Moto X 2014: Hands-on and first impressions (Video)

I’d like to introduce you to what some people are calling the best Android smartphone in 2014. Motorola’s 2014 Moto X is a great looking smartphone that also packs a punch in specifications when compared to its predecessor. Though I can’t call it “the best” at the moment, I’ll let you know how it performs overall in our full review coming up in the future.

Until then, we’re getting hands-on with Motorola’s new flagship and giving you a taste of what it’s all about. There’s no doubt that the second generation Moto X will be a step up over the previous version, but there is one big difference that might keep you away from it…

First up, the Moto X (2014) is packing a 5.2-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 (424 ppi), a 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor, Adreno 330 GPU, 2GB of RAM, a 2,300 mAh battery, and either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. Unfortunately, there’s no MicroSD card slot available with this device. On the back you’ll find a 13-megapixel camera with a dual-LED flash, while the front side is home to a 2-megapixel camera and a mono front-facing speaker.

Check out our 2014 Moto X hands-on video below:

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUTqaHJyEQM]

Even though its name is the same, the overall design has been improved with this year’s Moto X. We have a curved metal frame surrounding the body and like its predecessor, a wide selection of colors and styles are available to customize the device through Motorola’s Moto Maker website. You’ll be able to choose from premium Horween leather, natural wood options, or various colors of plastic for the back side. Along with that, you can customize the front bezel color and the device’s accent colors.

There’s obviously a big difference in size when compared to the previous generation. Because of the 5.2-inch display, the 2014 Moto X isn’t going to be right for everyone. Personally, I was more than happy with the 4.7-inch display on the first generation, but for some a larger 1080p display will be a welcomed change.

2014 Moto X.

The main benefit of the Moto X aside from customization is going to be the software experience. The Moto X runs a near stock version of Android. You won’t be bothered by lag from any skins/overlays. Essentially, you’re getting Android just as Google intended it to be, but there are a few software customizations that add to the Moto X’s feature set. Check out the video above for a closer look, but we’ll get in-depth with most of those in our full review.

Overall, I think this is a step in the right direction, though some would argue that Motorola has just conformed with the standards of a leading smartphone in today’s market. I’m a big fan of the design changes here and believe they add to the overall durability of the device. Leather and wood back plates may not be for everyone, but it definitely adds a unique touch to the device that you won’t really find anywhere else.

Horween black leather backplate option with the 2014 Moto X.

It’s a snappy device with a pure user interface and at the end of the day, you won’t be disappointed with the quality if you’re coming from a first generation Moto X or any other Android smartphone for that matter. Currently, the Moto X (2014) is available for $99 with a carrier contract or $499 off-contract, but only through Verizon and AT&T at the moment. Stay tuned for our full review coming up in the near future.