Fast comparability: Moto Z vs. Moto X Pure Version

A comparability is value a thousand phrases.

Lenovo’s newest smartphone, the Moto Z, is a large departure in each fashion and substance from its quick predecessor. However are all of the modifications for the higher? Let’s take a fast take a look at how the model new Moto Z strains up towards its predecessor, the Moto X Pure Version, in our (admittedly temporary) time spent with the telephones collectively.

Specs

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The spec numbers do not all the time inform the entire story, however when you’ll be able to examine a telephone on to its predecessor, the spec desk is an effective place to start out.

Hardware and Show

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To say that the Moto Z seems nothing just like the Moto X Pure Version can be betraying the delicate nods to earlier Moto fashions, however Lenovo’s design staff definitely went out of its method to distinguish the brand new handset. Thinner and significantly much less spherical, the Moto Z seems to be prefer it constructed to be as minimal as potential — which, in fact, it was. The telephone is a shell onto which different equipment are supposed to be added, however with none accompaniments it nonetheless feels remarkably strong. That’s owed to the mixture of aluminum and chrome steel, the previous wrapped across the sides and the latter overlaying the again as a approach to appeal to the magnets utilized by the Moto Mods to align with the Moto Z’s pogo pins.

The Moto X Pure Version, then again, is relatively bulbous — snug, positive, and engaging in an outsized approach — with a rounded prime and a again that slopes round a curved 3000 mAh battery. Whereas some individuals, akin to our personal Phil Nickinson, do not love the Pure Version’s evolutionary aesthetic — it is clearly a bigger mixture of the unique Moto X and its 2014 successor — I’ve a tender spot for it. The rounded again makes it snug to carry for lengthy durations, and the employment of symmetrical strains on the entrance is pleasant. Inside, the 2600 mAh battery is probably not large, however the Snapdragon 820 chip is extra environment friendly than the Pure Version’s S810 (and Moto Mods make it straightforward to prime up midway by means of the day).

That symmetry is halted on then Moto Z, because the backside speaker is changed by the identical sq. fingerprint sensor we first noticed on the Moto G4 Plus. And whereas having a fingerprint sensor is best than not having one, I am not enamored with the design Lenovo selected — although, to be truthful, Samsung and HTC have the “rounded rectangle”, and Apple, LG and others have the circle, so there weren’t many different form choices.

Then there’s the last word omission: the shortage of a three.5mm headphone jack will drive music output by way of the USB-C port

The Moto Z additionally deviates from the Moto X Pure in its button and ports: the facility button is now under the quantity keys, which at the moment are separated; on the Moto X Pure, the quantity rocker sits under the facility button. They usually really feel significantly higher on the Moto Z, too. In reality, many sides of the Moto Z really feel like extra care was taken to make the entire really feel extra compelling. And naturally there’s the last word omission: the shortage of a three.5mm headphone jack will pressure music output via the USB-C port (in larger high quality, natch) or over Bluetooth headphones, a contentious transfer that will probably be made extra mainstream after different units are launched later this yr with the identical absence.

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The Moto Z might have a barely denser show than final yr’s Moto X Pure Version, however its actual benefit, at the least after our preliminary analysis, is within the high quality. The Moto Z has a 5.5-inch QHD AMOLED show, and it is excellent: shiny and colourful, with wonderful viewing angles and vibrancy. The Moto X’s IPS panel is not any slouch, both, however I am going to take a fantastic AMOLED show over an IPS equal any day. We did not get an opportunity to take the Moto Z outdoors, although, so we’re unsure the way it stands as much as the harshness of a brilliant day.

Round again is the place issues get actually fascinating. My Moto X Pure was a customized Moto Maker model, with black accents and a pink leather-based backing. Whereas the Moto G and E strains have all the time had some type of snap-in customizability, the Moto X line has solely been as changeable as your day-of-ordering tastes. The Moto Z line takes a web page from its inexpensive counterparts with scorching swappable again covers in quite a lot of supplies, similar to wooden, leather-based, or rubberized plastic. These affix to the telephone, as do the extra elaborate Moto Mods, with robust magnets that take a big quantity of drive to dislodge.

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Whereas the Moto Z is usable with no again cowl, the chrome steel casing is vulnerable to attracting fingerprints, and is pretty slippery. And with a again cowl on, the digital camera module is flush with the telephone’s again, making for a extra uniform aesthetic.

The Moto X Pure Version is definitely a beautiful telephone, however I’ve no qualms in saying its successor is extra so. Rather more.

Software program

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We did not get an opportunity to dive as deeply into the software program on the Moto Z as we needed to — and technically, what we used on the system’s launch was the Verizon-specific Moto Z Droid Version — however we famous a few enhancements within the Moto options that has graced the Moto X since its inception.

An excellent new function allows a one-handed mode by swiping up from the underside of the display, anyplace within the UI.

As with the Moto X Pure Version, the Moto Z has a single app, merely referred to as Moto, that oversees all the distinctive software program options. Whereas it seems that Moto Show has been up to date to help bigger, extra visible notifications, the most important modifications we noticed have been in Moto Actions. The Moto Z nonetheless helps double-chopping the telephone whereas on its aspect to activate the flashlight, together with two fast twists of the wrist to enter the digital camera app, however a brand new function allows a one-handed mode by swiping up from the underside of the display. When enabled, the whole interface shrinks to about half its measurement, leaving a black expanse on the remainder of the display. Tapping in that black space resets the scaling. It is a function not distinctive to the Moto Z — Samsung’s Galaxy line has provided one thing comparable for years — however that is simply probably the most elegant software I’ve seen.

The Moto Z additionally helps Moto Voice, although we weren’t capable of decide whether or not the telephone has gained any intelligence is that regard over its Moto X predecessor.

Digital camera

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The 21MP digital camera within the Moto X Pure Version is high quality, however even in mid-2015 it was nowhere close to best-in-class. This yr, the Moto Z has reverted again to a 13MP sensor (with the Pressure variant sustaining a 21MP decision, however in an up to date sensor), with 1.12-micron pixels and an ƒ/1.eight lens. A wider aperture begets improved depth of subject, however the actual benefit over earlier Moto units is the presence, for the primary time in a Moto system, of optical picture stabilization, together with laser-assisted autofocus.

The Moto Z additionally has a much-improved digital camera app, the identical one which we first noticed within the Moto G4 Plus. It is acquired an precise shutter button, together with an improved menu format.

On the selfie aspect, it appears that evidently the Moto Z hasn’t acquired any specific upgrades — the 5MP sensor has the identical 1.Four-micron pixel measurement, and a barely smaller ƒ2.2 aperture than the Moto X Pure Version. The telephone even maintains he Pure Version’s front-facing flash, the usefulness of which I do not perceive, since in darkish places it tends to overexpose the topic’s face.

We’re fairly excited concerning the Moto Z’s digital camera: it is about time the Moto line acquired itself a images champion. Do not allow us to down, Lenovo!

A definite break free from the Moto X line

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There isn’t any query the Moto Z is a definite break from the X line — which may not be dead — with its straight, clear strains and magnets. However there are additionally loads of similarities, and the Moto Z would not exist with out its predecessors’ dedication to simplicity, particularly on the software program aspect.

Whereas the Moto Mods are good, they are not mandatory to like, and even take pleasure in, the Moto Z. The telephone is a shocking instance of ambition that does not distract from the core promise of high quality.