Nexus 5 vs. Moto X 2014 – cheap choices
The Nexus 5 was one of the most popular devices from Google this year, offering pure Android OS with updates coming directly from Google, remaining a high quality affordable device at the same time. Motorola’s new Moto X that has been unveiled at IFA promises a similar user experience, with a similarly affordable price. With the holiday season coming up and the unavoidable release of the Nexus 6 (or X or 5 2014), the Nexus 5 will surely be available for a short time and at a discounted price. The Moto X 2014 on the other hand is great Nexus alternative that will surely supply all the features one might need in a smartphone. So which should you buy if you’re in a hurry to get a new phone?
The Nexus 5 is a bit older than Motorola’s Moto X, with the first one released in October 2013 and the second one in September 2014. A new Nexus smartphone is coming up, so you might want to wait for that announcement from Google, because the Nexus 6 might be launched on October 31. Nonetheless, if you are not hunting for the best device out there, rather wanting a powerful pure Android device that will meet all of your requirements and will probably be available at a discounted price, the Nexus 5 should be on the top of your list.
On the other hand, the Motorola Moto X would also be an appropriate choice because it does offer the same Android experience with Android 4.4.4 KitKat out of the box and has an affordable $500 price tag. The Nexus 6 has a more attractive price currently, retailing for $335. If you are currently in a rush to get a really cheap and high quality smartphone, the Nexus 5 would be the obvious choice. But let’s see how these two flagships differ on paper.
The Nexus 5 has a True HD IPS+ 5 inch display with 1080*1920 resolution and 445 ppi, whilst the Moto X has an AMOLED 5.2 inch display with the same resolution and 424 ppi pixel density. Whilst the Moto X has a display that is just a bit larger than the display on the NExus 5, it does have a lower ppi count and the AMOLED screen is less powerful in direct sunlight than the True HD IPS+ screen. The Moto X also has an active display feature which lights up a percentage of the screen to show you notifications in locked mode. Both displays are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. Neither phones have IR blasters or microSD card slots, but both have NFC features and Android KitKat out of the box.
The Moto X has a quad core Snapdragon 801 CPU clocked at 2.5 GHz, Adreno 330 GPU, 2 GB RAM and 16 and 32 GB internal storage configurations. The Nexus 5 has the smaller quad core Snapdragon 800 CPU clocked at 2.3 GHz and the same GPU, RAM and internal storage configurations. Processing power is a just a bit more advanced on the Moto X, so if you’re keen on the more powerful and bigger version of an Android running smartphone, the Moto X would be the better pick.
The camera on the Moto X is noticeably better with its 13 MP count than the 8 MP rear shooter on the Nexus 5 and many user testimonies have stated that the camera on the Nexus 5 could use some upgrading. The selfie-cam on the Moto X is a 2 MP one, whilst the Nexus 5 has a 1.3 MP front shooter. What’s a plus for the Nexus 5 camera-wise is the optical image stabilization, which is not present on the Moto X. Nonetheless, if you want top-notch photography capabilities, the Moto X is the better suited device.
The battery on both devices is a 2300 mAH battery, which was widely appreciated on the Nexus 5, but it might not fare as well on the Moto X, according to quite a few reviewers. Nonetheless, it’s not an execrable battery on the Moto X, so this shouldn’t be a deal breaker just yet. As you can see, aside from the considerable difference in rear cameras, the two devices are much alike, so a choice between the Nexus 5 and Motorola’s Moto X is not an easy one to make. Design-wise, if you’re keen on the LG Nexus 5’s sleek, flat and durable build, you might choose it over the Moto X curved design.
I would personally choose the Nexus 5 over the Moto X, mostly because I enjoy LG’s design and it is the more affordable Google smartphone out of the two. Nonetheless, I do appreciate the Moto X for being the quite affordable high-end device and its camera is reportedly pretty good for the 13 MP it packs. You have more color choices with the Moto X 2014 as well, and you can also choose between a polycarbonate, a metal and a wood frame for the phone. Which one would be your choice?