Review of Motorola Moto M - a new compact smartphone from Lenovo. Review of the smartphone Motorola Moto M (XT1663): a solid middle peasant 5.5 smartphone moto m 32 GB gray

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.

The mid-range smartphone Moto M differs in appearance and essence from the model. This design has proven successful on multiple occasions with many manufacturers and generations of smartphones, so it was decided not to change it. As a result, the Moto M is an attractive machine that carries with it a sense of elitism.

Beneath the gold shell are serious hardware components - serious for a mid-range model. Used processor MediaTek P10 and MediaTek P15 in the version of the device for India. In both cases, there is enough RAM and flash memory, the 5.5-inch screen also did not let us down.

Speaking of pixels, the main camera contains 16 million of them. In the front camera, there are half as many of them, but their size is slightly larger, which allows you to take good selfies. Other highlights of the smartphone consist of a fingerprint scanner and a moisture-repellent nanocoating - although it's not waterproof, it's better than nothing. There is also an FM radio here.

Specifications Moto M:

• screen: 5.5" IPS LCD, 1080 x 1920 resolution, 401ppi pixel density
• dimensions: 151.4 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm, weight 163
• processors: 8-core MediaTek Helio P10, 1.95GHz, Cortex-A53; or MediaTek Helio P15, 2.2GHz, Cortex-A53 (in India); Mali-T860MP2 GPU
• memory: 3/4 GB, 32/64 GB; hybrid microSD slot
• operating system: Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow
• camera: rear 16MP f/2.0, 1.0µm pixel size, PDAF, dual-LED flash, video recording [email protected]; rear 8 MP, 1.12 µm
• rear fingerprint scanner
• connection: LTE category 6; Wi-Fi 802.11 a/g/b/n/ac; Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, LE; GPS; FM radio, USB type C
• battery: 3050 mAh
• splash and dust protection

The main disadvantages of Moto M

1. Lack of NFC
2. Hybrid memory card slot

Since the list of specifications does not include support for the NFC wireless standard, the smartphone cannot work with the Android Pay payment system, although few people in Russia will regret this. As is often the case, one of the slots is hybrid and you can insert either a SIM card or a memory card into it, but not both at the same time.

Also, users will appreciate the screen protection. The list of specifications speaks of a protective coating of Gorilla Glass.

Hardware specifications

The Moto M measures 151.4 x 75.4 x 7.9mm, which is larger than average for a device with a 5.5-inch screen. In comparison, the Galaxy S7 Edge with the same screen is 0.5mm shorter and 2.8mm narrower. The device weighs 163 g, while it is 10 g heavier, but the plastic Moto G4 and Moto G4 Plus weigh 155 g.

We've seen variations on this simple concept a million times over, but that doesn't stop the Moto M from looking good. A metal back cover with antenna stripes on top and bottom has long been a commonplace when developers want to give the device a premium look, while maintaining radio reception.

The design team from Motorola has added new touches that make the smartphone look like other representatives of this company. Although the latest Moto Z models are distinguished by a round chamber protruding from the body, the Moto M looks more like the recent Moto G with a longitudinal protrusion.

Next door is a fingerprint scanner. Not everyone likes the boxy front-facing scanner on the Moto Z, the rear feels more natural, although if the smartphone is on the table, it is impossible to reach it. The Moto M was the first Moto smartphone to have a scanner on the back.

Above the screen is the usual for this place auricle in the middle, distance and light sensors, as well as a selfie camera. There is also an LED indicator, albeit a small one.

The beveled corners aren't unusual, but they also give the phone a luxurious feel. The case is quite thin and it is not easy to grab it from the table, but this makes the smartphone more elegant.

On the left side of the case is a slot for a SIM card and a memory card. This device does not have a model with one SIM card slot, all of them are available with two slots, even if one of them is hybrid.

The power button is located on the right side, where it is easy to reach with your right finger. Below it is the volume control.

The USB type C connector is becoming more and more widespread and the Moto M smartphone is not far behind the requirements of the times. Here it is in the lower part of the body in the middle. There are small holes on the sides of it, but the speaker is hidden only on the right. At the top, you'll find a 3.5mm headphone jack.

Picking up this smartphone, you will not only see a sense of quality, but also feel it personally. However, this does not mean that it is very comfortable to hold it in your hand, since the surface is quite slippery. On the other hand, it leaves fewer fingerprints than glass.

Screen

Moto M has a 5.5-inch Full HD IPS screen and you should not expect more from a device in this price segment. This uses the standard RGB range with the same number of subpixels for each color.

