Moto X 2014 vs. Motorola DROID Turbo - Specifications, Features And Price Showdown

The Motorola DROID Turbo smartphone has recently been released on Oct. 30. The 2014 Moto X, on the other hand, was released in September. Readers who are interested in the latest Motorola DROID Turbo or the well-received Moto X should check out this comparison.

Display, Design And Size

Motorola DROID Turbo features a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display bundled with 1,440 x 2,560 pixels Quad HD resolution. This combination boils down to a pixel density of 565 ppi. Meanwhile, the Moto X shares the same screen size as the DROID device, however, it uses AMOLED display and a relatively inferior resolution of 1,080 x 1,920 pixels and 424 ppi pixel density.

When it comes to design, the 2014 Moto X model looks identical to its predecessor 2013 Moto X by not considering the size difference. Nonetheless, the 2014 handset sports an aluminium band instead of the plain plastic frame seen in the 2013 model; thereby providing the premium look to the worthy phone. Furthermore, the front and the back shells can be disintegrated and interchanged via Moto Maker site, same as other Moto handsets. Plus, the Motorola logo embossed on the smartphone is quite large and it is enclosed in a metal ring, Android Origin reports.

Moving on to the latest Turbo handset, Motorola has clearly focused on fixing the battery problems persisting in the current-generation handsets. Hence, the DROID device comes equipped with a solid 3,900 mAh unit that can provide up to 2 days of charge under moderate usage. Thereby, the battery is 1,000 mAh+ more than the iPhone 6 Plus and roughly 800 mAh more than the Galaxy Note 4. As far as the design goes, the DROID device looks identical to the Moto X with the same plastic chassis, Mashable reports.

Speaking of size, the thickness and weight of the 2014 Moto X are 0.39-inch and 144 g respectively, whereas the Turbo handset is 0.31-inch thick and weighs 169 g. While the Moto X is comparatively lighter, the DROID Turbo is thinner.

Hardware, Software And Memory

Motorola DROID Turbo is powered by the latest quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 805) Krait 450 processor, clocked at 2.7 GHz and Adreno 420 GPU. The Moto X, on the other hand, is powered by a relatively inferior quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 801) Krait 400 processor, clocked at 2.5 GHz and Adreno 330 for graphics. Plus, the Turbo handset comes with a killer 3 GB of RAM, whereas the Moto X settles for a modest 2 GB RAM configuration.

On the software side, the DROID Turbo runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat OS. Nonetheless, there is a planned upgrade to Lollipop in the offing. The Moto X, on the other hand, runs on Android OS v4.4.4 KitKat, which is upgradable to v5.0. While the DROID comes equipped with 32 GB and 64 GB of in-built storage, the Moto X comes with 16 GB and 32 GB of storage. However, both the smartphones do not support microSD card.

Camera And Battery

This is one of the areas the Motorola DROID Turbo trumps the Moto X handset fair and square. The Turbo features an impressive 21 MP rear-facing camera with dual-LED flash and 4K video support, while the Moto X sports a 13 MP unit with dual-LED flash. In addition, both the handsets feature a 2 MP shooter at the front. When it comes to battery, the DROID device is backed by a super-powerful Li-Po 3,900 mAh unit, while the Moto X houses an inferior Li-Ion 2300 mAh unit.

Additional Features

1. The DROID Turbo features an aggressive design seen in other DROID devices, complete with Kevlar-like finish. There are two rear panel choices and they are metallic design and ballistic nylon design. While the former panel is a metal-coated fibre-glass, the latter is made of military grade material, reports Android Authority. Moreover, the Turbo comes in Metallic Red and Metallic Black, whereas the Moto X uses Moto Maker site's help in customising the panels.

2. While the Turbo offers wireless charging facility, the Moto X doesn't. Other than the standard connectivity options, both the phones support 4G LTE and NFC. But then, the Turbo also supports Infrared port. Speaking of SIM, both the devices offer nano-SIM support.

3. Both the Motorola devices do not feature water- or dust-proof exterior. To make amends for the lack of IP67 rating, both the devices come with water-resistive coating. Hence, the handsets can survive accidental water splashes. On the other hand, leaving the smartphones underwater for longer period of time will impair it permanently.

4. Similar to the 2013 model, the Motorola Moto X features the voice-based "OK Google" option. However, the voice control feature is improved in the latest device. Therefore, the Moto X users can activate apps and other services using just voice commands. Quite interestingly, users can post updates in Facebook and WhatsApp without typing a word and control the post with voice-based commands. Furthermore, the 2014 Moto X's infrared sensor can be used to reject incoming calls and mute alarm clock by swiping the hand on top of the display.

Price

The Motorola DROID Turbo can now be availed from Verizon. The 32 GB variant comes for US$199, while the 64 GB version can be purchased for US$249, under contract. It is worth mentioning that, the carrier is offering a free one-time screen replacement option for the purchased DROID device, points out Android Authority. Plus, the outright price is US$599 (i.e. AU$678).

The Moto X 2014 model, on the other hand, can be purchased for US$500 (i.e. AU$566). On accessories, the Motorola Hint (a wireless earbud) can be availed for $150, while the Motorola Turbo Charger that charges the handset in 15 minutes will set the buyers back by $35. But then, both the devices are not available in Australia at this point.

Also Read

1. Microsoft Believes 'Nokia Lumia 635' Offers Better Deal Than The Pricey Apple iPhone - [Read]

2. Microsoft's Wearable 'Band' With Cortana Integration Is Priced At $199 - [Read]

3. Motorola DROID Turbo vs. Apple iPhone 6 - Specifications, Features And Price Showdown - [Read]