Mobile Technology

Moto X Style (Pure Edition) vs. Samsung Galaxy S6

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Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Moto X Style (aka Pure Edition, left) and Samsung Galaxy S6
Camera aperture
Battery
Build (back)
Build (frame)
Camera megapixels
Color options
Processor
Dimensions
Display resolution
Display size
Display type
Fast charging
Fingerprint
Front-facing flash
Gizmag compares the features and specs of the Moto X Style (aka Pure Edition, left) and Samsung Galaxy S6
MicroSD card slot
Navigation buttons location
Starting price (on-contract)
Starting price (full retail)
RAM
Release
Removable battery
Software
Storage
Water resistance
Weight
Wireless charging
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Motorola's smartphones aren't nearly as popular as Samsung's, but for the last three years, the company has been delivering high-quality Moto X flagships that are among your best choices. Let's compare the new Moto X Style (Pure Edition in the U.S.) and Samsung Galaxy S6.

Size

Dimensions

Two years ago, the original Moto X was noticably smaller than Samsung's then-flagship, the Galaxy S4. Well, Motos have ballooned since then, and the tables are now turned: the Moto X Pure Edition is 8 percent taller and 7 percent wider than the GS6.

The Galaxy S6 is much thinner: by 39 percent. The Moto X does have a rounded back, though, while the GS6's back is flat, so those numbers are slightly misleading.

Weight

Weight

The Galaxy S6 is 23 percent lighter.

Build (frame)

Build (frame)

Both phones have aluminum frames.

Build (back)

Build (back)

Sticking with the Moto X's build your own theme, you can choose from five different backings when ordering your Moto X Pure Edition.

The GS6 is Samsung's most impressive design to date (by far), with a Gorilla Glass 4 back.

Colors

Color options

Going off of Motorola's back and accent listings, it looks like there will be 216 total color combos for the Moto X. By comparison, that makes the GS6's four options look pretty tame.

Display size

Display size

The new Moto X gives you a 25 percent bigger screen than the Galaxy S6 gives you. If you want a bigger variant of the GS6, though, Samsung should have something to show off very soon.

Navigation keys

Navigation buttons location

Apart from when Android's Immersive Mode kicks in, though, the Moto X will reserve a bottom section of its screen for navigation keys. Samsung uses physical and capacitive buttons below its screen.

Display resolution

Display resolution

Both handsets have ultra-sharp Quad HD displays. The GS6's smaller size, though, gives it the pixel density advantage.

Display type

Display type

For the last two years, Motorola used AMOLED panels for its Moto X flagships, but, in what could potentially be a cost-cutting move, this year it opted for TFT.

Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint

Samsung put a touch-based fingerprint sensor in the Galaxy S6.

Battery

Battery

The Moto X has the higher-capacity battery, but the GS6's battery results are pretty good. We'll have to put the Moto X through the paces before we can say anything about its battery life.

Removable battery

Removable battery

Both of those batteries, by the way, are sealed shut.

Wireless charging

Wireless charging

If you pick up a wireless charging pad, you can juice up the GS6 just by dropping it on top.

Fast charging

Fast charging

Both handsets have their own versions of fast charging (which usually only has an effect when the battery level starts out very low).

Storage

Storage

The Galaxy S6 gives you the better storage options, doubling the three respective tiers on the Moto X. Just remember that the Moto X is much cheaper (at full retail) to start with, so it still gives you more storage bang for your buck.

MicroSD

MicroSD card slot

In this category, these two traded roles this year: a microSD card in a Moto X flagship is a first, as is no microSD in a Galaxy S flagship.

Processor

Processor

The Galaxy S6 is an incredibly fast and zippy phone. We have a hard time imagining the Moto X will give you anything to worry about here, with its Snapdragon 808 CPU (also seen in the speedy LG G4).

RAM

RAM

Both handsets give you 3 GB of RAM.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels

The Moto X's rear camera wins on megapixels, but the Galaxy S6 has an excellent (and incredibly quick-launching) camera that will be tough to beat.

Camera aperture (rear)

Camera aperture

The GS6 wins out by a hair in rear camera aperture.

Front flash

Front-facing flash

Here's something new: the Moto X has a front-facing flash, so your selfies won't have to take a backseat to lighting conditions.

Water resistance

Water resistance

It isn't as powerful as the water resistance we saw in last year's Galaxy S5, but the Moto X has some light water and dust resistance (rated for sprays and splashes, though, not full submersion).

Software

Software

The Moto X runs stock Android Lollipop, while Samsung has its TouchWiz UI (which is more scaled-back than in years past) sitting on top of the same core OS.

Release

Release

The Moto X Pure Edition will launch in the U.S. this September.

Starting price (full retail)

Starting price (full retail)

Motorola is going all-in on value pricing this year, as its high-end flagship will start at an impressive US$399 full retail. That's $250 cheaper than an off-contract GS6 rings up for right now.

Starting price (on-contract)

Starting price (on-contract)

Carriers will also sell the Moto X using their usual methods (contracts and installment plans), but we don't know what they'll ask for it yet.

For more you can hit up Gizmag's full review of the Galaxy S6.

View gallery - 27 images
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1 comment
Timelord
Pretty soon, you'll have to add a new comparison criterion: Vulnerable to Stagefright (or whatever the Android malware of the week is).