Buy Now...
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I have been using the Motorola Moto-G for the last couple of months and I can say it probably is the best budget phone around at the start of 2014.
It runs Android 4.3 but the promised upgrade to Android 4.4 Kit-Kat is due very soon. It upgraded on my phone on the 15th January.
The phone measures 12.5x6.5x and even with a case attached weighs less than 174g.
The screen is Gorilla glass but unlike the Motorola RAZRi has cases that fit the more normal slip over and a very nice Flip case that blanks the screen as soon as it is shut.
As supplied the unit is black but apart from the cases you can purchase coloured backs so it can be a choice of colours.
The external connections are on top in the centre a headphone socket. On the base a micro USB – with my unit no lead was supplied – on the right side silvered buttons for on/off and a rocker volume button.
This is a phone to work on any network and currently I can see several ads at around £135.
It has front (1.3MP) and back (5MP) cameras so those wanting a selfie are well catered for.
Above the screen towards the left side is the front camera and in the central position is a rather good small speaker, yes a forward facing speaker surely a better position than most that seem to be elsewhere.
Centrally placed near the top is the rear facing camera with LED flash mounted below it.
The viewable screen is 5.5x9.8cm giving the notional diagonal imperial measurement of 4.5inches. The screen resolution is 1280x720.
The chip is a 1.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon offering. There is 1GB of RAM. It is sold with internal storage only either 8GB or 16GB which means you have just over 13GB or 5GB available and no Micro SD Card slot.
The internal battery is 2070mAh so for most that will give either a very long days use or more likely two days between charges.
It takes a Micro SIM and my tests were done with the 8GB version.
Bootup takes 35seconds and shutdown around 5seconds.
A lot of manufacturers will be looking to bring out a smartphone quickly to match the Moto G but I suspect to get the same build quality will be hard. As most will know Motorola are now part of Google and that gives them huge clout in the purchasing department so to match the components from wherever will be difficult or more likely impossible.
So for now anyway the Moto G has found itself a field with no real competitors and with the promised upgrade to Kit-Kat anytime now it moves even further away from the competition.
The Moto G is available from the link below for £135 with free delivery.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ECBREK2?ie=UTF8&tag=gadge0a-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634
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