Verizon 2nd Gen Moto X: In-Store Tomorrow?

Yes, Verizon began selling the second-generation Moto X in its retail stores starting tomorrow, following its online launch a week earlier. You can walk into a Verizon store and buy the phone on a two-year contract, a Verizon Edge monthly installment plan, or at full retail price, with the same Moto Maker customization options available online.

Background: The Original Moto X and the 2014 Refresh

The first Moto X, released in 2013, was Motorola’s flagship for the US market, designed to be assembled in Texas and heavily customizable through Moto Maker. While praised for its ergonomics, near-stock Android, and always-listening voice commands, it was often criticized for its mid-range specs—particularly the dual-core Snapdragon S4 Pro and a 720p display.

For the second generation, announced in September 2014, Motorola addressed those complaints directly. The new Moto X (often called Moto X 2014) received a 5.2-inch 1080p AMOLED display, a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 13MP camera with dual LED ring flash, and a larger 2,300mAh battery. It also kept the signature features: Moto Display (glanceable notifications), Moto Voice (hands-free commands), and Moto Assist (contextual actions).

Verizon was the first US carrier to offer the original Moto X, and it repeated that exclusivity for the second generation. The phone launched online on September 25, 2014, with in-store availability following on October 2—hence the “starting tomorrow” announcement that generated so much search interest.

Verizon’s Launch Details and Pricing

Verizon offered the Moto X (2nd gen) at these prices:

• Two-year contract: $99.99 (after a $50 mail-in rebate, with a new two-year agreement).
• Verizon Edge: $24.99 per month for 24 months (total $599.76), with the option to upgrade after 12 months.
• Full retail price: $599.99 for the 32GB model (the 16GB model was $549.99, but Verizon only carried the 32GB version).

These prices were for the standard “Verizon” version of the phone, which came with a black front and either a black or white back. If you wanted a custom wood back, a different accent color, or an engraved message, you had to order through Moto Maker—either on Motorola’s site or through Verizon’s online store. In-store, you could only buy the standard configurations.

Moto Maker Customization: How It Worked

Moto Maker was Motorola’s online customization tool. You could choose:

• Back: various colors, including wood (walnut, bamboo, ebony) and leather (black, cognac) options.
• Front: black or white.
• Accent: a metallic ring around the camera and the speaker grille in silver, dark gray, or a range of bright colors.
• Storage: 16GB or 32GB (Verizon only offered 32GB).
• Engraving: a short message on the back, free of charge.

Custom orders took about 5–7 business days to build and ship. The phone was assembled in Fort Worth, Texas, and shipped directly to you. If you bought the standard version in a Verizon store, you could still order a custom one later through Moto Maker, but you would pay full retail price—no contract discount.

How to Buy It: In-Store vs. Online

If you were planning to buy the Moto X in a Verizon store on launch day, here’s what you needed to know:

1. Check stock: Not every Verizon store received the phone on day one. Large corporate stores were more likely to have it; smaller authorized retailers might have been delayed. Call ahead.
2. Bring ID and account info: For a contract upgrade or new line, you needed a valid government ID and your Verizon account PIN or password.
3. Choose your plan: You could sign a new two-year contract (if you were eligible for an upgrade), or switch to the Verizon Edge installment plan. Edge required a qualifying data plan (usually 6GB or more).
4. Buy accessories: Verizon stores carried cases, screen protectors, and chargers specifically for the Moto X. The phone used a nano-SIM, which Verizon would provide.

If you wanted a custom Moto Maker version, you had to order online. The in-store phones were only the standard configurations, and they could not be customized at the point of sale.

Common Problems and How to Avoid Them

Owners of the 2nd gen Moto X on Verizon reported a few recurring issues. Here are the most common and what you could do about them:

• Battery life: The 2,300mAh battery was smaller than some rivals (e.g., the Galaxy S5 had 2,800mAh). Heavy users often saw less than a day of use. Tips: disable Moto Voice when not needed, turn off active display at night, and use the included Turbo Charger (which gave up to 10 hours of use in 15 minutes).
• Camera quality in low light: The 13MP camera was a big improvement, but low-light shots could be noisy. The dual LED ring flash helped, but it was not a replacement for a dedicated flash. Use HDR mode for static scenes.
• Verizon bloatware: Verizon installed some pre-loaded apps (like VZ Navigator, NFL Mobile, and My Verizon Mobile), but they could be disabled through Settings > Apps, even if they could not be uninstalled.
• Moto Voice not responding: Sometimes the “OK Moto X” phrase would not trigger. Fix: re-train the voice model in Moto app settings, and make sure the phone is not in a silent/vibrate mode (Moto Voice is disabled when the phone is on silent).

