Thursday, March 28, 2024

Moto X Style vs OnePlus 2: which is the true flagship killer?

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Today Motorola unveiled the Moto X Style, the company’s new high-end offering designed to compete against both mainstream rivals like Samsung and LG, as well as the number of growing Chinese OEMs that are pushing down pricing while offering premium experiences. In many ways, the Moto X Style hits all the right boxes. One of the latest Qualcomm processing packages? QHD? Compelling extras like waterproofing and quick charging? Check, check, and check. Even better, it is said to cost just $399 in the US, rebranded under the name Moto X Pure Edition.

This leads us to wonder, has Motorola just created a flagship killer killer? Last night OnePlus unveiled its next-gen follow-up to the OPO, the aptly named OnePlus 2. While it got a lot right, including pricing, the OP2 also made sacrifices such as the lack of QHD and lack of quick charging support.

Read also: What features is the OnePlus 2 missing?

In many ways the two phones are very comparably spec’d, but there are some very real differences. To better illustrate how the two differ, let’s take an on-paper look at their spec sheets:

Moto X Style (aka Moto X Pure) OnePlus Two
Display 5.7-inch display
Quad HD (2560×1440) resolution, 515 ppi
5.5-inch LCD, Full HD
Processor 1.8 GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor
Adreno 418 GPU
1.8GHz Snapdragon 810
RAM 3GB 3 or 4 GB (depending on storage option)
Storage 32/64 GB
expandable via microSD up to 128 GB
16 or 64GB storage
Camera 21 MP rear-facing camera with dual LED flash
5 MP front-facing camera
13MP rear
5MP front
Battery 3,000mAh 3,300mAh
MicroSD Yes No
NFC Yes No
Fingerprint scanner No Yes
Quick charging Yes No
Waterproofing Yes, IP52 certified No
Software Android 5.1.1 Lollipop OxygenOS based on Android 5.1
Dimensions 153.9 x 76.2 x 11.1 mm, 179g 151.8 x 74.9 x 9.85 mm, 175g
Price $399 $339 (16GB), $389 (64GB)

Probably the biggest advantages the OP2 holds over the Moto X Style are the processing package (810 vs 808), the fingerprint scanner, a new type-C port, it weighs a little less, isn’t as thick, has a slightly bigger battery, has 1GB more RAM (at least with the 64GB OP2), and costs a little less. On the flipside, the Moto X Style has quick charging, NFC, is waterproof with IP52 certification, has a much more impressive cam, has a QHD display, and has a microSD slot.

oneplus 2 launch aa (72 of 93)

For many, it comes down to which of these extras you put more value in. Personally, I think the Moto X Style holds the edge. Stuff like Type-C is nice, but not exactly necessary. Weight and thickness matters little to me. The Snapdragon 810 is technically better, but the real world differences are arguably quite minor. On the other hand, I love having the option of microSD, and while QHD and IP52 waterproofing aren’t essential, I find them more compelling than the OP2 ‘extras’.

oneplus 2 launch aa (43 of 93)

It’s also important to note that the Moto X Style is about the same price as the OP2 and requires no invites. Furthermore, US consumers will be able to use the Pure Edition model on any major US carrier — something you won’t find with the GSM-only OP2.

Of course, opinions vary wildly and I completely respect that. For those on a super tight budget, the $10 – $60 savings could make the OP2 a clear winner. For others, fingerprint scanners might be considered a must have, or perhaps the 5.5-inch screen as big as they are willing to go, and the list goes on. What side of the coin do you land on? Which is the ‘true flagship killer’: Moto X Style or the OnePlus 2? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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