iPhone 6 vs Moto X+1: What Buyers Can Expect

The iPhone 6 release date is closing in as we quickly approach the Moto X+1 announcement on September 4th, leading potential buyers to look closely at the competition. Although not as popular as the iPhone 6, the Moto X+1 is a new Android phone that promises an exciting companion with the Moto 360 and it could match the iPhone 6 in key areas like stock software and a beautiful design. Here we look at the Moto X+1 and iPhone 6 rumors to see how the two devices compare.

Motorola surprised users with a sleek and customizable Moto X in 2013 with customizable design delivered days after you order, nearly stock Android with smart features and the best notifications we’ve seen on any mobile phone. The Moto X+1 is the new Moto X for 2014 that will likely deliver a bigger screen, new software features and other interesting upgrades.

The iPhone 6 is the new iPhone with a larger screen and a new design. This iPhone 5s replacement will likely come in two screen sizes with a 4.7-inch iPhone 6 competing directly with a Moto X+1 and a 5.5-inch iPhone 6 aimed more at the Galaxy Note 4.

iPhone 6 rumors outline what to expect from Apple this fall and Moto X+1 leaks deliver an early look at this device and the Moto 360 companion that should arrive along side it in early September.

With an iPhone 6 release date and a Moto X+1 release date likely by mid-September there are already many key details available that show what we can expect from both of these devices. Here, we’ll offer the best look at how the iPhone 6 and the Moto X+1 compare.

Moto X+1 vs iPhone 6 Release Date & Price

We already know that Motorola plans a special event in Chicago on September 4th, and even though there is nothing to confirm it is for the Moto X+1 and the Moto 360, it is very likely that we’ll see both of these devices on that day.

You can expect the Moto X+1 release date between September 10th and September 25th. Both of these mark a quick release for Motorola and offers a chance to beat the iPhone 6 to market by up to 10 days. One downside to this timing is that the iPhone 6 announcement is rumored for the day before the first Moto X+1 release date.

The iPhone 6 event could take place on September 9th according to The Wall Street Journal and Re/Code, which leaves us with an iPhone 6 release date on September 19th. Apple’s new iPhone release dates typically follow on the second Friday after an announcement.

Both of these phones should arrive in mid-September, along with the Galaxy Note 4, which will offer a lot of choice to consumers who wait for these devices to hit the market.

The Moto X+1 price is going to be easier to handle than the iPhone 6 price. You can expect a Moto X+1 price of $399 off contract thanks to a leak spotted by Droid Life. It is possible that we’ll see cheap carrier Moto X+1 prices on contract, but with flagship specs don’t expect them to give it away.

Apple’s iPhone 6 price is likely to stay the same for the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 at $649 off contract and $199 on contract for 16GB of storage. The 5.5-inch model may arrive slightly later and with a $299 on contract price.

Design Differences

Comparing the Moto X+1 and the iPhone 6 design is an exciting look at materials we don’t see on most smartphones. Instead of plastic backs we are looking at aluminum, glass, leather and wood. All of these materials deliver a premium feel and even the basic Moto X+1 back should feel better than plastic if it matches the original.

The Moto X+1 will reportedly include MotoMaker features. which means you’ll be able to completely customize the look of the new Moto X. This includes the front, back and button colors and even more exciting the materials used on the Moto X+1. This includes four types of leather Moto X+1 backplate options and four types of Moto X+1 wood backplates.

moto X+1 backplate options: pic.twitter.com/UIcDtDSLXO

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) April 13, 2014

Overall the Moto X+1 design looks similar to the Moto X according to leaks and reports, but with a bigger display. Don’t expect radical design changes, which is fine considering the nice curves of the original Moto X.

Apple changes the iPhone 6 design up dramatically from the iPhone 5s. Leaks and mock ups show us a new iPhone design that features curved edges, rounded corners and a thinner overall design. There is no more glass on the back of the iPhone 6 according to leaks, instead it is replaced with an all metal back like the HTC One.

Expect to see the iPhone 6 in three colors compared to the 18 basic color options, plus four leather and four wood on the Moto X+1.

Display Upgrades All Around

The Moto X+1 and iPhone 6 displays are both upgrades from the earlier models, and both will deliver not only bigger screens but also higher resolutions.

