Why can't I let go of my Moto?

[DrvLikHell]

A replacement battery seems to have cleared up my Moto and it's back to stable goodness. I still haven't started using the new phone yet.

 

[themagpieswarble]

A replacement battery seems to have cleared up my Moto and it's back to stable goodness. I still haven't started using the new phone yet.

Hey @DrvLikHell.

Have you looked into the Sony Xperia XA2?

https://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Sony-Xperia-XA2,Motorola-Moto-X-2014/phones/10772,8897

It's a 5.2" (LCD unfortunately) screen with an even better screen to body ratio than the Moto X 2014.

Xperia XA2: 75.0% screen to body ratio.
Moto X 2014: 73.1% screen to body ratio.

I honestly think this is the first 5.2" phone to have a 73%+ S2B Ratio since the Moto X which is crazy. It's got good mid-range specs and will probably have amazing battery life. Sony's are known to be pretty dang efficient too and have a close to stock OS. The only weakness is its camera, and especially disappointing that Sonys don't allow porting of the Google HDR+ Camera due to some weird issues with RAW Support or something. I hope someone can find a workaround someday.

Otherwise, I'm still pretty dang happy with my Pixel 2. My only hope is Pixel 3 loses the bezels once and for all and maybe goes for a more ergonomic body (curved back please!) Throw in some new gestures (chop for flashlight please?) and we've got a perfect phone.

 

[DrvLikHell]

Hey @DrvLikHell.

Have you looked into the Sony Xperia XA2?

https://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Sony-Xperia-XA2,Motorola-Moto-X-2014/phones/10772,8897

It's a 5.2" (LCD unfortunately) screen with an even better screen to body ratio than the Moto X 2014.

Xperia XA2: 75.0% screen to body ratio.
Moto X 2014: 73.1% screen to body ratio.

I honestly think this is the first 5.2" phone to have a 73%+ S2B Ratio since the Moto X which is crazy. It's got good mid-range specs and will probably have amazing battery life. Sony's are known to be pretty dang efficient too and have a close to stock OS. The only weakness is its camera, and especially disappointing that Sonys don't allow porting of the Google HDR+ Camera due to some weird issues with RAW Support or something. I hope someone can find a workaround someday.

Otherwise, I'm still pretty dang happy with my Pixel 2. My only hope is Pixel 3 loses the bezels once and for all and maybe goes for a more ergonomic body (curved back please!) Throw in some new gestures (chop for flashlight please?) and we've got a perfect phone.

I did look at it but the mid-level processor and the LCD turned me off. I have the Essential PH1 now, which is about the same size as the XA2 but has a 5.7 inch screen (unfortunately also an LCD), but it has a Snapdragon 835 and the absolute closest thing to stock Android you're going to find, probably in line with the Pixel 2 android experience. This phone is wicked fast and even though I'm missing the Moto Display, at least it has "lift to wake."

However, I've already got my sights set on a new phone. The Nokia 9 should be almost the exact same size as the Nokia 3, which is only a couple mm longer than the Moto X2. It will have the Snapdragon 835, at least 4GB of RAM, an SD card slot, option for dual sim, AMOLED display and will be waterproof. It's supposed to have a 5.5" display which, in a frame the size of the Nokia 3, should give it a good S2B ratio. The 9 will have a Carl Zeiss lens like all flagship Nokias and it's said to be coming with a 2x optical zoom. It's also said that Nokia provides a pretty near to stock Android experience. To me, the Nokia 9 is what the Moto X4 should have been. All it's missing is the Moto Actions. As long as the bootloader can be unlocked, I'm on board. It would be nice to have a Nokia again.

 

[themagpieswarble]

I did look at it but the mid-level processor and the LCD turned me off. I have the Essential PH1 now, which is about the same size as the XA2 but has a 5.7 inch screen (unfortunately also an LCD), but it has a Snapdragon 835 and the absolute closest thing to stock Android you're going to find, probably in line with the Pixel 2 android experience. This phone is wicked fast and even though I'm missing the Moto Display, at least it has "lift to wake."

However, I've already got my sights set on a new phone. The Nokia 9 should be almost the exact same size as the Nokia 3, which is only a couple mm longer than the Moto X2. It will have the Snapdragon 835, at least 4GB of RAM, an SD card slot, option for dual sim, AMOLED display and will be waterproof. It's supposed to have a 5.5" display which, in a frame the size of the Nokia 3, should give it a good S2B ratio. The 9 will have a Carl Zeiss lens like all flagship Nokias and it's said to be coming with a 2x optical zoom. It's also said that Nokia provides a pretty near to stock Android experience. To me, the Nokia 9 is what the Moto X4 should have been. All it's missing is the Moto Actions. As long as the bootloader can be unlocked, I'm on board. It would be nice to have a Nokia again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5ztd4pFxWA

Again, LCD instead of AMOLED but I couldn't help but have flashbacks:

5" screen in the form factor of a Moto X 2013 (just a little bit bigger.)

