Motorola is expected to launch its 4th generation Moto G series of smartphones soon. On Thursday, the company's India arm also began sending invites for a New Delhi event on May 17, tipping it may launch the Moto G (Gen 4) aka Moto G4. It might also launch the rumoured Moto G4 Plus as well that houses a fingerprint sensor in addition.
Although nothing is mentioned in the press invitation except for the date, the Lenovo-owned company is anticipated to launch the next-generation Moto G-series smartphone in India first. To recall, Motorola had launched the Moto G (Gen 3) in India first, ahead of similar events around the globe. More details about the event can be expected to be shared by the company soon.
It is worth mentioning that since Lenovo has confirmed plans to overhaul the Moto brand to "Moto by Lenovo", the Moto G (Gen 4) smartphone is likely to be launched with slightly different branding compared to its predecessors.
The Motorola Moto G (Gen 4) and the Moto G4 Plus have leaked quite a few times recently via videos and images. However, none of the information has been confirmed by the company.
Earlier this month, both the Moto G (Gen 4) prototype and the Moto G4 Plus leaked separately in a video and an image. The leaked image showing the white-coloured Moto G4 Plus showed a square-shaped fingerprint sensor placed as a home button, a speaker grille, a front-facing camera, and the rear camera with flash and autofocus sensors enclosed in a pill-shaped module and a dimple with the company logo below the camera.
The video published on YouTube showed the alleged Moto G (Gen 4) lacking the fingerprint sensor seen on the Moto G4 Plus. The black-coloured smartphone was compared with 2014 Moto X model and clearly seemed slightly bigger in size than any other Moto G handsets. The video also showed its Active Display technology, something that has been there in the Motorola handsets since quite a while.
The Motorola brand name will soon be phased out by Lenovo, as the company tries to unify its phone products under one name. Lenovo will be the company name on Motorola phones in the very near future, according to Motorola COO Rick Osterloh, who spoke with CNET here at CES. It’ll be a slow phaseout, but don’t be shocked if the next Moto flagship doesn’t say “Motorola” anywhere on it.
Lenovo plans to continue using the Moto line of products as its high-end offerings, so you could still have devices called Moto X or Moto G, but they’ll be Moto X by Lenovo now.
CNET reports that phones will start showing the blue Lenovo logo, but that the Motorola “M” batwing will still be used as well. So the entire image of Motorola won’t be gone, just the name.
Wait, are those tears? Are you crying? It’s OK, we are too.
UPDATE: Here is the official statement from Motorola on this naming situation.
Motorola Mobility continues to exist as a Lenovo company and is the engineering and design engine for all of our mobile products. However, for our product branding we will utilize a dual brand strategy across smartphone and wearables going forward using Moto and Vibe globally. “Motorola” hasn’t been used on our products since the launch of the original Moto X in 2013.
Motorola just announced an upgraded version of its Moto G smartphone called the Moto G Turbo Edition. The smartphone is a mid-range device and is priced at Rs 14,499 and goes on sale on Flipkart starting from 10 December.
The Moto G Turbo Edition is supposed to be a budget smartphone, however, its hardware specifications place it a notch over the currently available Moto G (2015) smartphone and eerily close to its elder sibling Moto X Play that is priced at Rs 19,999. Still then, the smartphone will find plenty of takers and these will be upgraders who want to step up from the budget Moto G with a few new features.
So without delay, here are our first impressions of the Motorola Moto G Turbo Edition:
Design and Build
As with every other Motorola smartphone that has launched this year, the design is again pretty similar to its predecessors. But the Moto G Turbo Edition does feel a bit special and you will notice this once you pick up the phone. It certainly does not feel cheap and nothing like the Moto G models of the past.
This one feels heavy and premium and the frame that is designed in a typical Motorola fashion is actually made of plastic. On the front we have a Gorilla Glass 3 panel protecting the HD display beneath which has the earpiece on the top and a loudspeaker below.
On the top side of the Moto G Turbo, you will find the 3.5 mm headphone jack accompanied by the secondary mic.
On the bottom bit of the frame is your standard microUSB port for charging and data transfers. While the left side of the smartphone is barren, the right side sports a conveniently placed power or unlock button and volume buttons.
