OnePlus 2 vs. Moto X
Two stellar looking, well-priced devices. What separates them?
If you have been looking to upgrade your phone and did not want to burn a $700 hole in your pocket, these phones are right up your alley. And now is the time to make the move.
Starting at $330, the OnePlus 2 stakes its claim as a 2016 flagship killer. And boy does it deliver! Even if you managed to snag a flagship Samsung/LG/Sony at the 2's unbelievably low price in some parallel universe, you still won’t get a reversible charging cable (reversible at both ends). Any iPhone user would testify to the smugness of plugging in their charger without looking at it. I have lost count of the number of times I have struggled to illuminate my Nexus 5's USB cable with the phone’s backlight while trying to charge it after putting the lights out. Not anymore Mr. Cook.
Dual sim dual standby. Clearly the most overlooked feature in recent times. I say overlooked because it’s included in entry level and mid-range phones almost by default, but is quietly brushed under the carpet as you move up the smartphone pecking order. Scores of people are forced to buy and carry two high end phones because two lines and snappy performance is what they need. Moto G comes close to delivering but with its middling hardware, it’s merely utilitarian. We want our phones to delight us. This is where the 2 takes the cake again. It’s also where big name manufacturers should take a cue from.
Did I mention that you also get a physical switch to put the phone on silent and back. And OnePlus’s CEO supposedly got this a feature request from Reddit. Talk about listening to your customers.
All said and done, the 2 offers you world-beating performance at a delectable price. If you get an invite, buy it. Not looking to? Give it to a friend. Now is not the time to waste a OnePlus invite.
However, the Moto X Style, launched later in the day, could also become the phone of your choice. While the 2 will cost you $390 for the 64GB variant, the X starts off with $400, which only gets you a 16GB with expandable memory. The higher price gets you a slightly bigger (+0.2") and more importantly Quad HD screen, a better 21MP camera (Moto spent a good deal of time extolling it) and Quick Charging. If you’re a fan of plush leather being the first thing you wrap your hands around in the morning, the Moto X gives you that option too.
But wait a minute, spending more on the Moto X will not let you have the best of both worlds. The OnePlus 2 still trumps the X in battery capacity, processing power and has a full extra gig of RAM to go with it. A gorgeous magnesium alloy body and a fingerprint sensor simply sweeten the deal. Not for no reason does this company make 1 phone/year and has the gall to call it flagship killer for next year’s $700 offerings.
Either phone’s software is lightly skinned. That considered equal, it comes down to choosing what matters most to you. If photography and a truly unique exterior is what you care about, the Moto X Style shall do your bidding. If thunderous performance and owning a future-proofed device is what you’re after, look no further than the OnePlus 2, and certainly don’t waste its invite.
