Moto X 2014: Bigger, Thinner, More Powerful But Also More Expensive

Motorola's Moto X was heralded as a challenger to the flagship devices of 2013 with unique features like voice control, active display and quick capture camera - as well as appealing with a relatively low price of £380.

However a rather insipid design, a dated processor and not quite sharp enough screen held it back from being a real flagship killer.

Now the company has launched a new version of the Moto X, with the company's flagship smartphone featuring a bigger, higher resolution display, gesture control, more integrated voice control and a more premium feel.

It also, however, comes with a higher price tag.

Ahead of the launch, I had a chance to have a look at the Moto X to see how it compares to the original and the competition on the market.

Moto X (2014): Design

The design of the original Moto X was rather uninspiring but I'm glad to report that Motorola has clearly listened to feedback and has taken positive steps to address this.

The new Moto X is wider and taller than the original thanks to the bigger screen, but it is also thinner, tapering to just 3.8mm at its narrowest point.

Despite being significantly bigger, the phone is just 5g heavier at 144g and with the addition of an aluminium frame certainly feels like a premium smartphone.

While the screen is large, the phone doesn't feel unwieldy and is easy to operate with one hand.

Moto X (2014): Moto Maker

The look of the phone is also going to be very customisable with the launch of Moto Maker in the UK for the first time.

Moto Maker, which was launched in the US alongside the original Moto X, will allow UK customers to change the colour of the front and rear covers as well as the trim of the phone.

As well as the matte plastic covers, there are also real wood and leather covers available (at a premium). You can even go so far as engraving your own personal message on the phone.

Moto Maker phones will initially be manufactured in the US, but this will move to China soon, with Motorola promising to ship the phone to you within seven days.

Moto X (2014): Screen

Motorola has increased the size of the screen from 4.7in to 5.2in while boosting the resolution to Full HD (1920 x 1080) giving the new Moto X a pixel density of 423 pixels per inch, which is on a par with the likes of the Galaxy S5 and HTC One M8.

The screen certainly as good as any on the flagship smartphones on the market, with rich colours and excellent viewing angles.

Moto X (2014): Hardware

The Moto X is using Qualcomm's Snapdragon 801 chipset with a quad-core processor running at 2.5GHz and paired with 2GB RAM.

This should mean the new Moto X is able to handle the high resolution screen, 3D intensive games or HD video streaming.

Motorola says the 2300mAh battery will last for a full day and claims that you should be able to charge your phone for eight hours of use in just 15 minutes using the Turbo charging support.

Moto X (2014): Voice Control and Gestures

Motorola has built on the voice control integration from the original Moto X, which is always listening for your command.

Previously that command had to be "OK Google", but now can be customised to anything you want. - "Hello Moto", "Wake Up" or "Excuse me". There is also more integration with third party apps, such as Facebook and WhatsApp, allowing you post updated using just your voice.

New for the 2014 version of the Moto X is gesture control. Using the built-in infrared sensor, you can now silence your alarm or reject a call by simply swiping your hand over the screen.

However that's it for gesture controls at the moment and Motorola says this isn't going to be opened up to third party developers for now - which is a pity.

Moto X (2014): Software

Motorola will ship the Moto X with a pure version of Android 4.4.4 which is the very latest version of Google's software which has been released, but crucially, Motorola has explicitly said the Moto X will get the Android L update when it is launched.

Moto X (2014): Camera

The cameras have also been updated, with a 13 megapixel sensor on the rear along with a dual flash and 4K video recording.

While the specs look good, we will have to test it before making a final judgement.

Moto X (2014): Price and Release Date

The 16GB version of the Moto X will cost £419 (compared to the £380 of the original) and while Motorola has yet to announce a specific release date, it will be launched in the UK sometime in October.

Moto X (2014): First Impressions

The 2014 version of the Moto X is a significant upgrade on the original. Building on the successful integration of voice control, Motorola continue to add unique features like gesture control and expanding the Moto Maker feature to this side of the Atlantic.

The phone's larger screen and sleek design also make it look and feel like a premium smartphone.

However one of the biggest selling points of the Moto X was the relatively low £380 price point, but despite the improvements, adding £40 to the price will make it slightly less attractive to potential customers.

That said, the new Moto X is still a great-looking phone.