Futureproofing - Moto X General

Facing a problem here, and it's expectedly another Nexus 5 vs Moto X debate.
I'm really tempted to get the N5. I originally had my mind set on getting the G2 but seeing the prohibitive price and quality control problems I decided against it. The N5 is definitely very, very appealing with its $399 price tag and the fact that it isn't out of stock for 5 months like the N4 was (please, 32GB only please, I cannot live with 16GB, no if ands or buts).
However, the Moto X came along and threw a wrench into my plans. It just looks so awesome and sexy and it's got so many things that the N5 is missing. It's got a white front (+1 for Moto X), AMOLED screen (+1, at least for me), Active display or whatever its called (+1), Dual Krait with an Adreno 320 (big +1 for performance/efficiency balance). As for performance, I must say that I'm making a judgment based on the present, because the future is the whole point of this post.
Here's where it comes down to: how futureproof is this device? As it costs more than the N5, I would expect for it to last as long as the N5 but with the MSM8960T vs MSM8974 debate the Moto X doesn't fare well against the Nexus. I fear this because I had a Motorola Defy; the OMAP 3630 was good until the release of ICS, until CM9 came out. That was when the single Cortex-A8 core began showing its age and things really became less pleasant. That was also when all my buddies here took off and got new phones except for people from India who got the phone because it was cheap. They don't seem to mind, given that every ROM regardless of how laggy it is (most of them are) gets a "Wow, this ROM is really smooth!" from all the users.
What do you guys think? How futureproof do you think the Moto X is? Do you think that the S4 Pro here will yield a good smooth experience for 2 years or do you think that I would be better off with the Nexus 5? Of course, software is where it differs from the Defy; official updates stopped at 2.3 for the Defy but Motorola seems to be supporting the Moto X well.

Considering Google is making the future versions of Android to run better on lower end phones. I have no doubt future updates will be silky smooth!! I myself am not worrying to much about the future as this probably will be with me for under a year.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk

Dumped my nexus 5. Abysmal battery life & speakers (good luck ever hearing a phone call coming through). I like the Moto X screen better, not to mention the features.
Plus who are we kidding, us techies get a new phone very year.

I could be wrong but I feel like the next big improvements in Smartphone tech will be battery efficiency, camera quality and new faster internet/radio speeds.
I honestly don't think we will see major improvements like we did in the last couple years as far as CPU/GPU power goes. Google also seems to be pushing efficiency (support for 512mb ram etc) with its most recent Android build. So really any currently "fast" phone will be just as fast a couple years from now. Just the camera/battery performance will be lackluster compared to its future competition. If you game a lot at max details on your phone I could see the N5 coming ahead a bit just because the S800/330 is a very powerful combo.
With that in mind if we look at the moto X vs N5 what do we see... well the Moto X definitely seems to have stronger battery performance and the cameras seem to be about the same overall (though excelling/failing in different areas). I pretty much faced the same question you do right now and decided to try out the Moto X first.
For me it was a little easier too because I snapped up a republic wireless model for $300, so the unlocked price is similar to the N5. Plus sprint has strong LTE in my area.

I look at it like this: phones like Nexus 5 that has to power a 1080 screen will need bigger hardware to deliver a smooth experience. Notice that all the phones equipped with Snapdragon 600, carries the Adreno 320 yet is reported to have a good browsing experience. My unprofessional opinion is that the reason Moto X feels as good as it does is because it uses the same GPU as the S4/HO but has a smaller resolution to power. As we've witnessed as far back as the Galaxy Nexus, you don't need a quad-core to have a snappy experience and that the experience is more GPU-dependent. A lot of N4 users disable 2 of their cores to save on battery power and still have a snappy experience.

Keep it for a year or little bit over that, sell the moto x and buy a new one. Just buy the device now and enjoy. If you think about future proof you can never buy anything. I mean with wearables, flexible screens and so many things going on who knows how the smartphone market will turn out in the near future. Nothing is future proof, Moto X will hold fine at least for a year or 15 months, sure there will be much faster devices than moto x, nexus 5 but that's the case for any phone.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

Not sure what carrier your on but if you can switch to Verizon, you can get the moto x for $50 I believe.
I agree with alpha's statement. We are due for a new battery technology and if that doesn't come soon then I believe the OS makers with be working on optimization of their OS's to increase battery life. Google's direction of lower spec requirements for devices on future of android builds shows this.
Sent from my Moto X

dsimages said:
Not sure what carrier your on but if you can switch to Verizon, you can get the moto x for $50 I believe.
I agree with alpha's statement. We are due for a new battery technology and if that doesn't come soon then I believe the OS makers with be working on optimization of their OS's to increase battery life. Google's direction of lower spec requirements for devices on future of android builds shows this.
Sent from my Moto X
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Verizon really? Most of their phones have that ugly Verizon logo branding, full of bloat, last in updates, last or sometimes will not get flagship phones. To top it off useless CDMA.
Sure their network is great but I would any day choose a gsm carrier where at least I can use any phone I want. Why support such a carrier who wants so much control and basically screw customers.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk

dsimages said:
Not sure what carrier your on but if you can switch to Verizon, you can get the moto x for $50 I believe.
I agree with alpha's statement. We are due for a new battery technology and if that doesn't come soon then I believe the OS makers with be working on optimization of their OS's to increase battery life. Google's direction of lower spec requirements for devices on future of android builds shows this.
Sent from my Moto X
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Click to collapse
I'll see with the Nexus 5 first. I'm not a data user and I'm not one of those people who feel compelled to check their Facebook every 2 minutes, so I think I'm good. I'll just UC and run at 50% brightness and that should be good.
kirdroid said:
Verizon really? Most of their phones have that ugly Verizon logo branding, full of bloat, last in updates, last or sometimes will not get flagship phones. To top it off useless CDMA.
Sure their network is great but I would any day choose a gsm carrier where at least I can use any phone I want. Why support such a carrier who wants so much control and basically screw customers.
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
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Sorry guys, I'm not American.
That means I'm stuck with TELUS at least they give you a 10% discount on your monthly bill if you bring an unlocked phone.

