Motorola Moto G 4G Specs Prices & Expert Review

Release and Launch

The Motorola Moto G 4G was announced in May 2014 and released in June of the same year. Over time, it became discontinued, but it remains a prominent device in the series of budget smartphones introduced by Motorola.

Design and Build

With dimensions of 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6 mm and a weight of 143 g, the Moto G 4G was compact and fit comfortably in the hand. The phone features a micro-SIM slot and was available in colors like White, Black, and the special Moto G Ferrari Edition. The build quality was robust, with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection on the display.

Display

The device boasts a 4.5-inch IPS LCD screen, offering a resolution of 720 x 1280 pixels at a 16:9 ratio. This resulted in a pixel density of approximately 329 ppi. The screen-to-body ratio was about 64%, making it an efficient use of the front space for the display.

Operating System and Performance

Initially running Android 4.4.2 KitKat, the Moto G 4G was upgradeable to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. It was powered by the Qualcomm MSM8926 Snapdragon 400 chipset built on a 28 nm process. The CPU was a Quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7, supported by an Adreno 305 GPU. This configuration suited general smartphone tasks and light gaming quite well during its time.

Memory and Storage

The device offered 1GB of RAM and 8GB of internal storage, expandable via a dedicated microSDHC slot. This allowed users to add more space for apps, media, and documents. Although 1GB RAM may seem minimal today, it was fairly standard for budget smartphones of that era.

Camera

The rear camera on the Moto G 4G is a 5 MP shooter with an f/2.4 aperture, autofocus, LED flash, HDR, and panorama modes. It was capable of recording video at 720p resolution at 30fps with stereo sound. A front-facing 1.3 MP camera was available for basic selfie needs, although it lacked advanced features seen in modern smartphones.

Battery Life

The device housed a Li-Ion 2070 mAh non-removable battery. Given the hardware configuration and the screen size, it was sufficient for a day's moderate usage. The battery endurance was rated at 64 hours in testing conditions.

Network and Connectivity

Supporting GSM, HSPA, and LTE technologies, the Moto G 4G was designed to handle various network configurations. It included Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n with hotspot capabilities, Bluetooth 4.0 with A2DP, LE, and aptX support, GPS with GLONASS, and an FM radio. Notably, it did not come with NFC but featured a microUSB 2.0 port with OTG support.

Sound and Audio

The phone was equipped with a loudspeaker and a 3.5mm headphone jack, providing satisfactory audio output for both calls and media consumption. Test results showed decent loudness and clarity for its price segment.

Sensors and Additional Features

Innovative for its time, the Moto G 4G included several sensors such as an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, and compass. These contributed to the overall user experience by enabling more sophisticated app functionalities.

Price and Market Impact

Initially priced at around 160 EUR, the Moto G 4G was targeted at budget-conscious consumers seeking a reliable device with good feature balance. Its value proposition and Motorola's brand assurance helped it gain popularity worldwide.

Legacy and Discontinuation

Although discontinued, the Moto G 4G has maintained a legacy as one of Motorola's pivotal devices that reinforced the brand's presence in the affordable smartphone segment. It set a benchmark for combining usability, performance, and affordability.