At the back is a grippy fingerprint like texture that lets you grip the smartphone very easily, no matter how you are holding it. The back panel can be removed to reveal the dual SIM set up and the slot for the microSD card. Also visible on the back is the capsule like layout for the Motorola logo (with the typical dimple for support) and camera set up that includes a dual LED flash.
All of the above is tightly packed into a construction that is dust and water resistant with an IP67 rating.
Display
The 5-inch TFT LCD display is indeed a sharp one. Motorola has packed in an HD (1280 x 720 pixels) screen that delivers a pixel density of 294 ppi. While the display seemed perfect for the hardware at first glance we did notice the pentile matrix pattern in the areas that lit up in white. Still then, it is a great display that is bright enough both indoors and outdoors.
Chipset, RAM, Storage
As I said earlier the hardware selection by Motorola is indeed what makes the Moto G Turbo special. And at an asking price of Rs 14,499, the only smartphone that seems to one up the Turbo is the Obi SF1 Worldphone. In addition, you do have better value for money with plenty of upgrades when compared to your typical Moto G. There is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 chipset with an Adreno 403 GPU that is coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. As mentioned earlier Motorola has added its now standard microSD card slot that supports cards up to 32GB, which seems a bit limited.
Motorola indeed seems to know its way with software as the Snapdragon seems to show no signs of stutter or lag while opening closing or switching between apps.
OS, Connectivity
Motorola’s standard recipe of stock Android mixed with a few Moto specific features seems to work well even for its E series of devices. And the same tradition has been carried over with the Moto G Turbo that appears almost stock with a few customisations that never get in your way nor seem to slow down the system. You get just the basics with the Moto login app and the Moto Migrate app that will get you up and running in no time. Also available is the handy flick to launch the Camera gesture (Quick Capture) that we got used to pretty quickly (more so because the grippy back gave us the confidence to do it).
In terms of connectivity, Motorola has left no stone unturned. The smartphone packs in everything under the sun with 4G, 3G radios with a dual SIM set up, 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0 LE and the usual GPS, AGPS, GLONASS.
Camera
The Moto G Turbo Edition packs in a 13MP, AF, f/2.0 primary camera with a 76 degree field of view (FOV) and also packs in a dual tone, dual-LED flash. The camera supports 4X digital zoom, and is capable of shooting 1080p Full HD video at 30 fps, slow motion video, iHDR Video, Auto HDR and even offers video stabilisation. A 5MP Fixed Focus unit sits on the front that sports an f/2.2 aperture with a 72 degree FOV. Our initial tests showed above average image quality on a cloudy day so we will hold back our view for the full review.
Battery
Given the price tag, you pretty much get a bang for your buck when it comes to battery life. The device packs in a 2470mAh battery and the smartphone supports Motorola’s TurboPower charging tech that delivers up to 6 hours of use from just 15 minutes charging. Motorola claims that the battery is designed to last a full day, but we will have to test that out to come to a conclusion.
Bottom line
We would like to think of the Motorola Moto G Turbo Edition as the first smartphone to step out of the G series. With the plastiky Moto G still on sale, we are pretty sure, Moto fans may want to upgrade given the better specs and the snappy new processor. So far we like what we see, a premium looking device with plenty of heft and horsepower that comes very close to its true mid-range sibling the Moto X Play. Still then we would suggest that you hold on to your purchase until our full review arrives.
Lenovo has acquired Motorola from Google about a year back. In the past one year, we have seen the company trying to maximize synergies between the two groups and growing their market share in process.
Recent reports are suggesting that Lenovo will be fading out its Vibe brand now. This statement was made by none other than Chen Xudong, president of Lenovo's Mobile Business Group in conversation with Tech QQ .
In the global markets, Lenovo is offering smartphone under three brands - Lemon, Vibe and Motorola. The Vibe series usually comprises of the mid-to-high-end range of smartphones, while the affordable smartphones usually are nestled under the Lemon range.
Going forward, Lenovo will be pushing its mid-range offering under the Motorola brand. By doing this, the company will also make sure that it is not cannibalising its own brand. However, one cannot forget the fact that most Lenovo phones come with a skin while Motorola offers stock Android experience out-of-the-box. It will be interesting to see how that pans out.