Don't forget the fact that Google owns Motorola since last year. They can have Motorola build the phone awesome like they have done for decades and focus their android team better on development for the Motorola phone. To me Google didn't buy one of the all time leading phone manufactures just to keep having asus or lg build their nexus line. The moto x has brought some industry firsts that make a big impact for the user. Something that has not really happened for awhile. Also how future proof are you wanting? This phone will last you 10 years I bet if you wanted it to. It's the mobile computer world, every month a better device and better software comes out to use the hardware, you can't really future proof a mobile phone, just learn to accept that and learn to be happy with whatever device you choose. A good way to decide is do this. Write down on paper the pros and con's that talky matter to you in the phone then add them up on a point system and choose that way.
Sent from my XT1056 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

dobbs3x said:
Don't forget the fact that Google owns Motorola since last year.
Sent from my XT1056 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Since 2k11

I buy nexus phones thinking I'll keep them for two years, but no matter how well the current one is working, I end up going nuts for the new model. Totally fine though as you can recoup a good deal after a year with a nexus phone. I usually end up spending less than $150 upgrading after selling the old one.
Regardless of what a new moto costs me, if they make an x sequel in this same form factor with better battery and a faster processor, I will buy it!
Sent from my XT1053 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

They announced they were going to purchase Motorola in 2011, but didn't finalize the acquisition until May 2012.
Sent from my XT1056 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Cannot understate how much the constant GNex development kept the phone going for 2+years.
Moto X isn't going to benefit in this way. However, having had my phone usage/habits changed by Active Notifications and Voice controls, it will be extremely difficult to move "back" to a phone that doesn't have them; future-proofed or not.

chaoslimits said:
Cannot understate how much the constant GNex development kept the phone going for 2+years.
Moto X isn't going to benefit in this way.
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I agree, but frankly, the model has changed. Google is pushing out many of their updates either through the Play Store, or through updates to the Google Play Services. For instance, with they announced 4.3, many of the improvements highlighted were actually to the Play Services and they were pushed out to all phones running 4.1+.
Back when the GNex was introduced, most updates still had to get pushed through an actual OS upgrade. 2.x/3.x -> 4.x -> 4.1 were all major improvements that affected the core of the OS. 4.1 -> 4.2 -> 4.2.x -> 4.3 -> 4.4 have all been incremental changes, with many of the core features being available through Play Services. I'd go as far as saying the last serious change to the core OS, that really affected the whole user experience, was Project Butter in 4.1.
As much as I like new Android versions, people running on 4.1 are having a very similar user experience to people running on 4.4. They're running many of the same updates through Services or Play Store apps, the UI is consistent, and the performance is still excellent.
Turned into quite a long post, but I had a lot of the same thoughts when I decided to stick with a Moto X instead of getting another Nexus phone. The GNex was really excellent and its lifespan was substantially increased by devs and Project Butter. But I'm getting to a point where a stable phone with an official OS really hits all the notes I need, and with the new upgrade model, not to mention Moto's proactive 4.4 upgrade, I think this phone is going to have a good, long lifespan.

binary visions said:
Turned into quite a long post, but I had a lot of the same thoughts when I decided to stick with a Moto X instead of getting another Nexus phone. The GNex was really excellent and its lifespan was substantially increased by devs and Project Butter. But I'm getting to a point where a stable phone with an official OS really hits all the notes I need, and with the new upgrade model, not to mention Moto's proactive 4.4 upgrade, I think this phone is going to have a good, long lifespan.
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Absolutely! I would have been more than happy to stay on 4.2.2 for a while (although I love the 4.4 battery life increase :good: )

Related

[Q] Would you still recommend N4 or wait for MWC announcements?

