Attendees Play A Check-In Game To Win Prizes By Tapping Their NFC-Enabled Android Smartphones
IN PHOTO: Attendees play a check-in game to win prizes by tapping their NFC-enabled Android smartphones at the Google I/O developers conference in San Francisco June 25, 2014. Reuters/Elijah Nouvelage

The original Motorola Moto X was released in Aug. 2013, whereas the next-generation Moto X 2014 (aka Gen 2) has recently been launched. Readers who are interested in upgrading to Moto X (2014) from their Moto X (2013) should check out this comparison.

Display, Exterior And Size

The Moto X 2013 features a 4.7-inch AMOLED display bundled with a screen resolution of 720 x 1,280 pixels. The Moto X 2014, on the other hand, comes with a relatively bigger 5.2-inch AMOLED display and 1,080 x 1,920 pixels resolution. In addition, the pixel densities of 2013 and 2014 Moto X handsets stand at 312 ppi and 424 ppi, respectively.

When it comes to the exterior, the 2013 Moto X features a sleek body and flaunts premium look. The phone's surface is made of durable plastic called PET composite. Despite the fact that the Moto X looks sturdy, the weight of the device is kept to a minimum. Moreover, the rear shell has a soft-touch finish, providing good grip on the hands with no fingerprint problems of any kind.

The 2014 Moto X, meanwhile, reminds a lot of the original version. Even though the latest handset's body shape is identical to the predecessor, the plastic frame is swapped for a premium-looking aluminium frame. Also, the front and back shells/structures can be disintegrated and can be customized with the help of Motorola Moto Maker, similar to the predecessor. In addition, the Motorola brand logo is relatively larger and it is surrounded by a metallic ring, reports Android Origin.

The thickness and the weight of the Moto X 2014 are 0.39-inch and 144 g respectively, whereas the Moto X 2013 is 0.41-inch thick and weighs 130 g.

Hardware, Software And Memory

The Moto X 2014 is powered by a quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 801) Krait 400 processor, clocked at 2.5 GHz. The Moto X 2013, on the other hand, is powered by an inferior dual-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon Pro) Krait processor, clocked at 1.7 GHz. However, both the Moto devices house the same 2 GB of RAM.

In addition, the Moto X 2013 device runs on Android OS v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), which is upgradable to v4.4.4 (KitKat). And the latest device from Motorola runs on Android OS, v4.4.4 (KitKat) that is upgradable to Android L v5.0. Furthermore, the Moto X 2014 offers 16 GB and 32 GB of internal storage, while the Moto X 2013 comes with 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB of in-built storage capacities. Nevertheless, both the handsets do not support microSD card.

Camera And Battery

The Moto X sports a 10 MP rear-facing camera with LED flash and a 2 MP front-facing shooter. The Moto X 2014, on the other hand, features a good 13 MP primary camera unit with dual-LED flash and the same 2 MP snapper in the front. Additionally, the 2013 version houses a good Li-Ion 2200 mAh battery unit, whereas the 2014 model comes packed with a slightly better Li-Ion 2300 mAh battery unit.

Additional Features

1. Android Origin points out that, the Moto X 2014's battery unit can be charged within 15 minutes. And the charge will survive for nearly eight hours.

2. The Moto X 2013 comes with the prominent voice-based "OK Google" support. The latest Moto X maintains the same OK Google feature with improved voice control. That 2014 version can activate any app/service/program in the device. Interestingly, users can post any information in Facebook and WhatsApp without having to type a word and control everything with the help of voice.

3. If this is not interesting enough, the infrared sensor on the phone has the ability to silence the alarm clock with the help of a hand-swipe above the screen.

4. Also, users can reject any phone calls with the same hand gesture.

5. Both the phones support Bluetooth v4.0, Wi-Fi, LTE, microUSB and NFC.

6. The Motorola Moto Maker allows users to customise their handsets with 25 different options including leather and wooden back shells. Notably, the Moto Maker service has now been introduced in the UK, says CNet.

Price

The 2013 Moto X 16 GB is priced at AU$359.95 in Australia. In the U.S., the original device can be purchased for US$399. The Moto X 2014, meanwhile, is priced at $500 (that roughly translates to AU$558). Also, Motorola Hint (wireless earbud) can be purchased for $150 and the Motorola Turbo Charger (charges the handset within 15 minutes) is priced at $35. Moreover, the Moto X pre-orders started on Sept. 16 in the U.S.

Verdict

The easy answer to the question "should I upgrade?" is a clear "yes." Owing to the fact that, the latest Moto X comes packed with a powerful processor, latest OS version support, bigger screen size, improved "Ok Google" support, enhanced camera and battery units and the much-loved aluminium look. What not to love in the 2014 Moto X? Hence, it is a clear winner, opines Android Origin.

Also Read

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2. Moto G (2014) vs. Moto G (2013) - Should You Upgrade? - [Read]

3. NVIDIA SHIELD Tablet With 5197-mAh Battery, 32GB Storage, Stylus, 4G LTE To Hit Store Shelves On Sept 30 (Pre-order Now) - [Read]

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