The entry-level smartphone market is vehement, as nigh companies stop up selling vastly more than cheap phones than expensive ones. A instance-in-betoken is the Nokia Lumia 520, which sells for under $100 and occupies the largest chunk of Windows Phone marketplace share by far. When information technology comes to Android, there's considerably more competition, with diverse Asian OEMs pushing their inexpensive, ofttimes unknown devices hard in local markets.

Motorola Moto Yard - $179 - $199 (unlocked)

  • 4.5", 1280 x 720 LCD display (326 ppi)
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC
  • 1.3 GHz quad-core CPU, Adreno 305 GPU, 1GB RAM
  • 8 or xvi GB internal storage
  • v MP camera, one/4" sensor, f/two.4 lens, 720p video
  • ii,070 mAh, 7.87 Wh battery
  • HSPA+, Wi-Fi b/g/north, Bluetooth four.0
  • Stock Android 4.3 'Jelly Bean'
  • 143 grams, 11.6mm thick

The Moto M is Motorola'due south biggest and best endeavour withal in conquering the entry-level market. It'southward not a handset meant to break records, but the 4.5-inch 720p display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 SoC and dual-SIM support (in sure models) volition delight the correct crowds. Plus, at $179 for the 8 GB model and $199 for xvi GB, unlocked and off-contract, it certainly fits the definition of what an affordable smartphone should exist.

As with nearly budget oriented Android devices, the question remains as to whether performance and overall build quality is up to scratch. We've all experienced terrible Os and app performance from cheap, crappy Android phones in the past, so let's promise the Moto One thousand doesn't fall into this trap.

The Moto G unit used in this review was kindly provided by MobiCity. They have the best range of unlocked, off-contract smartphones, and they ship to near countries globally.

Design

The Moto G's frame is built around a 4.5-inch brandish, so compared to today's v-inch flagship handsets, the device is relatively compact. Information technology's non the best looking smartphone I've ever used, nor is information technology the thinnest or lightest – the Moto G comes in at 11.6mm thick and 143 grams heavy – but the edges are curved to arrive ergonomic.

It'due south not surprising to discover that the majority of the Moto G is made from plastic. The proficient news is that Motorola hasn't opted for glossy, Samsung-style cheap plastic, despite the toll point of the handset. The back panel, which incidentally is removable, is made from soft-touch on, rubberized plastic that feels not bad to the touch, and the front panel is covered with smoothen Gorilla Glass 3. The Moto Chiliad's build quality is quite good and the device overall feels tough.

The handset'southward rear design is reminiscent of its bigger brother, the Moto Ten. While you don't get the aforementioned sort of customization options or patterns, the Moto G's back is curved in the same fashion, and includes the verbal same indentation that houses the Motorola logo. Above this logo sits the photographic camera and LED flash, and to the left of these is the rear speaker. The speaker isn't hugely powerful, nor is it shut to being good quality, but it fullfills the job.

Like nearly phones, the Moto G'south front profile is blank and minimalist, relieve for the 4.five-inch brandish that occupies roughly 65% of the total panel. Bated from the front-facing photographic camera and in-call speaker, the only interesting affair virtually the Moto G's front is the lack of hardware buttons, opting instead for on-screen buttons. The brandish is positioned towards the top, so that the on-screen buttons are easier to press, which is an ergonomic choice I corroborate of.

Speaking of ergonomics, Motorola has chosen the perfect position for the power push button, which can be institute on the correct-paw edge of the Moto G. When you're holding the device, the power button is in the exact spot I would normally identify my thumb (if held in my right paw) or forefinger (if held in my left hand), making it a breeze to turn the handset on or off. Other features around the edge, including the volume rocker, microUSB port and 3.5mm headphone jack, are in their usual positions.

At that place are no SIM carte slots around the border of the device, and that's considering they're located behind the removable rear console. By pulling up from the expanse near the USB port, the surprisingly potent rear cover comes off without a great deal of effort. There'southward no removable battery, nor a microSD card slot (I'll talk over this further later on), but you lot will find the micro-SIM carte du jour slot.

The particular model I reviewed is the dual-SIM variant of the Moto G, so there are two SIM card slots underneath the back embrace: one at the top right, and one at the bottom left. When there's two slots to place somewhere on the device it makes a fleck of sense to accept the entire back cover remove, simply it'southward an unusual pick for the unmarried-SIM variant, especially as the bombardment is sealed behind another layer of plastic.

Every bit an entry-level device, the Moto G's design is ergonomic and usable. I'grand glad Motorola didn't cull bargain basement materials, sticking to soft-touch on plastic and Gorilla Drinking glass on this relatively meaty device.

Display

On paper, the iv.5-inch 1280 x 720 TFT LCD panel Motorola has chosen for the Moto Thou presents keen value. While some manufacturers are bumping their lower-end handsets upwardly to 720p display resolutions, many – including Nokia for their Lumia 525 – aren't, instead sticking with WVGA. This makes the Moto G'south 326 PPI display seem fantastic in comparison.

I was honestly surprised at just how good the display of the Moto G is, considering how much the device costs. Sure, it's non the best display I've always used, only for a not-IPS (likely TN) panel, color accuracy and saturation is skillful. There's some visible colour banding when viewing smooth gradients, simply for the almost part images wait really good on this affordable handset.

Some aspects of the Moto Chiliad'south brandish, though, definitely fall behind those nosotros've been accustomed to on top-end smartphones. Maximum brightness from the backlight is quite good, but the evidently lack of filter layers tin make the Moto M hard to read in strong daylight. Contrast isn't terrible, but a noticeable amount of backlight seeps through, preventing the panel from displaying deep blacks, and hurting the overall contrast ratio.

As mentioned earlier, the Moto G uses on-screen buttons as opposed to traditional capacitive hardware buttons. While the screen itself is 4.v-inches large with 55.8 square centimeters of real manor, the on-screen buttons reduce the usable infinite to four.2 inches. Despite this, I'1000 a fan of on-screen buttons, as they can change and disappear in certain applications when necessary. Plus, you get the proper assortment of Android buttons in the correct order: back, home, app switcher.

With about high-finish smartphones packing 5-inch displays every bit standard these days, the Moto M's screen real estate isn't huge, and yet the iPhone 5s still continues Apple tree'due south pocket-size-screen tradition with a iv-inch panel, making the Moto M'southward display larger than Apple'due south flagship.

Motorola besides has kept the K quite compact, highly-seasoned to users who don't want a cumbersome large-screen handset, and for all intents and purposes the Moto G has enough of screen space for videos and games. I started using the Moto Grand right after using the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Nokia Lumia 1520, which are massive in comparison, but the G is more comfortable to use.

Packing a 1280 x 720 resolution, the Moto Grand's display is very sharp for its class. 1080p panels are all the rage at the moment, and in the right conditions you can tell the difference, but in regular usage this 720p LCD panel is crisp and keen to view. It benefits from a standard RGB stripe subpixel layout, meaning there's no PenTile AMOLED artefacts, so text is largely jaggie-free.

I was expecting a worse brandish on the Moto G than Motorola actually delivered, which of course is fantastic to see. The 4.5-inch panel does a wonderful job for the toll of the handset.