The most complete review of the Moto M smartphone. Motorola Moto M – Review of a quality smartphone with a reasonable price 5.5 moto m smartphone 32 GB gray

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 came to our review in golden color case, this model is also offered in gray (silver) color, but in this coloring the model is very rare. 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.

The fingerprint 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 ones. Google services, like 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. Myself charging block has large dimensions and convenient depressions on the sides for extraction 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.

Motorola Moto M Phone Reviews

Moto Z is the flagship; Moto G4, Moto G4 Play and Moto G4 Plus - budget options; Moto M is somewhere in between. Like other mid-range Android smartphones, Moto M is different good performance, great design and 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 your 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 White color gives 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 brightness of the screen is adjustable so that it is convenient to use it both on a clear day and dark night.

Interface and functionality

Lenovo Moto M works on Android based 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. latest version Android - 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 - 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

Moto M review. The smartphone is a representative of a new line mobile devices from Lenovo, released in November 2016. The device is equipped with high-quality "stuffing" and a pleasant appearance, which can allow it to gain popularity among buyers.

The package is standard. The box with the smartphone contains: a charger, a USB Type-C cable, a paperclip for removing the tray for SIM cards and a memory card, a set of documentation and a protective film.

Description

With a display diagonal of 5.5 inches, the resolution is 1920 x 1080 pixels.

The device will come in several versions and be equipped with two types of 8-core processors: Helio P10 (1.8 GHz) and Helio P15 (2.2 GHz). The video chip Mali-T860MP2 is responsible for the graphics. There will also be a different amount of memory:

• 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of internal memory
• 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal memory

As for mobile communications, the phone has two slots for Nano-SIM standard SIM cards, one of which can be used to install microSD up to 256 GB.

Camera resolution is 8 and 16 MP.

The capacity of the non-removable battery is 3050 mAh.

Despite the fact that the Moto M is running operating system Android 6.0.1, most likely, in the future it will be able to get an update to newer firmware versions.

Specifications

Appearance

The device is equipped with a metal case, which gives it a pleasant appearance and a sense of unity. The device has three color options: gray, gold and silver.

On the front side of the smartphone there is a large 5.5-inch display with FullHD resolution, a front camera, sensors, an earpiece and the Moto inscription.

On the back, there is a camera with a flash and a fingerprint scanner that protrude slightly beyond the body. There is also a Moto line logo.

The back cover is conditionally non-removable, and the installation of SIM cards and memory cards is carried out through a slot located on the left side of the mobile device.

On the right side there is a power button and a volume rocker. At the same time, the power button is equipped with a relief surface.

At the bottom of the smartphone is the main speaker grille (on the right, on the left - decorative for symmetry) and a USB Type-C port.

The microphone and headphone jack are on the top.

Moto M unboxing video

As of mid-December 2016, the Moto M smartphone has only been released in India at a price of $237. Its disadvantages include a non-removable back cover, which will greatly complicate, if necessary, replacing the battery.

A subsidiary of Motorola Mobility, which was acquired by Lenovo in 2014, introduced a new line to the public in the fall of 2016. Moto M (XT1663) became the first smartphone that had a chance to start, a typical middle peasant with a good design and an average “stuffing”. The model, having received a price tag of $ 300, was doomed to fight for a place in the market, which is already strewn with devices in this price segment. And yet it found its buyer, and not one. Let's take a closer look at the Moto M (XT1663).

Let's start the review with the main technical characteristics of the smartphone, so that everyone understands what kind of beast it is.

• Android 6.0.1
• Screen: 5.5”, Full HD
• Cameras: 16+8 MP
• Processor: MediaTek Helio P10
• Graphics: Mali T860 MP2
• Memory: 3+32 GB
• Battery: 3050

Equipment

By tradition, to begin with, let's look at the package. And Motorola Moto M (XT1663) is delivered in the most ordinary cardboard box, which is somewhat surprising - it feels like you are not facing a middle-class device from a well-known manufacturer, but some unknown ultra-budget phone. In general, Lenovo saved a little on the box, but this cannot be considered a huge drawback. Inside we have a fairly standard set: the smartphone itself, a power adapter, a USB Type-C cable, a set of documentation, and a headset. True, why the manufacturer put the headphones is not clear - they cost 100 rubles, and then for the Motorola logo. Although they will not be superfluous, especially since most companies today will not even allow such.

