In addition to Google's Nexus phones, Motorola has also developed its own line of successful smartphones in the Moto series. The Moto X and the Moto G are currently enjoying their second generation of life as Android devices, but some might wonder what sets them apart from each other. What does one offer that the other doesn't? Is it really a matter of low-end versus high-end, or is it more about functionality for the price?
The Moto X is the higher-end product of the two, bringing with it the higher specs you'd expect with the increased price tag, but the lower-end Moto G isn't so bad itself and it's actually a very popular model due to its accessibility worldwide. That's a very important distinction.
But we wanted to take a look at each model, breaking down what makes them different so you could make that decision for yourself.
Let's start with the overall look and feel of each phone. The size of each device is almost identical with the Moto G being about 2 mm thicker and 5 grams heavier, although it's not noticeable.
The Moto X has a slightly larger display (5.2 inches vs. 5 inches), but the Moto X has 1080p resolution while the G only has 720p. The X blows away the G in chip performance, sporting a quad-core 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor while the Moto G only has a quadcore 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400. Other hardware stats share that divide almost straight in half as the RAM of the Moto X is twice that of the G (2 GB vs. 1 GB), and the storage capacity is also double (16 GB vs. 8 GB standard).
But it's the camera that has been the biggest point of debate among those reviewing each device. AndroidPit took a detailed look at each device's cameras, taking into consideration the megapixel density (13 MP on the X, 8 MP on the G), but also auto white balance, dynamic range, and noise performance.
"The Moto X (2014) has a potential advantage over the Moto G (2014)," the review stated. "When it comes to performance and speed of the camera the Moto X pulls ahead: the camera on the Moto X (2014) launches very quickly and is ready to shoot almost immediately. Even HDR images are processed without significant waiting times - just as you would expect from a top smartphone. But that's about it in favor of the Moto X (2014), despite its inflated price tag and larger megapixel count.
"When it comes to image quality though - you know, the important part - the much ''weaker'' camera on the Moto G (2014) outshines the camera on the Moto X (2014)," the article continued. "This truly is a disappointment, if only because the Moto X (2014) costs more than twice as much as the Moto G (2014). Of course, this is great news for anyone buying a Moto G (2014), as you're getting a camera better than the flagship for next to nothing."
So it seems that the bottom line is the price in comparison to what you get for that money. The Moto X retails for $320 off contract while the Moto G is $179 off contract, but many are even saying that the Moto G is a better phone overall, despite the differences in spec numbers.
In fact, Forbes' Ewan Spence calls the lower-priced Moto G "the number one smartphone" in a recent review.
"As an all-round handset, as the handset that is going to be rated as 'above average' and 'exceeds expectations' in almost every area, I cannot look past the Moto G in the current crop of smartphones," the article states. "That's why I'm calling it the number one smartphone for 2014."
