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Review Motorola Moto G Smartphone

The people's smartphone. Google dubs its latest highlight "Moto G" that is sold by the subsidiary Motorola. The smartphone fuses high-performance hardware with a reasonable price. We checked whether this strategy adds up.

For the original German review, see here.

The omnipresent manufacturer Google is presently experiencing a run with devices from its Nexus product line. The purchase price is more than fair compared with the models competing against the Nexus 5. The Moto G is Motorola's first mid-range model on the market that lures with a very attractive price, and puts other manufacturers in a tight situation. The 8 GB model is available for 169 Euros (~$229), and the 16 GB version costs 199 Euros (~$270). The price includes a 4.5-inch screen alongside a Snapdragon 400 quad-core with 1.2 GHz, embedded in a non-slip polycarbonate casing. If the hardware and software combination deliver what they promise, Google might very possibly have launched another top-seller on the market.

Case

The plastic casing is a bit thick, but rigid.
The plastic casing is a bit thick, but rigid.

The casing of the Moto G is all over plastic. Although the battery can only be exchanged by an expert, the back cover can be removed. This is possible for two reasons: The micro-SIM card is inserted under the cover, and there are several colors available for the interchangeable back.

The smartphone certainly cannot be called thin with dimensions of 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6 mm. This is an advantage for the casing's stiffness, but a disadvantage for carrying it in a pocket. That is still 2.5 mm thicker and 4 grams heavier than the Nexus 4 model. The mid-range model features a precise and solid build. The smartphone easily defied our warping attempts, and is also resistant against selective pressure.

Connectivity

The USB port is on the device's lower edge. As usual, it can be used for either recharging the phone, or connecting it to a computer. No interfaces are found on the left. Both the volume rocker and power button are installed on the right. A 3.5 mm jack for external players is on the upper edge.

The back cover is interchangeable, but the battery should only be replaced by an expert. Also, the internal storage cannot be expanded via an SD card. Thus, the buyer should carefully consider whether the 8 GB or the 16 GB version makes more sense.

The micro-USB port is on the lower edge,...
The micro-USB port is on the lower edge,...
...and the power button as well as the volume rocker are on the right.
...and the power button as well as the volume rocker are on the right.
The 3.5 mm jack is in the center of the upper edge, and...
The 3.5 mm jack is in the center of the upper edge, and...
...there are no interfaces on the device's left.
...there are no interfaces on the device's left.


Software

Since Motorola is associated with the Google Group, the Moto G's system should principally be updated in a timely manner. Android version 4.3 is now installed, but Google holds out the prospect that KitKat will be launched in early 2014. As is known from the Nexus line devices, Android is installed in an untainted, original state. No frills or other trouble-making apps paralyze the system.

GPS test
GPS test

Communication & GPS 

A few cutbacks have to be accepted in view of the purchase price. One is found in the Wi-Fi module's standards. It transmits in 802.11 b/g/n and does not support dual-channel mode. Nevertheless, both the transmission and reception speeds are high enough to perform all functions with the known conditions. A stable connection to other peripherals is also possible via Bluetooth.

Of course, a GPS module should be installed, and it also supports GLONASS. Connecting to corresponding satellites is accomplished quickly, and is fairly accurate even indoors. The Garmin Edge 500 clearly defeated the Moto G in our test. The smartphone missed about 400 meters in sum. We particularly overtaxed the Moto G on a road section with a tight curve, but it exhibited a fairly high accuracy in the woods.

Garmin Edge 500: Bridge
Garmin Edge 500: Bridge
Garmin Edge 500: In total
Garmin Edge 500: In total
Garmin Edge 500: Woods
Garmin Edge 500: Woods
Motorola Moto G: Bridge
Motorola Moto G: Bridge
Motorola Moto G: In total
Motorola Moto G: In total
Motorola Moto G: Woods
Motorola Moto G: Woods


Telephony and Speech Quality

We experienced a loud and clear reproduction in our numerous test calls. The Moto G also has a good volume so that making calls even in slightly louder environments is possible. Since there is no in-ear headset included, only the hands-free feature is available when the user is busy. It is naturally possible to connect an optional in-ear headset to the phone.

