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5.5 smartphone moto m 32 gb grey. Motorola Moto M – Review of a quality smartphone with a reasonable price

Motorola Moto M Phone Reviews

Moto Z is the flagship; Moto G4, Moto G4 Play and Moto G4 Plus are budget options; Moto M is somewhere in between. Like other mid-range Android smartphones, the Moto M has good specs, great design, and an affordable price. We did a test to find out more about him.

Externally, Motorola Moto M does not stand out among other smartphones. The build quality is good, it's nice to hold in the hand. The body is made of metal and is slightly larger than the Moto Z Play Droid, but looks more stylish thanks to its minimalistic and streamlined design.

The Lenovo Moto M is relatively compact for a 5.5-inch model - no larger than the G4 Moto or OnePlus 3/3T. At 7.85mm thick, it's not ultra-thin, but it still fits comfortably in the hand. Its weight is 163 grams, i.e. lighter than the average 5.5-inch smartphone.

There are no navigation buttons on the front panel, only the Moto logo is located at the bottom. On the back, instead of the brand, there is a round fingerprint scanner. The minimalism of the Motorola Moto M is appropriate and looks good.

The phone is resistant to small splashes, but is unlikely to withstand immersion in water.

At the bottom is a USB Type-C connector, microphone and speaker. There is also a 3.5mm audio jack, but it is located at the top of the smartphone.

The volume control and the power button have a good response, pleasantly clicky. The button is covered with a textured pattern.

The 5.5-inch IPS LCD has a resolution of 1920×1080 pixels. The image could be sharper, but for most users this should be enough.

The color temperature is 8452 K, which is higher than the standard 6500 K, which means that all colors are shifted to the "cold" side of the spectrum, and the white color gives off blue. This problem is often found on budget devices.

There are two display modes - Normal and Vivid. Even in Normal, greens, yellows, and reds become oversaturated. When switching to Vivid mode, all colors will be too bright and inaccurate.

With the gamma and contrast of the display, everything is fine. The screen brightness is adjustable to make it comfortable to use on a clear day or dark night.

Interface and functionality

Lenovo Moto M runs on Android Marshmallow. The interface is almost the same as the one on Google Nexus. Most of the pre-installed applications are standard for Google.

Added a few custom applications from Moto, such as File Manager and Device Help. The latter is a system monitor with which you can learn about all the functions.

The interface is fast and responsive, but a bit dated. The latest version of Android is Nougat, to which the Moto M operating system has not yet been updated.

The fingerprint reader on the back is fast and error-free, but it doesn't have any other features.

Processor and Memory

The 2.2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P15 processor and 4GB of RAM keep the Motorola Moto M fast. Some models have a less powerful 2GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P10.

In all but simple tasks, Moto M demonstrates modest performance, under load the case heats up noticeably. In graphics-intensive games, the frame rate fluctuates.

The standard version of the Lenovo Moto M comes with 32GB of onboard storage, but you can order 64GB as well. There is a slot for microSD memory cards.

Communication and connections

Moto M allows you to connect to the 4G LTE network: FDD (band 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20) and LTE (band 38, 40, 41). There are 2 SIM slots, but the microSD takes up one of them. Supported: Bluetooth 4.1; dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, n, ac; GPS; A-GPS; GLONASS; beidou.

You will need a USB Type-C cable to charge and pair with your computer.

The 16-megapixel sensor on the back of the Moto M is in line with the smartphone's price range. The camera app is not a standard one from Google, but with a Moto interface. Management is intuitive. There are features such as manual control, filters for Instagram and several specific shooting modes. HDR is supported, but it needs to be turned on and off manually.

Image quality when shooting is average. If you hold your smartphone steady and the lighting is good, your shots will come out with a decent amount of detail. Otherwise, small details will turn out to be fuzzy, blurry, or completely absent. Sometimes in the photo there are problems with highlights and shadows.

Colors are close to real life, without excessive saturation or over-sharpening. White balance in Lenovo Moto M is fine, autofocus is fast.