I'm about to put in an order for the Nexus 4. I've been totally committed to doing this for a month now (waiting for my current subscription to expire). Today I saw an article about Xperia Z and some comments on the upcoming Mobile World Congress and all the news that are expected.
I'm currently sunning a Samsung galaxy S2 with CM 10.1. I hate Touchwiz and really want to run android vanilla as far as I can. I enjoy having the latest version of Android and am a bit tired of the un-cooperative Samsung devs that makes the CM 10.1 ROM only run "OK-ish".
So my question to you that have the Nexus 4 today is:
What else (besides quick updates) makes the Nexus 4 beat the competition today and would you still buy a Nexus 4 if you could change your mind (had your money back) today?
There won't be anything at MWC that challenges Nexus4 on the value for money front. Sure the Xperia Z is a great phone, same specs as the N4, better camera, but it's double the price.
If you are looking to pay the N4 price, and nothing more, then MWC will have nothing for you. (Huawei Ascend P2 possibly, but it's still not a Nexus device).
CrazyPeter said:
There won't be anything at MWC that challenges Nexus4 on the value for money front. Sure the Xperia Z is a great phone, same specs as the N4, better camera, but it's double the price.
If you are looking to pay the N4 price, and nothing more, then MWC will have nothing for you. (Huawei Ascend P2 possibly, but it's still not a Nexus device).
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Agreed.
@OP, it comes down to whether or not you would appreciate the new hardware or not. I personally couldn't care less about better processors, cameras and 1080p displays because from day to day usage I would never notice any difference. With the N4 you get brilliant hardware and software at an unbeatable price. Given the choice now I'd still get myself a N4.
rage77 said:
I'm about to put in an order for the Nexus 4. I've been totally committed to doing this for a month now (waiting for my current subscription to expire). Today I saw an article about Xperia Z and some comments on the upcoming Mobile World Congress and all the news that are expected.
I'm currently sunning a Samsung galaxy S2 with CM 10.1. I hate Touchwiz and really want to run android vanilla as far as I can. I enjoy having the latest version of Android and am a bit tired of the un-cooperative Samsung devs that makes the CM 10.1 ROM only run "OK-ish".
So my question to you that have the Nexus 4 today is:
What else (besides quick updates) makes the Nexus 4 beat the competition today and would you still buy a Nexus 4 if you could change your mind (had your money back) today?
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Click to collapse
There might be some phones out at MWC that might challenge N4. The Optimus G Pro especially with a Snapdragon 600 chip. However no phone will be at the price to performance ratio of N4. Also none of those phones will have guaranteed upgrade to new android versions after first 6-10 months.
btw CM10.1 running badly on S2 is not a fault of un-cooperative Samsung CM devs, but Samsung Mobile itself.I owned one and moved to N4 just so I can run latest version of Android ASAP.
Thank you all for good answers and helping me decide. Yes, Nexus 4 is still the phone for me as I like to root and run the latest Android version and as you mentioned, I probably won't care much for that slightly faster CPU and so on, that's not the important parts for me.
atulalvenkar said:
btw CM10.1 running badly on S2 is not a fault of un-cooperative Samsung CM devs, but Samsung Mobile itself.I owned one and moved to N4 just so I can run latest version of Android ASAP.
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Sorry I was probably unclear in what I meant, I know it's not Team Hacksungs fault, it's that they don't get any cooperation from Samsung mobiles devs and that ***ing Exynos crap.
Aaahh, feels good. I'll just click on "Order" now and await my beautiful Nexus in the mail next week.
Thanks guys!
If you're lucky, it may arrive the next day like mine did
Who cares about value for money when in most countries phones are free with new contracts. The Nexus ISNT cheaper than any other phone even the iPhone in the UK when taken with a normal 24 month contract.
So basically you have to ask yourself do you want to compromise on everything just to get stock Android. Because this phone is full of compromises
irzero said:
Who cares about value for money when in most countries phones are free with new contracts. The Nexus ISNT cheaper than any other phone even the iPhone in the UK when taken with a normal 24 month contract.
So basically you have to ask yourself do you want to compromise on everything just to get stock Android. Because this phone is full of compromises
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Click to collapse
That depends;
More MP in camera and TouchWiz interface vs lesser MP in camera and updated stock Android UI? - Then definitely stock Android UI
There are countless of comparisons having to be made if I were to compare all models and I don't even know of all these "compromises" you're talking about. Some of them are more known than others and most come down to taste and preference which is why I created this thread. I want to know your opinions since you (probably) already own the N4.
So, we come back to my original question: What compromises are most significant for you and what would you choose today?
I would buy it again. Three things I love about the nexus 4
1) Stability. I have owned samsung phones and they really aren't as stable as the competition. I'm talking stock out of the box. 2) look and feel. The phone feels good and expensive. Samsung has always felt cheap
3) speed/ram. This device will easily last me two years. That's two years if no headaches with updates, lack of stability, apps being buggy on my device, etc.
I like to avoid downtime and for that reason like to avoid custom Roms.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
rage77 said:
That depends;
More MP in camera and TouchWiz interface vs lesser MP in camera and updated stock Android UI? - Then definitely stock Android UI