Cameras and Multimedia

The low-priced smartphone features a total of two camera modules. A 1.3 MP sensor is on the front, and a 5 MP camera is installed on the rear. The rear-facing unit can of course record videos in HD quality. This is performed with up to 30 frames per second in MPEG4 format.

Compared with pictures from competing models, the 5 MP camera in the Moto G performs well. We, however, adversely noticed that dark areas lack depth. Also, the screenshot "Surroundings" exhibits intense vignetting in the image's upper corner. In terms of sharpness, the camera does the best it can, but no miracles should be expected from a 5 MP module. Nevertheless, the result is quite usable.

Apple iPhone 5: Plant
Apple iPhone 5: Plant
Apple iPhone 5: Scene
Apple iPhone 5: Scene
Apple iPhone 5: Surroundings
Apple iPhone 5: Surroundings
Motorola Moto G: Plant
Motorola Moto G: Plant
Motorola Moto G: Scene
Motorola Moto G: Scene
Motorola Moto G: Surroundings
Motorola Moto G: Surroundings
Nokia Lumia 1020: Plant
Nokia Lumia 1020: Plant
Nokia Lumia 1020: Scene
Nokia Lumia 1020: Scene
Nokia Lumia 1020: Surroundings
Nokia Lumia 1020: Surroundings
Samsung Galaxy S4: Plant
Samsung Galaxy S4: Plant
Samsung Galaxy S4: Scene
Samsung Galaxy S4: Scene
Samsung Galaxy S4: Surroundings
Samsung Galaxy S4: Surroundings
Sony Alpha A57: Plant
Sony Alpha A57: Plant
Sony Alpha A57: Scene
Sony Alpha A57: Scene
Sony Alpha A57: Surroundings
Sony Alpha A57: Surroundings


Accessories and Warranty

An abundant scope of accessories cannot be expected considering the (8GB) review sample's competitive price of 169 Euros (~$229). Besides the modular power supply, there are various printed instructions, and warranty conditions in the box. The "Motorola Shell" is optionally available in different colors to customize the Moto G. They cost between 15 and 20 Euros (~$20 and ~$27) depending on the color. Besides that, there is also a version with a flip-cover screen protector - also in many colors. 

Like for all Google devices, the manufacturer only includes a 12 month warranty. The battery is only covered for 6 months.

Input Devices and Controls

A capacitive screen that supports multi-touch gestures is installed in the Moto G. It can be used with up to 5 fingers. The inputs are implemented immediately and accurately. There is barely a sign of delay. Of course, the performance is not on par with premium devices, but all tasks were processed reliably, and in an acceptable speed. Owing to Google's spartan keyboard, the input covers less than 50% of the screen in both landscape and portrait mode.

There is quite a lot of room on the screen in portrait mode.
There is quite a lot of room on the screen in portrait mode.
It is a bit tighter in landscape mode.
It is a bit tighter in landscape mode.

Display

The Moto G's screen is 4.5-inches.
The Moto G's screen is 4.5-inches.

With 4.5-inches, the Moto G is almost as big as the former premium model from the parent company Google. The screen features a resolution of 1280x768 pixels. Naturally, considerably higher resolutions are now possible. However, how much sense they make in such small screens is still debatable. Besides that, high-end components cannot be expected for a purchase price of 169 or 199 Euros (~$229 or ~$270).

Nevertheless, the Moto G holds its own on the test bench. The screen is very bright with an average brightness of 416.6 cd/m², and achieves a much better result than the Nexus 4 (275.3 cd/m²). The homogeneity is also given with 89%. The only thing standing in the way of a contrast over 1000:1 is the slightly increased black level of 0.54 cd/m², and the Moto G just surpasses 800:1.

