Our First Cut Impressions about the Moto E

Ever since Motorola debuted its Moto E smartphone yesterday we have been constantly getting queries regarding its overall make and does it offer the value even at an attractive price point of Rs 6,999? So here we are answering those queries with our in-depth insight on the device which we managed during our hands-on at the launch event.

Built, looks and design: Motorola has continued with its design pattern that were seen with the Moto G and Moto X. The phone is built around curved edges and feels compact with its form factor and 142 grams worth weight. At the back you have a removable panel that is built keeping the rough usage pattern of consumers in India. The nano-coating on Moto E makes the phone water and dust resistant, just like what we saw on the Moto G but for a device in this segment to offer such durability is a massive bonus. During our short stint with the E we found the phone packing the style and design quality that is hard to find in this range.

Display: Moto E comes with a smaller 4.3 inch 960×540 pixels i.e. Qhd display built over Corning Gorilla Glass 3, the one which doesn't require you to spend on a screen guard. Now owing to its size, the viewing angles on offer are not the best but there is only you can ask for in a sub Rs 7K device. The touch interface on the E is smooth and the entire package on the front fits to our liking and we assume the numerous Moto E buyers on Flipkart go along.

Hardware and Performance: The phone packs a 1.2 GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor from Qualcomm and clubbed with 1 GB RAM. I am not the biggest fan of just highlighting the hardware and presuming its output but with this set one can surely expect the Moto E to offer basic capabilities if not more than that.

Camera: Can I call it the most sickening part of the phone? Maybe not. But yes, the 5 MP rear snapper on the E does not warrant any more words. It works on touch focus and you'll be lucky to get a decent shot which might be a rarity. The phone is primarily looking to target first time smartphone buyers moving away from the mist of feature phone as extensively highlighted by Motorola during its promotion. The phone is a good buy for them and it'll be a surprise if they really want the camera to be any better than it is. Mediocre to say the least.

Dual-SIM? microSD slot? Check: Moto E supports dual-SIM connectivity and you'll find the SIM slots underneath the back panel on the right side. You'll need a microSIM to function and SIM 1 offers 3G (H+) option. But the most interesting part about the Moto E is that Motorola has managed to keep things simple and offer a microSD slot for storage expansion up to 32 GB which has been missing on the G as well as X. This enables Motorola to offer single variant of the Moto E, 4 GB to be precise out of which one is able to use less than 1.5 GB due to Android OS taking space as well.

Battery: Motorola promises that the 1980 mAh battery on the E will last you an entire day. Now that's a big claim to talk publicly but looking at what's on offer with the Moto E in terms of hardware you get a feeling that the company might be right after all. Also, Motorola claims that its version of Android UI is a lot friendly and compatible with the hardware, including battery.

Special mention: Motorola has added Motorola Alert feature to the E that offers wide range alert/notification options. You also have an emergency setting that alerts your closest ones if you're caught in any danger/mishap. This feature is only available on Moto E as of now. The front speakers are really loud, good enough for games and even some music if earphones are not your thing. 

Verdict: Motorola garnered applause from the media which is a rarity for any brand. But as you can imagine the company has been spot on with its pricing which many were assuming would be around Rs 8K. Well built, good design, sturdy display, water and dust resistant, dual-SIM, microSD slot are some of the pluses but with camera you have some minuses as well. Exceptional? Not really, but a genuinely good device for its price.