There are countless of comparisons having to be made if I were to compare all models and I don't even know of all these "compromises" you're talking about. Some of them are more known than others and most come down to taste and preference which is why I created this thread. I want to know your opinions since you (probably) already own the N4.
So, we come back to my original question: What compromises are most significant for you and what would you choose today?
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i wouldnt choose today.
Id wait for the S4, the M7 and the X Phone all to show me what they have before i went with the nexus.
The nexus is based on last years specs. Poor battery dodgy camera and a washed out 720p screen. Build quality is so so also and android can be lacking in many areas that the skinned versions dont.
I wouldn't get the N4. I'd say the S3 I had before it was better, more stable and better features, but the 4G version is ever faster than the Nexus 4 and of course has a slightly better camera and better software.
The LTE S3 my GF has is running fast, smooth and stable from day one, with zero updates and no need for a custom rom and I am still having day to day crashes and wifi issues with my Nexus 4.
I love the N4 but have to say that HTC, Samsung and the rest do it better than google still.
For the record, custom roms like CM have always run the same for me regardless of platform, they're no more or less stable whether on HTC Desire, GS3, N4 or GSM galaxy nexus. All these fingers pointed at Samsung for exynos drivers etc is just sour grapes as out of all of the phones I listed, the GS3 runs just as well as the rest.
I'd get an Xperia Z or wait on samsung or HTC to release something new as however they are moaned at, they're stuff is still more stable than any google pure software or custom rom.
In defense of custom roms, they do have a few more customization options than the manufacturer overlays, but do lack some of the features in manufacturer skins.
Man, now I have to cancel my order... Way too many different thoughts.
Thank you, precisely what I needed, some food for thought to digest to make a better decision.
irzero said:
Who cares about value for money when in most countries phones are free with new contracts. The Nexus ISNT cheaper than any other phone even the iPhone in the UK when taken with a normal 24 month contract.
So basically you have to ask yourself do you want to compromise on everything just to get stock Android. Because this phone is full of compromises
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Click to collapse
You'd have to be a right twat to order a N4 on contract though wouldn't you? Ordering off contract with a giffgaff SIM comes to a saving of about £120 over the cheapest viable contract for both the GS3 and N4 (assuming you use the giffgaff SIM for 24 months and get cashback on the contract).
You should also expand on the compromises you're talking about. For a fair number of people (myself included) they don't really matter. I can completely understand why someone would want something else, but none of these compromises are a definite deal breaker in any way.
irzero said:
The nexus is based on last years specs. Poor battery dodgy camera and a washed out 720p screen. Build quality is so so also and android can be lacking in many areas that the skinned versions dont.
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It is based on last years specs, but how bad is that? Find an app that the S4 Pro can't keep up with and I'll be amazed. I've had excellent battery life, the camera is sub par but not a deal breaker for me and the washed out screen is a myth. Unless you compare the screen directly to a competitor's, you'll think it's great. It has reasonable saturation as stock, and that can be greatly improved with a quick kernel flash. Build quality is excellent for me, I'd go so far as to say that the phone feels Apple-esque in that department. As for stock Android lacking in features, I'd agree but argue that skins are slow and ugly.
biffsmash said:
I wouldn't get the N4. I'd say the S3 I had before it was better, more stable and better features, but the 4G version is ever faster than the Nexus 4 and of course has a slightly better camera and better software.
The LTE S3 my GF has is running fast, smooth and stable from day one, with zero updates and no need for a custom rom and I am still having day to day crashes and wifi issues with my Nexus 4.
I love the N4 but have to say that HTC, Samsung and the rest do it better than google still.
For the record, custom roms like CM have always run the same for me regardless of platform, they're no more or less stable whether on HTC Desire, GS3, N4 or GSM galaxy nexus. All these fingers pointed at Samsung for exynos drivers etc is just sour grapes as out of all of the phones I listed, the GS3 runs just as well as the rest.
I'd get an Xperia Z or wait on samsung or HTC to release something new as however they are moaned at, they're stuff is still more stable than any google pure software or custom rom.
In defense of custom roms, they do have a few more customization options than the manufacturer overlays, but do lack some of the features in manufacturer skins.
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You can't just say 'better' without justification. The SGS3 is definitely not more stable than the N4, since neither has ever crashed for me. I find TouchWiz to be far less consistent in terms of performance than AOSP, and never faster. Benchmarks and reviews quite conclusively prove that the Nexus performs better. The better camera part is true, the software is down to personal preference but I find TouchWiz to be incedibly ugly (but definitely more feature rich than AOSP).
You may need to expand on '...the rest do it better than Google still'.
Custom ROM's don't run the same on all phones at all. There are varying degrees of stability and speed. You're likely to get good performance on any flagship device, but the HD2 for example doesn't run CM10 nearly as well as the SGS3.
Other OEMs' devices aren't more stable than the N4, I don't know where you got that from.
I understand that there are plenty of arguments in favour of other devices over the N4, but neither of you have made valid points here.