The screen is not the brightest, peaking at 425 nits. Brightness does not increase in automatic mode. The more affordable Moto G4 and G4 Plus are superior in this regard. As for the contrast, it is 1400:1.

Sunlight readability is okay, although not comparable to the AMOLED panel on the phone, but better than the G4 and G4 Plus.

The color accuracy of the display is not perfect. The DeltaE value is 5.9 versus 5.3. The Moto G4 Plus has an average DeltaE of 4.3, a maximum of 7.4 at default settings, so the cheap smartphone again outperformed.

Connection

The Moto M has two SIM slots, one of which is hybrid and can accept a microSD card, so three cards cannot be installed at the same time. One SIM card works in 4G LTE networks, the other can only be connected to 2G/3G networks. Both can be connected to 3G networks at the same time.

Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth 4.1 LE standards are supported. Moto G4 supports Bluetooth version 4.2, Moto Z Play version 4.1, so there is no connection between price and Bluetooth standards. There is still GPS, but there is no NFC standard, and with it there are no payment systems like Android Play. There is support for FM radio, USB type C with USB OTG support.

Offline work

The smartphone has a 3050 mAh battery. It seems like a short amount of time for a 5.5-inch phone with Full HD resolution and a Helio P10 processor, but the F1 Plus showed good battery life with similar specifications and a 200 mAh smaller battery.

However, the Moto M performed average in testing, starting with 15 hours of 3G calls. The Moto Z Play smartphone delivered twice the duration, other smartphones on the P10 surpassed this result by about 6 hours.

The situation is no better when testing in Wi-Fi networks, where the smartphone barely got to 7 hours. Moto G4 Plus lasted over 11 hours and even the Oppo F1 Plus was an hour better.

The problem is also observed when playing video, where the smartphone did not even last 8 hours. Other participants survived 11-12 hours.

Operating system

Moto M runs on an almost clean version of . There are no software advantages of the Moto line of smartphones, such as on-screen notifications and gesture support presented in the Moto Z.

The lock screen is a complete analogue of the pure version of Android. This means the presence of the time and date, notifications and two shortcuts - camera and voice search.

Behind the lock screen is the Google Now downloader. The left panel offers various information cards if you activate it. On the right are the standard home screens. A swipe from any interface opens the Now on Tap feature, which has become more contextual and smart than ever.

There is a traditional list of applications, Moto M developers did not abandon it.

The notification panel shows notifications on the first swipe and quick toggles after the second swipe. You can swipe with two fingers and immediately open quick switches. This is a traditional pure Android variant that is gaining popularity with many manufacturers releasing AOSP-based systems and even using skins that do not change this variant, as on Xperia smartphones.

There is a brightness control here, but there is no automatic mode. You need to open the settings menu to activate automatic brightness.

The application switcher is a familiar three-dimensional option. Google has been thinking about adding the ability to split the screen between applications for a long time and implemented this functionality in , but this version does not have it.

Unlike other Moto smartphones, this one has a rear-mounted fingerprint scanner. You need to put your finger on it and let it map the fingerprint. After that, recognition works quickly and clearly.

Performance

The Moto M is powered by a MediaTek Helio P10 processor with eight Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.95GHz (2.2GHz for the P15). It uses a Mali-T860MP2 graphics chip with a frequency of 700 MHz (800 MHz for P15).

The review used a smartphone with a P10 processor and 3 GB of RAM. Single-core testing in GeekBench 4 shows the superiority of the Moto M over the M3 Max with the same processor and over the Moto G Plus with the Snapdragon 617 processor. The latter has almost the same clock speed, 2 GHz and the same processing cores, but the performance is higher. Even this processor cannot match the Cortex-A72 cores from the Helio X20 processor in the Redmi Note 4 and Redmi Note Pro smartphones.

The Snapdragon 617 inside the Moto G4 Plus is showing signs of aging and is having trouble in multi-core testing. It showed better results than . The Oppo R9 didn't manage to stand up for the honor of the Snapdragon 625 properly, but the Zenfone 3 did it, ahead of the Redmi Pro. On the other hand, the latter does not squeeze the maximum out of 10 processing cores, if you look at the results of Redmi Note 4.

Moving on to the AnTuTu benchmark, which measures overall performance. Moto M does not break records here either, but at the same time it is ahead of all other devices on this processor. There is a noticeable difference between the P10 and the Snapdragon 625, with the latter leading by a margin. The more powerful Snapdragon 650 with A72 cores and Helio X20 are in a different league.

The same can be said for the Basemark OS II benchmark, where the Moto M performs the best among smartphones on this processor, but is inferior to the Snapdragon 625, Helio X20 and Snapdragon 650.

