Moto E Quick Specs
Display Size: 4.3 Inch qHD IPS LCD, 960 x 540 resolution, 256 PPI, Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protectionProcessor: 1.2 GHz dual Core Snapdragon 200 processor with Adreno 302 GPURAM: 1 GBSoftware Version: Android 4.4 KitKatCamera: 5 MP camera, Capable of FWVGA, 480P video recordingSecondary Camera: NOInternal Storage: 4 GBExternal Storage: MicroSD support up to 32 GBBattery: 1980 mAhConnectivity: HSPA+, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, aGPS, GLONASS, Micro USB 2.0
Moto E Full Hands on, Review, Price, Features, Software, Apps, Camera and Overview HD
Design, Form Factor and Display
The Design language resembles that of Moto G. The rubberized finish back cover has striking similarity to Moto G. It is slightly thicker and marginally smaller, but it had almost the same feel to it when held in hand. The gentle curve and Moto Dimple at the rear add to its appeal. Like all other Moto Devices, you can swap back covers with several other color back covers and cases.
The front side is a different story. Speakers have been shifted to the front so that the sound doesn’t get muffled. We didn’t get to test voice quality extensively, but it didn’t appear too loud.
Display is another highlight here. The display is quite bright and has good viewing angles, thanks to the IPS LCD technology. We liked the display brightness and colors as well. The display features only a quarter of pixels compared to Moto G (qHD vs HD) but it appears quite decent and usable on the 4.3 inch display, the reduction in resolution is however noticeable. The Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on top will make the display extremely resistant to abuse. Motorola has also made it resistant to occasional splashes.
Processor and RAM
Motorola has used the latest entrant in Snapdragon 200 Dual core series which are aided by Adreno 302 GPU and 1 GB RAM. The chipset is formed on 28 nm process technology and has Cortex A7 based cores, which makes it more power efficient compared to old generation It’s among the rare few devices which offers 1 GB RAM even when compared to domestic branded smartphones. The chipset can play up to 720p HD videos.
We didn’t observe any lag in our initial time but it remains to be seen how Moto E will hold up in real life scenario. Motorola claimed that Moto E is about 1 second faster than Galaxy S4 in answering calls and launching browser and around 0.4 seconds faster in returning to home screen.
Camera and Internal Storage
The primary camera at the rear has a 5 MP sensor and can record FWVGA 480p videos. The camera is supposed to be an auto focus unit, but it didn’t focus well in our time with the device. It won’t be wise to expect much from the basic 5 MP unit which is only there for basic photography. Motorola has also eliminated front camera which might be deal breaker for those interested in Video calling.
The storage is standard 4 GB and this time MicroSD support up to 32 GB is also present to compensate for NAND flash internal storage. Of course 8 GB would have made it more ideal, but like always, you get what you pay for.
User Interface and Battery
Motorola is providing with Android 4.4 KitKat and guaranteed update to later version. Moto E will be the first smartphone to bring Android 4.4 Kitkat in entry level segment in India. The software is mostly stock android with usual set of preloaded apps. Motorola Alert is the new app added to the list which helps you to communicate with other Moto devices apart from triggering emergency alerts.
The battery capacity is 1980 mAh and Motorola promises full day backup. Such claims were also made for Moto G and Moto X, which proved to be true later. Most other phones in this price range have disappointing battery backup.
Moto E Photo Gallery
Conclusion
Moto E seems to be the best one could hope for in this price range. The camera performance wasn’t up to the mark, but again we didn’t hope for perfection. Motorola has managed to keep the price right at 7K INR and we expect it to sell like hot cakes in markets like India. In our initial time with the device, we liked what we saw. Moto E will be available for purchase starting tonight at 12 am exclusively on Flipkart, as part of the launch day offer, Flipkart will offer 50 percent discount on Transcend MicroSD card 8GB and on Moto E cases.
