Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Best Project Fi Phone in 2024

If you would like to try Google’s mobile virtual network operator, Project Fi, you have one massive hurdle to overcome: you need a Project Fi-compatible smartphone.

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At A Glance: Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Best Project Fi Phone 2020

• Google Pixel 2
  Our Top Pick
• Moto X (4th Generation)

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Right now, the selection of Fi-compatible smartphones is very slim. At the top end, there’s the Google Pixel 2, which is a premium smartphone with one of the highest rated smartphone cameras. At the bottom end is the Moto X4, an affordable successor to the Moto X line.

In this article, we pit the Pixel 2 and the Moto X4 against each other to see which of them offers a better value to those who are interested in switching to Project Fi first and buying a new smartphone second.

Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Best Project Fi Phone Comparison

Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Design and Build

The Pixel 2 and the Moto X4 may belong to completely different price categories, but the two smartphones look more alike than their prices suggest. Even though the Moto X4 costs only $399.99, it features precision-crafted glass and metal, as well as IP68 certification, which allows it to withstand dust, dirt, sand, and submersion beyond 1 meter underwater. The Pixel 2 is only IP67-certified, so it can only stay up to 1 meter underwater for up to 30 minutes.

The Moto X4 has a 5.2-inch IPS display with the Full HD resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3. The Pixel 2 has a 5.0-inch AMOLED always-on capacitive touchscreen with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and 95 percent DCI-P3 coverage, which is a common RGB color space for digital movie projection from the American film industry. Unsurprisingly, the Pixel 2 reproduces colors much more accurately than the Moto X4, and its contrast range is also superior thanks to AMOLED display technology.

If you hate starches on your smartphone and refuse to use any form of display protection, think twice before buying the Pixel 2 because Corning Gorilla Glass 5 sacrifices a substantial amount of scratch resistance in favor of drop resistance, making Corning Gorilla Glass 3 more effective when it comes to preventing display scratches.

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Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Camera

The affordable Moto X4 is seemingly more equipped for taking photos than the premium Pixel 2. On the back of the smartphone is a dual-sensor camera system with one 12 MP dual-pixel sensor with a standard focal length and one 8 MP sensor with a wide-angle focal length. The front-facing camera on the Moto X4 has 16 MP and comes with its own dedicated LED flash that comes in handy when taking selfies in low-light conditions.

The Pixel 2 has only one rear camera sensor, but it takes some of the best pictures we’ve ever seen a smartphone take. The sensor has a resolution of 12.2 MP, optical image stabilization, and phase detection with laser autofocus. The front-facing camera on the Pixel 2 has 8 MP and records Full HD video.

The difference between the Moto X4 and the Pixel 2 in terms of their ability to take pictures can be summed up in one word: consistency. The Pixel 2 takes consistently sharp, vivid, detailed, and color-accurate pictures regardless of lighting conditions, whereas the Moto X4 struggles in low-light conditions.

Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Performance and Battery Life

The Pixel 2 is equipped with the mighty Snapdragon 835 chipset from Qualcomm. This high-end chipset is designed to quickly and efficiently support extraordinary experiences, boasting peak download speeds up to one Gigabit per second, significantly improved battery life, and up to 25 percent faster graphics rendering and 60-times more display colors compared to previous designs thanks to the Qualcomm Adreno 540 GPU.

The Moto X4 has the reliable Snapdragon 630, which is a mid-range chipset designed to provide a leap in mobile performance, support advanced photography and enhanced gaming, and deliver long battery life and fast LTE speeds for smartphones and tablets.

Needless to say, the Pixel 2 is considerably more powerful than the Moto X4, but you might not even notice the difference unless you run a benchmark or go crazy with multitasking. In fact, you can get the Moto X4 with 6 GB of RAM, while the Pixel 2 always comes with 4 GB.

The performance difference is made even less noticeable by the presence of near-stock Android on both smartphones. The Moto X4 belongs to the Android One family of smartphones. All Android One smartphones have been created according to hardware and software standards created by Google, providing consistent user experience and improved security through frequent updates and Google Play Protect.

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Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Performance and Battery Life

The Pixel 2 is equipped with the mighty Snapdragon 835 chipset from Qualcomm. This high-end chipset is designed to quickly and efficiently support extraordinary experiences, boasting peak download speeds up to one Gigabit per second, significantly improved battery life, and up to 25 percent faster graphics rendering and 60-times more display colors compared to previous designs thanks to the Qualcomm Adreno 540 GPU.

The Moto X4 has the reliable Snapdragon 630, which is a mid-range chipset designed to provide a leap in mobile performance, support advanced photography and enhanced gaming, and deliver long battery life and fast LTE speeds for smartphones and tablets.

Needless to say, the Pixel 2 is considerably more powerful than the Moto X4, but you might not even notice the difference unless you run a benchmark or go crazy with multitasking. In fact, you can get the Moto X4 with 6 GB of RAM, while the Pixel 2 always comes with 4 GB.

The performance difference is made even less noticeable by the presence of near-stock Android on both smartphones. The Moto X4 belongs to the Android One family of smartphones. All Android One smartphones have been created according to hardware and software standards created by Google, providing consistent user experience and improved security through frequent updates and Google Play Protect.

Google Pixel 2 Versus Moto X4 Best Project Fi Phone Comparison Verdict

The Moto X4 fares surprisingly well when compared with the considerably more expensive Pixel 2. If you would like to switch to Project Fi but don’t like the idea of having to buy an expensive smartphone just so you can use Google’s mobile virtual network operator, the Moto X4 is an excellent option. But if your current smartphone is due for a replacement, the Pixel 2 is guaranteed to not disappoint.