Comparison: Moto X vs. Other 2014 Flagships

In October 2014, the Moto X competed directly with the Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, and LG G3. Here’s how it stacked up:

• Display: 5.2-inch 1080p AMOLED vs. 5.1-inch 1080p Super AMOLED (S5), 5-inch 1080p LCD (M8), 5.5-inch 1440p LCD (G3). The Moto X’s AMOLED was vibrant, but the G3 had a higher resolution.
• Processor: Snapdragon 801 (same as S5 and G3, slightly faster than M8’s Snapdragon 801 variant). Performance was comparable.
• Camera: 13MP vs. 16MP (S5), 4MP UltraPixel (M8), 13MP (G3). The Moto X’s camera was good, but the S5 was generally better in daylight, and the M8 was better in low light.
• Software: The Moto X ran near-stock Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), with useful Moto additions. Samsung’s TouchWiz and HTC’s Sense were heavier, and LG’s Optimus UI was also more intrusive. Stock Android meant faster updates and less bloat.
• Unique features: Moto Display, Moto Voice, and Moto Assist were genuinely useful and had no equal on other phones at the time. The always-on voice command worked even when the screen was off.

If you valued a clean, fast experience and useful software features, the Moto X was arguably the best Android phone of late 2014. If you wanted the best camera or a removable battery, the Galaxy S5 was a better choice.

Costs and Carrier Considerations

Beyond the phone price, you had to consider the cost of service. Verizon’s plans in 2014 were not cheap, but they offered the most reliable coverage. Here’s what you might pay:

• More Everything plan: Started at $40/month for 1GB of data (plus $40 smartphone line access). A 6GB plan was $70/month for data, plus $40 line access = $110/month.
• Verizon Edge: If you chose Edge, you paid the monthly installment for the phone ($24.99) on top of your plan, but you got a $15/month discount on the line access fee. Over 24 months, the total cost was about the same as buying outright, but you could upgrade after 12 months.
• Contract: With a two-year contract, you paid $99.99 upfront (after rebate), but you were locked in for two years. Early termination fees applied if you left early.

If you were already a Verizon customer with an upgrade available, the contract price was the cheapest way to get the phone. If you wanted to keep your unlimited data plan (grandfathered), you could not use the contract discount—you had to buy the phone at full retail or use Edge (which also required giving up unlimited data).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy the Moto X in a Verizon store without a contract?

Yes, you could buy the full retail version ($599.99) without a contract, but you still needed to have an active Verizon plan. You could also use Verizon Edge, which is an installment plan, but that required a qualifying data plan.

Does the Verizon Moto X work on other carriers?

The Verizon Moto X was SIM-unlocked, but it used CDMA for voice and LTE for data. It would work on AT&T and T-Mobile’s GSM networks (with a SIM card), but you might not get all LTE bands, and you would need to check compatibility. It would not work on Sprint, which uses a different CDMA implementation.

Can I order a custom Moto Maker version and use it on Verizon?

Yes, you could order a custom Moto X through Moto Maker and select Verizon as your carrier. The phone would come with a Verizon SIM and be ready to activate. However, you paid full retail price—no contract discount.

Is the Moto X waterproof?

No, the second-generation Moto X did not have an official IP rating. It had a nano-coating that repelled light splashes, but it was not waterproof. Do not submerge it.

Does the Moto X support wireless charging?

No, the 2nd gen Moto X did not have built-in wireless charging. You could buy a special back cover (sold separately) that added Qi wireless charging, but it was not included.

What Android version will the Moto X get?

The phone launched with Android 4.4.4 KitKat. Motorola promised an update to Android 5.0 Lollipop, which began rolling out in late 2014/early 2015. Verizon’s version was slightly delayed due to carrier testing, but it did arrive.

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