Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs Motorola Moto X: first look

Deepening its experience more than ever before, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is highly regarded as being the dream phone for business professionals who are on point with being organized. Conversely, the Motorola Moto X is arguably a dark horse figure in the Android space, seeing that it’s attempting to gain notoriety and recognition from hardened Android users. Even though they’re both Android smartphones at heart, they’re two very different handsets altogether – with each targeting different demographics.

Design

If we’re to put these two smartphones next to one another and shine a spotlight on them, with random bystanders passing through, we’re very certain that the Moto X would probably garner more glances than the Galaxy Note 3. Then again, the ginormous size of the Galaxy Note 3 is enough to catch some attention, but its overall design is something we’ve seen time after time from Samsung’s camp – so it can be perceived as conventional by today’s standards. With the Moto X, however, we’re most amazed by how comfortable it is to hold in the hand, since it’s smaller in size than its rival, but better yet, the customizable aspect of its design is something that’s not seen anywhere else.


Display

For a flagship smartphone, the 4.7-inch 720p AMOLED display of the Moto X is far from imposing, especially when it’s pitted against the massive 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display found on the Note 3. Right there on paper, we see that Sammy’s baby is dominating this category, as the Note 3’s display is both larger in size, and higher in resolution – essentially being the more attractive display between the two. Beauty and allure might be on the Note 3’s side, but we’ll admit, the Moto X’s Active Display feature is something so useful, yet, it’s only now that a phone manufacturer came up with the idea. Heck, it’s just so darn nice to see the time and some pertinent notifications as we take the Moto X out from our pocket.

Interface

Now this is where things get a bit interesting. At their core, these are both Android powered smartphones, so they’re blessed with all the base features we’d come to expect from the mobile platform. However, they’re seemingly on opposite sides of the spectrum in this category. With the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, its TouchWiz Nature UX experience combined with its S-Pen functionality is so expansive with its features set, which at times feels a bit overwhelming. Seriously, there are so many features that need to be remembered with the experience, that it can be confusing at times. On the opposite end, there’s the Moto X and its mostly stock Android Jelly Bean experience. Motorola doesn’t try to inundate us with a whole lot of features, but rather, they focus on making the experience simple – and that’s the beauty in it. For example, you have Touchless Control for easy access to Google Now via voice control. It works and doesn’t try to be complex.

Processor and memory

We all know that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is a specs beast, seeing that it’s being packed with the most cutting edge processors. In contrast, the Moto X packs hardware that’s widely viewed as last generation, a modified 1.7GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro chipset, which doesn’t seem as intimidating as the 2.3GHz quad-core packing Galaxy Note 3. When it comes down to it, the Moto X proves why specs can’t always dictate things, as we notice a more snappy response with it. Well, it’s still quick on the Note 3, but it just doesn’t have the same level of snappiness that the Moto X exudes.

Available in 32GB and 64GB storage capacities, it’s always wonderful to know that the tally can be supplemented on the Galaxy Note 3, due to the fact that it features a useful microSD card slot. We can’t say the same thing for the Motorola Moto X, since it lacks one, but it’s available in either 16GB or 32GB capacities.

Camera

Considering that the Galaxy Note 3 is packing nearly the same camera gear that’s found in the Galaxy S4, we know that its 13-megapixel auto-focus camera is more than capable of delivering some stunning photos and videos. In fact, we’ve already compared the Galaxy S4’s camera against the 10-megapixel “Clear Pixel” camera of the Moto X – and the results favored Sammy’s unit. Knowing that, it’s a safe presumption that the Note 3 will able to do the same. As always though, we’ll have to wait and see until we actually compare the two together under the same conditions.

Expectations

Without question, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is going to have an easy time gaining popularity, especially when its predecessors have already achieved that. Blessed with the customary specs boost and new software features, the Galaxy Note 3 is undoubtedly steering itself into the right direction as being a prized smartphone in the space. Still, the new set of features in tow with the Note 3 show that there’s more complexity with its experience – whereas with the Moto X, it’s simplified and straight to the point. And that’s basically what’s so beautiful about the Moto X, it doesn’t try to be the biggest, baddest, or feature filled smartphone out there. Instead, it’s hoping that its uncomplicated experience and customized design will win people over. Decisions, decisions people.