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Price and specifications of Motorola Moto X advantages, disadvantages, and a comprehensive explanation

Release Date
2013, August
Camera
10MP
Battery
2200mAh
Processor
Snapdragon S4 Pro
Screen
4.7"
Storage
16GB/32GB/64GB
Ram
2GB RAM
Operating System
Android 4.2.2, up to 5.1

Introduction

The Motorola Moto X was a trailblazing smartphone released in 2013 by Motorola, marking a significant step forward in the smartphone industry. Renowned for its customizable design and innovative features, the Moto X catered to a broad audience and highlighted the potential for a personalized smartphone experience.

Design and Build

The Motorola Moto X stood out for its unique design, offering users the ability to customize the appearance of their devices extensively through the Moto Maker tool. With options to change the color of the back panel, engrave text, and even select the material, users could truly make the phone their own. The device had dimensions of 129.3 x 65.3 x 10.4 mm and weighed a mere 130 grams, ensuring a comfortable grip with its ergonomic design.

Display

The Moto X featured a 4.7-inch AMOLED display, which was notable for its vibrant colors and deep blacks. The display had a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels and a pixel density of approximately 312 ppi. Protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the screen was both durable and visually impressive, providing an immersive viewing experience that held up well against scratches and impacts.

Performance

Under the hood, the Moto X was powered by the Qualcomm MSM8960DT Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, paired with a dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300 CPU and an Adreno 320 GPU. This combination delivered smooth performance for everyday tasks and moderate gaming. The device initially came with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, but it was upgradable to Android 5.1 Lollipop, enhancing its functionality with newer features and improved performance.

Memory and Storage

The Moto X offered multiple storage configurations: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, all coupled with 2GB of RAM. Unfortunately, the device did not include a microSD card slot, meaning users had to rely on internal storage or cloud services for their data needs. Despite this limitation, the built-in storage options were ample for most users’ applications and media files.

Camera Capabilities

The device was equipped with a 10 MP primary camera featuring an f/2.4 aperture and autofocus capabilities. The camera supported LED flash, panorama, and HDR modes, allowing for a variety of creative shooting options. Users could also record 1080p videos at 30fps with stereo sound and HDR for enhanced video quality. The 2 MP front-facing camera, also capable of 1080p video recording, made the Moto X a competitive choice for video calls and selfies at its time.

Battery Life

Sporting a 2200 mAh non-removable Li-Ion battery, the Moto X offered a decent battery life, with up to 576 hours of standby time and 13 hours of talk time. While this battery capacity was not the highest in its class, the phone managed power efficiently due to optimizations in its software and hardware design.

Connectivity and Networking

In terms of connectivity, the Moto X supported a range of network technologies, including GSM, HSPA, and LTE. The device featured a nano-SIM slot and supported high-speed data through LTE Cat3, offering download speeds up to 100 Mbps and upload speeds of 50 Mbps. Other connectivity options included Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC for contactless payments, and microUSB 2.0 with USB On-The-Go support.

Sensors and Additional Features

The Motorola Moto X was equipped with several sensors, including an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, and temperature sensor. These all added to the phone's ability to provide a responsive and interactive user experience, supporting functions such as smart notifications and dynamic display features.

Pricing and Availability

Upon its release, the Moto X was available in various models, such as XT1058, XT1053, and XT1052, to accommodate different network requirements globally. Initially priced at about 250 EUR, it offered a competitive package when considering its performance, build quality, and personalization features. However, it is important to note that the Moto X was discontinued eventually, as newer models succeeded it.

Conclusion

The Motorola Moto X set a benchmark in smartphone design and user engagement, introducing unprecedented levels of personalization and a balanced set of features for its time. While not the most powerful phone on the market, its focus on user experience, reliability, and innovative design principles left a lasting impact on the industry.

Disadvantages of Motorola Moto X

  • No card slot for memory expansion, limiting storage options.
  • The device is discontinued, so obtaining support or parts may be difficult.
  • Battery is non-removable, making it harder to replace or service.
  • Limited LTE band support which might restrict network compatibility in some areas.
  • Older Android version (upgradable only to 5.1 Lollipop), missing newer features and security updates.
  • The chipset and CPU are outdated, potentially affecting performance with modern apps and tasks.
  • Relatively low battery endurance rating at 39 hours.
  • No radio feature available.
Network
Technology GSM / HSPA / LTE
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - all versions
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - AT&T
4G bands 2, 4, 5, 17 - AT&T
Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
Launch
Announced 2013, August. Released 2013, August
Status Discontinued
Body
Dimensions 129.3 x 65.3 x 10.4 mm (5.09 x 2.57 x 0.41 in)
Weight 130 g (4.59 oz)
SIM Nano-SIM
Display
Type AMOLED
Size 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~72.1% screen-to-body ratio)
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~312 ppi density)
Protection Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Platform
OS Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 5.1 (Lollipop)
Chipset Qualcomm MSM8960DT Snapdragon S4 Pro
CPU Dual-core 1.7 GHz Krait 300
GPU Adreno 320
Memory
Card slot No
Internal 16GB 2GB RAM, 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 2GB RAM
Main Camera
Single 10 MP, f/2.4, 30mm (standard), 1/2.6", 1.4µm, AF
Features LED flash, panorama, HDR
Video 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR
Selfie camera
Single 2 MP
Video 1080p@30fps
Sound
Loudspeaker Yes
3.5mm jack Yes
Comms
WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot
Bluetooth 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE, aptX
Positioning GPS, GLONASS
NFC Yes
Radio No
USB microUSB 2.0, OTG
Features
Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature
Battery
Type Li-Ion 2200 mAh, non-removable
Stand-by Up to 576 h
Talk time Up to 13 h
Misc
Colors Black, White (front panel), 18 color options (back panel)
Models XT1058, XT1053, XT1052, XT1056, XT1060, XT1055, XT1049
SAR 1.39 W/kg (head)     0.50 W/kg (body)
Price About 250 EUR
Tests
Audio quality Noise -91.6dB / Crosstalk -92.8dB
Battery (old) Endurance rating 39h

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