Notebookcheck Logo

Motorola Moto G (3rd Generation) Smartphone Review

"G" as in good. Motorola gives the third generation of its Moto G a refined face lift and delivers a superb money-performance bundle: A decent camera, long battery life, and up-to-date operating system. What's more, the device is now waterproof.

For the original German review, see here.

Since its launch, the Moto G line has been seen as the reference in its price range. Lenovo's subsidiary again delivers a successful product this time. The SoC has only been upgraded slightly. In contrast to the precursor, a Snapdragon 410 clocks inside the smartphone, making it 64-bit capable. There are still two storage capacities to choose from: The first has 8 GB of flash memory and 1 GB of working memory, and the second 16 GB and 2 GB. Motorola has also boosted the price, and the small configuration now costs 249 Euros (~$274), which is roughly 50 Euros (~$55) more than the former model. 30 Euros (~$33) more has to be invested for the higher-storage model. We are testing the smaller device.

The Moto G finds itself in one of the most fiercely contested smartphone sectors, and thus there are plenty of contenders. Among them we find the Huawei P8 LiteZTE Blade S6Microsoft Lumia 640Wiko Ridge 4GSony Xperia M4 AquaAsus Zenfone 5, and Samsung Galaxy A3.

Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541 (Moto Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916 4 x 1.4 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Qualcomm Adreno 306, Core: 450 MHz
Memory
1024 MB 
Display
5.00 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel, capacitive touchscreen, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, glossy: yes
Storage
8 GB eMMC Flash, 8 GB 
, 4.09 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: combo headphone and microphone jack (3.5 mm), Card Reader: micro-SD max. 32 GB (SD, SDHC), Sensors: accelerometer, position sensor, ambient light and proximity sensor, magnetometer, sensor hub, GPS, Glonass, BeiDou
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA+ (900 and 2100 MHz), LTE Cat. 4 (800, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz), head-SAR: 0.675 W/kg, body-SAR: 0.598 W/kg
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11.6 x 142.1 x 72.4 ( = 0.46 x 5.59 x 2.85 in)
Battery
Lithium-Ion, 2470 mAh, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 24 h
Operating System
Android 5.1 Lollipop
Camera
Webcam: 5 MP (f/2.2, fixed focus, display flash), primary camera: 13 MP (f/2.0, auto-focus, dual-LED flash)
Additional features
Speakers: two speakers, Keyboard: virtual, USB cable, instructions, micro-SIM, IPX7
Weight
155 g ( = 5.47 oz / 0.34 pounds) ( = 0 oz / 0 pounds)
Price
249 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

The Moto G is only waterproof when the back cover is closed properly
The Moto G is only waterproof when the back cover is closed properly

Motorola's Moto G (3rd Generation) has grown slightly around all edges, which is likely due to the bigger battery and the moisture-protection seals. Unlike its precursor that only had a nano-protection finish against splash water, the Moto G is now protected against the ingress of fresh water in compliance with IPX7. That means it can be submerged in water up to a depth of one meter for 30 minutes. In contrast to Sony's Xperia M4 Aqua, it is not dust-proof.

The review sample's height ranges from 6.1 to 11.6 millimeters and weighs a high 155 grams. However, neither measurement gets annoying in everyday use. Quite the contrary: The smartphone is pleasant to hold and makes a high-quality impression. The fact that it is made completely of plastic does not change that. The rippled back proves to be very slip-proof. The Moto G also did not make any noises during our warping attempts. Only firm pressure on the screen's Gorilla Glass 3 panel can provoke slight wave formation.

The gaps are exact and do not give reason for complaint. The back also closes flush and homogeneously. The micro-SIM and micro-SD card slots can be accessed after removing the back cover. The battery is hidden underneath another plastic layer and is not as easy to access.

The Moto G does not exhibit any manufacturing weaknesses. The smartphone's outside colors can be personalized when the device is ordered via the Moto Maker.

