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Motorola Moto G vs. Moto X Play and Moto X Pure Edition: What's the difference?

CNET breaks down the differences between Motorola's new line of Moto smartphones, which include the Moto G, the Moto X Play and the Moto X Pure Edition (also known as the X Style).

Lynn La Senior Editor / Reviews - Phones
Lynn La covers mobile reviews and news. She previously wrote for The Sacramento Bee, Macworld and The Global Post.
Lynn La

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From left to right: The Motorola Moto G, X Play, and X Pure Edition/Style. Sarah Tew/CNET

Gs, Xs and Pures, oh my.

If you're confused about the trio of new handsets Motorola announced during today's events in New York and London, you're not alone. Not only do the Moto G , X Play and X Pure Edition (which is globally known as the X Style) have similar names, both to each other and totheir respective predecessors, but they also can look quite alike cosmetically.

But these devices do have their differences in size and hardware, as well as some unique features that make them distinct. The Moto G, for example, is the most affordable of the three and struts midlevel specs, while the X Pure Edition/X Style is higher-end and has a Snapdragon 808 processor. To see what specific specs define each Moto, check out the chart below.

Motorola Moto 2015 lineup

Motorola Moto GMotorola Moto X PlayMotorola X Pure Edition (or X Style)
Display 5-inch with 1,280x720-pixel resolution5.5-inch with 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution5.7-inch with 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution
Pixel density 294ppi403ppi520ppi
Dimensions 5.59x2.85x0.48 inches (142.1x72.4x11.6mm)5.8x2.9x0.43 inches (148.0x75.0x10.9mm)6.06x3.0x0.44 inches (153.9x76.2x11.06mm)
Weight 5.47 ounces (155g)5.96 ounces (169g)6.31 ounces (179g)
Mobile operating system Android 5.1.1Android 5.1.1Android 5.1.1
Network capabilities GSM/GPRS/EDGE; UMTS/HSPA+; and 4G LTE (as well as CDMA in the US)GSM/GPRS/EDGE; UMTS/HSPA+; and 4G LTEGSM/EDGE; WCDMA; and LTE cat. 6 (as well as EV-DO and CDMA/TD-SCDMA in US and AU)
NFC NoYesYes
Camera, video 13-megapixel can record 1,080p HD video21-megapixel can record 1,080p HD video21-megapixel can record 4K video
Front-facing camera 5-megapixel5-megapixel5-megapixel with wide angle lens
Processor 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 with 400MHz Adreno 306 GPU1.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 with 500MHz Adreno 405 GPU1.8GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 with Adreno 418 GPU
Storage 8GB or 16GB16GB or 32GB16GB, 32GB or 64GB
RAM 1GB or 2GB2GB3GB
Expandable storage Up to 32GBUp to 128GBUp to 128GB
Battery 2,470mAh3,630mAh3,000mAh
Distinguishing features Rated IPX7 water resistant (can survive in 3 feet of water for 30 minutes)Water repellentWater repellent; single device can be used on any US carrier
Price Starts at $179.99, £179.99 and AU$369TBAStarts at $399.99 (UK pricing TBA, Vodafone exclusive in AU)
Availability Available in the US and globally todayNot available in the US; global launch in August 2015Available in the US and globally September 2015