Tuesday, August 18, 2015

GADGET GIZMO REVIEW... MOTO G

GADGET GIZMO REVIEW  MOTO G

We have always recommended the Moto G for budget-conscious users who want a great Android experience. The recently launched 3rd generation Moto G improves upon its predecessors with new features and better build quality without an increase in price.
The first thing most users look at in a phone are the specifications. On that front, the new Moto G runs on a 1.4Ghz quad core Snapdragon 410 processor (the same proces sor that powers Xiaomi's Redmi2, which is incidentally , half the Moto G's price). It comes in two variants: 1GB RAM with 8GB storage for `11,999 and 2GB RAM with 16GB storage for `12,999. There is no clear reason here as to why there was a need for a `1,000 cheaper variant with lower RAM and storage -we feel Motorola shouldn't even have bothered to launch this variant.
So, we know that the phone doesn't have the best specifications at this price. You can easily get devices with an octa core Snapdragon 615 processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB storage and full HD display for less than `10,000 now. However, what sets the Moto G apart from these devices is the experience. The stock Android interface runs without any visible lag. Animation effect are fluid, apps run without any sluggishness and switching between apps is butter-smooth. Even the camera app is zippy -it instantly saves images and is ready to capture the next image immediately . Audio output is one of the best we have heard in this class: from both the earpiece as well as the loudspeaker. The 2,470mAh battery easily managed to last over a day with constant 3GWiFi connectivity and mix use of calls, social networking and multimedia.
As usual with Moto phones, the Moto G runs the latest Android 5.1.1 and will be amongst the first device to get any Android updates. Motorola has also made additions to the inter face to enhance user experience. The most useful of these is the inclusion of `Moto Display' -a feature that shows your notifica tions on the lock screen without the need to switch on the display. Borrowed from the more expensive Moto X, this feature makes it easier to keep track of notifications while helping conserve battery power. The built-in the smartphone (which can slow down any phone, even one with double the RAM).
The design of the Moto G has also been improved over its predecessor. The second-generation Moto G front dual speakers are still present but they are much more refined now and add to the overall look of the design instead of appearing as thick silver wedges. The back has a curved design that makes the phone easy to hold and the new textured finish provides excellent grip. A metal housing around the camera & flash connects to the Motorola logo in the center -it makes the phone look distinctive and makes it look more expensive than it is. On the right side are the power and volume keys (metal finish): they are ergonomically placed and easy to reach.
The 5-inch IPS display has a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels and is protected by Gorilla Glass 3 -quite like the Moto G (2nd Gen). In our usage we found the display to show vibrant colours, excellent viewing angles and ample brightness levels. The only thing we didn't like was the thick bezel around the screen.
Durability has also been improved. It comes with IPX7 certification for water resistance.This means that the phone can survive for 30 minutes under 3 meters of fresh water. Note that the back panel should be tightly closed. We dunked the phone in a mug of water for several minutes and the phone continued to function normally. This means that you don't have to worry about the phone getting damaged if some water is splashed on it, if you get wet in the rain or if someone dunks you in a pool.
Cameras have also been considerably improved. The 13MP rear camera takes superb images in daylight as well as indoors -images have good details with vibrant colours. The app doesn't have too many settings but gives you the option to adjust exposure and offers a handy low light mode. The front camera is a 5MP unit now and while it took above average images, we noticed that the colours were slightly washed out.
Overall, the Moto G (3rd gen) proves to be one of the best phones at this price range despite the specifications. Looking at the competition, you can consider Xiaomi's Mi 4i (same price).It has a better, full HD display, superior cameras and better battery life. However, it has non-expandable 16GB storage and is not water resistant at all. Moto app lets you customize notifications as well as block certain apps from showing up on Moto Display . The Moto app also lets you ena ble motion gestures. The Moto Assist function has also now been integrated in the Moto app -you can preset functions to be enabled basis your location (homeoffice etc.) or time. The Moto Migrate app smoothly moves all your set tings and files from an older device to the Moto G. Overall, we feel this approach is better than pre-loading loads of bloatware & junk apps on
karan bajaj


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