Moto G: A good budget smartphone

One of the best buys under Rs 15,000

Picture this: you are on the lookout for a smartphone and just have 15K in hand. No more, no less. And, to make things worse, you are spoilt for choice.

Should you venture into Samsung’s Galaxy? Try to open the right Windows in Nokia’s Lumia? Or expect a different experience with Sony’s Xperia?

Google and Motorola might have come up with an answer to the ‘smartphone’ question — the Moto G . Light, attractive and incredibly powerful, the Moto G could easily be the best buy under 15K.

That it’s 16 GB variant was sold out in 15 minutes after being launched on Flipkart shows that Motorola’s much-touted device means serious business. Let’s take a closer look at what clicks for the Moto G and what doesn’t.

Sturdy build

The Moto G fits nicely into your hand and the moment you hold it you can sense that it is a strong phone. Water-repellent nano coating both inside and outside the phone make it immune to scratches, usual falls and the dreaded water. When you remove the back cover you can easily see at least 14 screws around the body that stop any water or moisture from seeping in.

On the front, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 gives the Moto G a premium look while also keeping the screen crisp, shiny and away from scratches or fingerprint smudges. Both the physical keys are on the right and pretty responsive. The back cover, with a matte finish, flaunts the impressive Motorola logo that adds to the Moto G’s impressive look.

 
OS and quad core coup

Working on the Moto G was effortless, primarily because of the powerful 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor. The one GB RAM also makes the phone’s functioning smooth. What further makes the whole Moto G experience worthwhile is Android Jelly Bean 4.3. That’s pure Android for you (God bless Google!), and a guaranteed update to KitKat (4.4) has already been rolled out. The trio of a powerful processor, impressive RAM and a fluid operating system are the Moto G’s USPs.
 
The entertainment quotient

Even in its erstwhile devices, Motorola was known for top-notch display and sound. And as expected, the Moto G continues this tradition. The 4.5 HD screen on the Moto G is a viewer’s delight. With a resolution of 1,280x720 pixels, videos and photographs on the Moto G will always look vibrant.

An Adreno 305 graphics processor makes sure that your favourite games do not experience any lags. As far as sound goes, the Moto G’s speaker is loud enough to wake your neighbours. The sound quality stays crisp even at the highest volumes.

Surprisingly, the frontal 1.3 megapixel camera on the Moto G performed much better than the rear camera (five megapixel), which despite features such as continuous clicking and burst mode left us wanting for more in the photography department.
 
Dual SIM and bravo, battery!

The Moto G is a dual-SIM phone and this feature is sure to have many takers in the Indian market. Once you open the back cover you will notice the two micro SIM card slots: one is on the top right corner and the other on the bottom left corner. It was a bit tricky to get the SIM cards inside, so you better be careful while doing the same.

Coming to the 2,070 mAh battery: the good thing is that it is very powerful and dependable; the bad thing is that it’s not user removable — a small blot on an otherwise flawless device. Nonetheless, a full charge will easily be enough for a couple of days.
 
Final verdict

Does the Moto G leave anything out? For starters, a memory card slot and a slightly better camera. There were other minor things — the device took some time to connect to Wi-Fi connections and also, we wouldn’t place our money on the headphones provided with the Moto G, which were a bit uncomfortable.

These are, as we said, minor issues that can be fixed.

The final verdict on the Moto G is crystal clear: the 8 GB variant for Rs 12,499 and the 16 GB one for Rs 13,999. These are unreal prices and the Moto G is replete with features and specifications that make it a strong contender.

It would be fair to say that it is almost a Nexus-esque device. If you are looking for an unparalleled Android experience with truckloads of entertainment and running on a tight budget, then go ahead, give Moto G the nod.
This is a longer version of the story that appeared in Print