Buy now or wait?

Currently I have an iPhone 3GS. It's served me well for the last year and 3/4 but its starting to show its age. Really I just want to know if I show go and buy a nexus 4 now or should I wait for something like the note 2 to come down in price? Any help in answer this question would be good.
Noobven said:
Currently I have an iPhone 3GS. It's served me well for the last year and 3/4 but its starting to show its age. Really I just want to know if I show go and buy a nexus 4 now or should I wait for something like the note 2 to come down in price? Any help in answer this question would be good.
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I'd get the Nexus 4 now, it just depends how long you are willing to wait.
It depends on your budget. If you waited this long I don't see why you can't wait to see what phones are released later in the summer.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Well I've only really been looking this month. My main concern is the longevity of the nexus 4 as I read that is slowly being outdated without being a year old( but seeing as my phone is 3 it shouldn't really concern me). And as for my budget I'm looking for the best that is around $400-$500
If you're budget conscious and think you would enjoy the stock Android experience, I say go for it. If you take excellent care of your phone you can always sell it for a good amount on eBay or Craigslist and use that money to buy an upcoming phone should it appeal to you more.
daewond3r said:
If you're budget conscious and think you would enjoy the stock Android experience, I say go for it. If you take excellent care of your phone you can always sell it for a good amount on eBay or Craigslist and use that money to buy an upcoming phone should it appeal to you more.
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I'm kinda new to the android market. I've got a transformer pad tf300. Could you explain what's the difference between that and the stock android experience. Is one better than the other. Or could you link me to somewhere I could find this information.
Noobven said:
Well I've only really been looking this month. My main concern is the longevity of the nexus 4 as I read that is slowly being outdated without being a year old( but seeing as my phone is 3 it shouldn't really concern me). And as for my budget I'm looking for the best that is around $400-$500
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Idk where you read that but the Nexus 4 is about to receive 4.3 and will more than likely receive 5.0 later this year. The Nexus 4 has a lot of life left in it. Even after Google stops official support I'm sure the dev community will keep it going a while longer.
---------- Post added at 01:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:35 AM ----------
Noobven said:
I'm kinda new to the android market. I've got a transformer pad tf300. Could you explain what's the difference between that and the stock android experience. Is one better than the other. Or could you link me to somewhere I could find this information.
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Click to collapse
I've never used Transformer before but I believe it runs a slightly skinned version of Android? In any case you can look up YouTube videos of the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 7 to see what stock Android is like.
It's debated (of course) but most of the Android devotees enjoy "stock/vanilla" Android, which basically means it's Android as it comes from Google. OEMs like Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and others all put their own custom skins on it. They often add features that stock Android doesn't have (some useful, some gimmicky) but the general consensus is that the skins bog down the phone and that loss in performance outweighs the extra bells and whistles you get.
Being that you're an iOS user, think of it in these terms--a Nexus device is the closest thing to an iPhone for Android. I mean this in the sense that when Google releases a new version of Android, you get it quickly after it's release. Just like you do when Apple pushes an iOS update. If you had say a Samsung Galaxy S4 and were anxious for Android 5.0, you'd have to wait at least a few months for Samsung to rework their Touchwiz UI over the new Android 5.0 and send out an update.
Given your budget, I would totally recommend the Nexus 4. You'll even have some extra cash to spend on some great accessories to keep it nice and safe--in case you do decide to sell it for something coming in the next year.
Hope this helps.
The only reasons to wait would be the release of the x phone or the next nexus. As we don't know if the x phone will be worth it, and the nexus 5 isn't even announced yet (don't forget the time it took to get the phone on stock..2 or 3 month after release), I'd say get the Nexus 4 and be happy.
I bought my N4 last week and I advice you to buy it
I am normally a buy now type of guy.
But I would wait to the moto x announcement. And at least see if the tumours are true.
One of the biggest things about a nexus device is that is unlocked and off contract.
If the moto x is going to be available for 299 of contract and their is a device for your carrier of choice, that would also be a tempting deal. Decent specs and lte and a good price. I don't really believe that rumor but I would at least wait til find out. It's only a week away.
ccab said:
The only reasons to wait would be the release of the x phone or the next nexus. As we don't know if the x phone will be worth it, and the nexus 5 isn't even announced yet (don't forget the time it took to get the phone on stock..2 or 3 month after release), I'd say get the Nexus 4 and be happy.
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Moto x not worth it. It's a dual core phone and not even 1080p. The only thing better for the Moto x over the n4 is probably the camera. Spec wise, n4 is a lot faster. Plus it's a Nexus phone so therefore, it will have the latest updates. Moto x will still require carrier approval most likely.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Buy it.
a
zephiK said:
Moto x not worth it. It's a dual core phone and not even 1080p. The only thing better for the Moto x over the n4 is probably the camera. Spec wise, n4 is a lot faster. Plus it's a Nexus phone so therefore, it will have the latest updates. Moto x will still require carrier approval most likely.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
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Not worth it? You don't even know the price. Nor do you know the network the user is on. I assume if he is from the states he is on att. That alone could easily push somebody to a moto x phone on that network for lte over their crap 3g.
Specs don't mean crap. Benchmarks don't mean crap. In no usage case with the nexus 4 be a lot faster. In fact it the moto x should be faster in day to day use. It won't be slower.
The op didn't mention a thing about getting updates and doesn't even know what the stock experience is and so on.
If he wants to spend up to 500 on a phone he could also consider dropping that for a oppo. And that phone is old and still worth that price.
zephiK said:
Moto x not worth it. It's a dual core phone and not even 1080p. The only thing better for the Moto x over the n4 is probably the camera. Spec wise, n4 is a lot faster
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The problem with some android users is that they measure everything according to hardware, i call this the samsung mentality, "pump in the latest and greatest hardware, it will look good on paper, who cares about user experience" . No wonder the S4 has a lot of problems and as they call it over there (on their xda forums) "unoptimized software yet". Doesn't sound nice for a >650$ device.
I'm not a fan of Apple or any of it's products, but comparing the hardware/performance of the iphone5 vs galaxy S4 , as sad as it sounds, the my-little-pony-phone destroys that S4 in all fields even with inferior hardware.
So don't put the Moto X on ignore list just yet, i'm sure those 2 cores are going to be more than enough for one of the best android user experiences, and the lack of 1080p display is there for a reason. And finally don't forget that rumors say it's going to be an affordable phone targeting a wider crowd than, let's say, the nexus line.
An average non tech savvy individual doesn't care about which hardware the device rocks, they only care about the overall user experience, and the Moto X might provide just that.
I don't think the N4 will be outdated anytime soon for me at least, but I guess it depends on your needs. The biggest downside to N4 (for me) is the lack of external SD and LTE. If you feel these features are important to you in the near future, I would wait. If not, I would buy.
I bought one last wed. The Dev community is huge for the device and will be for along time. Pricing and hardware is awesome, not to mention I think its still one of the best looking phones. I say go for it.
Cheers, J.
I bought the N4 recently and I'd say wait for the moto x. It's just a week more and I think it's better looking than the nexus. Hardware specs are not that important. If you don't like it you can still get the nexus later.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Moto X successor is coming by the end of the summer

