Database Info

Android phone brands, pros and cons

This is for comparison on brands of Android phones. Observations are from general trends across different models, odd cases or low % problems are not taken into account.
HTC
Pros:
Frequent updates to Android builds.
Teflon housing.
Good positional sensors.
Much better customer support.
Cons:
Mediocre touchscreen sensors, although new models good-excellent, older ones poor.
Samsung
Pros:
Excellent touchscreen sensors
Cons:
Poor Android build updates.
Poor-terrible positional sensors, gyroscope, compass, accelerometer.
Touch screens not scratch proof.
Havent had any experience with other brands, please discuss and I will keep this post updated.

That\s an interesting observation, though i assume the newest models of each company are better and badder

HTC:
Frequent updates to the most current version of Android
Samsung:
Few if any updates to most current version of Android. Usually Samsung devices are one Android version behind, if not two.

-HTC-
-Good build quality
-SENSE UI is great as a stock launcher
-Camera can be better
Haven't owned any other brand Androids.

What about the Nexus S as a Samsung device, or does everyone around here consider that a Google device?

HTC is constant on their updates is probably the biggest pro.

I've got since nearly an Month an HTC Desire HD.
With Custom Roms, Rooted, etc. its so much better than any other Phones I saw.
Its Qualitativly rly great, everything looks great, akkucase is great (the place where its hold in ) and dont know.
But when i buy me a new when, i would take maybe the new SonyEricsonAndroid or LG Optimus Speed (2x).

I am loyal to HTC brand phones mainly because I've had the fewest problems with them (Android or otherwise) but I would have to say for me, the biggest con for every Android HTC that I've heard of or used personally is the terrible battery life. This is especially true for a stock HTC without root.
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App

Desire HD, custom rom, huge amount of tweaks....

Starholdest said:
What about the Nexus S as a Samsung device, or does everyone around here consider that a Google device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung I would say, I do own both nexuses and they each have strong similarities to other makes in the brand, the benefit though is you get android build updates asap.
ppcmaster1 said:
i assume the newest models of each company are better and badder
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yes but usually it happens all relatively, and I found it definitely to be the case looking into HTCs latest major phone which is the Desire HD.
I did some research on touchscreens,
Samsung get their sensors from a Taiwan company called Sintek Photronic
HTC get them from an American company called Synaptics
Nexus One and HTC Desire are using an older generation of sensors (ClearPad 2000) where Desire HD is using the ClearPad 3000. The 3000 although acceptable in terms of usability they still contain minor quirks and the vast majority of HTC phones on the shelves at stores contain the older touch sensors.
I would not say HTCs build quality is of note(yet, I need a consensus), I would put it on par with Samsung's. The teflon housing gives an impression of superior build quality although not the same thing, even though it does give the phone significant longevity, it is for the materials used not how they are put together, I have seen HTC phones with for example the track sensor not centred for the opening in the case although working, and I have heard stories of the phones screen cracking with HTC acknowledging this.
"People sometimes forget that they don't go in pockets," said HTC.
And dust under the screen issues aswell.
BTW, HTC AMOLED panels are supplied by Samsung, how nice of them.
But they have switched to Sony for SLCD due to the shortage.
HTC tend to have their CPUs run at rated clockspeeds, and Motorolla tend to underclock their CPUs according to this article on comparisons:
http://www.tested.com/news/htc-vs-motorola-vs-samsung-who-builds-the-best-android-phones/1345/
Hence the battery lives.

I Checked out my friends incredible s today, after a brief touchscreen comparison with my nexus s it felt on par with it, infact I got my nexus s to screw up a bit which I hadnt seen before, it wasnt much of a test but I think synaptics could be on its way to having possibly the best touch screens as it is a massive improvement in quality over the nexus one and even desire.
Another thing, my nexus s screen is not scratch proof.
With everything in consideration now I think HTC is far superior to samsung overall for android phones.

