Motorola have been winning many fans with their recent no-frills, budget Androids.
There's nothing overly fancy about the new Moto E 2nd Generation but that’s just fine.
What there is instead is a low price tag, followed by a list of specifications that
force you to double check the price and product again in case you made a mistake.
This is now Motorola’s ethos for the low to mid range of the market - simple, affordable
and reliable.
It's a winning combination that is clearly being continued with the second generation
of smartphones.
So what's changed from v.1?
Both this and last year’s Moto E are positioned at the same place in the market – entry
level but just above the real cheap handsets you should avoid.
In 2014 the E was far less inviting than the G, it had a dual core processor and just 4
GB of storage.
It wasn't a bad phone, there was just a considerable spec jump available for not much money.
In 2015 however the reverse is true.
This new Moto E moves to a quad core processor, jumps to 8 gigs of storage and includes LTE.
Add Android Lollipop 5.0 out of the box, almost untouched by Motorola, and the overall package
looks very enticing for a shade over £100.
So unless you want the bigger screen, it now seems silly to spend extra money on the new
G!
Design and hardware If the first generation Moto E’s design
was simple then this is even more so.
There's little to be done when you having a winning formula, so Motorola have done exactly
that: very little.
The screen has moved up in size to 4.5".
Motorola haven't built at this size with this range of Moto phones yet; the first G and
4G were 4.7", so they’ve had to develop a new case that sticks to the current design
language.
The 2015 Moto E is therefore a mid-sized replica of the subtle curves and relatively chunky
design that Motorola are slowly making their own.
There's no need for the E to be super thin or reduce the screen bezels, it is simply
functional.
In fact the size and weight become useful when thinking about the potential user base.
Beyond the bargain hunters, the Moto E may well be used by an older generation elderly,
first time users or perhaps outdoor workers that don't want a fragile mobile computer
in their pocket.
The extra size and weight become a usability bonus here.
The phone is durable as well.
With no IP rating it’s not waterproof, however the thicker build allows it to take a few
knocks.
There's Gorilla Glass on the screen too, so spending the day in your pocket next to your
keys should be fine.
Motorola have also added a notched band surrounding the phone.
This thin circlet is removable and hides the SIM and SD card slots, as well as providing
extra grip.
The band is a little flimsy when removed, although clips into place solidly and won't
come off without a little force.
You can also buy coloured replacement bands for some cheap customisation, or drop a few
pounds an official Grip Shell for extra protection.
Features & Customisation Motorola keep Android very close to stock
on their phones.
The new Moto E has Lollipop 5.0 out of the box, so all of Google's new additions, including
Material Design, user profiles and advanced power management.
Motorola install a handful of apps which may be useful to new users.
Migrate is handy for transferring data from old phones.
Assist can deliver helpful notifications and updates throughout the day and Alert can be
configured to send a message at particular times or scenarios - a useful safety feature.
These apps are lightweight and barely impact on storage or resources.
Otherwise there is nothing else on the Moto E between you and Android, making for a clean,
smooth experience which can be customised as much or as little as you like within the
confines of 5.0 Lollipop.
Performance As an entry level handset you have to accept
some limitations to the system.
If you start opening a lot of apps and browser tabs then performance will take a hit relatively
quickly.
Heavy users should know they need to spend more.
Entry-level components and specifications are much more reasonable & reliable than a
couple of years ago though.
£100 'smartphones' then could do very little well.
Here streaming Netflix or Spotify, or swapping between a handful of open tabs were all easily
handled, if a touch slower than a power user is used to.
The Moto E 2nd Gen is every bit as smart as phones two price brackets above it, you just
need to respect the limitations of having fewer available resources.
Thankfully Lollipop's updated running apps screen makes it easy to dismiss and close
suspended actions.
So should you buy one?
Well, do you need one?
Android familiars will no doubt be looking for more power out of their chosen device.
The E is still very much an entry-level phone in terms of design and features.
If all you’re after though is a cheap and robust modern communicator, with the ability
to keep up to date with today’s apps, social media and general connected life, then the
E is a great choice.
For novice users, kids, young teenagers or indeed anyone else that requires a first smartphone
and doesn’t have any special requirements, it’s difficult right now to recommend anything
other than the new Moto E. Sure you can find some cheaper phones, although
they will undoubtedly lack the prestige and build quality of the Motorola name.
They probably also won’t have the 4G connectivity, which although isn’t a necessity, makes
the E future proofed and compatible with the newest data contracts and network deals.
The only real reason to move away from the E would be to increase the screen size or
camera quality.
Both are tough to do if you’re shopping on a budget.
Aside from Sony, no-one really does decent cameras on cheaper phones, and even cheap
Sonys with a decent camera will command a considerable amount more that Motorola.
The E’s snapper is passable at best and you can’t really ask for more at this price.
The E should really do well everywhere – as a bargain hunter’s dream in established
markets, or as a durable communicator from a respected manufacturer in emerging markets.
If you've got a 100 notes spare and need a stopgap replacement phone, teenage gift or
a new phone for an elderly relative, the E should be right at the top of your shortlist.