Introduction

Okay, I can hear the gripes already – How can you compare these two devices – One is a smartphone and the other is a phablet.  I will tell you why we have the right and duty to compare these two devices…they are both the newest devices (yes, we know about the Xperia Z3, and we will get to it) that came out days from each other and both are flagships of their respective companies – the Motorola Moto X (2104) versus the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

Motorola is finally playing with the ‘big boys’ so they must hold up to extreme security and be tested to see where their strengths and weakness lie…and help expose those same things with their opponent.  Other than both devices are using AMOLED displays and both are coming with Android 4.4.4 KitKat, there is not too much that is similar with these to great mobile devices.

Please take a look at the list of specifications we have compiled below and you can see exactly how the new Moto X and Galaxy Note 4 compare – then we will look at each individual device and highlight its features to help us to pick a winner of this comparison.

Specifications

Moto X

The new Moto X – not the Moto X+1 as we first thought – is a perfect example of the continuing refinement that Motorola has pursued since Google bought them.  Google took them in a new direction and even though Google has since sold them to Lenovo – although the deal has not yet been finalized – their influence is still apparent.  To say that the new Moto X is a refinement and upgrade would be a huge understatement.  Motorola upgraded the display to 5.2-inches and to Full HD at 1080p with 423 Pixels-Per-Inch (PPI) – not nearly as good as the Galaxy Note 4, but a beautiful display, none-the-less.  Motorola used the newer Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor clocked at 2.5GHz.  They kept the same 2GB of RAM, which should be plenty the way Motorola optimizes everything and a base amount of 16GB of internal storage, however 32GB can be ordered online – there is no microSD card slot for expansion.

They upped the main camera unit to 13MP with a ‘ring of flash’ around the camera lens and included a 2MP front-facing camera (FFC).  A 2300mAh battery powers the Moto X and Android 4.4.4 KitKat is running on the Moto X out-of-the-box – and with almost pure Android running on the Moto X, you can be sure to get about the fastest upgrade around, short of Google’s own Nexus devices.

The Moto X has some great features – all aluminum frame for strength, the first Android smartphone with 4 microphones that Motorola promise will eliminate background noises from phone calls.  Speaking of phone calls, they also included a new Dynamic Tuning antenna that detects where you are holding the device and uses different parts on the antenna to compensate for your grip – studies show it can increase the reception up to 500-percent!  Dual front speakers that sounds great according to Alex who was at the Motorola event in Chicago and a water resistant nano-coating.  You can also order a wood or leather backing for your new Moto X.

It will be price at $499 with no contract and $99 on a two-year commitment.  It is going to be available on all major U.S. networks sometime in October.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

The new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 was just released this last week at IFA Berlin and I think they may have a winner…nothing spectacular, but a great solid device with the top specs that you would expect from the Galaxy Note series.  You can’t help but to notice the sculptured metal frame and faux leather backing.  Within those walls, it houses 5.7-inches of QHD display with 515 PPI.  It has the top Qualcomm Snapdragon available – the 805 quad-core clocked at 2.7GHz coupled to 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage…and a microSD card slot to add additional storage.

The camera has certainly been updated with 16MP, ISOCELL technology for better low-light shots and Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) to compensate for your trembling hand.  It packs a removable 3220mAh battery with a Quick Charge option, an IR Blaster, fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor, and UV sensor – some of those will never be used by some owners, but others may find them attractive.  The S-Pen is a big part of the Galaxy Note experience – some users grab their S-Pen as soon as they pick up their Note and others never touch it…which is a shame considering the function that it adds to the device.  The Galaxy Note series is an expensive proposition – the first device to command $300 on a two-year contract and we hope that the Note 4 will not exceed that price – off-contract it could go as high as $1035 based on what prices were release for Europe.

…And the Winner is…

Summary

With all the nice features that are in the Moto X, I still had to go with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.  The Note 4’s QHD display, while possibly overkill, simply trumps the Moto X’s 5.2-inch Full HD display.  The Note 4 also has the aluminum frame and while not a curved back like the Moto X, still has a great feel with the faux leather backing and the sculptured metal sides. Compared to the Moto X it has a faster processor and much better graphics chip, 3GB of RAM and a microSD card slot for expansion, as well as a much larger battery (which it will need) that is also removable.  The Note 4 also has something that the Moto X does not – the infamous S-Pen and all of the great software and capabilities that go with it.  The camera should be better, without question – 16MP and OIS and ISOCELL technology. It also offers the fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor and UV sensor (Meh) and Quick Charge…which is actually quite useful.

The size, the beauty, the features and the functionality of the Galaxy Note 4 has helped it win this Comparison.  If you will never use the S-Pen, and do not care about having the latest and greatest display and processor – you certainly cannot do wrong grabbing the new Moto X. Please hit us up on our Google+ Page and let us know what you think…as always, we would love to hear from you.