Compared
I also compared Samsung and HTC my sister got her HTC Desire Z 4 weeks ago and my father has his Samsung Galaxy S for 2 month or something like that he had some problems with a broken speaker and it was quite difficult to talk to someone in the helpcenter who could help him ( this time we didnt know that it was an hardware failure) My sis is not the fittest in handling with smartphones and she had some questions converning her new phone and she got very fast a employed that helped her so i would prefer HTC too

I would glue 106 samsung android phones together to make a step stool to reach 1 htc android phone sitting on a shelf just out of reach.

Personally I believe HTC blows Samsung out of the water. I've had both and the biggest downfall with Samsung is there update policy. You never get updates. I gave up waiting for Froyo so I went to the HTC Evo 4G and now with the killer Rom from xxxvirusxxx I'm running Android 2.3 Gingerbread !!

Its sad no one can offer some insight into motorolla, next time I get the chance and I have time at the shops I will try take a look at one and check out its touch sensor panel, general hardware, and check if the demo has scratches on the screen.

MaFi0s0 said:
Its sad no one can offer some insight into motorolla, next time I get the chance and I have time at the shops I will try take a look at one and check out its touch sensor panel, general hardware, and check if the demo has scratches on the screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Motorola has a strict policy on locked bootloaders coupled with bad update schedules. I would steer clear of them unless your buying the new Vanilla Android device coming to Virgin Mobile.

I have a samsung galaxy s captivate... one of the best phones i've ever owned

HTC produces the best Androids.
HTC would be the perfect manufacturer if they could put AMOLED back to their phones just as the good ol' Desire (before it decided to use SLCD) and unlock the phones, which they has promised.

I have a HTC Desire and a Samsung Galaxy S at work, they feel mostly the same but the Samsung is somehow a bit laggy sometimes.
And my brother has a Huawei U8800 and i would still have the HTC over that one as well.

Finally got around to checking out a Motorolla, the new Razr.
Could not really conclude much as it is a new gen phone without much to compare it with. So I am just gonna mention my observations.
It straight away looks and feels very well built but soon gave the impression of "just not a HTC".
Assembled in China is embossed into the kevlar at the back, dont know why this is not a sticker seeing as though the company is American and not Chinese.
The phone is top heavy meaning the weight is at the earpeice so when you hold it, it feels unbalanced, although not as bad as the nexus one.
They claim it is waterproof to a rating that suggests you could safely use it in the shower but I dont think anyone has tried yet and the owner did not want to be the 1st.
The volume and power buttons did not feel clicky, they rather felt rubbery, and the volume button placed in a non intuitive position as a tiny rocker, I imagine the lack of feedback on the buttons is either due to how thin the phone is or it being waterproof, this is nitpicking though but an observation none the less.
The edges of the phone are made of plastic, I imagine this is due to reception reasons or to absorb a drop.
Comparing the pentile screen to an iPhone 4 and nexus S(slcd) and Desire all side by side, the color reproduction is inbetween the nexus S and the Desire, tending more towards the Desire with overly rich but not neon greens, the white balance was also slightly off.
The text sharpness was practically as good as the SLCD nexus S and iPhone's.
The touch sensor used was quiet good, not as good as the iPhone's though which seems to still be years ahead somehow
It registered atleast 10 simultaneous touches like a tablet would, it was not impressive but could not find any major faults.
Did not get the chance to test the compass, GPS etc but will hear back from the owner and update this post.

[Q] Give me your long term review of the Nexus S!

Greetings XDA folks! My Nexus One is being passed to my girlfriend, as she broke her Huawei Ideos, so now I'm looking at the Nexus S. I'm based in Taiwan, so I only will get the Super Clear LCD version. Really would like to hear XDA thoughts on this phone and how it has treated them over the course of their ownership...
- Hardware/software issues?
- How it holds up without a case - scratches/wear/tear?
My main concern is reliability in general. I prefer sticking to the stock Android experience and I'm okay with rooting/3rd party ROMs if they're reliable; so if you guys have other phone suggestions please feel free to plug them in! Much appreciated!

