Motorola Moto X Reviews

Motorola Moto X Review at CNET

Motorola's most impressive handset yet certainly packs in plenty of notable capabilities and functionality. But it's worth noting, also, that hard-core Android enthusiasts and spec junkies likely won't find the Moto X awe-inspiring. The 4.7-inch AMOLED screen is "only" 720p, and the nonexpandable 16GB of storage in the $199 model is a stumbling block; big-time media hounds and app addicts will burn through that quickly. In the absence of an expansion slot (like the Galaxy S4 has), I would've preferred that Motorola delivered 32GB in the baseline model, just like the HTC One -- or that the company had priced the phone at closer to $149 instead.

That said, Motorola took an unconventional tack with this handset. Instead of the traditional tactic of beating potential customers over the head with powerful components and every feature under the sun, Motorola decided to cater to shoppers' softer side -- focusing on how they use their phones every day.

To that end, the Moto X succeeds. It packs a great camera, has swift enough performance to satisfy all but the most demanding Android fanboys, and offers battery life that goes the distance. Throw in its superb, compact design and the Moto X doesn't even need to woo potential customers with its fancy Buck Rogers voice-recognition skills. That's merely the sweet icing on a mighty tasty cake. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at Gizmodo

For the majority of people, the answer is yes. It's an excellent phone that feels good and provides a hard-to-quantify but very satisfying experience. Despite not having the highest-end hardware, in many ways it feels more "futuristic" than its turbo-changed competitors. And for people who are forever complaining about phones being too big, this is way more wieldy than its large-screen competitors.

In fact, that brings up an important point. Motorola and Google made the choice with this phone not to go after the spec monsters like the Galaxy S4, the HTC One, or the upcoming Optimus G2. Instead, they're chasing the iPhone model of prioritizing mass appeal over the specs race. If Motorola and Google can get that messaging across (and it sounds like they plan to, with a rumored $500 million advertising budget for the device) they could have a big hit on their hands. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at WIRED

Features like Moto Assist are genuinely useful. It can tell if you’re driving, for example, by tracking the speed the phone is moving and set itself to read aloud and automatically respond to your text messages. If it sees a meeting on your calendar, it will automatically silence itself and turn off vibrate, and respond to phone calls from your favorites with a text message to let them know you’re occupied. And that lock screen data trickle, when it shows you recent activity when you pick up the phone or pull it out of your pocket without having to press a button, is tremendously useful. Tap the screen for details. Unlock it if you need to act. Amazing.

Likewise, I loved the camera. Not because it was so gorgeous, but because it was so easy. Your phone is your camera that’s always with you, and the Moto X makes taking pictures super easy. The double wrist-shake-thing (twist it twice to launch the camera) gets the camera up and running super-fast. Likewise, being able to tap the screen to take pictures with a rapid-firing shutter (both the frontside selfie shutter and the regular one on the back are very quick) helped me take far more great pictures of my fast-moving toddler than I’m normally able to pull off. Deep integration with Google services meant these were automatically uploaded and processed in Google+. It wasn’t the best camera I’ve used in a phone, but it was one of the smartest. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at Mashable

Motorola has created a very notable phone in the Moto X. I like it more than the HTC One, which used to be my favorite Android phone of 2013. Thanks to its well-thought-out design, the Moto X is more suited for one-handed operation. I also appreciate that Motorola's user interface is much closer to stock Android than HTC's — iconography is subtler, and some actions (creating app shortcuts, for example) are more convenient.

And on experience, the Moto X has found a sweet spot that'll appeal to many. It cuts away extraneous features and confusing iconography, and its marquee features do add value — that is, if you value battery life and convenience. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at Pocket-lint

The Moto X is smart. It's aware. It's packed with features. It's powerful enough and it's got the right amount of Android - without too much bloat or gimmick. We really like the Moto X.

It's not the flashiest smartphone out there, so we wouldn't recommend it to gadget geeks who want the latest and greatest on the market. But it is Motorola's first flagship as a Google-owned company, so it's an ideal handset for those Google lovers in the world who want an all-American piece of hardware made under Google's direct influence. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at SlashGear

In contrast, the Moto X offers a different way: effectively top-tier performance with a mid-tier set of specs. The danger for Motorola is that it’s a far tougher way to sell a phone than simply cherry-picking the latest hardware; the upshot for users is that they get a device with thoughtful features that actually offer a real benefit in everyday use.

