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[Q] Hesitant between s4 mini and moto x?

hi, so to introduce myself, I've been a nexus s user for quite some time.
I've now decided that it is time to change phones, and having been with the small nexus s form factor I find it difficult to continue in the nexus line since I would be getting into 5" phones (nexus 5)... even the nexus 4 seems a bit too big for my taste.
That's why I've been on the fence concerning a couple of phones, notably the s4 mini, the one mini, and of course, the moto x.
The reason I post this in the moto x forum is because I am leaning favorably towards the moto x, so I'd like to know what you all think.
here are my very general pros/cons for each phone:
one mini: pros - very aesthetically pleasing design
cons - there seems to be poor development
s4 mini: pros - very small form factor!! bigger screen for the same size as my old nexus s
- also extremely light!
- there seems to be some development
cons - moto x seems better (its lacking the moto x pros, haha)
moto x: pros - its the closest phone to a 'nexus phone', without being one
- its getting 4.4 soon, so I feel like it will probably get more timely updates
- all of its cool gimmicks (customization, touchless control, active notifications, double twist camera)
- i've read about great battery life and perfomance
- i probably wouldn't even want a custom rom if i get Xposed
cons - it may be a bit big? 4.7 seems like a stretch for me
Overall I don't think the one mini is really a true contestant, I just keep it there because I love the design. However between the s4 mini and the moto x I find myself really doubting. I've held an s4 mini and it is really, really light and very very comfortable in the hand. I haven't (and won't have) the chance to hold a moto x so I won't have an element of comparison for the form factor. Care to help me out?
I'd like to hear about your opinions on this! Thanks!

It's not even a competition. CMON MAN!!! S4 mini really?
Buy the Moto X ... you should not even consider that s4 mini thing.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

4.7 is a good size for many people and it feels great in the hand. The X is a very friendly and familiar feeling phone to come to from the Nexus devices in terms of a stock Android experience.
To me, it comes down to the following question -- "Do I want the unique features of the Moto X enough to pick it over Y Phone?" It seems like you value a smaller form factor phone and 4.3" screen more than many of us here would (in fact, I personally wouldn't mind if the X were slightly bigger). The Active Notifications, Always On Voice Command, MotoMaker customizations, and so on are truly what set the X apart from anything else.
I think you really should find a way to get an X in your hand before you commit to it. Do you have a Walmart or Best Buy nearby to demo one? You also have a 14 day (30 in California) trial period at least if you buy it from Motorola. If you find it is too big, simply contact customer support and return it, no questions asked.

If you buy the S4 mini, you get:
cruddy cpu and overall laggy and stuttery performance
cruddy gpu and overall laggy and stuttery performance
cruddy 540p display and bad viewing angles and colors
a small and light phone
extremely slow updates
If you buy the moto x, you get:
decent cpu with exceptional performance
great gpu with exceptional performance
mediocre 720p display with very good color reproduction
a very solid feeling phone that fits in your hand
updates almost as fast as GPE phones
I don't know if this even needs any thinking...it looks like a no-brainer to me
EDIT:
additionally, moto x has (in order from most useful to least useful):
active notifications
dual antennae LTE (MIMO)
fast wifi (support for ac bands)
touchless controls
really good battery life
a cool dimple that makes the phone super comfortable to hold

that's no S4 mini.. tha'ts a Samsung Victory 2 in disguise.. do the moto x

8_8 said:
4.7 is a good size for many people and it feels great in the hand. The X is a very friendly and familiar feeling phone to come to from the Nexus devices in terms of a stock Android experience.
To me, it comes down to the following question -- "Do I want the unique features of the Moto X enough to pick it over Y Phone?" It seems like you value a smaller form factor phone and 4.3" screen more than many of us here would (in fact, I personally wouldn't mind if the X were slightly bigger). The Active Notifications, Always On Voice Command, MotoMaker customizations, and so on are truly what set the X apart from anything else.
I think you really should find a way to get an X in your hand before you commit to it. Do you have a Walmart or Best Buy nearby to demo one? You also have a 14 day (30 in California) trial period at least if you buy it from Motorola. If you find it is too big, simply contact customer support and return it, no questions asked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are probably the only one who understood that the actual dilemma for me is the size. I wont be able to hold one because I live in france. Im planning on ordering it, having it shipped to France and then sim-unlocking it.
Anyway thanks for everyone's unanimous point of views. I think im going to take the leap in size barrier and go with ghe moto x!
Its going to be soo nice to have a new great phone!! I can't tell you how sluggish, laggy and poor in battery life my nexus s is...