The 8-megapixel front camera on the Motorola Moto M is also quite good. I would like better image quality, but for a selfie it will do. There is an "Ultra HD" mode, which in theory should make the pictures more detailed, but I did not notice any improvement. In Panorama mode, the image is "stitched" correctly, but not detailed enough.

Shooting video in Full HD (1080p) is at 30 frames per second, while the quality is acceptable. The camera focuses and adjusts exposure relatively quickly. Due to the lack of image stabilization, videos can get jerky if you don't hold the camera steady.

Multimedia

The Moto M has a single speaker located at the bottom, which is quite loud and delivers clear, deep sound. Thanks to the 3.5mm audio jack at the top of the smartphone, you can connect regular headphones.

There is even an FM radio, which is usually missing from modern gadgets.

Call quality

With the quality of calls, everything is in order. The sound during calls is not the best, but acceptable, both for the owner of Moto M and for the interlocutor.

Battery in Motorola Moto M

The 3,050 mAh battery easily lasts a whole day if you use the phone moderately. With a heavier load, it will discharge faster.

In a standard battery test with a custom script that emulated real everyday use at 200 nits of brightness, the Lenovo Moto M smartphone lasted 7 hours and 8 minutes - an excellent result. But it happens even better.

Outcome

All things considered, Motorola Moto M is a good smartphone with good build quality and design, durable battery, intuitive and simple interface. Among the shortcomings can be noted low performance, inaccurate display colors and problems with the camera.

The Moto M is slightly more expensive than the competition: the base version with 32 GB starts at $239 (14,000 rubles), and with 64 GB it costs about $268 (15,600 rubles). These are still affordable prices, but some smartphones are cheaper and the quality is just as good.

For example, the $199.99 Moto G4 is about the same performance and features, but without the fingerprint scanner. Or the $249 Honor 6X with a fingerprint reader, dual cameras and better performance. Both outperform the Lenovo Moto M in terms of value for money.

Advantages

  • Stylish design and good build quality
  • Android interface without unnecessary changes

Many thought that after Lenovo completely bought Motorola, the smartphones of this brand would begin to lose quality and gradually slide down. Fortunately, this did not happen, and every year more and more new models enter the market, which are designed for a different market segment. In today's review, we would like to talk about an interesting and not very expensive Motorola M (XT1663) smartphone, which has not only good hardware, but also excellent characteristics.

Description

I would like to start with a little description. The model came out in the spring of 2017 and is aimed at the budget and middle segment of the market. The main advantages that the device captivates are, first of all, the amount of RAM, which is 3 GB, a 16 megapixel camera, a Full HD screen, 2 SIM cards, Android version 6.0 with an update to the 7th version in the future, and, of course same quality materials.

Contents of delivery

The next step in the Motorola M (XT1663) review is the package bundle. The smartphone is delivered in a small box, which depicts the device itself and a small label with the inscription Lenovo, which, as it were, reminds all buyers that Motorola was bought out.

Inside, in addition to the device, you can find headphones, a Type-C USB cable, instruction booklets, a warranty card, a clip to open the SIM card tray and a charger adapter, which is very similar to the usual adapters that are included with Lenovo smartphones.

As for the package itself, it is more than standard. For the budget segment, it will do just fine, but for the middle segment, there is clearly not enough film, protective glass, or, at worst, a silicone case (bumper).

Appearance

The appearance of the smartphone is very similar to other models from Motorola - the Moto G line. In fact, the most significant difference between the M and the G is that the G body is completely made of plastic, while the M-ki is metal. In general, the smartphone looks very stylish and beautiful.

On the right side of the smartphone is the already familiar volume rocker and just below it is the power / lock button. On the left side, you can find a small hole for a paper clip that opens the tray for SIM cards.

At the top end of the Motorola M (XT1663) is the usual 3.5 mm headphone jack, as well as a second microphone. If you look at the bottom end, you will find a Type-C connector for connecting a USB cable and charger, an external speaker and a conversational microphone.

