
Moto x was made for kitkat.
I just switched from 4.4.4 to 5.1. To me, 5.1 feels smoother and more responsive. However, it could just feel that way because it's a fresh install. 5.1 removed the wave to wake feature/bug, but other than that I'm not disappointed with it. I don't use it as a daily driver anymore though. Perhaps if I did I would change my mind.
If only there was a custom ROM that implemented the Moto Display features like the stock ROMs, I'd give that a try. I've tried Cyanogen and NX ROM on it, but I miss the Moto Display too much and I always go back to factory. That includes my 2nd gen X. After doing a little research, it looks like Moto Display uses the Motorola framework, which isn't present on any custom ROM that I know of. I guess that means Moto Display is forever a factory Motorola-only feature.
DrvLikHell said:
I just switched from 4.4.4 to 5.1. To me, 5.1 feels smoother and more responsive. However, it could just feel that way because it's a fresh install. 5.1 removed the wave to wake feature/bug, but other than that I'm not disappointed with it. I don't use it as a daily driver anymore though. Perhaps if I did I would change my mind.
If only there was a custom ROM that implemented the Moto Display features like the stock ROMs, I'd give that a try. I've tried Cyanogen and NX ROM on it, but I miss the Moto Display too much and I always go back to factory. That includes my 2nd gen X. After doing a little research, it looks like Moto Display uses the Motorola framework, which isn't present on any custom ROM that I know of. I guess that means Moto Display is forever a factory Motorola-only feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually marshamallow ROM imitate well Moto display for me, I use Lineage 13 and ambient display is very similar to stock one.
Also with Tasker in stock 5.1 I remember using it to have wave to wake again (present in the rom)
For me 4.4.4 was the best stock, 5.1 have lot of but because lollipop is a bad Android version.
The only advantage is the stock is the most stable ROM obliviously but MM ROMs works well for daily use imho
DrvLikHell said:
Why can't I let go of my original Moto X? I have a 2013 XT1053 Dev Edition....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same 2013 32GB Dev Edition that has been my daily driver until now, working almost perfectly on LineageOS, and I get where you're coming from. I am trading it in for a galaxy S8, and even though I have switched to the S8, I just dont want to send in my Moto X. Just unrooted and returned to stock, and feels like end of an era.
When your 4 year old device has a better screen to body ratio than the latest iphone, you know your device was well designed.
theundead101 said:
I have the same 2013 32GB Dev Edition that has been my daily driver until now, working almost perfectly on LineageOS, and I get where you're coming from. I am trading it in for a galaxy S8, and even though I have switched to the S8, I just dont want to send in my Moto X. Just unrooted and returned to stock, and feels like end of an era..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nooo! Don't send it in for a trade-in! They're gonna... r... r... recycle it! (GASP!) Get some old POS phone for 20 bucks on eBay to give them as a trade (currently there's a dead Sprint Moto X for $23 shipped). Keep your Moto for a backup, or pass it on to someone else who's enamored with the great little Moto. Especially since it's a Dev Edition! I'd offer to buy it from you if I didn't already have five and a half "backup" phones.
I know, it's not an easy choice. The 200$ discount for a working phone is just too hard to pass on, and I've already committed to sending it in.
It was a great phone, its time has passed.
The king is dead, long live the King
Moto X Fan Club
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
No, I have no idea what you're talking about
When I first bought my Moto X 2013 , I had no idea how badly I would be screwing myself in the smartphone expectations department for years to come. You nailed it all on the head, so I won't go into it too much.... but...
It's the best feeling phone in the hand all of time. Period. No other phone melts into the palm of your hand like that phone (Motorola even bragged about this in their original marketing for the OG Moto X.) No jagged corners/edges that are uncomfortable to hold. Beautiful plastic material that did not feel cheap and could stand up to drops and scratches with ease. Motomaker options for Wood (Leather for 2014 later) and customizing the colors and buttons were all great touches to making the phone feel personal.
Then the thing that really ruined phones for me is the Moto software. Especially on the Moto X 2014 and 2015. The Wave to Wake on those phones is insane and makes you feel like a damn Jedi to use it. Years after their release, I'm still impressing people by talking to my phone while it's off or waving over it quickly to see what time it is (while it takes everyone else several seconds to pick up their phone and press a button.) How is that a 3+ year old phone makes other phones look archaic and dated? Active Display (like you touched on) is so much better than any other iteration (Always On or Ambient Display.)
With Active Display you can click and hold on a notification icon to interact with it without waking up the display. While holding on to the notification bubble, you can go to the notification (Swipe UP) or dismiss the notification (Swipe Left or Right) or just unlock the phone and go to the home screen (lock screen if you have security settings) by Swiping DOWN... all right from the Active Display without waking up the phone.
With Ambient Display, as soon as you touch any part of the screen when a notification wakes the Ambient Display, you wake up the whole phone to the lock screen. That means a lot of accidental wake ups in your pocket which always drove me nuts. So it's got the advantage of only the Notification Bubble being an active part of the screen and the ability to make actions on the notification right from Active Display without even waking the phone. It's simple and genius and it's really annoying that no other OEMs have picked up on this and replicated it.
And then you have your gestures with chop for flashlight and twist for camera (I actually could take Double Press Power Button shortcut over this.) All these damn amazing features are getting diluted in Motonovo's hands with the reduction of IR sensors on the front (From 2014-2015 Moto X's 4 front facing IR sensors to now a max of 2 IR sensors on the Moto Z I believe.)
I am so spoiled for every other phone coming out today. Bezels are friggin huge even on 5.2" phones now. When I owned the Pixel for a short while, I had to swallow my pride and accept that my Moto X 2014 had a 5.2" screen in a smaller body size than the 5" Pixel. Don't get me wrong, the speed/camera/battery life of the Pixel is amazing. I just wish I could have all those things in the 2013/2014 Moto X body with Moto X software.
I'm at a loss for what phone to buy next. I was hoping the new Moto X could be good but it's looking like just another boring ass Motonovo phone that has nothing to do with the original Moto Xs. I was hoping maybe the new Pixel 2 would be comfortable but it sounds like they're just keeping the same exact body size/screen size as the original Pixel and only decreasing the Bezels on the Pixel 2 XL.
There's just no phone manufacturer anymore that really cares about the user experience (except maybe Apple, but you have to live in Apple's walled garden which is something I'm not really willing to do.) But even Apple tends to favor a PREMIUM experience rather than comfortable experience I'd say. Everyone else is just making thinner phones that aren't comfortable whose battery life sucks and bezels are too big and uncomfortable to hold and they're fragile as **** made out of premium materials with absolutely NO personality.
When Rick Osterloh (head of Motorola Design at the time of the original Moto Xs) moved to oversee Google Hardware division, I had great hope that he would influence the design direction of the Pixel. But it seems that they're still just hiring HTC/LG to copy and paste their uninspired designs over and then let Google do their hardware/software magic on the inside. The Pixel is a fantastic phone but it's huge downside is the design. It's a pretty phone but it's not comfortable to hold and it's too expensive/fragile to feel comfortable using case-less. I want a phone I can use without a damn case to bulk it up and make it look ugly.
I was actually excited by this failed indiegogo project just because they gave me original Moto X feels. Their mission statement and design philosophy hit a lot of the right Moto X notes to me: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nuans-neo-reloaded-smartphone-design#/
The problem @DrvLikHell is that you and I are a complete minority. There's no market for compact phones like there used to be. There's no reason to stop and consider the user experience and ergonomics and product design like they used to. The market is telling them to make thinner/sexier/bigger/more premium looking phones and they're making a TON of money doing so. Why is there any reason to stop?
Part of me wants to try and research who really worked on the Moto X design and interview them. Where are they working now? Why can't they make another Moto X like phone that feels really special and custom tailored to the user? Where the experience of using the phone is a simple joy? The phone should feel as personal as it is to our daily lives. Instead, phones expect us to adapt to THEM.
"Oh, it's a little uncomfortable to hold for long periods of time. But it's okay."
"Such a beautiful phone but I have to buy a case to protect it so I can sell it in a year when I upgrade. If I drop it, it will shatter."
"It's kind of heavy and hurts my wrist after awhile."
"The sides kind of dig into my hands a bit but it's such a fast phone."
"The battery life isn't that great but the 2K display is amazing to look at."
"It doesn't have a headphone jack, but they make a dongle for it."
The Moto X felt like it was custom made for the user and you didn't have to accomodate for anything. Well, that is until 2-3 years down the road when the age set in and the camera didn't look so good compared to the new cameras coming out and the batteries started to die and the phone became sluggish...