For the Moto X+1 display you can expect a 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080 display. The original Moto X featured a 4.7-inch 720P display so this upgrade will deliver more screen space for photos, movies and gaming on the phone, plus the higher resolution means it is in the same league as the Galaxy S5. The photo from HelloMotoHK shows the size comparison using a larger screen.

Apple is also finally delivering a new screen size of the first time in two years and we could see two iPhone 6 screen sizes with higher resolutions. Expect to see an iPhone 6 with a 4.7-inch and with a 5.5-inch display this fall. The larger model may not arrive on the same day as the 4.7-inch model. It is very likely that users comparing the iPhone 6 vs Moto X+1 will look at the 4.7-inch model.

We’re hearing about multiple iPhone 6 screen resolutions. The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 may feature a 1,704 x 960 resolution, which early rumors suggested both models would include. A microscopic look at a leaked iPhone 6 screen appears to back this up, but iOS 8 code shows that we could be in for a bigger resolution on at least one of the models.

Code spotted in the iOS 8 beta, software that will run on the iPhone 6, suggests a new resolution of 1,472 x 828 or as high as 2,208 x 1,242, although it is not clear if this higher resolution is for the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 only.

Rumors also point to an iPhone 6 with a Sapphire display that is nearly scratch proof and more durable when dropped.

 iPhone 6 Specs vs Moto X+1 Specs

You can check out a lit of the most likely iPhone 6 specs below, but keep in mind these may change as NFC is typically rumored for each new iPhone, but has yet to arrive.

• Apple A8 64-bit Processor
• iOS 8
• 4.7-inch/5.5-inch Sapphire displays
• 16GB / 32GB/ 64GB / 128GB storage options
• 3.2MP front-facing camera
• 8-13MP rear-facing camera with image stabilization
• 1,810 mAh battery or 2,915 mAh
• 802.11ac WiFi
• Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor
• NFC

And here is a look at the Moto X+1 specs based on rumors.

• 5.2-inch 1920 x 1080p Full HD Display
• 2.5 GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core with 2GB of RAM
• 16/32GB storage with micro-SD expansion included
• Android 4.4.4 KitKat
• 12 Megapixel rear and 2.1 front cameras
• Dual front-facing speakers (aimed at the HTC One M8)
• 2,900 mAh battery
• NFC
• customization options

Two of the key Moto X+1 upgrades we see are a better camera and front facing speakers. The Moto X camera is capable of taking good-looking photos, but it is not consistent. We’re hopeful that a new sensor will deliver better looking photos and front facing speakers will deliver better audio on the Moto X+1.

The Moto X+1 will run the latest version of Android available to companies, and should deliver good storage options with 16 and 32GB plus a Micro SD card slot. With a Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM this phone should be able to handle most tasks with ease.

The iPhone 6 specs point to a new camera experience with either a larger sensor or larger pixels on the same sensor. This could combine with optical image stabilization to improve your photos.

We’re seeing larger batteries to handle bigger displays, and if Apple finally adds NFC you’ll be able to make mobile payments at retail stores. We should also finally see faster WiFi on the iPhone 6.

Carriers

The Moto X+1 on AT&T, Verizon and Sprint is as close to a sure thing as you can get, and the unlocked model should work on T-Mobile as well. At $399 it is also a going to be a popular option to buy and use on a prepaid carrier like Straight Talk or Net10, which offer cheap pre-paid plans with more limits than traditional carriers.

You’ll be able to buy an iPhone 6 on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint and Verizon for sure and we’ll likely see other smaller carriers arrive soon after the iPhone 6 release date. U.S. Cellular may offer the iPhone 6 right at release, or it could join when other carriers make announcements which traditionally arrives a month later.

Software

The Moto X+1 runs Android 4.4.4 which is the latest public version of Android. Google is previewing Android L, but it is not released for use on consumer phones just yet. The video below highlights some of the new features in Android 4.4.

We will likely see Motorola include special options like Touchless controls, Moto Assist and other software options that really made the Moto X experience for us on the original.

On the iPhone 6 you can expect iOS 8, a new version of iOS for the new iPhone. This will also come to the older iPhone models as a free update. The video below runs through the iOS 8 features we know about now thanks to a beta release.

We don’t know what the iPhone 6 exclusive features will be yet. Apple always includes some features only on the new iPhone, and we don’t expect that will change this year.