On the back of the case, there is only a 16 MP camera with dual LED flash. The eye of the camera has a small metal edge and slightly rises above the body. The optics are covered with a protective glass. As for the fingerprint scanner, there are no complaints about its work. Everything is clear and fast.

Well, the last thing left is the front of the device. Everything is standard on it, as for most smartphones. Above the screen is the front camera, proximity sensor, light sensor, earpiece. Under the screen there is nothing but the company logo.

The main part of the front panel is occupied by a large, Full HD display with a diagonal of 5.5 inches. The frames are minimal and do not cause any complaints, but the fact that the control buttons (back, home and menu) are on the screen is a minus, since a small, but still part of the touch screen disappears. It is much more convenient when the control buttons are placed under the screen. Anyway.

Screen

As already mentioned, the Motorola M screen has a diagonal of 5.5 inches and is covered with protective glass. The matrix is ​​made using IPS technology, Full HD resolution (1920x1080). present, and very high quality. Finger glides very well. The number of pixels per inch is 401 ppi, which, in general, is not bad. Pixels (pantile) are not visible on the screen.

If we talk about color reproduction, then it is good. The colors are juicy, bright, there is no bias towards warm or cold shades. True, the brightness margin could have been a little more, and the calibration could have been done somewhat more accurately, but, one way or another, on a cloudy day, on a bright sunny day, it will be quite comfortable to read information from the display.

Characteristics

The main characteristics of the smartphone Motorola M (XT1663) are as follows:

  • Model - Motorola M (XT1663).
  • The number of SIM cards is 2 nano.
  • Screen - IPS, Full HD, 401 ppi.
  • Diagonal - 5.5 inches.
  • Camera - 16 MP, F2.0 aperture, autofocus, dual LED flash.
  • Front camera - 8 MP.
  • Communication - GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G, 4G LTE, LTE-A Cat.6.
  • Bluetooth - 4.1.
  • Processor - MediaTek Helio P15/P10, 8 cores, 2200 GHz/2000 GHz.
  • RAM - 3 GB.
  • Video accelerator - Mali T-860 MP2.
  • Built-in memory - 32 GB.
  • MicroSD support - yes, the maximum capacity of a microSD card is 128 GB.
  • Battery - 3050 mAh.
  • Dimensions (W / H / D) - 75.35 mm / 151.35 mm / 7.85 mm.
  • Weight - 163 grams.
  • Additionally - GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, USB Type-C, fingerprint scanner, light and proximity sensors, gyroscope.

In general, the specifications of the Motorola M (XT1663) are quite good, even though the processor is not installed here from Qualcomm, but from the Chinese giant MediaTek. In some models, a weaker P10 processor with a clock speed of 2000 GHz may be found. There are not very many such models on the market, but they still exist, and it is worth remembering this.

The main claim, if you look at the reviews of Motorola M (XT1663), lies precisely in the first version of the P10 processor, which does not always cope with the high load of a smartphone, as a result of which minor interface slowdowns are noticeable.

Shell and interface

Motorola M runs on the Android 6.0 operating system version with a proprietary shell from Google. In other words, the user actually gets naked Android, without any extraneous launchers and other unnecessary widgets. There are no brakes, everything works quite quickly and smoothly. The only exceptions are devices on a weaker processor, which sometimes slow down.

There is also a minimum of pre-installed software here - applications from Google and Microsoft. There is no Active Display here, but there is an LED indicator that notifies you of missed events. There is no support for any gestures, which can be attributed to the minuses. The good news is that the system will be upgraded to version 7.0 in the very near future.

Camera

Camera Motorola M (XT1663) has a resolution of 16 megapixels and it shoots well. Interesting features include F2.0 aperture, phase detection autofocus and professional shooting mode. The camera application here is the same as in the latest smartphones from Lenovo. There are a lot of settings and modes, and it makes no sense to analyze them all.