My perfect dream phone is:
1. The body of the 2013 or 2014 Moto X
2. Pixel 2 hardware inside (assuming it will improve on Pixel)
3. Waterproof
4. Headphone jack
5. Moto X Software
6. Fingerprint Scanner inside Moto X dimple on the back
7. Motomaker Customization
8. Reliable software updates for 2-3 years.
It's crazy that this is asking too much. Isn't it?
Well, I could really ramble on about this phone forever. I just wanted you to know that you're not alone and crazy in this Moto X universe.
I'd like to ask you.. is there any phone on the horizon that you're hopeful for?
I'm glad to see I'm not the only Moto zealot. Everything you said could have come straight from my keyboard.
themagpieswarble said:
I'd like to ask you.. is there any phone on the horizon that you're hopeful for?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I keep looking for the elusive "next phone," especially since my 2014 Moto X is starting to have a couple issues like the beginning of a loose charge port and battery bizarreness once in a while. But every time I search, I come up empty handed. There will not, in the foreseeable future, be a phone with outstanding ergonomics like the Moto X. I've come to accept that finally. What I'd really love to have is something similar to Moto Display. (I refer to it as Moto Display because I always get Active Display and Ambient Display mixed up.) But I might have to accept 3rd party suckyness because I just don't see anything on the horizon. What I can't accept is carrying around a giant plank of marketing cheapness.
I say marketing cheapness because generally, stupid consumers (well over half of America) buy what is being sold to them. One big reason manufacturers are marketing larger phones to people because they're cheaper to engineer. Everybody knows it's harder and more expensive to fit more tech into a smaller package. So by making the phone bigger, they can save money on engineering and use the "bigger is better" philosophy as a scapegoat. In reality, half the blame falls on the manufacturers for doing this, and half falls on the consumer for accepting it. For the rest of us, we're screwed.
Let us have a look at your list:
1. The body of the 2013 or 2014 Moto X
2. Pixel 2 hardware inside (assuming it will improve on Pixel)
3. Waterproof
4. Headphone jack
5. Moto X Software
6. Fingerprint Scanner inside Moto X dimple on the back
7. Motomaker Customization
8. Reliable software updates for 2-3 years.
We can strike number one off the list because it's just never going to happen. The best we can hope for is a small form factor phone with top tier gear inside. Number two is entirely possible, perhaps not specifically Pixel 2 hardware, but a high end at least. Waterproof, possible. Headphone jack, sure. Moto X Software... <sigh> never going to happen. Moto features are run by specific Moto hardware. If I remember correctly, there's a special low power chip that runs the Moto Display and Moto Voice features and that's why you can't even port the code to another phone or get it in a custom ROM. Fingerprint scanner in the Moto X dimple... since the dimple is gone from the new Motos, not gonna happen either. They've also severely toned down the Motomaker customization for the Moto Z, and no one else offers it so that's pretty much out as well. Reliable updates, maybe, if you get the phone when it first comes out, and if comes out at the same time latest version of Android is released, and/or if it's very popular and has good aftermarket ROM development.
This is what your wish list looks like after it's been run through the reality machine:
1. Not giant, preferably small with high screen/body ratio
2. High power CPU
3. Waterproof
4. Headphone jack
5. Fingerprint scanner
6. Reliable updates for 2, maybe 3 years.
Pretty sucky. And even with this redacted list, there's only one phone that I know of which used to meet all of these requirements. The Sony Xperia Z5 Compact. I almost bought one instead of my 2014 Moto X, but I decided that I couldn't live without the Moto Display, so I traded small for Moto Display awesomeness. If you're looking for brand new hardware, the Z5 is two generations behind now.
There was a rumored Galaxy S7 Mini, similar to the S5 mini of old. It would have fit the redacted list, but it never came to be.
The regular Galaxy S7 is close to the size of the 2014 Moto X. I had one for a few days, but as I said before, the ergonomics just wasn't there, and the always on display was a poor replacement, neigh, not a replacement at all for Moto Display. Samsung may get around to it though. After I updated the S7 I was able to tap the notifications to open them. I couldn't interact with them like with Moto Display, but at least Samsung made it DO something besides act like a notification light. I kinda wish I had hung on to it, but I'm sure I would have gone back to my Moto after a short while.
The verdict for people like us? Start our own company and make our dream phone ourselves, or hang onto our aging phones until they're no longer viable for everyday use, and then settle for the least bad of the lot that the manufacturers are pushing on the public.
For me, I prefer a phone that's at least a year old so it's cheaper and at least some of the bugs have been worked out. I also usually prefer a phone that's more than one generation newer than what I have. The 2014 Moto X was an exception because it was the last "real" Motorola. Currently, there is no phone on the market that fits. If my 2014 Moto X got crushed tomorrow, I'd go back to my 2013 Moto X and continue waiting for the "next phone" to turn up. I'd possibly scour Swappa for another 2014 Moto X, or maaaaybe a Moto G4 from Europe while I continue the wait. If I got a job where they demanded that I have a more modern phone (almost happened once), I'd begrudgingly get an S7 or Pixel. Sad state of affairs man, sad state.
If you, or anyone else, find a more qualified replacement, I'd love to hear about it. I'm consciously ignoring the small issues my Moto X is starting to develop, hoping they'll just go away because there's nothing acceptable to replace it with.
Edit: There seems to be a Moto X4 on the horizon, as well as a new Xperia and a new flagship Nokia 8 and/or 9 running Android. We'll see if any of them can tick enough boxes to be a contender.
Guys, maybe we don't have to wait any longer.
LG is going to present the LG 6Q on the 11 of July.
Hope this device is gonna be real mini.
LG 6 has got a 78,6% body to screen ratio.
http://m.gsmarena.com/lg_q6_will_be_unveiled_on_july_11-news-26024.php
DrvLikHell said:
Edit: There seems to be a Moto X4 on the horizon, as well as a new Xperia and a new flagship Nokia 8 and/or 9 running Android. We'll see if any of them can tick enough boxes to be a contender.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the latest Moto X4 leaks have me pretty bummed. Just looks like another Motonovo phone with nothing really different or OG Moto X'ish about it. Nokia 8 or 9 or whatever could be good but then I read that the bands available on it aren't going to be full-fledged US ready?
Polishpolisher said:
Guys, maybe we don't have to wait any longer.
LG is going to present the LG 6Q on the 11 of July.
Hope this device is gonna be real mini.
LG 6 has got a 78,6% body to screen ratio.
http://m.gsmarena.com/lg_q6_will_be_unveiled_on_july_11-news-26024.php
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh, interesting. I'm going to keep my eyes on this announcement. So rare that we get a "Mini" announcement of a flagship these days. There's not really much wrong from what I hear about the LG G6. Mini version could be solid. What do you think of it @DrvLikHell?
@DrvlikeHell
Man, I haven't really seen what Moto Display looks like on the newest Motorola phones. Check this out:
https://youtu.be/5OE_C3g6LeU?t=157
2:37 into the video.
Now you can actually respond to texts from within Moto Display. Soo hot.
Ugh, why can't Motonovo figure out camera quality and smaller bezels? That's all I need to convince me to get a new Moto phone.
Looks like we're getting Moto Z and X announcements at the end of the month:
https://www.theverge.com/platform/a...6/motorola-nyc-event-july-25-moto-x-time-date
The simple joy of spinning a Moto x while it lays face up. Checking the display in a pitch black room and seeing nothing but the lit pixels.
I'm typing this on my 1st Gen Moto X Dev edition. I recently replaced the battery, the screen, and the back cover (went with the Walnut wood back and an all black body)
I've broken two Moto X phones in the last couple years. Eventually I taught myself to repair them. I wish they would unlock the bootloader across all carrier models, but in the meantime, apps like the Google Now launcher help to keep the device feeling fresh on 5.1
The only other phone I loved like I love my Moto X was the palm pre, which had a slide up physical keyboard and it's own operating system with the absolute best multitasking interface yet devised for phones (IMHO of course). It was marketed horribly. Just hideous advertising. And when palm went out of business and bought by HP, and HP replaced it's CEO twice and then gave up on the investment, I thought I wouldn't love another phone until I got handed a Moto X.
I've owned a few Samsung Phones, and my wife has an iPhone. These days I carry two phones, the Moto X and an LG V20 for it's video and audio recording capabilities. In my line of work as a manager, having a business and personal phone number makes sense for multiple reasons.
I recently sold one of my repaired Moto X to an employee who keeps buying and breaking inexpensive phones. It was hard to let go of it at any price, but I slapped a clear case and a screen protector on it and handed it over. So far he's loving it. I showed him some of the Moto specific features and his level of awe was really gratifying.
It's absolutely true that the best designed devices rarely become the most popular or widely accepted, but as sure as the Moto X replaced my Palm Pre, some company somewhere will make at least one generation of a near perfect phone. Until then, I'll be refurbing and evangelizing the 2013 Moto X. Now more affordable than ever.
