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When Google bought Motorola, the general thought was that the company's intention was to take on Apple, by creating both the operating system (Android) and the hardware. With Apple generally sticking to high-end hardware, the hope was the Google would create its own high-end smartphone to really show off what Android could do. Now we have the first fruits of that partnership, the Moto X, but is it everything everyone hoped it would be? We take a look at the full specs and details to find out.
MOTO X SPECS
There's not getting away from the fact that the Moto X is a mid-range phone and not the top-of-the-range model that we'd hoped for. This was a conscientious decision by Motorola to target the smartphone "sweet spot", concentrating on the user experience rather than specs. As a result, the Moto X is something of a mixed bag, with some brand new and interesting features at one end of the scale, and a rather basic array of specifications at the other end.Starting with the processor, the Moto X has a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro system-on-chip (SoC). This consists of a 1.7GHz dual-core Krait 300 CPU and a 400MHz quad-core Adreno 320 GPU. Given that the newer Snapdragon 800 is starting to appear in high-end handsets, the Moto X is effectively a generation behind.
In testing, CNet in the US found that the phone felt quick, but was outdone in benchmarks. "The Moto X notched a Quadrant score of 8,519, which, though not as high as the astronomical scores the HTC One (12,194) and Samsung Galaxy S4 (11,381) garnered, is still respectable," said the review.
Although the phone has a large 4.7in display, Motorola has opted for a 1,280x720 resolution, rather than the Full HD resolutions of the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One. To be fair to Motorola, lower resolution isn't necessarily a bad thing. The general consensus from US reviewers is that the Moto X's AMOLED screen is actually really good and that you're unlikely to notice any lack of sharpness compared to handsets with a Full HD screen.
What Motorola maybe lacks with raw performance, it tries to make up for with new features. Top of the list is Touchless Controls. This means that the Moto X is always listening for voice prompts, so you can use voice control without having to hold a button down. All you need to do is say the key words, which are "OK Google Now" - similar to the phrase to activate Google Glass.
Despite this feature, Motorola is claiming that the Moto X still has 24-hours of standby battery life. We don't have the full details, but we wouldn't be surprised if the phone is using a Wolfson Audio chip. We had a demo recently that showed how the next generation audio chips could recognise a wake-up voice prompt in a low-power state, waking up the phone and operating system in the process. Moto X's new feature is certainly an interesting one and it makes sense in a lot of situations, such as driving, where trying to press a button to activate voice control isn't very practical.
MOTO X CAMERA
With a 10-megapixel camera, the Moto X is designed to compete with the best smartphone cameras. It generally seems to be doing a good job, too. The reports coming from the US generally agree that the camera is quick and produces well-exposed and sharp photos both indoors and out.One new feature is the Quick Capture mode: just pick the handset up and give it a shake to turn the camera on automatically. You can see how this works in the video below. It's a neat addition, but one that technically any phone with motion sensor in it could replicate.
MOTO X ANDROID
Shipping with Android 4.2.2, the Moto X's operating system is a little disappointing. With the New Nexus 7, Google announced Android 4.3( Jelly Bean). Given that Motorola is a Google company, why doesn't the Moto X ship with the latest version of Android?Admittedly, Android 4.3 is only a minor update with smoother UI animations, restricted user profiles for children and an improved camera interface, but we still would have liked to see the latest version here.
MOTO X BUILD QUALITY
If there's one thing that people agree on, it's that the build quality of the Moto X is excellent. US correspondents that have held the phone say that it's extremely well made and fits comfortably in the hand.It's also customisable, with customers given a choice of back-panel when they buy. Custom hues, patterns and engravings are all available, with the final design crafted to order at the Motorola factory in Texas. This customisation will only be available for AT&T customers initially, while other networks will only be able to offer the phone and black or white.
MOTO X STORAGE
The standard version of the Moto X ships with 16GB of storage, although a 32GB version of the phone is also available online. There's no memory card slot to expand the storage, although this is starting to become a rarer addition.MOTO X PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
The Moto X is available through AT&T customers now for $200 (around £130) upfront on contract, although it will also go on sale through the Google Play store and other networks in the coming months. This makes the phone rather expensive and, despite its mid-range hardware, it costs the same as a high-end phone, such as a Samsung Galaxy S4 or HTC One.MOTO X CONCLUSION
Without the high-end hardware to back up the high-end price, it's going to be difficult for the Moto X to succeed. Yes, the always-on voice controls and Quick Capture modes are nice, but these don't feel enough to make the difference. With tough competition at the top from the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC one, and a strong selection of mid-range phones, such as the HTC One Mini and Sony Xperia SP, the Moto X could see itself squeezed out.Then, there's the strange decision not to launch the phone in the UK, although grey imports are likely to be available. Motorola has promised to bring other devices to the UK, but hasn't announced any details of them. As it stands, particularly from a UK perspective, the Moto X is an interesting demo of some new technology, but it's definitely not the high-end Google-made smartphone we've been waiting for.
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