24bear said:
Greetings XDA folks! My Nexus One is being passed to my girlfriend, as she broke her Huawei Ideos, so now I'm looking at the Nexus S. I'm based in Taiwan, so I only will get the Super Clear LCD version. Really would like to hear XDA thoughts on this phone and how it has treated them over the course of their ownership...
- Hardware/software issues?
- How it holds up without a case - scratches/wear/tear?
My main concern is reliability in general. I prefer sticking to the stock Android experience and I'm okay with rooting/3rd party ROMs if they're reliable; so if you guys have other phone suggestions please feel free to plug them in! Much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No complaints, have had the phone since the US release. But if you are in Taiwan, would you like to wait for a galaxy S II or maybe the original galaxy s? The original galaxy s is very rich in roms and performs quite well.
The screen for the nexus is NOT gorilla glass, so I have a screen protector on at all times, the back is very easily scratchable. If you are concern about keeping your phone in mint condition, I would suggest that you get a case or a replacement back cover. Only thing about the back covers though is that they have the NFC in it and so it can be limted or hard to find. Or otherwise get the one without NFC and "cripple" your phone.
Have had both the galaxy S and they nexus s, and I switch between both as my daily phone. If you got any questions, just ask me I will try to answer as best as I can. I wish I could get a new phone too but they wife will kill me

Hey suomaf, I would love to have the SGII, but as of now they have not given a release date here in Taiwan and I really don't want to fork more than 600 USD/415 EUR for import. I looked at the Galaxy S too, but hesitant about its GPS - whereas the Nexus S seemed to address that issue from other reviews I've read; or did they address this issue on a particular version that I'm not aware of? Thanks for your input, it's much appreciated!

Software wise I think its great. Also great if you love flashing ROMs.
I agree that the backcover scratches easily. A lot of cases will even scratch it, I found out the hard way.
Putting on a case protects it but adds bulk. Especially if you are used to using the Nexus One naked. I may give the Incipio Feather case a try next.
Also, you'll probably miss the notification LED. You can get BLN, but it isn't quite the same.
Another thing I miss is the desktop and car dock.
All and all, I think it's a pretty solid device. Just the ideal device for me is a hybid of the Nexus One/S
Sent from some reflashed Android device with Tapatalk

Hey DumbUglyDragon... interesting name... so it sounds like the Nexus S body needs a good amount of protection from visual scuffs. If I remembered correctly, the Nexus S doesn't come with a pouch like the Nexus One, right? I prefer naked phone with pouch, so any pouch options any of you Nexus S owners can suggest (if any)? Thanks!

24bear said:
Hey DumbUglyDragon... interesting name... so it sounds like the Nexus S body needs a good amount of protection from visual scuffs. If I remembered correctly, the Nexus S doesn't come with a pouch like the Nexus One, right? I prefer naked phone with pouch, so any pouch options any of you Nexus S owners can suggest (if any)? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the pouch that came with my old myTouch 3G (HTC Magic) for a while. It was basically a sunglass pouch. Kept it protected from scratches, but a bit cumbersome to have to open the pouch to pull out the phone every time I wanted to use it. But it is nothing like the ballistic nylon pouch the Nexus One came with

I love my Nexus S so much. Got it in late December; it's had to go in for repair once since then- it would go unresponsive if left asleep for more than a couple hours for some reason. Got fixed and returned by Geek Squad in about ten days. Other than that, it's been all good times. I can't tell you much on your second question; I've had an Invisible Shield and Amzer silicone case on it almost from day one. My mom's seems to be holding up pretty well without a case (she's only had hers for a month). As long as you don't drop the thing, it should be alright without one. I wouldn't trust not having a screen protector on it for any real length of time, though; especially if you aren't the super careful type.

I came from a 'dumb' sony erricson phone, to the Nexus S.
At first i was actually scared to take it out with me (being quite expensive and all), but i buoght a flip case for it so that part was sorted lol.
Definately buy some sort of protection for it though, otherwise it will scratch up.
In all honesty when i first got this phone i was not impressed (first smart phone), but now that ive had it for a few months, i find it simply amazing.
I am running the NS Collab ROM which is based off CM7 with the usual tweaks etc
Basically , you won't be dissapointed!