Motorola has a challenge on its hands convincing people that a plastic phone with specifications that actively bypass superlatives is just as capable as its rivals; the fact that Moto Maker will be limited to one carrier initially is also a frustration. The Moto X, though, deserves a chance to convince. More than the sum of its parts, it’s not a perfect phone but it is a capable and considered one, demonstrating there’s more than one way to approach the smartphone market. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at TechRadar

The Moto X is a good, good phone. In fact it's a great phone. Is it one of the best Android phones out there? Well that depends. Yes, if you value a reasonable size and useful services over raw power, a massive HD screen and microSD support.

It's odd to call a phone with a battery that makes it through the day and a size a human hand can actually manipulate a niche device, but we're not sure if it's what Android users want. It's certainly what we want, in fact we're considering a purchase.

It could also be what incoming iPhone expatriates want too. We've heard complaints about the iPhone 5's battery life, and if they find an S4 too big, a One too fragile, this could be a very happy medium. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at LaptopMag

The Moto X is a smartphone that actually makes you feel smarter. We love telling Google Now what to do from across the room, knowing what alert is waiting for us before we unlock the device and firing up the camera without even having to think about it. Moto Maker customization is a breath of fresh air for smartphones. However, we wish this perk were available to more than AT&T customers at launch. And while the 10-MP camera is good, it's not best in class.

Some may lament the lack of a 1080p screen and a quad-core CPU, but the Moto X acquits itself well on both counts because of its bright and rich AMOLED display and the fact that it outperforms allegedly faster phones like the Galaxy S4 in many real-world scenarios. (Not having a skin helps.) However, the Galaxy S4 offers a lot more features and more robust camera capabilities, while the HTC One sports a more premium metal design and better speakers. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at PocketNow

The Moto X isn’t necessarily what we expected when we learned of Google’s plans to reboot the Motorola brand. In some areas, like its underwhelming camera and subdued hardware design, the phone gives off a decidedly midrange vibe. In others, like its futuristic software features and best-in-class voice performance, it feels more like the high-end phone Motorola wants us to believe it is. Still, if you don’t care where your electronics are made, the price might be a little high.

But if you’re looking for a phone that bears the slogan “assembled in the USA,” now you have an option. If you’re looking for more than a handful of color and customization options on your smartphone, now you’ve got hundreds. If you’ve been wondering when Google’s platform would start sprouting some of the real-world usefulness its competitors have been churning out, without the hassle of a third-party UI on top, wonder no longer. The Moto X is here, and for better or for worse, it’s “Google’s iPhone.” If you think of yourself as a “regular person” and you’re looking for the best possible Android experience at a reasonable price, without all the frills, the Moto X just became your best possible option. Read more...

Motorola Moto X Review at Engadget

I like the Moto X. I really, really do. It's the smartest smart object I'm currently carrying on my person and I'm too used to that Active Display to calmly resume life with my DNA. That affinity, however, doesn't necessarily mean I'd buy it if given the chance. The price is just too darn high for what's on offer. In a market where phones with higher-res displays, greater storage and faster processors are a mouse click away for $199, the Moto X just can't compete.

But that prognosis changes dramatically when you factor in Moto Maker. I'm almost confident that the Moto X would be a runaway hit ($199 price be damned) if Moto Maker were a standard option for all five US wireless carriers. That it isn't is troubling and, for now, only AT&T subs will have access to the NikeID-like customizations come launch. And then there are the wood-backed Moto X variants coming this Q4, the tantalizing promise of which could keep consumers from buying in now. I like where this new Motorola's going: the personalization, the few, focused user-friendly enhancements, the stellar battery life and crowdsourced design. If only its launch execution were a bit smarter like the Moto X, a bit tighter (that wood option should've been ready) and a bit more accessible (Moto Maker for all!), regardless of carrier. Motorola, let this butterfly fly free. Read more...