Moto X Play: Various Reviews

[Cakefish]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

What areas is it worse than the nexus 5? I don't use mine any more but have played around with it on 5.1.1 and it feels really fluid and snappy. I'd be back using it if the battery wasn't so terrible! Is it performance of the play vs the nexus or down to build quality or...? I guess the camera must be better and the battery at least

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Yes, performance isn't quite as slick in general use i.e. the Material UI animations, time it takes to install apps, 3D performance. Not a huge difference but noticeable for someone who has used Nexus 5 since it launched (though I would say that Moto X Play offers a better experience than the Nexus 5 did with Android 5.0-5.1 with that awful memory leak/borked background app management).

Other notable areas of downgrade are the lack of gyroscope and other sensors. I have looked at several hardware info apps and the gulf between the number of sensors installed on these phones is quite big - granted, the majority of the ones on the Nexus 5 are going to be used rarely in everyday usage scenarios (e.g. barometer, gravity sensor etc.). The gyroscope is the biggest omission here but also notable is the lack of a dedicated step counter, though whether that impacts apps like Google Fit I am yet to find out - will report back later today on that.

The build quality is about the same. Moto X Play has rattly (i.e. loose fitting) buttons and yet the Nexus 5 has a much inferior haptic feedback (the vibration engine is noisier and doesn't generate as pleasing vibrations - hey, stop it with your dirty mind!).

The battery and camera are miles better than the Nexus 5, I can already tell. Low-light camera performance is much closer between them but the Moto X Play still wins out slightly, which is impressive as it manages this without OIS.

 

[aldo82]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Anyone know what the gyroscope is normally used for? I don't game so from that point of view its not a biggie for me. I know the accelerometers will be used for screen rotation etc so where does the gyroscope come in normal usage? Panning around in street view? Photosphere?

Shame about the step counter. I find it quite interesting having a pedometer permanently running on my m8

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[Cakefish]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Anyone know what the gyroscope is normally used for? I don't game so from that point of view its not a biggie for me. I know the accelerometers will be used for screen rotation etc so where does the gyroscope come in normal usage? Panning around in street view? Photosphere?

Shame about the step counter. I find it quite interesting having a pedometer permanently running on my m8

Posted via the Android Central App

Yep, the most obvious uses are for photosphere and panoramic mode in the Google camera app as well as street view. Moto camera app actually has panoramic mode so I'm not sure why Google's implementation relies on the gyroscope. There's probably some games that make use of it too but like you I'm not a big Android gamer (prefer PC gaming on my laptop or Nintendo 3DS).

Yeah, again I'll report back if it seems like an issue in Google Fit. It does seem to be tracking my steps still so perhaps it doesn't need the dedicated hardware and can just as well rely on the accelerometer (it's a 3-axis accelerometer in Moto X Play).



Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

 

[aldo82]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Thanks for the updates. I actually thought the accelerometers were used for step counting on phones and didn't know about dedicated step counters so will be interested how you get on. I don't think the gyro is a biggie for me

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[Mrrikki]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

I have been using Google fit the last two days and working fine, I did a 4000 step walk with the X Play and my LG G4 and the X Play ended up about 5% more steps so not sure which one was the more accurate lol.

 

[Cakefish]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

I'll do the same with my Nexus 5 and compare the results.

 

[aldo82]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

I just looked on a hardware app on my one m8 and it doesn't specifically mention a step counter but pedometer works fine so I think accelerometers must work OK for this

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[Cakefish]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

I think I was being a bit prematurely harsh on this phone by calling it a mere sidegrade earlier. In most regards it's an upgrade vs Nexus 5. Only the slightly less slick Material UI animations/decreased 3D performance, lack of certain sensors and those rattly buttons are what springs to mind as notable downgrades.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

 

[Mrrikki]

Took a few photos on my lunchtime walk, they were in auto mode with HDR on.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[aldo82]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Well I've ordered one now! The CPW deal is too good to miss out on and in selling my oen m8 and nexus 5 itll barely cost me anything!

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[goodclimate]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Hi
Could someone who has the MXP please comment in a bit more depth on the audio performance using stereo headphones. Specifically, does it get plenty loud and is there any buzzing or hissing from the headphone jack?

 

[Cakefish]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Well I've ordered one now! The CPW deal is too good to miss out on and in selling my oen m8 and nexus 5 itll barely cost me anything!

Posted via the Android Central App

Welcome to the club! The CPW deal sounds great. If I were buying now, I'd go for that without hesitation.

Hi
Could someone who has the MXP please comment in a bit more depth on the audio performance using stereo headphones. Specifically, does it get plenty loud and is there any buzzing or hissing from the headphone jack?

I have Sony MDR-XB950AP headphones so not the most audiophile-esque headphones out there but I can't hear any buzzing or hissing of any kind. They get plenty loud, max volume is uncomfortable to listen to!

