Pros
- The Moto E now comes with LTE, putting it on par with the very vast majority of new smartphones on today's market. The price point with the customization throws almost every other entry-level Android phone out of the running.
Cons
- You don't get much for your buck performance wise. The design and the casing of the smartphone will be acceptable to most, but it will fall far below the average fashionista's expectations.
NEW YORK -- Motorola on Wednesday unveiled the new Moto E budget smartphone. You're likely not going to get a better deal on a well-built Android smartphone in the sub-$150 bracket.
It's one of the first mobile devices off the production line since Chinese giant Lenovo snapped up the mobile-making division from Google late last year.
Since then, the company has beefed up the internals of its lowest-range branded phone and added core functionality for Western markets.
Now with the addition of LTE, the smartphone might be a highly-desirable option for low-budget users in metropolitan areas. (There will be a 3G-only version available for emerging markets.)
Hands-on with the new Moto E smartphone
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The device itself is light at 145g (5.1 ounces). The Qualcomm 1.2GHz quad-core powered phone lands with a slightly larger 4.5-inch qHD display (with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels).
It's not the sharpest of screens, but it's far from unreasonable for the cost. Motorola says the display has a pixel density of about 245 pixels-per-inch (ppi), or around half that of the iPhone 6. It's certainly noticeable, but not a deal-breaker in a low-budget device.
Included is 1GB of RAM, which has to be conserved. The rear-camera has a modest 5-megapixel sensor, along with a basic VGA front-facing camera for video calling. There's 8GB storage included -- a bump from the first generation model, which can be expanded to 32GB with a microSD card.
The phone also comes with the latest version of Android 5.0 "Lollipop." Motorola says the 2,390 mAh battery will last at least a full day.
The Moto E probably won't win any awards for its far-from-breathtaking design, but it's sturdy and comfortable to hold. (Don't go throwing it around -- it probably won't endure much of a drop.)
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.
First-take conclusion: A strong low-budget business play
You don't get much bang for your buck. But for an entry-level Android phone, the Moto E has some marked improvements from its first-generation model, making it a highly-desirable option for bring-your-own-device (BYOD) users.
The Moto E is available on Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular.
Bottom line: It's a fantastic device for the price, considering its downsides.
Specifications
| Cellular | |
|---|---|
| Technology | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM |
| Type | Smartphone |
| Integrated Components | FM radio, audio player, front-facing camera, navigation, voice recorder, rear-facing camera |
| Navigation | A-GPS, GLONASS, GPS |
| Band | WCDMA (UMTS) / GSM 850/900/1800/1900 |
| Mobile Broadband Generation | 4G |
| Phone Form Factor | touch |
| Service Provider | not specified |
| Operating System Family | Android |
| Operating System | Android 5.0 Lollipop |
| SIM Card Type | micro SIM |
| Input Device | Multi-touch |
| Phone Features | |
| Phone Functions | Speakerphone, call timer, conference call, vibrating alert |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor |
| Additional Features | Dual microphones |
| Details | |
| Product Type | Smartphone |
| Integrated Components | Rear-facing camera, front-facing camera, FM radio, voice recorder, navigation, FM radio, audio player, voice recorder, navigation |
| Body Color | Black |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Sensors | accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor |
| Included Accessories | Power adapter |
| Messaging & Internet | |
| Mobile Services | Google Maps, Video Call |
| Messaging Services | Google+ Hangouts, MMS, SMS |
| Supported Social Networks and Blogs | Google+, Yes |
| Communications | |
| Communication Features | Internet browser, mobile Email client |
| Data Transmission | EDGE, GPRS, HSDPA, HSPA+, HSUPA, LTE |
| 4G LTE Band | Band 1, Band 12, Band 17, Band 20, Band 2, Band 3, Band 4, Band 7, Band 5 |
| Wireless Interface | Bluetooth 4.0, IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| WLAN Security | WPA2 |
| Processor | |
| Clock Speed | 1.2 GHz |
| Type | QUALCOMM Snapdragon 410 |
| Manufacturer | QUALCOMM |
| Processor Core Qty | quad-core |
| Display | |
| Technology | IPS |
| Display Resolution | 960 x 540 pixels |
| Pixel Density (ppi) | 245 |
| Diagonal Size | 4.5 in |
| Diagonal Size (metric) | 11.4 cm |
| Smartphone Diagonal Size | 4.5 in |
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 (scratch resistant glass) |
| Color Support | color |
| Camera | |
| Digital Zoom | 4 |
| Focus Adjustment | automatic |
| Features | Burst mode, Quick Capture, Geo-tagging, Slow motion video, panoramic pictures, video recording, tap to focus |
| Front-facing Camera | VGA |
| Media Player | |
| Supported Digital Video Standards | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Supported Digital Audio Standards | WAV, AAC, MP3, AAC +, MIDI, M4A |
| Multimedia | |
| Graphics Accelerator | Qualcomm ADRENO 306 |
| Memory | |
| RAM | 1 GB |
| Supported Flash Memory Cards | microSDHC - up to 32 GB |
| Battery | |
| Run Time Details | Mixed usage: up to 24 hrs |
| Technology | Lithium ion |
| Run Time Details | Mixed usage: up to 24 hrs |
| Digital Camera | |
| Digital Zoom | 4 |
| Lens Aperture | f/2.2 |
| Focus Adjustment | automatic |
| Video Recorder Resolutions | 854 x 480, 1280 x 720 (720p) |
| Features | Burst mode, Quick Capture, Geo-tagging, Slow motion video, panoramic pictures, video recording, tap to focus |
| Header | |
| Brand | Motorola |
| Product Line | Motorola Moto |
| Model | E (2nd Gen.) |
| Packaged Quantity | 1 |
| CE Input Device | |
| Type | touch sensitive screen (multi-touch) |
| Features | |
| Sensors | accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor |
| Phone Functions | call timer, conference call, speakerphone, flight mode, vibrating alert |
| Additional Features | Dual microphones |
| Digital Player (Recorder) | |
| Supported Digital Audio Standards | AAC, M4A, MIDI, MP3, WAV |
| Supported Digital Video Standards | H.264, MPEG-4 |
| RAM | |
| Installed Size | 1 GB |
| Flash Memory | |
| Internal Memory Capacity | 8 GB |
| Max Supported Size | 32 GB |
| Supported Flash Memory Cards | microSDHC |
| Graphics System | |
| Graphics Accelerator | Qualcomm ADRENO 306 |
| Optical Sensor | |
| Sensor Resolution | 5 megapixels |
| Front-facing Camera | |
| Sensor Resolution | 0.3 Megapixel |
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