148.2 mm / 5.83 inch 72.8 mm / 2.87 inch 10.34 mm / 0.4071 inch 145 g0.3197 lbs142.1 mm / 5.59 inch 72.4 mm / 2.85 inch 11.6 mm / 0.4567 inch 155 g0.3417 lbs145.5 mm / 5.73 inch 72.59 mm / 2.86 inch 7.3 mm / 0.2874 inch 136 g0.2998 lbs144 mm / 5.67 inch 70.7 mm / 2.78 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 134 g0.2954 lbs143.5 mm / 5.65 inch 69.8 mm / 2.75 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 110 g0.2425 lbs143 mm / 5.63 inch 70.6 mm / 2.78 inch 7.7 mm / 0.3031 inch 133 g0.2932 lbs143 mm / 5.63 inch 72 mm / 2.83 inch 7.5 mm / 0.2953 inch 125 g0.2756 lbs141.3 mm / 5.56 inch 72.2 mm / 2.84 inch 8.8 mm / 0.3465 inch 145 g0.3197 lbs130.1 mm / 5.12 inch 65.5 mm / 2.58 inch 6.9 mm / 0.2717 inch 110 g0.2425 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

Motorola does not upgrade the connectivity. Users who want to transmit screen content to a TV without cables will need a Chromecast dongle. The Moto G (2015) does not support DLNA or Miracast. There is no cabled version, either. MHL? Slim port support? Far from it.

The storage can be expanded via the micro-SD card slot. The manufacturer states that it supports cards with a size of up to 32 GB. These specifications are often outdated, and SDXC cards with up to 64 if not 128 GB can be used. This is, unfortunately, not the case in the Moto G. Our test card (Samsung Evo MB-MP64D, 64 GB) was identified but not accepted. Some less expensive contenders do a better job with that. For example, the Lumia 640 supports memory cards with up to 128 GB.

Users who want to connect external storage devices via the micro-USB 2.0 port will also be disappointed. The Moto G does not support OTG, either. We see plenty of room for improvement here.

Upper edge: audio, microphone
Upper edge: audio, microphone
The left edge is flat
The left edge is flat
Right: power, volume rocker
Right: power, volume rocker
Lower edge: Micro-USB 2.0
Lower edge: Micro-USB 2.0

Software

Following tradition, Motorola also relies on the latest stock Android version in the 3rd generation. Thus, Android 5.1.1 Lollipop is installed. Even additional apps are limited to a minimum, and only the Moto app and an aid for migrating data are preloaded. There are no third-party apps found.

The Moto app is known from other devices, such as the Moto X. It enables defining guidelines for the smartphone according to location or time. Besides that, two gestures can also be enabled that either turn on the flashlight or camera. Furthermore, the screen's notification behavior in standby can be controlled.

Communication & GPS 

Motorola's Moto G (2015) accesses the Internet via HSPA+ (max. 42 MBit/s) or LTE Cat.4 (max. 150 MBit/s) on the go. The latter connection has a wide frequency coverage, which, unfortunately, cannot be said of the HSPA alternative. The smartphone usually preferred the LTE connection in the tests. The connection quality was good and did not display any irregularities in a major city.

The smartphone's Wi-Fi module only supports the IEEE 802.11 b/g/n standards and consequently only transmits in the 2.4 frequency band. The components' range is nevertheless decent and largely convincing. However, the signal decreases strongly at a big distance to the access point (AP). It was as much as -83 dBm with a Devolo AP, and -84 dBm with a Fritz!Box. We could, however, enjoy an HD stream via Netflix without interference.

The Moto G 3rd Generation does not sport NFC, either. Bluetooth version 4.0 is again on board and functions impeccably. The connection proved very stable, and audio streaming was possible at a distance of 15 meters between speakers and smartphone without any interruptions.

GPS Test indoors
GPS Test indoors
GPS Test outdoors
GPS Test outdoors

The Moto G utilizes both the GPS and Glonass satellite networks for localization. It took a moment before satellites were found indoors but was then relatively accurate. It was much faster outdoors and even more precise.

