Spec-by-spec: Here's how the Moto X stacks up to the competition

Following a string of leaks and official teasers Motorola finally unveiled the Moto X smartphone at an event in New York this afternoon. The device is not only the first to be developed under Google's stewardship since last year’s acquisition, it’s also the first smartphone to be assembled in the US, which aside from scoring them a few  political and PR points, allows the company to offer ‘built-to-order’ devices with minimal delay.

Customization options cover quite a few cosmetic choices and your pick of either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. Specifically, Motorola will let you pick any combination between 18 backplate covers, a black or white front panel, and seven different colors for the side-mounted buttons and the ring around the rear camera lens. In all there are actually more than a thousand possible combinations to make something that’s uniquely yours.

In terms of specs Motorola isn’t going for the high-end crown. But that isn’t necessarily a bad thing; rather, the company believes it can carve itself a market with a high-quality device that can do nearly everything the majority of people will want or need it to do, without getting caught in the specs race.

The tricky part is Motorola still wants the Moto X to compete in the big leagues at $199 on-contract. Detractors will be quick to point out that you are getting mid-range internals at high-end pricing, and with reason. But aside from the unprecedented level of customization, Motorola is hedging its bets on battery life (quoted at 24 hours of mixed usage), as well as signature features like always on voice controls and gesture recognition.

Whether that amounts to a recipe for success or a missed opportunity -- specifically on the pricing front and lack of stock Android -- remains to be seen. For now, here’s how the Moto X stacks up next to the current crop of high end smartphones, as well as its spiritual counterparts in the mid range of the market.

High end smartphones

	Moto X	Apple iPhone 5	HTC One	Samsung Galaxy S 4	Sony Xperia Z	Nokia Lumia 925
Price (on contract)	N/A ($200)	$650 ($200)	$600 ($200)	$650 ($200)	$600 ($0*)	$528 ($0*)
Availability	3Q 2013	Now	Now	Now	Now	Now
Metascore	N/A	88	89	88	85	83
Review	More info	Review	More info	Review	More info	More info
System chip	Motorola X8 (Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro)	Apple A6	Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T	Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T	Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064	Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960
CPU	1.7GHz dual-core, Krait	1.3GHz dual-core, Apple Swift	1.7GHz quad-core, Krait 300	1.9GHz quad-core, Krait 300	1.5GHz quad-core, Krait	1.5GHz dual-core, Krait
GPU	Adreno 320	PowerVR SGX543MP3	Adreno 320	Adreno 320	Adreno 320	Adreno 225
Display	4.7-inch AMOLED	4-inch IPS LCD	4.7-inch S-LCD 3	5.0-inch Super AMLOED	5.0-inch TFT	4.5-inch AMOLED
Resolution (PPI)	720 x 1280 (316)	640 x 1136 (326)	1080 x 1920 (468)	1080 x 1920 (441)	1080 x 1920 (443)	768 x 1280 (334)
RAM	2GB	1GB	2GB	2GB	2GB	1GB
Front camera	2MP	1MP	2.1MP	2MP	2.2MP	1.2MP
Rear camera	10MP	8MP	4MP	13MP	13.1MP	8.7MP
Storage	16/32GB	16/32/64GB	32GB	16/32/64GB	16GB	16GB
USB	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
microSD	No	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Cellular	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+ / LTE
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 3.0
NFC	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Operating System	Android 4.2.2	iOS 6	Android 4.2.2	Android 4.2.2	Android 4.2.2	Windows Phone 8
App Marketplace	Google Play	iTunes	Google Play	Google Play	Google Play	Windows Marketplace
Weight	130g	112g	143g	130g	146g	139g
Other	Always-on voice recognition / authentication, gesture controls	Airplay	HDMI out via microUSB	HDMI out via microUSB	HDMI out via microUSB, Water resistant

Mid range smartphones

	Moto X	Apple iPhone 4S	HTC One mini	Samsung Galaxy S 4 mini	Nexus 4	Nokia Lumia 625
Price (on contract)	N/A ($199)	$550 ($100)	N/A	$500	$350 ($0*)	N/A
Availability	3Q 2013	Now	August 2013	Now	Now	Q3 2013
Metascore	N/A	88	85	83	86
Review	More info	Review	More info	More info	More info	More info
System chip	Motorola X8 (Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro)	Apple A5	Snapdragon 400	Snapdragon 400 MSM8930	Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064	Snapdragon S4
CPU	1.7GHz dual-core, Krait	800 MHz dual-core, Cortex A9	1.4GHz dual-core, Krait	1.7GHz dual-core, Krait 300	1.5GHz quad-core, Krait	1.2GHz dual-core
GPU	Adreno 320	PowerVR SGX 543MP2	Adreno 305	Adreno 305	Adreno 320	?
Display	4.7-inch AMOLED	3.5-inch IPS LCD	4.3-inch	4.3-inch Super AMLOED	4.7-inch TFT	4.7-inch
Resolution (PPI)	720 x 1280 (316)	640 x 960 (326)	720 x 1280 (341)	540 x 960 (256)	768 x 1280 (318)	480 x 800 (201)
RAM	2GB	512MB	1GB	1.5GB	2GB	512MB
Front camera	2MP	0.3MP	1.6MP	1.9MP	1.3MP	0.3MP
Rear camera	10MP	8MP	4MP	8MP	8MP	5MP
Storage	16/32GB	16GB	16GB	8GB	16GB	8GB
USB	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
microSD	No	No	No	Yes	No	Yes
Cellular	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+ / LTE	HSPA+	HSPA+ / LTE
Wireless	Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0	Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0
NFC	Yes	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Operating System	Android 4.2.2	iOS 6	Android 4.2.2	Android 4.2.2	Android 4.3	Windows Phone 8
App Marketplace	Google Play	iTunes	Google Play	Google Play	Google Play	Windows Marketplace
Weight	130g	140g	122g	107g	139g	159g
Other	Always-on voice recognition / authentication, gesture controls	Airplay			HDMI out via microUSB, Wireless charging

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Samsung unveils dust / water resistant Galaxy S 4 Active smartphone

Interested in Samsung’s new Galaxy S 4 smartphone but don’t think it’ll keep pace with your active lifestyle? No worries as Samsung has you covered with a new variant of the smartphone aptly known as the Galaxy S 4 Active.

As you might have guessed, the reincarnation is essentially a more rugged version of the original. Specifically, it carries a protection rating of IP67 which means it’s protected from dust and can withstand being submerged in water up to three feet deep for 30 minutes. It could be a nice alternative to adding a bulky aftermarket case in those respects.

With summer just around the corner, you’ll be able to use the Active in and around pools and other swimming holes with little concern. And that’s exactly how Samsung intends buyers to use it as evident by the “Aqua Mode” that increases quality and clarity for enhanced underwater pictures and video.

Samsung has also swapped out the 5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display for a 5-inch full HD TFT LCD panel. Inside is the same 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 CPU, 2GB of RAM and 2,600mAh battery. Many of the original S 4’s software features will also carry over including Smart Pause, Air View and Air Gesture.

It’ll be available in urban grey, dive blue and orange flare when it hits retail outlets in the US and Sweden later this year. No word on an exact launch date or price point at this hour.

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