As for the front camera, its resolution is 8 megapixels and it shoots perfectly. Selfie lovers will surely be pleased. The only thing is that indoor pictures can come out a little blurry.

autonomy

The battery, in fact, is one of the weak points of the device. Its volume is only 3050 mAh, which is very small not only for a modern phone, but also for a smartphone with such characteristics.

As the reviews about Motorola M (XT1663) related to autonomy show, users complain that the batteries barely last until the evening, with a high intensity of work. If we confine ourselves to calls, SMS, instant messengers and social networks, then it will be possible to achieve the result in a little more than a day.

Performance

Now as for performance. Characteristics of Motorola M (XT1663) make it possible to use the smartphone as a gaming device. In Antutu tests, the phone scored almost 54 thousand points.

Also, 2 very famous games were taken for the test - Asphalt Extreme and shooter Modern Combat 5. The results were a pleasant surprise. At maximum graphics settings, there are no FPS drops, the picture is smooth, clear and, most importantly, smooth. As for heating, it is minimal.

Motorola continues to gain momentum and release new products. Now let's figure out what Moto M contains, what are its advantages, whether it has disadvantages and, in general, whether it corresponds to the ideal price-quality ratio. In today's smartphone market, it's hard to surprise anyone, especially in the most common category - $ 300, so the bar will be a little high.

To be a competitive model, a smartphone must have high performance, because with the rest being equal, the advantage is given in favor of more well-known and proven brands.

Specifications

So, a review of the Moto M smartphone, within the framework of a good tone, should begin with the parameters and filling of the phone, which we will do:

  • Processor: MediaTek Helio P10 1.95GHz, P15 2.2GHz versions available for some regions, both contain 8 cores;
  • Video adapter: Mali-T860MP2 GPU;
  • Display: 5.5” with IPS LCD matrix and FullHD resolution;
  • RAM: 3-4 GB;
  • Memory: 32-64 GB;
  • Expandability: microSD combo slot;
  • Camera: 16 MP with f/2.0 and 8 MP;
  • OS: Android 6.0.1;
  • Dimensions: 151.4 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm;
  • Weight: 163g;
  • Capacity: 3050 mAh;
  • Price: $300.

In general, the indicators are quite decent, but the processor leaves some misunderstanding, which is difficult to interpret in relation to other models. To be clear, Helio P10 can be compared to Snapdragon 615/617 in terms of power.

Design

The main distinguishing feature of Motorola Moto M, in comparison with other representatives of the line, is the body material, because it is metal. This fact could not but be reflected in the overall design, because the smartphone because of this has become heavier, but durable.

The appearance is essentially similar to the same Moto G models, it can also be confused with Meizu. At the same time, the edges are made in the form of chamfers, and the rounding is smooth, but strong. Perhaps, in addition to the strong rounding and the Moto emblem on the front, the smartphone is difficult to identify.

The gadget is supplied in several colors: golden, silver and dark gray. All are unisex and will suit any buyer. More solemn, practical and pleasant in appearance is the golden version, in other respects the taste and color ...

At the back, according to the standard scheme, there are a camera, a double flash, and under them a fingerprint scanner. Also at the back, below and above, there are transverse stripes, inserts. The camera itself has a slight bulge, which makes it easier to take the smartphone off the table.

The front equipment is also standard, a camera, a speaker, sensors, an LED that reflects the presence of missed notifications. By default, the volume control and Power are on the right. On the left is a slot for a memory card or SIM. The 3.5mm headset jack is on the top. Speaker and USB connector on the bottom, while it is Type C technology.

In terms of volume, the smartphone is quite familiar, very comfortable and ergonomic. The phone is made as a monoblock, so the battery is not removed. There are no extravagant design solutions, everything is mostly standard, maybe this is for the better.

Display

As already mentioned, the diagonal of the smartphone is 5.5”, while FullHD resolution is supported, everything is built on an IPS matrix. They did not forget to use an oleophobic coating, which does not cause any complaints in terms of quality.