We tested the accuracy of Motorola's Moto G (2015) in everyday use by comparing it with the bike computer Garmin Edge 500. Both devices were taken on the same bike route, and the review sample made a good impression. Although minor localization inaccuracies are seen in narrow streets and in the woods, they are barely noticed in the sum of the test route.

Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)
Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)
Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)
Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)
Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)
Motorola Moto G (3rd Gen)

Telephone & Voice Quality

The call quality of Motorola's Moto G (3rd Generation) is decent but not exceptional. It is still far remote from HD telephony, but it is absolutely enough for making calls. While our contact was fairly intelligible, we sounded a bit subdued. Static or dropouts were not noticed. Our voice echoed audibly and sounded a bit more muffled when the phone was placed on a table beside us and the speaker was used, but it was also transported very loudly.

Cameras

Photo with front camera
Photo with front camera

Compared with the precursor, the front-facing camera has been beefed up considerably. Its lens now has a resolution of up to 5 MP (1920x2560 pixels) and can fall back on a 72-degree field of view. The photosensitivity of f/2.2 is good, and the lens also supports automatic HDR. Unfortunately, it only has a fixed focus. Daylight shots are quite decent, but that quickly decreases in weak ambient light. Using the screen as a flash replacement will not help much here, either.

The rear-facing camera in the Moto G has also received a few extra megapixels and now achieves 13 MP (4160x3120 pixels; 4:3). Its photosensitivity should also be quite decent with an aperture of f/2.0. Comparatively good photos could be shot in daylight using the smartphone. The pictures were sharp, and the color accuracy also made a good impression. The lens' release delay is crisp and short. It is handy that there is no fixed release on the touchscreen, and it is enough to tap anywhere on the screen.

However, its low-light qualities are not really convincing. Although the pictures are brightened up strongly in dim light, the outlines are visibly frayed. The noise increases intensely, and a photo's brightness decreases rapidly when it gets a bit darker. The dual-LED CCT flash does a relatively good job and does not cool down the colors of the pictures too much. In view of the price range, the review sample sports a really good camera.

The Moto G (2015) can record videos in Full HD (1920x1080 pixels; 16:9; 30 fps). The outcome is quite decent, but a light grayish fog covers the pictures when there is the slightest back light.

Image Comparison

Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3

Accessories

Motorola's Moto G (2015) is shipped with only several leaflets composed of a quick-start guide and safety instructions, and a USB cable. A power adapter is not included, which should be considered in the purchasing process.

The manufacturer also offers product-specific accessories for the smartphone. For example, additional shells for approximately 15 Euros (~$16) each, or Flip Shells (30 Euros each, ~$33) are sold separately. The former are a bit more expensive than they were for the precursor.

Warranty

Motorola includes a 24-month warranty on its product that cannot be extended.

Input Devices & Handling

Motorola still does not use a proprietary keyboard layout and relies on the stock Android version. Its design is relatively plain and clearly arranged which also makes it appealing. It additionally supports voice commands and swiping. An additional row with automatic word suggestions is also present.

The capacitive touchscreen detects up to ten fingers simultaneously, and its sleek surface is also compelling. The sensitivity up into the corners is very good; the touchscreen only cannot discern two fingers that are pressed together very closely.

Furthermore, the Moto G supports two options for controlling the smartphone using gestures. Double-tapping either turns the flashlight on or off, and double-twisting the wrist launches the camera. The smartphone displays time and possible notifications on the screen when it is picked up and without having to touch it in standby.

Display

The Moto G has a superb screen
The Moto G has a superb screen

Compared with the precursor, the screen of Motorola's Moto G has not changed much. It has a size of 5-inches and the small HD resolution of 1280x720 pixels (16:9). That is still enough for a pixel density of 294 ppi, which is pleasantly sharp. Single pixels are only visible when looking very closely.

The screen's brightness of up to 418 cd/m² is quite good. Solely Sony's Xperia M4 Aqua is considerably brighter (max. 547 cd/m²). The brightness homogeneity is also again on a very good level.

