In 2013, Motorola launched the first-generation Moto G, and with very
respectable hardware and a price tag of just $180 off-contract, it was
easily the best budget smartphone of the year. In 2014, it was a similar
story: Motorola launched the second-gen Moto G, it still cost $180, it still featured great hardware for the price, and it was still the best budget smartphone of the year.
Motorola is hoping for a hat trick this year with the release of the third-generation Moto G. This new model isn’t a huge upgrade on last year’s Moto G, with Motorola sticking to incremental updates to some aspects of the hardware. However, considering the Moto G is still being sold at the same $180 price point as its predecessors, any hardware upgrades are much appreciated.
One of the biggest updates to the Moto G in this year’s variant address a significant issue with last year’s model. The new Moto G finally comes with 4G LTE connectivity as standard, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410’s integrated LTE modem. We’re also seeing decent upgrades to the front and rear cameras, plus an updated water resistant design.
Stock Android fans will also be glad to know that the third-gen Moto G comes with essentially vanilla Android 5.1 on-board. This means no ugly skins, virtually no bloatware, and a visual style that’s consistent throughout the OS. Motorola also tends to be fairly quick when it comes to OS updates, so we can expect the Moto G 2015 to be updated to Android 6.0 ‘Marshmallow’ shortly after its launch later this year.
The design of the Moto G 2015 should be pretty familiar to anyone with a second-generation Moto G from last year. The general shape of the handset, including the curved back panel and rounded rectangular profile, is essentially unchanged. The new Moto G is very slightly taller and around half a millimetre thicker, but it’s pretty hard to notice these differences when you hold both devices in your hands.
On the front of the new Moto G you’ll find the 5.0-inch display flanked by two speakers to the top and bottom. At first glance this indicates the Moto G has stereo front facing speakers, but this isn’t the case. Instead, the bottom speaker is used for media such as music and videos, while the top speaker is reserved for phone calls. This is actually a downgrade on the 2014 model that did include true stereo front-facing speakers, which is disappointing to see.
The 2015 Moto G doesn’t feel huge for a five inch handset, though Motorola didn’t go to a significant effort to reduce the bezel around the display. Compared to a flagship like the Galaxy S6, the Moto G has a noticeably wider bezel on either side, and there’s quite a bit of unused space above the display. The size of the bezels definitely don’t affect the usability of the new Moto G, although it is a reminder that the device is designed for the entry-level market.
The most significant changes to the design of the Moto G are found on the back. The soft touch plastic used for the removable back panel has been replaced with hard, textured plastic, which definitely gives it a different look and feel. I’m not convinced that the corrugated design is an improvement in texture, but I do think it gives the handset a more sleek and stylish look.
The main point of interest on the rear of the Moto G is an attractive camera assembly surrounded by matte grey plastic, which breaks up the otherwise monotonous use of black in this model. You can get the Moto G in a range of other colors for both the back panel and the camera assembly through the Moto Maker, allowing you to further customize the look of the device.
The edges of the Moto G are made from a cheapish, smooth, metallic plastic (depending on the model you get), which feels acceptable in the hands for an entry-level handset. The right-hand side features both the power button and volume rocker in an accessible location, while the micro-USB charging port is along the bottom, and the 3.5mm audio jack on top.
The Moto G’s rear cover can be removed, albeit with some difficulty, to reveal the two micro-SIM card slots (if you have a dual-SIM model) alongside the microSD card slot. To the disappointment of some, the Moto G doesn’t feature a removable battery despite the removable cover.
You’ll want to re-install the Moto G’s rear cover pretty securely, otherwise the handset will not be water resistant. If you do secure the rear cover, the Moto G is IPX7 rated, meaning it’s protected against immersion in up to 1m of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Motorola says they’ve protected the phone in this way to prevent splashes and accidental drops in water from ruining it, which adds to the toughness of the device.
Water resistant smartphones are also significantly less annoying than before, thanks to new technology that allows both the audio jack and USB port to be uncovered during immersion. This means no fiddly flaps protecting either of these ports, and although I don’t find myself wanting to use the Moto G underwater or in the shower all that often, it’s nice to know the phone won’t be ruined if I accidentally drop it in the toilet or sink.
