The most comprehensive review of the Moto M smartphone. Review of the Motorola Moto M (XT1663) smartphone: a solid average Design, appearance and how it feels in the hand

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 very end that there is a 5.5-inch phone 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 in a golden body color came to our review, this model is also offered in gray (silver) color, but this model is very rare in this coloring. 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 a volume rocker 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, free random access memory you have just over 1 gigabyte left. 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.

Fingerprint's 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 for one of the most strengths 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 Google services, such as 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. The charging unit itself has large dimensions and convenient depressions on the sides for removing 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 continues to gain momentum and release new products. Now let's figure out what Moto M contains, what are its advantages, whether it has disadvantages and, in general, whether it corresponds to the ideal price-quality ratio. In today's smartphone market, it's hard to surprise anyone, especially in the most common category - $ 300, so the bar will be a little high.

To be a competitive model, a smartphone must have high performance, because with the rest being equal, the advantage is given in favor of more well-known and proven brands.

Specifications

So, a review of the Moto M smartphone, within the framework of a good tone, should begin with the parameters and filling of the phone, which we will do:

• Processor: MediaTek Helio P10 1.95GHz, P15 2.2GHz versions available for some regions, both contain 8 cores;
• Video adapter: Mali-T860MP2 GPU;
• Display: 5.5” with IPS LCD matrix and FullHD resolution;
• RAM: 3-4 GB;
• Memory: 32-64 GB;
• Expandability: microSD combo slot;
• Camera: 16 MP with f/2.0 and 8 MP;
• OS: Android 6.0.1;
• Dimensions: 151.4 x 75.4 x 7.9 mm;
• Weight: 163g;
• Capacity: 3050 mAh;
• Price: $300.

In general, the indicators are quite decent, but the processor leaves some misunderstanding, which is difficult to interpret in relation to other models. To be clear, Helio P10 can be compared to Snapdragon 615/617 in terms of power.

Design

The main distinguishing feature of Motorola Moto M, in comparison with other representatives of the line, is the body material, because it is metal. This fact could not but be reflected in the overall design, because the smartphone because of this has become heavier, but durable.

The appearance is essentially similar to the same Moto G models, and can also be confused with Meizu. At the same time, the edges are made in the form of chamfers, and the rounding is smooth, but strong. Perhaps, in addition to the strong rounding and the Moto emblem on the front, the smartphone is difficult to identify.

The gadget is supplied in several colors: golden, silver and dark gray. All are unisex and will suit any buyer. More solemn, practical and pleasant in appearance is the golden version, in other respects the taste and color ...

At the back, according to the standard scheme, there are a camera, a double flash, and under them a fingerprint scanner. Also at the back, below and above, there are transverse stripes, inserts. The camera itself has a slight bulge, which makes it easier to take the smartphone off the table.

The front equipment is also standard, a camera, a speaker, sensors, an LED that reflects the presence of missed notifications. By default, the volume control and Power are on the right. On the left is a slot for a memory card or SIM. The 3.5mm headset jack is on the top. Speaker and USB connector on the bottom, while it is Type C technology.

In terms of volume, the smartphone is quite familiar, very comfortable and ergonomic. The phone is made as a monoblock, so the battery is not removed. There are no extravagant design solutions, everything is mostly standard, maybe this is for the better.

Display

As already mentioned, the diagonal of the smartphone is 5.5”, while FullHD resolution is supported, everything is built on an IPS matrix. They did not forget to use an oleophobic coating, which does not cause any complaints in terms of quality.

The brightness of the device ranges from 5 to 404 cd / m 2, and the contrast also reaches 1 to 927. This level is quite enough for comfortable use in the light of a sunny day. There is also a corresponding sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness. The color gamut exceeds the standard sRGB frames, going beyond the triangle.

The pixel density on the screen is 401ppi, and all the parameters in total leave a positive impression. The picture is bright, beautiful, realistic and distinguishable from any angle and in different lighting conditions.

Performance and OS

Minimalism is maintained in the Moto M smartphone, no shell is applied to Android 6.0.1. The standard software package is limited, just a few basic applications. An update to the Nougat version is promised soon.

The complete set of the device also does not contain frills and luxury, but it is quite sufficient for comfortable work. So it uses an 8-core Helio P10 processor with a frequency of 1.95 GHz. RAM and permanent memory 3/32 GB, respectively, and in the upgraded version 4/64 GB.

After starting the device, only 1.5 GB of RAM and 22 GB of ROM remain available to the user, in the weakest configuration. At the same time, the work of the gadget is smooth, even under load everything works naturally. There were no special lags, hitches or failures.

A little inconvenient in a smartphone is that there is a limited set of gesture controls. The camera and other elements cannot be reached with a slight movement.

When testing on games like Modern Combat 5 and Asphalt at maximum settings, no stuttering was observed. The same applies to heating, while carrying out a stressful load for half an hour, the smartphone reacted calmly and heated up within the normal range, it does not cause discomfort.

Camera and Battery

Moto M is equipped with a 16 MP camera and f/2.0 aperture. The pixel size is 1.0 µm. There is a PDAF phase autofocus, but here is a small stone in the garden of a smartphone, because the focus is developed very slowly and this can cause inconvenience and image distortion.

Dual LED flash can partially compensate for the deterioration in photo quality in the dark. The camera setup is acceptable and has a built-in editor that is very functional. The front camera is quite capable of selfies and has 8 megapixels, where the size is 1.12 microns.

Video recording is supported in good, FullHD quality at 30fps. Indeed, for 2017, 1080p resolution has already become the standard.

The capacity of the gadget is 3050 mAh. This is enough for the active use of the smartphone during daylight hours. With less active use, it can survive up to 3 days in a state of reduced energy expenditure.

The device supports the function fast charging, so 100% is reached in just 2 hours.

Summing up, it should be noted that the smartphone performed well, although at some points I wanted to see something more. On a 5-point scale, a score of 4.3 points should be given, but this is only because the requirements are too high due to market saturation.

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

1. Lack of NFC
2. Hybrid memory card slot

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 with antenna stripes on the top and bottom has long been a staple when developers want to give a 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 latest models Moto Z stand out protruding from the body round camera, Moto M is 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 right side where it is easy to reach with your finger right hand. 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 rather slippery. On the other hand, it leaves fewer fingerprints than glass.

Screen

Moto M has IPS screen 5.5 inches Full HD and more from the device in this price segment should not be expected. 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

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 the relationship between price and Bluetooth standards can not see. 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

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

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.

Eat traditional list applications, the developers of Moto M 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 shells 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 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 shows top scores among smartphones on this processor, but inferior to 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

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

speaker

Messengers and text input

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

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

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

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

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 specifications smartphone, so that everyone can understand what kind of animal it is.

• Android 6.0.1
• Screen: 5.5”, FullHD
• 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 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, 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 both 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.

You will also like:

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