Motorola Droid Maxx 2 vs. Moto X40: A Generational Leap?

The Motorola Droid Maxx 2 was a battery champion in its time, but the Moto X40 represents a modern flagship. Can a focus on endurance compete with cutting-edge technology? This comparison dives deep into the specs and features of these two Motorola phones to help you choose the right one.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Moto X40 utterly dominates the Droid Maxx 2 in almost every category – performance, camera, display, and charging. While the Maxx 2's legendary battery life remains a strong point, the X40's sheer power and modern features make it the clear winner for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Motorola Droid Maxx 2 Motorola Moto X40
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13, 201, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 48, 66
5G bands-1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6
EDGENo-
GPRSNo-
SpeedHSPA, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA 800
Launch
Announced2015, October. Released 2015, October2022, December 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2022, December 22
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
Dimensions148 x 75 x 10.9 mm (5.83 x 2.95 x 0.43 in)161.2 x 74 x 8.6 mm (6.35 x 2.91 x 0.34 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight169 g (5.96 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 Splash and dust resistantIP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 3-
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1080 x 2400 pixels, 20:9 ratio (~393 ppi density)
Size5.5 inches, 82.6 cm2 (~74.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.7 inches, 108.4 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDOLED, 1B colors, 165Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x1.7 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 405Adreno 740
OSAndroid 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat)Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, MYUI 6.0
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)No
Internal16GB 2GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 eMMC 4.5UFS 3.1 - 128GB UFS 4.0 - 256GB/512GB
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, panoramaDual-LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single21 MP, f/2.0, PDAF-
Triple-50 MP, f/1.9, (wide), 1/1.55", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/1.6, (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, PDAF, 2x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.2, 117˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF
Video1080p@30fps8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, 10-bit HDR10+, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single5 MP, f/2.060 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/2.8", 0.61µm
Video-4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.0, A2DP, LE, aptX5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0USB Type-C, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsYesFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 -Ready For 3.5 support
Battery
Charging15W wired125W wired, PD3.0, QC5, 50% in 7 min 15W wireless 5W reverse wired
Stand-byUp to 576 h (3G)-
Talk timeUp to 48 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 3630 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4600 mAh
Misc
ColorsDeep Sea Blue, WhiteBlack, Blue
ModelsXT1565B, XT1565XT2301-5
PriceAbout 300 EURAbout 540 EUR
SAR1.14 W/kg (head)     1.38 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Audio quality Noise -82.7dB / Crosstalk -82.9dB-
Battery lifeEndurance rating 56h-
Display Contrast ratio: 1256:1 (nominal) / 911:1 (docking station)-
Loudspeaker Voice 57dB / Noise 66dB / Ring 77dB-

Motorola Droid Maxx 2

  • Exceptional battery life
  • Affordable
  • Durable build

  • Outdated processor
  • Low-resolution display
  • Basic camera
  • Slow charging

Motorola Moto X40

  • Blazing-fast performance
  • Stunning display
  • Advanced camera system
  • Incredibly fast charging
  • Wireless charging
  • Reverse wired charging

  • Higher price
  • Battery life may not match Maxx 2 in extreme usage

Display Comparison

The Moto X40 boasts a significantly superior display. It likely features OLED technology with vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a higher resolution than the Droid Maxx 2's LCD. The X40's refresh rate is also likely much faster, providing smoother scrolling and animations. The Droid Maxx 2's contrast ratio is decent, but it can't compete with the modern panel on the X40.

Camera Comparison

The Moto X40's camera system is expected to be far more advanced. It likely features a higher resolution main sensor, improved image processing, and advanced features like optical image stabilization (OIS). The Droid Maxx 2's camera was adequate for its time, but it simply can't compete with the capabilities of a modern flagship camera.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Moto X40 is a monumental upgrade over the Snapdragon 615 in the Droid Maxx 2. Expect drastically faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and significantly improved gaming performance on the X40. The X40's CPU architecture is also far more efficient, contributing to better overall power management despite its higher performance.

Battery Life

The Droid Maxx 2's endurance rating of 56h is impressive, a testament to its large battery and efficient processor. However, the Moto X40's 125W charging capability allows it to replenish its battery incredibly quickly, potentially offsetting any battery life advantage the Maxx 2 might have. Wireless and reverse wired charging are also X40 exclusives.

Buying Guide

The Motorola Droid Maxx 2 is for users prioritizing extreme battery life above all else and are on a very tight budget. The Motorola Moto X40 is for those seeking a high-performance flagship with a stunning display, advanced camera, and incredibly fast charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Motorola Droid Maxx 2 still a good phone in 2024?
While its battery life is still impressive, its outdated hardware makes it less suitable for modern apps and tasks. It's best suited for basic usage and those on a very limited budget.
❓ How much faster is the Moto X40 than the Droid Maxx 2?
The Moto X40 is significantly faster – likely 5-10 times faster in CPU-intensive tasks and even more so in graphics performance. The difference is substantial.