Moto X or Droid Mini?

[cwa777]

Being a Verizon customer, it does seem a bit odd that the Moto X and the Droid line up are being released extremely close together. Although the color customization is sort of neat for the X, Verizon customers don't have much of a choice until "later". So, other than size, are there really any significant differences between the X and say the Droid Mini? Spec wise they look about dead even, so I wanted to get some feedback. Thanks!

 

[Cronis]

only significant difference is Moto X AMOLED screen vs the Mini's TFT screen. Also the obvious size difference (4.7 vs 4.3). otherwise the two phones have pretty much the same hardware.

 

[The_Chief]

Spec wise, they may be even... and it will come down to what exactly you want the phone to DO for you. I'm not really up on the Mini, but here's my take:

For example, I've been rooting & ROMming my phone since December 2009. Now here comes Moto X, with this completely hands-free feature that I think I'm absolutely going to love. Rooting that phone would be great, but ROMming it would eliminate the always-listening function that I want. So the locked bootloader thing is only mildly annoying to me.

The Moto X also has the exact same size screen as the HTC One, but in a significantly smaller form factor: they wasted no space at all here.

It really comes down to functionality and the desired user experience. Take them both for test drives in the store and make your decision

 

[Wolfedude88]

Spec wise, they may be even... and it will come down to what exactly you want the phone to DO for you. I'm not really up on the Mini, but here's my take:

For example, I've been rooting & ROMming my phone since December 2009. Now here comes Moto X, with this completely hands-free feature that I think I'm absolutely going to love. Rooting that phone would be great, but ROMming it would eliminate the always-listening function that I want. So the locked bootloader thing is only mildly annoying to me.

The Moto X also has the exact same size screen as the HTC One, but in a significantly smaller form factor: they wasted no space at all here.

It really comes down to functionality and the desired user experience. Take them both for test drives in the store and make your decision

? The mini has every feature the X does, user experience should be exactly the same as well. The only difference is screen size and type, which the X is a little bit bigger.

So it comes down to size, the mini being smaller, screen resolution is the same, battery life should be close, performance and features look to be the same, look of the phone, and price.

The Mini is 99 on contract vs the X at 199.

 

[cwa777]

only significant difference is Moto X AMOLED screen vs the Mini's TFT screen. Also the obvious size difference (4.7 vs 4.3). otherwise the two phones have pretty much the same hardware.

Thanks. Didn't realize the screen difference. I assume AMOLED allows the Moto X to use the Active Display? Or is that feature also available on the Droid Mini?

 

[cwa777]

Spec wise, they may be even... and it will come down to what exactly you want the phone to DO for you. I'm not really up on the Mini, but here's my take:

For example, I've been rooting & ROMming my phone since December 2009. Now here comes Moto X, with this completely hands-free feature that I think I'm absolutely going to love. Rooting that phone would be great, but ROMming it would eliminate the always-listening function that I want. So the locked bootloader thing is only mildly annoying to me.

The Moto X also has the exact same size screen as the HTC One, but in a significantly smaller form factor: they wasted no space at all here.

It really comes down to functionality and the desired user experience. Take them both for test drives in the store and make your decision

Thanks for your feedback. Yes, I think the short answer is to definitely try them out in the store. So I assume both will be available in store around the end of the month or so?

 

[cwa777]

? The mini has every feature the X does, user experience should be exactly the same as well. The only difference is screen size and type, which the X is a little bit bigger.

So it comes down to size, the mini being smaller, screen resolution is the same, battery life should be close, performance and features look to be the same, look of the phone, and price.

The Mini is 99 on contract vs the X at 199.

This was pretty much what I was thinking and the reason for the post. Other than size and cost, I'm not really seeing a huge difference. Although, I would think the screen resolution would actually be better in the smaller form factor. Maybe it just comes down to what feels better in the hand. Can't wait to see how the Verizon reps try to sell one over the other though!

 

[The_Chief]

Well, the Droid line is notorious for bloatware (so all that RAM is pre-loaded with stuff you'll likely never use). I expect the X to have less bloat. Plus I love my screen real estate and would never want to consider a smaller screen

WHEN are the phones due out? Rumor is in the next several weeks, but Verizon is only saying "soon". And their definition of "soon" is "not necessarily soon".

