The height also makes it a touch too large to carry comfortably even in my decidedly untrendy loose-fitting pants and shorts, I'm always acutely aware of its presence. That being said, I do find that the extra smidgen of width combined with the added height makes a phone of this size somewhat awkward to use single-handedly - you just can't reach everything on the screen without fumbling around and doing a lot of shifting. The Moto X's curvier, slightly thicker back and its warmer materials make it even more natural to palm than the Note, too even with my relatively-small-for-a-man hands, I've had no problems hanging onto the device and feeling secure. As I noted in my Note review, it's the width that typically makes plus-sized smartphones hard to wrap your hands around - and both the latest Note and the new Moto X are only minimally wider than most current standard-sized alternatives. Like Samsung did with the Note 5, though, Motorola has managed to slim down the bezels and keep the device's width in check - which makes a world of difference for what the phone is like to hold. In other words, while the 2014 Moto X took Motorola's flagship from being compact to being at the upper limit of the standard-sized smartphone domain, this year's device goes boldly into the land of plus-sized ("please-don't-call-them-phablets") phones. Side-by-side: The first-gen Moto X (left), the 2014 Moto X (in wood) and the Moto X Pure Edition. And if you remember, last year's phone was already a significant bump up in size from the previous year's model. frame on last year's Moto X, particularly when it comes to height. ![]() That's quite a boost in size from the 5.5-x-2.9-in. wider, if you want to get down to decimals. For perspective, it's about the same size as Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 - 0.03 in. There's no way around it: At 6.1 x 3 in., the Moto X Pure Edition is no small phone. It's something you'll definitely want to think about carefully, especially if you're coming from a previous Moto X device. ![]() The big question surrounding the new Moto X is just how big the phone really is - and whether its enlarged footprint makes it too difficult to use. It's still a little light on bass and not quite at the level of quality you'd get from an audio-focused phone like the HTC One, but that outlier aside, it's easily one of the best speaker setups you'll find on a smartphone today. Music played from the device is noticeably louder and fuller sounding as a result. Speaking of those grilles, they both hold functioning speakers this year - a welcome change from last year's phone, where only one actually produced external sound. The wood finishes, meanwhile, are mostly the same as last year's - though a new dark "charcoal ash" option replaces the lighter "teak" style from 2014.Īll the models can be custom engraved at no extra cost, and all give you a choice of seven different accent colors that'll appear on a new metallic strip on the phone's back as well as on the metallic grilles on the front. This year's leather features a new "Saffiano" finish, described by one leather-maker as being a highly durable and scratch-resistant material. Personally, I'd lean more toward one of the leather or wood options to get a more premium and distinctive appearance. It's easy enough to grasp, but I can't help but think it comes across as a bit less elegant than the "soft touch" style of yore. First of all, the plastic backs on this year's phone represent a change from those used on past Moto X models: While past devices offered a smooth-feeling "soft touch" finish, the new phone has a "soft grip" texture with a diagonal-line pattern and an almost rubber-like feel. (Going with a wood or leather option will add $25 to your device's total.)įrom there, the Moto X Pure Edition starts to set out in some new directions. This year, Motorola's Moto Maker tool allows you to pick from three different frame and front color combinations along with 10 differently colored plastic backs, four different real wood backs and four different real leather finishes. The front even has the same metallic grilles at its top and bottom.Īnd, as with the 2014 model, you can custom-build the new Moto X to look any way you like - one of the coolest parts about purchasing this phone. ![]() The phone has the same gently curved back surrounded by the same aluminum frame. After spending the past several days using the Moto X Pure Edition in the real world (and spending the past year using the previous-gen Moto X as my own personal phone), here's what I've discovered.Ī familiar design - with a few new twistsĪt first glance, the Moto X Pure Edition looks more or less like a bigger version of last year's 2014 Moto X. ![]() Sounds pretty intriguing, right? It should - but there are some caveats.
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