The Moto X is reportedly not eligible for the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update. But thanks to Motorola, the Marshmallow upgrade has been permitted to reach the Moto X 2014 handsets under Verizon Wireless through custom ROMs.
According to Latin Post, the Android 6.0 Marshmallow has been released to Motorola devices like the 2015 Moto X Pure Edition and the third generation Moto G. But if users own a second-generation Moto X 2014 on Verizon, they might be dismayed as the standard two-year firmware update support might not be delivered. This is because while "pure" (or unlocked) editions of the Moto X 2014 were included on the list for an eventual Android M upgrade, Motorola has decided not to give any more firmware support for the carrier-locked versions.
Since it is a consumer-unfriendly move, Motorola has been flooded with messages from angry customers. The company attempted to make up for the lack of firmware update support by giving users the option to provide their own, though there are some cautions.
Tech Times stated that Motorola is now providing codes that make it easy to unlock the bootloader of the Verizon Moto X (2014) and install custom ROMs like CyanogenMod or others. AT&T, however, is still left out in the cold, as this option implies only to Verizon subscribers.
Motorola is simply providing an easy way to quickly unlock the bootloader, but doing so will still void the warranty. The company has announced this to its forum saying that Motorola wanted to let the users know that it has already given the go signal to unlock the bootloader on Verizon 2014 Moto X (2nd Gen) devices. But unluckily, it is not open for devices on other carriers.
As a refresher, Android Headlines noted that Moto X (2014) is engineered with Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. This handset is packed with 2 GB of RAM and it features a 5.2-inch with 1080p AMOLED display. Under the skin is Motorola's own antenna arrangement, which replaced Qualcomm's already sophisticated version. It is designed to get the best possible signal no matter how the device is held.
The Moto X also tried to differentiate itself is through software, where its own special sauce to the mix was added. It arrived with a number of Motorola's enhancements to stock Android over and above stock Android, including the Moto Display. This is a way of seeing what notifications are waiting for users on the device without unlocking the handset. Instead, they just have to hand over the device or pick it up and Moto Display uses the AMOLED screen to show the user what's waiting for them.
Moto X (2014) users might be disappointed with the company's decision of not rolling out the Android 6.0 Marshmallow to their devices officially, but custom ROMs aren't that bad either. For those who are interested in Motorola's new offer, they can check the "Unlock your bootloader" page on the company's website and load custom ROMs on their device.