The display on the front of the Moto G is protected by smooth Gorilla Glass 3, as you’d expect from pretty much every smartphone released over the past few years. The display itself is a 5.0-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1280 x 720, resulting in a pixel density of 294 PPI. Although this display’s specifications are identical to the display used in the 2014 Moto G, the third-generation model’s panel is actually somewhat different.
I’ll start with what I like about the display. In a $180 smartphone, a 720p display is still standard, so you’re not getting a last-generation piece of hardware. The resolution is good enough to display images and text reasonably sharply, and peak brightness is higher than last year’s model, which makes the display easier to see outdoors. Viewing angles are good but not great from this IPS-class display.
The main issue I have with the 2015 Moto G’s display is that it’s simply not as good as its predecessor. Motorola has calibrated this display pretty poorly, resulting in an overall color tone that’s far too blue. This leads to general undersaturation of colors, and can give the display a washed out look in comparison to last year’s Moto G. Considering both phones retailed for the same price, this regression in display quality is pretty disappointing.
It is possible that Motorola could adjust the calibration of the display through a firmware update, especially if the issues lie in software rather than in the make-up of the display itself. I wouldn’t hold my breath for such an update though.
The MSM8916 in the Moto G 2015 features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU clocked at up to 1.4 GHz, which is slightly higher than the 1.2 GHz CPU clock we’ve seen in other Snapdragon 410 devices (the Galaxy A5 and the 2015 Moto E). This clock speed increase should result in around 15% better performance in CPU limited workloads relative to other Snapdragon 410 handsets.
Interestingly, despite this 200 MHz jump in max CPU frequency, the Moto G’s Snapdragon 410 still carries the same model number as other 1.2 GHz iterations. This is somewhat confusing for people wanting to compare Snapdragon 410 devices, but luckily it’s the only major difference.
As for other aspects of the hardware, the 2015 Moto G’s Snapdragon 410 features an Adreno 306 GPU clocked at 400 MHz, as well as a single-channel LPDDR3 memory controller clocked at 533 MHz, providing 4.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Moto G supports 1080p H.264 encode/decode as well as 720p HEVC decode.
For wireless connectivity, the Moto G 2015 supports single channel Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GPS+GLONASS, and Category 4 LTE. The inclusion of LTE in the 2015 Moto G is a big upgrade on last year’s model, which only featured HSPA+ support in the base model. With this new Moto G, all models support LTE, even the cheapest $179 variant.
There are several versions of the Moto G 2015 in the wild, so you should check with your carrier before making a purchase to ensure the LTE bands supported in the handset match up with those used by your carrier.
Storage-wise, there are two main Moto G models available: an 8 GB model with 1 GB of RAM, which costs $179.99, and a 16 GB model with 2 GB of RAM, which costs an extra $40 ($219.99). I was sent a 16 GB model to review with 2 GB of RAM, and I’d generally suggest to go with this model if you can afford the extra $40, as 8 GB of internal storage can be a bit restrictive for installing applications. The 16 GB model comes with just under 12 GB of usable space out of the box, versus around 5 GB for the cheaper model.
Of course you can add in up to an extra 32 GB of storage via the phone’s microSD card slot, but not every app supports Android’s move-to-SD-card feature, and typically transfer rates from external storage are slower than from in-built NAND.
The IMX214 is a 1/3.06" sensor with a total resolution of 4224 x 3400 and 1.12 µm pixels. The pixel size of this sensor is smaller than that of the IMX179, though Motorola has used an f/2.0 lens at an effective focal length of 26mm. By default, the Moto G 2015 captures 9.7-megapixel images in a 16:9 aspect ratio, but this can be changed to 4:3 with a full 13-megapixels in the camera app.
The front-facing camera has also received an upgrade. Motorola has gone with a 5-megapixel 1/5" S5K5E2 sensor with 1.12 µm pixels and an f/2.2 lens, and again this camera captures 16:9 images by default.
The 2015 Moto G’s camera is a very decent upgrade on its predecessor. The newer Sony sensor Motorola has gone with produces photos with better dynamic range and better detail than before, and combined with improved image processing, we’re seeing a rear camera that’s better in essentially every way.
Starting with the resolution, the 13-megapixel sensor provides a good upgrade in terms of detail and clarity. It’s not quite as good as the latest 16-megapixel sensors we’re seeing in flagships like the Galaxy S6, and some fine detail can be lost when looking at 100% crops of the Moto G 2015’s photos due to a combination of sensor imperfections and post processing. However for the most part, you’re getting a more highly detailed image from the 2015 Moto G, especially in wide shots.