Commenting on this move, the research firm Canalys said, "Lenovo kills Vibe smart phone brand to give way to Motorola in the mid-to-high end. Will help simplify portfolio and reduce cannibalisation."
In the last one year, we have seen very interesting smartphones from both Lenovo and Motorola brands and we are hoping that with the dilution of the Vibe brand, it will be able to cater to different consumer groups more appropriately.
Motorola still hasn’t released any official details regarding the next-generation Moto 360smartwatch, but a big leak from the company earlier today may suggest the new device is coming our way soon. Motorola posted (then quickly deleted) a video on its Twitter account of what appears to be the new Moto 360, giving us a pretty clear look at the device’s new form factor. The video also appeared on the company’s Instagram account, but that video was also deleted soon after it was posted. The screenshot above shows off the supposed next-gen device, which features a power button that sits at the 2 o’clock position, as opposed to the 3 o’clock placement on the first-gen watch. The device also looks to have newer lugs that will perhaps make it easier to swap out watch straps. Also featured in the new render is the “flat tire” from last year’s model, which is a design element many consumers weren’t happy with the first time around.
The render attached above looks almost identical to the leaked images from Lenovo’s CEO that we saw back in May.
Of course, this video doesn’t confirm anything quite yet, though it’s very suspicious that the company would tweet out a video and delete it right away. What say you? Could this be another look at the new Moto 360?
Details about the third-generation Motorola Moto G have started to appear, as Motorola is rumoured to be looking at updating a number of handsets.
With Motorola updating products with the same name, it can get a little confusing, so we'll try and keep things clear. Motorola has used the following names: Moto G, Moto G 4G , Moto G (2014), and Moto G 4G (2015). And those last two are both considered variations of the second-generation Moto X.
Still confused? Well, for the purposes of this particular round-up, we'll refer to the newly-leaked phone as the third-generation Moto G (2015).
Keep in mind there's little information about the device at this time, but we plan to continually update this piece as more information comes to light.
Moto G (2015) release date
Motorola previously used a phased roll-out of devices. Some launched earlier in the US, although we suspect that was partly due to Moto Maker and the "Made in USA" tag. With the company now owed by Lenovo, things might be different looking at wider, co-ordinated global release.
The original Moto G was launched in November 2013, the next-gen device was launched in September 2014. These have been flanked by 4G updates as well, remember. We originally thought that IFA 2015 sat well with Moto's plans, but a report is suggesting that it might be as early as 28 July.
Brazilian website Techmundo exclusively reported that it will be landing much sooner than we expected. Keep in mind Motorola sent out formal invitations to the press for a launch event on 28 July.
There's no indication of exactly what the launches will be, with the invitation simply stating that "your relationship status is about to change", with some hugs and kisses from Motorola. But wait! Those hugs and kisses aren't just scrawls - they appear more like XGX - suggesting that we'll be seeing the Moto X and the Moto G updated.
Moto G (2015) price
The 5-inch Moto G 4G cost £159 when it launched earlier this year, making it an affordable device for consumers, and so we expect Lenovo-owned Motorola to continue offering the Moto G line at such attractive price points. It's reported to cost R$899 (that's Brazilian Real), which is about £180. That's a slight boost over the £149 the Moto G 4G currently costs, but if rumours are true, you're getting a little more phone for your money.
Moto G (2015) specs
The third-generation Moto G (2015) has the model name XT1543 as well as the codename is Osprey, according to the XDA forum, which dug up details and photos from a now-deleted YouTube video of the leaked device.
The device is said to have a 5-inch 720p display, Snapdragon 410 processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB of storage, 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, 5-megapixel selfie camera, and a dual flash. It's suggested that there will be a 2GB RAM and 16GB storage model too.
It will also come with Android 5.1.1 Lollipop and the new Messages app from Motorola as well as the Moto app (which allows you to use voice commands and more).
There might also be a microSD card slot and support for 4G. Keep in mind the original Moto G, which was announced in 2013, didn't feature 4G or a microSD card slot. In 2014, the second generation Moto G brought a larger screen and better camera, but again, no 4G (the 4G variations of those devices actually brought 4G).
So, you can expect the third-generation Moto G to boast significant camera improvements, the same screen-size as the last Moto G, the same 64-bit quad-core chip as the new Moto E, and LTE connectivity from the get-go.