[Q] Motorola Moto X or Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition?

I've been using the LG Nexus 4 since February & I feel as if it is about time for an upgrade, we've had some great times together but I'm just about ready to retire from it. My main reason why, battery life. It's obvious that the Nexus 4 has awful battery life, I've never been able to make it through a full day even when I first bought it. I love it for the obvious reasons; vanilla android, updates, etc.
SO my question for you guys today is what seems like the better buy here? The Moto X or the GPE S4? Keep in mind that money is not an issue here. Now this is the Moto X thread & I know that many will say go with the X for sure but I want to hear everyone's take on this.
Reasons why I'd consider the Moto X:
Active Display - Just brilliant, I played with it on my friend's X the other day & it's TRUE. I don't think I could consider any other phone that doesn't have this feature. On my Nexus 4, I have to pull it out of my pocket, hit the power button, unlock it, check the notification, hit the power button again & then put it back in my pocket. -_-
Touchless Control - Is a feature I've always wanted without having to buy an S3, S4, with S-Voice. Being able to call out "Okay Google Now" while idle is genius.
Quicklaunch Camera: I was starting to believe that this feature was a gimmick but this isn't the case, I can see myself using this daily.
Vanilla Android: I don't do skins & this is probably why this phone is so damn fluid, I honestly think the X smokes my Nexus 4 with just about everything except maybe gaming. But I could care less about that I'm not a mobile gamer.
Moto Assist: Watching my friend use this feature while riding in the passenger seat of the car I was completely blown away, this works as advertised. Enough said.
AMOLED Display: Confession, I'm an AMOLED whore. I miss the over saturation on my Galaxy Nexus & active display takes full advantage of this. I'm reminded how much more battery I can save with blacked out apps. I don't care about burn in, I don't use a phone as my daily driver for more than two years & I don't find myself staying on one screen for very long.
Build Quality: This phone was obviously well built. It's the same 4.7 inch display on my Nexus 4 but yet somewhat a tad bit smaller which is a plus. I'll leave it at this, the Moto X feels like sex in my hand.
Battery life: Last but certainly not least. I haven't had the chance to play with one for a full day but from what I've been seeing on G+, people have reportedly been able to get through a FULL day of heavy use with an average of 5hrs of SOT consistently. Now that sounds like the kind of battery that I desperately need. If I do end up getting the X I'll probably pick one of these up just in case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0SC-000Y-00026
Timely updates: Android 4.4 KitKat was announced along with the Nexus 5 on Halloween, & every Moto X was updated within three weeks of that. That's quite impressive to me, the Verizon variant was first in line, word?
Cons: The only con that I've been hearing is the camera but apparently the recent update fixed it. I have never been a big smartphone camera dude but I guarantee that it bests my Nexus 4. Another con would be the specs but Moto has proved that the spec war is just about over. The only thing I'm curious about is how long will this phone get updates because of its hardware/processor. Another con, ROM Development: Doesn't really bother me one bit, all I need is XPosed Framework, Unicon, & GravityBox. Truth be told I'm sort of over flashing & flashing every other day. I'm one of the few crack flashers left, I wonder how many there are left out there.
Reasons why I'd consider the Samsung Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition: Let's get this out of the way now, I've been told to just buy the regular S4 & flash the GPE ROM on it, I refuse. I want the actual OTA to come to the phone.
Super AMOLED 1080P Display: Like i said before, I'm an AMOLED whore & the 1080P would sweeten the icing on the cake even more.
Timely updates: Another major deciding factor here, it already has KitKat, but after the Moto X which is okay.
IR Blaster: I DO wish the X had a dedicated IR port, this is a feature that I really need but so far the X has more going for it as you can see above.
Removable Battery: Something that I really miss with my GNex was the removable battery. Battery life means a lot to me and that's WHY I'm not buying a Nexus 5. They say "just flash a custom kernel" but no I want something that is great out of the box with little to no modification. & besides the Nexus 5 doesn't have an OLED display but that's neither here nor there so let's get back on topic. Some say they've switched from the S4 to the X & noticed better battery regardless of the S4 having a slightly larger battery. But this is something I'll purchase if I do pick up the GPE S4: http://zerolemon.com/details.php/zerolemon-2x-galaxy-s4-3000mah-slim-battery-charger
Earbuds: It comes with earbuds, which is something that shouldn't even be on this list but seeing as the GPE S4 is losing I'll add this ha ha.
Cons: I was upset to find out that the GPE S4 doesn't support the 1700mHz band on T-Mobile which is 3G/HSPA+. I did some research but this isn't true. This only applies to the GPE HTC One.
ROM Development: There are like no ROM's for this phone but again, all I need is the XPosed framework, good to go.
No Active Display: I could use Knock2+ Notifications or Dynamic Notifications to achieve the feature on the X but I'm not sure how reliable they are.
Plastic Build Design: The plastic on Samsung phones has NEVER concerned me, although I cannot speak for other's. As I just put a high quality case on it anyway.
That's just my take on it, if you don't mind I'd like to hear everyone's take on this.

