Comparing the Moto X and Galaxy S6 Android Flagship Smartphones

Can Motorola’s flagship Moto X smartphone compete against Samsung’s Galaxy S6 device? Here’s a side-by-side look at the two Android handsets.

If it’s power the customer is after, going with the Moto X may make some sense. The device has a 1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 hexacore CPU, tied to an Adreno 418 GPU. Those processors, coupled with its 3GB of RAM, make the Moto X one of the most powerful products on store shelves, capable of handling any and all applications, including high-end business applications.

Unlike the Moto X, which comes in one design type, Samsung has gone with two: one that features the familiar beveled design and another that has tapered edges. The first, called the Galaxy S6, is for traditionalists who like standard smartphone designs. The second, the Galaxy S6 Edge, adds some extra design appeal and offers additional features that may be worth a look.

One of the interesting things about the Moto X is that it comes with the standard Android experience. Rather than put its own skin atop Android, Motorola, which was once owned by Google but is now a subsidiary of Lenovo, has gone with a clean Android install. That means customers who feel at home with the standard Android build found in Nexus devices will love the Moto X.

While the Galaxy S6 may not come with as much power as the Moto X, it’s not far behind. The device has an octa-core processor with clock speeds of 2.1GHz and 1.5GHz in its two quad-core sides. The handset also comes with 3GB of RAM and can last a whopping 26 hours of talk time on a single charge, thanks to its processor efficiency. It’s a high-powered alternative to the Moto X.

At the core of Motorola’s sales pitch is its “Moto Maker,” a platform that allows customers buying the device to choose everything from the front faceplate to the back plate and metallic accents. With Motorola’s Moto Maker, users can also choose to have their name engraved and pick between wood and leather. Motorola offers more customization in the Moto X than any other company on the market.

The Galaxy S6 Edge adds some interesting (and appealing) features to the handset. For one, users can set their own edge lighting for contacts—so when a certain loved one or friend calls, the screen’s edges will light up in a desired color while the phone is ringing. In addition, the edges provide extra information about apps and operating system information, and there’s even a night clock feature, so users can glance over at the edge of their handset to see what time it is in the middle of the night.

Motorola believes its cameras can differentiate its product in the marketplace—especially for camera enthusiasts. The Moto X has a 21-megapixel rear-facing camera with an aperture of f/2.0. On the front end, the device has a 5-megapixel lens that performs exceptionally well in low-light for selfie shots. Motorola has made great strides with its Moto X camera, and the company could use that as a key ingredient in its battle with Samsung.

Samsung decided to split the difference between some of the larger and smaller handsets on the market and go with a 5.1-inch screen in the Galaxy S6. At that size, the device is bigger than Apple’s iPhone 6 but smaller than the iPhone 6 Plus. The handset display is also smaller than the Moto X’s screen. Whether that will ultimately matter to customers is unknown, but given its popularity, at least some folks seem to like what they see in the S6’s 5.1-inch screen.

In a world where high-end smartphones go for $600 or far more for unlocked versions, Motorola is offering its Moto X at just $400 to start. That’s a shockingly low price for a new, top-of-the-line handset, and one that could help put Motorola on the map. Motorola isn’t relying on carriers to subsidize its smartphone sales price; it’s going it alone. And there’s a chance, given the price, that the move might just pay off.

If it’s storage a customer is after, the Galaxy S6 delivers. The device starts with 32GB of onboard storage, but that bumps to 64GB and 128GB in other models. That should be more than enough storage for the average consumer or enterprise user—and 128GB is double the storage of the higher-end Moto X.