Motorola is known for its affordable cell phones and the new Moto E aims to continue that legacy. For just $ 150, it has some premium features, topped off by its dual camera setup. This device directly competes with other affordable smartphones, such as the Galaxy A01, and is even cheaper than the iPhone SE or Galaxy A51.
The focus here is on the camera, with a 13-megapixel main lens and the ability to create the popular bokeh effect . But this adds to a fairly acceptable experience for the rest of the hardware.
After spending last week with the Moto E, we discovered that it has enough power, but as with any affordable device, there are compromises.
An elegant design
You wouldn't normally describe a $ 150 smart phone as high-end, but this Moto E can be measured to some degree with some of the more expensive phones, particularly for the smooth finish on the back and a relatively large 6.2-inch screen. .
It is thicker and heavier than the Galaxy A01. There's also only one color option: a midnight blue that looks good, though not out of the ordinary. It does not appeal to you, for example, the color options for the iPhone 11 or the (PRODUCT) RED iPhone SE.
Longtime Motorola fans (we included ourselves) will be delighted to see the logo on the back also works as a fingerprint sensor. Not bad on a $ 150 cell phone.
The logo is on the top center and the camera module is on the top left side. This module is made up of several lenses and stands out a little. The top of the device houses a headphone jack, while there is a SIM and microSD card slot lives on the left edge. The power button and volume control are on the right.
For some reason Motorola opted for a micro USB charging port located at the bottom. We understand that it is an affordable device and that the components are probably very cheap, but we would have preferred a USB-C port, especially considering that this device does not support wireless charging. Motorola includes a charger and cable, at least.
On the front, you'll find a 6.2-inch LCD screen with a teardrop notch. Similar to the design on the Galaxy A01. You will also notice a large bezel at the bottom. The bezels on the left, right, and top are smaller.
With 720p HD resolution, the LCD screen is not exactly the sharpest, and when text or images get closer they are blurred. It just isn't as sharp as the glass on a Retina display or an AMOLED. With that said, it's fine to watch YouTube videos and surf the web. It is also fairly accurate with colors and appears to offer more saturation over the Galaxy A01 (in addition to being larger).
Battery life and performance
Another staple of Motorola smartphones is long battery life, and the Moto E is no exception. Hold a full day with ease by throwing all kinds of tasks and games at him.
The processor works well for the price. Motorola also combines the Android 10 of the Moto E with an incredibly lightweight user interface. The same cannot be said about the Samsung interface on Android 10 on the A01.
For the most part, we've had a smooth experience on the Moto E. The app drawer and quick setup were easy to open and use even with multiple apps already open. We were also able to juggle performance, simultaneously opening 10 apps, including some running background tasks.
The phone had issues with Call of Duty Mobile, but Real Racing worked fine. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 is faster than the 439 on the A01 and is paired with the same 2GB of RAM. Simply put, it is newer and more efficient.
You get 32 GB of internal storage on this phone, which is great for the price. Also, since this is an unlocked device (not tied to any operator), there is not much bloatware or preloaded apps.
Multiple cameras
The 2020 Moto E has two cameras on the back: a 13-megapixel lens and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. Both are paired with a single LED flash, but the quality is average.
Photos look realistic and color accuracy seems accurate as long as you take the time to adjust the focus.
The photos aren't as good as a high-end phone, but certainly enough for Instagram, especially when price is considered.
Photo of the Moto E 2020
Photo of the Moto E 2020
Unfortunately, the bokeh effect is not well resolved. Even with the 2-megapixel depth sensor, the Moto E struggled to focus on a subject and separate it from the background. It was frustrating, but we recommend taking normal photos and then applying edits to get the effect.
The 5 megapixel front camera is also acceptable. Without getting close, it captures a good amount of detail, allowing you to take selfies that are not scary to share. The camera also does the job for video calls via Google Duo or Facebook Messenger.
The main camera on the back can record video up to Full HD in 30 or 60 frames per second.
In summary
When it comes to $ 150 smartphones, we believe the Moto E offers the best value for money. It has a large screen of good enough quality for most tasks, and its task handling is quite fast for a mid-range device. The Moto E's battery life is so long that it will be difficult to find a way to drain it in less than a day.
You'll get a great cell phone for $ 150 and it keeps Motorola on top when it comes to affordable smartphones.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of article posting.