 

[sean76]

Well, the Droid line is notorious for bloatware (so all that RAM is pre-loaded with stuff you'll likely never use). I expect the X to have less bloat. Plus I love my screen real estate and would never want to consider a smaller screen

WHEN are the phones due out? Rumor is in the next several weeks, but Verizon is only saying "soon". And their definition of "soon" is "not necessarily soon".

Soon to them is Christmas...

 

[Thom]

WHEN are the phones due out? Rumor is in the next several weeks, but Verizon is only saying "soon". And their definition of "soon" is "not necessarily soon".

Moto X - date not yet given
Droid Mini, Ultra, and Maxx - August 20

... Thom

 

[The_Chief]

Rumored X launch is August 23, so it should be exciting toward the end of the month. Plus we should see a leaked fall/winter roadmap by then, telling us what other phones will be coming out on Big Red (G2 and Nexus, hint hint)

 

[john248]

I wonder if the Mini will have Active Display. I do like that the Mini also has wireless charging though the smaller screen size as well as only 16GB is a bummer along with the gloss case. I might just buy the Mini or the X in the time being until the GS5 comes out next spring.

 

[Wolfedude88]

From what droid life posted, the X on Verizon has quite of bit of bloat, but it seems to be missing the circle widget from Motorola, I actually hope it has that because that is really a great widget.

The mini will technically have a sharper screen but the difference shouldn't be noticeable with the difference in size.

Compared to the X the mini is probably a better deal, but I personally love the look of the X and it should have more accessories because of being on multiple carriers.

 

[Wolfedude88]

Also about the circle widget, has anyone seen it on the Moto X since it was announced? Because it was on the leak from the foreign video leaked a while back

 

[themax4814]

Thanks. Didn't realize the screen difference. I assume AMOLED allows the Moto X to use the Active Display? Or is that feature also available on the Droid Mini?

Yes, I cannot see how a LCD/TFT screen would allow the Active Display feature to be used.

For the TFT screens the backlight has to illuminate the entire screen, which makes it to where no matter what the screen is displaying it will always use the same amount of energy, in fact the blacks actually can take more energy because the pixels must activate to black out the backlight.

The AMOLED screen was used because then the phone is able to only activate the individual pixels required to provide the Active Display feature.

That is one of the main reasons why I want to get the Moto X so it would probably be the deciding factor in a decision for me to avoid getting the Droid Mini (although I much prefer its screen size and form factor) over the X, Ultra, or Maxx.

 

[cwa777]

Yes, I cannot see how a LCD/TFT screen would allow the Active Display feature to be used.

For the TFT screens the backlight has to illuminate the entire screen, which makes it to where no matter what the screen is displaying it will always use the same amount of energy, in fact the blacks actually can take more energy because the pixels must activate to black out the backlight.

The AMOLED screen was used because then the phone is able to only activate the individual pixels required to provide the Active Display feature.

That is one of the main reasons why I want to get the Moto X so it would probably be the deciding factor in a decision for me to avoid getting the Droid Mini (although I much prefer its screen size and form factor) over the X, Ultra, or Maxx.

Although I did find this write up on The Verge, and it looks like the Droid Mini will also have the Active Display feature...

"But there's plenty of change on the software front. Motorola has added a bevy of new features to its Droid lineup. Touchless Control lets users make phone calls, request directions, and search Google without ever touching the handset. To conserve battery life, Active Display lights up just a portion of the Droid Mini's display to provide key information and notifications when you need them. Photos can also be quickly shared via a new Droid Zap feature."

Motorola introduces $99 Droid Mini: 'compact without compromise' | The Verge

 

[drhill]

I believe the mini also has wireless charging.

The X is really a 4.7 inch Ultra with a prettier (personal opinion) outside.

 

[dcorn]

I'm really hoping that Moto has changed the game here in terms of screen size to phone size ratio. I've been very resistant to bigger screens because that always meant a bigger phone, no matter what. I always had the smallest blackberry back in the day and the switch to the OG Droid was a big step up. Now I have the Rezound, which I think is a great size phone in the hand, so I didn't want to go bigger. However I would like a slightly bigger screen, while still retaining good specs, so that automatically meant a giant phone.

Now moto releases the X, which has the same H and W dimensions of my Rezound, but with a 4.7" screen and 3mm thinner. Then Moto builds the new Razr Mini with top of the line specs and a 4.3" screen? Maybe they didn't want too much competition for the X, so they made the Droids bigger and smaller, but not the same size?