It seems the successor to our wonderful Moto X will be out by the end of the summer!
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/motorola-smartwatch-moto-x-reveal/
Steve-x said:
It seems the successor to our wonderful Moto X will be out by the end of the summer!
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/motorola-smartwatch-moto-x-reveal/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whatever price it launches for I'll wait 90 days for the huge sales and price cuts to begin.
I hope it stays this size.
Sent from my XT1056 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Restola said:
Whatever price it launches for I'll wait 90 days for the huge sales and price cuts to begin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too, still is enjoying the current Moto X very much.
Yep, make it better but don't ruin it!
So excited... its coming!
Restola said:
Whatever price it launches for I'll wait 90 days for the huge sales and price cuts to begin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. If pricing is anything like the original X, waiting a little while to buy will pay huge dividends.
Sent from my XT1053
I hope they take a bite of Samsungs pie!
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
As long as they aren't like Thinkpad division where the laptop build quality keeps getting cheaper every year, I'll be interested.
I wholeheartedly agree that they must keep the phone the same size. The size of the Moto X is truly one of its best features. I don't understand why each manufacturers mainstream models keep getting bigger and bigger as if the human hand is growing in size each year. After all you can just make a larger phone or more accurately phablet phone for those that want something larger.
Every year usually these kinds of threads are the one that makes me go "DARN IT i just bought my phone..."
But strangely, not this time.
I guess I'm that happy with this phone.
If anything though, I'd like to see a bigger battery.
Sent from my XT1058 using xda app-developers app
CartlandSmith said:
I know; I can't stand how cheap the Thinkpad's cases have become.
---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 PM ----------
I like this phone as my daily driver but I would like to see a Moto X phablet, too. And if there were any way to reduce the size of the bezel on the Moto X, that would be great, too. It's pretty small now, not complaining, but if it could be even smaller, all the better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe vertically, but not the sides, which are already too thin that my palm rest on the screen by accident and cancel out my regular touches. (And I guess Apple already have some patent on that.)
Although this is good news, I'd still be concerned about the timeliness of updates for future devices once Lenovo takes the helm.
landale said:
I wholeheartedly agree that they must keep the phone the same size. The size of the Moto X is truly one of its best features. I don't understand why each manufacturers mainstream models keep getting bigger and bigger as if the human hand is growing in size each year. After all you can just make a larger phone or more accurately phablet phone for those that want something larger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly wouldn't mind making the screen a little bit bigger 5.0 doesn't bother. Or if they had a 5.1 version and 4.8 or whatever it is Noe but I do enjoy the size just wish the screen was a bit bigger/1080 haha
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
Instead of releasing a new phone, they should keep supporting the current Moto X. We know the S4 chip is still plenty potent and I'd gladly pay a good price for a camera module I can install for increased quality. It's really the only black mark on the Moto X.
Thrillhouse847 said:
Although this is good news, I'd still be concerned about the timeliness of updates for future devices once Lenovo takes the helm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a concern for anything but a Nexus though.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
I have zero gripes with my Moto X. This is the first smartphone that I've had nothing to complain about. I don't even see why people hate on the camera. It's at least better than everything I've had before.
I am in no rush to upgrade. I can't see anything a new phone is going to offer me unless it has some revolutionary software on it. I'm not even using all the features on the current one to their fullest.
I would like a bit bigger screen, not huge. The 4.7" seems comprable with the M7 HTC One, but of course the M7's 4.7" doesn't count buttons. I think the Moto X could add just a touch more real estate and still remain small.
CartlandSmith said:
They will keep supporting it via software for another year. But this is the industry standard - release a new model each year - and Motorola is sticking to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the part I don't get. That's probably because I don't see their money sense.
You invest new hardware and current-market pricing to release new phones and get people to buy new. You make a moderate profit. Or take this theory. You buy into hardware that's good enough, and continue to support it for say...3-5 years. You add new features, you fix bugs, you optimize the phone to its maximum potential. Throughout this time the people who like your phone and are completely satisfied with it will continue to keep their phones and not sell it back. Word of mouth sales will drive more sales knowing this phone won't go away in 1-2 years because everyone likes a good, long investment with long return-of-interest. As the tech matures, the price of fabrication for that chip goes down, and manufacturing prices go down such that you will make more profit over time while still maintain high level of demand and satisfaction. A long term investment basically.
The problem with my theory is that phones don't age well and new features like fingerprint scanners are becoming popular. Well, that's where the Moto X is different. It has the language and contextual processors, as well as the motion sensor for the camera. It has the Krait-300 based S4 processor. Best of all, computing requirements has hit a plateau such that a Snapdragon 400 will perform close to a Snapdragon 600 and 800 in real-world usage. The Moto X has the potential to be a long-lasting device because it has diversified tech that will stand out for years to come, versus being caught in the R&D Race for the never-ending spec wars. Do what Apple does with the iPhone 4, but do it better than them.
The only ONLY black mark against the Moto X is the camera quality. If there's a way to resolve that, as well as consistently bringing down price through long-term investments/support and maintaining their market presence through advertising and good-faith consumers: there won't be a need to rush out for another Motorola device any near future because demand for the current device (soon to be past device) will show there's no need to reinvent the wheel when the current one is a huge cash cow.
One important thing to remember about the updates lifespan is that 99.5 percent of customers know nothing of rooting and stuff, don't know or care what android version their phone is, don't even know what kit kat or jelly bean mean as far as their phone goes and don't care about updates or when the next is.........if the phone works they're happy.
So us here looking at it from our point of view does not reflect the massive majority of their customers.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