The 2014 Moto G’s camera suffered from a lack of dynamic range and contrast, which made some images look somewhat washed out and less vibrant than they should be. This has been mostly resolved through a sensor upgrade: the Moto G 2015’s images have much greater color depth and better contrast, which helps especially for those wide shots in good conditions that usually feature a mix of shadows and highlights.
Again, we’re not talking about a camera that’s rivalling the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the LG G4, as these two devices have far superior rear shooters with features such as optical image stabilization. But for a budget device, the 2015 Moto G’s camera is very respectable and easily holds its own against the current crop of mid-range handsets and even some last-gen flagships.
The most impressive part of the Moto G’s camera is the HDR mode, which by default will automatically activate where necessary. The HDR mode does a fantastic job of making those high-contrast scenes come to life, with significantly better visible detail in areas of highlights and shadows. It doesn’t get it right all time, sometimes making colors look unrealistic or just plain odd, though most of the time it’s very capable.
The Moto G’s camera isn’t without issues: the camera app is absolutely terrible. Motorola has put in barely any effort into this area of the camera experience, and it often makes it hard to capture a great image from the generally decent camera hardware.
The camera app uses a very simple tap-to-capture interface, which I don’t particularly like. While it may be easier to have one-tap capture, you’re relying on automatic focus to not only focus correctly, but also to choose to right area to focus on. In my experience using the Moto G 2015, autofocus often fails to get one or more of these things correct, which leads to an incorrectly-focused image.
There is an alternate capture mode that you can enable, which sees a ring placed on the display that you can move around to select a focal point and spot-metering zone. This works to a point, but it’s not as quick as the standard tap-to-focus mode we see implemented on nearly every other smartphone. Motorola really needs to look at rival camera apps to see what works and what doesn’t.
The other features found in the camera app, and there’s not many of them, are hidden in an awkward slide-out ring. In here you’ll find the panorama mode and options to force the HDR mode on, as well as flash controls, image size, and video size. Again, Motorola has done the bare minimum here to create a functional camera app, so nothing of note is really included in here.
As for video, the Moto G captures 1080p30 video at 17 Mbps using a H.264 format. Quality from the video is good without being amazing, so it’s generally suitable for the odd recording here and there. Audio quality is acceptable and basically what you’d expect from an entry-level device.
The one main addition to the software stack included with the Moto G is the Moto app. The functionality in this app is limited on the Moto G compared to Motorola’s high-end smartphones, but there are still some useful things to be found.
Moto Assist allows you to change the Moto G’s settings based on certain conditions, such as time and location. Unfortunately you don’t get to set your own triggers and actions, but you can use Moto Assist to silence your phone overnight or during meetings, which can come in handy. One of the other features of the Moto app is Moto Actions: essentially gestures for turning on the flashlight (double chopping the handset) and quick camera capture (twisting the phone twice).
The final feature, and perhaps the most useful, is Moto Display, which shows notifications on your display even when the phone is off. Whenever you pull your phone out of your pocket, or pick it up from a flat surface, the Moto G will display the time and any unread notifications. Tapping on the display reveals further information, and pulling up will take you to the associated app. This feature was first seen in the Moto X, so it’s great to see it transition to Motorola’s entry-level device.
As for battery life, the third-gen Moto G comes with a 9.39 Wh, 2,470 mAh internal battery, larger than the battery in both the Wi-Fi and 4G models of the 2014 Moto G. Paired with a marginally more energy efficient SoC, and the new Moto G should last a lot longer than the previous model.
The Moto G 2015 records better battery performance than its predecessor across the board. Results aren’t amazing in either of our web browsing tests, but the Moto G moves up from the bottom of the chart to the middle, with performance on LTE networks slightly better (compared to other handsets) than on Wi-Fi.
Performance is especially great in PCMark, where the new Moto G lasts a lot longer than the previous generation model. This result tends to mimic real world performance, where I found the Moto G 2015 to last at least a day during my regular usage, which is something the 2014 model couldn’t manage on a consistent basis.
The design of the third-gen Moto G is pretty similar to its predecessors, but the refined back panel gives the phone a more interesting look and feel. The customization options Motorola provides through Moto Maker are great for those who don’t want a plain black phone, and the addition of IPX7 water resistance helps make the new Moto G much tougher and more dependable than before.
