Moto X Pure Edition (XT1095) may soon get more LTE bands

By Phil Nickinson
last updated

There's been a bit of confusion over the Pure Edition of the new Moto X and the LTE bands it supports. The original specs as supplied by Motorola at the launch event are different what current is listed on Motorola's product page, and the XT1095 (Pure Edition) and XT1097 (AT&T) models no longer match up on banding.

Here's how the bands line up, as Motorola lists them today:

  • XT1095 (Pure Edition): Bands 02, 04, 17
  • XT1097 (AT&T): Bands 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 17
  • XT1096 (Verizon): Bands 02, 03, 04, 07, 13

What's interesting today is a post from Motorola forums manager Matt (aka Moto Matt), who writes that the XT1095 will see a software update to enable Bands 3, 5 and 7 on the Pure Edition of the Moto X.

That's notable because as it stands the XT1095 is effectively limited to AT&T and T-Mobile here in the States. Adding Bands 3, 5 and 7 will greatly increase the ability to roam overseas — which is exactly what you'd expect a SIM-unlocked phone to be able to do.

Writes Matt:

We're now planning to enable Bands 3, 5 and 7 on the Moto X Pure, via a software update. I can't confirm the timing right now, but I'll share more about that when I know more.(If you have not already, this is probably a good time to urge everyone to opt-in their Moto X 2nd Gen to the Motorola Feedback Network!)

We've got an email into Motorola seeking confirmation on any incoming update, and to clear up which specs are actually correct.

Source: Motorola support forums (opens in new tab), Motorola Moto X specs page (opens in new tab)

More: Moto X forums; thanks, honkey haze!

