Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the battle of the Motorola Moto X Pure Edition going up against the Motorola Droid Turbo 2. The Moto X Pure Edition is the newest rendition of the original Moto X and the Droid Turbo 2 is the second rendition of the Verizon-exclusive Droid Turbo. Both devices are very similar in looks and have that ‘Motorola-like’ design and that means a solid build and comfortable fit in your hand – due to the curved back. These two devices have several things in common and we will first look at those features before we look at each individual device in greater detail.
Released only one month apart, these two Motorola devices have quite a few things in common – for starters, the physical size is close, although the Moto X Pure Edition (with the larger display) is slightly taller, but slimmer and weighs in just 9 grams more. Both devices use the QHD resolution, but different sizes and technologies. Both are using a 64-bit Qualcomm processor, but different models, although both provide 3GB of RAM and offer room to expand the internal memory. The both sport 21MP main cameras and a 5MP front-facing camera (FFC) for selfies and video chatting. Both offer dual front-facing speakers and both offer water resistant nano-coating. The Moto X Pure Edition and Droid Turbo 2 both offer the usual suspects – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS, NFC, a microUSB v2.0 port for charging and data transfer. Both offer a non-removable battery and both offer fast charging.
Please take a deliberate look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details. After that, we will look at each individual device in greater detail and point out some of its pros and cons. From all of this information we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.
Specifications
Motorola X Pure Edition
The flagship Moto X for 2015 can be called by two names – in the US they are calling it the Moto X Pure Edition and outside the US it is called the Moto X Style. This newer Moto X improves over the old model in just about every area – larger display, more pixels, better camera, 64-bit processor and more memory. It is a larger device, but retains the full-metal frame and curved backing making it comfortable to hold.
Motorola went with a large 5.7-inch LCD display with a QHD resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 520 PPI, while the Droid Turbo 2 uses the same QHD display technology in a 5.4-inch AMOLED display with 540 PPI. Motorola went with Qualcomm and put in their 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor with the quad-core clocked at 1.44GHz and the dual-core clocked at 1.8GHz. This goes up against the 64-bit Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor in the Droid Turbo 2. The Moto X comes with 3GB of RAM and 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal memory with a microSD card slot to expand. The Droid Turbo 2 also has 3GB of RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal storage with room to expand.
With the Nexus 6, Motorola started taking the smartphone camera a little more seriously and this trend continues with the new Moto X. Motorola jumped up to a huge 21MP sensor that comes with quick phase detection autofocus, dual-tone LED flash and an f/2.0 aperture. The Moto X even includes a 5MP FFC with an f/2.0 aperture and a wide-angle lens for great selfies and video chatting. Usually there is some difference in the camera area, but Motorola put the same great camera in the Droid Turbo 2. The Moto X uses a 3000mAh battery, while the Droid Turbo 2 has a larger 3760mAh battery and both are non-removable. The Moto X and the Droid Turbo 2 can use Motorola’s Turbo Charger for a very quick charge.
The Moto X includes front-facing stereo speakers with Smartboost for a great new sound. Motorola also includes the IP52 water repellency in the Moto X. Another nice feature – the new Moto X is an unlocked device that can work on all major US networks. With almost a pure Android experience – currently 6.0 Marshmallow – meaning, that you will receive some of the fastest updates possible. Motorola has given it a starting price of only $399.99
Motorola Droid Turbo 2
The exclusive Droid line on the Verizon network now includes the Motorola Droid Turbo 2 – the follow-up of the Turbo model, which made its first appearance last year. While the new model has retained essentially the same look, several improvements include an all-new 21MP sensor for better pictures (taken from the Moto X Pure Edition), faster charging, and the new ShatterShield display. The Droid Turbo has the typical Motorola look, a solid build and via Moto Maker, you can customize the backing.
The Droid Turbo 2 comes with a 5.4-inch QHD AMOLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 540 PPI and Motorola’s exclusive shatterproof display that they are calling ShatterShield. This compares to the 5.7-inch QHD IPS LCD display and 520 PPI on the Pure Edition. The Droid Turbo 2 sports a 64-bit Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor with four cores clocked at 1.5 GHz and four cores clocked at 2.0 GHz and an Adreno 430 GPU. This compares to the 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core used in the Moto X Pure Edition. The Droid Turbo 2 has 3GB of faster DDR4 RAM and 32GB or 64GB of internal memory – the Pure Edition also uses 3GB of RAM (DDR3) and 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of internal storage, although they both offer memory expansion via a microSD card.
Motorola really improved the 21MP camera in the Droid Turbo 2 by using a new sensor, f/2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus, and a dual-tone LED flash with a 5MP FFC for selfies and video chatting. This goes up against the same setup on the Pure Edition – in fact, it carried it first and then passed on to the Droid Turbo 2. The Turbo 2 has a huge 3760mAh battery to offer up to two days of use, and if you should need to charge the device, it comes with a Turbo Charger for quick charges and wireless charging as well. The Moto X Pure Edition has a smaller 3000mAh battery and offers the quick charge feature. Both batteries are non-removable.
The Motorola Droid Turbo 2 packs dual front-facing speakers, is running almost stock Android 6.0, although Motorola adds their Moto Voice, Moto Assist, Moto Display and Moto Actions. It also has an IR Blaster and wireless charging as well as Turbo Charging for its much larger battery. The device measures 149.9 x 78 x 9.2 mm and weighs in at 169 grams and will cost approximately $625.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
This would have been a tough decision if it were not for the pricing – at only $400 for the Moto X Pure Edition, how could I not pick it as the winner. The Moto Droid Turbo 2 may technically be slightly superior, but it is in no way $225 more superior.
They both have phablet sized QHD displays, both are water resistant, both offer dual front-facing speakers, both have the same camera, both offer 3GB of RAM, both offer internal memory expansion and both offer fast charge. We must also note that neither device offers a fingerprint sensor – a huge oversight on Motorola’s part.
Yes, the Droid Turbo 2 does have an AMOLED display, shatterproof glass, the Snapdragon 810 rather than the 808 in the Pure Edition, an IR Blaster, wireless charging and a larger battery – but all of that together does not add up to $225 and let’s not forget that you are also tied to Verizon for a carrier.
The Moto X Pure Edition simply offers more value and can be purchased for use on any major US carrier. Running almost pure vanilla Android, the 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor is more than up to the task. Some people never use their IR Blaster and wireless charging is a nice feature, but not for what the Droid Turbo 2 costs.
[socialpoll id=”2333689″]