What Hi-Fi?

The improved successor to last year's phone of the same name, it has no headline spec to shout about, no attention-grabbing feature list to boast of. And yet, it still manages to be one of the best smartphones of 2014. A phone that feels like it works for you.

The Gadget Show

Along with the Moto G, Motorola has made its best phone yet, pairing up flagship looks with slick software that actually helps. Finally, Motorola's made a phone that's truly deserving of its incredibly smart apps, and it can take on the rest of this year's flagship pack with ease.

Expert Reviews | Katharine Byrne

Not only is it by far one of the smartest and most user-friendly phones we've tested this year, but it's also one of the most beautifully designed and desirable handsets we've ever seen.

Stuff | Sophie Charara

...after the Moto X you won't want to go back to any other Android. It's smart, it's fast and it's the kind of beautifully crafted handset you find yourself picking up for no reason whatsoever.

Australian PC World | Tony Ibrahim

Each aspect of the Moto X gives the impression the tech at work is being pushed to its absolute limit.

GadgetMatch | Daniel Morial

After using the Moto X4 for more than a week, it crossed my mind that this phone battles its own cousin - the Moto Z2 Play.

TechnoBuffalo | Brandon Russell

There's no question the Moto X has the best software, and the design (along with Moto Maker) is top notch. But the camera is just average, and the battery life is just ok. That said, the Moto X is once again the Smartphone for Everyone, a device you should really consider if you're fed up with the unnecessary software tweaks from other manufacturers.

SlashGear | Chris Davies

Everyone else in the market for a new smartphone should have the new Moto X high up on their shortlist.

Know Your Mobile | Paul Briden

One of the best Android phones of 2014 and that's before you even start customising it, which being a unique offering earns it a ton of extra kudos

The Next Web | Natt Garun

The best Android phone you can get outside of Google HQ - if you want a phone that's fast and works as beautifully as it looks, the Moto X is your best bet outside of Google's own Nexus line.

Pocket-lint | Chris Hall

The Motorola Moto X is an appealing proposition. It offers great value for money as a flagship handset and even if you opt to customise with a leather or other finish using Moto Maker, you'll still be getting something more affordable than rivals - and something personal to you.

TechRadar | Matt Swider

Motorola's new flagship smartphone proves that the reinvented company is listening to customer feedback with a bigger screen and aluminum metal frame, all for a price that's better than its competition.

pocketnow | Michael Fisher

And with its newly-bolstered suite of unique and useful features, this phone uses its horsepower more intelligently than many of those contemporaries. For the second year in a row, the Moto X brings an Android experience you can't find on any other phone - and for the first time ever, it's got the specs to back it up.

Engadget | Chris Velazco

The new Moto X is the flagship Motorola should have made in the first place, and it's earned itself a spot in the pantheon of smartphone greats.

NotebookCheck | Daniel Schmidt

Motorola's second-generation Moto X is a successful and consistent development of its precursor. The upscale configuration clearly places it in the premium range, although it lacks technical superlatives.

Ubergizmo | Raymond Wong

The Moto X (2014) is easily part of the group, too. Motorola's flagship is no longer a "mid-range" device. Its metal frame is gorgeous, its 5.2-inch 1080p display is large and sharp enough to rumble with any other 5 to 5.5' display, the 13-megapixel camera brings significantly improved photos, and the performance is finally on-par with top-tier devices in its class.

The Verge | Dan Seifert

The new Moto X has the specs, design, performance chops, and user experience to rival and surpass the best from Samsung, HTC, and even Apple. There really isn't anything that other smartphones have that's missing from this year's Moto X. It's a great looking device that's a joy to use.

Mobile Syrup | Daniel Bader

Despite its minor flaws, the Moto X may be the best Android phone currently available. It's fast, beautifully-designed and cheaper than its major competitors.

Gizmodo UK | Brent Rose

This phone offers the best user experience from anything we've yet seen in 2014. So, while we wish it were a bit smaller, we still give it a solid recommendation.

YourTechExplained | Ben Schoon

The 2014 Moto X is an even better iteration of what we saw previously. I say it is without a doubt worth picking up especially due to it's pricing... No matter how you look at those prices, this phone is a really good deal and I can and have highly recommended it to anyone looking for a new phone.

Digital Trends | Ravi Sharma

Moto X (2014) has taken a huge step forward over its predecessor ... however if you want a smartphone with just as capable hardware but don't really care about the intuitive software, then you can take a look at HTC One (E8).

Gadgets Now | Ravi Sharma

It has all the hardware features of a top-end model and the software features that no top-end smartphone today can boast of ... the new Moto X is a package pretty much in a league of its own, but at a price tag that makes it accessible to many, if not most, buyers.

AndroidPit | Kris Carlon

The new Moto X is easily the best looking, best feeling, and most premium-styled device within its price range. But if a better-than-average camera and all-day battery life are key factors for you - perhaps you should wait for the Moto X (2015) release.

Tom's Guide | Valentina Palladino

The updated Moto X is an Android phone with a gorgeous display, chic design, solid performance and efficient voice comments, all at an accessible price.

BGR | Zach Epstein

The second-generation Moto X won't be the best phone for everyone but all things considered, it hits all the right notes and is a clear leader among currently available Android smartphones.

Digital Versus | Sofian Nouira

The first Moto X was a good phone, but its hardware was on the shaky side. Now Motorola has returned with a fix. It isn't flawless but the 2014 Moto X is an easy recommend for anyone who doesn't mind.

T3 | Max Parker

The Moto X is a fantastic Android device, possibly one the best out there at the minute. It's clear so much time has gone into creating a phone that not only performs admirably, yet that's also a pleasure to use and even to hold in your hand.

PC Pro | Jonathan Bray

There's so much to like about the new Motorola Moto X. It's refreshing to come across a device packed with so many quirky, yet genuinely useful features that doesn't neglect the essentials.

Trusted Reviews | Andrew Williams

The Motorola Moto X is a phone of hits and misses. Despite offering great general performance and some very intuitive elements, some screen, camera and battery-life issues mean the Moto X isn't quite up there with the very best flagship Androids.

PC Advisor | Jim Martin

The standard, non-customised Moto X is a desirable smartphone, but it's a little overpriced especially if you compare it with the Nexus 5. So Google's phone may lack the premium build quality and hi-res camera, but in most other respects it's a match for the Motorola at a significantly lower price.

NDTV Gadgets | Jamshed Avari

A lot of people loved the first Moto X, and plenty will be disappointed that there isn't a new model in the same size class and price range. Motorola has stepped its game up, but at the same time has left a void in the market where the X used to reign.

LAPTOP | Sherri Smith

The Motorola Moto X offers powerful performance, a stunning display and compelling voice commands in a head-turning design.

CNET UK | Lynn La

The Motorola Moto X hits all the right notes, delivering stock Android inside a powerful high-end handset that users can customize themselves.

Recombu | Chris Barraclough

All in all, the Moto X offers a fun and friendly user experience, but a few flaws hold it back from brilliance.

AnandTech | Joshua Ho

Fundamentally, the new Moto X doesn't change the market. It simply isn't the best Android phone on the market. Regrettably, there are too many issues to make this a clearly superior smartphone. The poor camera, battery life, and display when compared to the competition are three issues that need improvement to be competitive.