Colfax.miller said:
The simple joy of spinning a Moto x while it lays face up. Checking the display in a pitch black room and seeing nothing but the lit pixels.
I'm typing this on my 1st Gen Moto X Dev edition. I recently replaced the battery, the screen, and the back cover (went with the Walnut wood back and an all black body)
I've broken two Moto X phones in the last couple years. Eventually I taught myself to repair them. I wish they would unlock the bootloader across all carrier models, but in the meantime, apps like the Google Now launcher help to keep the device feeling fresh on 5.1
The only other phone I loved like I love my Moto X was the palm pre, which had a slide up physical keyboard and it's own operating system with the absolute best multitasking interface yet devised for phones (IMHO of course). It was marketed horribly. Just hideous advertising. And when palm went out of business and bought by HP, and HP replaced it's CEO twice and then gave up on the investment, I thought I wouldn't love another phone until I got handed a Moto X.
I've owned a few Samsung Phones, and my wife has an iPhone. These days I carry two phones, the Moto X and an LG V20 for it's video and audio recording capabilities. In my line of work as a manager, having a business and personal phone number makes sense for multiple reasons.
I recently sold one of my repaired Moto X to an employee who keeps buying and breaking inexpensive phones. It was hard to let go of it at any price, but I slapped a clear case and a screen protector on it and handed it over. So far he's loving it. I showed him some of the Moto specific features and his level of awe was really gratifying.
It's absolutely true that the best designed devices rarely become the most popular or widely accepted, but as sure as the Moto X replaced my Palm Pre, some company somewhere will make at least one generation of a near perfect phone. Until then, I'll be refurbing and evangelizing the 2013 Moto X. Now more affordable than ever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I take it that you're using stock 5.1 rom? It's so hard going back to the 2013 Moto X because of the performance. Otherwise, I'd use mine more often.
themagpieswarble said:
I take it that you're using stock 5.1 rom? It's so hard going back to the 2013 Moto X because of the performance. Otherwise, I'd use mine more often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/|\ This, exactly. Over and over. I must have said to myself 100 times, "if only I could upgrade the processor like on my computer."
The LG 6Q could be interesting. I'm not sure about that funky screen resolution though, and I've never been a fan of LG. I want to see it's exact specs and dimensions. If it looks good I will still keep it in mind and I'll watch to see how it does in its first year. The articles I read said that it will have a 5.4" screen in the body of a phone that would normally fit a 5 or 5.1" screen and that it may have the same processor as the LG 6. Processor speed in a small package is a large part of the formula (for us), but it has to have some kind of magic aside from that. Things like root, an unlocked bootloader, and either a near AOSP stock rom, or good custom rom support are important too.
I actually went to BestBuy specifically to compare the new Moto Z to my 2014 Moto X. I wanted to make sure that the Moto Display still worked the same and see how much bigger the Z is. The added features of the new Moto Display are neat but didn't interest me all that much. I'm just glad that they didn't make it like the Ambient Display app. Even with my Moto X in its case, the naked Moto Z was still bigger. If they sold the dual sim version here in the US, I'd be tempted to buy one. But I know I'd be annoyed having an even larger plank in my pocket.
If Lenovo would only make one of them a little smaller, I just might be on board to buy a new one. There's hope because the new Moto G5 (non plus) comes with a 5" screen. Though it still has a bigger frame than the 2014 Moto X, it's a step away from 5.5" everything. I think they realized that you don't have to have the biggest screen to be competitive. The hugely successful Galaxy S6 and S7 with their 5.1" screens proved this. (Not to mention all of the non-plus iPhones with 4.7 inch screens, or smaller.)
I hope it will be like @Colfax.miller says, that someone will eventually make a phone that we're enamored with. However, the last phone that I was this taken with was another Motorola... the V70. I really don't want to wait that long.
Related
I have broke my screen on my S4 and being the way I am about phones I can't handle it anymore.
I have looked at the X because the price and I have liked Moto phones.
With all the new phones being announced would you still buy the X right now or would you wait for something else?
Slayers said:
I have broke my screen on my S4 and being the way I am about phones I can't handle it anymore.
I have looked at the X because the price and I have liked Moto phones.
With all the new phones being announced would you still buy the X right now or would you wait for something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to buy a spare moto X as I predict no phone will come come close to it in ergonomics and thin bezel size/aesthetics for a long time.
Moto X2 is almost guaranteed to have a 5 inch screen = automatic disqualification. I have bigger than average hands (can grip a basketball) but I use my phone so little that I really can;t justify carrying around a huge screen 14 hours a day for the 2 minutes it comes in handy for.
Basically all the phones released this year are sh1t aesthetically.
S5 = thick size bezels, looks like a boat
HTC M8 = MASSSSSSSSSSSSSSIVE bottom bezel, huge phone for that small (in comparison) screen
Oppo Find 7 = Too big (that's what she said)
Sony = bezels always too thick
LG G2 = buttons on the back = GTFO LG
Nexus 5 = bezels are thicker than it's twin brother than LG G2 which is unacceptable for me
iphone 6 = as per leaks the side AND top/bottom bezels are very thick
Basically after being addicted to phones since 2011 I have spent close to $4k on this stupid hobby.
Top 3 phones were:
1. Moto X
2. iphone 5
3. Nexus 4
Slayers said:
I have broke my screen on my S4 and being the way I am about phones I can't handle it anymore.
I have looked at the X because the price and I have liked Moto phones.
With all the new phones being announced would you still buy the X right now or would you wait for something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the situation your in right now. My S4's SIM tray self destructed. Needing a phone immediately and sick of using a large phone, I opted to buy the Moto X for 50 bucks.
Best phone I've ever owned. Period.
Sent from my XT1058 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
My list of phones -> http://forums.androidcentral.com/an...3-post-your-phone-timeline-2.html#post2949873 and keep in mind, for the "Work" phones, I can pop my personal sim in and used them if I wanted.
Yes, I would still buy the X today.
Size, feel, screen, battery life, over all usability make the X my favorite device. And its great for single handed use.
My Samsungs don't feel right in my hand, and I have to shift them around too much for single handed use. Touchwiz is still too cartoony. There is a lot of bloat I don't use. The built in apps for SMS/MMS have issues when sending to non-samsung phones (S4), as does the calendar when sending invites(Note 2).
I like my BB Z10 more now that it runs Android APK's natively, and has a better camera than the X, but I like widgets and other things on the X better.
The only thing I'd change about the X is its camera in low light. It has gotten better with the software updates but its still not up to where it needs to be. That being said, for outdoors, the software improvements (rom and camera app) have made big improvements.
Oh, but if you want to Root the X, buy the developer edition, or one with an unlockable bootloader!!! It might cost you more, but you can be assured that you can root if you want.
In a heartbeat. I have always loved Motorola phones. If it wasn't for LTE I would have never got my S3. I genuinely feel like my droid x and x2 were better phones than my Galaxy S3, other than the LTE and camera.
I'd by an x right now cause there's nothing better out right now. Once the MotoX replacement comes out that might change. I'm hoping for a removable battery so I can get an extended battery.
I just bought one on eBay rather than a Nexus 5 - because no other manufacturer has really done the Active Notifications, Always-On Voice Command and the human-friendly design together just yet.
Here's to hoping Nexus 6 has all of those, though Active Notifications are unlikely on non-AMOLED phones.
Just got my X yesterday, so I guess I'm still in the "honeymoon" phase...but I'll be honest with you...I love this phone.
I have been around XDA for a while now and have owned 6 consecutive Android phones (goes without saying, I will have a sex change before I ever get an iPhone). I used to theme for several Moto phones back in the day (BIONIC/RAZR/DX). Motorola phones, in my opinion, are the best built phones out there. Mix that with Google and it's just a whole lot of awesome. From the day I rooted my original DROID I knew that I would never own another phone that I didn't root. 5 or so years later I have found myself with a phone that may never see the beautiful world of root and/or unlocked bootloaders. While that sucks, it says something about this phone. The fact that I am not regretting my decision to buy it should tell you how awesome it is. Everything about it is just sexy (besides the camera, which is nothing to write home about). As already mentioned, it is ergonomically stellar. By far the best in-hand feeling phone I've ever owned. Love the vibrant display and the nearly-vanilla android stock ROM.
To put it simply: I hate that it is locked down. But this is an incredibly solid and fun device and I could not be happier that I went with it. :good::good:
dubsx said:
Just got my X yesterday, so I guess I'm still in the "honeymoon" phase...but I'll be honest with you...I love this phone.
