When Motorola unboxed the Moto X 2015, Pure Edition in the U.S. and Style for the rest of the world, the quick reaction was - the device is nearly the perfect Android. The operating system is stock that many Android fans prefer and the headline specs, while not jaw-dropping, will readily measure up to the best out there.
The third Moto X installment is a 5.7-inch behemoth that impresses with an IPS-LCD Quad HD display in 2560 x 1440 screen pixel with density of 530 pixels per inch or ppi. The power within is a 64-bit Snapdragon 808 chip that Motorola paired with 3GB of RAM. This combo of engine ensures that mobile computing is superfast and can handle multiple tasks at once.
Seductive enough with its superior camera system - a combo of 21MP on rear and 5MP on front - and promises of long battery life and personalization options, many fell in love easily. Some reviewers even labelled the Moto X 2015 as better than Google's Nexus 2015.
But Apple refreshed the iPhone 6 Plus with the 6S Plus and the bannering its inner specs is a 64-bit A9 chip in dual-core configuration. The processor is tapped to 2GB of RAM. For experts, this power tandem as governed and optimized by iOS 9 is what really matters with the second Apple phablet.
Pitted against the Moto X or any other supersized smartphone, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6S Plus will either match the competition or in many cases, end up outsized and out-specced. But losing a few battles doesn't always mean losing the war, which is the 6 Plus is all about. It is far from perfect but it can easily overwhelm the Moto X 2015 in three key areas.
Design and build
From the last two versions, the new Moto X showcased vast improvements and one that will easily notice is the outer build. The 2015 edition is not only the prettiest of the bunch but also the most solidly assembled.
But the iPhone 6S Plus is thing of beauty too and solid at the same time. The handiwork of Apple, however, exudes something that Motorola has yet to achieve with the Moto X this 2015 - the premium look and feel. Despite its basic asking price of $750, compared to the Moto X 2015's $400, the iPhone 6S Plus is projected to lure in more buyers as the device's design and build is equated by consumers to a premium lifestyle statement.
Camera prowess
Motorola is saying that the Moto X 2015 is destined to become of the best camera smartphones this year and a number of reviewers agreed. But the bold claim remains to be experienced and tested in the real world.
Not in the case of the iPhone 6S Plus as it is the sequel to the best shooting smartphone of 2014, the iPhone 6 Plus, and it indeed is an enhancement from its immediate predecessor. The rear cam now packs a 12MP sensor with hardware optical image stabilization and a host of other superlative shooting features.
The front cam now boasts of 5MP that will only improve on the beloved social media functions of the iPhone camera trademark.
Superior ecosystem
To date, Android remains playing catch up in its ecosystem race against iOS. As developers prioritize the platform, iPhone users get first access to the best mobile applications with the updates and fixes delivered on time. The same applies to iOS, users of which are up to date compared to the fragmented Android updating system.
And the iOS ecosystem is that superior that iPhone and iPad users have ready access to third-party products that make accessorizing iDevices easy and cheap. These are the benefits that will unpack with the iPhone 6S Plus on release date, which the Moto X 2015 will find hard to match.