Moto X: Android offerings with X factor
With exciting features and an apt price tag, the Moto X could give flagships a run for their money
Smartphone users can now rejoice. Their dream of a smartphone that sleeps and wakes up like them could now finally be a reality. And, at the forefront of this dream is theMoto X, leading the line with one Android-step at a time.
Ever since Motorola became a Google company, the expectations have been high. While the Moto G was brought in as an answer to the "perfect mid-range device" question, the Moto X is perhaps an apt answer to the "flagship" query.
Brilliantly crafted design
One of the Moto X's taglines reads: It just fits. Indeed, it does. The bar design, with a slight curve and a radiant 4.7-inch AMOLED screen, gives a nice feel to the device and is easy to hold. The front camera and the primary sensors rest atop the screen, while the microphone is at the bottom. The volume rocker and the lock/power key are on the right - they were a bit tight, so you will need to press them properly for a response. On the left is a nano-SIM tray.
You can also see the rear camera, speaker and LED flash at the back. The back cover looks like it has a woven design to it, but once you see it closely you realise that it is smooth and an excellent optical illusion. Also, at 130 g, it's almost as light as the Nexus 5 (flagship comparisons).
Active display and notifications
The 4.7-inch screen on the Moto X has a high-definition resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Aided by Corning Gorilla Glass, the screen has good viewing angles and makes for good reading and video watching. A highlight feature of the Moto X is Active Display. The Moto X shows notifications, missed calls, SMSes, tweets, etc, even if your phone is locked. It wakes up to show you the notifications on a crisp white-on-black lock screen. And, since this happens on a completely black screen, it saves a lot of battery, too. Users can directly unlock the device to go straight to a particular notification. The Moto X is pretty responsive, and the lock screen wakes up the moment you pick up or touch the phone.
No lags, powerful processor
The Moto X was initially launched with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean but updates to KitKat 4.4 have already been rolled out and chances are your device will be shipped with KitKat already installed - just like our review unit. The chipset on the Moto X, Motorola X8 computing system, is amazing. It runs on a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU (flawless gaming), a language processor and a contextual computing processor. And, if that's not enough, a 2GB RAM adds to the wealth of speed. That's a lot of power under the hood. Rest assured, the Moto X will not pant after bouts of multi-tasking. The 2,200 mAh non-removable battery easily lasts for a day and a half on a full charge.
Sound and camera factor
Remarkable audio quality is a given in Motorola devices. The speaker on the Moto X is loud and crisp and watching videos on it was a delight. The HD screen complements the audio with a bright colour output. You better keep the headset levels a bit down - they can get really, really loud.
Coming to the cameras then. The 10-megapixel rear camera is one of the best smartphone snappers we have seen in a while. It captures a picture and stabilises it with aplomb. The front camera (2MP) is subtle yet it would have been much better if there were no occasional grainy pictures. Another interesting add-on to the camera in the Moto X is the 'Twist and click'. Hold the device in your hand and twist your wrist twice, the camera application starts itself. And, you can do this even when the phone is asleep or locked.
Say the magic words
The Moto X takes voice recognition and touchless control to a new level. Your Moto X can respond to your voice, even when it's locked. The words "Ok Google Now" (on the lines of the Nexus 5, which uses the "Ok Google" hotword detection) will wake up your Moto X, and it will wait for your next command. It's nothing but Google Now - only that it has been personalised and made more user-friendly. For instance, when you say the magic words, the Moto X will address you with the name mentioned in your Google account. You can save notes, set alarms and ask whether it's going to rain or how tall is the Eiffel Tower - pretty much anything. You will, of course, need a powerful data connection. The number of tasks and commands the Moto X can pull off makes it all the more exciting.
Verdict
At Rs 23,999, and with the features on offer, the Moto X is a strategically priced phone. It will be a surprise if users find it overpriced. It is a peach of a device, with Google's mark all over it, which you should definitely go for.