I have had both phones and have to say it's not even close. The mha of the battery is misleading on this phone. With all bells and whistles turned on I get consistently around 16 to 20 hours, and I pound out my phone allot all day while professors are gabbing. More if you use tasker and other techniques. And I used to love huge phones but the Moto x just gets every thing right. I'll never own another phone until the Moto x successor, and that's coming from someone who used to switch phones every other month
Sent from my XT1056 using xda app-developers app

I also had a gs4 earlier this year. I was able to get good battery life on my GS4 and it had a great camera but the X overall is a better phone with better battery life and fairly comparable camera. The active notifications are simply amazing, voice control works well and everything else simply just works properly with no lag. The GS4 just seemed glitchy and the stock samsung ROM was laggy.
Sent from my XT1060 using Tapatalk

Thanks guys keep them coming!

I just came from a Galaxy S4 and moving to Moto X was the best decision I ever did.
Moto X has a much better battery life, it doesn't lag AT ALL, active notifications, voice recognition, almost no bloatware (google apps don't count).

I came from a Galaxy Nexus. The hardware design alone is astounding - you would actually rather have it in plastic than in metal, like what the HTC One offers. I spoke at length about what's so wonderful about the phone in some other thread. Long story short, I'm not switching away from this phone for a long time. I haven't had such a regretless purchase in a while. heh

I came from an S3 so take it for what it's worth.
Don't worry about specs. This phone runs very smooth better than my note2(when I had it). Every touchwiz device seems to have that bit of a lag or stutter.
I purchased this phone primarily for the touchless control feature, bit I've found myself liking the active notification feature just as much.
Although I did think the twist to launch camera was a gimmick it's actually very handy to be able to launch the camera from anywhere with a flick of the wrist.
One con of this phone is the camera quality I do prefer the pics of the S3.
Sent from my XT1058 using xda app-developers app

EternalAndroid said:
Removable Battery: Something that I really miss with my GNex was the removable battery. Battery life means a lot to me and that's WHY I'm not buying a Nexus 5. They say "just flash a custom kernel" but no I want something that is great out of the box with little to no modification. & besides the Nexus 5 doesn't have an OLED display but that's neither here nor there so let's get back on topic. Some say they've switched from the S4 to the X & noticed better battery regardless of the S4 having a slightly larger battery. But this is something I'll purchase if I do pick up the GPE S4: http://zerolemon.com/details.php/zerolemon-2x-galaxy-s4-3000mah-slim-battery-charger
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been looking into alternate battery options on the Moto X lately and for what it's worth Zero Lemon are making batteries for the Moto X.

EternalAndroid said:
Removable Battery: Something that I really miss with my GNex was the removable battery. Battery life means a lot to me and that's WHY I'm not buying a Nexus 5. They say "just flash a custom kernel" but no I want something that is great out of the box with little to no modification.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The highlighted text describes the Moto X so well, and that applies across the board. Well, except the camera maybe.
What other phone can you think of that has middle of the road specs yet offers a user experience that bests all the flagships? I had the S3, I still have my Note 2, and I've played with all the current flagships. I think it's rare that a device, which can't (or shouldn't) compete on paper with the latest and greatest, leaves users without envy.
The Moto X truly is greater than the sum of its parts.

I love how you mention how you'd never go back to a phone with a fixed battery. I switched from an S3 to the Moto X and I'm loving all the other features but I miss the camera picture quality.

I have both phones. Moto X is superior in pretty much every way, perhaps save the screen. The software on the s4 impedes use and causes lag and crashes. The Moto SW actually improves things (shocker I know). Love active notifications, and as long as I'm alone OK Google Now is pretty fun

Moto X. And I like Samsung phones. I don't miss the removable battery nor microSD slot.
Both have the full AOSP experience, Motorola takes it to the next level with their X8.