397
cd/m²
400
cd/m²
405
cd/m²
399
cd/m²
418
cd/m²
417
cd/m²
415
cd/m²
412
cd/m²
402
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 418 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 407.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 95 %
Center on Battery: 418 cd/m²
Contrast: 853:1 (Black: 0.49 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.92 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 3.81 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.27
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Motorola Moto G 2. Gen XT1068
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB SSD
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Screen
-3%
13%
-14%
-24%
-18%
-34%
5%
Brightness middle
418
349
-17%
434
4%
365
-13%
386
-8%
547
31%
459
10%
433
4%
Brightness
407
348
-14%
433
6%
353
-13%
377
-7%
535
31%
434
7%
429
5%
Brightness Distribution
95
96
1%
96
1%
93
-2%
90
-5%
92
-3%
90
-5%
95
0%
Black Level *
0.49
0.4
18%
0.42
14%
0.44
10%
0.81
-65%
0.35
29%
0.52
-6%
Contrast
853
873
2%
869
2%
877
3%
675
-21%
1311
54%
833
-2%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.92
3.74
5%
2.98
24%
5.2
-33%
7.12
-82%
5.77
-47%
9.69
-147%
3.42
13%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.81
4.52
-19%
2.68
30%
5.85
-54%
6.7
-76%
5.87
-54%
10.8
-183%
3.03
20%
Gamma
2.27 97%
2.63 84%
2.44 90%
2.17 101%
1.98 111%
2.14 103%
1.82 121%
2.16 102%
CCT
7361 88%
7336 89%
6603 98%
7252 90%
7784 84%
7784 84%
9063 72%
7081 92%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
70.86
72.0875
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
91.25
96.5753

* ... smaller is better

The contrast of the Moto G has not changed much, either. Its marginally higher black level even places the contrast ratio a bit below that of the precursor. The leader in this section is the Galaxy A3 with its Super AMOLED screen. However, the Wiko Ridge also presents a top rate here.

We analyzed the screen's color accuracy using a photospectrometer and the CalMAN software. The Moto G looks impressive here. The review sample does not surpass DeltaE 4 in either the grayscale levels or mixed colors in the sRGB color space. Only the Galaxy A3 and Lumia 640 are slightly better in the comparison field. The Moto G apparently has the most problems in displaying orange. The shifts are very visible to the eye, but that does not have an adverse effect in everyday use. A very subtle bluish tint is visible in the grayscale levels.

Grayscale (target color space: sRGB)
Grayscale (target color space: sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB)
Saturation Sweeps (target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (target color space: sRGB)
ColorChecker (target color space: AdobeRGB)
ColorChecker (target color space: AdobeRGB)
Colorspace (target color space: sRGB)
Colorspace (target color space: sRGB)
Colorspace (target color space: AdobeRGB)
Colorspace (target color space: AdobeRGB)

Motorola's Moto G (2015) does quite a good job in outdoor use. Its good contrast ratio ensures good screen legibility in the open air providing it is not too bright. The screen finds its limits under the bright summer sun. There are, however, no problems under lightly overcast skies or in the shade. The smartphone's reflective surface sometimes proves a bit aggravating.

Even flat viewing angles are no problem under overcast skies
Even flat viewing angles are no problem under overcast skies
The Moto G remains well-legible even under isolated clouds
The Moto G remains well-legible even under isolated clouds

The viewing-angle stability of Motorola's Moto G (2015) is also really good. However, that was to be expected in view of the underlying IPS technology. The image remains stable even in extremely flat viewing angles, and inverting colors are not seen. Only a light IPS glow effect sets in.

Viewing-angle stability: Motorola Moto G (3rd Generation)
Viewing-angle stability: Motorola Moto G (3rd Generation)

Performance

After the last Moto G (Snapdragon 400) did not get a new SoC, the 3rd generation of the smartphone receives a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916 with four Cortex A53 cores that clock at up to 1.4 GHz each. This, unfortunately, is not such a sensational upgrade. A more economic architecture is used with a 200 MHz higher clock and it supports 64 bits. Furthermore, our review sample only has 1 GB of working memory. The Adreno 306 graphics unit is also only a minor refresh, and it thus does not promise much power.