Ever since Motorola became a Google company, the expectations have been high. While the Moto G was brought in as an answer to the "perfect mid-range device" question, the Moto X is perhaps an apt answer to the "flagship" query.
Brilliantly crafted design
One of the Moto X's taglines reads: It just fits. Indeed, it does. The bar design, with a slight curve and a radiant 4.7-inch AMOLED screen, gives a nice feel to the device and is easy to hold. The front camera and the primary sensors rest atop the screen, while the microphone is at the bottom. The volume rocker and the lock/power key are on the right - they were a bit tight, so you will need to press them properly for a response. On the left is a nano-SIM tray.
You can also see the rear camera, speaker and LED flash at the back. The back cover looks like it has a woven design to it, but once you see it closely you realise that it is smooth and an excellent optical illusion. Also, at 130 g, it's almost as light as the Nexus 5 (flagship comparisons).
Active display and notifications
The 4.7-inch screen on the Moto X has a high-definition resolution of 1280x720 pixels. Aided by Corning Gorilla Glass, the screen has good viewing angles and makes for good reading and video watching. A highlight feature of the Moto X is Active Display. The Moto X shows notifications, missed calls, SMSes, tweets, etc, even if your phone is locked. It wakes up to show you the notifications on a crisp white-on-black lock screen. And, since this happens on a completely black screen, it saves a lot of battery, too. Users can directly unlock the device to go straight to a particular notification. The Moto X is pretty responsive, and the lock screen wakes up the moment you pick up or touch the phone.
No lags, powerful processor
The Moto X was initially launched with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean but updates to KitKat 4.4 have already been rolled out and chances are your device will be shipped with KitKat already installed - just like our review unit. The chipset on the Moto X, Motorola X8 computing system, is amazing. It runs on a 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU, a quad-core Adreno 320 GPU (flawless gaming), a language processor and a contextual computing processor. And, if that's not enough, a 2GB RAM adds to the wealth of speed. That's a lot of power under the hood. Rest assured, the Moto X will not pant after bouts of multi-tasking. The 2,200 mAh non-removable battery easily lasts for a day and a half on a full charge.
Sound and camera factor
Remarkable audio quality is a given in Motorola devices. The speaker on the Moto X is loud and crisp and watching videos on it was a delight. The HD screen complements the audio with a bright colour output. You better keep the headset levels a bit down - they can get really, really loud.
Coming to the cameras then. The 10-megapixel rear camera is one of the best smartphone snappers we have seen in a while. It captures a picture and stabilises it with aplomb. The front camera (2MP) is subtle yet it would have been much better if there were no occasional grainy pictures. Another interesting add-on to the camera in the Moto X is the 'Twist and click'. Hold the device in your hand and twist your wrist twice, the camera application starts itself. And, you can do this even when the phone is asleep or locked.
Say the magic words
The Moto X takes voice recognition and touchless control to a new level. Your Moto X can respond to your voice, even when it's locked. The words "Ok Google Now" (on the lines of the Nexus 5, which uses the "Ok Google" hotword detection) will wake up your Moto X, and it will wait for your next command. It's nothing but Google Now - only that it has been personalised and made more user-friendly. For instance, when you say the magic words, the Moto X will address you with the name mentioned in your Google account. You can save notes, set alarms and ask whether it's going to rain or how tall is the Eiffel Tower - pretty much anything. You will, of course, need a powerful data connection. The number of tasks and commands the Moto X can pull off makes it all the more exciting.
Verdict
At Rs 23,999, and with the features on offer, the Moto X is a strategically priced phone. It will be a surprise if users find it overpriced. It is a peach of a device, with Google's mark all over it, which you should definitely go for.
MOTO X
Price: Rs 23,999
Screen: 4.7-inch, AMOLED
Weight: 130g
OS: Android 4.2.2 (KitKat 4.4 update rolled out)
RAM: 2GB
Processor: 1.7 Ghz dual core, Quad core Adreno 320 GPU
Memory: 16/32 GB internal
Camera (rear/front): 10MP with LED flash/2MP
Battery: 2,200 mAh
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