Lenovo Takes Another Shot at Budget Handset Market With Moto E4 Plus

Lenovo isn’t a major player in the smartphone market, but the company has been trying to change that situation by marketing its Moto handsets to budget-conscious customers who want a decent range of features. Lenovo’s latest effort along these lines is the Moto E4 Plus, which features a larger screen and a higher capacity battery pack than the earlier E4 model, at a price that doesn’t break the bank. In fact, at $180 unlocked, the Moto E4 Plus is one of the more affordable handsets on the market. However, those wanting the latest speedy mobile processor should look elsewhere, as the Moto E4 Plus runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 427. This slide show will discuss features of the Moto E4 Plus in more detail.

The Moto E4 Plus derives its name from its screen. The Plus features a 5.5-inch screen, slightly larger than the Moto E4’s 5-inch display, and delivers HD resolution and 267 pixels per inch. It’s a flat screen, unlike the curved displays offered in Samsung’s Galaxy S8 and other high-end handsets.

Those hoping for high-end power won’t find it in the Moto E4 Plus. The device runs the 1.4GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 427 processor, a budget option that should work well for basic and simpler apps, but could have trouble with more resource-intensive tasks. This is not a workhorse smartphone.

Moto’s E4 Plus runs on the latest Android installation, Android 7.1.1 Nougat, so the device should deliver all the security features customers expect. Additionally, Lenovo generally goes easy on bloatware, so the Moto E4 Plus shouldn’t include unnecessary programs.

Perhaps the Moto E4 Plus’ biggest surprise is its battery. The device comes with a 5,000mAh non-removable battery that should last two days on a single charge and recharges quickly.

The Moto E4 Plus comes with a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with an f/2.0 aperture. The camera has a 78-degree lens and can record video in a 720p resolution. It also supports high dynamic range for more vibrant colors. On the front is a basic 5-megapixel camera.

The Moto E4 Plus is water-repellent, a feature not often found in a budget smartphone. According to Lenovo, the device has what’s called a “nanocoating,” which can shake off water to prevent liquid intrusion that could break the handset. However, even with the nanocoating, the Moto E4 Plus shouldn’t be dunked in water.

The Moto E4 Plus has several minor features that could add to its appeal. The device comes with a respectable 2GB of RAM and offers up to 32GB of onboard storage. It also has two microphones for better voice sound quality. There’s even a fingerprint reader for security.

The E4 Plus is missing certain features, which could detract from its appeal. The device doesn’t support near-field communication, so users won’t be able to use the device to make mobile payments. The Moto E4 Plus also doesn’t support the fastest 802.11ac WiFi, and while its support for Bluetooth 4.1 LE is nice, it’s not ideal.

The Moto E4 Plus is designed to work on any type of network it’s put on. Better yet, it’ll be available unlocked, so users can move it from one network to another without worrying about a contract.

Lenovo’s handset is one of the more affordable smartphones, costing $180 unlocked. The device will go on sale at Verizon, Best Buy, Amazon and select other retailers Aug. 3, while Sprint and others will get it Aug. 11. Republic Wireless will carry the handset starting Aug. 14.