Motorola Moto X Play
Verdict
Key specs
Critic consensus
“A wonderful display, solid battery longevity, and a great camera make for arguably the best possible trifecta one could hope for in a smartphone. Add to that a near stock Android with no bloatware and a promise for timely updates. And then build your own, personally specced shell around it. And pay only $300. Now, there are rivals, but show us the one, which can beat all of the above?”
“Overall, the Moto X Play proves that a smartphone that can easily cope with 99% of all everyday situations, apps and games can be found for less than 400 Euros (~$454). The buyer will naturally have to search in the premium range and the latest innovations for the one remaining percent. Anyone who feels comfortable in the mid-range will find a great and, when desired, also colorful companion in the Moto X Play.”
“As things stand today, Motorola is setting up to have a very good, clearly delineated 2015 lineup: all of its smartphones aim to be cheaper (and better) than their most direct competition, but each has something a little bit unique to justify its price tier and existence. That makes buying advice pretty easy: if you like Motorola’s approach of rugged design and pristine Android software, just grab the Moto model that best fits your budget. You’re unlikely to be disappointed.”
“Overall, the Moto X Play is a decent mid-range phone. But, it's not the great upgrade which Moto X owners were looking for. The camera is good, as is the screen, but performance could be better - as could battery life. Had Motorola offered the dual-SIM version in the UK and made the phone waterproof, it would have had enough to be a decent alternative to the OnePlus 2. For many, this more powerful rival will be more appealing. It's also cheaper and has optical stabilisation and the option to shoot 4K video. Yet, if you like the idea of creating your own custom phone and don't want the hassle of getting an invite to buy a OnePlus 2, it's really not a bad deal at all.”
Watch before you decide
In Depth
In an effort to attract as many customers as possible, Motorola has rolled the Moto X Play – a more “active” version of their flagship phone. Interestingly, Motorola did not opt for a water proof certification, instead offering only water resistance. While this means the X Play can survive a splash, it is not rated to survive and actual fall into a pool or toilet. For many reviewers, this seemed like a missed chance for the Moto X Play as many other phones geared towards the active crowd at least offer an IP67 waterproof rating among other things.
Besides the lack of waterproofing, they also were let down by the overall design. Engadget calls it, “..the least attractive iteration…” pointing out the poorly aligned dual speakers and front camera and all-plastic build as examples. While it might not be the most elegant smartphone, critics were impressed with how comfortable it was to hold thanks to its textured soft plastic back. As well, for a fairly large device (5.8 inches), most had no issues using it one-handed.
The 5.5-inch, 1080p resolution display might not stack up against quad-HD panels, but reviewers were still satisfied sharpness, viewing angles and overall brightness of the panel. Surprisingly, Motorola has moved away from AMOLED in favor of LCD for the X Play. Experts point out that while colors were not as vibrant they were more accurate and not oversaturated. For those that do miss the vibrancy, Motorola has added two different screen modes – Normal for more realistic colors and Vibrant for more vibrancy and color saturation.
Inside the X Play are an octa-core processor (four clocked at 1.0 GHz and the other four 1.7 GHz) and 2GB of RAM. It also comes equipped with either 16 or 32GB of internal storage and an expandable microSD slot. Experts describe performance as perfectly satisfactory during basic tasks and slightly more demanding tasks. Still, they did run into some lag when opening up certain menus and apps. Gaming-wise, they were able to play graphically demanding games without any issues with lag or frame drops. The biggest draw of the X Play is not its processor or display. It is the battery life. The non-removable 3,630mAh battery is larger than many others on the market. This combined with the less demanding display and slightly lower processor power allowed experts to get two days of moderate use and a full day of heavy use.
The main shooter for the X Play comes with a 21MP rear sensor and f/2.0 aperture to help with low-light situations. Beneath the camera is a color correlated temperature (CCT) two-tone flash for more natural skin tones. When put to the test, experts found focusing very accurate and fast despite not coming with any sort of auto-focus system. It does also comes with auto HDR mode, which switches between modes automatically based on the surroundings. In good lighting situations, critics were able to capture images full of detail with excellent color accuracy and saturation. Things took a turn for the worse when shooting moving subjects as they discovered the camera could not focus properly. Low-light shooting disappointed experts even further as images lacked detail and often came out blurry and grainy.
Despite some drawbacks, most reviewers describe it as a decent mid-tier smartphone choice. Trusted Reviews states, “With a fantastic display, detailed camera and a battery that can last all day, the Moto X Play continues Motorola’s impressive run of smartphones.” PC Advisor is a bit more restrained in their verdict saying, “…the Moto X Play is a decent mid-range phone. But it’s not the great upgrade Moto X owners were looking for. The camera is good, as is the screen, but performance could be better.”
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What people actually want to know
When was the Motorola Moto X Play released?
The Motorola Moto X Play was released on August 24, 2015.
How long does the battery last on the Motorola Moto X Play?
The Motorola Moto X Play has a 3,630 mAh battery.
Does the Motorola Moto X Play have a headphone jack?
Yes, the Motorola Moto X Play has a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Does the Motorola Moto X Play have NFC?
Yes, the Motorola Moto X Play has NFC. You can use Google Wallet, Apple Pay, and tap-to-pair with Bluetooth accessories.
Where can I get support for the Motorola Moto X Play?
Visit Motorola's official support page for warranty info, repairs, and troubleshooting.
Where can I download the Motorola Moto X Play manual?
You can view and download the Motorola Moto X Play manual on our dedicated manual page.
Questions & answers
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Do the screen get damaged or does it appear to be some sort of internal error? If it was not exposed to water or has not been physically damaged, Motorola should replace it for you on warranty. The Moto X Play warranty is one year. You should contact the cell phone dealer where you purchased the phone or contact Motorola directly (we have Motorola's contact information here) to inquire about your nearest warranty depot. Good luck and please let the community here at The Informr know how you made out. I'm sure others would like to hear what the problem ended up being and what Motorola did for you. Also, if you wanted to share your thoughts on the phone, you can rate the X Play here.