Microsoft Devices has just announced the new Nokia X2 smartphone with decent upgrades over Nokia X. The new Nokia X2 features a 4.3-inch LCD display and and is priced at Rs 8,097 before taxes. We can estimate the Nokia X2 to be priced just under Rs 10,000 based on the Nokia X’s pricing.
Meanwhile, Motorola Moto E has been heavily recommended smartphone under the Rs 10,000 budget. Motorola has added enough features to make all the handset makers take the sub Rs 10,000 more seriously and re-think their strategies.
Both smartphones offer similar set of hardware and features that would attract any consumer looking to buy a good Dual-SIM smartphone running most recent Android software on it. Let us take a closer look how both devices pack similar hardware and are different from each other.
Design
The Nokia X2 bears very close physical resemblance to the Nokia X but brings in the Asha 500 style crystal cover like look to it. With glossy body for premium feel, the Nokia X2 will be offered in glossy colour options and the company does plan to introduce matte gray option. One of the most obviously visible change is the presence of capacitive Back button and Home button in the front. Power and Volume buttons rests on the right hand side of the phone. Measuring 11.1 mm thick, the Nokia X2 weighs 149.5 grams heavy.
Motorola Moto E has been smartly designed and has a slight arch at its back which makes it tad bit comfortable on the palm. Offering naturally aesthetical grip, the front side of the smartphone has a special coating material which makes it splash resistant. However, the back panel comprising covers did have an attraction towards fingerprint. The inter-changeable back covers can make the Moto E look slightly different. In terms of design, the slight arch at the back gives a natural gripping comfort to the palms. Though the Moto E carry some plastic material it is not creaky or shows lack of finish like other handsets in similar price range. Motorola Moto E is 12.3 mm thick and weighs 140 grams approximately.
In physical terms, the Moto E is lighter, slimmer and also offers handful grip. However, Indian consumers may not endure the glossy back of Nokia X2.
Software
Nokia has introduced the Nokia X Software Platform 2.0 in the Nokia X2. The second version of the software platform is based on Android Open Source Project API level 18 code which equates to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean level code. Nokia has obviously integrated its usual set of features such as Nokia Glance, Double Tap to Wake Up, Fastlane, and host of Microsoft centric services such as Skype and Outlook.com apps. Of course, there the usual free 7 GB OneDrive cloud storage. In fact, Nokia has made the Homescreen and App Drawer appear very similar to the Windows Phone platform. 
Motorola has loaded the latest Android 4.4.2 KitKat update on the Moto E smartphone. While the Motorola’s custom user interface is hardly obstructive or noticeable, there are couple of new features such as Motorola Migrate for transferring contacts and Alerts for sharing location with closed group of individuals. Other than that, it is mostly Google’s Apps and services taking the centre stage.
The major difference between both handsets is the support for Google Mobile Services. While Moto E is the usual run of the mill handset capable of running all possible Google Mobile Services, Nokia X2 does not offer direct support for the same. Nokia X2 brings in the Nokia Store and the support for any other third party mobile apps store.
Hardware
Nokia X2 features a 4.3-inch LCD ClearBlack display made using scratch resistant glass. This display offers 480×800 pixel resolution and is powered by a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 mobile Chipset paired with 1 GB RAM. Nokia X2 offers 4 GB on-board storage out of which some storage is obviously reserved for the system updates. Thankfully there is memory slot to hold up to 32 GB micro SD card slot.
Motorola Moto E on the other hand features a 4.3-inch touchscreen display with 960×540 pixel resolution. The Moto E’s display has been constructed using Corning Gorilla Glass 3 technology to save it from usual scratches and it also bears a special coating which saves it from splashes. Motorola has powered it with a dual-core 1.2 Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 mobile chipset paired with 1 GB RAM. Also, the Moto E offers 4 GB internal storage and a memory slot to support up to 32 GB micro SD card.
Both the smartphones offer dual SIM with dual standby feature as well apart from WiFi support, GPS and 3G Network support. Motorola Moto E offers Bluetooth 4.0 LE while the Nokia X2 has High Speed Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP. One can obviously argue about Nokia X2’s Stereo FM Radio over Moto E’s FM Radio but the usage of this feature is varies.
Camera
Motorola Moto E and Nokia X2 offer 5 Megapixel camera at the rear. However, the Moto E lacks an LED Flash at the back and thus makes its camera close to unusable in low light or dark conditions. Moreover, the Moto E’s camera is fixed focus in nature just like other devices in same price range. The 5 megapixel camera at the back can click sharp photos but might not be impressive with fine details. The camera app has typical Motorola implementations but one can always download the Google Camera app from the Play Store.
Nokia X2 features a single LED Flash at the back to aid the camera and it is located above the camera module. Unlike Moto E, Nokia X2 is capable of recording 720p (HD) videos.
While both smartphones offer decent camera, it is the real-world testing through images which can show which one trumps the other. In past, we have noticed that the LED Flash can barely save the grace of a poor image sensor.
Battery
Motorola claims to offer all day battery life with 1980 mAh battery packed inside. Whereas, Nokia X2 features only 1800 mAh battery to promise 3G Talk time of up to 13 hours. Marginal difference between the battery muscle makes both the devices interesting. Appropriate settings and tweaks can certainly extend the battery life but also compromise the performance of the phone.
Quick Thoughts
Motorola Moto E and Nokia X2 are very similar with most of the hardware inside but stand poles apart when it comes to software experiences. The Motorola Moto E felt great in hands and showed decent performance, at least during our first interaction with this smartphone. Nokia X2 offers glossy exteriors and fancy new Nokia X Software Platform 2.0 to promise decent performance boost over last version. There could be a major price difference between both handsets when Nokia X2 is announced in India. And Microsoft will certainly have to offer more than a handset to justify the price difference.