Design, body materials, dimensions and weight

There are no frills in the design, but something hints that we have a device from Motorola. And it's not just the Moto logo on the front. The XT1663 model is similar to the G4 line, which is loved by many users. True, they were plastic, and the guest of our review is completely enclosed in a metal case. The colors are presented in a standard set, which is already beginning to become boring - dark gray, gold and silver. The smartphone looks festive in gold color, more impressive - in silver. In general, Moto M (XT1663) turned out to be neat, this is the word I want to describe its design. The corners are rounded, the back side is sloping. It looks good, and it is convenient to use - it fits into the hand like a glove.

With the arrangement of the elements, the manufacturer did not be smart, not taking them to places that are unusual for the user, as many Chinese companies like to do. On the front panel we have a large display, but it cannot boast of an ideal ratio to the body - it has a decent chin at the bottom. The control buttons are on-screen, so only the Moto logo flaunts at the bottom. At the top of the smartphone is also a standard: a speaker hole, sensors, a front camera and an event indicator.

Let's go to the edges. On the top side, which looks a little recessed, we have a standard 3.5 mm Jack for headphones, as well as a microphone hole.

From below, the USB Type-C port is surrounded by two grilles (the right one is a speaker, the left one is for symmetry).

On the right side are the power button (made corrugated to better grope with your finger) and the volume rocker.

On the left is a combo tray for two nanoSIMs, or 1 SIM and microSD.

Well, let's complete the review of the design of the brainchild of Motorola with the back panel. From below and from above we see the usual plastic strips, which do not try to disguise themselves - they have a different shade. There is also a camera with dual LED flash. The module and the flash protrude slightly above the body, they are framed by a metal edging. A little lower is the fingerprint scanner already familiar to us. Well, the Motorola logo, which is placed at the very bottom, completes the picture.

Moto M, which got on the review, is far from a compact smartphone. With its 5.5-inch screen diagonal, it can be compared with some 5.7-inch solutions. It is not light either - 163 grams, dimensions - 151.35 x 75.35 x 7.85 mm. However, it lies perfectly in the hand, largely due to the beveled sides on the back. Feels like quality metal.

CPU

So, as for the Motorola Moto M hardware. The basis was the MediaTek Helio P10 chipset, which is not the best option for the average peasant, but the device does not experience any particular performance problems, unless, of course, you try to run new games at maximum graphics settings. We have it 8-core, it works with a clock frequency of 1.8 GHz, an alternative from Snapdragon can be considered a solution 617 or 615. Mali T860 MP2 is used as a graphics core.

And in general, performance is not bad. In AnTuTu, Motorola Moto M (XT1663) scores about 50,000 points. It behaves well in games, even new releases for the most part go to the maximum graphics settings. Heating is non-critical, no throttling was noticed, which indicates a good optimization of the system. And yet, with such price tags, the manufacturer could offer something more powerful when compared with other Chinese brands.

Memory

The RAM in the device is 3 GB, if you do not particularly load the smartphone, then about 1-1.5 GB is available. 32 GB is declared permanent, but about 22 GB is available to the user, do not forget that you can additionally install a memory card - a maximum of 128 GB. This is sufficient for the vast majority of users.

autonomy

The smartphone received a 3050 mAh battery. It seems that the capacity is not bad, but let's not forget about the diagonal and screen resolution, and our processor is not the most economical. With average use (average brightness level, data transfer turned on, social networks), the device will work a little more than a day, that is, you will have to put it on charge in the evening so as not to look for an outlet during the day. If you use it as a “dialer”, then you can squeeze out a full two days. In general, the performance is not bad, despite the fact that most smartphones with similar batteries and hardware are unlikely to perform better. In addition, the smartphone supports fast charging - Motorola Turbo Power.

cameras

Let's figure out what smartphone cameras can do. The main module is quite good on paper. Here and 16 megapixels, and phase detection autofocus, and even a professional shooting mode, as well as f / 2.0 aperture. The camera interface has migrated from Lenovo smartphones. A lot of modes and various settings are presented - there is where to turn around, although not everyone needs them. Videos can be recorded in FullHD at 30 frames per second. As for the actual photo quality, we have a solid average. Motorola Moto M, which is not surprising, shoots better than most state employees, but it has a lot of competitors in its class. During the day, excellent shots are obtained, without noise and blurring, at night it is worse, of course, but not entirely bad.

The 8-megapixel front camera has a viewing angle of 85 degrees. With its task (selfies, video calls), it copes well. True, you have to adapt a little to get pictures that are not blurry. Motorola Moto M does not claim the title of "selfie phone", which are popular with some users today, but make an avatar in social network will be able to.