 

[getbretweir]

Re: moto X play reviews

All these battery life comments is amusing. I sear every phone out has complaints about poor or even horrible battery life. Every forum for every phone regardless of the manufacturer, there's always complaints about battery life. I think with fast charging, battery life complaints are pretty useless now IMO

to me your point justifies the criticism even more. why settle? if everyone has issues with battery life on every phone, hopefully am OEM will address it sooner than later.

I never hear anyone say, man this phone is awesome cause it's so thin, glad they shaved of an extra mm .... until I comfortably go a full day, without even thinking about charging my phone, I won't be satisfied. I just don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.

 

[Cakefish]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Battery update: almost end of day. Been using it heavily with brightness set to adaptive with the slider at 50%, which seems to really like to crank the brightness up high (it's been a sunny day); I've been taking many pictures with the camera and uploading them online, using Chrome via WiFi and LTE, watching YouTube videos, using Tapatalk and the Android Central app, installing other apps, playing music via speaker etc. and I'm at 50%. Screen on time currently at 2 hr 45 mins.

For reference my Nexus 5 would already be dead by now.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

 

[Mrrikki]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Battery update: almost end of day. Been using it heavily with brightness set to adaptive with the slider at 50%, which seems to really like to crank the brightness up high (it's been a sunny day); I've been taking many pictures with the camera and uploading them online, using Chrome via WiFi and LTE, watching YouTube videos, using Tapatalk and the Android Central app, installing other apps, playing music via speaker etc. and I'm at 50%. Screen on time currently at 2 hr 45 mins.

For reference my Nexus 5 would already be dead by now.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

Very similar for me today, Iam sure I could get this through 2 days at a push.

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[krazyatom]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

So tempting to upgrade from one plus one. I was gonna get a one plus two but x play may work.

Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

 

[Javier P]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

I've ordered mine. In a couple of weeks I'll join the party

 

[Rush01]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

Guys, please do not expect a flagship... It has not the price of one.
What I mean is: a regular user would not care about 64 bit Android, or more ram... I was a Nexus fan, had many of them even when they were not sold in my country. But all others phones in that time had big cons and seemed a bad cost n benefit. But, except for the gyro, I don't miss almost anything on the MotoX Play. If you go by the specs, its better wait for the next Nexus, which will be revealed soon... But what can I tell is, even having a 2014 processor, not power efficient using 28nm, a poor world wide radio and not the best cortex design, with just little 2gb ram and 32bit Android, its a solid user experience. I'm also a S6 user, and I can't see any every-day difference on performance.
Would be great to have back a barometer, a 64bit design for Android M or an even better world wide 4G coverage? Of course, and this come for a price that an average user would almost never get benefit of it...
Great cost n benefit for Motorola. They will get tons of money on this mixed 2014/2015 parts device, and they are just great for the price!

Enviado de meu XT1563 usando Tapatalk

 

[cheesiepoof]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

I don't see how this is great for the price if the Pure edition is expected to sold at the same price point, roughly $400 USD? Even if you get this for $350 or even $300, I think this is too much money for a “just ok” phone.

Here's my final summary after 10 days of heavy use. Keep in mind that I'm using the XT-1563 variant made in Brazil (Build number: LPD23.118-6.1, system version: 23.41.1.lux_relta_ds.retla.en.01 retbr) so if you have the XT-1562 or the upcoming XT-1565 you'll have some minor software differences not to mention single sim not dual.

Things I like:

- battery charges quickly - not blazing and not as fast as an iOS device - but fast enough
- battery lasts all day on heavy use
- plenty of storage
- dual sim + FM radio

Don't like:

- micro lag, unacceptable on a new phone with 8 cores
- screen responsiveness: occasionally need to swipe something 2 or 3 times - lock screen in particular
- 4.0 bluetooth interferes with LTE - where's 4.1?
- slow to switch from wifi to cellular data - totally unacceptable
- dull FHD screen, and dim in sunlight
- camera is below average
- where's my chop chop to flashlight? oh, they didn't include a gyroscope, great.

Camera: Most online reviews are not raving about it, and I think they're actually being too kind. It's ACCEPTABLE, but nowhere near even a 2 year old Apple or Samsung device in picture quality or software, I'm sorry.

Screen: it's possible I just got a dud. It's not terrible, I'm just not impressed. Perhaps my "Made in Brazil" XT-1563 is not up the standard of the other ones reviewed here. Different materials?

Other things that don't affect my user experience yet, but leave me scratching my head:

- no wifi ac
- 32 bit android

This phone is just ok. Literally NOTHING on this phone impresses me, everything is just good enough or occasionally, not up to snuff, like a switch from wifi to cellular data taking 30 seconds.

My recommendation: No!! Get the Style / Pure.

Hopefully that helps someone.

 

[Mrrikki]

Re: Moto X Play Reviews

I have no lag on my UK one, I have not noticed any difference in my daily use with the X Play vs my LG G4.

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