What Is It?
It's a
4.5-inch smartphone that runs Android 4.3
(with a promised upgrade to 4.4 +Kitkat in the near future). It has +Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor clocked at 1.2GHz, and
1 GB of RAM, buuuut there's no lightning-quick LTE goodness for you.
It's $180 for the 8GB version and $200 for the 16GB version
(we advise you to spend that extra $20). That's
the unlocked, unsubsidized price.
It's aimed primarily at the developing world, but available here in the US. Make no mistake, those
who are hoping that it's somehow a magically cheaper Moto X will be sorely disappointed.
Why Does It Matter?
The Moto G is insanely
cheap for a device this capable. Most
smartphones under $200 barely work. In terms of design, speed, and
software, the Moto G isn't all that far off from its high-end brethren
like the Moto X, and
it's better than most of last year's aging flagship phones. It's
essentially Google/Motorola's bid to get Android into the hands of
people who didn't think they could afford a smartphone.
A quick look
at other phones in this price range will show you that the combination
of its display (720p), software (Android 4.3), and processor (quad-core
clocked at 1.2GHz) put it way ahead of its competitors. Some of its
class, like the Samsung Infuse 4G,
have their own strengths, like 4G speeds (though not LTE), an 8MP
camera, and expandable memory, but are way behind in software (many are
stuck on Android 2.2), screen quality (800 x 480 is all too common), and
processing. It's a non-starter, basically.
In fact,
the only place you're going to come anywhere near to the capability of
the Moto G on paper is the off-brand wilderness, where the likes of ThL, Mobiltab, and ZOPO
can deliver quad-core processors, 8MP cameras, software as recent as
Android 4.2, qHD displays (960 x540), expandable memory, and 4G (HSPA+)
speeds. That said, do you know much about these companies and the
quality of their products? Neither do we. Suffice it to say that the
screen and software on the Moto G are unmatched, and we're willing to
bet the build-quality is, too.
Design
At
first
glance, the Moto G is a dead ringer for the Moto X. That's a good
thing. It has the same gently rounded corners, and a plastic back with
a soft, brushed feel. There are differences—the buttons jut
out a little further, it's a 4.5-inch screen instead of a
4.7-inch screen on the X—but they're pretty subtle. The
build quality feels just as solid, though, which is not something you
typically see in a phone at this price.
The
screen is handily the best in its class. You can't find an
off-contract phone for under $200 that has a 4.5-inch 720p screen. At
330 ppi, text is extremely sharp and easy to read. That said, it's nowhere near as crisp as the 1080p screens you see on the Nexus 5, the HTC One, or the Galaxy S4.
Hold it next to the Moto X, and you can see that can't quite keep up
despite going spec for spec. The Moto G really struggles with
gradients (you can see blocky
stepping in shading), colors aren't as vivid, and blacks aren't as
deep.
On the
back of the device there's a 5MP camera with
an LED flash, and next to it
is the speaker grill. Both
are pretty lousy by modern standards, but again, they're absolutely
fantastic for their class.
While
the Moto G can't keep up with best-in-breed smartphones, the fact that
it's even in the same conversation is remarkable, given that it comes at
a fraction of the price.
While
the Moto X can be customized to the nth degree thanks to Moto Maker, the Moto G has a cheaper, DIY version: Namely, you can replace the
back panel with one that's a
little more "you." There are 15 options to use from, including
Samsung-esque flip shells than turn your screen on/off when you
open/shut them. You just slide your fingernail into the micro USB
port, pop the back off, and replace it with the one you want. Every
Moto G comes with a standard black shell. The regular shells are $15
each, and the flip covers are $35.
Using It
Your
first impressions of the Moto
G will depend heavily on what your previous phone was. If you're upgrading
from a two-year old phone or, more likely, another, older sub-$200
phone, this will likely be something of a revelation. Generally
speaking, it's pretty snappy. Despite
the Snapdragon 400 being one of the lower-tier processors from
Qualcomm, it's by no means bad. It can handle even some of the most
graphically intensive games out there, including Dead Trigger 2.
