Motorola Moto G 4. Gen
Specifications
Price comparison
Average of 20 scores (from 43 reviews)
Reviews for the Motorola Moto G 4. Gen
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
Under Lenovo, Motorola is sticking to its formula of offering an essentially stock Android experience. The Moto G4 and G4 Plus both come with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow pre-installed with a very thin layer on top to add some features.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 11/22/2018
Source: The Cheat Sheet Archive.org version
The sweet spot here seems to be for the base Moto G4 Plus, as it comes with that slightly better camera, fingerprint scanner, and quick charging capability. At $249, it’s only a little more expensive than a OnePlus X and has some better features, and it’s cheaper than the Moto X. Definitely a solid buy for someone trying to dodge the hefty price tag of the latest Samsung or Apple flagship phones while still getting something that looks good and performs admirably.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 09/22/2016
Source: Alphr Archive.org version
As an all-round package, it’s hard to find fault with the Motorola Moto G4. It may be a touch more expensive than last year’s Moto G, but since it’s better in most ways – with superior battery life, a better camera, a brighter, bigger screen and a sleeker, more grown-up design – you won’t find me complaining. There may be some who complain that the Moto G is now too big, and yes, for those with smaller hands and pockets it may be a stretch too far. But let’s not get too hung up about what the Moto G4 isn’t and celebrate what it is: it’s one hell of a smartphone, and delivers more bang per buck than any smartphone to date. If you’re looking to spend less than £200 on your next handset, there’s simply no better choice than the Motorola Moto G4.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/16/2016
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Android Headlines Archive.org version
The Moto G4 Play brings to the table all of the specs and features you would expect out of the normal Moto G. In fact, its specs are basically the same as last year’s Moto G (third generation), but with a slightly larger battery (2800mAh in the Moto G4 Play vs 2470mAh in last year’s Moto G). All in all, it’s not a bad phone whatsoever. It’s a pretty good workhorse that will more than last you an entire day. In fact, you could probably get through two days or even more out of the Moto G4 Play. That’s something we can’t say about many other smartphones available today.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 09/15/2016
Source: Alphr Archive.org version
There may be some who complain that the Moto G is now too big, and yes, for those with smaller hands and pockets it may be a stretch too far. But let’s not get too hung up about what the Moto G4 isn’t and celebrate what it is: it’s one hell of a smartphone, and delivers more bang per buck than any smartphone to date. If you’re looking to spend less than £200 on your next handset, there’s simply no better choice than the Motorola Moto G4.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 08/31/2016
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Talk Android Archive.org version
Because the Moto Z and Moto Z Force are Verizon exclusives for the foreseeable future, the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus are better recommendations if you’re wanting to buy from Lenovo’s Moto brand. These phones carry low price tags and ship with clean software, and you can take them to just about any carrier for seamless use. But the price is truly good for the Moto G4 alone.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 08/01/2016
Source: Pocketnow Archive.org version
These are great little phones. In 2016 Moto doesn’t deliver quite the impact they once did when they were one of the only manufacturers offering a high quality experience at such a low price, but we’re happy to see how competitive this generation has become by offering a spectrum of devices. Instead of just two options divided by storage, consumers have a number of options to select depending on their individual needs. Even at $200 though, you’ll end up with a phone which would have shamed a Galaxy S4, LG Optimus G Pro, or HTC One M7 when those phones were new.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 07/26/2016
Rating: Total score: 82% features: 80%
Source: Slashgear Archive.org version
If you want to spend no more than $200 (plus whatever tax is in order) on a smartphone, Moto G4 is still the best smartphone on the market. Motorola's industrial design may have become a bit more bland this time around, but the device is right on the money for cash value. If you need a fingerprint scanner and you want to start getting into better camera features, skip over the Moto G4 Plus and head straight for Moto X.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/26/2016
Source: Computerworld.com Archive.org version
With their comfortable feel, excellent displays, good cameras and day-long battery life, the Moto G phones are fine choices if you want to spend less for your next Android smartphone. Considering its better camera and fingerprint sensor, I'd strongly consider spending the extra $50 for the Moto G Plus, although that does push it from "cheap" to "reasonably priced."
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 07/21/2016
Source: PC Pro Archive.org version
As an all-round package, it’s hard to find fault with the Motorola Moto G4. It may be a touch more expensive than last year’s Moto G, but since it’s better in most ways – with superior battery life, a better camera, a brighter, bigger screen and a sleeker, more grown-up design – you won’t find me complaining.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 07/20/2016
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Greenbot Archive.org version
The G4 Plus is a different story. I’ve requested another review unit in an attempt to get down to the bottom of whether the interface glitching and unresponsiveness spans across all models. But until then, I’d warn that you’re gambling if you’re considering bringing home this $250 device—which shoots up to $300+ if you get it with 4GB of RAM.