Only problems I've had with Nexus S have been the poor Google Skymap performance ... it jumps around everyone and is essentially unusable with the compass.
Using pure GPS is fine (so navigation and geocaching not affected) but the compass is poor.
Plus side, the phone is fast and smooth. It gets updates straight from Google, so no waiting for the maker to decide to release an update. It can be easily rooted and ROM'd if you want.
I do not use a screen protector or a case, because they make the phone look ugly. I use a Golla bag (http://www.golla.com/#/en/products/search/category/mobile/) that clips onto my belt and the phone has remained in tip-top condition.
Overall, very please with the phone and have no desire to change it for anything else.

I actually love the nexus s and I also have the original galaxy s. I beloved both perform equally well. You were concerned about GPS with the galaxy s, which CAN be remedied by using a custom rom but then you sacrifice the already low battery life even further. The nexus s has been an awesome phone to me. I would still suggest to wait or save for a 4g compatible phone. I'm not sure of coverage in your area but I was disappointed when I realized my nexus s was not 4g capable and its very similiar device the the original galaxy s.
My .02 cents.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

eatTHESEbullets said:
I actually love the nexus s and I also have the original galaxy s. I beloved both perform equally well. You were concerned about GPS with the galaxy s, which CAN be remedied by using a custom rom but then you sacrifice the already low battery life even further. The nexus s has been an awesome phone to me. I would still suggest to wait or save for a 4g compatible phone. I'm not sure of coverage in your area but I was disappointed when I realized my nexus s was not 4g capable and its very similiar device the the original galaxy s.
My .02 cents.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom ROMs / Kernels actually make your phone last longer in terms of battery life.
4G? Can care less.. but HEY! Look at the Droid Charge and Thunderbolt. It's definitely draining your phone's battery at a 4G speed
3.5G (HSDPA) is enough for me.. I'm not using my phone as primary internet.
Source: http://androidandme.com/2011/05/new...-battery-issues-that-haunted-the-thunderbolt/
Personally. I love the Nexus S, great screen, developer support is starting to increase. The only phone I'd consider as a competitor would be the LG G2x. But even then, I committed myself to only getting Nexus phones.

No worries man. I know it's off topic but what is the status of asus transformer stocks like in taiwan?

suomaf said:
No worries man. I know it's off topic but what is the status of asus transformer stocks like in taiwan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy them if you search a bit, there are a few here and there in some smaller retail shops. Online stores, it's more difficult to find. There are a lot of mix bagged feelings for ASUS Transformer for Taiwan folks.

eatTHESEbullets said:
I actually love the nexus s and I also have the original galaxy s. I beloved both perform equally well. You were concerned about GPS with the galaxy s, which CAN be remedied by using a custom rom but then you sacrifice the already low battery life even further. The nexus s has been an awesome phone to me. I would still suggest to wait or save for a 4g compatible phone. I'm not sure of coverage in your area but I was disappointed when I realized my nexus s was not 4g capable and its very similiar device the the original galaxy s.
My .02 cents.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! 4G isn't really pushed too much here in Taiwan, since we have a bunch of public Wi-Fi networks here - "WiFly" service; very convenient for anybody who comes to Taiwan! For the Galaxy S, I tried diving into see the ROMs available, but I'm going to stick with the stock Nexus experience; all the ROMs I see seems to look only beta and ongoing.

Any regrets?

Any one coming from an S4 regrets getting the nexus 5?

None! It was my biggest worry but I defnintely don't regret it. I love not having all the bloat that the S4 had. Even with a smaller battery, I'm getting better battery results than I ever did on the S4 as well. I honestly don't see a difference in the camera either.
My absolute biggest worry was losing all the space. Coming from a phone with a 64gb external sd card worried me a lot, but I finally gave in and subscribed the the Google Music service and I couldn't be happier.
Once all the ROM's fix the Sprint data issue, this phone will be even better, but I have no regrets.

