MOTO-G 3rd generation Reviewed
The Moto G helped Motorola make a big comeback in emerging markets like India. Thanks to its excellent price to feature ratio and smooth performance, the phone ended up becoming the benchmark for budget Android devices.
The company, now owned by Lenovo, improvised on the original version of the phone and introduced the second-generation Moto G, last year with support for external storage and an improved camera. Just like its predecessor, the phone was well received but the landscape had changed considerably. The market witnessed the entry of Xiaomi and other Chinese handset brands and is now inundated with budget Android smartphones.
Motorola just introduced the third-generation variant of the same smartphone with a water-resistant design, more RAM, upgraded front and rear cameras and a refined design. But is this enough to beat rivals? We try to find out in our review...
Structure
The removable back cover of the phone now sports a ribbed texture (diagonally)that improves the grip and aids ergonomics. The phone feels solid and durable, and we did not notice any wobbles or squeaks. Removing the cover reveals the two micro-sim slots, a microSD card slot and a sealed battery. Just like the original Moto G, the third-gen version is customisable with its optional, multi-coloured back panels.
The back now features a metallic strip that houses the 13MP camera, a new dual-LED flash and the indented Motorola logo. The strip gives the phone a slightly fancy look.
The power and volume keys are at the right edge, while the micro-USB port and 3.5mm headset jack are located at the bottom and top edge, respectively. The metal keys feel good, offer good tactile feedback and are very responsive.
The new Moto G is IPX7 rated which means the phone can handle accidental immersion in 1meter of water for up to 30 minutes. You can't use the phone under water though. This makes the new Moto G one of the cheapest water-resistant phone
The third-gen Moto G features a 5-inch HD (720x1280p) display. We're not sure why Motorola decided not to upgrade the display to full-HD but it still does a good job. Viewing angles were pretty wide and colour reproduction was accurate.
Text and images looked decent enough but not as sharp as how these look on full-HD displays. You'd notice some pixilation if you look at it closely. Touch response was excellent.
The screen is slightly prone to smudging but that doesn't really hamper visibility. Even sunlight legibility was good and we did not face problems while taking pictures outdoors. The screen comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to guard against scratches.
Software
The third-generation Moto G comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop.
Moto G runs an almost stock version of Android complete with on-screen navigation controls. The interface is close to Google's Nexus phones, complete with a Google Now launcher-like launcher, except that Motorola also includes some of its own system apps. The Gallery, Messagging and Camera apps have been customized by the company.
Thankfully, these apps are not bloatware and add to functionality.
There are some additional Motorola features including Assist changes how the phone alerts you during meetings or sleep. If you've used an iPhone, you must have used or come across the Do Not Disturb; Assist is similar and allows you to silence or auto reply to missed calls while you're in a meeting or sleeping. You can choose exceptions for Favourite callers or when someone calls twice.
Another Motorola app bundled with the phone is Help. The app is not only a searchable user guide featuring Tutorials, FAQs, How-tos and actionable tips, it also offers a shortcut key to get
The Moto G helped Motorola make a big comeback in emerging markets like India. Thanks to its excellent price to feature ratio and smooth performance, the phone ended up becoming the benchmark for budget Android devices.
The company, now owned by Lenovo, improvised on the original version of the phone and introduced the second-generation Moto G, last year with support for external storage and an improved camera. Just like its predecessor, the phone was well received but the landscape had changed considerably. The market witnessed the entry of Xiaomi and other Chinese handset brands and is now inundated with budget Android smartphones.
Motorola just introduced the third-generation variant of the same smartphone with a water-resistant design, more RAM, upgraded front and rear cameras and a refined design. But is this enough to beat rivals? We try to find out in our review...
BULID&DESIGN
In terms of design, the phone's slightly similar to the second generation Moto G complete with its dual-front grilles - the one at the top is the earpiece while the other one is the speaker outlet. The two grilles don't feature chrome inserts and are more subtle, similar to the second-gen Moto X.
Structure
The removable back cover of the phone now sports a ribbed texture (diagonally)that improves the grip and aids ergonomics. The phone feels solid and durable, and we did not notice any wobbles or squeaks. Removing the cover reveals the two micro-sim slots, a microSD card slot and a sealed battery. Just like the original Moto G, the third-gen version is customisable with its optional, multi-coloured back panels.
The back now features a metallic strip that houses the 13MP camera, a new dual-LED flash and the indented Motorola logo. The strip gives the phone a slightly fancy look.
The power and volume keys are at the right edge, while the micro-USB port and 3.5mm headset jack are located at the bottom and top edge, respectively. The metal keys feel good, offer good tactile feedback and are very responsive.
The new Moto G is IPX7 rated which means the phone can handle accidental immersion in 1meter of water for up to 30 minutes. You can't use the phone under water though. This makes the new Moto G one of the cheapest water-resistant phone
The third-gen Moto G features a 5-inch HD (720x1280p) display. We're not sure why Motorola decided not to upgrade the display to full-HD but it still does a good job. Viewing angles were pretty wide and colour reproduction was accurate.
Text and images looked decent enough but not as sharp as how these look on full-HD displays. You'd notice some pixilation if you look at it closely. Touch response was excellent.
The screen is slightly prone to smudging but that doesn't really hamper visibility. Even sunlight legibility was good and we did not face problems while taking pictures outdoors. The screen comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 to guard against scratches.
Software
The third-generation Moto G comes with Android 5.1 Lollipop.
Moto G runs an almost stock version of Android complete with on-screen navigation controls. The interface is close to Google's Nexus phones, complete with a Google Now launcher-like launcher, except that Motorola also includes some of its own system apps. The Gallery, Messagging and Camera apps have been customized by the company.
Thankfully, these apps are not bloatware and add to functionality.
There are some additional Motorola features including Assist changes how the phone alerts you during meetings or sleep. If you've used an iPhone, you must have used or come across the Do Not Disturb; Assist is similar and allows you to silence or auto reply to missed calls while you're in a meeting or sleeping. You can choose exceptions for Favourite callers or when someone calls twice.
Another Motorola app bundled with the phone is Help. The app is not only a searchable user guide featuring Tutorials, FAQs, How-tos and actionable tips, it also offers a shortcut key to get
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