I was glad to see that Motorola finally decided to upgrade the SoC in the Moto G, moving from a Snapdragon 400 to Snapdragon 410. This upgrade provides a decent 20% boost in CPU performance, which helps to make the Moto G a faster and more responsive device to use. The internal storage in the 2015 Moto G is a lot faster than in the 2014 model, and it’s great to see a 16 GB model available with 2 GB of RAM for just $40 more.
The other main upgrade the Moto G has received is in the camera department. The new 13-megapixel rear sensor is a big improvement on its predecessor, both in resolution and in quality. Motorola has greatly improved their camera processing in this generation of smartphones, which leaves the Moto G 2015 with a decent entry-level shooter. I was particularly impressed with the HDR mode, which produces some awesome results.
On the other hand, the Moto G’s camera app is terrible, and Motorola really needs to put in some effort here to make the overall camera experience great. The software experience overall is pretty barebones, though I expect this will please those who love the look and feel of stock Android 5.1.
The most disappointing part of the Moto G 2015 is the display. The 5.0-inch 720p IPS LCD is still okay as far as entry-level displays go, but it’s noticeably worse than the similar panel used in the 2014 model. I’m not quite sure why Motorola felt the need to mess with the display calibration in their new smartphone, and I’d love to see the company attempt to address this problem through a firmware update.
One of the best aspects of the Moto G remains the price tag: at just $180 for the 8GB model with 1 GB of RAM, this smartphone is exceptionally affordable and a very decent value proposition considering the hardware inside. Spending an extra $40 is worth it if you want more storage and RAM, but there’s no denying that either option is a great choice if you’re after an entry-level smartphone.
Motorola is hoping for a hat trick this year with the release of the third-generation Moto G. This new model isn’t a huge upgrade on last year’s Moto G, with Motorola sticking to incremental updates to some aspects of the hardware. However, considering the Moto G is still being sold at the same $180 price point as its predecessors, any hardware upgrades are much appreciated.
One of the biggest updates to the Moto G in this year’s variant address a significant issue with last year’s model. The new Moto G finally comes with 4G LTE connectivity as standard, thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 410’s integrated LTE modem. We’re also seeing decent upgrades to the front and rear cameras, plus an updated water resistant design.
Stock Android fans will also be glad to know that the third-gen Moto G comes with essentially vanilla Android 5.1 on-board. This means no ugly skins, virtually no bloatware, and a visual style that’s consistent throughout the OS. Motorola also tends to be fairly quick when it comes to OS updates, so we can expect the Moto G 2015 to be updated to Android 6.0 ‘Marshmallow’ shortly after its launch later this year.
The design of the Moto G 2015 should be pretty familiar to anyone with a second-generation Moto G from last year. The general shape of the handset, including the curved back panel and rounded rectangular profile, is essentially unchanged. The new Moto G is very slightly taller and around half a millimetre thicker, but it’s pretty hard to notice these differences when you hold both devices in your hands.
On the front of the new Moto G you’ll find the 5.0-inch display flanked by two speakers to the top and bottom. At first glance this indicates the Moto G has stereo front facing speakers, but this isn’t the case. Instead, the bottom speaker is used for media such as music and videos, while the top speaker is reserved for phone calls. This is actually a downgrade on the 2014 model that did include true stereo front-facing speakers, which is disappointing to see.
The 2015 Moto G doesn’t feel huge for a five inch handset, though Motorola didn’t go to a significant effort to reduce the bezel around the display. Compared to a flagship like the Galaxy S6, the Moto G has a noticeably wider bezel on either side, and there’s quite a bit of unused space above the display. The size of the bezels definitely don’t affect the usability of the new Moto G, although it is a reminder that the device is designed for the entry-level market.
The most significant changes to the design of the Moto G are found on the back. The soft touch plastic used for the removable back panel has been replaced with hard, textured plastic, which definitely gives it a different look and feel. I’m not convinced that the corrugated design is an improvement in texture, but I do think it gives the handset a more sleek and stylish look.
The main point of interest on the rear of the Moto G is an attractive camera assembly surrounded by matte grey plastic, which breaks up the otherwise monotonous use of black in this model. You can get the Moto G in a range of other colors for both the back panel and the camera assembly through the Moto Maker, allowing you to further customize the look of the device.