Manufacturers need to quit trying to make a super ultra slim phone that you can barely hold on to and just shrink the bezels down so my phone isn't encroaching on tablet size. Hopefully other manufacturers see this and follow suit (or follow Sony with the Xperia ZL)

 

[themax4814]

Although I did find this write up on The Verge, and it looks like the Droid Mini will also have the Active Display feature...

"But there's plenty of change on the software front. Motorola has added a bevy of new features to its Droid lineup. Touchless Control lets users make phone calls, request directions, and search Google without ever touching the handset. To conserve battery life, Active Display lights up just a portion of the Droid Mini's display to provide key information and notifications when you need them. Photos can also be quickly shared via a new Droid Zap feature."

Motorola introduces $99 Droid Mini: 'compact without compromise' | The Verge

I really hope they are correct in that statement as I love the idea. That would show real innovation on Motorola's part I think. Creating a LCD screen that doesn't require a backlight to drain the battery.

It looks to me like they didn't even actually look at the phone to see whether it would and justassumesbecause it also has the X8, Touchless controls, and Droid Zap that it would have Active Display as well.

 

[cwa777]

I really hope they are correct in that statement as I love the idea. That would show real innovation on Motorola's part I think. Creating a LCD screen that doesn't require a backlight to drain the battery.

It looks to me like they didn't even actually look at the phone to see whether it would and justassumesbecause it also has the X8, Touchless controls, and Droid Zap that it would have Active Display as well.

I hear ya. But check out Verizon's site, as it clearly shows pics of the Droid line up with Active Display...

When It Matters, Droid Does

 

[dcorn]

I hear ya. But check out Verizon's site, as it clearly shows pics of the Droid line up with Active Display...

When It Matters, Droid Does

Not necessarily. The site doesn't say 'active display' anywhere, nor does the moto site. Yes, it's showing the same kind of lock screen and notifications, but I'm betting the entire screen is on instead of just those individual white pixels.

 

[Wolfedude88]

Not necessarily. The site doesn't say 'active display' anywhere, nor does the moto site. Yes, it's showing the same kind of lock screen and notifications, but I'm betting the entire screen is on instead of just those individual white pixels.

Actually the droid ultra and maxx have amoled screens and are confirmed to have active display. But I didn't see the mini showing it on its screen in Verizon yet and it doesn't have an amoled screen.

 

[john248]

I'm really hoping that Moto has changed the game here in terms of screen size to phone size ratio. I've been very resistant to bigger screens because that always meant a bigger phone, no matter what. I always had the smallest blackberry back in the day and the switch to the OG Droid was a big step up. Now I have the Rezound, which I think is a great size phone in the hand, so I didn't want to go bigger. However I would like a slightly bigger screen, while still retaining good specs, so that automatically meant a giant phone.

Now moto releases the X, which has the same H and W dimensions of my Rezound, but with a 4.7" screen and 3mm thinner. Then Moto builds the new Razr Mini with top of the line specs and a 4.3" screen? Maybe they didn't want too much competition for the X, so they made the Droids bigger and smaller, but not the same size?

Manufacturers need to quit trying to make a super ultra slim phone that you can barely hold on to and just shrink the bezels down so my phone isn't encroaching on tablet size. Hopefully other manufacturers see this and follow suit (or follow Sony with the Xperia ZL)

That's kind of what Samsung did with the GS4 where they got an extra .2 or .3 screen size without changing the physical dimensions of the phone that much. Coincidentally, there are renderings of the new iPhone 6 where the screen goes side to side without an edge that goes from a 4 to 4.5" screen but these are just rumors for the next year and not the 5S for later this year.

 

[dcorn]

That's kind of what Samsung did with the GS4 where they got an extra .2 or .3 screen size without changing the physical dimensions of the phone that much. Coincidentally, there are renderings of the new iPhone 6 where the screen goes side to side without an edge that goes from a 4 to 4.5" screen but these are just rumors for the next year and not the 5S for later this year.

I still think the S4 is way too big. Check out the Xperia ZL, which is 0.2" shorter than the S4, but still has a 5" screen. That phone feels relatively small compared to an S4.

It's nice that they minimized the side bezels, but the top and bottom are still huge. I hate tall phones. I really like teh HTC one, but its soooo tall.

Again, I think Moto has hit the nail on the head with phone size to screen size ratio. Completely one-handable with fairly small hands like mine.

 

[mistermojorizi]

X. The mini doesn't have an amoled screen (lcd screen hurts battery with the active display) and a smaller battery. A phone is no good if the battery is dead. Learned the hardway with my gnex.