Some people may wonder why we are comparing the Moto X and the Galaxy Note 3 – you couldn’t find a more dissimilar pair of phones…and that may be true in many respects, but their displays are only 1-inch difference in size, 1GB less of RAM, only 3MP less in camera size, and the newest phone from Samsung and the Google/Motorola collaboration. Let us first take a look at how they stack up comparing their specs:
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Note 3
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 was highly anticipated – in one group, there was great excitement to get their hands on the next rendition of the very popular Galaxy Note 2…and many were waiting to watch Samsung fail to make enough upgrades so they could trounce on the “Next Big Thing.” I am glad to say that Samsung was prepared for BOTH groups of people and there were enough changes to make the New Note 3 a success for everyone.
The Note 3 has the highest quality specs of any current phone on the market- it has the fastest processor, more RAM, Full HD display, and Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The physical device/specs are strong enough, but the other place it shines are all of the software improvements over the Note 2, incorporating the S-Pen and increasing its functionality, making using the S-Pen a joy to use on the Note 3.
Motorola Moto X
As you may have guessed by now, the Moto X is one our favorite smartphones for 2013 – the first real device from the Google and Motorola collaboration. It does not have what we would call high-end specs or even features, although a few of them are pretty cool to use, yet the Moto X just seems to get the job done.
The Moto X’s 4.7-inch AMOLED display is a measly 1280×720, in a world of 1920×1080 FHD screens. It comes with 16GB internal storage with no microSD card slot – I know there is a 32GB version out there, but try to find one on the major carriers. The processor is only a Snapdragon S4 Pro dual-core clocked at 1.7GHz, in the days of Snapdragon 800 quad-core, 2.3-2.7GHz specs, but it does have Motorola’s X8 design, that really optimizes the processor with the software…meaning it runs much faster and smoother than one might anticipate, and it does pack 2GB of RAM, which is nice to see.
Speaking of software, the Moto X does have several interesting features built into the device:
- Touchless Control (Just Talk) – The device is always “listening” for a command, such as, “Ok Google Now, do I need an umbrella today,” and it will give you the answer.
- Active Display – Notifications will show up on the display and you can decide if you want to look at the items now or later…it never disturbs you.
- Quick Capture Camera – Never miss a good photo opportunity again…simply by holding the Moto X and rotating your wrist twice, your Moto X is ready to shot by touching anywhere on the screen for an instant shot.
…And The Winner Is…
The Moto X, while incorporating a few great software stunts, they are no match for the many software features that are incorporated into the Galaxy Note 3. The Galaxy Note 3 has a better display, more RAM, a much faster processor, a microSD slot, more internal memory, and a removeable battery. Both offer great battery performance, and both devices operate smoothly – the Moto X, more due to its great optimization and the Galaxy Note 3 because of the 3GB RAM and faster processor. We have to give the nod to the Note 3, but if the size and S-Pen are not to your liking, the Moto X is still a great phone.