Coming from an S4 too, gods I hated that phone, the bloatware, the knox (introduced after I bought it).
The battery life i find is better on my Nexus 5, seem strange but it's true, it waste very little battery power when on stand by.
The only thing I miss of the S4 is the camera. the Nexus' one is a clear step back, but I don't mind really I don't take many photos.

now i currently have an htc one with a cracked screen and i want to replace it.. Im an att user and well can get the s4 for like $150 but can always sell it buy the nexus and still have money left.. But one of the main issues i had with the HTC one is that no one! made accessories for it... like i was never able to find a waterproof cover, etc etc.. Im a bit worry that it will be the same with the nexus 5, that because it is not as popular it wont have many accessories

The only thing I miss is the AMOLED screen from my S3. It's a far better quality of colour reproduction. The N5 is a bit washed out.... but it is far sharper. Oh... and the camera SUCKS on the N5 in anything but perfect lighting conditions. I miss the shutter speed on the Samsungs. But this should be fixed in the next update.
Battery life isn't nearly as bad as I was lead to believe.

I like my S4 better. My S4 has better reception, I stripped off the extras I did not like. I currently have a 4.4 rom on my S4 so spare me the updates line, I unlocked it and added the TMobile band. What I hate about N5 is the body. Its a nightmare. Sharp edges where the glass meets plastic, the lens mount, power button is too high, feels cheap and feels horrible in my hand. As for price, with etf+tax+1st month, my S4 was only $30 more. Not much in savings
It's not a bad device once you get past the body, seems plenty fast, takes ok pics, battery life is ok. So it's not horrible and is starting it's life with top end hardware specs unlike the N4. It's just not for me. If it came in a similar body to the N4 or would have shaped the glass like the S3, it would have been a home run.

trendiggity said:
The only thing I miss is the AMOLED screen from my S3. It's a far better quality of colour reproduction. The N5 is a bit washed out.... but it is far sharper. Oh... and the camera SUCKS on the N5 in anything but perfect lighting conditions. I miss the shutter speed on the Samsungs. But this should be fixed in the next update.
Battery life isn't nearly as bad as I was lead to believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the S3? I had 2 of those and came to this. Not even comparable. The N5 destroys the S3 in EVERY way. Low light pictures, sunny day pictures, the camera is better on the N5. The S3 is supersaturated and does not reproduce color accurately at all.

I've had a n4, s4 and now have n5. Think they are all brilliant phones. I think I can certainly feel the performance on the n5 though and I really like the screen. It has such an understated no frills look about it and that really appeals to me. I loved the s4 but it was a bit blingy for my liking and I didn't feel like it was so much as a blank canvas as what the nexus 5 is if that makes sense.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Alo also trying to get into custom room and apps development... Is there any advantages on using the nexus instead of the samsung? I

SuperMiguel said:
Any one coming from an S4 regrets getting the nexus 5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on my 2nd day with the 5 coming from an S4 running and early CM build of Kit Kat. So far, the only thing I really miss about the S4 is the screen. I guess I'm used to that super saturated AMOLED display. The Nexus display is sharper but like some others have said, a little washed out looking by comparison. The Nexus is noticeably faster and the battery life is about the same which is impressive considering I had a 3000mah battery in the S4. I think I'll be sticking with the 5 mostly for the dev community. I've always been a fan of straight AOSP and can't stand the OEM skins. The Nexus will be much more future proof than the S4. Getting new versions of Android on the Samsung will always be a bit hacky.

fallingd0wn said:
I'm on my 2nd day with the 5 coming from an S4 running and early CM build of Kit Kat. So far, the only thing I really miss about the S4 is the screen. I guess I'm used to that super saturated AMOLED display. The Nexus display is sharper but like some others have said, a little washed out looking by comparison. The Nexus is noticeably faster and the battery life is about the same which is impressive considering I had a 3000mah battery in the S4. I think I'll be sticking with the 5 mostly for the dev community. I've always been a fan of straight AOSP and can't stand the OEM skins. The Nexus will be much more future proof than the S4. Getting new versions of Android on the Samsung will always be a bit hacky.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any issues running this phone on att? and how come only tmobile and sprint got it?

