Hands-on with the new Moto E budget smartphone: in pictures

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Moto E: An entry-level Android phone

You may not want to put the iPhone 6 and the Moto E together -- especially if you have yet to own one. You might not want that iPhone, after all.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Fits comfortably in your hand

The Moto E probably won't win any awards for its far-from-breathtaking design, but it's sturdy and comfortable to hold.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Display and screen resolution

It's not the sharpest of screens, but it's far from unreasonable for the cost.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Screen resolution isn't bad (but not great)

The display isn't bad. It's stronger than a 720p display, but not quite 1080p. It's noticeable. You can probably see the pixels on the display. But most newcomers won't even notice it.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Phone design

The rear-camera has a modest 5-megapixel sensor, along with a basic VGA front-facing camera for video calling.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Micro-USB port, headphone jack included

The device itself is light at 145g (5.1 ounces).

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Expandable storage up to 32GB

The Qualcomm 1.2GHz quad-core powered phone lands with a slightly larger 4.5-inch display.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Plastic shell with pop-out bands

While the first-generation model had a plastic backing that could be swapped and changed, this version has an outer band with a range of vibrant colors.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Display and screen resolution

Motorola says the display has a pixel density of about 245 pixels-per-inch, or around half that of the iPhone 6. It's certainly noticeable, but not a deal-breaker in a low-budget device.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
A strong entry-level device

The Moto E with LTE comes with Android 5.0 "Lollipop," which includes the latest software developments, including device encryption.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
microSD and Micro-SIM slots

You can bump the 8GB internal storage to 32GB thanks to the inclusion of a microSD memory card slot.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Design is slim, light, but with added battery bulk

The phone is light and slim, but it could be a lot slimmer if Motorola wanted to compromise on battery life.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Design? Meh. But not bad for sub-$150

Don't expect much in terms of design aesthetic. But it's not bad for an entry level, sub-$150 Android phone.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Micro-USB standard for charging

Like all other Android phones, the Moto E comes with a micro-USB port for universal charging.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Compared to an iPhone...

Compared to an iPhone 6, it's almost double the thickness. But it's almost unnoticeable to the vast majority of Android newcomers.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker
Compared to an iPhone...

Compared to an iPhone 6, it's almost double the thickness. But it's almost unnoticeable to the vast majority of Android newcomers.

Published: February 25, 2015 -- 14:55 GMT (06:55 PST)
Photo by: ZDNet/CBS Interactive

Caption by: Zack Whittaker

The Android phone won't win any awards for performance, but the addition of LTE networking makes the device a strong contender for entry-level bring-your-own-device users.