First published: September 8, 2014
Motorola has unveiled the long rumoured second generation of Moto X at an event last Friday. Motorola also launched a few other devices, namely the new Moto G, Moto 360, Moto Hint and the Motorola Power Pack Micro, at event was the opening of Motorola’s Chicago headquarters.
The highlight was of course the 2nd generation Moto X, retaining its predecessor’s name, that had been fed through the rumour mill for some time now. It was originally dubbed Moto X+1 (evident in the URL for the specification sheet on Motorola’s website) but somehow down the line, Motorola has decided to keep the original name (a possible attempt to help sell the older devices in their current markets?). The specifications page also quashes the Snapdragon 800 SoC and the 12 MP camera rumours that were associated with this device.
The new Moto X retains similar styling, build-quality and personalisations that made the original Moto X a comeback hit for Motorola. The new Moto X on the other hand offers a bigger screen with higher resolution but not without sacrificing size and weight. The display size has been bumped up to 5.2” and the AMOLED display goes Full HD this time around. The device also runs the latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat and as with the previous version, stock Android launcher too. This gives it another advantage when the time comes for the Android L upgrade.
On top of the usual back panels, Motorola will also be offering FSC certified wood and genuine Horween leather as personalisation options to complement its sturdy metal frame. The device is also said to have a water resistant coating but we’re unable to provide details on how resistant it really is.
Below is a quick look at its specifications and we’ve lined it up with the 1st-gen device for comparison:
| Moto X (1st gen) | Moto X (2nd gen) | |
| SoC | 8-core Motorola X8 Mobile Computing System (X8 MCS): 1.7 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro with quad-core Adreno 320 GPU, single-core natural language processor and single-core contextual computing processor. | 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU and Adreno 330 GPU. |
| OS/UI | Runs Android 4.2.2 KitKat with stock Android UI | Runs Android 4.4.4 KitKat with stock Android UI |
| Display | 4.7”, 1280 x 720 HD, AMOLED screen with a pixel density of 312.47 ppi. | 5.2”, 1920 x 1080 Full HD, AMOLED screen with a pixel density of 423.64 ppi. |
| Memory | 2 GB RAM, 16/32/64 GB internal memory but without microSD card slot. | 2 GB RAM, 16/32 GB internal memory but without microSD card slot. |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and micro-USB 2.0. | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac dual-band, NFC, Bluetooth 4.0, and micro-USB 2.0. |
| Data Radio | Has GPRS, EDGE, HSPA+ and 4G LTE (Cat 3). | Has GPRS, EDGE, HSPA+ and 4G LTE. |
| Camera | 10 MP, 1.4 µm pixel size and 1/2.6” sized sensor, auto-focusing CLEAR PIXEL(RGBC) rear camera with LED flash and 2 MP front camera. Aperture for the rear camera is rated at f/2.4. | 13 MP, auto-focusing rear camera with dual-LED ring-flash and 2 MP front camera. Aperture for the rear camera is rated at f/2.2. 4K video capable. |
| Battery | 2,200 mAh, non-removable, Li-Ion battery. | 2,300 mAh, non-removable, Li-Ion battery. |
| Dimensions H x W x D | Dimensions 129.3 x 65.3 x 10.4 mm and weighs 130 g. | Dimensions 140.8 x 72.4 x 10 mm and weighs 144 g. |
| Colour(s) | Comes in Black or White front panels with 30 different back panel and 10 different accent colours. | Comes in Black or White front panels with 25 different back panel colours. |
Motorola has also brought over two other features that made the original Moto X an impressive device. The first of which is the Moto Display technology (previously called Active Display) that displays time and other notifications by lighting up only the required pixels on the AMOLED display. This type of notification saves on power consumption as it doesn’t require the entire display to be turned on (the pixels on an OLED display uses power only when it’s lit up). Users can check their notifications by just waving the hand over the display as it’s triggered by the infra-red sensors located within the bezel surrounding the display.
The other crowd favourite feature that made its way to the new Moto X is the voice command option called Touchless Control. This feature is still unique to smartphones because Moto X allows its users to wake the phone up by using only a voice command, making it completely hands-free. On the 1st-gen device, Motorola had opted for the Android standard “OK Google Now” as its phrase. The new Moto X however will allow for users to customise the phrase. It’s been confirmed that “OK Jarvis” is proving to be the most popular among them.
The 2nd-gen Moto X will arrive later this month in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia with a US retail price of US$ 499.99. Customers will be able to personalise the device via Motorola’s online customisation studio, called Moto Maker, but it will only be available in the United States and selected international markets.
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