430
cd/m²
425
cd/m²
407
cd/m²
420
cd/m²
441
cd/m²
391
cd/m²
418
cd/m²
424
cd/m²
395
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 441 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 416.8 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 441 cd/m²
Contrast: 817:1 (Black: 0.54 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.83 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 6.2 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.6

The Moto G's screen has problems reproducing red, which results in a pale color reproduction. We observed the opposite in blue hues. The DeltaE 2000 rate delivered an acceptable rate of 4.83 on average - of course, seen in relation to price. The color temperature result was a bit poorer because the grayscale does not correspond to any natural colors with 8364 K. Larger shifts in light gray hues were particularly noticed in the grayscale gradient.

Color reproduction
Color reproduction
ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps

A modern smartphone = a state-of-the-art screen with high viewing angle stability. Nowadays, we barely test devices where the quality of the displayed content is dependent on the specific viewing angle. The manufacturers largely provide high-quality results with this component. However, there are minor differences here. Everything worked to our satisfaction in the Moto G - a good score in the viewing angle test.

Generally, all review samples do a good job in outdoor use in the winter season because the devices do not have to struggle as much with reflections for the lack of sunlight. However, the Moto G has a high brightness, which is essential for the smartphone's good result. Users who want to reduce the reflections should consider buying a matte screen protector.

Viewing angles: Moto G
Viewing angles: Moto G
The reflective screen is a major problem.
The reflective screen is a major problem.

Motorola's mid-range model sports a Snapdragon 400 from Qualcomm. It is built in the 28 nm process, and follows the ARMv7 instruction set. The SoC features four cores, and each clocks with 1.2 GHz (ARM Cortex A7). A quad-core also works in the bigger Snapdragon 400, but a Krait 400 CPU with a higher clock rate is used. In addition to the Adreno 305 GPU, 1 GB working memory is installed.

We added Google's flagship to the comparison list as a reference. Of course, the Moto G only has a slight chance against the premium model, but it is remarkable how close the results of both smartphones sometimes are, regarded as a touchstone. Samsung's Galaxy Ace 3 and our review sample frequently swap places, which is a sign that their performance is on a similar level. The scores of the Nexus 5 and Moto G are quite similar in both the older NenaMark2 and Linpack for Android benchmarks. We can confirm these scores subjectively because barely any performance differences turn up in reading emails or Internet browsing routine.

GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
11 fps
Google Nexus 4
20 fps +82%
Google Nexus 5
23 fps +109%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
14 fps +27%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
15 fps +36%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
5.7 fps
Google Nexus 4
13 fps +128%
Google Nexus 5
21 fps +268%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
6.2 fps +9%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
5.5 fps -4%
Linpack Android / IOS
Multi Thread (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
225.8 MFLOPS
Google Nexus 4
221.6 MFLOPS -2%
Google Nexus 5
273.8 MFLOPS +21%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
347.8 MFLOPS +54%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
146.9 MFLOPS -35%
Single Thread (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
88.4 MFLOPS
Google Nexus 4
76.8 MFLOPS -13%
Google Nexus 5
95 MFLOPS +7%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
193.2 MFLOPS +119%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
25.25 MFLOPS -71%
NenaMark2 - --- (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
58 fps
Google Nexus 4
59 fps +2%
Google Nexus 5
59.7 fps +3%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
60 fps +3%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
57.2 fps -1%
Geekbench 3
32 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
1169 Points
Google Nexus 4
1642 Points +40%
Google Nexus 5
2239 Points +92%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
788 Points -33%
32 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
341 Points
Google Nexus 4
511 Points +50%
Google Nexus 5
694 Points +104%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
432 Points +27%

Legend

 
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032 Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8226, Qualcomm Adreno 305, 8 GB SSD
 
Google Nexus 4 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro APQ8064A, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB SSD
 
Google Nexus 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195 Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 8930AB, Qualcomm Adreno 305, 8 GB SSD
 
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8930, Qualcomm Adreno 305, 8 GB SSD

The Moto G did surprisingly well in Browsermark 2.0. Except for the iPhone 5c and Google's Nexus 5, the low-priced smartphone surpasses all contenders. The score is put back into perspective a bit in the following browser-based benchmarks. Nevertheless, the review sample shows itself from its best side.