The Moto G does a surprisingly good job in the benchmarks and sometimes even outperforms the ZTE Blade S6 and Xperia M4 Aqua, which are both based on the stronger Snapdragon 615. For example, it is 14 and 22% faster than the latter two, more powerfully configured contenders in PCMark for Android. Not using a proprietary UI likely contributes to that. However, the review sample does not stand a chance against the products with the stronger SoC.

It only has a slight lead on the Wiko Ridge in the last place in 3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited. The Galaxy A3 achieves a better graphics performance at the expense of a lower screen resolution. That can be seen well in the off-screen benchmarks of GFXBench.

Despite the slightly weaker SoC, the system performance of the Moto G is largely convincing, although minor stutters sometimes occur. We presume that is due to the tight RAM capacity.

AnTuTu v5 - Total Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
23242 Points
ZTE Blade S6
30329 Points +30%
Huawei P8 lite
34247 Points +47%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
29770 Points +28%
Smartbench 2012
Productivity Index (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
4962 points
Samsung Galaxy A3
6034 points +22%
ZTE Blade S6
404 points -92%
Huawei P8 lite
2941 points -41%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
3782 points -24%
Gaming Index (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
3234 points
Samsung Galaxy A3
3862 points +19%
ZTE Blade S6
3723 points +15%
Huawei P8 lite
3753 points +16%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
4114 points +27%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
528 Points
Samsung Galaxy A3
474 Points -10%
Wiko Ridge 4G
477 Points -10%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
539 Points +2%
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
1563 Points
Samsung Galaxy A3
1409 Points -10%
Wiko Ridge 4G
1170 Points -25%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
2103 Points +35%
Linpack Android / IOS
Single Thread (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
117.1 MFLOPS
Microsoft Lumia 640
54 MFLOPS -54%
ZTE Blade S6
0 MFLOPS -100%
Wiko Ridge 4G
0 MFLOPS -100%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
238.8 MFLOPS +104%
Multi Thread (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
207.7 MFLOPS
Microsoft Lumia 640
218 MFLOPS +5%
ZTE Blade S6
0 MFLOPS -100%
Wiko Ridge 4G
0 MFLOPS -100%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
334.7 MFLOPS +61%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
4402 Points
Samsung Galaxy A3
4505 Points +2%
ZTE Blade S6
8577 Points +95%
Wiko Ridge 4G
4229 Points -4%
Huawei P8 lite
5629 Points +28%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
6680 Points +52%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
3789 Points
Samsung Galaxy A3
3939 Points +4%
ZTE Blade S6
8933 Points +136%
Wiko Ridge 4G
3867 Points +2%
Huawei P8 lite
5167 Points +36%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
7000 Points +85%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
10148 Points
Samsung Galaxy A3
9071 Points -11%
ZTE Blade S6
7526 Points -26%
Wiko Ridge 4G
6291 Points -38%
Huawei P8 lite
8206 Points -19%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
5758 Points -43%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
9.5 fps
Microsoft Lumia 640
7.4 fps -22%
Samsung Galaxy A3
13 fps +37%
ZTE Blade S6
25 fps +163%
Wiko Ridge 4G
10 fps +5%
Huawei P8 lite
15.3 fps +61%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
21.5 fps +126%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
5.3 fps
Microsoft Lumia 640
4.1 fps -23%
Samsung Galaxy A3
5.3 fps 0%
ZTE Blade S6
15 fps +183%
Wiko Ridge 4G
0 fps -100%
Huawei P8 lite
9.9 fps +87%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
12.7 fps +140%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
3.7 fps
Samsung Galaxy A3
6.4 fps +73%
ZTE Blade S6
11 fps +197%
Wiko Ridge 4G
4.2 fps +14%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
10.4 fps +181%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
1.7 fps
Samsung Galaxy A3
1.8 fps +6%
ZTE Blade S6
5.9 fps +247%
Wiko Ridge 4G
1.8 fps +6%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
5.4 fps +218%
PCMark for Android - Work performance score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
3701 Points
ZTE Blade S6
3045 Points -18%
Huawei P8 lite
3717 Points 0%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
3236 Points -13%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
515 Points
Microsoft Lumia 640
0 Points -100%
ZTE Blade S6
782 Points +52%
Wiko Ridge 4G
525 Points +2%
Huawei P8 lite
687 Points +33%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
764 Points +48%
System (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
1166 Points
ZTE Blade S6
1084 Points -7%
Wiko Ridge 4G
921 Points -21%
Huawei P8 lite
1467 Points +26%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
986 Points -15%
Memory (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
394 Points
ZTE Blade S6
608 Points +54%
Wiko Ridge 4G
419 Points +6%
Huawei P8 lite
816 Points +107%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
817 Points +107%
Graphics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
315 Points
ZTE Blade S6
800 Points +154%
Wiko Ridge 4G
317 Points +1%
Huawei P8 lite
303 Points -4%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
600 Points +90%
Web (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
484 Points
ZTE Blade S6
707 Points +46%
Wiko Ridge 4G
622 Points +29%
Huawei P8 lite
616 Points +27%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
687 Points +42%

