Moto G 3rd Gen review: Performance is more important than specifications
iPhone 6 has ‘only’ dual core processor with ‘only’ 1GB RAM. The good news is that most people don’t judge an iPhone based on its specifications. Apple has never given it much importance. Other manufacturers will keep talking between “price to specs ratio” and “experience”. It will also depend on which device they are talking about; are they the leader in their segment or are they in the race to reach there.
However, in the case of entry level smartphones, specifications are everything for people. It is assumed that the customers of this segment are those who do not care about things like stability and user experience, they are only concerned about the specifications of the phone.
We are not saying that specifications are not important in a device and can be ignored. For a long time, entry-level smartphones had weak hardware. Today, you can get a smartphone with specifications that are comparable to a flagship device in the Rs 10,000 range. So, it is completely justified for consumers to be excited.
Sometimes this enthusiasm turns into a strange kind of stubbornness. Due to this, many people trust Mi, Yu and other ‘flagship killer’ devices because their specifications are of premium type. How is the general experience of using them, it does not matter. On the other hand, devices that compromise on specifications for stability and user experience do not get customers. The poor response received by the Android One smartphones launched last year is a perfect example of this type of behavior.
Lenovo (which now owns Motorola), Xiaomi and Micromax have been praised for their growing customer base for all the right reasons, but the reality is that these companies still have a long way to go in terms of software stability before they can be compared to the stability of devices made by companies like Apple, Motorola, HTC and Samsung. Some companies are even charging money from customers and using them as beta testers. This saves the cost of testing which helps in reducing the price of the handset. On the other hand, the devices of companies that focus on user experience, software stability and respect the money and time of the users seem to be a little more expensive than others.
Now let’s talk about Moto G 3rd gen. The specifications of Moto G 3rd gen seem a bit weaker than Lenovo K3 Note and Xiaomi Mi 4i, but being waterproof and excellent software experience are among the special features of this handset. We used Moto G 3rd gen as a primary smartphone for about a week and found it to be a reliable device. Let’s know in detail about other aspects of the phone.
Design and display
The Moto G 3rd gen has a design that is typical of Motorola but the device also has some unique touches. The smartphone may not be the biggest eye-catcher with its looks but it feels great in the hand and doesn’t look weak in comparison to more expensive devices. The textured finish on the back panel strikes a perfect balance between design and functionality. It looks good and provides enough friction against your hands to keep the phone securely in your grip. The textured finish on the handset isn’t too rough like we have seen on some other handsets.
The back cover of Moto G 3rd gen can be removed, but the battery is completely sealed so that the device remains waterproof. This is the biggest feature of the device at this price. If you are going to buy a smartphone with your hard-earned money, then we believe that a smartphone with waterproof feature is more profitable than a device with full-HD display and octacore processor. Motorola claims that nothing will happen to Moto G 3rd gen if kept in 3 meters deep water for 30 minutes. This is enough as a safety measure during daily use. Water resistance is present in the phone, it does not mean that you can keep it in your pocket and go swimming in deep water.
During our time with the Moto G 3rd gen, we did feel a little ‘small’. We had to keep reminding ourselves that this is a device with a 5-inch display. This could be due to our habit of using bigger screen smartphones, or it could be due to the device’s excellent screen-to-body ratio. Motorola has given a 720p display in the new Moto G device, which is not as sharp as other smartphones in this price range. It is not going to be that you will start praising the screen as soon as you see it.
However, there is no problem of pixelation in it. The viewing angle of this display, which comes with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection, is good and we did not face any problem in viewing the screen in bright light outside.
Software, Performance and Battery Life
The Moto G 3rd gen runs a stock version of Android 5.1.1. This means that it is way ahead of its rivals in terms of day-to-day performance. Some people like octa-core processors, but we want a stable and hassle-free experience even if the device is running on relatively weak hardware. Lenovo, Xiaomi and Micromax’s Yu have often compromised user experience for specifications, but the same cannot be leveled against Motorola.
It must also be acknowledged that the company has not taken any risk by using almost stock version of Android. Now when consumers are happy with this, then what is the need to change the hit formula? Due to the use of stock Android, the company keeps releasing operating system updates quickly, sometimes even Google’s Nexus device is left behind in this matter. If you like to always stay on the latest Android version, then this is another reason for you to buy this new smartphone from Motorola family.
Moto G 3rd gen has Moto Display feature. This feature was seen in Moto X (Gen. 2). Due to this feature, you will be able to see the time and other notifications even on the lock screen. For this, there is no need to bring the phone in active mode. The smartphone knows when you pick it up and without you doing anything, it automatically makes the information available on the screen, which is a great feature. However, sometimes due to this feature the device seems over-enthusiastic. In fact, while driving, we found that whenever the car encountered small potholes or bumps on the road, Moto Display got activated automatically.
We tested the 2GB RAM/ 16GB storage model (Rs. 12,999). Knowing that there is only a difference of Rs 1,000 between the two variants of the device, the question arises why the 1GB RAM and 8GB storage model was made at all? This variant is unlikely to find customers. We also recommend that you buy the 2GB RAM/ 16GB storage model. The Moto G 3rd gen comes with 4G support on both SIM cards and we thoroughly enjoyed data connectivity on Airtel’s 4G network. Call quality and loudspeaker performance are also satisfactory.
We didn’t notice any performance drop while playing high-end graphics games like Asphalt 8 and the phone didn’t heat up even after playing the game for long hours. However, we noticed the screen getting a little warm when we used 3G for long hours in sunlight and this could be a problem for some. The phone’s settings do say that it has USB OTG support but we couldn’t connect our drive to the Moto G 3rd gen. The smartphone also features some quick gestures like switching on the flashlight by shaking the phone twice or opening the camera app by twisting your wrist twice while holding the phone, all of which could be useful for some people.
The battery lasted for 10 minutes and 46 minutes of continuous SD video playback which is about average for a handset powered by Snapdragon 410 processor. If you are out most of the time and use data on 3G or 4G networks, then charging the Moto G 3rd gen once in a day is not enough. If you use Wi-Fi networks at home and office and only use cellular data when you are out, then the battery will easily last you a day.
Camera
The camera app that comes with the Moto G 3rd gen is in autofocus mode by default. This means you can take a picture by tapping the screen. You can also switch on focus and exposure controls in the app settings. Doing so brings up a reticule on the screen that you can slide to focus on a specific object. There’s also a dial that you can use to change exposure settings. The addition of these new features is welcome. However, it doesn’t work as seamlessly as the tap-to-focus style (you can use a third-party app if you prefer). The app also includes an HDR mode. However, you can’t use it with focus and exposure controls.
In terms of image quality, the Moto G 3rd gen takes photos with a lot of detail both outdoors and in well-lit environments. However, the camera performance in low light could have been better. The front camera is more than good enough to keep selfie lovers happy.
The Moto G 3rd gen can record full-HD videos and slow-motion videos at 720p. Regular videos are decent in terms of quality, but slow-motion videos sometimes show grains despite being shot in daylight.
Our verdict
If you are buying a smartphone to impress others, then Moto G 3rd gen is not for you. There is no such specification in it that you can boast of and win applause. However, if you want, you can show your friends by dropping your phone in a glass full of water. Well, on a serious note, we are happy that water resistance feature has entered at this price point and it is time that this feature should now be included in all smartphones.
This is not the only reason why we recommend the Moto G 3rd gen. The camera and battery life did not disappoint. It is far ahead in terms of stability and user experience and we also believe that every user deserves these two things first.
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