Browsermark - --- (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
2432 points
Google Nexus 4
1839 points -24%
Google Nexus 5
2803 points +15%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
2188 points -10%
Nokia Lumia 625
1674 points -31%
Apple iPhone 5c
2759 points +13%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
2166 points -11%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
488 Points
Google Nexus 4
236 Points -52%
Google Nexus 5
835 Points +71%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
530 Points +9%
Nokia Lumia 625
281 Points -42%
Apple iPhone 5c
902 Points +85%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
469 Points -4%
Octane V1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
1721 Points
Google Nexus 4
1248 Points -27%
Google Nexus 5
4039 Points +135%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
1958 Points +14%
Nokia Lumia 625
466 Points -73%
Apple iPhone 5c
2817 Points +64%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
1426 Points -17%
Mozilla Kraken 1.0 - Total (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
31626 ms *
Google Nexus 4
21389 ms * +32%
Google Nexus 5
14298 ms * +55%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
14193 ms * +55%

* ... smaller is better

Always good for a surprise, we thought in the first comparison of the ascertained read and write access speeds. The smartphone won almost every test, and some with a big lead. Motorola sets extremely high standards, and also shows the competition how much power is possible on a low budget.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
2.52 MB/s
Google Nexus 4
1.07 MB/s -58%
Google Nexus 5
0.84 MB/s -67%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
0.32 MB/s -87%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
0.31 MB/s -88%
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
13.61 MB/s
Google Nexus 4
12.14 MB/s -11%
Google Nexus 5
9.88 MB/s -27%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
9.37 MB/s -31%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
6.56 MB/s -52%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
12.54 MB/s
Google Nexus 4
13.97 MB/s +11%
Google Nexus 5
15.52 MB/s +24%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
6.33 MB/s -50%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
2.99 MB/s -76%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032
103.3 MB/s
Google Nexus 4
49.7 MB/s -52%
Google Nexus 5
74.9 MB/s -27%
Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini GT-I9195
50.9 MB/s -51%
Samsung Galaxy Ace 3 GT-S7275R
40.34 MB/s -61%

Games and Videos

The preceding test sections clearly proved that the Moto G and its Snapdragon 400 do not at all have to hide from performance-intensive applications. We rechecked whether loading delays or lags evolve based on various 2D and 3D games. No matter if it was Modern Combat 4: Zero Hour, GTA ViceCity or the less demanding Angry Birds - no title could push the smartphone to the verge of its performance limits.

We also made a similar observation with Full HD video playback. All sequences could be played impeccably using the installed player. There were only problems with playing QFHD videos (Ultra-HD), but Qualcomm does not claim that the Snapdragon 400 can do that anyway. The difference to the larger and more expensive Snapdragon 800 becomes evident here.

Emissions

Temperature

We naturally ascertained the maximum temperature during full load. It was an average of 32.5 °C on the front, and only 29.8 °C on the back. The contenders do not come remotely close to that. With 34.9 °C, the Galaxy Ace 3 is noticeably warmer, and the Nexus 4's temperatures are even higher with rates ranging from 36.8 °C to 37.8 °C. The Moto G's temperatures drop even further in idle. We measured not more than 27 °C - 28 °C on its surfaces. The Galaxy Ace 3 comes close to these rates, but the Nexus 4 does not drop below 30 °C. Very good performance alongside low temperatures - what else could the user want?