My S4 had better/stronger signal and a more HD intensive screen. I don't know how to explain it.
My N5 is faster definitely, but camera is kind of laggy though. The vibration motor is weaker, but still good.
Depends on budget, I'd go for a Note 3 over S4 for the price range.
But for $350, there is nothing better than the Nexus 5.

fallingd0wn said:
I think I'll be sticking with the 5 mostly for the dev community. I've always been a fan of straight AOSP and can't stand the OEM skins.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think this is a great comment. Coming from the Sprint S4, for some reason, the dev community never really sped up like I thought it would. Sure, there were some great ROM's, but it was pretty much between a couple Touchwiz ROM's and hoping that 3minit would work, or you had AOSP based ROM's where you were happy to have working data.
While working data on Sprint with some ROM's is an early challenge, it doesn't look like it will be an issue long term (there's already a flashable fix) and we already have a wide variety of ROM's available.
I definitely don't miss Touchwiz whatsoever.

dicecuber said:
My S4 had better/stronger signal and a more HD intensive screen. I don't know how to explain it.
My N5 is faster definitely, but camera is kind of laggy though. The vibration motor is weaker, but still good.
Depends on budget, I'd go for a Note 3 over S4 for the price range.
But for $350, there is nothing better than the Nexus 5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im eligible with att for upgrade, so i can get the S4 for like $150, either way ill get it... Then sell it and back the rest, while i care about dev, im more worried about accessories availability, like for example a waterproof cover, i take my phone alot in my boat, and its wet alot..

I am starting to have regrets as I'm having issues with push notifications that I can't resolve. I might end up having to return the phone for a refund. If that issue can be fixed though, then I would have no regrets at all. I think the Nexus 5 is an otherwise great phone.

SuperMiguel said:
Im eligible with att for upgrade, so i can get the S4 for like $150, either way ill get it... Then sell it and back the rest, while i care about dev, im more worried about accessories availability, like for example a waterproof cover, i take my phone alot in my boat, and its wet alot..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Funny you say that, because my first S4 was water damaged in a boating incident lol. it was deemed unrepairable by 5+ cell phone repair shops. So I purchased a Note 2 afterwards. Sold that and bought another S4. I loved that device too much. My device was then stolen so I had to use a old POS non-smartphone for 2 months. I couldn't see myself spending another $600+ to buy another S4. So I jumped on buying a nexus 5. I love the Nexus 5 now. 1080p 5inch screen quad core processor 2gb ram to name a few.

I have the n4 and s4 sitting next to me currently my s4 is on sprint while my n5 is on straight talk att. And I can tell you IMO that my n5 in ALL areas is better than both devices. One area that is extremely noticeable is the all around speed and smoothness of the n5 when compared to the other phones. Also typing and touch seems a lot more responsive on this device as well. Often times I would find typing on the s4 to be choppy and laggy and often couldn't keep up. And I am running the latest official 4.3 release from sprint all stock. Tried swapping keyboards too on it and its just not the same as the n5. I do a ton of multi tasking on my phone. And this is where the n5 really shines. I can jump between texting and surfing the web and checking emails without a single hitch. And I really love that. I have owned all the major Samsung phones and after the n4 I have been pretty much hooked on nexus devices. As for the camera I actually find it on par with my s4 a lot of people talk about shutter lag but I find the shutter speed to be about the same as it is on the s4. So not much of a difference there. And in a lot of my low light shots my n5 out performed my s4. So all around I am a pretty happy camper. Oh and service on at straight talk is so much better than sprint for me. I get consistent LTE everywhere.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app

From reading the more in-depth reviews the Nexus 5 screen has some of the most accurate colours on an LCD beating out iPhone models even which are known for their calibration. It however does not have as high of a contrast ratio as even the LG G2 or the saturated colours AMOLED screens are known for. That mixed with the slightly smaller usable screen space when including the Home bar on the N5 would give the S4 the brighter and more stand out screen at first glance and on store shelves.
Myself I prefer accurate colours versus over saturated ones and only use high brightness settings when being used in direct sunlight. That being said after seeing AMOLED's "completely off" black levels (and the features it can bring such as Glance support and 24/7 Daydream) no black screen on IPS can ever look as dark.

