Moto X: The second coming

Motorola is at it again. It cracked the budget smartphone segment with the Moto E and unlocked the mid-range segment with the Moto G. Now, the company has come out with another attraction - the all new Moto X. The new Moto X comes at a time when a slew of devices are fighting for a piece of the market pie. Let's see if it makes the cut.

New design
The new Moto X comes with a bigger screen - a 5.2-inch AMOLED display that gives the device a spacious look. In the front there's a bunch of elements - infrared sensors, two front-ported speakers and the front-facing camera. The nanoSIM tray is now on the top of the phone. The back cover on the new Moto X comes in various designs - from leather to wood. The wooden cover is slippery, so make sure you keep a tight grip.

Okay Moto or Jarvis? You name it

Remember the "magic words" in the first Moto X? This time, Motorola has given a more personal touch to the concept. Users can now create their own "hotword detection" prompt - a voice prompt in lay terms. I tried everything - "Ok Moto", "Hey buddy" and "Ok Jarvis". You will need to find a quiet spot and then repeat the phrase three times to get it right.

The Moto app
Voice control and motion actions are now under one app called Moto. The Moto app has four categories: Assist, Actions, Voice and Display. Assist adjusts to what the user is doing. You can now personalise the settings for when you are sleeping, driving, at home or in a meeting. In Actions, you can personalise how to silence a call with just a wave of your hand over the phone. Voice has the settings to your launch phrase, while Display allows you to choose what notifications to show when the device is locked.

Audio, video check
The speakers on the device are immensely powerful. And since the screen is bigger, entertainment on the new Moto X will not disappoint you. The front-facing camera takes time to focus but captures brilliant pictures. The back camera is also decent. The dual LED ring flash is also a plus point.

Flagship at last?
A brilliant design, lots of entertainment and an almost hands-free experience. Pretty much what we need in a flagship, right? But here's another question: Why not include a removable battery and memory card slot in a device that is an upgrade to a previous model?

The answer could help the company make another big impact in the high-end smartphone category. But take nothing away from the new Moto X. It starts at Rs 31,999 and will easily cause some ripples in the flagship market.

MOTO X (2ND GEN)
Price: Rs 31,999
Camera: Rear: 13MP, Front: 2MP
Display: 5.2-inch
Battery: 2,300 mAh (non-removable)
OS: Android 4.4.4
Processor: Snapdragon 2.5GHz Qualcomm quad core
RAM: 2GB
Storage: In-built 16GB (not expandable)