Should I get the Moto X Dev Edition? Or is it getting too old?

I've been going back and forth between the Moto X and HTC M8 for a while, and I'm really not sure which one to buy and play around with. I have a $60 off .edu coupon for the X so that would bring it to $390 as compared to $650 for the HTC M8. I've got a pre order for the M8 right now, and I can cancel until Wednesday this week. I'm not sure about the fact that the Moto X is getting kinda old, but the Active Listening is soooo cool. I've used both and I really couldn't pick a favorite.
So the question is:
Is the Moto X still a worthy purchase being a little over halfway through it's life cycle?
Thanks!

I still think my X is the best phone I have. Its responsive, and fits my hand best, and works best for single handed operation. I had a One (M7) 30demo before the X. It was ok, but wasn't comfortable and felt clumsy in my hand. With the One (M8) having a larger screen, single handed use would still be an issue for me.
(I'm 6'1" with average sized hands for someone this height)
Having the faster processor, screen, possibly better camera, makes the One (M8) attractive. but comfort in every day use is main sticking point for me.
As for the X being old. Yeah, its about 1/2 through its life cycle since Moto said they were working on a replacement. But I still think its a great phone.

KidJoe said:
I still think my X is the best phone I have. Its responsive, and fits my hand best, and works best for single handed operation. I had a One (M7) 30demo before the X. It was ok, but wasn't comfortable and felt clumsy in my hand. With the One (M8) having a larger screen, single handed use would still be an issue for me.
(I'm 6'1" with average sized hands for someone this height)
Having the faster processor, screen, possibly better camera, makes the One (M8) attractive. but comfort in every day use is main sticking point for me.
As for the X being old. Yeah, its about 1/2 through its life cycle since Moto said they were working on a replacement. But I still think its a great phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the insight! I used the M8 at the Verizon store and found it was much easier to use than the M7 one handed. I'm sure the Moto X has better single-hand operation, but it is greatly improved on the M8 (I'm 6'3" with pretty long fingers). I will surely buy the Moto X 2, it's just deciding on the phone that will hold me over until then . With the S801, I think the M8 and X are about the same in responsiveness (Moto was ahead for a while with S600 chips in phones), but the M8 still has a superior screen.
How often do you use the Active Listening voice control?

SolarTrans said:
Thanks for the insight! I used the M8 at the Verizon store and found it was much easier to use than the M7 one handed. I'm sure the Moto X has better single-hand operation, but it is greatly improved on the M8 (I'm 6'3" with pretty long fingers). I will surely buy the Moto X 2, it's just deciding on the phone that will hold me over until then . With the S801, I think the M8 and X are about the same in responsiveness (Moto was ahead for a while with S600 chips in phones), but the M8 still has a superior screen.
How often do you use the Active Listening voice control?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with kidjoe, I've used an M7 not M8 and after reading the glowing reviews for the M7. I was shocked how everything was average, from battery life to Ultra Pixel camera
Here are the pros vs cons for my Moto GSM Unlocked version
PROS
-Fits great in hand
-voiceless controls work wonderful even in semi noisy environments
-the contour of the phone
-Active display really is superb
-Battery life, I get 3-5 hours screen on with moderate usage, battery always last a day, and running 4.4 it's a beast in standby! 4.2.2 eeehhh..
-Moto customer service is great! I think they understand they're the underdog and are acting accordingly.
-the price!
-The hardware and software runs smooth
-unlockable bootloader vis Moto's website
CONS
-Inline messaging bug using the email app
-I have been having MMS problems with 3 Moto X I received, most don't send :'( (I wanna blame T-mobile but still am not sure yet)
-Camera doesn't have digital or optical stabilization so you'll need steady hands and patience!
p.s. I've gotten a free case and SOL headphones from talking with Reps, if you have a gripe a bout a deal or one day shipping or something you could manage to get a freebie
Any questions feel free to ask.

