Comparing Nexus 6 against Motorola Moto X (2014)
Google's new flagship Nexus 6 is based on the Motorola Moto X (2014), but shows clear differences in comparison. We'll tell you what those are.
The hardware: that's the difference between the Nexus 6 and Moto X (2014)
- Design: The chic design is shared by both Android smartphones. The Nexus 6 is practically a larger scaled version of the Moto X. The curved metal frame, the curved back, the small recess with the Motorola logo give a coherent overall picture for both devices. You can further customize the Moto X via the "Moto Maker" and choose from countless colors and materials such as leather and wood for the back. In contrast, the Nexus 6 is only available with a black or white soft-touch back.
- Display: The different size of the devices results from the different displays. The Moto X relies on a 5.2-inch FullHD display with AMOLED technology, which delivers sharp images and is still suitable for one hand with its size. The Nexus 6, on the other hand, is clearly a phablet, because its 6-inch AMOLED display with Quad HD resolution allows the device to be converted into size classes of iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
- Processor: The Moto X moves at the current flagship height with a Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2.5GHz and 2GB RAM. The Nexus 6 goes one step further and offers the Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor running at 2.7 GHz and a whopping 3 GB of RAM.
- Camera: The cameras are almost identical in both devices, but both come with a special feature: The 13 megapixel camera of the Moto X offers an innovative ring flash around the lens, which is supposed to take evenly illuminated pictures. The same camera with 13 megapixels gets an optical image stabilizer in the Nexus 6.
- Battery: The battery of the Nexus 6 depends on the sister model - 3220mAh contrast with the 2300mAh of the Moto X. The battery of the Nexus 6 can also be charged wirelessly.
Software: Pure Android in the Nexus 6 and Moto X
- Operating system: Both devices run on Android OS. With the new Nexus 6, the new Android version 5.0 "Lollipop" made its debut, which will run on the new Nexus devices at least until mid-November. Motorola also habitually updates its smartphones quickly, which means that version 4.4 "KitKat", which is still running on the Moto X, will soon be replaced by 5.0.
- Software layout: Motorola is known for running almost pure Android versions specified by Google on its smartphones - this also applies to the Moto X. Therefore, there is hardly any difference between Nexus 6 and Moto X here.
- Features: Motorola only drills its Android software through additional small apps and features. For example, the Moto X "Moto" voice assistant is a small highlight. Thanks to built-in IR sensors on the front, the Moto X now also reacts to hand movements above the display. The popular "Active Notifications" on the Moto X lockscreen, on the other hand, also made it onto the Nexus 6.
Pricing and availability: Moto Maker or Google Play Store
- Price & Variants: If you want to exploit the full potential of the Moto X, a compilation in the Moto Maker is recommended when purchasing. Here the prices fluctuate between 530 and 600 euros for 16 or 32Gb non-expandable storage. The standard versions with black or bamboo backing are already available for 500 euros. The Nexus 6 can be purchased from the Google Play Store, here the price fluctuates between 659 euros for 32GB and 699 euros for 64GB storage. To get the best price, check out our price comparison.
- Availability: The Moto X is already available, but you will have to wait until December for the Nexus 6. You can pre-order the Nexus 6 here.
More smartphone details in our tests
- You can find more information about the Moto X (2014) in our detailed review.
- If you are more interested in the Nexus 6, read on here.
If you are generally interested in Motorola smartphones, we have put together a comparison of Moto E, G and X for you.