GADGET
GIZMO REVIEW MOTO G
We
have always recommended the Moto G for budget-conscious users who want a great
Android experience. The recently launched 3rd generation Moto G improves upon
its predecessors with new features and better build quality without an increase
in price.
The first thing most users look at
in a phone are the specifications. On that front, the new Moto G runs on a
1.4Ghz quad core Snapdragon 410 processor (the same proces sor that powers
Xiaomi's Redmi2, which is incidentally , half the Moto G's price). It comes in
two variants: 1GB RAM with 8GB storage for `11,999 and 2GB RAM with 16GB
storage for `12,999. There is no clear reason here as to why there was a need
for a `1,000 cheaper variant with lower RAM and storage -we feel Motorola
shouldn't even have bothered to launch this variant.
So, we know that the phone doesn't
have the best specifications at this price. You can easily get devices with an
octa core Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage and full HD display
for less than `10,000 now. However, what sets the Moto G apart from these
devices is the experience. The stock Android interface runs without any visible
lag. Animation effect are fluid, apps run without any sluggishness and
switching between apps is butter-smooth. Even the camera app is zippy -it
instantly saves images and is ready to capture the next image immediately .
Audio output is one of the best we have heard in this class: from both the
earpiece as well as the loudspeaker. The 2,470mAh battery easily managed to
last over a day with constant 3GWiFi connectivity and mix use of calls, social
networking and multimedia.
As usual with Moto phones, the Moto
G runs the latest Android 5.1.1 and will be amongst the first device to get any
Android updates. Motorola has also made additions to the inter face to enhance
user experience. The most useful of these is the inclusion of `Moto Display' -a
feature that shows your notifica tions on the lock screen without the need to
switch on the display. Borrowed from the more expensive Moto X, this feature
makes it easier to keep track of notifications while helping conserve battery
power. The built-in the smartphone (which can slow down any phone, even one
with double the RAM).
The design of the Moto G has also
been improved over its predecessor. The second-generation Moto G front dual
speakers are still present but they are much more refined now and add to the
overall look of the design instead of appearing as thick silver wedges. The
back has a curved design that makes the phone easy to hold and the new textured
finish provides excellent grip. A metal housing around the camera & flash
connects to the Motorola logo in the center -it makes the phone look
distinctive and makes it look more expensive than it is. On the right side are
the power and volume keys (metal finish): they are ergonomically placed and
easy to reach.
The 5-inch IPS display has a
resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 -quite like
the Moto G (2nd Gen). In our usage we found the display to show vibrant
colours, excellent viewing angles and ample brightness levels. The only thing
we didn't like was the thick bezel around the screen.
Durability has also been improved.
It comes with IPX7 certification for water resistance.This means that the phone
can survive for 30 minutes under 3 meters of fresh water. Note that the back
panel should be tightly closed. We dunked the phone in a mug of water for
several minutes and the phone continued to function normally. This means that
you don't have to worry about the phone getting damaged if some water is
splashed on it, if you get wet in the rain or if someone dunks you in a pool.
Cameras have also been considerably
improved. The 13MP rear camera takes superb images in daylight as well as
indoors -images have good details with vibrant colours. The app doesn't have
too many settings but gives you the option to adjust exposure and offers a
handy low light mode. The front camera is a 5MP unit now and while it took
above average images, we noticed that the colours were slightly washed out.
Overall, the Moto G (3rd gen) proves
to be one of the best phones at this price range despite the specifications.
Looking at the competition, you can consider Xiaomi's Mi 4i (same price).It has
a better, full HD display, superior cameras and better battery life. However,
it has non-expandable 16GB storage and is not water resistant at all. Moto app
lets you customize notifications as well as block certain apps from showing up
on Moto Display . The Moto app also lets you ena ble motion gestures. The Moto
Assist function has also now been integrated in the Moto app -you can preset
functions to be enabled basis your location (homeoffice etc.) or time. The Moto
Migrate app smoothly moves all your set tings and files from an older device to
the Moto G. Overall, we feel this approach is better than pre-loading loads of
bloatware & junk apps on
|
karan bajaj
|
ET5AUG15
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