Sony apparently heard the camera processing software critiques and worked hard to fix it this generation. We'll see if that's the truth. And maybe there's a chance this one could have a Google Camera HDR+ Port but not getting the hopes up.

I feel like from a design perspective this is the closest to a Moto X 2013 spiritual successor as we're going to get now.

Thoughts? Are you stoked on what Nokia revealed at MWC so far?

 

[DrvLikHell]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5ztd4pFxWA

Again, LCD instead of AMOLED but I couldn't help but have flashbacks:

5" screen in the form factor of a Moto X 2013 (just a little bit bigger.)

Sony apparently heard the camera processing software critiques and worked hard to fix it this generation. We'll see if that's the truth. And maybe there's a chance this one could have a Google Camera HDR+ Port but not getting the hopes up.

I feel like from a design perspective this is the closest to a Moto X 2013 spiritual successor as we're going to get now.

Thoughts? Are you stoked on what Nokia revealed at MWC so far?

I really like the specs and size of the XZ2 Compact. If I hadn't already bought an Essential, I'd seriously be looking at one of them. However, after living with the Essential for a while, I've come to learn that I really dislike LCD screens. It's clear and sharp and all that, but in the dark it glows grey. I think that along with size, an oled screen has become a priority for my next phone. If the little Sony had an oled screen I'd most likely switch phones again.

As for the MWC, nothing has really wowed me yet. I'm surprised at Asus for blatantly copying Apple with their notch style. Still waiting to see the release of the Moto Z3 phones. Though since they'll have to be large enough to fit the current Moto Mods, they're all going to be huge. That's a disappointment because the current trend towards thin bezels all around brings the opportunity to shrink phone size overall, like Essential and Nokia have done. I like the Nokia 8 Sirocco a lot, and the size is perfect, but it has a near $1000 price tag. It has everything I want (except for Moto Actions), it's just that $1000 for a phone is unjustifiable in my book regardless of what features it has.

 

[themagpieswarble]

I really like the specs and size of the XZ2 Compact. If I hadn't already bought an Essential, I'd seriously be looking at one of them. However, after living with the Essential for a while, I've come to learn that I really dislike LCD screens. It's clear and sharp and all that, but in the dark it glows grey. I think that along with size, an oled screen has become a priority for my next phone. If the little Sony had an oled screen I'd most likely switch phones again.

As for the MWC, nothing has really wowed me yet. I'm surprised at Asus for blatantly copying Apple with their notch style. Still waiting to see the release of the Moto Z3 phones. Though since they'll have to be large enough to fit the current Moto Mods, they're all going to be huge. That's a disappointment because the current trend towards thin bezels all around brings the opportunity to shrink phone size overall, like Essential and Nokia have done. I like the Nokia 8 Sirocco a lot, and the size is perfect, but it has a near $1000 price tag. It has everything I want (except for Moto Actions), it's just that $1000 for a phone is unjustifiable in my book regardless of what features it has.

I'm holding out hope for Pixel 3 (even though I'm quite happy with Pixel 2.) I really want them to shrink the bezels down on the smaller Pixel 3 and maybe make it a little more ergonomic. Besides that, I'm pretty okay being without Moto software now. Always on Display has pretty much pacified me of my desire for the Moto Display (which also has taken care of wanting Wave to Wake.) The only Moto thing I miss now is Chop for Flashlight... and that's it.

Everything about the Pixel 2 is pretty much except I just don't like the way it feels in the hand and the big ol bezels. We'll see what they do next!

 

[DrvLikHell]

I'm holding out hope for Pixel 3 (even though I'm quite happy with Pixel 2.) I really want them to shrink the bezels down on the smaller Pixel 3 and maybe make it a little more ergonomic. Besides that, I'm pretty okay being without Moto software now. Always on Display has pretty much pacified me of my desire for the Moto Display (which also has taken care of wanting Wave to Wake.) The only Moto thing I miss now is Chop for Flashlight... and that's it.

Everything about the Pixel 2 is pretty much except I just don't like the way it feels in the hand and the big ol bezels. We'll see what they do next!

You can get chop for flashlight via a few different methods. I think there's even a Tasker config for it, if you use Tasker.

