There is no SD card slot, and the largest storage option available is 32GB. If you like keeping lots of music/pictures/videos stored on your phone, you may want to look elsewhere
As a Nexus, it will always be near the front of the line when it comes to updates. You can expect the latest updates weeks or even months before other more expensive phones.
Android 6.0 adds some really great features such as Doze mode, which puts your phone into hibernate mode when it's not in use. As a result, the phone will hardly use any battery at all when dozing. The phone will still periodically check for updates when dozing.
6.0 also introduces a native file manager, memory manager, and granular app permissions.
The fingerprint reader can be used when the screen is off and opens up to your home screen very quickly. It can also be used as authentication for payments.
The Nexus 5X comes with the latest stock Android software. There are no OEM re-skins or carrier bloatware to change the way the device is used or slow it down.
USB Type-C is the new standard that started being used in 2015. It replaces the Micro USB port. Type-C allows for faster data transfers, and the port is now reversible and stronger. This new standard is expected to last many years into the future.
While it won't be winning any awards, the camera takes some decent shots. Lowlight performance is acceptable, and it's pretty quick to focus and take pictures. Macro shots performed very well. The camera app is a bit basic, however you can download alternatives.
The speaker faces forwards which helps direct the audio towards you, meaning you never need to cup your hand or worry about muffling the speaker when you put it face up on a table. The volume or sound quality isn't anything extraordinary - it's merely average, however overall it provides satisfying sound.
Old micro USB cables will not work with this device, meaning if you lose or break your cable you will need to buy a new one instead of using an old cable you had lying around. If you need to top up your phone away from home, it will be much harder to find a suitable cable initially.
With only 2GB of RAM, the multitasking performance of the Nexus 5X is less than admirable. Apps will need to re-load frequently, making the phone feel slower than it should be. Some phones even at $250 have 3GB of RAM, making this seem chintzy.
The plastic build helps make the phone feel lightweight, however this adds to the cheap feeling of the device. It's built well enough that you aren't worried about it falling apart in your hands, however it doesn't feel like it could take a solid drop.
The fingerprint sensor works as quickly as those found on flagship phones, and with the ability to recognize swipe gestures, allows you to reclaim the screen real estate usually occupied by the navigation bar.
Many phones have "OK Google Everywhere" capabilities, however the Moto X Pure has the ability to do it even when the screen is off. It even works across the room - you can walk into a room and say the launch phrase (by default it's "OK Google Now", but you can set it to anything that is at least 5 syllables), followed by "find my phone" and even if it's in the couch cushions it will start ringing. You can also use it to send texts while driving while keeping your phone in your pocket, and have it read out incoming notifications.
If you are in America, and buy from Motorola directly, you get access to the full customization available on Moto Maker. There are 3 front colors, 18 rear case options and 7 accent color options. Together, these make for 378 different combinations without the need for a case. There are also 3 storage options available - 16, 32 or 64GB.
You can also add engraving, and a custom greeting you see whenever your phone boots up.
Motorola's custom solution is even quicker than Qualcom's QuickCharge 2.0 - allowing for up to 10 hours of mixed usage from a quick 15 minute top-up. We haven't seen tests comparing the long term impacts, but Motorola claims that their solution uses a custom battery and software to make the charging process produce less heat, which is good for the battery life.
Charging to full takes only 75 minutes (it will charge fastest when very low, and as it gets more charge it will slow down).
The large (5.7"), high resolution (1440p) display uses IPS technology. This means that outdoor visibility is great, colors are accurate, and you can view the screen from extreme angles without any serious color shifts.
Motorola's speakers are some of the loudest in the industry. While they don't quite offer the same clarity as HTC's phones, none can compete with the sheer volume of the Moto X Pure.
Moto Display is a feature that gives you rich passive & active notification information. When sitting face up on a table and a notification comes in, it will pulse on the screen. You can also wave your hand over the front of the display to trigger Moto Display, and rocking it on the table or picking it up out of your pocket also activates it.
Motorola Mobility was operating under Google when it released the Moto X Pure, however since then Google has Motorola Mobility to Lenovo. This leaves it's future uncertain, as Lenovo may have different priorities than when the phone first launched. Other Motorola phones have been receiving less updates than previously expected - it remains to be seen whether or not the Moto X Pure will follow suit or not.
The 21MP, f/2.0 and 1.1 µm pixel camera can take some decent pictures, although the default camera app is more of a pain than a pleasure to use. Low light photos come out grainy, and all the settings (even focus) are hidden in a side-mounted scrolling wheel. On the good side, the shutter speed is pretty quick and it captures a good amount of detail.
Next to the selfie camera there is a font facing flash. This helps a lot with selfies at night, and is a much better solution than trying to imitate a flash on the screen.
While the battery is fairly large at 3000mAh, the larger display and Moto features draw more power than similar phones leading to sub-par battery life. You may need to take advantage of the fast charging before the end of the day.