I have been around XDA for a while now and have owned 6 consecutive Android phones (goes without saying, I will have a sex change before I ever get an iPhone). I used to theme for several Moto phones back in the day (BIONIC/RAZR/DX). Motorola phones, in my opinion, are the best built phones out there. Mix that with Google and it's just a whole lot of awesome. From the day I rooted my original DROID I knew that I would never own another phone that I didn't root. 5 or so years later I have found myself with a phone that may never see the beautiful world of root and/or unlocked bootloaders. While that sucks, it says something about this phone. The fact that I am not regretting my decision to buy it should tell you how awesome it is. Everything about it is just sexy (besides the camera, which is nothing to write home about). As already mentioned, it is ergonomically stellar. By far the best in-hand feeling phone I've ever owned. Love the vibrant display and the nearly-vanilla android stock ROM.
To put it simply: I hate that it is locked down. But this is an incredibly solid and fun device and I could not be happier that I went with it. :good::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know about buying unlock codes? May not last long. If your phone is on his list.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2751177
kj2112 said:
You know about buying unlock codes? May not last long. If your phone is on his list.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2751177
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, mine was manufactured in September so I'm not going to go through the hassle to find out it's a no go. Thanks for looking out though!
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
I actually did just receive my Moto X today. Coming from a rooted Galaxy S3 running CarbonROM and KT Kernel.
With my GS3's governor set to Interactive and the go_hispeed_load set to 50, the GS3 has smoother scrolling. But the unrooted, stock Moto X has faster app opening speed, which was pleasantly surprising.
Like many other users have said, all newer phones are simply just too big. All VZW phones are also locked, so it makes software considerations important. Moto X is as close to stock Android as you can get on-contract with Verizon and that is a huge plus IMO.
The touchless controls work surprisingly well, sometimes it doesn't fire, but it works consistently enough to be useful.
Negative:
Can't find a way to completely silence the phone. Even if I turn all volumes down to 0, if I accidentally trigger the Google Now hotword, it will beep. Bad during a test or interview.
The screen is a bit too warm. Even though the PPI is a tad higher than the GS3 and is a non-PenTile screen, white text on dark background on the Moto X looks weird. It's hard to describe but it almost seems liek as if the edges of the letters are bleeding.
My GS3 earbuds wire controls don't work.
Non-removable battery or microSD.
Camera.
I take it from what a few of you are saying is that no Moto X I buy now from the Moto Creator site or Verizon is going to be rootable if it's not a developer version, correct? If this is the case, how much extra am I going to have to spend? I need root for my root call blocker and greenify.
Also, I have been considering getting one of the wood back ones. I think they look super slick from the pictures I've see. Never seen one in person though. Any positives or negatives someone could share about the wood backs?
Sent from my Droid Razr M
jamesino said:
Can't find a way to completely silence the phone. Even if I turn all volumes down to 0, if I accidentally trigger the Google Now hotword, it will beep. Bad during a test or interview.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Settings -> Touchless Controls ->Launch Phrase Sound [Unchecked]
Problem solved.
Slayers said:
I have broke my screen on my S4 and being the way I am about phones I can't handle it anymore.
I have looked at the X because the price and I have liked Moto phones.
With all the new phones being announced would you still buy the X right now or would you wait for something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. It's by far the best phone ever made.
The only phone you should consider waiting for is the Moto X+1 or LG G3
Yes if you can find a good deal on a used one. No because its been out for 9 months already which is like 5 years in phone time. If my X broke now I would get a beater phone for summer until iPhone6 or X+1 came out.
You ask a question like this in a Moto X forum, what answer do you expect?
I have a Moto X, and if the X2 is 5 inches, I will keep using my X. Best phone I ever had.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using Tapatalk 2
Hmmm, Well if I get a brighter screen on my next DE X (warranty) then yes.
I have used the S4 and unless you put CyanogenMod to it, Touchwiz is just horrible and overall it's much slower than the Moto X. It's just a night and day difference in experience. You'll find much more useful features with the Moto X. The camera is not as good, but it's the only thing you'll miss. The Moto X is still a great device, there isn't any other device out now that make me want to switch to it probably until the Moto X+1 come out.
Active notifications are just a show stopper. Being able to pull your phone out of pocket abs it shows the time without even having to wake it. Also if its sitting on the desk , just nudge it and the time appears. It's brilliant
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk
I've had my motox for 7 months now and I can honestly say I would buy this phone again if I had to.
It's the only phone on the market that has the features I want.
Sent from my XT1058 using XDA Free mobile app
Slayers said:
I have broke my screen on my S4 and being the way I am about phones I can't handle it anymore.
I have looked at the X because the price and I have liked Moto phones.
With all the new phones being announced would you still buy the X right now or would you wait for something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The answer is yes, just ordered mine yesterday. Cant wait to get it. Moving from a HTC One.
After reading through all these comments I'm even more excited to get it. I was able to get a student discount on it and I chatted with them so they sent me a free skip.
I have had the N5 since last November and I love the phone but it looks like Google will not be releasing a phone with this screen size anytime soon. Would like the features that the Moto X has with regards to waking the phone and a few other tweaks that they do.
I have a code from cyber Monday so it would cost $400 today, which is a great price compared to the Nexus 6 and other devices. Do I need a new phone? No, but I would like a new one to play around with for the next year until something better comes along.
The only thing it looks like I would really miss is the wireless charging.
So, for those of you who have come from the N5, was it the right choice?
Thanks
I thought it was going to be mostly a sidegrade with a couple bonus features and it ended up feeling like a reasonable UPgrade. The build is far nicer and more robust feeling, the curved glass on front that wraps around the edges feels infinetly nicer on your face. The moto display is just as awesome as I thought it would be, battery life is much better. The speaker for ringing/media is WORLDS AND WORLDS better, louder, clearer, deeper.
I think its well worth it, add to that, I sold my 5 for $260 (16GB black)
The camera is barely an improvement. Everything else is a pretty significant improvement here even though the specs dont show much, go ahead, it will be money well spent! The nexus 6 is just too big and too expensive!
I have both. The N5 is still an amazing phone but the Moto X is in a class all its own. It's a definite upgrade and well worth every penny, ESPECIALLY with the cyber Monday discount.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
I traded my wifes N5 for a Moto X 2014 and i think it is a substantial upgrade. I benchmarked it even though it is an att phone with all of the att bloat and it still did 44000 antutu, whereas my N5 best score fully rom'd and custom kernel and everything only got 41750. I know some people think benchmarks are useless, but i like seeing higher scores from phones that have better specs.
I honestly think the camera on the x is not as good. I miss hdr+ and think the ois on the nexus is better, despite being a lower mp. The moto does feel better in hand to me and i didnt know how much i would love the dimple on the back. Its great to have to stabilize the phone with one hand.
Overall, the price is right, you can sell your N5 (i sold my n5 for $250 locally), and you are more up to date with the new phones out there.
Just my opinion.
Nick
I was hoping the camera would be just as good or a little better than on the N5, one person says that it is and another says it is not. Of course I know this is all subjective and I will be the only person who can determine this. I wish the camera was definitely better and not so close in quality.
Looks like I am just going to go ahead and order the Moto X, I will keep the N5 for a little bit just in case I don't like it and then I will try and sell it.
Raistlin1 said:
I was hoping the camera would be just as good or a little better than on the N5, one person says that it is and another says it is not. Of course I know this is all subjective and I will be the only person who can determine this. I wish the camera was definitely better and not so close in quality.
Looks like I am just going to go ahead and order the Moto X, I will keep the N5 for a little bit just in case I don't like it and then I will try and sell it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly feel like the Nexus 5 is a bit snappier plus the camera on my Moto x doesn't seem to focus easily. I still think it's worth the upgrade though due to the build quality and the extras like active display etc. I always felt like I was going to break my nexus 5 at any moment
I remember I used to love the AMOLED display on my old Moto x but I'm having a little trouble getting used to it again. I know that's just temporary though and eventually it will be vice versa. Just some things to consider though
bobloblawsum said:
I honestly feel like the Nexus 5 is a bit snappier plus the camera on my Moto x doesn't seem to focus easily. I still think it's worth the upgrade though due to the build quality and the extras like active display etc. I always felt like I was going to break my nexus 5 at any moment
I remember I used to love the AMOLED display on my old Moto x but I'm having a little trouble getting used to it again. I know that's just temporary though and eventually it will be vice versa. Just some things to consider though
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way the N5 is snappier than the Moto X. I use both phones daily and when side by side the Moto X is noticeably faster and more responsive than the N5. I'm running stock KitKat on both devices.
I do agree that the camera on the Moto X leaves a bit to be desired but for my needs it's just fine. I do think it is a little better than the N5's camera but not by much. Both cameras are capable of producing some really nice shots, it just seems that conditions have to be just right in order to do so.