SolarTrans said:
...How often do you use the Active Listening voice control?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use it in the car to read me notifications, or "whats up" ... along with calling and stuff. But not much else.
I don't like SPEAKING out loud with my phone in public.

drago10029 said:
I agree with kidjoe, I've used an M7 not M8 and after reading the glowing reviews for the M7. I was shocked how everything was average, from battery life to Ultra Pixel camera
Here are the pros vs cons for my Moto GSM Unlocked version
PROS
-Fits great in hand
-voiceless controls work wonderful even in semi noisy environments
-the contour of the phone
-Active display really is superb
-Battery life, I get 3-5 hours screen on with moderate usage, battery always last a day, and running 4.4 it's a beast in standby! 4.2.2 eeehhh..
-Moto customer service is great! I think they understand they're the underdog and are acting accordingly.
-the price!
-The hardware and software runs smooth
-unlockable bootloader vis Moto's website
CONS
-Inline messaging bug using the email app
-I have been having MMS problems with 3 Moto X I received, most don't send :'( (I wanna blame T-mobile but still am not sure yet)
-Camera doesn't have digital or optical stabilization so you'll need steady hands and patience!
p.s. I've gotten a free case and SOL headphones from talking with Reps, if you have a gripe a bout a deal or one day shipping or something you could manage to get a freebie
Any questions feel free to ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! From what I've heard, the M8 actually has much better battery life than the M7, and the Moto's camera is probably about as good as the M8's. Your cons seem to be fairly minor and that's a good thing
M8 doesn't have OIS either, so that's a wash.
From some comparisons I've seen, the consensus is that the M8 is better just because it's so much newer and has better hardware. TBH that better hardware probably finally caught it up to the Moto X's stellar performance XD.
These phones are both so great it's really hard to decide :/
But the question is, is it a worthy purchase? What would you say?

SolarTrans said:
Thanks! From what I've heard, the M8 actually has much better battery life than the M7, and the Moto's camera is probably about as good as the M8's. Your cons seem to be fairly minor and that's a good thing
M8 doesn't have OIS either, so that's a wash.
From some comparisons I've seen, the consensus is that the M8 is better just because it's so much newer and has better hardware. TBH that better hardware probably finally caught it up to the Moto X's stellar performance XD.
These phones are both so great it's really hard to decide :/
But the question is, is it a worthy purchase? What would you say?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly there's another factor. an important one. The XDA factor as you would know since you're posting here on XDA.
Price and performance, battery life would always leave me with the Moto X. But as you've seen the development is very quiet around these forums sadly. So if ROMs and such are really important you may want to cancel the pre-order and see what development is like for the M8.
Again this is coming from a guy who values efficiency over everything. I knew Moto X had lower specs but being the genius I am (not really) I know specs don't matter, at least higher specs don't. When a phone boast things like that it usually means it's potentially riding on that for success rather than good software/usability or what I call efficiency.
Again, any question feel free. My moto X is an open book for you and I love helping people make the best choice for them.

Thanks! Honestly, I usually stick with stock on my phones (I only root to enable AdAway and fix SD permissions), so development isn't that big of a deal. I've noticed there's not much Dev action on the Moto X, but again: it isn't too big of a deal for me. Though, from what I've seen in the M8 forum, there is already getting to be a good amount of Dev following.
So some questions now:
How do you like the screen? Are the pixels noticeable when reading text? How is it outdoors?
I'm using the iPhone 5s as my daily driver, and the ~320PPI screen isn't too bad. Thing is, it has one of the highest quality IPS displays on the market.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk

If the one and s5 don't do it for you id get a used x to last you the next 5-6 months until the new x's are announced and maybe a new nexus?

I have the $60 off coupon, so I could get an unlocked/Dev 32GB for $390. I'd go that way if I got a Moto.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

SolarTrans said:
Thanks! Honestly, I usually stick with stock on my phones (I only root to enable AdAway and fix SD permissions), so development isn't that big of a deal. I've noticed there's not much Dev action on the Moto X, but again: it isn't too big of a deal for me. Though, from what I've seen in the M8 forum, there is already getting to be a good amount of Dev following.
So some questions now:
How do you like the screen? Are the pixels noticeable when reading text? How is it outdoors?
I'm using the iPhone 5s as my daily driver, and the ~320PPI screen isn't too bad. Thing is, it has one of the highest quality IPS displays on the market.
Sent from my iPhone 5s using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The screen looks crisp. I rarely use full brightness outdoors. after about 70% it doesn't make too big a difference to me. And there honestly the 1080p, 720p things are gimmicky. People say they notice the difference but from the S3 to the Moto X to the M7 I've used the sharpness are all on par with each other. Including the IPS on iPhone 5/5S which my girlfriend has. they are all crisp screens.
video look great! The headphone volume is a little low though, i solved that with Viper4android (highly recommend for music lovers). Call quality is actually really really clear! It has 3 mics on it.
That answer your question?

