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Is the Moto X really a Droid Maxx Lite?

I had a look at the new Moto X today and compared with the Droid Maxx. I'll own one of them in the near future. Apparently the Moto X will only be sold with 32GB in the Developer Edition. I have been comparing these two phones and it seems to me that the Moto X is really just a lite version of the Droid Maxx. They have mostly the same capabilities, just the Maxx has 32GB instead of 16GB and more battery power and the Maxx can charge wirelessly. Apart from that, the specs are pretty much the same, same CPU, screen resolution, etc. So I wouldn't expect to see a 32GB version of the Moto X. Did I miss something, or are these two phones really that much different?

Comments

Ann154

The DROID Ultra would be a closer version of a DROID Maxx "Lite". The Moto X has on screen buttons where the DROID Maxx doesn't.

B33

Plus+ to add as I seen it for my self Moto X has a Slot on the side of it like the first Gen. Razr And Razr Maxx for it's Nano Sim Card good design, On the new Ultra's the sim cards holder doubles as a Volume Rocker and when Looking at the way it's maid and how it holds the Sim Card in the phone I think if not installed properly and if the Volume rocker is used heavily I see allot of issues.. b33

scarshapedstar

The X has their nifty interface tricks like active notifications and gesture controls, but all told I would take the Maxx just because Dat Battery. That said I'd try to check out the feel of the X before deciding because I really like where they're going with this stuff.

The Ultra is more like a boring version of the X and will probably go over about as well as the Kin...

tomw3141

Blogosphere generally agrees that VZW will be getting the Moto Maker (just like ATT has now) sometime in October or November. When that happens, you will get to choose color AND 32 GBytes. Before that, (and still not yet) the only way to get 32 on the Moto X is to buy a Developer's Edition - and what's unknown is whether you can or must get it for full price (probably $649) or if VZW will sell it discounted like the majority of phones on contract. Many unknowns, hard to know when to pull trigger. I'm waiting for Moto X with 32 too.

demmo86rt

Verizon does not sell Dev Edition phones on contract, you have to get them direct from the manufacturer.

tomw3141

Let me see if I have this logic correct.

Unfortunately, right now (Sept 5, 2013) we can't get the DE from the manufacturer for any carrier (Moto site says "Coming Soon"). So, hopefully "soon".

To get the DE on VZW, it will have to be purchased in the VZW version XT1060 because there are different versions of the Moto X for each carrier. So, is there information that shows that Verizon won't be selling the Dev Edition - and that it can only be purchased from Motorola? I can believe it, but have not seen it suggested by a VZW informant or confirmed. Maybe you [demmo86rt] have/are a reliable source. Right now the Motorola page that shows (teases) the DE also has links to VZW and the Moto-Maker.

If (as you say) we can only get DE from Motorola, that means full price - no subsidy - about $649. And therefore, the only way to get 32 GB soon on VZW is very expensive, and stays that way until VZW offers 32 directly, or when VZW Moto-Maker goes on line.

Of course, we also don't know when "soon" is. Don't know when the DE on VZW will be available (various rumors), or when Moto-Maker will be ready for VZW (rumors are November)

This waiting is a bummer.....

demmo86rt

Previous phones that have had a DE have only been available through the manufacturer. My guess is that, due to the unlockability, Verizon isn't willing to warranty them, so they aren't willing to sell them.

tomw3141

I suppose none of us actually answered Quartz question. Here is my attempt.

The recent DROID series (Ultra, Mini, and MAXX) is a Verizon branding of phones which Motorola developed just for Verizon. Whatever their arrangement, those are Verizon branded Motorola phones.

You can see all the specs at the Verizon website, and the comparison of specs is what led to the question..

The Moto X is a Motorola phone available on all carriers. Verizon is one carrier from whom you can buy a Moto X.

The Moto X is based on the same computatoinal internal workings (processors, speeds) as the new DROID series. The differences are:

1) Physical Screen Size is 4.7 inches on Moto X, 5 inches ULTRA/MAXX and 4.3 ? on Mini (same number of pixels all phones). The Moto X has its buttons drawn in software on the display (so they can change in future, and rotate properly) the DROID series has physical (capacitive touch) buttons. So, typically some of the Moto X display is occupied with buttons.

2) Moto X like the new DROID series has a sealed battery and no way to add a memory SD card. All four phones have different batteries. The MAXX can be recharged wirelessly.

3) The Moto X, available across all carriers has 4 varieties - to cover the radio bands and modulation supported by each carrier - Historically, Motorola specializes in high performance radio components and antennas and does not have one-size-fits-all mentality - but the draw to use phones around the world has changed this somewhat. The new DROID series only has to work really well on Verizon radio bands and modulation. However, the DROID series has enough capabilities to be used as a "world" phone. Whether there are compromises when using it overseas is yet to be reported.

4) The Moto X will have an un-lockable bootloader on some carrier models and a Developers Edition to accomplish the same for some others (like Verizon). The new DROID series on Verizon only is not un-lockable (until someone figures a way around it).

So, although I might have missed something, there are at least these differences.

Should someone call the Moto X a "DROID MAXX Lite" or call the DROID Ultra and MAXX "Large Moto X's on Verizon Only", I think its individual choice.

B33

One thing that sets the Moto X apart from the Ultra's for me.. Is the Sim Card location on Moto X it down along it's left Side and even thought it has a Tray that it sets in and then slides into the phone.. Once you put it there.. it stays there Unless you have to remove it with its Sim Tool). On the Ultra's the Nano Sim sits in a Tray but it also doubles as a Volume Toggle and that to me is too smart of Innovation and you pull it out with your Finger..

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