MotoG Third Gen: Great hardware, with a few quirks

Most MotoG users had high expectations from the third generation MotoG

Most MotoG users, myself included, had high expectations from the third generation MotoG. While it would be wrong to say it is a disappointing device, it would also be an exaggeration to say the device exceeded expectations.

Design and display

The display is at par with several higher-end devices but not as sharp as that of the first gen MotoG because of a larger screen. The user interface is pure Android, like any device with stock Google software.

Camera

The picture quality is good for the price when viewed on a small screen. To make usage easier, features like flicking the phone to power on the lock screen and touching the screen to capture an image have been added. These can be more annoying than helpful- the latter especially when one wants to touch to focus while taking a picture. The camera, then, is not ideal for macro or portrait photography.

And the rest

The 2,470 mAh battery outdoes itself, lasting longer than devices with better batteries. The processor upgrade might seem negligible, from Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 to 410 but the upgrade to a Cortex-A53, combined with a 1.4GHz CPU, makes it faster. The areas in which most other devices in the segment take a beating, though,would be the superior build quality of the hardware. With Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and a solid, serrated back cover for a better grip, it is also water-resistant, though not water-proof. The MotoG 3rd generation costs Rs 11,999 for the 8GB version with 1GB RAM, and Rs 12,999 for the 16GB version with 2GB RAM, though both now contain a microSD card slot.

SPECIFICATIONS
Display: 5-inch 720x1,280p at 294ppi
SoC: Qualcomm Snapdragon 410
OS: Android Lollipop 5.1.1
Camera: 13MP; 5MP front camera
Battery: 2,470 mAh
Price: Rs 12,999