Motorola today launched the new Moto E (2nd Gen) in India at an event in New Delhi. Although we have already got a taste of the new budget entrant, seeing the new Moto E makes me believe it has the capacity to make an excellent budget smartphone. But its not 2014 anymore. The likes of Xiaomi, Asus and even Motorola’s own parent company Lenovo are here with their own budget smartphones to compete with the Moto E let alone indigenous manufacturers like Micromax.
Hands-on Video
Hardware
The new Moto E comes with all upgraded internals and externals as well. Here are the key specs of the new 2nd Generation Moto E (2015):
- Display: 4.5-inch qHD (540x960 Pixels, 245 PPI) IPS Display, Corning Gorilla Glasss 3, Oleophobic Coating
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Quad-core, Snapdragon 200
- GPU: Adreno 302
- Memory: 1 GB RAM, 8 GB Internal storage, Expandable up to 32 GB with microSD cards
- Camera: 5 MP Rear Camera, Auto-Focus, VGA Front-camera
- Build Features: Water-resistant nano-coating
- Connectivity: 3G, Dual-SIM, WiFi b/g/n, GPS, FM Radio
- Battery: 2390 mAh (non-removable)
Build
Motorola has changed its new design signature which started with the original Moto E. Gone is the speaker grill below the display, which has now been mated with the earpiece up top. The back-cover is also not removable anymore instead you will be able to colorful Motorola Bands and Grip Shells.
Coming to the front you have the 4.5-inch display clad in Corning Gorilla Glass right in front, it has an oleophobic coating, so cleaning smudges would be a lot easier. You have the single speaker cum earpiece above it, alongwith the proximity and light sensors as well as the spanking new VGA front camera. It won’t be great for selfies but would do for video calls. Buttons are on-screen just like the previous Moto E. There is no notification LED this time around, since the Moto E 2015 gets Active Display just like the Moto X for notifications.
You have both the micro-SIM card slots and the microSD card in between them on the left covered by the side band. On the right you will find the volume rocker and the power/lock button.
Both buttons offer excellent tactile response and have good travel.
The 3.5 mm audio jack can be found at the top while the micro-USB port finds its place at the bottom.
Moving to the back you have the new 5 MP AutoFocus camera sans flash. It has a noise-cancellation mic flanking it. We would have liked to see a flash there, but you can’t have everything. Then you have the characteristic Motorola dimple and that’s it. The back has a rubberized finish just like the previous-gen Moto E but somehow feels more premium. The back is non-removable therefore the grip shells go over the back covering it and some part of the front panel as well.
The back arches out in the middle giving the phone an excellent feel in the hand. The buttons as well as the side-band/grip shells are textured, again making the phone easier to hold and feel more solid. The battery on the new Moto E is non-removable as well.
Display
You are getting a bigger display on the new 2015 Moto E which like its predecessor has a slight warmish tone. With 245 PPI its not the most pixel dense display available at this price point, but its plenty sharp and bright. Normal text doesn't appear blurry or pixelated but zooming in definitely does.
It has wide viewing angles and there is no color shifting. Corning’s Gorilla Glass 3 protects the entire front panel from scratches. Although it is mighty reflective and attracts fingerprints. But thanks to the oleophobic coating its easy to wipe them off.
Performance
The new 2nd generation Moto E blazes through tasks without any major hiccups. UI animations in Android 5.0 Lollipop running here are quite smooth, but you will notice that occasional lag or stutter here and there.
Multitasking is quick as well and it seems Motorola has done quite a good job taming Lollipop for the Moto E. The optimizations to RAM management can be clearly seen, with even several apps open we saw more than half the memory available.
Garbage collection is not that aggressive either, so its just the usage of RAM that is regulated but we will more when we play games on the device, how much of that free RAM helps.
Camera
You have a brand new 5 MP rear camera with AutoFocus this time around but there is no flash. It is able to take clear shots with good color reproduction and very little noise. Images generally lack detail given this is just a 5 MP sensor but again it performs better than the previous-gen Moto E which too packed a 5 MP camera but it has fixed focus. Moreover, exposure compensation in images is good and at first glance images look pretty decent, you can have a look at some of the image samples I took at the event.
Now, Motorola has finally included a front-facing camera on the new Moto E (2nd Gen) but it’s a VGA camera. Before you scowl, you have to understand this is a budget device from a Tier 1 company and at Rs. 6999 we shouldn't really be asking for more. The front camera is able to take decent shots and video quality is better than expected.
First Impressions
The new 2nd Generation Moto E comes in at a time when the older model had lost the race to the Xiaomi Redmi 1S, Asus Zenfone 4 and the likes. It’s a breath of fresh air in terms of colors and design, in a space where these two words are taboo. The colorful Moto E bands and Grip Shells transform your black or white device into a new one everytime you try them on.
You have excellent build quality here and great emphasis on usability. Moto E has a likability factor which is not present in most smartphones available in this price bracket.
Moreover there are decent upgrades all around, be it the display, camera, performance, software and even hardware. Keeping the price same you are getting a lot more than you pay for. But the competition is not going to sit idle. With Xiaomi about to launch the Redmi 2 in India probably on March 12th, the Moto E (2nd Gen) would be dwarfed by its specifications. But all is not lost, the new Moto E wins key points on usability and if Motorola can make it available in troves unlike Xiaomi’s flash sale model then the tides may definitely turn.