Yep perfectly! But I think I've decided to go with the M8 for these next few months. For a couple of reasons:
1. When I used the Moto X at Verizon, the small screen really reminded me of my iPhone. 5in isn't much bigger than 4.7, but especially with the on screen buttons on a black bar (not always on, but I still noticed), it felt somewhat small to me.
2. My last Android phone was the S4 GPE, and I'm a little tired of the stock-like interface, and being quite reluctant to use ROMs I'd like to give Sense 6 a good try for a while. Moto 360 and X 2 are almost guaranteed to be on my list this year though
Thanks so much for your help!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

SolarTrans said:
Yep perfectly! But I think I've decided to go with the M8 for these next few months. For a couple of reasons:
1. When I used the Moto X at Verizon, the small screen really reminded me of my iPhone. 5in isn't much bigger than 4.7, but especially with the on screen buttons on a black bar (not always on, but I still noticed), it felt somewhat small to me.
2. My last Android phone was the S4 GPE, and I'm a little tired of the stock-like interface, and being quite reluctant to use ROMs I'd like to give Sense 6 a good try for a while. Moto 360 and X 2 are almost guaranteed to be on my list this year though
Thanks so much for your help!
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got it! glad you found something you like.

SolarTrans said:
I've been going back and forth between the Moto X and HTC M8 for a while, and I'm really not sure which one to buy and play around with. I have a $60 off .edu coupon for the X so that would bring it to $390 as compared to $650 for the HTC M8. I've got a pre order for the M8 right now, and I can cancel until Wednesday this week. I'm not sure about the fact that the Moto X is getting kinda old, but the Active Listening is soooo cool. I've used both and I really couldn't pick a favorite.
So the question is:
Is the Moto X still a worthy purchase being a little over halfway through it's life cycle?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok. So I dropped my dev moto x on concrete and the screen broke, my fault. So I decided I was going to upgrade to an HTC m8 with the Dot Case.
Well. I just sent in my Moto x to be repaired, because I am going to return the m8.
1. The M8 is a GREAT phone. Great camera, speed, memory expansion.
But in the end I love my Moto X (this is only my opinion)
Why I want my Moto X back? Active notifications, Touchless Control, Ability to mute from the power button, ability to root and remove all bloat (I am sure the HTC will be able to do this soon), size (I like a phone I can hold easily) and doesn't feel like a weight in my pocket.
The problems I had with the M8 (this is my opinion )
Rather have Google Experience than BlinkFeed (Yes I installed the APK), The quick gestures were useless to me. The car mode defaulted to the HTC music app, I use Google Music. Hard to hold comfortably. TV was good, but I already have 300 remotes, and 1 universal. Adding one more was just a pain. Sense 6 is nice, but I rather have a pure experience that I can add too, IE: Gravity Module
I always say in my opinion because I think phones are as unique as people. What I find in the M8/Moto X as useless/useful could be 100% different for someone else.

hill180 said:
Ok. So I dropped my dev moto x on concrete and the screen broke, my fault. So I decided I was going to upgrade to an HTC m8 with the Dot Case.
Well. I just sent in my Moto x to be repaired, because I am going to return the m8.
1. The M8 is a GREAT phone. Great camera, speed, memory expansion.
But in the end I love my Moto X (this is only my opinion)
Why I want my Moto X back? Active notifications, Touchless Control, Ability to mute from the power button, ability to root and remove all bloat (I am sure the HTC will be able to do this soon), size (I like a phone I can hold easily) and doesn't feel like a weight in my pocket.
The problems I had with the M8 (this is my opinion )
Rather have Google Experience than BlinkFeed (Yes I installed the APK), The quick gestures were useless to me. The car mode defaulted to the HTC music app, I use Google Music. Hard to hold comfortably. TV was good, but I already have 300 remotes, and 1 universal. Adding one more was just a pain. Sense 6 is nice, but I rather have a pure experience that I can add too, IE: Gravity Module
I always say in my opinion because I think phones are as unique as people. What I find in the M8/Moto X as useless/useful could be 100% different for someone else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel like if you play with the moto x in the store your not getting the full day to day usage and the features that help make it the #1 android phone of 2013. I know spec on sheet is all that people care about now but until you have owned the phone and then go to something else you'll want to come back to this phone.
Sent from my XT1058 using xda premium