I hated how weak the s4 would feel. I was afraid to put it in my pocket becausw it would break. And i hated the screen. You could see there were 2 0arts of the screen and the digitixer was glued under a piece of plastic. While with the nexus everything is so nice. I know in 4 months I will get bored of aosp roms and miss some tw features but whatever there is time till then.

i just found out that the S4 is at a very bad spot at the moment, if you have their latest baseband you cant use custom kernels, etc.. So that may lean me more towards the s5

Best Buy has 32GB Moto X Pure for $249.99 (NEW) again

Pretty sweet deal! Not just for Best Buy Rewards Elite Members this time, $249.99... several stores I checked have it in stock (Minneapolis/St Paul area).
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/motorol...-phone-unlocked-black/4345700.p?skuId=4345700

Great deal. I would also look at the 64 GB refurbished for $279.95.

So I just walked into a Best Buy, and bought a black model for this price. I don't know if I will use this phone myself or whether I will pass it onto someone in my household, but the value is amazing. The Moto X Pure slaughters my Nexus 5X in almost every spec. Not having a fingerprint reader (which is the only thing that saves the Nexus from a complete embarrassment) is a turn off, but I can deal with that considering it's a 250USD smartphone with a fine screen and most other specs. The screen, the stereo audio speakers, and a healthy headphone gain make it a great device for multimedia consumption too.

I bought one and my GF's dad bought one. The local Best Buy ran out of stock but Fry's price matched. =D

There back at 249 this week!!!
Sent from my XT1575 using XDA-Developers mobile app

Ouch. I ordered one 2 weeks ago from the Motorola website for $299. They still haven't delivered, the status shows it is being built. I thought that was a good deal at $299. I would still be ok if they deliver it pretty soon. I am thinking of just canceling my order with them and taking a trip down to Best Buy.

This deal came at a good time for me. I had been using a Note 5 (64GB) since the beginning of the year and I was looking to sell it and get a less expensive daily driver until I go back to Samsung next year whenever they decide to release the next Note device (if they ever do, which I hope). I was looking around at several unlocked phones and ultimately decided to snatch up this MXPE with that nice price. I've flirted with getting this phone ever since it was released but I've been too addicted to the Note series and that S-Pen. I actually just needed some extra cash for the holidays and I figured I could just sell my Note 5 and use this less expensive phone so I could have a bit of profit.
Coming from AMOLED and haptic navigation buttons it's taking some getting used to but so far I'm enjoying the experience with this phone. These front-facing speakers... holy cow! The standard rubbery back to this phone makes me feel like I can use it regularly without a case, which is nice. I'm feeling confident to use it pretty much anywhere without fear of damaging it, unlike when I was using my Note 5 with its glass and metal design I always felt I needed to protect it.
One thing I really am missing from my Note 5 is having native call recording. I had hoped that when I installed GravityBox it may have offered an option for it like Wanam Xposed. Anyway, this device will suit me just fine until next summer. It's my first Moto device and first unlocked device so pretty interesting experience moving forward.

Sailor Gerry said:
Coming from AMOLED and haptic navigation buttons it's taking some getting used to but so far I'm enjoying the experience with this phone. These front-facing speakers... holy cow! The standard rubbery back to this phone makes me feel like I can use it regularly without a case, which is nice. I'm feeling confident to use it pretty much anywhere without fear of damaging it, unlike when I was using my Note 5 with its glass and metal design I always felt I needed to protect it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you are enjoying the phone. I will say that with Moto display, an AMOLED screen would have better on battery. Aside from that, I would still recommend protection. The screen, due to its form factor, is susceptible to cracking from falls. I use cases and never had my screen crack yet, but many others have reported this issue.

aybarrap1 said:
Glad you are enjoying the phone. I will say that with Moto display, an AMOLED screen would have better on battery. Aside from that, I would still recommend protection. The screen, due to its form factor, is susceptible to cracking from falls. I use cases and never had my screen crack yet, but many others have reported this issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that AMOLED is just sweet on battery life and those inky blacks are awesome. I'm actually going to try out this bumper they included in the box for a while and see how it feels. I just finally wanted to use something daily without a case and I figured this phone would be it. I'm careful with my phones to begin with but let's see how I feel about this bumper after a few days.
ETA: By the way, is there a way to just turn off Moto display?

