Moto X vs. iPhone 5: New Google-Motorola Smartphone Will Not Affect Apple Phone’s Consumer Base, Analyst Says

Motorola’s latest Moto X smartphone, the first handset by the company after its acquisition by Google (NASDAQ:GOOG), has the potential to become a trend-setter in the world of Android smartphones, but it is not likely to affect the iPhone’s current market standing, an industry analyst said.

According to Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper Jaffray, the new Moto X, which was unveiled at a special event in New York on Thursday, does not possess enough oomph to pull consumers away from Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) flagship handset, which is currently the best-selling phone in the U.S.

“Despite strong launches in Android devices including [Samsung’s] Galaxy S4 and HTC One, we note that iPhone sales have continued to exceed investor expectations over the past two quarters,” Munster was quoted by Forbes as saying. “We do not view the Moto X device as significantly different than the aforementioned devices to change the current market dynamics between Android and iPhone.”

There has been a heated battle between the iOS-powered Apple iPhone and high-end Android smartphones from companies such as Samsung (KRX:005935) and HTC (TPE:2498) to win over the ever-increasing smartphone consumer base.

While the latest Android smartphones, including the Samsung Galaxy S4 and HTC One, have challenged the iPhone 5 with new features and improved specs, the Cupertino, Calif.-based tech giant is preparing to respond with a new model of its flagship handset -- the iPhone 5S -- this fall.

Apple is expected to enhance its product line-up with a less expensive iPhone, dubbed the “iPhone 5C,” later this year with comparatively low-tech specifications, and a bigger 4.5 to 5-inch version of the iPhone, rumored as the “iPhone 6,” is also in the works and is slated for a release in 2014.

According to Munster, the Moto X features a high-resolution 4.7-inch screen, 16GB and 32GB of storage options, and a 10-megapixel rear camera. And, the new smartphone also carries some new features, such as new color options and a constant listening mode that allows the phone’s audio sensors take voice inputs from the user.

However, Munster said, that is just not enough to pull users away from the iPhone and observed that better specifications can be found on many other Android smartphones.

“In an Apple-like move, Motorola chose to make one of the core features of the Moto X the design,” Munster said. “The design as a feature puts the Moto X in a strong position against other Android devices (largely plastic), but may be unlikely to change customer desire for iPhones.”

When stacked up against the iPhone 5, the Moto X does not seem to have enough specs power to outshine the Apple handset.

However, the phone's strong suits are its screen resolution, battery capacity and camera specifications. Moto X, unlike the iPhone 5, also supports near-field communication technology that can be used to create a digital wallet.

Here is a full specs comparison between the Moto X and the iPhone 5: