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Moto E5, E5 Plus, and E5 Play announced: Power efficient hardware and large batteries

Moto E5 Plus. (Source: Motorola)
Moto E5 Plus. (Source: Motorola)
Moto’s G-series of mid-range smartphones tends to get most of the attention, but their lower specced E-series continues to offer budget-friendly options — if you’re willing to accept a few compromises. For those who hold battery life above performance, the E5 and E5 Plus might be the better option.

The E5, E5 Plus, and E5 Play come with Snapdragon 425 SoCs which offer adequate performance in this product segment, although some regions may receive the Snapdragon 427 in the E5 Play (faster 4G modem compared to the SD 425). If performance is of concern, then the G6 Play with the Snapdragon 630 would be a better option with a decent single-core performance lead and a considerable multicore improvement. Where the E5 and E5 Plus shine are in offering features such as 2:1 (18:9) aspect ratio screens, fingerprint readers, splash resistance, and impressive battery life at lower price points. Please keep in mind that the last point regarding battery life is speculative until we have a chance to review these new models. The combination of a Snapdragon 425, sub-1080p display, and a large battery should lead to good screen-on-times.

If you’re willing to buy phones from international import sites, then you can get similar performance for slightly less money, but the updated E-series offers a good option for budget-friendly devices with better local sales support.

The E-series is expected in the next month or two with the E5 coming in with an MSRP of €149 EUR (US$183) and the E5 Plus at €169 EUR (US$208). Moto didn’t provide a price for the E5 Play at the time of writing, but it is likely to be lower than the E5. Remember that European pricing tends to include tax of approximately 20% depending on the country, so local United States prices should be lower than this direct conversion shows.

Moto E5Moto E5 PlusMoto E5 Play
ProcessorSnapdragon 425Snapdragon 425#1Snapdragon 425 / Snapdragon 427
Memory2 GB3 GB2 GB
Storage16 GB + up to 128 GB MicroSD32 GB + up to 128 GB MicroSD16 GB + up to 128 GB MicroSD
Display5.7-inch 1440 x 720 HD+ 2:1 (18:9) IPS LCD6-inch 1440 x 720 HD+ 2:1 (18:9) IPS LCD5.2-inch 1280 x 720 HD 16:9 LCD
CameraRear: 13 MP f/2.0 1.12 μm (1080p30 max)
Front: 5 MP
Rear: 12 MP f/2.0 1.25 μm (1080p30 max)
Front: 8 MP f/2.2
Rear: 8 MP f/2.0 1.12 μm (1080p30 max)
Front: 5 MP
Battery4000 mAh (10 W charger)5000 mAh (15 W turbo charge)2800 mAh (10 W charger)
Wireless4G + 802.11n 2.4 GHz + Bluetooth 4.2 LE4G + 802.11n dual-band + Bluetooth 4.2 LE4G + 802.11n dual-band + Bluetooth 4.2 LE
AndroidAndroid 8.0 OreoAndroid 8.0 OreoAndroid 8.0 Oreo
Dimensions154 × 72 × 9 mm (6.06 x 2.83 x 0.35 inches)
174 g (6.14 ounces)
162 x 75 x 9.4 mm (6.38 x 2.95 x 0.37 inches)
200 g (7.05 ounces)
151 x 74 x 8.85 mm (5.95 x 2.91 x 0.35 inches)
150 g (5.29 ounces)
PortsMicro USB, 3.5 mm audioMicro USB, 3.5 mm audioMicro USB, 3.5 mm audio
Price€149 EUR#2 (US$183)€169 EUR#2 (US$208)-#3
AvailabilityComing soon (Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America)#4Coming soon (Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and North America)Coming soon (North America only)

#1 Provided via GSMarena product page

#2 European pricing includes tax of approximately 20% depending on the country. US local pricing likely to be lower than the straight conversion provided.

#3 No price provided at the time of writing

#4 No current plans for a North American release

Moto E5. (Source: Motorola)
Moto E5. (Source: Motorola)
Moto E5 Play. (Source: Motorola)
Moto E5 Play. (Source: Motorola)

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2018 04 > Moto E5, E5 Plus, and E5 Play announced: Power efficient hardware and large batteries
Craig Ward, 2018-04-21 (Update: 2018-04-21)