The brightness of the device ranges from 5 to 404 cd / m 2, and the contrast also reaches 1 to 927. This level is quite enough for comfortable use in the light of a sunny day. There is also a corresponding sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness. The color gamut exceeds the standard sRGB frames, going beyond the triangle.

The pixel density on the screen is 401ppi, and all the parameters in total leave a positive impression. The picture is bright, beautiful, realistic and distinguishable from any angle and in different lighting conditions.

Performance and OS

Minimalism is maintained in the Moto M smartphone, no shell is applied to Android 6.0.1. The standard software package is limited, just a few basic applications. An update to the Nougat version is promised soon.

The complete set of the device also does not contain frills and luxury, but it is quite sufficient for comfortable work. So it uses an 8-core Helio P10 processor with a frequency of 1.95 GHz. RAM and permanent memory 3/32 GB, respectively, and in the upgraded version 4/64 GB.

After starting the device, only 1.5 GB of RAM and 22 GB of ROM remain available to the user, in the weakest configuration. At the same time, the work of the gadget is smooth, even under load everything works naturally. There were no special lags, hitches or failures.

A little inconvenient in a smartphone is that there is a limited set of gesture controls. The camera and other elements cannot be reached with a slight movement.

When testing on games like Modern Combat 5 and Asphalt at maximum settings, no stuttering was observed. The same applies to heating, while carrying out a stressful load for half an hour, the smartphone reacted calmly and heated up within the normal range, it does not cause discomfort.

Camera and Battery

Moto M is equipped with a 16 MP camera and f/2.0 aperture. The pixel size is 1.0 µm. There is a PDAF phase autofocus, but here is a small stone in the garden of a smartphone, because the focus is developed very slowly and this can cause inconvenience and image distortion.

Dual LED flash can partially compensate for the deterioration in photo quality in the dark. The camera setup is acceptable and has a built-in editor that is very functional. The front camera is quite capable of selfies and has 8 megapixels, where the size is 1.12 microns.

Video recording is supported in good, FullHD quality at 30fps. Indeed, for 2017, 1080p resolution has already become the standard.

The capacity of the gadget is 3050 mAh. This is enough for the active use of the smartphone during daylight hours. With less active use, it can survive up to 3 days in a state of reduced energy expenditure.

The device supports the fast charging function, so 100% is achieved in just 2 hours.

Summing up, it should be noted that the smartphone performed well, although at some points I wanted to see something more. On a 5-point scale, a score of 4.3 points should be given, but this is only because the requirements are too high due to market saturation.


If you have any questions on the topic “The most complete review of the Moto M smartphone”, you can ask them in the comments


The editors of Galagram got an interesting smartphone from the legendary company for review. It's called the Moto M and is a well-built mid-range phone with native Android 6.0 Marshmallow out of the box and a 5.5-inch FHD display. Let's get acquainted with the device and see what it offers users for their money.

Video review Moto M

Specifications

  • Display: 5.5 inches, Full HD, 2.5D Gorilla Glass
  • Processor: MediaTek Helio P10
  • RAM: 3 GB
  • Flash memory: 32 GB
  • Main camera: 16 MP, PDAF, 2xLED flash
  • Front camera: 8 MP, pixels with a size of 1 micron
  • Battery: 3050 mAh, 5V/2A
  • Navigation: GPS
  • Wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3G, 4G LTE
  • Operating system: Google Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
  • Dimensions: 151.35×75.35×7.85mm
  • Weight: 163 grams

What package does it have

The box from Moto M is very compact, when you take it in your hands, you can't believe until the last moment that there is a phone with a diagonal of 5.5 inches inside. In addition to the smartphone itself, the user will find inside: a 5V / 2A charging unit, a clip to remove the SIM card tray, a USB Type-C cable, instruction manuals and a budget bundled headset. The delivery set is good, the manufacturer decided not to save on it.