And yeah, the screen does take some getting used to. Both my N5 and my iPhone 6 have near perfect color calibration so whenever I pick up the Moto X it always looks excessively warm to me. But I'm using CF.Lumen to fix it so mine is a LOT better now. The Moto X does have waaaay better viewing angles than the N5 though so it's a trade off.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
I was very torn about spending the money but made a very last minute decision to buy the moto x last night before the coupon expired. It is going to be a fairly expensive toy/experiment to play around with at first to see if I like it better than the N5, but I am looking forward to it. I figure I can sell either one to make some money back in the end.
I also decided to get it engraved with "pure X moto", I may regret this later but I liked it at the time. doh!
Raistlin1 said:
I was very torn about spending the money but made a very last minute decision to buy the moto x last night before the coupon expired. It is going to be a fairly expensive toy/experiment to play around with at first to see if I like it better than the N5, but I am looking forward to it. I figure I can sell either one to make some money back in the end.
I also decided to get it engraved with "pure X moto", I may regret this later but I liked it at the time. doh!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can afford it, I'd hang on to both phones, that's what I'm doing. I feel like the N5 is going to be a highly coveted phone a couple years from now, it's easily the best Nexus phone so far (yes, even better than the N6 IMO). Plus, if you are a fan of flashing custom ROMs and the like, you'll need the N5 for that because it's highly unlikely that the X will see much development.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
_MetalHead_ said:
There is no way the N5 is snappier than the Moto X. I use both phones daily and when side by side the Moto X is noticeably faster and more responsive than the N5. I'm running stock KitKat on both devices.
I do agree that the camera on the Moto X leaves a bit to be desired but for my needs it's just fine. I do think it is a little better than the N5's camera but not by much. Both cameras are capable of producing some really nice shots, it just seems that conditions have to be just right in order to do so.
And yeah, the screen does take some getting used to. Both my N5 and my iPhone 6 have near perfect color calibration so whenever I pick up the Moto X it always looks excessively warm to me. But I'm using CF.Lumen to fix it so mine is a LOT better now. The Moto X does have waaaay better viewing angles than the N5 though so it's a trade off.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true, the Moto X is easily the snappier of the two, and is probably the snappiest phone on the market right now. The problem with the camera seems to be with the focus, especially with a foreground and a background subject or macro shots, it struggles to focus correctly. I'm still hoping Motorola to bring some sort of worthy software upgrade to the camera now that lollipop allows more control over the camera hardware. With flash though, the Moto X does seem to perform better than the N5 almost every time. Overall, it seems to be on par with the N5 or a little bit better than the N5, but yes, we all wish that the camera was a little more better!
_MetalHead_ said:
There is no way the N5 is snappier than the Moto X. I use both phones daily and when side by side the Moto X is noticeably faster and more responsive than the N5. I'm running stock KitKat on both devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still have my Nexus 5 and use it from time to time, there is definitely some noticeable stuttering in some apps that I've never experienced on the Nexus 5. I know certain apps are a bad comparison, the Facebook app for example, however I still have never experienced any lag, ever on the Nexus.
Nexus 5 has the stock lollipop image and my Moto was updated to lollipop immediately after powering it on. Maybe it's due to the OTA update
I love the new moto x. Just got it a couple weeks ago to replace my 5 and it's better in every way. I've always had nexus phones and shunned away from other customised android phones but the features Motorola adds in are actually useful and have a real world use unlike all the crap on galaxy phoned.
i prefer the moto x display, but the dev is literally nonexistent.
I switched from the Nexus 5 to the Moto X 2014 because Google ended up refunding me the cost of the Nexus 5 due to a defect under warranty. I posted my thoughts about the two on another forum and updated them below after having the Moto X for a week.
Build Quality
Overall, it feels more solid than the Nexus 5, not that the Nexus 5 was a poorly made phone. Both are fine here but I would give the edge to the Moto X. I got the royal blue back, and I will say that it's more slippery than my black Nexus 5, but not as slippery as my wife's white Nexus 5. I definitely prefer the soft touch of the black Nexus 5 though, as I really feel like I need to hold on to my phone.
Screen
I'd say it's a wash. You're basically looking at a middle of the road AMOLED screen vs a middle of the road LCD, with all the benefits and issues of each. Moto X has better blacks, brighter colors, no backlight bleed (since there's no backlight). But it has slightly pink whites unless you turn the brightness up. The Nexus 5 has more pure whites and gets a little brighter, plus you won't have to worry about burn-in.
Sound
Moto X is the clear winner here. Ignoring front vs bottom firing, the Moto X speaker is much louder and clearer than the Nexus 5. Headphone quality is about the same, though the Moto X response is lacking a bit in the sub-bass frequencies. I have the Sennheiser Momentum In-Ear and the ATH-M50, and the bass lacks some impact when using my Moto X headphone jack vs the Nexus 5. The Moto X headphone output also has more noticeable hiss than the Nexus 5.
Performance
Basically the same.
Camera
I don't think either of them have a great camera... but I also don't think the Note 4 has a great camera and that was rated as one of the best cameras on a phone. They just can't compare to even a cheap point and shoot. The lack of OIS is noticeable in low light though, especially when I was trying to take pictures of my Christmas lights. Neither camera took a great photo but the Nexus 5 was more acceptable.
Software
Again, very similar here. I like some of the Motorola tweaks but I don't make frequent use of many of them. Always listening is a neat gimmick but I don't find myself using it often "in real life." Active Display isn't that much of an improvement over a notification LED in my mind, but Approach triggering it is nice. "Sleeping" mode is a nice improvement over the complete lack thereof in KitKat but Lollipop implemented "Downtime" so it's not a killer feature. Only real annoyance so far is that Moto Display constantly triggers in my car even if I disable the Approach functionality.
Battery Life
Battery life is a wash. The Moto X gets better screen on time if I am actively using it, but the Nexus 5 seems to have better idle time.
Overall
I'm not really sure which I prefer. The better loudspeaker on the Moto X is a huge upgrade, but it's unfortunate that the headphone output isn't as good. The screens are about the same, though I do like the slightly bigger size of the Moto X. It's also unfortunate that the Moto X is not using soft touch plastic for its colors, despite saying that it has a "soft finish."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bobloblawsum said:
I still have my Nexus 5 and use it from time to time, there is definitely some noticeable stuttering in some apps that I've never experienced on the Nexus 5. I know certain apps are a bad comparison, the Facebook app for example, however I still have never experienced any lag, ever on the Nexus.
Nexus 5 has the stock lollipop image and my Moto was updated to lollipop immediately after powering it on. Maybe it's due to the OTA update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the N5 is completely lag and stutter free, there's no arguing that. But so is my Moto X, I've never noticed a single stutter. Maybe in FB, but it's no worse than the N5, and in my experience it's better. The N5 is a ridiculously smooth device, but side by side with my X, the X is smoother yet. One thing I find hilarious is how so many people dislike Android because it's not as smooth as the iPhone, but I own an iPhone 6 (typing on it now) and both the N5 and Moto X are actually smoother (at least in the UI) than the iPhone 6 is. It's quite remarkable, really. Both are amazing devices, and that's why I'll never sell my N5, and I'll likely hang on to my Moto X forever as well.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
I bought the N5 on launch day last year and loved it. I got bored with it around august and went with a G3. The G3 was great at first because it was new, but as the days went on, I couldn't stand the lag and the LG skin. So my dilemma was do I wait for a nexus 6, go back to the nexus 5 or try something new?
I started seeing all this hype over the moto X and I figured, "what the hell" and I ordered it. Best damn phone I've ever owned. Yes, there are some draw backs, like the camera (it's not bad, just no where near the G3), but overall, the look, the feel, the solidness, the pure android experience with moto add-ons (not moto trying to re-invent the wheel) and battery life make this phone awesome. I get double the SOT of my N5 and the same as the G3. Moto's voice assist is great and active display is second to none.
Well worth it.
_MetalHead_ said:
Yeah, the N5 is completely lag and stutter free, there's no arguing that. But so is my Moto X, I've never noticed a single stutter. Maybe in FB, but it's no worse than the N5, and in my experience it's better. The N5 is a ridiculously smooth device, but side by side with my X, the X is smoother yet. One thing I find hilarious is how so many people dislike Android because it's not as smooth as the iPhone, but I own an iPhone 6 (typing on it now) and both the N5 and Moto X are actually smoother (at least in the UI) than the iPhone 6 is. It's quite remarkable, really. Both are amazing devices, and that's why I'll never sell my N5, and I'll likely hang on to my Moto X forever as well.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have convinced me to do a factory reset on my moto x. Sounds like I might be having some issues from the 5.0 update
bobloblawsum said:
You have convinced me to do a factory reset on my moto x. Sounds like I might be having some issues from the 5.0 update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no experience with 5.0 on the X, but I do with the N5... I'm not a fan. That's why I'm still running KK on both devices. Lollipop has just too many issues for me.