I have a Samsung Galaxy S 4 (T-Mobile running GPE ROM) and a moto X GSM dev editon. After going back and forth a few times in the past week I keep going back to the X. Which is surprising because I used the S4 as my DD for the better part of a year and loved everything but the size.
I actually found that the performance is similar and the screen on the X looks better because its RGB and not pentile, regardless of the resolution difference.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

asatnik11 said:
I have a Samsung Galaxy S 4 (T-Mobile running GPE ROM) and a moto X GSM dev editon. After going back and forth a few times in the past week I keep going back to the X. Which is surprising because I used the S4 as my DD for the better part of a year and loved everything but the size.
I actually found that the performance is similar and the screen on the X looks better because its RGB and not pentile, regardless of the resolution difference.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh didn't know it was RGB. The S5 (while having the best smartphone display ever made according to DisplayMate) still uses PenTile and has 305PPI for red and blue (but 432 for white and green). This is actually less than the Moto X's density, so I was kind of surprised. Displays can't really compare though, as from what I've read the Moto X just isn't as nice as other flagships in the display department
Update on the thread: I actually cancelled my M8 order because after using one again I found I really disliked the whole UI.
Any further comparison for will be with the S5, as that's where I moved my pre-order after canceling.
If one thing were to sway me towards the X from the S5, it'd be the size. The Moto X feels truly amazing (even for the few minutes in store that I tested it). The S5 is quite nice as well, but it doesn't quite match the curve of the X.
From all I've read and felt so far, the S5 and Moto X are both insanely attractive offerings. I haven't seen a single person dissatisfied with their X, and everyone (me included) who's used an S5 thought it was great.
Considering how attached to the X people are, I may just have to spend the $390 and go for it. The S5 may have better specs and be faster, but the overwhelming praise of the X is definitely something I'll consider.
Thanks all for the help so far! If anyone has any further input it'd be much appreciated.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thoughts from those of you who switched from a Nexus 5. Is it a good upgrade?

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.

Help me make a smart decision

Hello
Im finally upgrading from a htc explorer( while being small i loved how my battery could last me 3 to 4 days easy) i've kept it for 3 years with custom roms and was enough for me up until recently when i had to start using other apps like skype, viber and facebook as a form of communication.
I'm looking for a 300€ or less smartphone that will last me 2 years a least and ended up with two deals that i found to be under the current price market:
a moto x first gen new for 250 or a google nexus 5 new for 289
as i see the nexus is a little bit stronger on paper and probably would get outdated way after the moto x
but the moto x is cheaper and does have a nice set of perks like better battery life, ergonomics and that motorola notification thingy, my only set back was reading about the display getting burned after months of use and the gossip that motorola by now being owned by lenovo would stop getting updates after lollipop or at least as quick
I would appreciate your input on this matter especially if you have both, If i have to read another review on these phone i rather gouge out my eyes
I dont really care about the camera, im more interested in a daily driver that can mutlitask some apps and if possible be up to date in at least a year or 2.
Thanks in advance

noobexplorer said:
Hello
Im finally upgrading from a htc explorer( while being small i loved how my battery could last me 3 to 4 days easy) i've kept it for 3 years with custom roms and was enough for me up until recently when i had to start using other apps like skype, viber and facebook as a form of communication.
I'm looking for a 300€ or less smartphone that will last me 2 years a least and ended up with two deals that i found to be under the current price market:
a moto x first gen new for 250 or a google nexus 5 new for 289
as i see the nexus is a little bit stronger on paper and probably would get outdated way after the moto x
but the moto x is cheaper and does have a nice set of perks like better battery life, ergonomics and that motorola notification thingy, my only set back was reading about the display getting burned after months of use and the gossip that motorola by now being owned by lenovo would stop getting updates after lollipop or at least as quick
I would appreciate your input on this matter especially if you have both, If i have to read another review on these phone i rather gouge out my eyes
I dont really care about the camera, im more interested in a daily driver that can mutlitask some apps and if possible be up to date in at least a year or 2.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if I can help, but If I had the choice I think I would have gone with Nexus 5 for the sole purpose of having long lasting developer support. Nexus 6 is too big, but I am tied to Verizon, and went with Moto X 2013 Dev edition for 200 on amazon. I. Love. This. Phone. I don't think I would be happy going to a phone without all the moto apps baked in/moto phone moving forward... *shrugs*
What ever you do, take your needs, and then wants. And then make the choice, Lot's of choices with Nexus 5, Lot's of out of the box awesome with Moto X.:good:

If you want timely updates for the next two years and great long lasting developer support go for the nexus 5.
However the moto x is very unique because the out-of-the-box experience is fantastic, the motorola features are great and battery is good (way better than the nexus 5 if I'm not mistaken). Also, I've read this over and over and experienced it myself : it kind of eliminates the desire for custom roms (because stock is so great). So if you want to tweak the rom just stick xposed with gravitybox on it and you're good to go. All we need to wait for here is xposed compatibility for lollipop and we're set (of course everyone's waiting for the official lollipop update most importantly, but it's bound to happen!).
In my opinion the only downside to the moto x is that it will stop getting updates before the nexus 5. Hopefully we'll still have an active developing community when that happens!
So all in all, the way I see it is that it depends on if you value updates over user experience, or the other way around. If it were my choice I would go for the moto x!

