Dimensions: 124.8 x 64.8 x 12.3 mm (4.91 x 2.55 x 0.48 in) | Weight: 142 grams (5.01 oz)
(Updated June 2017) “Made to last. Priced for all”, that’s what Motorola claims while talking about the newly launched, affordable, entry-level handset – the Moto E. This visually delectable device sure keeps up with the promises its makers have made. Motorola has finally paved the way for the emergence of quality low-end handsets in today’s highly competitive mobile market.
In addition, the latest model is rated as a #1 New Release on Amazon which is saying something about the popularity of this cell phone. You can find out more HERE!
Inexpensive
- Sturdy, Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3
- Anti-smudge coating
- Splash proof water resistant coating
- Customizable battery door
- 5 MP front-facing camera and 8 MP rear-facing camera with flash
- Latest clean version of Android
- Unlocked
- Fingerprint Sensor
- Good battery life
- Poor primary camera
- Occasional lag
- Lower internal storage
- Non-removable battery
Moto E’s Key Features at a Glance
What experts say?
Design
For one it is a sturdy phone, solidly built with a tough framework and curved soft-finish back panel or shell as it is called, that can cozily settle in the palm of your hand but mind you can prove slippery at times. The shell comes in a variety of vibrant colors which can be a hit especially among the youngsters. It also seems a tad heavy for its size.
The screen is not edge-to-edge as there is a little bezel showing along the long edges making it appear narrow and the curvature might seem pudgy to some.
The power and volume bar resting on the right edge have a nice metallic look, the headphone jack is on top and the micro USB slot is at the bottom, just as in Moto G. The speakers are placed just below the screen while LED notification and earpiece are fit above it.
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Features
Display
The 4.3” display is decent having a resolution of 540 x 960 and a pixel density of 256 pixels per inch making it the sharpest display in its category. While it manages to produce sharp images, the only cause for concern is its lack of brightness making it difficult to view in sunlight. Well, one can’t expect more for a budget display. Viewing angles are good if screen is viewed straight but from a side view it appears washed out.
Camera
The camera on this phone is a disappointment, although it is 5 Megapixels it comes with fixed-focus lens which only tries to capture scenes as sharply as possible without much to add. Outdoor shots are decent but macro shots can turn out blurry. A noteworthy feature is the multiple shots feature which can be launched by holding your finger on screen enabling you to take multiple shots rapidly.
Another let-down is that it lacks a secondary front camera and flash, so you can say goodbye to selfies and video chats and forget about taking photos in the dark.
Video capture is also nothing great, giving an output of 854 x 480 pixels. We guess Motorola has tried to cut costs by cutting down camera features.
Sound
Speakers are mono not stereo and bass light but that’s the way it is for most low cost phones. Motorola has tried its best to make the sound quality decent and the speakers thankfully do not show signs of distortion at high volumes.
Durability
Moto E surprisingly has good durability features, for one, its display is made of Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 which makes it able to resist scratches and blemishes. While it does not have an IP rating (seemingly the order of the day in the trending handsets), the screen has a water resistant splash guard coating that enables it to withstand maybe a drop in puddle of water or wash basin. That’s good enough considering other handsets in this range do not have durability features.
Connectivity
There are no advanced connections in this phone given the price, so no frills like 4G, NFC etc. Basic connectivity is available by way of GPS, Bluetooth 4.0 and FM radio.
Performance
The Moto E has a 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM and an Adreno 302 GPU, so you can’t expect a great performance. While touchscreen responsiveness is respectable, launching apps can sometimes be slow but once up, it run smoothly. Multitasking can cause it slow though and downloading seems to freeze the phone at times.
Internal space is somewhat low but it is compensated for by its expandable storage of up to 32 GB, which means most of your apps will have to reside on the MicroSD.
It runs Android 7.1 Nougat and an update is guaranteed so it won’t become outdated. The interface is simple and fairly basic but most of the features being the standard ones you can expect from a near stock Android.
Battery life is average, letting you easily use the phone for over a day with light usage but it does not match the two day stamina of its sibling Moto G.
Another striking observation is that the phone does not get too hot even under the strain of browsing, gaming and other standard mobile activities over a long period of time. This can probably be attributed to its chubbiness allowing it extra room for heat dissipation.
What customers say?
We have scouted the web for some Common Customer Reviews on Moto E:
The Good
- Budget phone – highly affordable and has useful features
- Great build quality, premium look, doesn’t feel like a low priced phone
- One hand operation easily possible
- Stock Android feeling with signature Moto tools
- UI not crammed with overloaded features therefore, smooth running and simple to use
- Very good screen resolution for its price but can observe a bit of pixelation if viewed from close quarters
The Bad
- No camera flash and no front camera
- Curved body good for holding but is a little plump so sometimes uncomfortable
- Soft back panel often seems slippery
- Defective battery door, loose end hits SIM card thereby dislodging it
- Heats up quickly even during normal usage
- No LED notification on phone
- No OTG support
- High radiation effect (SAR value of 1.5w/kg) is a concern as it could have adverse effect on brain cells in the long run although this value is said to be within the prescribed permissible limits
Our Verdict
Well, while we are not particularly gung-ho about this little monster, we feel it fairly deserves an applause for the punch it packs especially when one considers how low it is priced. With the competition creeping up even in the low-end arena of Smartphones, this phone brings delight to the low end users.
What’s more, it can be the perfect gift since it is a handsome looking handset with decent overall performance that doesn’t strain your wallet.
If you care to compromise on camera quality, we recommend you give this phone a go.