Phil Nickinson
Phil Nickinson
74 Comments
  • Oh, thank goodness. I was considering buying the AT&T version off-contract just for the damn LTE bands.
  • There is another issue with at&t not recognizing the imei number the pure edition phones and not provisioning them properly.
  • I thought that was only limited to people on grandfathered unlimited plans? I hadn't heard of people on standard data contracts having an issue, but correct me if I'm wrong. Also, yay. Glad to hear they're addressing what seemed like an obvious oversight.
  • I think the issue is limited to new never used before Sim cards, new lines, or accounts that don't yet an lte phone on it.
  • FWIW, mine worked just fine out of the box.
  • Yes or No. Will I be able to buy the Moto X 2014 this year on Sprint? Posted via the Android Central App
  • Don't know.
  • no plus sprint sucks so why would you want to?
  • Lol Posted via the Android Central App
  • I never understood how this was an issue. Got my gf an unlocked X last year, went to the ATT store, heard all the horror stories, gave him the whole spiel of how he might have troubles because its an unlocked phone without an imie on att and he looked at me like I had 4 heads. He issued the nano Sim he got out of the back to her current IMIE (she had an 8X) and told me it was super easy to do... Some people just don't know how to do their jobs properly. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Same with X2. LTE bands and whistling Dixie
  • Never an issue with my wife's 2013 X or my N5 on att either. Both needed new sims due to different size than previous phone. Posted from my Nexus 5 via Android Central App
  • They just want to sell you a phone Posted via Android Central App
  • Yaaaaaaay Posted via Nexus 7 2013 or Galaxy S5
  • Long live the Pure edition! :D
  • Was hoping for news that there would be a Verizon Pure Edition Posted via the Android Central App
  • That seems contradictory. Verizon is more about perversion.
  • Needs Band 12
  • If only a software update could add new hardware. Unless it's there and just hidden until T-Mobile lights it up....
  • Hopefully a software update will do it since many rural providers use band 12 also. Going to suck to roam "Nothing I shoot ever gets back up again."
  • Yeah, I figured it was kind of weird that the Pure edition has the least amount of LTE bands out of the 3 versions
  • What about Sprint. Will any of those bands support Sprint?
  • Highly doubt it, looks like Sprint decided to skip on the X (2014) completely. Posted via the Android Central App
  • What is XT1092 then? It supports AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint bands, but isn't the Pure Edition nor is it the Sprint model. It's either the failed Sprint model, or maybe the Shamu Nexus model? Or maybe it 's a smaller Nexus 6? Or is it the US Cellular model...
  • from this article http://www.androided.in/2014/09/moto-x-2014-2nd-gen-xt1092-listed.html it indicates that the XT1092 is an indian model. i don't know the site but they have links to the where you can buy it if you are in India so it seems legit to me
  • The XT1092 has all American LTE bands minus Verizon's. Strange it would be headed to India...
  • Xt1092 also got band 41 which is China mainland. I'm thinking that this phone will be for international use. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Correct me if I'm wrong, when they push the update out, the Pure will support 4 of 5 Verizon bands. Does this mean it will work just fine on Verizons network?
  • No, it will not... To use it on the Verizon network would require CDMA bands as well, the Pure version does not have the correct hardware to support that, and CDMA is required for voice calls to work. Not to mention that Verizon MUST approve of a device to be used on their network, and the PE version is not approved.
  • Would it need CDMA if it was using Band 4 for voice as well? Verizon is using Band 4 for VoLTE. I'm not sure their "approval" would matter in the case.
  • VoLTE only works with other VoLTE phones. So you may be able go talk to a couple people but that's it.
  • Not true at all. The phone does not fall back to CDMA. One would only lose HD voice and video capability. Calls between a VoLTE device and a "legacy" device will still be VoLTE but simply fall back to traditional call quality. Think about calling landlines... From what I understand, Verizon will begin marketing pure LTE devices (no CDMA radio) starting in 2016. From that point on, more and more of the CDMA network will be refarmed to LTE. I believe the end of CDMA on Verizon will be sometime around 2020.
  • And I guess the follow up question is... Why the hell doesn't it support Band 13? Wasn't part of Verizon's deal for the 700c spectrum that they couldn't restrict access? I admin I'm not aware of exactly how it works, but what's stopping an OEM from saying "Screw it, our phone supports all of your bands. Deal with it" ?
  • Why would they limit the bands in the first place? I mean, what's the reasoning behind a decision like that if the PE has the capabilty?
  • As a developor, sometimes I put something into my code that I intend for testing purposes only, and that has minimal impact on the real world, but accidentally gets out into the wild. It happens. If the QA process were completely flawless it would be caught, but it isn't. My assumption is that something like this happened.
  • AT&T exclusivity and profitability.
  • No love for Band 12? Still wondering what the XT1092 model is, if not Sprint. Small Nexus, mayhaps?
  • It seems to be a big mystery about what the xt 1092 is.
  • So, does this mean that my pure version on AT&T will now get LTE? I get 4G but that's it. It says I am on the HSPA network system. I'm new to android so I am not sure what is going on with my phone. Posted via the Android Central App
  • It should be able to get LTE more often as the update will turn on band 5 lte. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Thanks. I know that this is a question for the forums, but are you aware of any issues with the APN settings for AT&T? Posted via the Android Central App
