Camera ready in two shakes: Motorola Moto X camera review
DPReview smartphone reviews are written with the needs of photographers in mind. We focus on camera features, performance, and image quality.
The Moto X is the lovechild of the brief tryst between Google and Motorola that began when the search giant bought Motorola Mobility in 2012, and is now ending as Google prepares to sell the business to Lenovo. The handset expresses at least some of the innovation you’d hope would spring from such a union. It listens for your voice even when the screen is off, wakes up when you pull it out of your pocket, and tries to optimize its behavior depending on what you’re doing. Spec-wise, it’s capable but not particularly impressive: The emphasis is on usability over raw power.
Google’s Nexus line earned a bad rap for lackluster camera performance that is just now turning around with the Nexus 5, and Motorola doesn’t have a track record of pushing the boundaries of mobile photography, so photographers may wonder what Google+Moto equals for imaging. There are suggestive hints. A double-flick of the wrist opens the camera app, and there’s some unusual hardware that promises improved performance in both bright and low light. But how does it shake out in the real world?
Read our full review of the Moto X’s camera to find out. Early reviews of the Moto X were critical of inconsistent camera performance; our review unit ran updated software designed to address some of those complaints.
Key Photographic/Video Specifications
- 10 megapixel RGBC 1/2.6-inch 16:9 sensor
- F2.4 lens
- 1080p 30fps and video recording, 720p slow-motion mode
- 2MP front camera
- Auto HDR mode
- Panorama mode
- Gesture camera activation
Other Specifications
- Dual core 1.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor
- Coprocessors for continuous voice command listening and contextual tasks
- 2GB RAM
- Android 4.4 (KitKat)
- 4.7-inch 1280x720 316 ppi AMOLED display
- 16 and 32GB storage options
- 2,200 mAh battery, non-removable
- LTE 4G (some variants)
- Range of custom color options
Our 8-page review
We've considered every aspect of the Motorola Moto X, with the mobile photographer in mind. We examined the user interface of the native camera app and its special features. We experimented with the camera's performance when taking stills and video, and had a play with the device's many special feature modes. Click any of the links below for more information of specific functions and continue to our conclusion for a final summary of our findings.
We are retrieving offers for your location, please refresh the page to see the prices.
![Nikon D5600 review: making connectivity a snap?]()
|
![Prisma update adds in-app filter store]()
|
![Exynos 8895 processor supports 4K video at 120 fps and 28MP cameras]()
|
![OPPO 5x smartphone zoom system sample images]()
|
|
Mar 1, 2017
|
Mar 2, 2017
|
Mar 1, 2017
|
Mar 1, 2017
|
The Leica M11 brings a 60MP BSI CMOS sensor, USB charging and auto-magnifying, stabilized live view to the classic rangefinder form. We dig into the detail...
The Nikon Z 24-70mm F2.8 S is an all-rounder fast zoom for Nikon's mirrorless system. With a versatile focal length range and a fast aperture for low light photography and blurry backgrounds, this lens promises sharp imagery and smooth bokeh with minimal aberrations. How does it actually perform? Find out in our full review.
If you're looking to speed up your editing workflow, few pieces of hardware can make complex masking, brushing and cloning jobs easier than a digital pen. We look at Xencelabs' latest offering, the Pen Tablet Small.
The Great Joy 60mm T2.9 offers full-frame users an affordable option for 1.33x anamorphic shooting, while the 1.35x adapter can squeeze that to 1.8x, or turn your regular spherical lenses anamorphic for an even more budget-friendly solution.
Apple's flagship M1 Max MacBook Pro offers a combination of performance, efficiency, build quality, and screen quality that you cannot find in any PC on the market, full stop.
What's the best camera for shooting landscapes? High resolution, weather-sealed bodies and wide dynamic range are all important. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting landscapes, and recommended the best.
If you're looking for the perfect drone for yourself, or to gift someone special, we've gone through all of the options and selected our favorites.
What’s the best camera for around $2000? These capable cameras should be solid and well-built, have both speed and focus for capturing fast action and offer professional-level image quality. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing around $2000 and recommended the best.
Most modern cameras will shoot video to one degree or another, but these are the ones we’d look at if you plan to shoot some video alongside your photos. We’ve chosen cameras that can take great photos and make it easy to get great looking video, rather than being the ones you’d choose as a committed videographer.
Although a lot of people only upload images to Instagram from their smartphones, the app is much more than just a mobile photography platform. In this guide we've chosen a selection of cameras that make it easy to shoot compelling lifestyle images, ideal for sharing on social media.
Comments