Design, look and feel in the hand

A smartphone in a golden body color came to our review, this model is also offered in gray (silver) color, but this model is very rare in this coloring. The appearance of the Moto M is quite typical: a one-piece metal case, a rear fingerprint scanner, a SIM tray on the left side for two Nano-SIMs (or one SIM card and a microSD memory card up to 128 GB) and a corrugated lock key and an adjustment swing volume on the right side.

Traditionally, there is a 3.5 mm audio output and a microphone on top, and on the opposite bottom edge there is a USB Type-C port in the center, as well as a speaker and a microphone on the sides. The back cover of the smartphone is made of a single piece of metal, with two inserts for antennas in the color of the body and a slightly protruding camera module with a flash.

QUALITY OF ASSEMBLY OF THE CASE IS AT THE HEIGHT

On the front side there is a 5.5-inch display, sensors, a front camera, an LED event indicator (not configurable) and the Moto inscription just below the screen. Moto M is built just fine, the quality feels in everything: the display module does not bend under strong pressure, and the body does not creak when twisted sideways. In the hand, the device feels great, it is comfortable to hold even with one hand. The side faces are sanded front and back, so the hero of our review looks really nice.

What display is installed here

The screen of Moto M has a diagonal of 5.5 inches and Full HD resolution of 1920 × 1080p (401 ppi). A protective glass Corning Gorilla Glass with 2.5D rounding is installed on top of the display module. The frames on the sides are noticeable, but they are not very thick (plus they are painted in the color of the case) and this does not detract from the experience of using a smartphone.

The display is not bad, but there are no unique chips

The screen is very bright, well calibrated, fast and responsive. The AnTuTu multi-touch test showed support for up to 10 simultaneous touches. The display here is good, but no more: it lacks any useful features, such as double-tap wake-up, gesture support, or AOD (Always On Display) technology.

Processor, memory and performance

Moto M is built around a processor MediaTek Helio P10. This is a 64-bit 8-core chip that runs at 1.8 GHz and is equipped with a Mali-T860 MP graphics accelerator. The smartphone works quickly, as for its price segment, there were no delays in the operation of the system or applications during testing. The AnTuTu benchmark showed 50.764 points, which is quite an expected result for the Helio P10. On Geekbench, the phone scored 722 in the single-core test and 2891 in the multi-core test.

In terms of memory, it comes with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. After installing the main applications, you have just over 1 gigabyte of free RAM. The Android system takes up approximately 7.29 GB of storage space. If 24 GB of space is not enough for you, the Moto M can install an additional microSD memory card with a capacity of up to 128 GB.

Fingerprint's scanner

The Moto M has a scanner on the back, just below the camera. It is convenient to reach it with your finger, even when you hold the smartphone with one hand. It works very accurately and quickly, you can add several prints to the scanner's memory. The only thing I didn’t like is that the scanner has the same story as the display, it lacks some unique features, such as blocking individual applications or releasing the camera shutter.

Sound and sound

The maximum volume level of the smartphone is sufficient to hear everything. The speaker here is installed quite well, it is clear and does not distort the sound at maximum volume. Through the headphones, the sound is also normal, though not through the complete headset, its manufacturer put it for beauty. The device also supports Dolby Atmos surround sound technology during video playback.

operating system

And now about one of the strongest sides of the hero of our review. Moto M is powered by native Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box, just like Google's Nexus line of devices. The main bonus here is not only that the operating system looks beautiful and in the same style, but that there is no extra software from a third-party manufacturer.

Native Android without unnecessary software is good

Of the pre-installed applications, you will find only the main Google services, such as YouTube, Hangouts, Gmail and Photos, as well as the Microsoft package: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Skype and more. During testing, no updates came to the smartphone. Also, Motorola has not yet said when Android 7.0 Nougat or Android O will be available on the Moto M.

cameras

The main camera in Moto M is set to 16 megapixels with f / 2.0 aperture, there is phase detection autofocus (PDAF). The camera module protrudes a little beyond the edge of the case and has a 2-LED LED flash. The camera app has a lot of settings, including:

  • continuous shooting
  • 4x digital zoom
  • HDR mode
  • panoramic shooting
  • ISO setting, white balance

In normal light, the photos taken on the Moto M are very decent, but in low light (in the evening) the quality of the pictures drops noticeably, apparently it's all about the f / 2.0 aperture. The maximum quality of the video in which the phone shoots is Full HD (1920 × 1080 pixels).

