Samsung Galaxy Alpha vs. Moto X 2014 – Specifications, Features And Price Showdown

The Moto X 2014 (Gen 2) has recently been launched, whereas the Apple iPhone 6 rival Samsung Galaxy Alpha was released a tad earlier than the Moto X in September. Readers who are interested in the Moto X 2014 or the Samsung Galaxy Alpha should check out this comparison.

Display, Exterior And Size

The Moto X 2014 features a 5.2-inch AMOLED display and 1,080 x 1,920 pixels screen resolution. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha, on the other hand, comes with a relatively smaller 4.7-inch Super AMOLED display along with 720 x 1,280 pixels resolution. In addition, the pixel densities of Samsung and Motorola smartphones stand at 312 ppi and 424 ppi respectively.

When it comes to the exterior, Motorola has maintained the look of the predecessor Moto X 2013 in the latest device, barring the size difference. However, an aluminium frame has replaced the plastic look of the predecessor, thereby offering the much-loved premium look to the handset. Moreover, the front and the back panels can be changed/customised using the Motorola Moto Maker site. Also, the company logo on the back is quite big and it is encircled by a metal ring, according to Android Origin. The Samsung Galaxy Alpha, meanwhile, has ditched the plastic look for a refined metallic frame covering. This elevates the handset's look to a whole new level complemented by bevelled corners. Despite this, the back of the device is made of the same faux-leather material seen in Galaxy S5. Also, the perforated/dimpled design from the 2014 flagship is substituted with a cross-stitch design in the Galaxy Alpha, says Phone Arena

Speaking of size, the thickness and the weight of the Motorola device and the Samsung handsets are (0.39-inch and 144 g) and (0.26-inch and 115 g), respectively. Therefore, the Galaxy Alpha is much thinner and a lot lighter than the Moto X.

Hardware, Software And Memory

The Motorola handset is powered by a quad-core (Qualcomm Snapdragon 801) Krait 400 processor, clocked at 2.5 GHz and 2 GB of RAM. The Galaxy Alpha, meanwhile, is powered by a superior octa-core (Exynos 5) processor, clocked at a killer combination of four 1.8 GHz Cortex-A15 cores and four 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7 cores and 2 GB of RAM.

Moreover, the Samsung Galaxy Alpha runs on Android v4.4.4 KitKat OS with TouchWiz UI on top of it, while the Moto X runs on Android v4.4.4 KitKat OS (upgradable to Android L). As far as the memory goes, the Moto X offers 16 GB and 32 GB of in-built storage, whereas the Galaxy Alpha comes with 32 GB of storage. However, both the devices do not support expandable memory option.

Camera And Battery

The Galaxy Alpha sports a 12 MP rear-facing camera unit with LED flash, whereas the Moto X features a 13 MP primary camera with dual-LED flash. In addition, the Motorola handset houses a 2 MP front-facing shooter for selfies, while the Samsung device comes with 2.1 MP snapper. Also, the Samsung device is backed by a Li-Ion 1860 mAh battery, whereas the Moto X comes packed with a solid Li-Ion 2300 mAh battery unit.

Additional Features

1. The Galaxy Alpha comes equipped with the fingerprint scanner for unlocking the device and for making payments via mobile.

2. The Motorola handset features the voice-based "OK Google" option with improved voice control. The device can activate any app/service with voice commands. The Moto X users can post updates in WhatsApp and Facebook via voice-based commands, thereby invalidating the need to type down.

3. Also, the 2014 Moto X's infrared sensor can be utilised to turn off the alarm clock or reject calls by swiping the hand above the screen.

4. The 2014 Moto X can be charged within 15 minutes and the same can be sustained for almost eight hours, says Android Origin.

5. Both the smartphones support NFC.

6. As expected, the Motorola Moto Maker can be used to tailor-make the Moto X's look with 25 different rear shell options, reports CNet.

Price

The Samsung Galaxy Alpha (32 GB, 4G LTE) is priced at AU$749.95. On the other hand, the Moto X 2014 is priced at $500 (roughly translates to AU$558). When it comes to phone accessories, Motorola Hint (wireless earbud) can be availed for $150 and Motorola Turbo Charger (that charges the device in 15 minutes) is priced at $35.

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