More recently, Google+ users Neo Lee and Leonardo Fiaschi have found and shared a leaked video (above) of the third-generation Moto G (2015) via their profiles and are calling the device a prototype.
Also, Digitec accidentally posted (and then removed) product listings for a "3rd gen" Moto G on 21 July. The Swiss retailer claimed the upcoming phone features a 5-inch 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, LTE, 1.7GHz quad-core chip (probably the 64-bit Snapdragon 610), and 8GB of expandable storage.
Reddit user Coconuttery also spotted information on Motorola's Moto Maker and shared it before Motorola could pull the page. The page suggested you’ll be able to get the third-generation Moto G (2015) with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage or 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage.
Design and Moto Maker
It appears as though the third-generation Moto G (2015) will have a build quite similar to all the other Moto Gs. The only significant difference is that this device looks to be sporting a textured rear cover and some sort of strip that houses the upgraded snapper and dual flash.
We can also see the ergonomic dimple with Motorola's logo on the back. We're not sure if the strip setup will bring any new capabilities (like, maybe the dimple is now a power button). It might just be a design change. There have been render leaks, prototype leaks and photos appearing of what are claimed to be pre-release samples. We've also seen leaked images passed to TechnoBuffalo, giving us renders that match those leaked devices, so we're pretty sure this is the new design.
However, we're now hearing that the Moto G (2015) will have an IPx7 rating, making it water resistant. This would be something of a boost for the affordable handset, making it one of the cheapest protected phones around. Motorola is no stranger to water proofing: it has had water repellant technologies on a number of previous handsets, from the nanocoating of the Moto Razr i through to the recent Nexus 6.
In addition, according to notorious leakster Evan Blass, the Moto G will be available through Moto Maker. The website, which launched for the Moto X, allows you to personalise the design of your phone. You can pick colours for the rear panel and the camera module on the back, for instance.
The leak from Blass shows a variety of colours that'll presumably be available, but there is no indication of alternative materials like wood or leather.
Update: Reddit user Coconuttery spotted information on Motorola's Moto Maker and shared it before Motorola could pull the page. According to that leaked information, the front of the third-generation Moto G (2015) will be available in black or white (like the Moto X), while the back panel will be available in cherry, cabernet, blue, raspberry, turquoise, black, gold yellow, white, lime, or navy. Accents colours include metallic versions of blue, red, lemon lime, champagne, black, orange, violet, pink, dark chrome or light chrome.
Motorola posted the Android 5.1 changelog for the second gen Moto E earlier this month (along with the 1st and 2nd gen Moto X). A week later, we saw over-the-air updates go out. What about the older Moto E released a year before? As it turns out, Motorola isn't leaving the phone behind. The company is currently soak testing Android 5.1 on the device is India.
At 209.5MB, this update is even smaller than the 250MB one that 2nd gen owners received. It bumps devices up to software version 23.21.15. If all goes well, hopefully an OTA will roll out to a broader audience soon enough.
The new Motorola Moto E smartphone is a great pick as an affordable option, but if you’re looking for something cheaper than Rs 7000, the first gen model still presents itself as a viable choice. The phone has been given a price cut in India where it’s now listed on Flipkart for just Rs 4999.
Just so you know – The Motorola Moto E first gen was launched last year at Rs 6999 which is the same amount you’d have to pay for the new 3G model. The phone from yesteryear is still a great pick mainly since the company is still supporting it with new updates.
Motorola has decided to skip on the Android 5.0 Lollipop update and bump the phone along with other devices from last year straight to version 5.1 in the near future. And as you know, the handset delivers a near-pure stock experience as you will not find any clutter or bloatware in the software.
A 4.3-inch qHD display delivers the visuals on the front, while the rear packs a 5MP camera. And on the inside, there’s a 1.2GHz dual core processor doing the hard work. The Moto E offers basic memory provisions where the internal storage is just 4GB, while the RAM is an entire gigabyte.
Head over to this link to purchase the Motorola Moto E gen 1 smartphone at Rs 4999. Flipkart is also accepting exchanges where you can get up to Rs 1000 off by trading in your old smartphone.