The edges of the Moto G are made from a cheapish, smooth, metallic plastic (depending on the model you get), which feels acceptable in the hands for an entry-level handset. The right-hand side features both the power button and volume rocker in an accessible location, while the micro-USB charging port is along the bottom, and the 3.5mm audio jack on top.
The Moto G’s rear cover can be removed, albeit with some difficulty, to reveal the two micro-SIM card slots (if you have a dual-SIM model) alongside the microSD card slot. To the disappointment of some, the Moto G doesn’t feature a removable battery despite the removable cover.
You’ll want to re-install the Moto G’s rear cover pretty securely, otherwise the handset will not be water resistant. If you do secure the rear cover, the Moto G is IPX7 rated, meaning it’s protected against immersion in up to 1m of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Motorola says they’ve protected the phone in this way to prevent splashes and accidental drops in water from ruining it, which adds to the toughness of the device.
Water resistant smartphones are also significantly less annoying than before, thanks to new technology that allows both the audio jack and USB port to be uncovered during immersion. This means no fiddly flaps protecting either of these ports, and although I don’t find myself wanting to use the Moto G underwater or in the shower all that often, it’s nice to know the phone won’t be ruined if I accidentally drop it in the toilet or sink.
The display on the front of the Moto G is protected by smooth Gorilla Glass 3, as you’d expect from pretty much every smartphone released over the past few years. The display itself is a 5.0-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 1280 x 720, resulting in a pixel density of 294 PPI. Although this display’s specifications are identical to the display used in the 2014 Moto G, the third-generation model’s panel is actually somewhat different.
I’ll start with what I like about the display. In a $180 smartphone, a 720p display is still standard, so you’re not getting a last-generation piece of hardware. The resolution is good enough to display images and text reasonably sharply, and peak brightness is higher than last year’s model, which makes the display easier to see outdoors. Viewing angles are good but not great from this IPS-class display.
The main issue I have with the 2015 Moto G’s display is that it’s simply not as good as its predecessor. Motorola has calibrated this display pretty poorly, resulting in an overall color tone that’s far too blue. This leads to general undersaturation of colors, and can give the display a washed out look in comparison to last year’s Moto G. Considering both phones retailed for the same price, this regression in display quality is pretty disappointing.
It is possible that Motorola could adjust the calibration of the display through a firmware update, especially if the issues lie in software rather than in the make-up of the display itself. I wouldn’t hold my breath for such an update though.
Hardware Overview & CPU Performance
After two years with the Snapdragon 400 inside, Motorola has updated the Moto G’s SoC to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 in the 2015 model. We first got a good look at the Snapdragon 410 in the Samsung Galaxy A5, and the MSM8916 used in the third-gen Moto G is largely the same. This means we’re expecting to see decent CPU performance gains on the 2014 Moto G with virtually no gains on the GPU side.The MSM8916 in the Moto G 2015 features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 CPU clocked at up to 1.4 GHz, which is slightly higher than the 1.2 GHz CPU clock we’ve seen in other Snapdragon 410 devices (the Galaxy A5 and the 2015 Moto E). This clock speed increase should result in around 15% better performance in CPU limited workloads relative to other Snapdragon 410 handsets.
Interestingly, despite this 200 MHz jump in max CPU frequency, the Moto G’s Snapdragon 410 still carries the same model number as other 1.2 GHz iterations. This is somewhat confusing for people wanting to compare Snapdragon 410 devices, but luckily it’s the only major difference.
As for other aspects of the hardware, the 2015 Moto G’s Snapdragon 410 features an Adreno 306 GPU clocked at 400 MHz, as well as a single-channel LPDDR3 memory controller clocked at 533 MHz, providing 4.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Moto G supports 1080p H.264 encode/decode as well as 720p HEVC decode.
For wireless connectivity, the Moto G 2015 supports single channel Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, GPS+GLONASS, and Category 4 LTE. The inclusion of LTE in the 2015 Moto G is a big upgrade on last year’s model, which only featured HSPA+ support in the base model. With this new Moto G, all models support LTE, even the cheapest $179 variant.
There are several versions of the Moto G 2015 in the wild, so you should check with your carrier before making a purchase to ensure the LTE bands supported in the handset match up with those used by your carrier.