I never thought about always on display as a replacement for wave to wake. Good point there. Even so, nothing beats the interaction you get with the notifications with Moto Display/Actions. However, Lenovo even screwed that up. I'm testing out the new Z2, and the Moto Actions turns off immediately after the phone locks, so you can't immediately wave or shake it back awake like you could before. So if you go "oh whoops, I forgot something," you have to turn it on with the power button or fingerprint reader, where before you could just swipe and unlock. The Z2s oled display has got me sorely missing true blacks. I don't know why it bothers me so much. Maybe it's because I use my phone in the dark a lot.

 

[themagpieswarble]

You can get chop for flashlight via a few different methods. I think there's even a Tasker config for it, if you use Tasker.

I never thought about always on display as a replacement for wave to wake. Good point there. Even so, nothing beats the interaction you get with the notifications with Moto Display/Actions. However, Lenovo even screwed that up. I'm testing out the new Z2, and the Moto Actions turns off immediately after the phone locks, so you can't immediately wave or shake it back awake like you could before. So if you go "oh whoops, I forgot something," you have to turn it on with the power button or fingerprint reader, where before you could just swipe and unlock. The Z2s oled display has got me sorely missing true blacks. I don't know why it bothers me so much. Maybe it's because I use my phone in the dark a lot.

Yeah, I gotta try the Tasker profile and see how well it works. I think you have to have your phone rooted for it to work while the phone is off though? Could be wrong though.

I'm with you on AMOLED. I do not like the look of LCD screens. Once you're used to AMOLED and the true blacks, going back to LCD is just gross.

Wow, that sucks about the Z2 Moto Display. That eventually the Actions disappear? Pixel 2 AOD kinda has that too. If you catch a text coming in right as it comes in, you have a 'Reply' or 'Mark as read' option that you can double tap, but if you don't do it within 3-5 seconds it turns into a notification icon that you can't interact with. Not ideal.. but it works.

 

[gramicko]

Still using Moto X (2013) XT-1056 Sprint, like all here it's been difficult to find anything in the same size range with good specs. I generally like to buy phones that have been out about a year -work out bugs- Any recommendations for an "updated" Moto X with CDMA ?

 

[DrvLikHell]

Still using Moto X (2013) XT-1056 Sprint, like all here it's been difficult to find anything in the same size range with good specs. I generally like to buy phones that have been out about a year -work out bugs- Any recommendations for an "updated" Moto X with CDMA ?

Finding something the exact same size, or close to it is nearly impossible. The closest in size are the Compact versions of the Sony Xperia Z3, Z5, X, XZ1 and XZ2. A few of them are actually the exact same size as the Moto X. The older ones are ROM friendly, I haven't looked into the newer ones. Unfortunately, I don't think any Sony phones work with CDMA, so you'd have to switch carriers to use one of them. If that's not an option, then you're going to have to settle for a slightly larger phone.

Going slightly upsize I'd have a look at the Pixel, Pixel 2 and Essential PH1. All of them work on Sprint and they have great custom ROM support. I have the Essential, it's been out for about a year and most of the bugs have been worked out. There is massive support in the community for this phone. It's also one of the rare phones that can work on every network in the US. The only thing I don't like about it is the LCD screen. It's a good screen, I just greatly prefer OLED screens. The Pixel phones use OLED screens and they also have massive support from the community. They're just a more expensive, and they don't have a very good screen to body ratio, if you care about that. Otherwise, they're great phones too.

I searched for well over a year and this is what I've come up with as the best upgrade path from the beloved Moto X. There will be compromises, my Essential is absurdly fast compared to any of my old phones. It's not too big in my pocket, and it's never let me down or given me any issues (other than a few software bugs that got sorted).

 

[gramicko]

Thanks for your suggestions DrvLikHell, I think what for me physically sets the MOTO X (2013) apart from other phones, is the non-slip back. I don't like using covers, cases etc..

I looked at the Pixel, Pixel 2 and others but they are way too slippery

 

[DrvLikHell]

Thanks for your suggestions DrvLikHell, I think what for me physically sets the MOTO X (2013) apart from other phones, is the non-slip back. I don't like using covers, cases etc..

I looked at the Pixel, Pixel 2 and others but they are way too slippery

You won't find a high-end phone with a non-slip back. Cheap phones, like the $30 ZTE Unico, sure, but not high-end phones. Even mid and entry-level phones like the Moto G and E series have smooth backs. The trend now with high-end phones is towards glass/aluminum/polished ceramic, all slippery. The only exception to this is a rugged phone like the Samsung Galaxy S6/7/8/9 Active series. But then you have to deal with a locked bootloader, no roms, possibly no root, Touchwiz UI, and all of the Samsung bloat and carrier BS. They're also rather bulky. You'd be better off with a regular phone with a slim case or a Dbrand skin. If you find something that I missed, let me know.