Sent from my iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it!
I have the Moto X on order and now the waiting begins, I guess I should have skipped the engraving...
Got a pure edition with slate back, black front and silver metallic accents and for the engraving: pure X moto
And I also ordered the Gelli case since I was able to get 30% off accessories with the cyber Monday coupon code.
Hey Guys,
Just wanted your advice on what phone I should get next. I Love my moto x Dev ed, its the best phone I ever had but its time for an upgrade.
One of the things I loved about it most is the size. Although the new moto x improved on a lot of stuff I don't like how much bigger it is. Its really hard to find a good/better phone in the same size range. Any suggestions? Anyone who upgraded to something else?
I know the main to contenders are galaxy alpha and sony xperia z3c. However, with the samsung I don't want to deal with touchwiz.. (although i suppose I could root and put cm or a custom rom?) . I really like the z3c and it has great reviews BUT the forums have a lot of people complaining about the glass back spontaneously cracking. Also hearing about sony leaving the smartphone market has me worries about future support and updates.
With either of these and others I will also miss the moto x features like active display and moto voice.. Not to mention, I've had a great experience with motorola customer service and warranty replacements/RMA and I'm not confident about getting the same from sony if the glass cracks or something happens.
Which leans me back toward moto.. but I don't want to go bigger. I was also considering the saygus V2. But don't know about their support, updates, and real hands on use reviews..Not to mention its not cheap haha.
So you see my dilemna? I think I might just have to compromise and go with the new moto x and just get used to the size. Thoughts?
I am in the exact same predicament. I bought the 2014 moto x and returned it due to size.
The z3c looks like a good small phone but the glass reminds me of the nexus 4 and it will scratch without a case. Plus Sony may exit the smartphone industry. Updates are going to be slow as well.
The other ones are stripped down versions of there flag ships.
The iPhone 6 is not too much bigger and feels good in the hand but iOS is too limited for my taste.
The nexus 5 is not that much bigger but certainly not as nice feeling as the moto x
Really the smaller phones are going away. So if you are going to increase in size I would go with the 2014 moto x
pelebkf said:
I am in the exact same predicament. I bought the 2014 moto x and returned it due to size.
The z3c looks like a good small phone but the glass reminds me of the nexus 4 and it will scratch without a case. Plus Sony may exit the smartphone industry. Updates are going to be slow as well.
The other ones are stripped down versions of there flag ships.
The iPhone 6 is not too much bigger and feels good in the hand but iOS is too limited for my taste.
The nexus 5 is not that much bigger but certainly not as nice feeling as the moto x
Really the smaller phones are going away. So if you are going to increase in size I would go with the 2014 moto x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I had a nexus 4 and it was fine but I did keep it in a case. I guess I'd have to do the same for the z3c.. it looks pretty sleek so I would've like to rock it without a case. Still want it even with all the complaints of bad experiences.
And yeah, definitely not switching to iOS. I can consider nexus 5 I suppose. Its sad how limited the smaller options are. I'll probably end up going with 2014 moto x..
pelebkf said:
I am in the exact same predicament. I bought the 2014 moto x and returned it due to size.
The z3c looks like a good small phone but the glass reminds me of the nexus 4 and it will scratch without a case. Plus Sony may exit the smartphone industry. Updates are going to be slow as well.
The other ones are stripped down versions of there flag ships.
The iPhone 6 is not too much bigger and feels good in the hand but iOS is too limited for my taste.
The nexus 5 is not that much bigger but certainly not as nice feeling as the moto x
Really the smaller phones are going away. So if you are going to increase in size I would go with the 2014 moto x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
motorola should keep't the size of moto x and just upgrade hardware inside. like iphone 4/4s 5/5s.
that is the big problem of android. you see every new phone different design. even it is great design, they upgrade it with ****.
why i love my moto x and dont want upgrade?
- every possible rom is available, i cant use android without root
- good build quality, after 1 year of use, no scratches on screen (never used any screen protection or case)
- battery is enough for me for all possible scenarios.
- 2 port usb charger
- clean system as possible (even though I am a big fan of htc sense)
- never had any problem openin a webpage (yes that is another reason why people buy smartphones )
- speaker and audio codec quality
- useful functions without any gimmick
and size, use it without dropping it. yes this is a good feel
i'm watching new smartphones but none of them exciting me (Z3 Compact, Galaxy Alpha, X 2014)
thanks to moto x i have first time not changed my android phone more than 1 year. (using android since g1) that is biggest reason why i love moto x 2013 :good:
I too am starting to look for a replacement for my XT1060. I love it, but will need something new soon. I was very hopeful for the Nexus 6, but it absolutely too big. The Moto X 2014 looks nice but after getting a Moto Maker 2013 edition and using the Chinese Middleman to unlock the bootloader, and Verizon not offering the Pure edition, it's a no go. Droid Turbo was nice in hand, but it has little hope of rooting or bootloader unlocks (seems to be little demand), and it didn't seem as smooth as the Nexus 6 that my GF has. I held an HTC One M8 the other day and some of the developments for the M9 look nice, but I've never had an HTC device. I would need to be able to root/unlock and get as close to pure Android like the Moto X as possible. It is bigger than the Moto X 2013, but not as big as the Nexus 6.
I have a Nexus 7 2013, so I don't really need a big phone. I've used my GF's N6 a few times and it is just awkward as a phone. Too big for one hand and almost too small for two. Part of it is probably me forcing myself to dislike it so I don't cave and just go buy one.
vikramkhalsa said:
Thanks! I had a nexus 4 and it was fine but I did keep it in a case. I guess I'd have to do the same for the z3c.. it looks pretty sleek so I would've like to rock it without a case. Still want it even with all the complaints of bad experiences.
And yeah, definitely not switching to iOS. I can consider nexus 5 I suppose. Its sad how limited the smaller options are. I'll probably end up going with 2014 moto x..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a page that shows the size difference between the phones you mentioned. The 2013 X is much smaller than everything else you mentioned, the 2014 is biggest.
I'm getting a free upgrade/replacement to moto x 2014 under warranty from motorola. I'm deciding if I should just keep it since they're giving me it, or sell it and get something else. Maybe I'll just buy a 2013 dev ed again. I really had no complaints about it.. It wasn't slow or laggy or anything really.. or a nexus 5.. hmm.
domenci said:
Here's a page that shows the size difference between the phones you mentioned. The 2013 X is much smaller than everything else you mentioned, the 2014 is biggest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I was actually looking at size comparisons earlier. The z3c is actually the same or even barely smaller than 2013 x actually. and alpha is close as well. I might just take the plunge for the xperia z3c and be careful with it...
I'd buy a Galaxy Alpha if verizon had it. Actually verizon has no new phones that are as small as the 1st Gen moto X, since they also didn't get the Xperia Z3 compact.
Samsung is not my favorite, but I'm really hoping someone this year addresses this with a smaller phone with excellent build quality and some updated specs - preferably either Motorola or HTC. Although, I guess I can survive with my 1st Gen moto X for another year. Once Lollipop rolls out for moto x 1st gen maybe I won't care as much =)
I keep hoping that Moto will add something that's between 4.7" and 5" to the lineup that still has Active Display and Moto Voice. Doesn't have to have Moto Maker, doesn't have to have top of the line specs (slightly better than the Moto X 2013 would be good). An HD screen would be nice. Obviously AMOLED is a requirement to do the active display. Heck, I'd even take no LTE. Price point between the Moto X and the Moto G would be fine.
I doubt this would happen as the phone would compete directly with the Moto G 2014, but I can hope.
Since none of the current small handset options seem worthwhile, I'm thinking I may just stick with the moto x 2013 for now and wait to see what comes out in the next few months. Hopefully we'll have a good alternative soon. In the mean time this should hold out. And I agree, won't feel the need as much once we get lollipop.
Thanks!
me too
Keeping my moto x 2013 Dev with KitKat and hoping for a smaller moto x 2015.
Also, tweeted the thread to @motorola may they hear our voice
I'm sticking with my Moto X, although the Nexus 6 gets more and more tempting. I find myself missing my Note 2 for its screen size, but not much else.
sherif2015 said:
Keeping my moto x 2013 Dev with KitKat and hoping for a smaller moto x 2015.
Also, tweeted the thread to @motorola may they hear our voice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! When the new one first came out there was also a huge thread with many people disappointed by the larger size. I highly doubt they would go backwards/smaller now though..