  • There is two problems happening to your pure edition. 1) at&t didn't provision the pure edition to their LTE networks yet. This means that at&t doesn't recognize in most areas that the pure edition phone is LTE capable. 2) Motorola software locked many of the lte bands that the pure edition is capable of using. This isn't much of a big deal considering that most of at&t's and t-mobile's bands are unlocked on the pure edition except band 5 and 12. Overall, just give it a little time and you will notice improvements soon. Posted via the Android Central App
  • Thanks!!! Posted via the Android Central App
  • Verizon please Moto.#Iwishtogetpurelove Posted via the Android Central App
  • Thanks for pursuing this, Phil. I am holding off on ordering until this issue is cleared up. Would rather have the Pure -- but also want the bands.
  • Let's pray for no carrier variant of a nexus to grace this planet Posted via Nexus 7 2013 or Galaxy S5
  • Still no love for T-Mobile's band 12, huh?
  • yeah XT1092 is band 12,http://www.tmonews.com/2014/09/new-moto-x-announced-model-xt1092-also-ba..... but like other mentioned no 64g model, may pass
  • Now AT&T has to come along and properly provision the PE's IMEI number rather than jerking people around.
  • From MOTO Matt @ Motorola Forumz; https://forums.motorola.com/posts/d766a5d90a?commentId=813227#813227 Band 12 won't be supported by Moto X Pure. In Response to;
    There’s some confusion over the new Moto X. One model – number XT1092 – is compatible with all of T-Mobile’s bands, including band 12, 700MHz A-block. But the model Motorola’s currently selling unlocked with a T-Mo SIM isn’t that model. And it’s not band 12 compatible. We’ll keep an eye on any changes, but perhaps T-Mobile is planning to sell a version through its own channels at some point. http://www.tmonews.com/2014/09/network-update-map-of-t-mobiles-700mhz-sp...
  • Why the fck they lock bands in the first place. I wish I could unlock my N5, using slow ass 3G now where my previous Galaxy 4 had LTE all day long
  • Why can't this work for verizon? Verizon Bands are 02, 03, 04, 07, 13. The pure edition will support 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 17. Only band missing for the pure to work on verizon is 13. Is that one band that important?
  • Yes, 13 is vital to use it on Verizon. Posted via Android Central App
  • Why can't they update it to support band 12? Posted via Android Central App
  • Or get all of those bands by writing to the right NV Items. Gotta love purpose set software limitations.
  • So this works for T-Mobile straight out of the box? All bands supported? Posted via the Android Central App
  • Not band 12 which is what they're rolling out their new 700Mhz LTE over so you get better signal indoors. Posted via Android Central App
  • Yes it works on Tmo but LTE is Band 4 not the newer Band 12 that T-Mobile is rolling out now as well as other smaller regional carriers around the country.
  • I would have hoped it would of had Band 12 Support, I still get service inside with T-Mobile, but boy does the data speed fall off. Here's hoping the Motorola made Nexus X or Nexus 6, whatever it winds up being called, has support for T-Mobiles Band 12.
  • Amen! Posted via Android Central App
  • I'm on mobile so I can't go back and search it, but wasn't the pic and article of a "mystery device" at Verizon awhile back labeled with XT 1095? At least that's what my memory recalls. Posted via Android Central App
  • thanks for the credit guys.
  • Notwithstanding the LTE Band 4 support (which is used by all carriers but Sprint), it really looks like Motorola has implemented unofficial exclusives for Verizon and AT&T with these device versions. Posted via Android Central App
  • Unfortunately this is still a fairly weak offering of LTE bands. For example, the Pure will only boast a handful of the new iPhone 6's supported bands including the TD-LTE bands (which means no Sprint spark network). Here is what is supported by the iPhone 6 A1586/A1524: 1 (2100 MHz)
    2 (1900 MHz)
    3 (1800 MHz)
    4 (AWS)
    5 (850 MHz)
    7 (2600 MHz)
    8 (900 MHz)
    13 (700c MHz)
    17 (700b MHz)
    18 (800 MHz)
    19 (800 MHz)
    20 (800 DD)
    25 (1900 MHz)
    26 (800 MHz)
    28 (700 APT MHz)
    29 (700 de MHz)
    38 (TD 2600)
    39 (TD 1900)
    40 (TD 2300)
    41 (TD 2500)
  • I'm lost. Are these bands that are missing from my PE for international use only? I'm getting LTE just fine on Tmo....
  • Cuz it has band 4. All you need right now Posted via Android Central App
  • Sha-wing! Justice, sweet righteous justice! Posted via the Android Central App
  • "That's notable because as it stands the XT1095 is effectively limited to AT&T and T-Mobile here in the States. Adding Bands 3, 5 and 7 will greatly increase the ability to roam overseas"... Does this mean the Pure Edition works fine on AT&T's LTE network in the US? The uncertainty about LTE coverage in US is the only thing holding me back from buying this phone.
  • Same.. are the 2, 4, and 17 bands primarily US only? I live in West US and want to get the Pure Edition but the lack of bands 3, 5, and 7 is making me hold off for now or until the update comes. If these bands don't matter for the moment I might go ahead and purchase.
  • I actually ended up ordering the phone and can tell you that the LTE coverage for AT&T was better than on my Nexus 5. Regrettably, I had to send the phone back because it was plagued with software issues (and the yellow-tint, especially with white colors on the screen really bothered me). It's a great phone otherwise.
  • I just don't understand why Motorola had to be such a bummer after creating such a beautiful piece. They totally messed it up with contract and non contract models. After paying full retail price you are still tied up to at&t with at&t logo and bloatware and I don't understand why they call themselves 'pure'.
  • O.K., let me get this straight. I've been with AT&T forever, and i have the Next Plan. So at AT&T, i can get the unlocked 2014 Moto X Pure Edition? I've never heard of AT&T selling an unlocked phone, right from their store.
  • T-Mobile LTE band 12 for some reason did not get added in when they upgrade the Pure Edition with additional bands for international use. So sad!
  • Does anyone know if the Moto X 2nd Gen Pure Edition works on Verizon?