Software, Camera

Until very recently Motorola was a Google company, and although the 2 were largely split up entities, Motorola'southward by devices have come up with few changes to stock Android. Out of the box, the Moto K I tested came with Android 4.3, and I know at that place's an Android 4.4.2 update floating effectually though unfortunately it hasn't reached my device nonetheless.

Stock Android on this type of device has a number of benefits: less bloatware ways meliorate operation and battery life, Google's blueprint language looks great, and the overall user experience is generally quite skillful from vanilla installations. Of grade, past going with stock Android, you lot miss out on some cool features that some OEM skins exercise bring to the table, but I'thousand not going to complain also much, because most skins are far besides heavy.

Unfortunately touchless control, which is a major selling point of the Moto 10, isn't included on the Moto G considering it would consume too many resources. Neither is the Google Feel Launcher in the Android 4.4.2 update, nor the improved Caller ID Dialer that we saw in the Nexus 5.

What is included is a custom camera application that replaces the terrible stock Android ane, and an app chosen Assist. I was really hoping this application would be an upgrade to Smart Deportment, an app that was a major feature on past Motorola devices like the Razr HD, only it doesn't quite deliver the customizability nosotros had in the past. Nonetheless information technology does provide useful functionality, existence able to mute your device during the night, and as well when in meetings equally dictated by your agenda.

Apart from these few additions, there's not much else to talk virtually on the software front. If yous're later a stock Android experience on an entry-level device, the Moto G may be the smartphone you're looking for.

Camera

On the dorsum of the Motorola Moto K just slightly above an LED flash we have the five-megapixel rear photographic camera which is the primary signal of call for photography on the handset. The sensor is Aptina's AR0543 1/four" CMOS with a pixel size of 1.4 μm, paired with a 37mm (effective) f/2.4 lens unit. On the front you lot also get an Aptina camera module, although this one is just 1.3-megapixels with 1.9 μm pixels.

In good atmospheric condition, image quality from the rear camera is surprisingly decent. Overall color saturation and contrast isn't quite in the same league every bit the tiptop smartphone sensors, and white balance can be inaccurate, simply for what it'south worth the Moto 1000 tin can have a good shot (particularly in scenes dominated with greenery). Dynamic range is boilerplate, but this can be boosted significantly by a fantastic HDR style that excels at bringing detail out of the shadows.

The sensor only captures 5-megapixel images, so there's isn't a groovy deal of room to crop or downscale your photos. Looking at 100% crops reveals adequate sharpness at low ISOs, with some artefacts that largely disappear when you lot downscale. Bokeh is predictably atrocious, and the photographic camera tin can struggle to detect the right focus signal for macro-way images (even when you lot're using the manual spot metering/focus bespeak), but this isn't a huge business organization.

It'south actually proficient to see Motorola implementing a spot metering mode, where you tin drag effectually a circle over the image preview to accept the photographic camera accommodate and focus to that spot accordingly. I tend to prefer a skilful matrix metering system, but the spot mode does the task most of the time, especially where you lot want to make adjustments. It'due south besides great to see a true 4:3 photographic camera preview when yous switch from xvi:nine to use the full sensor size.

Indoors is where the Moto G's camera struggles. During my testing I took a lot of substandard shots in moderate lighting, many of which were blurry thanks to no stabilization features and long shutter speeds. Colour accuracy and saturation quickly falls away, and automatic exposure ofttimes goes crazy trying to find the right settings and white residue to use. Shooting at a higher ISO will as well produce more artefacts, which are oftentimes visible even in a downscaled image.

Night-time photography is not a strong adapt for the Moto G's camera either. The sensor'due south pixel size is reasonable, but the overall area occupied by the module, plus a mediocre aperture, makes night-time images more often than not terrible unless yous use a flash.

The Moto 1000 tops out at 720p video recording at 30 frames per second and x Mbps. Video quality is quite good, as adept as you'll get from still shots in whatever weather you're recording in, merely the software stabilization choice appears quite weak. Luckily, the photographic camera is capable of quick exposure changes and autofocus, plus slow-motion recording sweetens the bargain.

I wouldn't describe the Moto G's camera as terrible, nor would I describe it as fantastic. In good outdoor lighting it's possible to get some one-half-decent shots, just information technology struggles virtually of the time while indoors. Of course, no-i ever expects a fantastic photographic camera experience on an entry-level smartphone, and the Moto M's shooter volition likely be fine for those who use their telephone for the occasional quick shoot.