Unlike most phones where the fingerprint sensor doubles a home button, the Nexus 6P has the sensor placed about 3/4 the way up the back of the phone, right where users already have their index finger when holding it. It is not a power button - only a fingerprint sensor, and its tucked away in a convenient-out-of-sight place.
The Nexus 6P has a 5.7-inch Amoled screen that is comparable to other high end Android phablets. At a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 it has a ppi of 518. The Amoled technology provides very punchy colors, and doesn't illuminate black pixels (unlike IPS panels) making dark colors look better.
The speakers on the Nexus 6P are better than your average phone speakers. First off, there's two of them, and they're facing towards you (which makes sense when you think about it). Because they are on different sides of the screen, in landscape they create a stereo affect (you can hear sounds start at the left and move towards the right). The clarity and volume are also better than most competitors.
With the included 3GB of RAM the device has little issue with multitasking and screen refreshes. This means the user can run multiple demanding apps at the same time without needing to re-load them.
The Nexus 6P comes with the Snapdragon 810 processor, which was the best SoC from 2015. It s a 64bit octa core processor that is clocked at 2.0GHz. It offers high end performance and should handle any app thrown at it. Early versions of the Snapdragon 810 has heating issues, but that isn't a considerable drawback on the Nexus 6P.
The Nexus 6P will last a full day for even heavy users. The battery drains by 25% when playing a 90 minute video at 100% brightness. GSMArena rates the battery at 74h, which is a good score.
Nexus devices run 100% Google made software. Because it runs Stock Android software, it should get updates quickest, as well as monthly security patches. Google also promises at least 2 years of software updates (the timer on that started when it launched late 2015).
Stock Android isn't very feature-rich, but the design elements look beautiful (Material Design) and performance is snappy. When Android N launches later this year, it's expected to add multi-window support.
USB Type C is the new charging/data transfer standard that has just begun rolling out in 2015. It offers faster data transfer speeds, and a reversible port as well as a more durable connector. It should stick around for the next 5-10 years.
While this is the best camera ever on a Nexus device, that isn't saying much. All pictures come out darker than competitors, and the lack of OIS makes it use short exposure times in dark scenarios, further darkening pictures.
Figuratively and literally, the housing for the rear camera sticks out quite a bit from the rest of the devices slick housing. This makes for an unsightly look to the device as well as a slight ledge where the housing for the camera begins.
The phone is very thin, has a curved back, feels a bit heavy in the hand, and is made of Gorilla Glass on one side and aluminum on the other. Without a case or skin, it can feel like the phone is constantly on the verge of slipping out of your grip.
Many other companies add 'bloatware' to their phone - apps that nobody wants and that nobody asks for. These apps only take up storage space and drain the battery, and some of them can even gather some of your data.
Old micro USB cables will not work with this device, meaning if you lose or break your cable you will need to buy a new one instead of using an old cable you had lying around. If you need to top up your phone away from home, it will be much harder to find a suitable cable initially.
The phones can be ordered with a choice of faceplates, speaker/microphone grilles, and back covers including plastic, wood and leather. There's even a possibility to add an engraving on the back of the phone. Options can be viewed on the Moto Maker website.
Moto X has a 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU with 2 GB of RAM offering a smooth experience and being capable of running most software without a hitch.
Moto X has an always-on microphone that can be used to interact with the phone using voice commands to perform actions like calling, texting, getting directions, scheduling appointments and posing a wide variety of queries.
The 13MP camera has some consistency issues and the pictures are slightly oversaturated, but overall the camera takes sharp pictures in good lighting conditions. It can even take 4K video and has Slow Motion, Burst, and Auto-HDR modes.
The Moto X can read incoming messages out loud while driving, mute incoming communication while in meetings and set the alarm based on planned schedule.
Moto X bundles Moto Voice, a voice-activated personal assistant, Moto Display, a replacement notification system, and Moto Assist, a context-sensing personal assistant. Other than that it's a clean Android experience.
The second generation Moto X has moved the placement of the speaker so that is is front facing. This allows for clearer speakerphone calls, as well as easier to hear music and videos. The speaker is very loud, and while it distorts a bit at max volume it isn't any more than its competitors.
Moto X has a curved back, an aluminium frame, a front-facing mono speaker and power and volume buttons on the side. It's 140.8 x 72.4 x 9.9 mm and weighs 144 grams.
The Moto X has a lock screen replacement that utilizes the AMOLED screen to only light the portion of the screen that it needs to display the notification, making it consume little power. This is called "Moto Display". This provides more context, and quicker actions than any other notification alert system.
Additionally, the screen will automatically light up when the phone is taken out of the pocket, rocked on a table, or when a hand is waved above it thanks to built-in IR sensors.
With a Snapdragon 400 clocked at 1.2 GHz this device is on the lower end of the scale when it comes to computing power in a smartphone. Being that this is meant as a low end device, it is of course expected. Surprisingly, the device can still perform most tasks adequately, though it is not expected to run the highest end of games available.