Prior to the OnePlus One when you wanted an near-stock Android experience, you would go w/ the Moto X. Motorola offered a clean software experience along w/ great customization w/ Moto Maker. The OnePlus One pretty much changed things in regards to that level - even though it was and their latest still is a hard device to get a hold of. The game has changed. Now in the later half of 2015, mid-level, off-contract devices are growing & getting better. While flagships are still getting more and more pricier.
Design/Build
Mines was order & assembled via Moto Maker as I chose the wood grain back w/ a White front & Silver accents. The Pure Edition has a bit of heft as most devices these days are super lightweight. FYI: the Moto X isn't as big as the Nexus 6 but its pretty close though. Not as premium as metal & glass but still great build from the Moto crew.
Display
And continuing the theme of changes, Motorola went for a bigger 5.7inch QHD display and switched out the OLED for an LCD. This will offer better images & colors but loses the vibrance or pop of what we're used to. By no means are the colors dull or muted but when up against something like the Note 5, the difference is huge. Still good but noticeable. It does mean you get great visibility in sunlight, good clarity, and awesome viewing angles.
Say goodbye to AMOLED and hello to LCD.
Performance/Battery Life
The new Moto X made sure to equip their 2015 flagship w/ power to keep up w/ you. Inside lies a hexa-core 1.8GHz Snapdragon 808 CPU, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage that's expandable. With Motorola utilizing pure Android, you won't see much resistance although I'm not the biggest fan of the Qualcomm 808 chipset. I got a little bit of lag while using some simple navigation Android as an extra GB of RAM would've possibly helped.
In case you were worried about the change from OLED to LCD taking a hit on the battery life. It isn't a drastic difference. Keeping the new Moto X powered is a 3000 mAh battery inside. You'll get a good day of usage, ranging from 12-15 hours but nothing more. Although there's no wireless charging but you do have super-fast Quick Charging that gives you 0-100 in an hour. So it has improved from last year's or previous models but not by much though.
Sound
While there wasn't much talk about it, Motorola is using dual front-facing speakers to provide all of your entertainment needs. Just like what they did w/ the Nexus 6. Along w/ getting rich audio it still pumps out good bass and clear vocals. While its not absurdly loud, it does offer a premium audio experience which is something very smartphones have yet to figure or do. It's only a matter of time before other phone makers get on board w/ this - I hope.
Camera
The Moto X Pure Edition is finally a better shooter from Motorola. It touts a 20MP f/2.0 rear-facing Sony sensor w/ a dual LED flash and a 5MP f/2.0 front-facing camera w/ a single LED selfie flash. While they did beef up their sensor they made sure to focus most of their energies into their image rendering software and the payoff is worth it.
Camera Test
It utilizes phase detection auto focus for zero shutter lag when taking photos and the rear flash utilizes CCT (Color Correction Temperature) technology to make skin tones & colors look both vibrant & natural-looking. There's no OIS for photos but you do have video stabilization on board that does work on 720p slow-motion, 1080p HD & 4K video. All of this definitely makes for a more capable shooter Motorola has ever produced. They finally got it right and it can only get better from here.
Software
One thing about Motorola, you can expect is pure Android w/o any type of pesky features or weird UI. Running the latest version of Android w/ version 5.1.1 Lollipop, it is pretty much stock and clean as a whistle. Easily living up to the US name of the Pure Edition.
You do have the extra benefits that Motorola provides w/ their custom software features experience. Moto Voice is still present to dictate voice commands to your device. If you're unfamiliar w/ it, think Ok Google that works system-wide. Moto Display helps out w/ you viewing your notifications w/o having to unlock your device. Moto Assist allows it to read your messages aloud to you when you're driving so you won't get distracted. And lastly, Moto Actions are the cool features last seen on the 2015 Moto G. This allows you to prompt Moto Display by waving your hands over the screen, launch the camera by double-twisting your wrist w/ the device in-hand, and chop the device twice to activate the LED flash to use as a flashlight.
Definitely the best stock Android in the market right now but that could change after the Nexus event.
TG 2 Cents
The new Moto X and Motorola's approach to sales shifts things a bit in regards to their placement in the Android game. Things have definitely changed. Carriers are no longer involved as you can kiss bloatware and contracts goodbye. Making this a phone that's affordable and one you can truly make your own.
Motorola new flagship is now the new crown of the mid-level devices and a great overall device. The new off-contract price point puts it above the unlocked competition thanks to Moto Maker, improved camera, and performance. While it is debatable on what or not it can be considered amongst the rest of the echelon of Android flagships, it is still a great overall device.
To Buy Or Not To Buy