The front camera here is set to 8 megapixels with pixels with a size of 1 micron, the image quality is very pleasing. There is a shooting mode when a two-finger up gesture is detected, a timer and the ability to remove mirroring on a selfie.

Sample shots taken on Moto M

1 of 5





Moto M battery capacity is 3050 mAh, the smartphone supports 5V/2A fast charging. The charging unit itself has large dimensions and convenient depressions on the sides for removing from the outlet.

3050 mAh battery with 5V/2A fast charging

The phone is charged via a USB Type-C cable, the total charging time is approximately 70 minutes. With mixed usage, the battery lasts for about a full day of use. If you don’t surf the Internet and play games a lot, the Moto M will last 1.5 days without problems. The battery is consumed evenly, during operation there are no sharp drops and dips.

Among the nearest alternatives for this smartphone are, of course, phones from Chinese manufacturers. For example, which costs less, but at the same time offers a Helio X20 chip, the same amount of memory at 3/32 GB and a 5.5-inch Full HD display. True, Motorola Moto M is doing much better with the operating system and assembly. All the same, international quality standards are better than local Chinese ones. You can also look at the older version of Redmi Note 4X and Meizu M5 Note, which are built on the same Helio P10 processor.

Moto M feedback

The editors of Galagram liked the smartphone, it is very well built and feels great in the hand. At the same time, it comes with an up-to-date hardware and software platform, and will also please selfie lovers with a high-quality front camera. Fans of the Motorola brand and those who are looking for a high-quality 5.5-inch phone with a fast fingerprint scanner will also like the device.

Today we will get acquainted with the Moto M smartphone. This is the first device of the brand with a MediaTek processor, while it is metal, with a 5.5-inch screen and a price of $300. For this money, there are many interesting smartphones and the new product will not be sweet, but we will talk about this in the review.

The smartphone comes in a small box. Inside is a 2A charger, USB Type-C cable, headset and paper documentation. Owners of Lenovo smartphones will notice that the bundled charger is very similar to theirs, but with the Moto logo.



Appearance

The design hints that this is a device from the Moto line. There are too many similarities in appearance with the 4th generation Moto G line. But if the G were made of plastic, then the Moto M is completely metal.






There are several color options - gold, dark gray and silver. The gold version came to our test, but it cannot be called exclusively female. In this color, the smartphone looks more festive, which cannot be said about the dark gray version, the front side of which is made in black.


The layout of the elements on the front panel is standard - on top of the earpiece, sensors, front camera and LED for missed events, and on the bottom there is a large “chin”, on which the Moto logo proudly flaunts. On the right side there is a volume rocker and a power key, and on the left there is a combined slot for two nanoSIM SIM cards, or one SIM and a memory card. Headphone jack on the top, multimedia speaker, microphone and USB Type-C port on the bottom.





The main camera lens and dual LED flash protrude slightly above the back cover. Immediately below them is a fingerprint scanner, which has no complaints about its work. The fingerprint is recognized instantly, and almost always for the first time.

The back cover is made with a slight rounding at the sidewalls, due to this, tactilely, the smartphone feels thinner than it really is. The manufacturer made beautiful bevels, which gives the smartphone the look of an expensive device. When you hold it in your hands, you feel that the lid is made of thick metal. The front panel has a slight rounding.


Moto M cannot be called compact - its dimensions are typical for a 5.5-inch device: 151.35 × 75.35 × 7.85 mm, weight is 163 grams. When compared with my Motorola X Style, it is clear that the size of smartphones does not differ much, but you need to remember that the X Style has a diagonal of 5.7 inches.


