New York: You're not getting the best or the latest technology with Motorola's $179 (Rs 12,499 in India) Moto G smartphone. What you do get is a great price for something close.
Motorola bills the Moto G as the phone for the rest of us - the ones who can't afford the high price tag for a high-end smartphone. That's a big deal.
I tested the Moto G, comparing the phone primarily with its more expensive cousin, Motorola's $500 Moto X (not yet available in India). I also put it up against another lower-cost phone, Google's $349 (Rs 28,999) Nexus 5, as well as the premium, $649 (Rs 53,500) iPhone 5S from Apple.
Where the Moto G fell short was in its camera, battery life and inability to access faster, 4G LTE cellular networks. For everything else I tested, the Moto G stood up well.
Motorola doesn't skimp in equipping the Moto G with a speedy processor. Apps launch almost as quickly as they do on the phone's pricier rivals. The Moto G runs a fairly recent version of Google's Android system, with a promised upgrade to the latest, KitKat.
The Moto G also has a decent screen. It's about as sharp as the Moto X's and the iPhone's, enough for 720p video, though the Nexus and various Samsung phones do better by offering full, 1080p high definition. The Moto G's screen measures 4.5 inches diagonally, which is larger than the iPhone's but small for Android. Colours aren't as rich as on the Moto X's display, but if I want a superb visual experience, I'd turn to a tablet, a TV or even a movie theater. For a phone, the Moto G's screen delivers video quite well.
The Moto G doesn't win points on size and weight. Although the screen is smaller than the Moto X's 4.7-inch display, the phone overall is a tad bulkier and 10 per cent heavier. The Moto G has a larger frame surrounding the screen - something phone makers have been trying to shrink.
As for the other shortcomings:
Cellular access. The Moto G delivers 3G performance at best. Many parts of the world are moving to 4G, but Motorola points out that many of its target markets are still upgrading to 3G. If I'm doing a lot of things requiring top-notch speeds, I'm better off finding a Wi-Fi network anyway.
Battery life. The Moto G has 6 per cent less battery capacity than the Moto X. I got about up to eight hours of streaming video on Hulu with the Moto G, compared with nine to 10 hours on the Moto X. Although the Moto G has a removable plastic back, the battery can't be exchanged with a spare. That said, eight hours for streaming video is a lot, and you can stretch it to a full day with more moderate use.
Camera. The main camera has a resolution of 5 megapixels, less than the 8 megapixels on the iPhone and the Nexus and the 10 megapixels on the Moto X. There's more to a good camera than the pixel count, but the pictures I took with the Moto G weren't particularly good, especially in low light. They are passable for selfies and Facebook posts, but you'll want a better camera for keepsakes. Perhaps the money you save on the phone can go to a point-and-shoot camera that takes better pictures.
The Moto G is also short on frills. Part of that stems from Motorola's philosophy not to tinker with the Android operating system too much. Many rival phone makers do just that and wind up creating more chaos and confusion.
Instead, Motorola tries to limit what it adds. In the case of the Moto X, you can twist the phone to automatically launch the camera. You can initiate voice commands by saying, "OK, Google Now." The Moto X also offers unprecedented customization when you order; you can choose everything from the colour of the power button to a personalized message on the back cover.
The Moto G has none of that. The frills are limited to an FM radio tuner, something rare in smartphones. Just plug in a pair of headphones, which serves as the antenna. You can swap the back with a new plastic cover, but the phone isn't assembled at the factory to your specifications.
Be aware that the $179 (Rs 12,499) price gets you 8 gigabytes of storage, half of what most phones offer. Given all the room your photos and video will need, pay the extra $20 (Rs 1,500) for a 16 gigabyte model. Unfortunately, there's no slot for memory cards, as some Android phones offer.
Phone makers have been trying to set themselves apart by loading phones with more and more features, only some of which are useful. Motorola doesn't try to do that with the Moto G, apart from including an FM tuner. Instead, it's distinguishing itself through price. No one can question whether that's useful.
Motorola Mobility, that had trimmed down its India operations in 2012, is making a return to the country with the budget Moto G. The Moto G, according to Motorola will be a Flipkart exclusive for now. Flipkart says the Moto G, will be priced at Rs 12,499 (8 GB) and Rs 13,999 (16 GB) in the Indian market. Flipkart begins taking orders for the Moto G on February 6.
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