All Moto X 2014 Owners Please Read

Hello, i just wanted bring all of you together to read this thread. Ok so i know since you've been a Moto owner, you've heard or seen at least once insulting comment about your device or the Motorola company. For example, "Anything that Motorola makes sucks" "People only get them because they're cheap" "That phone is crappy". I know that those people are ignorant to other people's liking. I'm tired of hearing the same thing. A lot of people that own super expensive high end- flashy smartphones say things like that about devices like the Moto series. Well that really offends me, just because they might not be the most high-end smartphones or the most expensive smartphones doesn't mean they are worthless. We Moto owners take great pride in our device, we appreciate what we have and we value our smartphones.
If someone offered me a brand new Galaxy S6 and a brand new Moto X and said i could only pick one. I would pick the Moto X hands down without a doubt in my mind. Because I know, We know what matters in a smartphone. What is that? User experience and performance for the price. That's what a review comes down to at the end of the day. A company could make a super spec'd out smartphone but get the same review score as a phone a fraction of its cost. I know if i were to buy a $1000 smartphone it better be great in every aspect and i know if i bought a smartphone for half that price, i'm not expecting it to be perfect but i want to have a good performance. That's exactly what motorola does, it gives you a great performing phone for the price.
For example, the Moto G. It has a low price point but does everything you need it to do. If I want a super powerful gaming machine of a smartphone, I'm not going to buy the Moto G. Then give a bad review for not being able to do what i wanted it to. I'm gonna buy a smartphone with a powerful chipset. At the end of the day we Moto owners stand out. Other people don't seem to understand our taste in smartphones value. Im not saying if you own a super expensive phone you're a bad person or anything. I'm just saying you get what you pay for. All of you Moto owners, good job in picking a smartphone. It doesn't matter if you have a Moto E, a Moto G or a Moto X. We all are equal and unified. #Teammoto
Proof that price doesn't matter
Moto has shunned a lot of former owners myself included l...while I love this phone Moto can still lick my berries.
Sent from my XT1096 using Tapatalk
It cost me over $1000 to get a MotoMaker Moto X into my country.
Worth every cent!
Beautiful design, Better features and Better performance than all my friends IPhones and Shamsungs.
Agreed !
Most people I talk to in my cell phone repair shop are ignorant to Motorola smartphones. They see my phone and ask what it is. Then they say that it looks nice.
Let those say whatever they want to because they are not aware of the fact that Motorola is the one who created mobile industry, rest are just parts of this industry. Real innovator is Motorola, rest just follow up whatever is left out by Motorola. Even today no other phone can beat a MotoX in terms of 'smartness', rest just feel dumb phones in front of a Moto X.
Motorola users don't need to frequently change their devices because they are more durable, can keep going for few generations of OS versions, come at cheaper price point. A 2-3 years Moto can easily keep going till the next Moto replaces it. You hardly see other brand's phones over 2 years old in anyone's hands. Others just fight needless specs war whereas specs is not everything. so called small battery and poor camera of my MotoX never miss the chance of surprising me by their performance, thats engineering, not just putting useless counts of cores or big spec battery or a high pixel density display which unnecessarily eats up the additional CPU power or battery.
Offcourse there are flaws in the Moto devices also but others are much more flawed. I am currently fighting a consumer court case against poor after sales service provided by Motorola when they took forever to repair a defective MotoE under warranty but that bad incident isn't enough to reduce my love and respect towards the Motorola brand.
Their strong comeback in the market after going completely dead is one more reason to buy their devices because it motivates to wake up and fight in the life, doesn't matter whatever trouble life throws on us. :good:
Let the ignorant people go gaga over whatever they want to, it doesn't changes the reality, does it?
the sad thing is that we are on a new level of "low" on the Dev part of our community.. only a few roms and most of them 5.0.x, only one custom kernel and only for CM based roms.. id love to have a custom kernel on my stock but rooted to be able to play with synapse to tamper with settings to "beast-out" ok gaming and more out of battery for everyday use..
about the talk.. heh I've been experiencing these kind of things at work when they see me use the my phone.. waving my hand over it to check my notifications.. they are so jealous [emoji13]
Motorola is still a great manufacturer, designer, innovater of awesome phones! The X series are the living proofs of this! Many users hate the company now because motorola promised them faster updates and has been really slow and non transparent in terms of updates!
I think motorola has done a great job in terms of updates and phones in general! Leaving the S6 which had 5.0 out of the box, no other manufacturer has provided 5.1 update to any of their phones yet other than the nexus line! People would never understand that 5.0 to 5.0.2 were buggy! They just want an update so they could think less of it and start complaining about the next version of android not being given to them in time! I say such people should buy nexus phones to get timely updates and stop the ranting!
For other people who have a higher price higher spec phones dont know much about android. They just buy a high spec phone thinking its future proof and later understand that there are many more newer innovations at a lesser price. Such people always keep wasting money in those high specs! Motorola doesn't provide high specs. But it provides the perfect balance of specs and working and useful features in their phones which are more useful in daily use and thus it makes the phones a daily driver.
The only problem with their phone is the fragile screen. Its glass and glass tends to break when it takes a hit. But the cost to replace it is too much! In India we need to pay 75% of the purchase cost to get the screen replaced! That's what is keeping people from buying motorola!
I love Stock Android on the Moto X 2014 ?
I miss the development of roms
That is because the source is still stuck back at 5.0.2. It would be great if we could get more up to date source.
I got my s3 when it was a flagship device and had a Samsung phone earlier. The primary reason I got the moto X was the price due to the cyber Monday sale. I saved up anticipating that the nexus 6 would be around the same price as the 5 but it turned out to be very expensive for me.
I had a few apprehensions before getting this device as I had never owned a moto device, but the X has exceeded my expectations! For the price, I don't think any other phone offers similar build quality and specs. Sure a bigger battery or a SD card slot would have been sweet but I feel that this is the perfect blend of stock plus nifty Moto features. I'm so used to active display now that I don't think I can actually use a device without it!
As far as updates are concerned, I'd rather have a fully functional 5.1 build rather than a messed up quickly released and buggy one. The delay has been a little annoying with multiple soak tests but if it results in a near bug free build then I'd rather wait!
All in all very satisfied with the phone.
#teammoto
Sent from my XT1095 using XDA Free mobile app

