LG G2 vs. Moto X Comparison

LG G2 vs. Moto X: Flagship Smartphone Comparison

The LG G2 and Moto X, both released in 2013, were flagship Android smartphones with unique features that catered to different types of users. The LG G2 focused on high-end specs, powerful performance, and innovation in design, while the Moto X emphasized user experience, simplicity, and smart software features. Here’s a detailed comparison of the two smartphones:

Design & Build

  • LG G2: The LG G2 had a plastic body with a sleek, minimalistic design and thin bezels, making the 5.2-inch display dominate the front of the phone. Its unique design included rear-mounted power and volume buttons, positioned below the camera, which was meant to make one-handed use easier. The G2’s curved edges and lightweight build (143g) made it comfortable to hold, though the plastic body lacked the premium feel of metal or glass.
  • Moto X: The Moto X also had a plastic body, but it was smaller and more compact, featuring a 4.7-inch AMOLED display. The phone was highly customizable through the Moto Maker, allowing users to personalize colors, materials (such as wood or leather), and even add custom engravings. At 130 grams, the Moto X was lightweight and felt comfortable in the hand, thanks to its curved back and smaller footprint.

Winner: The Moto X wins for customizability and ergonomics, while the LG G2 offers a larger display and an innovative rear-button design.

Display

  • LG G2: The G2 boasted a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with a 1080×1920 resolution and a pixel density of 424 ppi. The display was bright, sharp, and offered excellent color accuracy and viewing angles. Its larger screen made it ideal for media consumption and multitasking.
  • Moto X: The Moto X featured a 4.7-inch AMOLED display with a 1280×720 resolution and a pixel density of 316 ppi. While the screen was smaller and had a lower resolution than the G2, the AMOLED technology provided deep blacks and vibrant colors. The lower resolution helped conserve battery life, and the display was still sharp enough for everyday use.

Winner: The LG G2 wins for higher resolution and larger display, offering a sharper and more immersive viewing experience.

Performance

  • LG G2: The LG G2 was powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, a quad-core CPU clocked at 2.26GHz, paired with 2GB of RAM. This made it one of the most powerful smartphones of 2013, capable of handling intensive gaming, multitasking, and performance-heavy apps with ease.
  • Moto X: The Moto X used a dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor clocked at 1.7GHz, along with 2GB of RAM. While the Moto X wasn’t as powerful as the G2 in terms of raw specs, Motorola optimized the software to deliver a smooth and responsive experience. The X8 Mobile Computing System also included dedicated cores for contextual computing and voice recognition, enhancing its performance in real-world usage.

Winner: The LG G2 wins in raw performance due to its Snapdragon 800 processor, but the Moto X was optimized for efficiency and offered a smoother user experience for everyday tasks.

Battery Life

  • LG G2: The LG G2 came with a 3000mAh non-removable battery, which provided excellent battery life. It could easily last a full day of heavy use and could stretch into two days with moderate use, thanks to the efficient Snapdragon 800 and software optimizations.
  • Moto X: The Moto X had a 2200mAh non-removable battery, which was smaller than the G2’s. However, due to the smaller screen and lower-resolution display, the Moto X still managed good battery life, lasting a full day of moderate use. Its Active Display and Touchless Control features didn’t drain the battery as much as expected.

Winner: The LG G2 wins for longer battery life, offering more power for users who need extended usage.

Camera

  • LG G2: The LG G2 had a 13MP rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS), which helped reduce blur and improve low-light performance. The camera was capable of taking sharp, detailed photos with good color accuracy, and OIS made it one of the best cameras for low-light photography at the time. The front camera was 2.1MP.
  • Moto X: The Moto X featured a 10MP ClearPixel camera, designed to capture more light and improve low-light performance. While it performed decently in good lighting, it struggled to match the clarity and detail of the G2’s camera. The front camera was 2MP, suitable for selfies and video calls but not outstanding.

Winner: The LG G2 wins for better overall camera performance, especially in low-light conditions, thanks to OIS.

Software & Features

  • LG G2: The LG G2 ran Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean with LG’s custom UI. While the UI was feature-rich, it wasn’t as streamlined as stock Android. LG introduced several unique features:
    • KnockOn: Double-tap the screen to wake the phone.
    • Guest Mode: A secondary profile for other users.
    • Slide Aside: A multitasking feature for swiping apps aside for later access.
  • Moto X: The Moto X ran a near-stock version of Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, which provided a clean and fast user experience. Motorola added a few key features that made the Moto X stand out:
    • Touchless Control: Always-on voice control, allowing users to interact with the phone without touching it by saying “OK Google.”
    • Active Display: Showed notifications and the time on the lock screen without waking the phone, helping conserve battery life.
    • Moto Assist: Automatically adjusted the phone’s behavior based on the user’s activity, such as silencing calls during meetings or reading texts aloud while driving.

Winner: The Moto X wins for its clean, near-stock Android experience and innovative features like Touchless Control and Active Display, which enhanced usability.

Storage

  • LG G2: The LG G2 came with 16GB or 32GB of internal storage but lacked a microSD card slot for expandable storage.
  • Moto X: The Moto X also offered 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, with no microSD card slot for expansion. However, users who purchased the Moto X through Moto Maker received 50GB of free Google Drive storage for two years.

Winner: Tie – Both phones offered the same internal storage options, with no expandable storage.

Connectivity

  • LG G2: The G2 supported 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and an infrared blaster to control home appliances.
  • Moto X: The Moto X supported 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, and NFC, but lacked the infrared blaster found in the LG G2.

Winner: The LG G2 wins for including the infrared blaster, which allowed it to control TVs and other devices.

Conclusion

  • LG G2: Best for users who prioritize performance, battery life, and a better camera. The 5.2-inch display and rear-button design made it stand out in a crowded market, and its long-lasting battery made it a reliable option for heavy users.
  • Moto X: Best for users who value customization, a clean Android experience, and innovative features like Touchless Control and Active Display. The Moto X was optimized for everyday use, offering smooth performance and smart software without the need for high-end specs.

Both phones were exceptional flagships, with the LG G2 excelling in hardware and performance, while the Moto X focused on user experience and software innovation.