Storage-wise, there are two main Moto G models available: an 8 GB model with 1 GB of RAM, which costs $179.99, and a 16 GB model with 2 GB of RAM, which costs an extra $40 ($219.99). I was sent a 16 GB model to review with 2 GB of RAM, and I’d generally suggest to go with this model if you can afford the extra $40, as 8 GB of internal storage can be a bit restrictive for installing applications. The 16 GB model comes with just under 12 GB of usable space out of the box, versus around 5 GB for the cheaper model.
Of course you can add in up to an extra 32 GB of storage via the phone’s microSD card slot, but not every app supports Android’s move-to-SD-card feature, and typically transfer rates from external storage are slower than from in-built NAND.
Camera
One of the major updates to the Moto G is in the camera department. Motorola has ditched the fairly average 8-megapixel Sony Exmor RS IMX179 sensor used in the 2014 model in favour of a newer, 13-megapixel Sony IMX214 in the 2015 model. The IMX214 has been used in several flagships over the past year, including the OnePlus One and Google Nexus 6, and now the sensor has found its way into an entry-level handset.The IMX214 is a 1/3.06" sensor with a total resolution of 4224 x 3400 and 1.12 µm pixels. The pixel size of this sensor is smaller than that of the IMX179, though Motorola has used an f/2.0 lens at an effective focal length of 26mm. By default, the Moto G 2015 captures 9.7-megapixel images in a 16:9 aspect ratio, but this can be changed to 4:3 with a full 13-megapixels in the camera app.
The front-facing camera has also received an upgrade. Motorola has gone with a 5-megapixel 1/5" S5K5E2 sensor with 1.12 µm pixels and an f/2.2 lens, and again this camera captures 16:9 images by default.
The 2015 Moto G’s camera is a very decent upgrade on its predecessor. The newer Sony sensor Motorola has gone with produces photos with better dynamic range and better detail than before, and combined with improved image processing, we’re seeing a rear camera that’s better in essentially every way.
Starting with the resolution, the 13-megapixel sensor provides a good upgrade in terms of detail and clarity. It’s not quite as good as the latest 16-megapixel sensors we’re seeing in flagships like the Galaxy S6, and some fine detail can be lost when looking at 100% crops of the Moto G 2015’s photos due to a combination of sensor imperfections and post processing. However for the most part, you’re getting a more highly detailed image from the 2015 Moto G, especially in wide shots.
The 2014 Moto G’s camera suffered from a lack of dynamic range and contrast, which made some images look somewhat washed out and less vibrant than they should be. This has been mostly resolved through a sensor upgrade: the Moto G 2015’s images have much greater color depth and better contrast, which helps especially for those wide shots in good conditions that usually feature a mix of shadows and highlights.
Again, we’re not talking about a camera that’s rivalling the Samsung Galaxy S6 or the LG G4, as these two devices have far superior rear shooters with features such as optical image stabilization. But for a budget device, the 2015 Moto G’s camera is very respectable and easily holds its own against the current crop of mid-range handsets and even some last-gen flagships.
The most impressive part of the Moto G’s camera is the HDR mode, which by default will automatically activate where necessary. The HDR mode does a fantastic job of making those high-contrast scenes come to life, with significantly better visible detail in areas of highlights and shadows. It doesn’t get it right all time, sometimes making colors look unrealistic or just plain odd, though most of the time it’s very capable.
The Moto G’s camera isn’t without issues: the camera app is absolutely terrible. Motorola has put in barely any effort into this area of the camera experience, and it often makes it hard to capture a great image from the generally decent camera hardware.
The camera app uses a very simple tap-to-capture interface, which I don’t particularly like. While it may be easier to have one-tap capture, you’re relying on automatic focus to not only focus correctly, but also to choose to right area to focus on. In my experience using the Moto G 2015, autofocus often fails to get one or more of these things correct, which leads to an incorrectly-focused image.
There is an alternate capture mode that you can enable, which sees a ring placed on the display that you can move around to select a focal point and spot-metering zone. This works to a point, but it’s not as quick as the standard tap-to-focus mode we see implemented on nearly every other smartphone. Motorola really needs to look at rival camera apps to see what works and what doesn’t.
The other features found in the camera app, and there’s not many of them, are hidden in an awkward slide-out ring. In here you’ll find the panorama mode and options to force the HDR mode on, as well as flash controls, image size, and video size. Again, Motorola has done the bare minimum here to create a functional camera app, so nothing of note is really included in here.
