Here's something we ought to remember in this great age of commercialism, although we forget most of the times: A bigger brand doesn't mean much if you cannot deliver ahead of the other "low-key" players in the market.
The new generation Moto E may have arrived riding on a lot of expectations, but it surely isn't as major an upgrade as the hoopla surrounding makes its seem to the common eyes.
Sure, questions will be raised about the kind of expectations you might have surrounding a handset that's worth around quite the measly 7k mark, but we can indeed point to a number of handsets in the market that are offering similar specs (in fact, better) in the 7k range. The only thing is, they don't have the "major name" tag.
When the first-ever Moto E came around in 2014, needless to say, the excitement surrounding it was over the roof. More so, since this was the start of the so-called "budget phone" segment in the market, offering a healthy set of specs for the least amount possible. And before the end of the year, other handset makers were joining the budget phone bandwagon.
All through 2014, based on that budget phone segment, a number of companies came and went, but none were able to shake the very foundation that was laid to leverage the first Moto E to the top of the charts. And accordingly, it was taken for granted that a new generation Moto E was surely on the cards sometime soon.
However, those assumptions have now turned into a burning reality with Motorola indeed taking the veils off the 2nd generation version of the handset recently. The handset is quite an upgrade over its predecessor from the previous generation, but how much does it offer in comparison to the handsets in the market in the same sphere?
So what are the major upgrades that Motorola has fitted in for the new Moto E over its older version? Well, the screen size now measures in at 4.5-inch over the previous one's 4.3-inch with a notable difference in the pixel ratios. Plus, there's now a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, compared to the 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 of the past.
Also notable are the increase in internal storage (8GB, opposed to 4GB of last time), and bigger battery support (2390mAh over 1980mAh). However, the one area that has been highlighted majorly this time around is the inclusion of a front facing camera.
While the Moto user base is going absolutely bonkers over Motorola's decision to finally add a front snapper for the new Moto E, only a few are able to see through this thick layer of deception that the camera is actually a VGA one. Meaning, all those of you waiting to click decent selfies with the front snapper of the new Moto E, are in for a major disappointment.
Apart from that, for all the folks who only see the camera aspect of any smartphone as the lone high point (aside, that it can "WhatsApp"), let us tell you that the rear camera is also devoid of any major upgrade from the last time. Motorola not only decided to hang on to its "5MP snapper for budget phones" policy, there is also no flash support for the camera present the second time around. Well, so much for night-time photography!
"We did a lot of market research and found out that at this budget price point, users are comfortable in trading off Flash for a selfie camera and Motorola's Quick Capture feature," said Amit Boni, general manager, Motorola India.
However, what the company does "forget" to address is the fact that a VGA camera is no good for selfies (unless you want pixilated end products). And since it also skips on a flash support, it's a sort of lose-lose situation for consumers.
Although comparisons aren't really healthy, we have to say that for the 7k here, we can easily get a number of better handset in the market. And, for that matter, for a price tag equalling Rs. 6,999, we can only turn our focus on Lenovo's A6000. Honestly, it may take some time for Lenovo to get its mojo going in the Indian handset market, but it has traversed on the correct path.
If you are not too bent upon using the best branded product out there, we recommend you analyze your options carefully and invest on a handset that actually meets all your requirements, specs-wise at least. After all, it is your money and you will know the best handset in town to invest it on, and not get carried over by any kind of propaganda.
But we are not the first ones to sound an uproar over the new Moto E. Since the time it was unveiled, smartphone enthusiasts in India were already complaining that the new Moto E smartphone is underpowered when compared to Lenovo's budget 4G smartphone – the Lenovo A6000. However, as it seems, Motorola isn't much fazed about the complaints and looks to be on its own merry ways.
"The specification sheet really doesn't matter. It is the overall experience which counts. The question of 'underpowering' the Moto E (2nd gen) doesn't arise as both brands are completely separate from each other," was Boni's reaction to the allegations. Specs are different, cash is not. And if this doesn't undermine the value of the consumer, we don't know what will.
Boni adds that the new Moto E "offers the latest Android operating system in its purest form (no bloatwares) along with good software features from Motorola. We take user experience very seriously and have strictly avoided bloatwares worth millions of dollars and offer good after sales support".
The issue of bloatware is indeed a serious subject and something that smartphones users have complained time and again about (Samsung knows a thing or two about that), and it's equally commendable to see Motorola going the extra distance to get rid of them. But that can't be the only reason why fans won't opt for a smartphone that has better specs.
Make no mistake about it when we say that Motorola still remains the bigger game-changer in the smartphone market ahead of others, but it also has to account for the position that it is in at the moment with better upgraded handsets. And the new Moto E is nowhere mirroring that sentiment.
Lastly, on the subject of the latest Android Lollipop, sure the Moto E will arrive out of the box with the new Android 5.0.2 Lollipop, but also know that Lenovo's latest Android roadmap shows that the A6000 is among many other Lenovo handsets to receive the Lollipop going forward. That should also effectively remove any questions related to whether the handset will ever be updated.
Aside that, know that the Lenovo A6000 supports 4G, whereas the Moto E is still stuck on 3G. Compared to Moto E's 5MP A/F rear camera, the A6000 is offering an 8MP A/F rear camera with LED Flash, that's also complimented by a proper 2MP front camera for selfies.
Also, you have to ask yourself whether you would prefer the new Moto E's 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 over A6000's 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor. Numbers never lie, and in this instance, it's just a simple case of game-set-match to Lenovo.
Whether you like it or not, Motorola is currently one of the biggest handset makers out there, and have been around the block more times than not. Both its Moto E and Moto G handsets were the kind of kick the Indian smartphone market required going forward. However, they have sort of let it a bit loose for the new Moto E, it has to be said. Maybe the next Moto budget handset will sort things out.
Would you prefer the new Moto E over Lenovo A6000, or does the Lenovo handset get the better of its Moto rival in this battle? Let us know.
