Is The Motorola Moto G Really Worth It?

The Motorola Moto G was announced as a budget smartphone running Android primarily aimed at the third-world. The entry level device runs a non-bloated version of Android – since Google now own Motorola – and boasts a very good set of specs.

Motorola Moto G

The Moto G runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 1.2GHz Quad-core processor backed up with a modest 1GB of RAM and a choice of 8GB and 16GB non-expandable internal storage. All of this is backed into a sleek bezel with a very generous 4.5inch display at 1280×720 pixels. That gives it an extra three PPI (pixels per inch) compared to Apple’s iPhone 5!

But the real questions is: Should I buy one?

The answer depends on several factors, and we’ll explore them below. If you’re looking for a short answer I suggest you scroll down to the end of this post and have a look at the benchmark scores!

Hardware

Though most devices being released right now feature full 1080p displays – the low-end Moto G suffices with 720p of display-goodness. But it is still important to note that the only deal-breaking phones with a full HD display on the market today are limited to the HTC One, Samsung Galaxy S4 and LG G2 – and those are all three or four times the price of the Moto G. The screen on the Moto G is not lower than the average display packed with smartphones today – and is in fact sharper than most other premium displays including that of all of Apple’s iPhones to date and the Nexus 4.

The Moto G also packs a Quad-core 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 1GB of RAM and an Adreno 305 GPU. In comparison, that is beyond almost all Nokia Lumia/Windows Phone devices on the market right now.

Software

The Moto G ships with the world’s most popular mobile operating system: Android. It ships with version 4.3 and Google have promised an update to 4.4 KitKat very soon.

Since Google now own Motorola, we should expect to see continued support for Android updates on this more than capable phone with un-bloated stock versions of Android OS.

Camera

Well… It’s not the worst 5MP shooter I have ever come across – but it is just about average. The sensor installed on the Moto G is clearly reflected by it’s low price tag so don’t expect any worthwhile shots in low-light. But on the bright side, you still get a LED flash, HDR, panorama mode and slow motion videos!

Tap-to-focus and burst mode are also additional features included in the camera app.

Motorola Moto G Camera

Both the front and rear cameras can record at 720p HD @ 30fps – but the front camera drops to 1.3MP for still image shots, and again, low-light snaps need improvement.

Benchmarks

The Moto G was announced as an entry-level, low-end device but benchmarks show that we have a little more than an underpowered smartphone in our hands. Though it is by no means anywhere near the LG G2, for example, it easily blows aways some of 2012’s best budget handsets which cost just as dear.

Motorola Moto G Benchmark

The Verdict

If you’re looking for a smartphone with the full Android experience at a budget then the Motorola G is probably the way to go. The hardware installed is well above average and easily handles most day-to-day tasks and some of the most intensive games on the Google Play market.

The best thing about the Moto G is it’s incredibly tempting price tag which makes it a very small investment into a mobile phone which should easily last a few years.

Buy the Mototola Moto G:

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