The Motorola Moto E 2nd gen smartphone with 4G LTE has finally been launched in India with a budget-friendly price tag of Rs 7999 attached to it. It’s available for pre-order through Flipkart and shows a tentative release date of April 23, though a PR person we spoke to said that it could be out in the market within a week’s time.
The 4G LTE version of the Motorola Moto E gen 2 will arrive earlier than expected if it does land this week. Since network operators across India are still trying to catch up to the times, we’d say that the currently available 3G variant of the phone will end up being more popular. But it’s always nice to have choice, of course.
The 2015 version of the Moto E carries a few improvements over its predecessor. While its 3G model embeds the same old Qualcomm chip, the 4G-capable handset integrates a quad core Snapdragon 410 processor. It has a bigger touchscreen of 4.5 inches instead of 4.3 inches, but disappoints by sticking to the same 960 x 540p resolution panel.
A more powerful 2390mAh battery can be found inside the 4G LTE-enabled Moto E second generation that comes with Android Lollipop out of the box, while the ROM has doubled in capacity to touch 8GB. The 5MP camera on the back which used to be a fixed focus one, now offers auto focus and even launches quickly if you twist your wrist twice.
Encased in a much sturdier frame, the new Moto E has added a front camera, though its only of the VGA type. Still, something is better than nothing for sure. The front panel has also received a face lift in the form just one speaker instead of two. Forget about swapping covers on this smartphone since Motorola has made it non-removable.
Motorola Moto E 2nd gen 4G LTE specifications list:
The black as well as white Motorola Moto E gen 2 smartphones are listed on this Flipkart page in 4G LTE as well as 3G versions. The latter variant costs Rs 1000 less than the former.
If you’ve been patiently awaiting the arrival of Android 5.0 Lollipop on your first gen Motorola Moto E, Moto X and Moto G 4G, the wait is most likely going to be much longer. And there’s a good reason for that as the company has decided to bump these handsets straight to version 5.1 which is the latest release from Google.
David Schuster, Motorola’s senior director of software product management, has disclosed this information on Google+. As you probably know, Android 5.0 Lollipop is already in testing for the aforementioned devices and the company has delayed the roll out multiple times citing complications in getting things working perfectly.
Schuster notes that Motorola has also started testing Android 5.1 and given that there are many improvements onboard, the entire focus has been shifted to the newer release. This means that the said handsets will get bumped straight from KitKat to the latest build. The biggest issue is that there’s no timeframe or ETA for the update.
And it looks like it could take quite a while. So you’re going to have to deal with KitKat for a bit longer. But look on the bright side – A lot of devices including flagships are currently on version 5.0 and your old yet capable phone will most likely hit 5.1 before the newer ones.
In other news, the Droid Turbo on Verizon will also be bumped straight to the latest Lollipop release from KitKat. Android 5.1 tags along various improvements such as HD voice calling, native multi SIM support and Device Protection which acts as a kill switch in case of theft, amongst others.
Motorola will most likely deliver Android 5.1 Lollipop to its new lineup first then to the 1st gen Moto E, Moto G 4G and Moto X smartphones. So be prepared for a long wait.
Lenovo CEO Yang Yuanqing had accidentally posted pictures of upcoming Moto 360 on Weibo, reported 9To5Google, adding that Yang, however, pulled off the images quickly.
These 'accidentally' leaked images also carried a quote that read, "Moto 360, matching the arrival of the era of freedom, in the future we want to increase the store features a watch shop."
The images of Moto 360 show that the device is completely different to the existing variant of the wearable. Some experts said that it is likely that the images were of cusomisation options available for the existing smartwatch.
The original Motorola Moto 360 is available in India on Flipkart. The device has got a circular backlit display with a diameter of 1.56 inches and comes with a 320 x 290 resolution that uses a pixel density of 205ppi.
It also gets a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It is powered by the TI OMAP 3 processor coupled with 512MB RAM.
The internal memory of this device is of 4GB. The smartwatch is also fitted with a pedometer and optical heart rate monitor (PPG). The IP67-certified Moto 360 is water-resistant and also supports wireless charging.
