New Moto X launches with bigger display, advanced voice/gesture controls, and more

By Trevor Mogg September 5, 2014

Read our full Motorola Moto X (2014) review.

Motorola’s two follow-up handsets have finally landed, with both devices bringing just enough improvements to catch the attention of consumers whether they’re on the lookout for an attractive high-end Android handset or a solid mid-range model.

The Moto X successor arrives without any mention of the “+1” that everyone was surely expecting. That’s right, folks, the second-generation Moto X is the Moto X.

Motorola’s latest offering includes a 5.2-inch display – up from the original’s 4.7 inches – which is now 1080p Full HD, an improvement on the old 720p one.

Powered by a 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, Motorola’s new flagship phone also offers 2GB of RAM, a 2300mAh battery, and 16/32GB of storage. However, unlike the new and cheaper Moto G, there’s no possibility to add a MicroSD card for extra space.

Voice and gesture control

Voice control has also been improved with new set phrases and the ability to wake the device with words other than the regular “OK Google,” while infrared sensors on the front of the display mean you can reject a call or turn off your alarm with a quick wave of the hand.

Design-wise, the device’s tough Corning Gorilla Glass takes up almost the whole of the front of the phone, with the larger display increasing the handset’s length from 129.3mm to 140.8mm, and its width from 65.3mm to 72.4mm. At 144 grams, it’s become 14 grams heavier, too.

Related: New Moto G launches

To give it an even more high-end look, Motorola has replaced the old plastic frame with a strip of aluminum that passes around the edge of the new phone. In addition, the Moto Maker customizer now includes four kinds of leather – natural, cognac, black, and navy – giving you even more choice when building your phone.

A ‘splash guard’ water-repellent coating should afford the new handset some protection in the rain, but take it into the shower and you could be looking at a repair bill.

Starting at $100 on-contract and $500 unlocked, the (new) Moto X will hit stores later this month in the United States, Europe, and beyond.

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