Spec-by-spec: Here's how the Moto X stacks up to the competition

Following a string of leaks and official teasers Motorola finally unveiled the Moto X smartphone at an event in New York this afternoon. The device is not only the first to be developed under Google's stewardship since last year's acquisition, it's also the first smartphone to be assembled in the US, which aside from scoring them a few  political and PR points, allows the company to offer 'built-to-order' devices with minimal delay.

Customization options cover quite a few cosmetic choices and your pick of either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage. Specifically, Motorola will let you pick any combination between 18 backplate covers, a black or white front panel, and seven different colors for the side-mounted buttons and the ring around the rear camera lens. In all there are actually more than a thousand possible combinations to make something that's uniquely yours.

In terms of specs Motorola isn't going for the high-end crown. But that isn't necessarily a bad thing; rather, the company believes it can carve itself a market with a high-quality device that can do nearly everything the majority of people will want or need it to do, without getting caught in the specs race.

The tricky part is Motorola still wants the Moto X to compete in the big leagues at $199 on-contract. Detractors will be quick to point out that you are getting mid-range internals at high-end pricing, and with reason. But aside from the unprecedented level of customization, Motorola is hedging its bets on battery life (quoted at 24 hours of mixed usage), as well as signature features like always on voice controls and gesture recognition.

Whether that amounts to a recipe for success or a missed opportunity – specifically on the pricing front and lack of stock Android – remains to be seen. For now, here's how the Moto X stacks up next to the current crop of high end smartphones, as well as its spiritual counterparts in the mid range of the market.

High end smartphones

Mid range smartphones