Moto X Play: Various Reviews

[Javier P]

Re: Question for Moto X play user?

I think that's too small for my needs. I'm used to have around 6 hours SoT with the G and don't want less than that.

 

[Bonovox72]

I find Chrome laggy on all Android phones

 

[Rickosw]

Re: Question for Moto X play user?

1) No (at least in the stock Moto camera app).

2) Not sure. How can I check?

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

ok, for part 1) if moto updates the software will it be able to support RAW FORMAT - or does hardware put a limitation?

2) to be honest, i also do not know any scientific test to check if Moto Play support aptX

i just go to the official website and and see if they put it under one of the phones ...

if there is anyone out there that knows a fire-proof way to test APTX, please advice ..

thanks

 

[aldo82]

First crash today. Someone phoned, it rang and then about 2 seconds later the screen went blank and it rebooted. Hopefully a one off!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Cakefish]

First crash today. Someone phoned, it rang and then about 2 seconds later the screen went blank and it rebooted. Hopefully a one off!

Posted via the Android Central App

I've had one. Can't remember what I was doing at the time. My Nexus 5 has sometimes done this too, it's not exclusive to the Moto phone.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

 

[syspry]

Disappointed

A couple of reviews along with numerous posters have remarked that this phone just isn't performing that well during regular use. AC's own review summed it up nicely:

"Given the decidedly wonky performance we've seen from the Play, it's interesting to go back to Motorola's budget champion, the*Moto G. Sure, the G is pushing far fewer pixels, but it's also packing a much less powerful CPU and the same amount of RAM, and yet every time the G feels like the faster phone. That's a shame, because in most other areas the Play is a joy to use. When you consider all the engineering effort made by Google in recent years to eliminate lag in Android, it's slightly surreal to be going back to 2012-13 levels of stutteriness in a current handset."

That is indeed a damn shame. The build quality issues I've been reading about coupled with the above has unfortunately placed this firmly on my don't buy list. The camera, battery, nice looks, and moto software features had me all set to buy this phone thinking I'd be getting a good deal for $400. But even at that price I don't think expecting less stutter, no iffy buttons, no gaps collecting dust is truly too much to ask for. Combine all this with lenovo totally replacing the original software team bringing all future software updates into uncertain territory, and there's no way I can possibly feel like this phone is a confident purchase.
I don't know what's going on in Android OEM land these days, they all seem to be dedicated to shooting themselves in the foot in some significant way or another and not a single one this year to date has had the wherewithal to just sit down and say "hey we just made an awesome phone, so let's not ruin all the positives by putting [insert big mistake here] in it"

Is that one simple bit of common sense seriously too much to ask for?

 

[neu smurph]

@Cakefish - Thanks for checking it out - nothing untoward in your results that I can see. Process stats looks very healthy, and the CPU speed governor bug I suspected doesn't seem to be there (reverting to the minimum clock speed as a base after camera use). Looks like Moto have set a pretty high base clock speed (if it's on it's running at 960Mhz) - really surprising that it lags in those circumstances.

 

[aldo82]

Re: Disappointed

For me I think it depends if things can be fixed in software and if they can whether Motorola support the device properly with timely and regular updates. If they do then I'm happy. Buying a phone as soon as it comes out is always a risk and they all require a few sotware updates before they reach their potential. Who knows, maybe Motorola hadn't quite polished the final software but decided to still release it on schedule with an older build and the plan to update soon after launch. After all articles I have read suggested chop chop for flashlight was removed at the last minute so it may make an appearance in an update soon.

As for build quality issues. Obviously that can't be addressed with an updates but what are they? The buttons are poor no doubt and I mark it down for that but otherwise its excellent with great form factor and in hand feel. If it had better buttons it would be bang on ideal but even without its still up there as one of the best I've owned

 

[Javier P]

Mine arrived yesterday. The phone feels great in the hand and seems much lighter than I thought, easy to use one handed. I haven't noticed any lag so far even while downloading and installing all my apps. Multitasking is great and even "weak" apps that use to be killed soon stay open a long way back in the recent apps list.

Setting a new phone up was good to confirm that I really like Nova Restored my whole setup, including Zooper, and animations are very smooth. With this big screen Nova gestures and Zooper "on tap actions" are more useful than ever.

Here in Brazil they included the Turbo charger in the box, and it's fast Very happy so far.

 

[Cakefish]

Awww you get the Turbo Charger included? We Brits are being screwed over. As always with technology and electronics *sigh*

Glad you like it! Welcome to the club

@neu smurph - I think it's the GPU that's not quite powerful enough to display the animations at FHD entirely smoothly. I don't think it's an issue with the CPU.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

 

[Cakefish]

Re: Disappointed

The only build quality issue I have are those slightly loose buttons. Yes, they are a minor annoyance, but I'm quickly becoming accustomed to them. They feel comfortable to use, it's just the noise they occasionally make in quiet environments that can mildly irritate. The rest of the phone feels very solid and robust though.

Yeah, chop chop needs to come back to make this phone feel complete. Why? Only because the cheaper Moto G has the feature. Motorola really needs to add it in an update ASAP! We should pester them about this, not let them forget!

And yes, animation smoothness isn't as slick as I originally had hoped but it could potentially be improved with future updates. Gotta have hope!

 

[Javier P]

Re: Disappointed

Yeah, the physical buttons are a bit loose and look a bit cheap. I like the size and position though. With the Active display and my lock screen app I won't be using those buttons much so it doesn't bother me.

 

[Javier P]

Thanks. Yeah, weird that they didn't include it in the UK. And here I managed to buy the X for just 55$ more than the G with 2gb. Phones are very expensive in Brazil but with the X Play they managed to offer a very good price.

 

[aldo82]

I haven't tried any games on my play but I've heard most run pretty well which makes it seem strange that the GPU can handle games but not simple animations in the UI.

I'm still hopeful Motorola can fix it through software updates. It won't let me check for updates now saying check later whereas before it said I was up to date so maybe something is being prepared....??! Of course probably not!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[aceytrixx]

So mine just turned up today. Going to have a play about with it tonight to see if it's going to stay. Is there any camera apps people recommend as the touch to take photos as opposed to focus and then use a button to take seems like it could be a pain.

 

[Cakefish]

So mine just turned up today. Going to have a play about with it tonight to see if it's going to stay. Is there any camera apps people recommend as the touch to take photos as opposed to focus and then use a button to take seems like it could be a pain.

Google Camera app works well with this phone. Not quite as well as the Moto Camera app (e.g. HDR works better in the Moto app), but still pretty decent.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

 

[aceytrixx]

I'll maybe stick with the moto camera app if it's the better option. Depends how the auto focus is I guess

 

[aldo82]

I'll maybe stick with the moto camera app if it's the better option. Depends how the auto focus is I guess

You can set it to show the focus point then you just drag it to where you want to focus and tap anywhere on the screen to take the photo. In its default mode there is no focus point shown and you just tap anywhere to take the picture. This is fine and easy but you don't actually know what it is focussing on which could be a problem if you have a specific subject in the photo

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[syspry]

Re: Disappointed

I was the loose buttons on top of the reviewer saying there was too much gap collecting dust between the screen and frame that turned me off for the build quality part of my post above. Some of you replied that the software issues could be fixed in future updates, but I disagree with hoping being a good mentality to use for buying a phone.

 

[aceytrixx]

Cheers. That's better. So far so good with everything else. Feels good having a big screen again