The Moto E 2nd generation which carries a price tag of Rs 6999, has been given a release date of March 10 for India. If you’re wondering why Motorola (now Lenovo) has chosen to stick to the same old cost as exiting model, we assure you that it’s not because the features are unchanged. But Xiaomi and other Chinese brands have been selling their awesomely equipped smartphones at such aggressive rates, the new Moto handset will have to struggle for attention if it asks for any more cash.
Diving straight into the matter of what’s different between the first and second generation Moto E devices, the touchscreen has been bumped up from 4.3 inches to 4.5 inches, though the same sad 960 x 540p resolution is still sticking around. If you live in India where 4G has yet to become even remotely popular, then the chipset update from a dual core Snapdragon 200 to a quad core Snapdragon 410 capable of LTE connectivity, won’t matter. Because the 3G version of the new Moto E still carries the old chip.
The two front-facing speakers on the original Moto E have made way for a single one on the top. Sitting beside it is a VGA camera which is again another noticeable change present in the successor. The rear cover of the latest iteration of this Motorola phone is now non-removable and the battery has been upgraded from 1980mAh to 2390mAh. Other fresh specs include Android Lollipop upon launch, double the ROM and a sturdier body. The 5MP back snapper has been enhanced but unfortunately, not with flash.
Motorola Moto E 2nd gen specifications at a glance:
– 1.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 410 chip (LTE version) – Android Lollipop OS – 4.5-inch 960 x 540p IPS display – 5MP main camera, VGA front-facing lens – 1GB of RAM, 8GB internal storage – 32GB microSD card support – 129.9 x 66.8 x 12.3 millimeters – 145 grams – 2390mAh battery
With only two more days left until the new Moto E 2nd generation hits Flipkart, we hope this comparison was useful to help you decide whether you want to ditch your old budget Android phone or not.
Continuing their exclusive partnership, Motorola and Flipkart are all-set to make the Moto E (2nd Gen) available in India with a starting price of Rs. 6,999. The sale would begin in the coming days.
Flipkart on late Thursday made the announcement through a tweet posted from its official account. The tweet does not give any particular schedule about the availability, but confirms that the new Moto E will be exclusively available on Flipkart.
Though, Motorola unveiled the 4G and 3G variants of the Moto E (2nd Gen) earlier this week, the Indian market is expected to first get the 3G (dual-SIM) variant which a price tag of Rs. 6,999. This is the same price tag at which the companylaunched the first-generation of the Moto E in India in May last year.
Earlier this month, Flipkart reduced the price of the original Moto E to Rs. 5,999 and introduced an exchange offer to give further Rs. 1,000 discount on the reduced price.
The Moto E (2nd Gen) features an all-new 4.5-inch qHD IPS display and is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor along with 1GB of RAM. There is 8GB internal storage which can be expanded up to 32GB and a 2,390mAh battery. The smartphone sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera and runs on Android 5.0 Lollipop operating system out of the box.
Alongside new upgrades on the specifications front, Motorola has provided some of its proprietary software tweaks on the Moto E (2nd Gen) to make it closer to its Moto X flagship. These tweaks include active display and Quick Capture feature among others.
In a unique press announcement of the device, Motorola delivered the new Moto E smartphone to some select media organisations overseas. It was previously announced that Motorola would hand-deliver a box to members of the press although it wasn’t clear what would be in the box.
The LTE version has a 1.2GH quad-core 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor and a 400MHz Adreno 306 GPU. It comes with 8GB storage space and 1GB of RAM.
The device has a VGA camera in the front and a 5 megapixel rear camera with autofocus and 720p video recording capabilities. The storage space can be expanded via a MicroSD slot with 32GB limit. Other connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0LE, GPS/ A-GPS, GLONASS, FM radio, and Micro-USB.
According to Motorola, the Moto E LTE has a 2390 mAh battery which will last a full day. The new Moto E weighs 145 grams.
There is also a 3G version of the Moto E which has 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 32-bit processor and has a 400MHz Adreno 302 GPU. The new Moto E also runs Android Lollipop and Motorola is also bringing personalised software experiences from Moto X to the budget Moto E device.
Moto E 2 gen has a 4G LTE version.
Users will also have the option of choosing from interchangeable Motorola Bands and Grip Shells. There will be six Motorola Bands in the following colours: Golden Yellow, Turquoise, Blue, Raspberry, Purple, Red. The Grip shells are available in Golden Yellow, Charcoal, Turquoise, Blue, Raspberry.