In terms of graphics, miracles are not expected from MediaTek processors, especially from medium processors. While the Moto M isn't impressive, it's once again the leader among smartphones powered by this processor.

In Basemark X, F1 Plus is trying to impose a fight. Moto M is not a competitor for higher-end processors here either.

In the end, we can say that the performance of the Moto M is even better than expected. Among all smartphones based on the Helio P10 processor, it is the leader. At the same time, you should not count on much in demanding three-dimensional games. Fortunately, mobile games are good at scaling graphics quality depending on the processor, so there are no problems running games.

Telephony

Since dual SIM cards are supported, there are settings to choose a default card or you can decide each time you decide again. You can choose a card depending on who you are calling.

The dialer here is pretty familiar. It is divided into three tabs - favorites with large labels, call history and all contacts.

speaker

The smartphone has a single speaker at the bottom, but the volume is high enough to get a good score in the tests. Most competitors have already received the same rating.

Messengers and text input

The Moto M works with the Google Messenger app, which is the default SMS app, and the Hangouts app is preinstalled. Messenger behaves like a modern instant messaging program. Here you can take pictures and send photos or audio recordings, emoticons, etc.

The Google keyboard is responsible for text input. It's fast, accurate, reliable, and offers extensive customization options. You can enable one-handed mode by long pressing the spacebar, adjust the keyboard height, layout of elements, enable additional characters and change the graphic theme. Available typing, swipe and voice dialing.

Preinstalled Applications

This section of the review will be short, as it uses an almost pure version of Android, there are no programs that are not part of the standard Google set. You can highlight the presence of a file manager that sorts files by category or access time.

There's also a stock Google Calculator with an advanced operations panel in portrait mode. Not forgotten is the Google calendar, which will remind you of birthdays and holidays. There is also Google Docs and Spreadsheets.

multimedia applications

The Play Music app works as an audio player and is also responsible for streaming music. Google talks about access to 35 million songs in a paid service, and to save traffic, you can download them in advance for offline access.

Even better, Google allows you to download up to 50,000 of your own MP3 files to their servers and then stream them to the app.

If you prefer to listen to your music locally, Play Music lets you download files from your computer or flash drive. The equalizer carries the Dolby Atmos brand and offers predefined settings for different styles of music and sound enhancement algorithms.

Radio FM

What's nice about mid-range phones is that they often feature FM radio. There is it in this smartphone. The application can automatically search for radio stations and store them in memory, but it cannot read RDS data, so you will have to enter the names of the stations yourself. There is also a recorder.

The Moto M delivers pure sound with an active external amplifier without weak spots. However, the volume level is below average, which does not bode well. The volume drops even lower when headphones are connected and the smartphone becomes one of the quietest. Clarity remains at a high level.

Camera

The Moto M has a 16MP rear camera with f/2.0 aperture. This is not the same camera used in the Moto Z Play, the pixel size here is only 1.0 microns. For comparison, the Moto Z Play has 1.3 micron pixels.

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 mid-ranger with a good design and 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) comes 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. 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 chipset from MediaTek Helio P10 became the basis, 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 for 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 is popular with some users today, but it will be able to make an avatar in a social network.

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.

Disadvantages:

• 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, there are 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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Moto M review. The smartphone is a representative of a new line of 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 the Android 6.0.1 operating system, it is likely that in the future it will be able to receive updates to newer firmware versions.

Specifications

Manufacturer	Motorola
Model	Motorola Moto M
Announcement date	November 2016
Network support	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE
- 2G	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 and SIM 2
- 3G	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - XT1644 (UAE)
- 4G	LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 25 (1900), 26(850), 41(2500) - XT1644 (UAE)
Bluetooth	v4.1, A2DP, LE
WiFi	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, WiFi Direct, hotspot
Dimensions	151.4 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm (5.96 x 2.97 x 0.31 inches)
The weight	163 g (5.75 oz)
Accumulator battery	Fixed, Li-Ion 3050 mAh
Display	5.5 inches (~73.1% of smartphone surface)
- permission	1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi)
CPU	Qualcomm MSM8952 Snapdragon 617
- CPU frequency	Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 and 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53)
- graphic arts	Adreno 405
Memory	32 GB 3 RAM or 64 GB 4 GB RAM
USB	Type-C 1.0 reversible connector, USB On-The-Go
Operating system	Android OS, v6.0.1 (Marshmallow)

Appearance

The device is equipped with a metal case, which gives it a pleasant appearance and a sense of solidity. 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.

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 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 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 8-core MediaTek Helio P15 processor and 4GB of RAM keep the Motorola Moto M running fast. Some models have a less powerful 2GHz 8-core MediaTek Helio P10 processor.

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