Display

Moto M is equipped with a 5.5-inch IPS display with Full HD resolution. There is a high-quality oleophobic coating. The auto brightness sensor works adequately. On the street, the information on the screen remains readable.


Brightness ranges from 5 to 404 cd / m², and contrast is 1 to 927. The color gamut is much wider than the sRGB triangle, the temperature is in the range from 7500K to 6200K, which is higher than the reference value. At the same time, there are two modes of screen settings - normal and bright.





Speaking subjectively, I liked the screen. It's bright and juicy, even though the calibration isn't perfect. The minimum brightness will allow you to comfortably read from your phone in the dark.

Interface

Moto M has the most pure Android 6.0 - no third-party launchers, which is very good. In fact, Moto M is a kind of Nexus. The minimum pre-installed software is Google and Microsoft applications.

Unfortunately, the Moto M doesn't have an Active Display feature, but it does have an LED. To be honest, this exchange seems to me not equivalent. There are also no gestures to quickly launch the camera, flashlight. It remains only to launch the camera by double pressing the power key. The smoothness of the interface is excellent. In the near future, they promise an update to Android Nougat.

Hardware platform

Moto M is powered by a MediaTek Helio P10 (MT6755) octa-core processor with a maximum clock speed of 1.8GHz. Its main competitor is the Qualcomm Snapdragon 617/615. Video adapter Mali T860 MP2.

The amount of RAM is 3 GB, after switching on, 1.5 GB is available. The built-in memory is 32 GB, but the user is left with just over 22 GB. Do not forget about the possibility of expanding the memory through the use of microSD cards. As you can see, there is a good piece of hardware inside the phone, but some will not like the MediaTek Helio P10 processor. By the way, there is a version on Qualcomm Snapdragon 617, but it is released for the UAE market.

In such games as Asphalt Extreme and Modern Combat 5: Eclipse, the phone behaves with dignity. At maximum graphics, the picture is smooth and beautiful. After half an hour of playing Modern Combat 5, the phone warmed up quite a bit. If you do not get involved in games, then the case will be completely cold.





The search for satellites, the work of Wi-Fi and the 3G network did not raise any questions. There is support for Wi-Fi standard 802.11 ac.

The speaker volume is high, it is enough to hear the interlocutor if you are talking in a busy / noisy place. There are no complaints about the microphone. The multimedia speaker is loud.

autonomy

The capacity of the built-in battery is 3050 mAh. In the PCMark test at a brightness of 200 cd / m², the smartphone worked for 5 hours and 30 minutes, which is not very long.

In normal use mode with always-on data transfer via Wi-Fi / 3G at brightness above average, active use of social networks, the smartphone worked for just over a day, with an active screen indicator of 5 hours. At the same time, the phone slept at night - the battery discharge was 2%.

If you moderate the ardor, then the operating time will increase to about 2 days and 6 hours of active screen. In general, autonomy indicators are good. If you do not play games and do not watch videos excitedly, then it will be difficult to land the phone during daylight hours. The included power supply can charge the battery in two hours.

cameras

The Moto M features a 16 MP main camera with dual LED flash, phase detection autofocus (PDAF), f/2.0 aperture and professional shooting mode. Maximum video recording resolution is 1080p at 30 frames per second. The camera interface is the same as on the latest Lenovo smartphones.










Some people will like it because of the large number of manual settings, modes and filters, but there will also be those who liked the old camera.







The picture quality is average. The noise canceling work is very noticeable. Focus is not always correct. The device is slow to save photos in HDR mode.








For a more visual comparison, I took a couple of shots with the Moto M and X Style. I understand that the comparison is incorrect, since these are models from different price categories.

8MP front camera with 85 degree field of view. She copes with her task normally, but indoors, to get a clear photo, you will have to freeze for a while and not move.

During movie recording, focusing on subjects is slow.