One reason to really like Moto X Pure Edition (Style as global version) is that it is an unlocked phone from Motorola at best price and it can work on all leading wireless carriers across the US like T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint and Verizon. Along with it, this 5.7” successor to Moto X (2014) also promises to offer the same customization features. For example, you can choose from different materials at the backing and various trim colors. In the sea of similar devices, Moto X Pure has a great edge over the competitors.
One letdown is that it feels too bulky for smaller hands. Battery life is great, the camera is not that impressive and the services don’t have anything new, let alone some minor changes.
Prices and Availability
When it comes to pricing, Moto X Pure Edition comes unlocked for $400 in the US ($100 less than the launch price in last year). However, the price is subject to rising as per some design options and storage capacity. In the UK, the pricing starts at £399 for the 32GB variant and £434 for the 64GB variant.
As Moto X Style, it is available only on contract and exclusive to Vodafone in Australia. It is offered on both AU$100 and AU$80 plans, along with monthly repayment of AU$3. For 24 months, it sums up to AU$2472 and AU$1992.
Design
The display of Moto X Pure has been raised by around half an inch as compared to Moto X. It is not as large as Google Nexus 6, the size bump makes it significantly bigger than Moto X which had 5.2 inches display. For some people, it may not fit in front pockets and you cannot hold it single-handedly. But it is still appealing and sturdy handset.
The curved backing fits into your palm and glass panel curves down the side edges smoothly. Ridges are touch-sensitive on the sleep/power button and there are narrow control buttons. The viewing angle is wide enough and is responsive to touch. You won’t have any problem playing games, reading the text, streaming videos, and watching HD movies. You can choose between vibrant and normal color modes under Display.
Software
Unlike its name, Moto X Pure doesn’t run the “Pure” Android interface. At least, it’s not like Google Nexus series and Play Edition. But the Moto line comes very close with pure Android experience. First of all, it is unlocked and you will not get any bloatware and branding from the carrier.
Instead, it will come with a basic set of apps by Google like Gmail, YouTube, Chrome browser, Play Store, etc. Next up, you won’t have any overlap of manufacturer’s UI over the phone like Samsung and HTC devices which have TouchWiz and Sense skins respectively. Motorola still offers some great features in the Moto app.
Some features are available from Moto apps like Actions, Moto Assist, Display, and Voice. With Assist, you can adjust device settings according to your activity and location. If you are planning a meeting with Google Calendar, it can turn to vibrate and reply to a missed call with a specific message.
Camera
• 21MP rear camera
• 5MP selfie camera
• Wide-angle front and night mode shooting camera with flash
• 4K video recording with the rear shooter and 1080p recording from the front camera
The default camera app doesn’t have plenty of editing features but both cameras have a touch-focus module that can easily adjust exposure, HDR (high dynamic range), digital zoom, geotagging and timer. Both cameras have flash and night mode for low-light shooting. You can take photos with a 16:9 aspect ratio or 4:3 aspect ratio.
Both front and rear shooters can record HD 1080p video and slow-mo in 720p. You can also pause the recording and take pictures while shooting video. You can scan QR codes, take panoramic shots and scan barcodes via Google or simply copy the same on the clipboard. You can also record 4K ultra-HD video at 3840x2160p.
Performance
• Available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB storage variants with expandable storage of up to 128GB
• 3GB RAM
• 3000mAh non-removable battery
• Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 1.8GHz Hexa-core SoC
• Adreno 418 600MHz GPU
Moto X Pure Edition has come with lower clock speed as compared to its older sibling but SD 808 still operates smoothly. Despite having 3GB RAM, we haven’t face any lag while doing daily tasks like opening the camera, switching through images, apps, calling, and playing graphic-intensive games. It took around 1.38 seconds to open the native camera app and 37 seconds to turn off.
Unlike the last two Moto X versions, Moto X Pure Edition comes with a dedicated MicroSD card slot which supports up to 128GB of memory.
Battery
Although Moto X Pure comes with a 3000mAh battery, it can discharge faster due to heavy usage. After surfing the web all day, making calls, and downloading apps, it has gone down to 30% by noon. We had to charge it again to last till evening.
The device lasted around 8 hours and 45 minutes on average with consistent video playback on the battery drain test. On the other side, Moto X had a 2300mAh battery but it lasted 10 hours.
However, this handset comes with Turbo Power 25W fast charger, which juices up the battery faster. It takes around an hour and 15 minutes to charge up from 0 to 100 percent. If you can’t wait, turn it off and plug in and it will gain 20% of power within 10 minutes.
Pros
• A customization master – choose your own design
• Expandable storage
• Fast charging
• Loud front speakers
Cons
• The bigger size adds bulk
• Average battery life
• Better options available in the market at a lower price range
Overall
If you want to flaunt your own style with a large smartphone that is unlocked too, Moto X Pure Edition is just nice for you. Otherwise, you can shop around. Moto X Pure Edition is a nice device for normal usage.
The best thing is that it comes with different customization options with color accents, materials, and engravings. It can easily reflect your personality.