I love this phone but I too am itching to move on. I have told myself I'm only buying a phone that launches with lollipop ? so far I haven't seen anything.
I went from nexus 4 to 2014 X to Sony z3 compact to finally 2013 X.... I made the best choice I think!
mario24601 said:
I went from nexus 4 to 2014 X to Sony z3 compact to finally 2013 X.... I made the best choice I think!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait really? You moved backwards, in a sense? For size/comfort or what? What made you give up the z3c?
I went from nexus 4 to 2013 x. And I'm worried about the future, 2013 x is good for now but we'll probably need something else within this year..
vikramkhalsa said:
Wait really? You moved backwards, in a sense? For size/comfort or what? What made you give up the z3c?
I went from nexus 4 to 2013 x. And I'm worried about the future, 2013 x is good for now but we'll probably need something else within this year..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah a bit of a step back but the 2014 X was way too big, the z3c was nice but screen sensitivity was too high, it would register these Phantom tap or slides. Drove me nuts. The charging part also sucked with the little cover. I had the magnetic charger but darn thing never stayed on properly if I touched phone at all. 4.7 screens are sweet spot. I do hope someone comes out with a suitable replacement but in meantime the 2013 X is best out there for me.
Personally I hate the route phone manufacturers are taking with 5+ inch screens. Soon the word mobile will lose it's defined meaning. It's OK if you have a carry bag but if you use your pocket it becomes uncomfortable nor practical or "bonner" like lol.
Moto X 2013 has a 4.7 screen and the smallest body of any other phone with same screen size. A winning combination! Whoever takes the same approach next will get my cash until then Moto X will be the only phone I will use. Anything above 5.2 is just dumb and calling it a mobile is an insult imo.
My thoughts exactly. I can't stand the direction phone manufacturers are moving in. I'm holding on tightly to this phone until another small phone comes out with good specs.
After a very disappointing event (Nexus wise) Google showcased today, I'm leaning toward the X 2014 Pure Edition. I've already made mine on Moto Maker and just waiting to pull the trigger.
I've had every nexus since the N1 but skipped out on the N6 due to its size. Now this year looks like I'm going to skip out again; the 5x doesnt have much more to offer than my current N5, the 6p (given has slightly better specs) is still too big for me. Mind you, I'm 6'6" with large hands, however I dont like big phones.. I dont like the fact I have to use finger-gymnastics to navigate the screen.
Anyways, given the stouter (sp?, word? lol) body of the X and its 5.2 display, it feels amazing. Quite perfect, actually... Reminds me of the G3; shorter body but housed a 5.5.. Amazing. And I really like the design of the moto x/n6 as well. minimal bezel, attractive, etc.
Given now this phone is a year old, would you still buy it today? I just want a 'new' device (the n5 has been great, treated me very nicely still runs perfect running 6.0 now), and I've always wanted to make my own moto x (always been a moto fan) but given what i do to phones and how i use them, the nexus always took my money. Since moto is pure Android out of the box, I think I can manage going away from a nexus this year.
Since the Moto Pure (2015) is too big, I've decided to maybe jump to the 2014 until next years moto or nexus..
Thoughts?
I agree that the new Pure edition (2015) is a bit too large. Though thinner than the Nexus 6 it is just about as tall. I own a 2014 model (AT&T) and find it to be near perfect for me size wise. As an average sized person with smaller hands it is a great fit. The 2013 model, which I also own was a bit too small in my opinion.
I consider myself a tech enthusiast. Always on the lookout for the latest, greatest thing I'll usually end up purchasing it at some point. Over time, perhaps it comes with age, I've found that those things which initially grab my attention (specs) matter less and less since code optimization and more RAM in the latest devices mean that even lower end phones perform very well. Bearing that in mind, Motorola phones tend to offer something that no other manufacturer does... a near stock experience with above average specs (CPU, RAM, screen and camera) and just the right amount of truly value added software to enhance the user experience. In terms of sheer power it likely won't match flagships on benchmark tests, but in day to day use and even in side by side comparisons you will be hard pressed to notice a difference in performance... for almost half the price. In my opinion this makes a Moto X a better value than a Nexus or any flagship device all day long.
So in answer to your question, yes, the Moto X 2014 is still a great buy if you can handle your buddies gloating over their expensive flagship devices while chugging down a beer at the local pub. Just don't bother with a carrier variant. Grab the Pure edition.
I also came from a Nexus 5 to a Moto X 2014. I love the Moto design language and fancied a go at Moto maker.
Not sure I quite get your argument though. You say "the 5x doesnt have much more to offer than my current N5" but the Nexus 5x has more to offer than the Moto X 2014:
- larger battery
- newer processor
- better camera
- fingerprint scanner
Here in the UK at least, the Nexus 5x is also cheaper (unless you can grab some sort of discount code as I did).
The only thing the Moto X has (and the reason I did the swap) was that it has a nicer design, especially with Moto maker. In addition, I always felt like a bit of a beta tester with the Nexus - constantly waiting for the next Android version to fix something that didn't quite work.
Not trying to sound negative but just wanted to lay down my thoughts.
rapperman said:
I agree that the new Pure edition (2015) is a bit too large. Though thinner than the Nexus 6 it is just about as tall. I own a 2014 model (AT&T) and find it to be near perfect for me size wise. As an average sized person with smaller hands it is a great fit. The 2013 model, which I also own was a bit too small in my opinion.
I consider myself a tech enthusiast. Always on the lookout for the latest, greatest thing I'll usually end up purchasing it at some point. Over time, perhaps it comes with age, I've found that those things which initially grab my attention (specs) matter less and less since code optimization and more RAM in the latest devices mean that even lower end phones perform very well. Bearing that in mind, Motorola phones tend to offer something that no other manufacturer does... a near stock experience with above average specs (CPU, RAM, screen and camera) and just the right amount of truly value added software to enhance the user experience. In terms of sheer power it likely won't match flagships on benchmark tests, but in day to day use and even in side by side comparisons you will be hard pressed to notice a difference in performance... for almost half the price. In my opinion this makes a Moto X a better value than a Nexus or any flagship device all day long.
So in answer to your question, yes, the Moto X 2014 is still a great buy if you can handle your buddies gloating over their expensive flagship devices while chugging down a beer at the local pub. Just don't bother with a carrier variant. Grab the Pure edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I completely agree on everything you said.. Well put.. You and I think a lot alike.. However, (lol) the only difference with me is that yes, I consider myself a tech enthusiast, but I dont necessarily itch for the latest and greatest. Because sometimes the latest and greatest is not always the greatest (for my uses anyway). I still consider my Nexus 5 to be at the top of the list compared to devices today... Most of that 'top of the list' title is due to pure android of course. Nothing beats that experience. Yeah, specs arent "great" and the average user who sees the Nexus' specs on paper wont give the device the light day, but it still out performs most if not all devices today and I've been perfectly content with its specs. But gah, I've been a big fan of the design Moto has instilled in their phones, and that in itself is a big attraction to me.. I sometimes wish the n5 was a tad bigger with less bezel, and honestly, the moto x 2014 fits the bill perfectly.
Hahaha that's funny you say that.. I have buddies all the time trying to get the "latest and greatest" top tier phone with the best of everything but continue getting let down when my 2 year old phone runs circles around their bloated and skinned devices. So to have my buddies chug on a beer and gloat about their high end devices, im sitting over here thinking, "thats cute".. User experience means more to me than specs to an extent... Just like you said, once time passes, those specs become less and less relevant and all you have left is user experience. I'd take a phone with lesser specs and amazing user experience than grab a device with high end everything but cant keep up with what im doing. Thats where our beloved Nexus and Moto X's come to play.
So thank you for your input! I agree on the Pure Edition 100% :good:
surrealjam said:
I also came from a Nexus 5 to a Moto X 2014. I love the Moto design language and fancied a go at Moto maker.
Not sure I quite get your argument though. You say "the 5x doesnt have much more to offer than my current N5" but the Nexus 5x has more to offer than the Moto X 2014:
- larger battery
- newer processor
- better camera
- fingerprint scanner
Here in the UK at least, the Nexus 5x is also cheaper (unless you can grab some sort of discount code as I did).
The only thing the Moto X has (and the reason I did the swap) was that it has a nicer design, especially with Moto maker. In addition, I always felt like a bit of a beta tester with the Nexus - constantly waiting for the next Android version to fix something that didn't quite work.
Not trying to sound negative but just wanted to lay down my thoughts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didnt sound negative at all, sir! This is just good discussion.
You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the design. Its such a good looking device. And to me, thats why i like it over the 5x. IMO the 5x isnt so attractive. Moto x wins on that one. The design of the phone really makes my phone buying hard. Every Nexus so far has been good looking imo except these recent ones. I'm picky lol.