I wouldn't expect another 2 years worth of updates for either device. I'd base my decision on size as long as you're only considering the developer edition Moto X.

noobexplorer said:
Hello
Im finally upgrading from a htc explorer( while being small i loved how my battery could last me 3 to 4 days easy) i've kept it for 3 years with custom roms and was enough for me up until recently when i had to start using other apps like skype, viber and facebook as a form of communication.
I'm looking for a 300€ or less smartphone that will last me 2 years a least and ended up with two deals that i found to be under the current price market:
a moto x first gen new for 250 or a google nexus 5 new for 289
as i see the nexus is a little bit stronger on paper and probably would get outdated way after the moto x
but the moto x is cheaper and does have a nice set of perks like better battery life, ergonomics and that motorola notification thingy, my only set back was reading about the display getting burned after months of use and the gossip that motorola by now being owned by lenovo would stop getting updates after lollipop or at least as quick
I would appreciate your input on this matter especially if you have both, If i have to read another review on these phone i rather gouge out my eyes
I dont really care about the camera, im more interested in a daily driver that can mutlitask some apps and if possible be up to date in at least a year or 2.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, i used for 3 months nexus 5, phone quality is bad, speaker quality is bad, power button rattles...battery bad etc
now i use just for 7 days moto x 2013, all i can say is i am happy with my moto.

noobexplorer said:
Hello
Im finally upgrading from a htc explorer( while being small i loved how my battery could last me 3 to 4 days easy) i've kept it for 3 years with custom roms and was enough for me up until recently when i had to start using other apps like skype, viber and facebook as a form of communication.
I'm looking for a 300€ or less smartphone that will last me 2 years a least and ended up with two deals that i found to be under the current price market:
a moto x first gen new for 250 or a google nexus 5 new for 289
as i see the nexus is a little bit stronger on paper and probably would get outdated way after the moto x
but the moto x is cheaper and does have a nice set of perks like better battery life, ergonomics and that motorola notification thingy, my only set back was reading about the display getting burned after months of use and the gossip that motorola by now being owned by lenovo would stop getting updates after lollipop or at least as quick
I would appreciate your input on this matter especially if you have both, If i have to read another review on these phone i rather gouge out my eyes
I dont really care about the camera, im more interested in a daily driver that can mutlitask some apps and if possible be up to date in at least a year or 2.
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I currently own Moto X and used my friend's Nexus 5 quite alot. Let me tell you pro's of both.
Moto X
1 ) Ideal size and display screen.
2) Good build quality and feel.
3) Very good speakers and earpiece.
4) Lag free, very good for day to day tasks
5) Good battery timings.
Nexus 5
1) Much better software support and development.
2) 1080p screen vs Moto X 720p screen.
3) Better hardware.
4) Better video quality with OIS.

My reply,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=57905262

Having owned a N5 I would say don't do it!
Honestly there isn't anything much better on the N5. Sure processor and screen quality are spec'd better but they also consume more battery. The N5 has a tiny battery...only 100mA more than the X.
The X has awesome daily usability. The active display is a great way to see ALL your new messages and notifications. The speaker sounds more clear and less tingy than the N5. Earphone output is great when listening to music. The battery lasts all day with 3-5 screen hours.
Also in my experience there are two different LCD panels being used in the N5. My friends screen was more cooler and blue. I unfortunately had a warm panel. But that's a user preference thing.
You can't go wrong with the X. Also after the updates to KitKat. The camera is actually pretty damn good. You have to use the google camera app though.
You can't go wrong with the X. I've had mine for two weeks and don't see myself upgrading until 2016.
I wouldn't even consider the second gen. The dimensions of the first X is beauty in the hands.
My post is allover the place but it is basically praising the X and saying the N5 isn't all that great.
Sent from my XT1053 using XDA Free mobile app

My reply also,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/please-help-make-smart-decision-t2988900/page3
in short for that kind of money get an lg g2