I fear Motorola will abandon this phone.

I really want to get this Moto X because I loved the 1st gen so much, but I feel like we will get screwed over when it's time for Android N and Android O. I'm not sure if I should go Moto X for the next two years or Nexus 6p. I'm coming from a Nexus 5 as my daily driver and I love the Nexus advantage man. Opinions?
Prestige_DOPE said:
I really want to get this Moto X because I loved the 1st gen so much, but I feel like we will get screwed over when it's time for Android N and Android O. I'm not sure if I should go Moto X for the next two years or Nexus 6p. I'm coming from a Nexus 5 as my daily driver and I love the Nexus advantage man. Opinions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus guaranteed. Any other phone its up in the air. If you really care about immediate updates and bug fixes then its nexus. If updated are secondary or you can wait then moto. Plus anything can happen.
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA Free mobile app
monkeypaws said:
Nexus guaranteed. Any other phone its up in the air. If you really care about immediate updates and bug fixes then its nexus. If updated are secondary or you can wait then moto. Plus anything can happen.
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see how anyone could not have the latest update right away. I get so excited for new features I can't sit back and watch. Motorola claimed to be able to send get updates out faster due to no carriers but that doesn't guarantee support for the coming years its depressing this just hit me.
Really your preference, they are both solid devices. The better performer is the 6p, the moto x is a pretty close second. There's really no evidence comparing the two devices just yet, if that matters to you then wait a few more days until YouTubers post some comparison videos so you can get a closer look. Motorola is usually a month behind nexus devices for updates, but remember they are two to three months faster than your typical Samsung, lg etc..
playerone_ said:
Really your preference, they are both solid devices. The better performer is the 6p, the moto x is a pretty close second. There's really no evidence comparing the two devices just yet, if that matters to you then wait a few more days until YouTubers post some comparison videos so you can get a closer look. Motorola is usually a month behind nexus devices for updates, but remember they are two to three months faster than your typical Samsung, lg etc..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is exactly the reason I went with moto instead of nexus. I also use my sd card (64gb) which I can't use in a nexus. They both run stock Android and are the best contenders right now for quick updates. Anyone else is going to be lagging behind or left behind.
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA Free mobile app
I really want marshmallow right now because of the memory merge feature sdcard will become internal memory no need to separate things anymore.
george241312 said:
I really want marshmallow right now because of the memory merge feature sdcard will become internal memory no need to separate things anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Soon.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Think we're forgetting the benefit of being able to unlock the bootloader and easily load ROMS with the MXPE. This will allow the unit to endure long past other limited phones that were not unlockable or rootable. Before the MXPE I owned a Note 3. And in the last month I installed a lollipop ROM that was side loadable and that really boosted its lifespan and useability. I owned that phone for two years which could easily have lengthened that useability to another year or better. I came pretty close to not even purchasing the MXPE due to this fact but I figured a unlocked BL phone along with the improved camera on the MXPE made it wise to upgrade at this time. Not too many phones anymore can be unlocked and that, to me, is a huge factor-allowing for future upgrades regardless what the carrier or Moto does.
Our bootloader is unlocked. Motorola has been good about releasing sources so far. We already have one or two ROMs for our device. I'm waiting for CM official to be released, personally. I think the chances of us getting these updates are decent, at least from the community development standpoint. Officially, I'm a little concerned beyond M, but I won't be staying on stock that much longer.
But how do you guys feel on staying on a older version of Android when the new one gets released? Does it bother you any?
Prestige_DOPE said:
But how do you guys feel on staying on a older version of Android when the new one gets released? Does it bother you any?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well...not all new versions of operating systems are better than their predecessors... ie. Windows 8.
Now I am one who usually is a bleeding-edge technology user but with that comes the whole bugs issue. There are those who are a bit more conservative. These guys do not mind waiting for a more perfected solution. You sound like you are a bleeding-edge kind of guy and that is a very frustrating position to be in when there is something new and you can not have it due to your choice of phone/manufacturer. In that case I feel your pain. But for me the MXPE seems to be the the best balance in the regard.
Prestige_DOPE said:
But how do you guys feel on staying on a older version of Android when the new one gets released? Does it bother you any?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought this phone rather than a Nexus because of its SD. That's more important to me than waiting a month or two for M. Now, if a new Android version drops in a year and Moto denies MXPE owners the upgrade, I'll grit my teeth and think about moving back to Samsung. I'll admit, it would shock me though...
<rant>Headslap for Googler who nixed SD for the Nexus. Stupid.</rant>
george241312 said:
I really want marshmallow right now because of the memory merge feature sdcard will become internal memory no need to separate things anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Prepare ur UHS-II card.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
In my honest opinion I don't think Motorola will abandon this device, they have put a lot of emphasis on their definition of the word "pure" and what it entails. Also, like a few people have stated, you can significantly increase the lifespan by easily unlocking the bootloader and installing custom roms. Once cyanogenmod rolls out a stable release they are usually followed by nightly updates, literally almost every night for a long, long time. My LG G2 has been getting nightly updates since 2013.
playerone_ said:
In my honest opinion I don't think Motorola will abandon this device, they have put a lot of emphasis on their definition of the word "pure" and what it entails. Also, like a few people have stated, you can significantly increase the lifespan by easily unlocking the bootloader and installing custom roms. Once cyanogenmod rolls out a stable release they are usually followed by nightly updates, literally almost every night for a long, long time. My LG G2 has been getting nightly updates since 2013.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all fun cool until their new flagship comes out. We'll see how they treat the 2014 Pure edition.
Prestige_DOPE said:
It's all fun cool until their new flagship comes out. We'll see how they treat the 2014 Pure edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This was the driving point for me leaving Samsung after the s3. Samsung would not even push any otas of the newest version of Android until their newest flagship with that update was released and had enough time in the light. They also hardly updated it to the newest version of touchwiz that the new flagship had, almost forcing those users to upgrade to get those features.
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA Free mobile app
monkeypaws said:
This was the driving point for me leaving Samsung after the s3. Samsung would not even push any otas of the newest version of Android until their newest flagship with that update was released and had enough time in the light. They also hardly updated it to the newest version of touchwiz that the new flagship had, almost forcing those users to upgrade to get those features.
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXACTLY and to think... Carriers expected us to keep a phone for 2 years at that time.
Prestige_DOPE said:
But how do you guys feel on staying on a older version of Android when the new one gets released? Does it bother you any?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This depends on the version I am left with. My G2 was left on a very buggy version Lollipop. I elected to stay on KitKat due to better battery life and overall better performance of the phone. I like to be on the latest version if it is better but am satisfied staying on an older version if it does everything I need. Granted, I am not a gamer and use my phone mostly for voice calls, emails, Tapatalk, web surfing as needed, and text messages.
None of the Android phones are getting updates on a schedule sufficient to come anywhere close to mitigating security vulnerabilities. Not even Nexus. Most phones are likely infected with malware, even Nexus. All it takes is one of hundreds of infected apps, still up for download from the Google Play Store.
This aspect of the Android ecosystem is shameful. Evidently, there is not enough money in the business model to do a good job at this. Google made a big PR release promising better updates for all including cheap Android One devices, and ratcheted the promises up further after the first Stagefright exploit hit the news, and what really came of all the promises? Not much. A little better update performance for the few big names already known for better (but still pathetic) update performance.
So since security is already nonexistent, and updates will never resolve that, the only remaining reason to care is fault corrections (aka bug fixes) and features/support. The XT1575 is not perfect but it does OK in those two categories for me at 5.1.1, no worse than other phones I've had. I'll take an OTA to get LTE Band 12 /VoLTE when it comes, but otherwise don't see a compelling reason to care much about updates since the security vulns are going to be there anyway, and updates always introduce at least as many faults as they fix.
As for long-term support: This whole thing converges on a 2 year life cycle. You run into rapidly diminishing returns after that, it's not worth it to keep the phone going after 2 years. (Spent a lot of time and money keeping phones going past 2 years, believe me it's not worth it, chunk it and get a new one after 2 years.) So who cares if updates stop somewhere after a year?
Prestige_DOPE said:
I don't see how anyone could not have the latest update right away. I get so excited for new features I can't sit back and watch. Motorola claimed to be able to send get updates out faster due to no carriers but that doesn't guarantee support for the coming years its depressing this just hit me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't jump on the newest Android versions immediately, for two reasons.
1). Compatibility issues.
For example, you have a new major version of Android out that changes the way some UI elements are displayed. Not every app you have installed will be updated to support that on day 1. A fully-functional-but-slightly-older phone beats a bleeding-edge-mostly-functional phone.
2). You lose root.
This isn't an issue on an unlocked bootloader phone like the MXPE. But to date, most Android phones have locked bootloaders, and only got root through discovering some exploit. A new version of Android means potentially losing root, and potentially requiring the dev community to find another exploit to gain root. A rooted-but-slightly-older phone beats an unrooted-and-carrier-bloatware-loaded phone.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

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