Max. Load
 30.4 °C
87 F
32.7 °C
91 F
32.5 °C
91 F
 
 30.9 °C
88 F
34.6 °C
94 F
34.1 °C
93 F
 
 30.7 °C
87 F
33.7 °C
93 F
32.6 °C
91 F
 
Maximum: 34.6 °C = 94 F
Average: 32.5 °C = 91 F
29.7 °C
85 F
30.6 °C
87 F
28.3 °C
83 F
30.4 °C
87 F
30.9 °C
88 F
29.1 °C
84 F
29.7 °C
85 F
31.2 °C
88 F
28.4 °C
83 F
Maximum: 31.2 °C = 88 F
Average: 29.8 °C = 86 F
Room Temperature 21.1 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 32.5 °C / 91 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 34.6 °C / 94 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 31.2 °C / 88 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

The small speaker on the back makes a great deal of noise - and the sound is fairly good up to 90% of the maximum volume. Low pitches are non-existent, but the sound barely distorts. This is basically in line with the Moto G's overall impression. Miracles cannot be expected for this purchase price, but surprises always happen.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

A power requirement ranging from 0.4 - 2.8 watts is needed to work with the Moto G. This is split as follows: When mainly undemanding tasks are performed, the hardware consumes between 0.4 and 1.0 watts. The Nexus 4 is not quite as frugal as that with rates from 0.7 to 1.4 watts. This becomes even clearer during full load because the Nexus 4 needs 3.9 - 6.5 watts, and the Moto G only consumes 2.1 to 2.8 watts. The performance difference of both devices is not that extreme as was seen earlier in this test report. However, the Nexus 4 has a slightly larger screen - which is certainly a reason for its somewhat higher power consumption.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.2 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.4 / 0.7 / 1 Watt
Load midlight 2.1 / 2.8 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 outcome of this part is certainly very dependent on power consumption. However, the battery's capacity also plays a role. The Moto G's battery has 2070 mAh, and is almost just as strong as the one in the Nexus 4 (2100 mAh). The smartphone achieved a full load runtime of just over 4 hours. The extremely long-running LG G2 cannot compete with that (3:40 h). The affordable phone lasted for an outstanding 25 hours and 15 minutes with dimmed screen brightness and idle SoC. LG's G2 only presents a slightly better runtime in the Wi-Fi test. Nevertheless, the Moto G's endurance is more than satisfactory with 15 hours and 30 minutes.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
25h 15min
WiFi Surfing
15h 30min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 04min

Verdict

Again, Google does everything right - in the form of Motorola.
Again, Google does everything right - in the form of Motorola.

Google led the way with its Nexus 4, and to-date with the Nexus 5. It now applies this strategy to the bought out manufacturer Motorola - high-performance hardware alongside appealing looks, and a good build at an affordable price. The Moto G is currently priced at 169 Euros (~$229) for the 8 GB version, and 199 Euros (~$270) is charged for twice the storage. This competitive price also puts the manufacturers in the mid-range segment under high pressure - and with good reason since the Moto G convinced us in our test. The Snapdragon 400 does a fantastic job, and does not need to hide from high-end models. That is paired with a long battery runtime and a very bright screen. Motorola does the stylish aspect justice with the interchangeable back covers in various colors, and thus arranges a bit of individuality in the Moto G's concept.

Buyers looking for a medium-sized smartphone (4.5-inches) that sports high-performance hardware for little money will hardly pass by Motorola's Moto G - let the price fight in the mid-range sector begin.