That
said, it's not winning any
races. Going against the current generation of smartphones, there's
really no comparison. If you're looking at it next to speedsters like
the HTC One or the Nexus 5, apps
on the Moto G open slower, there's more lag and stutter throughout
the OS, and there's a much longer delay in between taking photos.
Generally speaking, though,
processing speed isn't an issue.
There also
seem to be some strange issues with radio. Using a unit with an AT&T
SIM card in NYC, it was a battle to get enough of a signal to check
Facebook. Downloading apps took so long, I just gave up. That said,
way out in Bend, OR, I averaged 6.5Mbps downloads and 3.15Mbps
uploads, which is very decent. Clearly, your mileage may vary.
The deeper frustration lies in the camera. For a 5MP shooter, we didn't expect much,
which was good. Photos look flat and unfocused, lacking in detail. Colors are pretty washed out, it's noisy as hell
in low light, and there's a lot of bleed from light sources. The
camera app is basically the same as it is on the Moto X, which is to
say it's streamlined, clean, and easy to understand. But unlike the
X, the Moto G is very slow. Unless you enable the drag-to-focus
feature, the autofocus is terrible. Now, again, is it good compared
to other phones under $200?
It's probably not far off. Others offer 8MP cameras, but none have as good of a phone attached to it. [See Moto G sample photos]
Sound
coming
out of the speaker is plenty loud, which is honestly the most
important thing it can be. Listening to music on it isn't
unpleasant, but it isn't well-balanced either, with the highs being a
bit grating and the lows all but non-existent. Battery life is good—I
just about always made it until 10pm or so before it died—with
medium/low usage. A lot of high-end phones can't boast
the same.
The
Moto G's software is similar to the Moto X's, which is another for the plus column. It's still a very clean
version of Android that, as a result, is trim, attractive, and
mostly smooth. It doesn't, however, include any of the Moto X's slick
tricks, like touch-free controls, Active Notifications, and
shake-to-wake camera. It does have Motorola's Assist app,
which allows the phone to change profiles dependent on conditions
like Sleeping or Meeting, but curiously, it left out the
Driving mode, which is easily the most useful.
Like
The
price. In terms of bang for $200 bucks, this thing can't be beat. It
feels so much better than you'd expect for a phone this cheap (and unlocked). The software is recent enough, and
should be caught up to Android 4.4 (KitKat) in the very near future,
which is more than you can say for a lot of current-gen high-end phones.
Speed is generally very good, and the screen is extremely sharp
compared to its closest competitors.
No Like
Should You Buy It?
If you're on a carrier contract, then no. get the Nexus 5 instead, which is $350
off-contract and is better in absolutely every way.
But!
If you
are not on a contract, and if you'd rather not spend more than $200
for an unsubsidized phone, then that would change to a resounding yes.
Look, sometimes we're short on money, but that doesn't mean you
shouldn't be able to buy a solid smartphone to help you improve your
life. We highly recommend shelling out the full $200 for the 16GB
version, though, as 8GB will just fill up way too fast. [Motorola]
Moto G Specs
• Network: All GSM carriers
• OS: Android 4.3
• CPU: 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400
• Screen: 4.5-inch 1280x720 LCD display (330 PPI)
• RAM: 1GB
• Storage: 8 or 16GB
• Camera: 5MP rear / 1.3MP front
• Battery: 2070 mAh Li-Ion
• Dimensions: 5.11 x 2.59 x 0.46 inches
• Weight: 5.04 ounces
• Price: $180 for 8GB / $200 for 16GB
• OS: Android 4.3
• CPU: 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400
• Screen: 4.5-inch 1280x720 LCD display (330 PPI)
• RAM: 1GB
• Storage: 8 or 16GB
• Camera: 5MP rear / 1.3MP front
• Battery: 2070 mAh Li-Ion
• Dimensions: 5.11 x 2.59 x 0.46 inches
• Weight: 5.04 ounces
• Price: $180 for 8GB / $200 for 16GB
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