Introduction
Boy, do we have a good one for you today – the new LG G Flex 2 takes on the venerable Motorola Moto X 2014. We have two devices that look like they are curved in the back, but only the G Flex 2 is truly the curved device – body, battery and display. Both devices feel great in your hand and both devices are well built with a premium look and feel. How well does the $99 Moto X stack up against the $300 LG G Flex 2…it may surprise you.
The two devices actually do have a few things in common – they both use the OLED technology…just different types and both use a Snapdragon processor…just different models. They both offer a 32GB storage model, but the Moto X does not offer any expansion options. The both use a 13MP sensor for their main camera and even the front-facing cameras (FFC) are similar at 2MP and 2.1MP. They are even very close to the same size, with the G Flex 2 just slightly larger. Both have the usual suspects – Dual-Band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC capable, and both have a microUSB port for charging and data transfers. They both offer Quick Charge and they both are running 5.0.1 Lollipop.
Please look at the detailed Specification and feature sheet below and there you will be able to see how they compare spec-by-spec. After that, we will take a closer look at the individual devices, weigh their pros and cons, and decide which one of these great smartphones will win this comparison.
Specifications
LG G Flex 2
LG’s first attempt at a flexible display on their LG G Flex was met with surprising results – even though it only had a 720p display, med-high specs and a high price – it was loved by a solid band of core individuals that vehemently defends it to this day. Well, with the LG G Flex 2, they will really have something to cheer about as LG upped the specs all around, improved its self-healing back and seemed to have kept the price the same.
LG shortened the 6-inch display to 5.5-inches, which seems to make the device easier to hold and store. Most importantly, LG went from an HD display resolution to a FHD resolution giving the new G Flex 2, 1920 x 1080 pixels and 403 pixels-per-inch (PPI)…very close to the 423 PPI on the Moto X. LG also put in the most advanced 64-bit processor they could find, using the Snapdragon 810 octa-core clocked at 2GHz and 1.5GHz – two steps up from the Snapdragon 801 found in the highly optimized Moto X. LG threw in 3GB of RAM versus the 2GB of RAM in the Moto X. Both devices offer a 32GB internal storage model, however, the G Flex 2 notches it up a bit to include a microSD card slot to expand that memory to a theoretical 2TB.
The cameras use the same sensor size at 13MP – the G Flex 2 adds their Laser autofocus, dual-tone LED Flash and OIS+, whereas the Moto X uses the standard autofocus and no OIS, although it does have a dual LED flash ring that goes around the entire lens. The G Flex 2 has a 2.1MP front-facing camera (FFC) and the Moto X uses a 2MP FFC for selfies and video chatting. The 3000mAh battery of the G Flex 2 is larger than the 2300mAh in the Moto X, although both should get you through an entire day…both are non-removable.
Besides the usual features we listed above, the LG G Flex 2 does add Dolby Mobile for better sound, an FM Stereo Radio and a built-in IR Blaster. It is running Android 5.0.1 Lollipop from the box with LG’s UI running over top. It will be available on AT&T, Sprint and US Cellular at this point and will cost you approximately $300 on a two-year contract and $650 off-contract. It should be available sometime in February.
Motorola Moto X (2014)
The Motorola Moto X 2014, much like the LG G Flex 2, is an update of an old favorite. Motorola took a nice device and made it a great device by upgrading it in all areas – size, specs and did it all at a terrific price. They took the Moto X, made it a true flagship and let the Moto G and Moto E bring up the rear – it can actually compete against the LGs, Samsungs and HTCs of the world.
The display is now the ‘perfect’ 5.2-inches of AMOLED with a FHD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 423 PPI – slightly better than the 403 PPI on the P-OLED display of the G Flex 2. Motorola used the best processor out at the time – the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core clocked at 2.5GHz and with Motorola’s optimizations along with running almost pure Android it will fly through its tasks with a quickness and smoothness not always found on Android devices. This one of the reasons that its 2GB of RAM, though not ‘fashionable’ in this day of 3GB (like the G Flex 2), is more than enough. The Moto X does have a 16GB and 32GB internal memory option, but no microSD card slot here to expand beyond those boundaries. Motorola and Google believe that your data should be stored in the cloud, not on your device, that way it can be accessed by all of your devices.
Motorola never seemed too concerned about the camera in the past, but with the Moto X 2014 they put in a very good 13MP sensor, autofocus and a dual-LED Flash Ring that encompasses the lens – still no OIS, but it does take decent photos. The ‘standard’ 2MP FFC is fine for social selfies or the occasional video chat with friends or family.
The 2300mAh battery is on the small side, but it will get you through an entire day of normal usage, and should you get low, just hook it up to the optional Turbo Charger for up to 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes! As far as extras on the Moto X – Motorola used four microphones for excellent noise cancellation and voice reproduction on phone calls, they also added front-mounted speakers, used a full metal frame for strength, nano-coated the inside for water repellency, and engineered Dynamic Tuning to help increase the radio strength. It has already been updated to 5.0.1 Lollipop and is available on Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, all for only $99 on a two-year contract and only $499 off-contract.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
I know, I am surprised as well, but this is another time where function and price value win out over a couple specs. You can argue over which device is nicer looking, although I don’t think many would pick the Moto X over the WOW factor of the LG G Flex 2 – the real leather or wood backing looks pretty awesome on the Moto X, but the curved body of the G Flex is definitely cool.
The only real edge the G Flex 2 has over the Moto X is in the processing and memory storage department, but the Moto X flies with the optimized Snapdragon 801 processor and almost pure vanilla Android. The cameras are very close all around with an edge going to the G Flex 2 for Laser autofocus and OIS+. True, the battery is larger in the G Flex 2, but the 2300mAh battery in the Moto X will get most users through an entire day…and at the end of the day BOTH devices will need to be charged.
The Moto X also gives you the solid Motorola engineering – four microphones, water resistant nano-coating, front mounted speakers and Dynamic Tuning, great software, its already upgraded to 5.0.1 Lollipop and all for only $99 – that’s correct, $99 on a two-year contract.
The LG G Flex 2 is a great device, but with a $300 price tag is it really worth $200 more than the Moto X? I believe the Moto X is definitely the better buy and the winner of this comparison. Please hit us up on our Google+ Page and let us hear your choice and WHY…as always, we would love to hear from you.