Moto X: Smaller-sized Android smartphone with unique features [REVIEW]

I’m spoiled by the large screen size on my Samsung Galaxy S4. So much that I really struggle to use the someone’s iPhone when they hand it to me. I just can’t go back to that smaller screen size.

So when I was given a Motorola Moto X to review, the first thing I noticed was how small it was—about the same size as the iPhone. I knew right there that I personally wouldn’t like it but, in the interest of my audience, I decided to plow ahead with my review. I’m glad I did because the Moto X has a very unique set of features that sets is apart from other Android-based smartphones.

Like the Droid MAXX

Before I get to those features though, let me compare the Moto X to other Motorola smartphones I have reviewed like the Droid MAXX. Both have Google Now integration even when the phone is not active meaning you can bark out a Google command while the phone is sitting next to you on a table. So if you want to know what the weather will be like that day, you just say, “Ok Google Now, what’s the weather going to be like today?” and the Moto X wakes up and responds to your query.

The Moto X also has the twist-your-wrist feature to jump straight to the phone’s camera. This is a fantastic feature when you only have a few seconds to get a good shot with your smartphone.

The Moto X has a decent battery as well but I won’t try to convince you it’s anywhere near as good as the Droid MAXX (still the best smartphone battery on the market).

What makes it unique

The Moto X comes with quite a few unique features, many of which are quite useful. Take for instance the feature known as Motorola Assist that auto-detects when you are driving and can silence your phone and auto-reply to text messages. You can use this same feature to instruct your Moto X what to do when you are in a meeting or sleeping.

If you can not see the embedded video above please use the following link: Moto X — Motorola Assist

The Moto X also features discreet alerts which means your phone won’t sound any notifications if your phone is turned over or in your pocket. Instead, a small icon appears on your display which you can slide to see the full alert. I’m on the fence with this feature as I can definitely see the advantage of not getting bothered with every single alert while you are in a meeting or having lunch with someone but at the same time, what if a message I am receiving requires an immediate response?

If you spend a lot of time at your computer, you’ll love the Moto X’s Connect feature which allows you to sync your Moto X’s call alerts and messaging with your Chrome browser on your computer. In other words, if you are sitting at your computer and receive a text message on your phone, it will pop up in your browser. You can choose to reply to it right from your computer and it will still be sent as a text message from your phone. This reminds me a lot of the MightyText service/app and it’s nice to see it built in to the phone now.

If you can not see the embedded video above please use the following link: Moto X — Motorola Connect

Migrating made easy

The last feature I want to point out is Motorola Migrate which makes switching to the Moto X a lot less painful. For anyone who has ever had to re-install all of their apps or who hates losing all of their text messages and phone settings every time they get a new smartphone, they’re going to love this feature. All you need to do is install an app on both your old and new smartphone and scan a QR code to magically transfer your content from your old smartphone to your new Moto X. I should point out though that this only works when migrating from one Android to another.

If you can not see the embedded video above please use the following link: Moto X — Motorola Migrate

Recommendation

As I stated at the beginning of this review, despite the unique features of the Moto X, I would never personally use it but this has everything to do with the size of the phone. If you like the size of the iPhone but want to step over to an Android phone, the Moto X would be a logical choice. Otherwise, the big boys like the Samsung Galaxy S4 (and others) still rule the roost.

Note: The Motorola Moto X in this review was provided to me by Verizon Wireless and can be purchased at your local Verizon Wireless store or at www.verizonwireless.com.