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In Review: Motorola Moto G
In Review: Motorola Moto G

Specifications

Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032 (Moto Series)
Processor
Graphics adapter
Qualcomm Adreno 305, Memory: 450 MHz
Memory
1024 MB 
, LPDDR2
Display
4.50 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel, capacitive, LCD-STN, multi-touch compatible, glossy: yes
Storage
8 GB SSD, 8 GB 
, 5.8 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio jack, Sensors: GPS, proximity sensor, digital compass, position sensor, light sensor
Networking
802.11 b/g/n (b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, HSPA+: DL: 21.1 Mbps / UL: 5.76 Mbps
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11.6 x 129.9 x 65.9 ( = 0.46 x 5.11 x 2.59 in)
Battery
Lithium-Ion, 2070 mAh
Operating System
Android 4.3
Camera
Webcam: Rear: 5 MP, Front: 2 MP
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker, Keyboard: virtual, modular power supply, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
143 g ( = 5.04 oz / 0.32 pounds), Power Supply: 48 g ( = 1.69 oz / 0.11 pounds)
Price
169 Euro

 

A mid-range model with high-end...
A mid-range model with high-end...
...hardware for an affordable price - the Moto G.
...hardware for an affordable price - the Moto G.
The casing is a bit thick, and completely made of...
The casing is a bit thick, and completely made of...
...plastic. However, it is robust, and has an...
...plastic. However, it is robust, and has an...
...interchangeable cover. The battery is non-removable.
...interchangeable cover. The battery is non-removable.
The screen is 4.5-inches, and has an HD resolution.
The screen is 4.5-inches, and has an HD resolution.
The battery runtime is very good, and can...
The battery runtime is very good, and can...
...definitely compete with its contenders.
...definitely compete with its contenders.
The operating speed is fast enough,...
The operating speed is fast enough,...
...and the Moto G acheives good to very good...
...and the Moto G acheives good to very good...
...scores in the benchmarks. Even more expensive...
...scores in the benchmarks. Even more expensive...
...devices only accomplish insignificantly...
...devices only accomplish insignificantly...
...better scores, if at all.
...better scores, if at all.
The micro SIM card is inserted...
The micro SIM card is inserted...
...under the back cover. Unfortunately, there is...
...under the back cover. Unfortunately, there is...
...no room for a micro-SD. Thus, the user has to...
...no room for a micro-SD. Thus, the user has to...
...live with either 8 or 16 GB.
...live with either 8 or 16 GB.
The screen's content can be read well...
The screen's content can be read well...
...even outdoors. Android 4.3 is pre-loaded, and an...
...even outdoors. Android 4.3 is pre-loaded, and an...
...update could be released as soon as early 2014.
...update could be released as soon as early 2014.
Motorola makes minor modifications...
Motorola makes minor modifications...
...that offer useful functions.
...that offer useful functions.
Motorola is back with the Moto G under the guiding hands of Google. The competition should pull their socks up.
Motorola is back with the Moto G under the guiding hands of Google. The competition should pull their socks up.

Similar Devices

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Kyocera Torque Smartphone Review
Adreno 305, Snapdragon 400 MSM8928
Nokia Lumia 735 Smartphone Review
Adreno 305, Snapdragon 400 MSM8926

Links

Compare Prices

Pros

+Price
+Bright screen
+Battery runtime
+Robust
+Very powerful hardware
+Exchangeable back cover
 

Cons

-Non-expandable storage
-Non-removable battery

Shortcut

What we like

The Moto G's power is so high that it gives the performance of considerably better equipped contenders a hard time.

What we'd like to see

The smartphone barely shows any weaknesses, and is well-equipped considering the purchase price.

What surprises us

High performance, and low purchase price. Google, in the form of Motorola, has again managed to perfectly design the price-performance ratio of the latest smartphone.

The competition

Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini

Samsung Galaxy Ace 3

Apple iPhone 5C

Nokia Lumia 625

 

Rating

Motorola Moto G 1. Gen XT1032 - 05/26/2014 v4(old)
Daniel Schuster

Chassis
85%
Keyboard
62 / 75 → 83%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
40 / 60 → 67%
Weight
93%
Battery
95%
Display
83%
Games Performance
52 / 63 → 83%
Application Performance
24 / 70 → 34%
Temperature
91%
Noise
100%
Audio
64 / 91 → 70%
Camera
63%
Average
73%
83%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
Daniel Schuster, 2014-01- 3 (Update: 2018-05-15)