The Moto G has become a popular choice for Smartphone users, especially in India where entry to mid-level Smartphones are objects of much scrutiny. On paper the Moto G wasn’t as well-specced as the competition from Micromax or Xaomi, but it had a clean and useable interface which they have used to further strengthen their entry-level smartphone game.
The look
Making a Smartphone look too distinct runs the risk of compromising the functionality of its design. The Moto G3 happens to be a fairly conventional looking but excellently finished product. Up front it has a perfectly adequate 5-inch screen with a new upgraded 5 megapixel front camera. At the back, the smooth, curved cover of the G2 has been replaced by a scaled pattern which offers more friction and greater functionality.
While the screen quality isn’t much greater than the G2’s, the G3 runs the latest Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop) and has one of the cleanest interfaces out there. This is largely due to the fact that it runs Android as it is designed to be, sans the additional layers and features that most manufacturers tend to shoehorn into more expensive phones. In a lot of ways, the G3 happens to be a serious bargain thanks to how similar it feels to the Nexus 5.
What’s new?
For a budget Smartphone, the G3 happens to have a major ace up its sleeve – it’s completely waterproof. Not just ‘survive a few rain drops’ waterproof but, take it into the shower with you or dunk it in a glass of water level of waterproof, unseen in smartphones so far. Although we didn’t extensively test this attribute, Motorola claim that the phone can remain fully submerged in water upto 3 feet deep for a good 30 minutes. Needless to say, if you wish to listen to music in the shower, this is your phone. Speaker quality happens to be reasonably loud and clear but this isn’t a phone you should buy specifically for its audio quality.
The Moto G3 continues to be equipped with a 13 MP camera, but upgrades have been made which has improved the overall visual quality. The phone can also shoot videos in 720p and 1080p, so the recording quality is excellent. However viewing hi-res videos on phone isn’t entirely satisfactory. The phone is now enabled with motion tech which allows the camera to automatically activate if the phone is flipped front to back swiftly. You can also turn on the flashlight quickly by two swift shakes in either direction – a novel feature for a budget smartphone. Unlike the previous gen model, the phone is now 4G enabled, and anyone accustomed to 4G speeds can attest that it’s practically impossible to go back to 3G after being acquainted with significantly higher speeds.
The Verdict
What’s most remarkable about the G3 is how often you have to remind yourself that you are using a budget smartphone. It happens to be so incredibly well-finished that there are really no glitches in its ergonomic make-up. While the competition might offer a better processor or greater storage space, none will match the ease-of-use and practicality that the G has to offer. The phone is available in two options – a 16GB/ 2GB RAM model which will cost you Rs 12,999 and a cheaper 8GB/1GB RAM model which retails for Rs 1000 less. Since the top-spec one can barely be considered the pricier model, we’d recommend that’s the one you buy. Running multiple apps never tires the phone – it even managed to run graphic-heavy games like Batman: Arkham Origins and Asphalt 8 without getting overheated.
Yes, the indoor image quality could have been better – the phone isn’t the best when it comes to taking pictures in the dark, but at its price point, it still provides images of great quality (with adequate lighting)
On the whole there’s very little to complain about. For its price, you’re getting a reasonably sturdy, practical and good looking phone which happens to be very similar in make-up to phones which cost a great deal more.