Comparison, online available, Medium, Date: 07/18/2016
Source: Phone Arena Archive.org version
Both the Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus are some well-done mid-rangers, marrying performance that should be adequate for casual users with some very attractive pricing. But a lot of companies give us well-executed phones; are the new Moto G4s anything special? Well, that's sadly to say a bit of a “no.” The Moto Gs in general have been experiencing a sort of drift over the years, and while they're still a cheap alternative to Motorola's flagships, they no longer feel like they're doing much that's unique to stand out in the mid-ranger space.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 07/18/2016
Source: PC Mag Archive.org version
The $230 Moto G4 is a relatively affordable midrange phone with a crisp 1080p and solid battery life, but it's key selling point is its broad carrier compatibility. You're unlikely to find any other affordable unlocked phones that support bands for all four major US carriers. However, if you're not interested in switching carriers the $150 Blu Life One X will give you very similar performance for $80 less.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 07/18/2016
Rating: Total score: 70%
Source: PC World Archive.org version
The G4 Plus is a different story. I’ve requested another review unit in an attempt to get down to the bottom of whether the interface glitching and unresponsiveness spans across all models. But until then, I’d warn that you’re gambling if you’re considering bringing home this $250 device—which shoots up to $300+ if you get it with 4GB of RAM.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 07/18/2016
Rating: Total score: 60%
Source: Laptop Media Archive.org version
As far as performance is concerned, we are more than happy because of the available Snapdragon 617 which is noticeably more powerful than Snapdragon 410 (present in Moto G3 and many other mid-rangers). The camera is 13MP again, and albeit it does not offer a lot of software features, the decent image quality it provides is enough. As for the battery improvements, they are not great. Yes, it is now bigger but has to support more demanding hardware. We appreciate the available stock Android which contributes to the fast operation of Moto G4. In a nutshell, the new Moto G has what it takes to be a leader of the mid-range.
Single Review, online available, Very Long, Date: 07/16/2016
Source: Engadget Archive.org version
Motorola's big problem with these new phones is that the last Moto G was simply too good. In pushing for larger screens and other upgrades, it also introduced some compromises. Ultimately though, the good outweighs the bad. The Moto G4 and G4 Plus offer plenty of power and versatility without breaking the bank.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 07/15/2016
Rating: Total score: 84%
Source: Gizmag Archive.org version
If we're going to keep playing the for just this much more you can get ... game, then you should also know that you can get a phone that not just feels high-end, but is high-end, for only $399 in the OnePlus 3. It too runs a mostly stock version of Android (though its update schedule isn't likely to be as good as Motorola's), while adding a cutting-edge processor, 6 GB of RAM, nearly as good battery life and (mostly) high-end specs everywhere else. If you're already considering the 64 GB version of the Moto G4 Plus, then the OnePlus is going to be tempting for just an extra Benjamin.
Comparison, online available, Very Long, Date: 07/13/2016
Source: Techno Buffalo Archive.org version
Back in 2013, the Moto G was a game-changer. As phones were getting bigger and more expensive, the Moto G offered an uncompromising experience at an impulse buy price. And even though it didn’t come equipped with the latest specs, it quickly went on to become Motorola’s most successful phone ever—even surpassing the hallowed Razr, which basically defined the flip phone era.
video review
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 07/13/2016
Source: Expert Reviews Archive.org version
That a £169 smartphone can achieve so much for so little is absolutely astounding, and it firmly throws down the gauntlet to all other budget smartphone manufacturers. The Vodafone Smart Ultra 7 does, admittedly, come very close, but while it can match the Moto G4 on speed, it simply can't compare when it comes to the quality of the display, camera, or battery life. The Smart Ultra 7 might be a fraction cheaper on prepay, but when the Moto G4 only costs another £35 (which then gives you the freedom to pick your own contract or SIM-only deal rather than being tied in to Vodafone's rates), there's simply no competition. It's a Best Buy.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/12/2016
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: Think Digit Archive.org version
The Moto G4 is a decent smartphone, offering one of the best smartphone photography in the budget segment, along with good battery life. Unfortunately, it does not offer the all-round performance balance that the likes of LeEco Le 2, Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Lenovo ZUK Z1 do. It is a good smartphone, only not the best.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 07/11/2016
Rating: Total score: 66%
Source: PC Pro Archive.org version
There may be some who moan that the Moto G is now too big, and yes, for those with smaller hands and pockets it may be a stretch too far. But let’s not get too hung up about what the Moto G4 isn’t and celebrate what it is: it’s one hell of a smartphone, and delivers more bang per buck than any smartphone to date. If you’re looking to spend less than £200 on your next handset, there’s simply no better choice than the Motorola Moto G4.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/04/2016
Rating: Total score: 100%
Source: NDTV Gadgets Archive.org version
The Moto G4 is a decent phone in all ways. It's well built, looks decent, and comes with excellent, up-to-date software. However, on its own, it doesn't quite have what it takes to compete against other players in the sub-Rs. 15,000 price bracket, and indeed faces its toughest competition from the Moto G4 Plus itself.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/28/2016
Rating: Total score: 70% price: 60% performance: 80% display: 80% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: V3.co.uk Archive.org version
Finally, as noted, the prices appear very good for what's on offer at £169 for the G4 and £199 for the G4 Plus. Certainly this is a great price for anyone after a phone with more than adequate specs and that won't break the bank.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 05/17/2016
Source: Techradar Archive.org version
Another solid, safe and affordable handset from Motorola ensures the Moto G range remains the benchmark at this end of the market, but the gap between it and the competition is narrowing.
Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 05/17/2016
Source: Trusted Reviews Archive.org version
Lenovo’s first stab at a Moto G device could very well be the best yet. But, by being a much larger device, I fear it could alienate a number of potential customers. Still, if the size isn’t an issue then it’s a fast phone with what appears to be a strong camera and plenty of power. It comfortably outshines its modest £169 price once again.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/17/2016
Source: Stuff TV Archive.org version
We didn’t have all that much time with the G4 before it was swept out of our hands, but on first impressions it looks like a very tempting handset. Especially if you’re not all that tempted by the flagship offerings from Samsung and LG. Lay down your cash for the Moto G4 and you’ll bag yourself a thoroughly capable phone with a tremendous, distinct design for the price. Despite its myriad rivals, Moto still knows how to deliver an affordable phone with knockout panache.
Single Review, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/17/2016
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
Although the new Moto G4 is more expensive than the third-generation, Motorola is offering a Full HD screen, better processor, more storage and memory. Not everyone will enjoy the jump to 5.5in or the lack of full waterproofing but this is still a decent phone for under £200. Most will benefit from fingerprint scanner and better camera of the Moto G4 Plus for just £30 which also comes with the Turbo Charger in the box. Stay tuned for full reviews soon.
Comparison, online available, Short, Date: 05/17/2016
Source: Tech Advisor Archive.org version
It’s slightly unusual for a ‘plus’ model of a phone not to have a larger screen, and with the Moto G4 having largely the same specs as the G4 Plus, but an extra £30 for a fingerprint scanner and a better camera doesn't seem bad at all. It's a bit confusing but hopefully we've cleared things up for you so you can decide which Moto G4 is right for you.
Comparison, online available, Very Short, Date: 05/17/2016
Source: Pocket Lint Archive.org version
The new Moto G and Moto G Plus hangs on to many of the characteristics of the previous Moto G phones, importantly it's still good value for money. However, there's a general creep in price and size that some might not like: this could be a 5-inch device that's cheaper than the £169 starting price offered here.
Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 05/17/2016
Foreign Reviews
Source: Computer Magazin - 01/2017
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 01/01/2017
Rating: Total score: 91%
Source: Futurezone.at DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/31/2016
Source: Netzwelt DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 07/22/2016
Rating: Total score: 84% features: 90% mobility: 80% workmanship: 80%
Source: Android Magazin - Heft 4/2016
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 07/01/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Computerbild - Heft 13/2016
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 07/01/2016
Rating: Total score: 84%
Source: Connect - Heft 8/2016
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 07/01/2016
Rating: Total score: 81%
Source: Curved DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/20/2016
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 75% display: 78% mobility: 84%
Source: Computerbild - Heft 12/2016
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 06/15/2016
Source: c't - Heft 13/2016
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 06/15/2016
Source: Notebookinfo DE→EN Archive.org version
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 06/10/2016
Rating: Total score: 90% performance: 85% display: 95% mobility: 100% workmanship: 90% ergonomy: 90% emissions: 90%
Source: Android Pit - Heft 5/2016
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 04/01/2016
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Smartphone Magazin - Heft 5/2016
Single Review, , Length Unknown, Date: 04/01/2016
Rating: Total score: 88% price: 89%
Comment
Qualcomm Adreno 405: Integrated graphics card for ARM based SoCs. Depending on the used SoC the clock rate is around 500 MHz and features 48 unified shaders.
Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
617 MSM8952: Mid-range ARM SoC with 8 CPU cores (Cortex-A53, 64-bit capable) and an Adreno 405 GPU. Manufactured in a 28 nm LP process.» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.
5.50":
It is a very small display format for smartphones. You should by no means be mis-sighted and you will generally see very little on the screen and only have a small resolution available. In return, the device should be very small and handy.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.Motorola: Founded in 1928, the US-based company mainly focuses on communication technology such as smartphones. The original company Motorola Inc was split up in 2011. Motorola Mobility got the smartphone division and was taken over by Google in 2012 and Lenovo in 2014.
The company is known for its cell phones and other electronic devices such as smartwatches, tablets and accessories. Motorola was one of the first companies to produce cell phones, and in recent years has also innovated in the areas of 5G technology and modular smartphones (Moto Mods). Motorola is also active in public safety and professional communications, providing solutions for government agencies, businesses and other organizations. The company has operations in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America and employs more than 10,000 people worldwide.
84.5%: This rating is slightly above average, there are somewhat more devices with worse ratings. However, clear purchase recommendations look different.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.