Ok, I might have stated my argument incorrectly.. Lets try this, "the 5x doesnt have much more to offer than my current N5 that is relevant to my uses"
- Larger battery? Sure does. However I was/am still getting 4-5 hours SOT on medium-heavy usage. So battery has never really been an issue for me.
- New processor. Yes, this is the only thing that attracts me.
- Better Camera? Sure. A lot better actually. But I was/am taking amazing photos with n5 camera now. I can link you to my instagram if need be lol (The moto X has a better camera than my n5 so ill be content). Yes, I would LOVE the 1.55 pixel, but its not the deciding factor when i look for a new phone.
Fingerprint scanner? Irrelevant for me. I couldnt care less for it. Now, put that fingerprint scanner on the power button (like the z5) then youll have my attention.
So yes, the 5x has more to offer than the moto, but the moto is an upgrade (kinda) from my n5.. The deciding factor for me is the design tbh.. I think the 5x doesnt look very good. Its as damn near the same size and everything of the z3, only the 5x being a tad taller. While the Moto houses the same screen size (5.2), is a lot shorter, has minimal bezel, and just looks and feels better.
Hope that clears some stuff up
I bought the Moto X 2014 last week and I'm more than happy with it!
It's fast enough to last me for a couple of years (I don't really game on it), and the size, for me, is great..
This is the largest I want to go!
After some tweaking (unlock bootloader, root, install Xposed) it's even better!
Remove some bloatware / unused apps, set Min/Max CPU speed, use NovaLauncher, tweak some notification things and the vlume sliders and it's near perfect!
I'd recommend it as "good" to the average user and "awesome" to the advanced user/tweaker
surrealjam said:
I also came from a Nexus 5 to a Moto X 2014. I love the Moto design language and fancied a go at Moto maker.
Not sure I quite get your argument though. You say "the 5x doesnt have much more to offer than my current N5" but the Nexus 5x has more to offer than the Moto X 2014:
- larger battery
- newer processor
- better camera
- fingerprint scanner
Here in the UK at least, the Nexus 5x is also cheaper (unless you can grab some sort of discount code as I did).
The only thing the Moto X has (and the reason I did the swap) was that it has a nicer design, especially with Moto maker. In addition, I always felt like a bit of a beta tester with the Nexus - constantly waiting for the next Android version to fix something that didn't quite work.
Not trying to sound negative but just wanted to lay down my thoughts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you don't get all of the Moto suite of useful apps and features with the n5x. There's much more to the X 2014 than design. I bought one two weeks ago and it's a solid choice if you're not gaming all day (battery lasts more than one day with moderate usage - reaches 4 hrs SOT easily). It's also way cheaper than the n5x...
My overall judgement on the X 2014 is in my signature
Incredible_Culp said:
sometimes the latest and greatest is not always the greatest
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep... pretty much my point.
Every phone nowadays can make calls, send texts, take pictures and get you from point A to point B. The Nexus devices do it absolutely bare-bones which is fine for guys like us but not flashy enough for others. In my opinion only Motorola seems to understand the needs of the "inbetweener." (lol if that's even a word!) The person who is seeking a device that is minimal (for the sake of performance) yet functional (doesn't skimp on features). The Moto X is that device... essentially stock android with some added Motorola software that actually enhances the user experience.
Flipz77 said:
Well, you don't get all of the Moto suite of useful apps and features with the n5x. There's much more to the X 2014 than design. I bought one two weeks ago and it's a solid choice if you're not gaming all day (battery lasts more than one day with moderate usage - reaches 4 hrs SOT easily). It's also way cheaper than the n5x...
My overall judgement on the X 2014 is in my signature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a moto x2014 as well but I barely see 2:30 hrs of SOT ....I'm running stock 5.1
I would have answered yes until today's Motorola announcement that carrier versions of the Moto X 2014 will not be upgraded to Android 6.0
That's the carriers fault though isn't it?
Probably be able to get CM I'm sure.
Sent from my XT1095 using XDA Free mobile app
N01tra said:
I bought the Moto X 2014 last week and I'm more than happy with it!
It's fast enough to last me for a couple of years (I don't really game on it), and the size, for me, is great..
This is the largest I want to go!
After some tweaking (unlock bootloader, root, install Xposed) it's even better!
Remove some bloatware / unused apps, set Min/Max CPU speed, use NovaLauncher, tweak some notification things and the vlume sliders and it's near perfect!
I'd recommend it as "good" to the average user and "awesome" to the advanced user/tweaker
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can definitely see why you say that.. I concur
Flipz77 said:
Well, you don't get all of the Moto suite of useful apps and features with the n5x. There's much more to the X 2014 than design. I bought one two weeks ago and it's a solid choice if you're not gaming all day (battery lasts more than one day with moderate usage - reaches 4 hrs SOT easily). It's also way cheaper than the n5x...
My overall judgement on the X 2014 is in my signature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that signature is hilarious -- i dont game, so i have no worries on that
rapperman said:
Yep... pretty much my point.
Every phone nowadays can make calls, send texts, take pictures and get you from point A to point B. The Nexus devices do it absolutely bare-bones which is fine for guys like us but not flashy enough for others. In my opinion only Motorola seems to understand the needs of the "inbetweener." (lol if that's even a word!) The person who is seeking a device that is minimal (for the sake of performance) yet functional (doesn't skimp on features). The Moto X is that device... essentially stock android with some added Motorola software that actually enhances the user experience.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can see why you say that.. makes sense.. and come to think of it, youre right.. Even though our beloved nexus devices are the creme of the crop (to some people), its lacks certain things that i think would be nice to have.. small things nonetheless. slightly better camera, etc.. But i know that our nexus devices arent made to be top tier, so its understandable and i accept it.
but going off what you say, "Moto seems to understand the needs of the inbetweener". I concur. They make a device thats pure android, add better than average features (but not over the top that drives up the price), and still make it reasonably priced. i like that, and this thread is making my decision to pull the trigger even stronger.. Monday cant come here fast enough.
I've had the 2013 Moto X for over a year and I love it. I love everything about it and can't find a single fault except for those that come from age. Things like it still runs KitKat 4.4.4, using it as a flashlight often causes it to reboot, and some apps and websites that weren't very snappy last year are getting aggravatingly slow now. It's a Dev Edition and it's fully unlocked so I could install Cyanogen or NX-ROM to fix some issues. But I've tried them and they seriously reduce the sensitivity of Active Display, which is my most favorite feature of the phone. Can't mess that up.
So I got a 2014 Moto X on Swappa for $110. It's a Pure edition so it's also 32GB and fully unlocked like my 2013 X. I thought perhaps the size increase wouldn't bother me so much, but it kinda does. I thought having a 1080 screen would be an acceptable trade-off for the increased size, but it's not. It's kinda nice that things on the screen are bigger, but I'm not even close to being visually impaired so text size was never an issue. In fact, I kinda feel like the screen is big enough that other people can easily see what I'm looking at. And maybe I don't want them to see that my big ol' biker self is watching funny kitten videos on YouTube, you know? And then today the battery died well before I went to bed. And I'm like, WTF. I've never, EVER had my 2013 Moto X battery die. I've had it down to 3%, but it never died on me. My 2014 Moto X putzed out at only 11pm today. My day lasts till 4am. I only took it off the charger at 3pm. I checked and no apps were causing any unusually heavy draw. Voice calls, Mobile standby, Screen, and Bluetooth were the top four, which is correct for my usage. Time for a new battery? But my 2013 doesn't need a new battery... and it's a year older.
Soo... I'm thinking about switching back to my 2013 Moto X. Possibly the first time anyone ever downgraded? It's not that I dislike the 2014. The Active Display is even more sensitive and has a couple extra features which is super cool. But, I just like the 2013 better. It fits in my hand and in my pocket better. It fits perfectly in my cup holder. If only I could get it to be less poky. You guys don't know how many times I wished I could upgrade the processor on it like you can on a PC. I thought about flashing the stock 5.0 on it but I read that people had issues with a few things after that, like battery life.
What's the community opinion about this dilemma of mine? I wish Motorola hadn't been bought by Lenovo, because all the new Motorola phones have abandoned the Motorola philosophy that made the original Moto X great. Now it's just another phablet with a 5.5 inch screen. The only phone that's compact and powerful like the 2013 Moto X is the Sony Xperia Z3/Z5 Compact. I seriously considered one of them, the Z3 Compact has the same specs as the 2014 Moto X and the Z5 Compact is even more powerful, but I'd loose the Active Display feature. Yeah there's apps to mimic the feature, but I tried them on my SGS3 and they're not nearly as good.
What to do, what to do...