Legend

 
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541 Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916, Qualcomm Adreno 306, 8 GB eMMC Flash
 
Microsoft Lumia 640 Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8226, Qualcomm Adreno 305, 8 GB eMMC Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy A3 Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916, Qualcomm Adreno 306, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
ZTE Blade S6 Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939, Qualcomm Adreno 405, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Wiko Ridge 4G Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 MSM8916, Qualcomm Adreno 306, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Huawei P8 lite HiSilicon Kirin 620, ARM Mali-450 MP4, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 MSM8939, Qualcomm Adreno 405, 8 GB eMMC Flash

We ascertain the browser performance of Motorola's G (2015) using the preloaded Google Chrome browser. Seen purely subjectively, Internet browsing is swift and the review sample also delivers compelling results in the benchmarks. Solely the Blade S6 is even faster in some benchmarks. The Moto can set itself apart from the two better-equipped rivals in WebXPRT 2015. It is enough for the midfield only in SunSpider.

Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1573 ms *
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1243 ms * +21%
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1330 ms * +15%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1213 ms * +23%
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
1703 ms * -8%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1986 ms * -26%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1676 ms * -7%
Octane V2 - Total Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3296 Points
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1249 Points -62%
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2782 Points -16%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3655 Points +11%
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
2399 Points -27%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2483 Points -25%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3215 Points -2%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
11843 ms *
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
26891 ms * -127%
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
13998 ms * -18%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
11668 ms * +1%
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
14599 ms * -23%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
15866 ms * -34%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
18847 ms * -59%
Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3125 Points
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
1136 Points -64%
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2832 Points -9%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
3635 Points +16%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2352 Points -25%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3565 Points +14%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
52 Points
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
47 Points -10%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
48 Points -8%

* ... smaller is better

The small version of Motorola's Moto G (2015) has 8 GB of internal eMMC flash memory. Approximately 4 GB of that is left for personal use, which is not much. We had to install the benchmarks one after the other in the test, and memory expansion is a must when installing a large-scale game like Asphalt 8 on the smartphone. It is also advisable to first install big games because the capacity will often be too low when the storage is half full. The storage device's speed is decent. It only shows an unexpected weakness when writing sequential data.

The micro-SD slot, unfortunately, only supports cards with a size of up to 32 GB. However, apps can also be moved to it retrospectively, and the slot is comparatively fast. We tested its speed with the swift micro-SD card Exceria SD-CX32UHS1 (UHS-I Class 3, read: 85 MB/s, write: 55 MB/s) from Toshiba. The Moto G achieved over 66 MB/s in reading data, and it was still a good 25 MB/s in write. The slot only displayed a minor shortcoming when writing small data blocks and only managed 0.1 MB/s.

