Phandroid
Moto G: Unboxing & first impressions
The all-new Moto G was announced in the wee hours of the morning and went on sale almost instantly via Motorola and carrier partners. While early adopters await the shipment of their new smartphone, we already have one in our hands. We cut to the chase and unboxed this bad boy to save you the suspense.
The Moto G is updated for 2014 with a larger display, jumping from 4.5 inches to 5 inches even. While the final display size isn’t equal, the increase in size is equal to bigger display of the new Moto X announced alongside the G. Unlike the Moto X, which saw an increase to 1080p resolution, the Moto G remains a 720p handset.
Apart from the display, the hardware of the phone is a mixed bag of premium and mid-tier specs. Moto wanted to get as close to a premium experience for the Moto G’s budget price as possible, but obviously some concessions were made. You get Snapdragon 400 quad-core processing, 1GB RAM, and an 8MP camera. The battery offers up to 24 hours of use with 2070mAh worth of charge.
The size of the phone is the biggest change you will notice when first freeing the new Moto G from its cardboard packaging. In most other regards, the new edition retains the same overall design of its predecessor. The construction quality is similar in that regard, as well. Whereas the new Moto X moves into the realm of aluminum construction and accents, the Moto G remain all plastic. It’s a solid plastic build (just like the last generation G and X), however.
The Moto G has never offered the customization options available to the Moto X, but Motorola once again offers a removable backplate and a variety of replacement options to add your own personal flavor to the phone. This time around we are also getting some folio-style replacements that offer an added layer of screen protection.
All in all, this is a solid upgrade to what has become one of Motorola’s best selling smartphones. The design and build feels like a phone that could easily cost twice as much, and the specs, though nothing spectacular, leave little room for complaint. Where the Moto G really wins is its price. The phone is available without a contract for $179. If concessions needed to be made to reach that mark, Motorola has done an excellent job in accomplishing the task.
New Moto X (2014) vs Galaxy S5 vs HTC One M8 vs LG G3 [CHART]
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Motorola has had a weird history with Android. First they dominated with the DROID line, then they fell off the map, came back with some RAZR’s, got bought by Google, released the really nice Moto X, got sold to Lenovo, and now we’re here. Motorola is hoping to keep the momentum growing with the new Moto X (hands-on). Let’s take a look at how it stacks up against other top flagship devices.
Flagship Clones
I don’t know about you, but the thing that strikes me about this chart is the similarities between the devices. The display sizes all fall within half of an inch. Processors are identical. Cameras are within 3 or 4 megapixels of each other. Same amount of memory. Same amount of storage. And battery sizes only different by less than 1,000 mAh. There is really only one major difference between these devices: screen resolution.
The new Moto X, Galaxy S5, and One M8 all have 1080p displays. The LG G3 is all alone at 2560×1440. For pixel snobs this may make a difference in what device you pick, but in all honesty 1080p is perfectly fine. Some apps don’t even support 1080p yet, let alone Quad HD.
Intangibles
Since specs are a moot point in this comparison we have to look deeper. A big benefit of owning a Motorola device is you get an almost stock Android experience. That means a fast UI with fast updates to the latest and greatest. Android skins from Samsung, HTC, and LG have gotten better over the years, but if you’re a purist you will love the Moto X.
Another reason to go with the new Moto X is Motomaker. You can customize your device with many different colors and materials. It’s a level of personalization that no other device can offer. The new Moto X even has a few new materials to choose from. Your device can be classy in leather, or fun in bright yellow. Make it yours.
Which device will you pick? Have you already made the decision to go with one of the others? Will you be buying the new Moto X?
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