Motorola Designs Moto G to Appeal to the Budget-Conscious

by Don Reisinger

What’s nice about the Moto G is that it’s running Android 4.4.4 KitKat, the standard build of the latest available version of Android, from Google. The operating system comes free of any of the interface modifications that too many device makers feel compelled to add to Android. That’s an important factor for smartphone buyers because it helps mitigate some of the nuisances with application compatibility and usability that arise when companies place their own skins on top of Android.

The Moto G comes with only 8GB of on-board storage. However, the device does support a microSD slot so buyers can add more storage capacity if they want. Compared with other higher-end devices on the market, 8GB of on-board storage is next to nothing. But since customers are paying so little for the device and they can expand storage with the microSD, it might not prove so troublesome.

The Moto G has a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera, putting it in line with several prominent devices on the market, including the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The front-facing camera features a 2-megapixel lens that Motorola claims will work fine for capturing selfies. Overall, the cameras are sufficient for taking quick shots when users are out and about.

The Moto G comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core rather than the higher-performance 800 or 801 units found in most of today’s top-of-the-line Android smartphones. But for the price, the Snapdragon 400 should still have the power to run Android KitKat.

The second-generation Moto G comes with a 5-inch display. At that size, the device is slightly larger than the 4.7-inch model in the iPhone 6 and smaller than the 5.5-inch version in the iPhone 6 Plus. This size makes the Moto G competitive with the current generation of smartphones and gives users plenty of screen real estate to work with.

One of the nice things about the Moto G is that it comes with two speakers to enhance sound quality. Those speakers are front-facing, which is an important feature that’s often overlooked. But two front-facing speakers improve sound quality in a smartphone.

Motorola has come a long way in improving its device’s customizability. In fact, customers that buy the basic black version can still pick from a wide range of colored cases to change the look and feel of the Moto G. Part of Motorola’s pitch to customers is that it delivers shells that reflect their style.

The Moto G comes with a 2,070mAh battery, which Motorola claims, will deliver an all-day lifespan. But “all-day” is a fairly vague term that should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt until it’s put to the test by individual users—as battery performance will likely vary depending on the demands users place on the device.

It’s hard to find too much issue with the Moto G’s pricing. The second-generation Moto G comes in at just $179.99 off-contract. What that means is customers will not need to buy a two-year agreement with a carrier just to get their hands on the smartphone. Considering the lowest-end iPhone 6 comes in at $200 with a two-year agreement, the Moto G is a bargain.

Because of Motorola’s ties to Google and since the Moto G is running KitKat, users will find the standard Google services on the device, including Gmail, Maps and YouTube, and access to the Google Play marketplace. That means that first-time and budget-conscious smartphone buyers will have plenty of choices for applications.