Earlier this week BHPhoto had the X Pure 64GB on sale for $269, so I ordered two of them. Had been wanting to go with the LG V20 US996 Unlocked, but at $800 it is a bit too much. So decided to go with the X Pure instead for now.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1196058-REG/motorola_00947nartl_moto_x_pure_edition.html

Sailor Gerry said:
ETA: By the way, is there a way to just turn off Moto display?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can turn it off via the Moto app.

i wish more phones were like moto design

i miss the moto design and customization on my essential phone. heres my friends moto x pure. post your current or former phones designs in hopes someone would be inspired to re introduce customization.
oh and another thing... i wish they came with a durable bumper

Jonathanlc2005 said:
i miss the moto design and customization on my essential phone. heres my friends moto x pure. post your current or former phones designs in hopes someone would be inspired to re introduce customization.
oh and another thing... i wish they came with a durable bumper
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL. It was the one thing Moto had going for it. However, Lenovo has decided to take the Moto line down the path of a "modular" phone. I think only two of the mods intrigued me (camera and battery) but for the cost...just not worth it in my opinion. I kind of liked the ability to customize the appearance of the phone, but I don't think Lenovo will likely be trying to venture back into this arena.

Pure Edition remains in a realm of its own
There was definitely a noticeable drop in design quality after Lenovo fully took over. The Moto X Pure Edition was arguably their last good-looking phone. The new Z Series, G Series, E Series, and X Series look okay, (especially when compared with this year's disastrous setback of fugly phones from LG, Samsung, and Apple) but are really nothing special.
The Pure Edition's perfect mix of small body, large screen, and visual symmetry is quite pleasant. The only devices I saw this year that really pushed the envelope for design were the OnePlus 5T and HTC U11+, with the latter being only sold overseas. Honorable mention goes to that Essential PH-1, which brings LCD, Verizon Wireless, and an unlockable bootloader together again for the first time since the XPE, (and possibly a few other Motorola offerings [citation needed]) but folks have a right to be apprehensive about its lack of headphone jack, its ugly rounded screen corners, and the reports of poor wireless radio performance.
The more I look, the more I realize that the Pure Edition's formula has rarely been matched, and almost never superseded. So far, the only company who's gotten it close is HTC, with their 10 and U11 models, but the latter is unfortunately still way expensive, and the former never really fell down in price like I wanted it to either.
TL;DR? If you want a good phone, a good design, and a good price, the Pure Edition is still the only place where it's at right now. Check back in a couple of years maybe to see if the HTCs move anywhere in price.

I wonder why every flagship has to be glass+aluminium combo or aluminium only (even when it coated and feels like plastic like in new pixel). For me metal band and rubber, wooden on leather back feel premium enough and it's way more practical.

State of the industry (opinion)
iks8 said:
I wonder why every flagship has to be glass+aluminium combo or aluminium only (even when it coated and feels like plastic like in new pixel). For me metal band and rubber, wooden on leather back feel premium enough and it's way more practical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are just the materials that are most trendy right now. My take on it is that the industry is just so cutthroat that nobody wants to make anything that isn't 90% mainstream, else they may threaten their profit margins. The miniscule amount of deviation that is allowed is of little consequence, ("moto mods," Essential globular camera, LG "friends," Blackberry Priv/Keyone vertical hardware keyboards, and the HTC squeezer) with the possible exception of that dual-screen ZTE phone, which is something we haven't seen since the ill-fated Kyocera Echo.