AndroBench 3-5
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
131.4 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
132 MB/s 0%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
128 MB/s -3%
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
130 MB/s -1%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
139.5 MB/s +6%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
130 MB/s -1%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
22.33 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
71 MB/s +218%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
51 MB/s +128%
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
38 MB/s +70%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
52.8 MB/s +136%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
28.81 MB/s +29%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
22.79 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
11 MB/s -52%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
7.85 MB/s -66%
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
15 MB/s -34%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
18.46 MB/s -19%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
9.76 MB/s -57%
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
5.11 MB/s
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
6 MB/s +17%
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
2.85 MB/s -44%
Wiko Ridge 4G
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB iNAND Flash
4.4 MB/s -14%
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
8.32 MB/s +63%
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
3.91 MB/s -23%

Games

The integrated Qualcomm Adreno 306 cannot be said to have gaming power. However, the given performance is enough to render all games in the Play Store. Stutters are rare, but the details are scaled down in more sophisticated games. For example, we could only play Asphalt 8 in medium details, and micro-stuttering was noticed occasionally anyway.

The touchscreen and sensors functioned impeccably and did not give reason for complaint.

Candy Crush Soda
Candy Crush Soda
Asphalt 8: Airborne
Asphalt 8: Airborne

Emissions

Temperature

The Moto G does not even get lukewarm in idle. However, the temperatures then climb over 40 °C under permanent load. The Blade S6 (max. 45 °C) gets even a bit hotter. The Galaxy A3 is the coolest device with less than 32 °C even under load.

We check what it looks like under the hood with the Battery Test of GFXBench 3.1. The OpenGL ES 2.0 test "T-Rex" runs thirty times in succession and records all kinds of technical data in addition to the battery state. For example, the frame rates that prove very stable in the Moto G. Throttling does not occur even under permanent load.

Max. Load
 38.1 °C
101 F
39.2 °C
103 F
35.4 °C
96 F
 
 39.2 °C
103 F
41.2 °C
106 F
36.7 °C
98 F
 
 37.3 °C
99 F
39.5 °C
103 F
34.9 °C
95 F
 
Maximum: 41.2 °C = 106 F
Average: 37.9 °C = 100 F
33.2 °C
92 F
38.1 °C
101 F
33.9 °C
93 F
35.6 °C
96 F
37.7 °C
100 F
35.2 °C
95 F
33.2 °C
92 F
39.2 °C
103 F
35 °C
95 F
Maximum: 39.2 °C = 103 F
Average: 35.7 °C = 96 F
Room Temperature 21.8 °C = 71 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.9 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.2 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.2 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.4 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

The Moto G offers useful audio output
The Moto G offers useful audio output

Two speakers are in Motorola's Moto G (2015). It is not a stereo system, but two separate mono units. The speaker in the earpiece is for making calls, and the second one located on the opposite end takes care of media output.

Since both speakers are on the front, their output is not impaired when the smartphone is on a table. The media speaker has a comparatively decent sound. The trebles are transmitted quite clearly, and there is even a hint of bass. The mids are, unfortunately, a bit too subdued. They nevertheless make a good sound impression in medium volume. However, it distorts slightly in maximum volume. Overall, many sound details are lost, and the difference is quite audible when connecting a higher-quality speaker or headphone.

The audio jack delivers good results subjectively and is very low-noise. Unfortunately, a conventional 3.5 mm connector cannot be inserted completely.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of Motorola's Moto G is again exemplary in the 3rd generation. The smartphone is within the range of its precursor in idle mode. Only the load consumption rates have increased slightly, which is due to the stronger SoC. Only Samsung's Galaxy A3 manages its energy better in the comparison field.

The battery in the Moto G is a bit bigger and offers 80 mAh more with 2470 mAh. Since Motorola did not include a power adapter, we recharged the smartphone via a conventional USB 2.0 port as Motorola also recommends. The smartphone was completely recharged in just over three hours.

Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Motorola Moto G 2. Gen XT1068
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB SSD
Motorola Moto G 2. Gen 4G
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Power Consumption
3%
17%
-54%
12%
-108%
-140%
Idle Minimum *
0.4
0.6
-50%
0.4
-0%
0.5
-25%
0.6
-50%
1.4
-250%
1.6
-300%
Idle Average *
1
1
-0%
0.8
20%
2.1
-110%
0.9
10%
2.3
-130%
2.5
-150%
Idle Maximum *
1.2
1.2
-0%
1.3
-8%
2.5
-108%
1.1
8%
2.5
-108%
2.8
-133%
Load Average *
2.9
1.9
34%
2
31%
3.9
-34%
1.8
38%
3.9
-34%
5.5
-90%
Load Maximum *
5
3.5
30%
3
40%
4.6
8%
2.4
52%
6
-20%
6.3
-26%

* ... smaller is better

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.4 / 1 / 1.2 Watt
Load midlight 2.9 / 5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The battery life of Motorola's Moto G is again compelling in the 3rd generation. Although it does not quite achieve the runtime of its precursor using an adapted screen brightness (150 cd/m²) in the tests, the idle runtimes in the read test and under load have improved.

Looking at the comparison field, the Moto G gives a first-rate presentation. Even if the battery cannot be removed, the smartphone provides plenty of power for a whole day.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
22h 44min
WiFi Websurfing
8h 46min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
11h 17min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 24min
Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Motorola Moto G 2. Gen XT1068
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB SSD
Samsung Galaxy A3
Adreno 306, 410 MSM8916, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Microsoft Lumia 640
Adreno 305, 400 MSM8226, 8 GB eMMC Flash
Huawei P8 lite
Mali-450 MP4, Kirin 620, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 8 GB eMMC Flash
ZTE Blade S6
Adreno 405, 615 MSM8939, 16 GB eMMC Flash
Battery Runtime
4%
-12%
-21%
-38%
-25%
-30%
Reader / Idle
1364
1195
-12%
1080
-21%
1078
-21%
715
-48%
791
-42%
922
-32%
H.264
677
941
39%
602
-11%
543
-20%
369
-45%
518
-23%
497
-27%
WiFi v1.3
526
502
-5%
351
-33%
420
-20%
432
-18%
Load
264
221
-16%
256
-3%
166
-37%
194
-27%
221
-16%
149
-44%
WiFi
904
568

Pros

+ Personalized design
+ Decent Bluetooth range
+ Superb screen
+ Good GPS performance
+ Decent camera
+ Expandable storage...

Cons

- ...but only by 32 GB
- Tight storage (8 GB model)
- Few HSPA frequencies
- No NFC
- No DLNA, Miracast, Slim Port or MHL
- Few included accessories

Verdict

In review: Motorola Moto G (3rd Generation). Review sample courtesy of Motorola Germany
In review: Motorola Moto G (3rd Generation). Review sample courtesy of Motorola Germany

Motorola again delivers a good mid-range smartphone with its new Moto G, which convinces with strikingly good key features. The battery life and primary camera are really good and are difficult to match in this price range. The HD screen is also appealing.

However, some aspects have been neglected slightly for the starting price of 249 Euros (~$274). The storage is quite tight, and the memory expansion options are limited. In particular, the Lumia 640 (starts at 159 Euros, ~$175) does a much better job here. Other manufacturers, such as ZTE in its Blade S6, offer a 16 GB flash memory straight away. This option costs extra in the Moto G, but that also involves one more gigabyte of working memory. We recommend investing the additional 30 Euros (~$33) because storage frustration will otherwise quickly evolve.

The Moto G offers a good total package with a great camera and strong battery life. However, there is still room for improvement in terms of connectivity.

We should not, however, forget to mention the lack of wireless image transmission options. There could gladly be more here in view of the price. Nevertheless, Motorola again launches a very compelling product with its Moto G, which also appeals with its customization options and water resistance.

Motorola Moto G 3. Gen 2015 XT1541 - 08/15/2015 v4(old)
Daniel Schmidt

Chassis
84%
Keyboard
68 / 75 → 91%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
46 / 60 → 77%
Weight
92%
Battery
93%
Display
86%
Games Performance
54 / 63 → 86%
Application Performance
31 / 70 → 44%
Temperature
87%
Noise
100%
Audio
63 / 91 → 69%
Camera
73%
Average
75%
84%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 2 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
Daniel Schmidt, 2015-08-18 (Update: 2018-05-15)