Display

The model supports the modern trend - a screen diagonal of 5.5 inches. The resolution is FullHD. How convenient such a diagonal is, the question is very subjective. Some users do not even look in their direction, others are already not enough 5.5 inches. Around the screen, in the gold version, a thin black strip is noticeable, which does not spoil the overall view. There are no complaints about the quality of the IPS matrix. Here and juicy, contrasting colors, and wide viewing angles, and normal temperature. Of course, the solution from Motorola has a scratch-resistant protective glass, but not the newfangled 2.5D, but the old-fashioned way - flat. It is complemented by an excellent oleophobic coating: traces, although they remain, are erased very simply.

There are no complaints about the margin of brightness, of course, that on a very sunny day, readability worsens, but you can make out everything. Auto-brightness works well, without which it is difficult to do today. Well, the sensor is good - it works on every touch. Frustrated by the lack of such a useful feature as Active Display, which was in previous Moto models. She displayed the time and notifications just by moving the device, while consuming a minimum of energy.

Connection

There is no need to complain about the quality of communication and the quality of communication. The device is equipped with a hybrid slot, which allows you to install 2 SIM cards, which is very important for many users. From communications, we have everything that a modern user needs. Here we have the latest version of Bluetooth 4.1, of course, Wi-Fi, support for 3G, LTE. Everything is good and with satellite navigation. Supports smartphone and American GPS (A-GPS), and domestic GLONASS, and even the Chinese BeiDou. Satellites are looking for quickly.

Sound

The sound of the brainchild of Motorola is in full order, even from the main speaker, even from the conversational one. The manufacturer claims support for the CirrusLogic codec, as well as Dolby Atmos, which provides surround sound in all directions. The sound is also good in headphones (of course, not those that come with the package). If you delve into the equalizer settings, you can get a completely excellent sound that will satisfy even a music lover.

OS

Motorola Moto M, which came to our review, boasts the "purest" Android 6.0 - a kind of achievement among smartphones clogged with inappropriate skins and a bunch of useless software. We have only the most necessary: ​​Google services and a couple of useful applications from Microsoft. What can you say about the smoothness of the interface? Yes, everything is perfect, and you don’t expect anything less from a smartphone today, which is positioned as a middle class. What is frustrating is the lack of gestures to quickly launch the camera or flashlight, of course, the function is not the most essential, but still. But it is possible to launch the camera by double pressing the power button. The manufacturer promises an update to Nougat in the near future, which is expected, given the prevalence of the smartphone.

Individual characteristics

Something special Motorola Moto M did not bring. Rather, on the contrary, lost. The Active Display function was certainly not superfluous. On the other hand, an indicator of missed events appeared, but the exchange is clearly not equivalent. The popular fingerprint scanner has not disappeared anywhere, it works accurately, but not at lightning speed. A set of sensors is standard: illumination, proximity, gyroscope, compass.

Moto M pros and cons

Advantages:

• pleasant externally and convenient case in use;
• high-quality screen;
• dual SIM support;
• the ability to install a memory card;
• good cameras for their price;
• "pure" Android;
• normal autonomy.

Flaws:

• performance, although not bad, but clearly not for $ 300;
• based on the minus above, the cost is too high, at least in Russia.

Alternatives

So, Moto M (XT1663) in Russia costs around 17,000-20,000 rubles. What can we choose in this segment? Firstly, Meizu M3 Note, which in version 3 + 32 GB will cost about 18,000 rubles in the Russian Federation. Similar characteristics, but more capacious battery (4100 mAh). If we consider the offers of Chinese Internet sites, then you can buy the device at half the price. Secondly, a lot of offers from Xiaomi, for example Xiaomi Mi5, which has much more interesting characteristics, and the price is around 18,000 rubles. For the same amount, you can consider the ZTE Nubia Z11 Mini S, which boasts a Snapdragon 625, as well as a bunch of 4 + 64 GB memory. And in general, there are a lot of alternatives, given the pace at which Chinese manufacturers are releasing new items.

Our review of the smartphone Motorola Moto M (XT1663)

Motorola Moto M is quite popular in Europe, China, UAE, as evidenced by excellent sales. However, users from the CIS prefer other solutions. The fault is the processor, which scares away buyers, given the cost. If you do not look at the price tag and the chip, then the fresh solution from Motorola is a good option that tries to match the logo of a well-known company. Here we get a neat case made of quality materials, and a "naked" operating system, and smooth operation. If the smartphone drops even a little in price, it will definitely become massive.

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Review of the smartphone Motorola (Lenovo) Moto G5: affordable "middle peasant"

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 an adapter charger, 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.

Generally, specifications Motorola M (XT1663) is quite good, even though the processor is installed here not 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 is, in fact, one of the weaknesses apparatus. 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.