Motorola has unveiled the Moto G – a solid mid-range smartphone for a surprisingly low price-tag -- 8GB and 16GB models available for US$179 and US$199 respectively.
The Moto G is essentially a more affordable version of the Moto X, complete with an “edge-to-edge” display and interchangeable rear panels called “Motorola Shells”. There are also “Active grips” and “flip shells” cases available.
It sports a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 5MP camera and a 4.5-inch 720p display. The 720p screen resolution may not sound like much, but it provides the Moto G with 326 pixels per inch – the same as an iPhone’s Retina Display.
There’s no 4G LTE, which isn’t surprising when you consider that the Moto G will probably see most of its sales in emerging markets.
Initially the device will run Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. An update to 4.4 KitKat has been all but guaranteed, with the US version reportedly set to launch with KitKat ready to go.
As an added bonus the Moto G should be able to take a bit of punishment. It comes rocking the latest Gorilla Glass and a nano-coating for some passable water-resistance.
The Moto G has already launched in Europe and Latin America. It will eventually come to the US and hopefully some other markets like Asia and Australia.
Getting Googly
Since Motorola’s purchase by Google, both companies have gone to extremes to assure the market of Moto’s continued independence. So far this has been evident in Google’s not choosing Motorola to make the just-released Nexus 5.
The Moto G, though, has a definite tinge of the Googs about it thanks to its powerful specs compared to low, low price. So far Google’s Nexus devices have stood alone in their own field of cost-to-quality. Now Motorola – “A Google Company” as Google’s own search engine reminds us – is joining the ranks.
It’s obvious even to the casual observer that the Moto G is aimed at emerging markets. For one, it was launched in Brazil where low-cost smartphones like the Lumia 520 have been doing very well. Latin America has also been the focus of Mozilla’s recent low-cost foray in to the smartphone market, albeit with limited success.
More important than just competition
This could prove to be an important step for both Motorola and its customers in emerging markets. The goodwill Moto could build from an affordable phone that “just works” could be a powerful step forward for the once-great mobile maker.
As quoted in a TechnoBuffalo interview, a Motorola spokesperson said “the average price of a smartphone today in the world is $200. The problem is the experience that smartphones in class provide is really, really bad.”
A smartphone as powerful as the Moto G for only $200 will offer a lot of people access to a previously-unavailable quality of portable internet experience.
It’s not as crazy as Google’s aptly-named Project Loon, but in some way the Moto G will help spread internet to the unconnected, or partially-connected parts of the world that currently lack reliable internet devices. If that isn’t part of Google’s current mantra, we don’t know what is.
Find a better phone plan
Thousands of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
Related Articles
Find Better Phones and Plans
Hundreds of cell phone plans unpacked. All the facts. No surprises.