The company is rolling out the new Moto E in 50 countries starting with the US. The unlocked 3G version will cost $119.99 which is around Rs 7430, so it could cost slightly more when it launches in India, thanks to taxes. The 4G LTE version will cost $149.99, which is around Rs 9288. What is not clear is if the 4G version will come to India because Motorola’s blogpost says that 4G might not be supported in all regions.
Photos of the 2nd-generation Moto Ewere leaked last month and we knew that the new model is arriving soon. A few weeks later, the second edition is ready for the budget-conscious market. The first version was not exactly a bestseller but Motorolais determined to make it big once again, at least, in the low-end smartphone arena. And why not, the new Moto E has potential because it already comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop.
They say that the new Moto eis simply a Moto G but with minor changes. It's best for the prepaid market and the specs are good enough with basic smartphone functions. This one now comes with a front-facing camera, something that the first-gen Moto E lacked. It's only VGA though to complement the 5 megapixel rear camera. Good enough.
The 2nd Gen Moto E 2015 comes equipped with a 4.5-inch TFT LCD screen with 540 x 960 pixel resolution, 1GB RAM, 8GB built-in storage, microSD card slot, 5MP camera, VGA front-facing camera, WiFi, 4G LTE, Bluetooth 3.0, GPS, and HD voice. Phone runs a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 (8210) processor which is similar what the first Moto E has.
Looking at the specs, they're impressive for a budget smartphone. According to Motorola, this phone will come to carriers who weren't able to receive the first Moto E. We'll see if Motorola will be able to sell more Moto E this year. Available from Best Buy for only $99.99.
While announcing the launch of its offline customer stores, Motorola has put speculations on sales figures to rest, revealing that it sold around 3 million Moto series phones in India till date. The news comes via a tweet sent out by the company’s Twitter account through which it has been posting updates about its press event in Bangalore.
The Moto G, X, and E as well as the 2014 versions of the first two handsets we’ve mentioned have been released in the country so far. Motorola’s press conference in Bangalore was being held to announce the launch of ‘customer experience zones’ in the city. It’s being said that more metros across India will soon be welcoming these service centers too.
By the looks of it, Motorola is getting ready for another shot at competing with rivals by setting up such zones seeing as poor customer care support is one of the major grievances voiced by people. Even Xiaomi which is enjoying a good run in India at present, witnesses its Facebook page being bombarded with complaints about after-sales services.
Of course, since Flipkart has exclusive rights over selling the Moto smartphones on these shores, you won’t be able to buy any of the handsets in the lineup from the customer experience zones. That’s a pity though, since the fastest way for those who want to grab a device after test driving it would be to purchase it then and there.
Still, Motorola doesn’t seem too disturbed by the idea of possibly losing a potential buyer because of this. It probably has to do with the fact that its phones offer such good value for money, people would still flock online to pick one up. After all, Flipkart has managed to push out 3 million Moto devices within 10 months.
The Moto E has been one of Motorola ’s most popular smartphones in India and while its larger siblings have already been treated to the latest Google OS update, Lollipop is almost here for the device in question. Reports making the rounds claim that the brand has started inviting users in India for a soak test where they will be able to evaluate the Android 5.0 upgrade before it’s rolled out to the masses.
The emails are basically sent to Motorola Feedback Network members and it looks like the firmware is yet to get seeded. GSMArena is reporting this information citing STJA Gadgets as its source. As you probably know, soak tests usually run for around a week or two and if everything works out well, we could soon see Android Lollipop reach all Motorola Moto E users in India this month itself.
The Motorola India Fans Facebook page (not official) also reported about the soak test invites being issued and we’ve even seen a few thread about the same on XDA, further confirming the news. The fan page went on to explain why the update has been delayed for most Motorola devices stating that bugs in the original 5.0 release caused issues with Wi-Fi, calls, Bluetooth and battery drain on non-Nexus devices.
And version 5.0.1 didn’t really fix the problem which is mainly why the new updates are rolling out with 5.0.2. Additionally, Android 5.1 is just around the corner, but we doubt the Moto E will be getting it anytime soon.
Here’s a recap on what the Motorola Moto E offers in specs:
