New Phone: Moto X (2014) or Xperia Z3?

[shimpster]

Sony being waterproof and dust resistant, plus the camera, has sold me

 

[yh125d]

I don't know. Maybe 5.9" will give them more real estate to work with but I'm beginning to think a big barrier to a big battery on the Nexus phones is the wireless charging coil. You can feel how there' definitely an extra mm of space or so on the Nexus 5 or more. Its not well packed either.

If a wireless charging back on the S4 adds like 2mm, it makes sense the battery was compromised to make room for wireless charging.

As for camera, really? I don't know. Moto hasn't exactly been a leader in cameras either. And even though LG and Samsung did well, Google's always neutered the Nexus camera.

I should hope Moto would be able to get a big battery and Qi in the Nexus without being crazy thick (it is confirmed to be Moto doing it, isn't it?). Last year they fit a 3500mah battery and wireless charging in the Droid Maxx at 8.5MM.

A Nexus 6 with 3000mah+ and wireless charging would be a definite winner in my book, but I hope to god it's no bigger than 5.5". I have big hands and I think 5.2 would be about as big as I would ever want. With all these 5.9 rumors though, I might wind up disappointed. I would love it if they pulled an Apple (hah) and had a 5.9 and 5.2 version, even if somewhat gimped. I am happy with my Droid Maxx, and it wasn't top of the line when it was new so whatever they did I would probably be happy with if it checks the other boxes. If it doesn't hit all of those marks though, I'm probably getting the 32gb X. I know it's not a huge battery and doesn't have wireless charging, but I would love a custom colored phone. I wish more companies would do something like Motomaker

 

[EvilYoda]

Should be a positive effect?

Yeah, I know that AMOLED screens are more efficient with their power usage but is it < 5%? 10%? I'm not a heavy phone user day to day but it'd still be nice knowing that if I were out all day I don't have to go back to keeping a battery around.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I should hope Moto would be able to get a big battery and Qi in the Nexus without being crazy thick (it is confirmed to be Moto doing it, isn't it?). Last year they fit a 3500mah battery and wireless charging in the Droid Maxx at 8.5MM.

A Nexus 6 with 3000mah+ and wireless charging would be a definite winner in my book, but I hope to god it's no bigger than 5.5". I have big hands and I think 5.2 would be about as big as I would ever want. With all these 5.9 rumors though, I might wind up disappointed. I would love it if they pulled an Apple (hah) and had a 5.9 and 5.2 version, even if somewhat gimped. I am happy with my Droid Maxx, and it wasn't top of the line when it was new so whatever they did I would probably be happy with if it checks the other boxes. If it doesn't hit all of those marks though, I'm probably getting the 32gb X. I know it's not a huge battery and doesn't have wireless charging, but I would love a custom colored phone. I wish more companies would do something like Motomaker

Very true about the Droid Maxx. The thing to note about the N5 is while its 8.6?mm thick its a curved back. It probably cuts down on potential battery space. The Droid Maxx definitely felt bulkier given its more of a rectangular block.

 

[Trombe]

Yeah, I know that AMOLED screens are more efficient with their power usage but is it < 5%? 10%? I'm not a heavy phone user day to day but it'd still be nice knowing that if I were out all day I don't have to go back to keeping a battery around.

In practical usage it's a matter of how much the screen displays white vs black colors that determines whether or not you'll benefit in battery life. Active/Moto Display does a lot in favor of battery life if your main purpose in a phone isn't reading web sites all day (which unfortunately for me is the case but I still think the X is the best phone series available).

 

[cronos]

The following would stop be from Z3: Fast OS Updates and no wireless charging.

You meant specifically Qi compatible wireless charging, right? Or doesn't the Z3 have the magnetic charging mechanism like the Z2?

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

While the battery tests are less than great with the Moto x, between android L and the tests and reviews I've seen so far, it seems to be quite enough to get through the day for me. No one has knocked the battery so much as to say they struggled to get through the day with it. Most have said they only needed to charge it when they were going to sleep... This is totally fine for me.

I know it's a tech community, but I've come to the conclusion that we're nitpicking as some point here. There are "flaws" with the HTC, lg, Samsung and Moto. Everyone's entitled to pick their favorite tailored to their needs. But I think we are overstating the negatives of any one phone.

 

[Bateluer]

Kellex of Droid Life reports the battery life is less than stellar on the X 2014.

http://www.droid-life.com/2014/09/1...buy-a-turbo-charger-just-in-case/#more-150135


I don't know what Moto was thinking with the X 2014 . . . even HTC managed to cram in a 2600mah battery into the m8.

 

[ponyo]

Kellex of Droid Life reports the battery life is less than stellar on the X 2014.

http://www.droid-life.com/2014/09/1...buy-a-turbo-charger-just-in-case/#more-150135


I don't know what Moto was thinking with the X 2014 . . . even HTC managed to cram in a 2600mah battery into the m8.

That's not less than stellar. That's absolute horrid! Terrible is putting it lightly. I hope he had a faulty phone or couple of rogue apps that was draining the battery.

 

[Bateluer]

That's not less than stellar. That's absolute horrid! Terrible is putting it lightly. I hope he had a faulty phone or couple of rogue apps that was draining the battery.

No idea, perhaps Moto will push some more finalized software updates before its fully available. Seeing this though, really pushes me to the Z3. Which has a major limit in its internal storage.

 

[shimpster]

I'm getting the Moto X guys, final decision was I want L close to release and I think the reviews show that battery life isn't a big problem.

Hope it makes u a good phone, congrats.

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

Yall are hilarious. we have 2 reviews showing bad battery life. Every other has shown average battery life. Again, can't really live by one review. Especially on battery life. They're tested in different ways every time. I'm not saying it's great battery but "horrendous" or "terrible" or "what were they thinking" - what fantasy world are y'all living in?

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

From that droid life review: Maybe 15-17 hours of use" is all you need In a day."

Hah! That's more than good. He mentions some other days with heavier use that are troubling, indeed, but not enough yet to rule out this phone.

 

[Bateluer]

From that droid life review: Maybe 15-17 hours of use" is all you need In a day."

Hah! That's more than good. He mentions some other days with heavier use that are troubling, indeed, but not enough yet to rule out this phone.

At 17 hours per day, thats about 8 hours less than my One m7 gets. Two of my big 'wants' this go around are a better camera and longer battery life. The Z3 looks very attractive . . . and if it had a 32GB model, I'd probably have ruled out the X '14 already. On my 32GB m7, after cleaning out my DCIM directory, deleting all my BeyondPod podcasts, Comixolgy downloads, music, and some Doctor Who episodes, I'm still sitting at nearly 18GBs full. 16GBs, with probably 30% occupied by Sony's ROM is extremely cramped. Internal storage on the Z3 would be entirely filled by Sony and my usual apps, no media.

 

[bigben2wardpitt]

At 17 hours per day, thats about 8 hours less than my One m7 gets. Two of my big 'wants' this go around are a better camera and longer battery life. The Z3 looks very attractive . . . and if it had a 32GB model, I'd probably have ruled out the X '14 already. On my 32GB m7, after cleaning out my DCIM directory, deleting all my BeyondPod podcasts, Comixolgy downloads, music, and some Doctor Who episodes, I'm still sitting at nearly 18GBs full. 16GBs, with probably 30% occupied by Sony's ROM is extremely cramped. Internal storage on the Z3 would be entirely filled by Sony and my usual apps, no media.

So there's no perfect phone still. We all have our preferences, but there are certain things you can and can't adjust to. I went from a 400 gig HD to 125 SSD in my latest laptop. Moved most of my music to the cloud, and a majority of my old documents.
Maybe less easy on a phone, but sounds like there's no perfect option for you.

Is rooting a z3 an option? I can't say I know a lot about it, but a nexus or moto x 14 seems more stable and clean than a rooted and flashed Sony/samsung/lg, etc. Is that untrue?

 

[s44]

From that droid life review: Maybe 15-17 hours of use" is all you need In a day."

That's not screen on time... it's time off charger, which is terrible.

I assume it's not really that low, but it's nowhere near good after the excellent record of '14 flagships.

 

[kaerflog]

I had already crossed this phone of my list but they I got suck in again with the $50 edu. off.
$450 is a hell of a price of a top tier phone like the X but that battery life again.
What to do.....

 

[Bateluer]

So there's no perfect phone still. We all have our preferences, but there are certain things you can and can't adjust to. I went from a 400 gig HD to 125 SSD in my latest laptop. Moved most of my music to the cloud, and a majority of my old documents.
Maybe less easy on a phone, but sounds like there's no perfect option for you.

Is rooting a z3 an option? I can't say I know a lot about it, but a nexus or moto x 14 seems more stable and clean than a rooted and flashed Sony/samsung/lg, etc. Is that untrue?

I haven't looked into the rooting of the Z3 yet, I understand it works a little differently than other Android devices. And I haven't rooted a phone since my T-Bolt. :embarrassed:

Whatever I end up going with, I'm not going to make a decision until I can hold both in my hands. Z3 has the slight edge over the X'14 right now for me.

 

[maxi007]

Does the fact that it's an AMOLED display affect battery life in any significant way?

yeah AMOLED phones battery life is better than other screen phones
In an OLED system each pixel is self-powered, which means black pixels are unlit, saving power.
So think if you back ground is black , then more pixels are off and you save more power .

 

[Demo24]

Kellex of Droid Life reports the battery life is less than stellar on the X 2014.

http://www.droid-life.com/2014/09/1...buy-a-turbo-charger-just-in-case/#more-150135


I don't know what Moto was thinking with the X 2014 . . . even HTC managed to cram in a 2600mah battery into the m8.

As mentioned in the comments there, something isn't quite right with his device. If you look at the battery stats, it never once plateau's like you would expect when it goes to idle.

Battery is still kinda small though, I'm guessing it was for cost reasons.

 

[EvilYoda]

yeah AMOLED phones battery life is better than other screen phones
In an OLED system each pixel is self-powered, which means black pixels are unlit, saving power.
So think if you back ground is black , then more pixels are off and you save more power .

LOL, I know this. I simply wondered if there was a measured "typical power savings".

 

[Demo24]

Sigh, maker went live but you can only buy GSM models...:'(

 

[Trombe]

I love my OG X but if I didn't work in an office where I have plenty of opportunities to charge it I'd probably be looking at a different phone too.

I kind of wanted this just for the bigger size but there's a perfect storm of changes between Android L and upcoming 64-bit SOCs (including the Exynos 5433 mysteries) that make me hesitate on buying anything right now. On one hand Nexus 6 and this X 2014 aren't going to have 64-bit SOCs and on the other the new 64-bit phones probably aren't going to get L in a timely manner either given other OEMs' update history. Decisions decisions...

 

[Naer]

Might go with the moto x .13 from moto g .13 The 5" screen is ideal

 

[Imported]

Was debating between the two.. not sure I could live with the X battery life though. My M7 is already pushing it when it comes to battery life and if the X is worse than that.. ugh.

Z3 is tempting but prefer the cost of the X.