As for video, the Moto G captures 1080p30 video at 17 Mbps using a H.264 format. Quality from the video is good without being amazing, so it’s generally suitable for the odd recording here and there. Audio quality is acceptable and basically what you’d expect from an entry-level device.
Software and Battery Life
The Moto G 2015 comes pre-loaded with Android 5.1.1 in a nearly stock configuration. The launcher, lock screen, notification pane, settings and stock apps will all be very familiar to people who’ve used stock Android before.The one main addition to the software stack included with the Moto G is the Moto app. The functionality in this app is limited on the Moto G compared to Motorola’s high-end smartphones, but there are still some useful things to be found.
Moto Assist allows you to change the Moto G’s settings based on certain conditions, such as time and location. Unfortunately you don’t get to set your own triggers and actions, but you can use Moto Assist to silence your phone overnight or during meetings, which can come in handy. One of the other features of the Moto app is Moto Actions: essentially gestures for turning on the flashlight (double chopping the handset) and quick camera capture (twisting the phone twice).
The final feature, and perhaps the most useful, is Moto Display, which shows notifications on your display even when the phone is off. Whenever you pull your phone out of your pocket, or pick it up from a flat surface, the Moto G will display the time and any unread notifications. Tapping on the display reveals further information, and pulling up will take you to the associated app. This feature was first seen in the Moto X, so it’s great to see it transition to Motorola’s entry-level device.
As for battery life, the third-gen Moto G comes with a 9.39 Wh, 2,470 mAh internal battery, larger than the battery in both the Wi-Fi and 4G models of the 2014 Moto G. Paired with a marginally more energy efficient SoC, and the new Moto G should last a lot longer than the previous model.
The Moto G 2015 records better battery performance than its predecessor across the board. Results aren’t amazing in either of our web browsing tests, but the Moto G moves up from the bottom of the chart to the middle, with performance on LTE networks slightly better (compared to other handsets) than on Wi-Fi.
Performance is especially great in PCMark, where the new Moto G lasts a lot longer than the previous generation model. This result tends to mimic real world performance, where I found the Moto G 2015 to last at least a day during my regular usage, which is something the 2014 model couldn’t manage on a consistent basis.
Wrap Up: Best in Class
After a couple of weeks using the 2015 Moto G, it’s safe to say that, once again, this entry-level handset is one of the best on the market today. This third-generation model packs some decent improvements over its predecessor, and although it’s not a perfect budget smartphone, it presents excellent value for money.The design of the third-gen Moto G is pretty similar to its predecessors, but the refined back panel gives the phone a more interesting look and feel. The customization options Motorola provides through Moto Maker are great for those who don’t want a plain black phone, and the addition of IPX7 water resistance helps make the new Moto G much tougher and more dependable than before.
I was glad to see that Motorola finally decided to upgrade the SoC in the Moto G, moving from a Snapdragon 400 to Snapdragon 410. This upgrade provides a decent 20% boost in CPU performance, which helps to make the Moto G a faster and more responsive device to use. The internal storage in the 2015 Moto G is a lot faster than in the 2014 model, and it’s great to see a 16 GB model available with 2 GB of RAM for just $40 more.
The other main upgrade the Moto G has received is in the camera department. The new 13-megapixel rear sensor is a big improvement on its predecessor, both in resolution and in quality. Motorola has greatly improved their camera processing in this generation of smartphones, which leaves the Moto G 2015 with a decent entry-level shooter. I was particularly impressed with the HDR mode, which produces some awesome results.
On the other hand, the Moto G’s camera app is terrible, and Motorola really needs to put in some effort here to make the overall camera experience great. The software experience overall is pretty barebones, though I expect this will please those who love the look and feel of stock Android 5.1.
The most disappointing part of the Moto G 2015 is the display. The 5.0-inch 720p IPS LCD is still okay as far as entry-level displays go, but it’s noticeably worse than the similar panel used in the 2014 model. I’m not quite sure why Motorola felt the need to mess with the display calibration in their new smartphone, and I’d love to see the company attempt to address this problem through a firmware update.
One of the best aspects of the Moto G remains the price tag: at just $180 for the 8GB model with 1 GB of RAM, this smartphone is exceptionally affordable and a very decent value proposition considering the hardware inside. Spending an extra $40 is worth it if you want more storage and RAM, but there’s no denying that either option is a great choice if you’re after an entry-level smartphone.
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