Motorola has a new Moto E smartphone in store, this time packing a quad-core processor, 4G LTE, and Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box.
The new Moto E second generation comes at a surprisingly affordable price tag, starting at just $149 unlocked and contract-free, and is set to go on sale in 40 markets worldwide.
As one can imagine, Motorola had to cut a few corners in order to keep the cost of the smartphone so low, but the new Moto E nonetheless borrows several high-end features from the Moto X to make the experience more useful and pleasant.
One of the first areas sacrificed in favor of affordability is typically the display: to reduce the cost of a device, manufacturers reduce the size of the screen and lower the resolution. The new Moto E (second generation) is no exception, as it comes with a 4.5-inch display and a qHD resolution of 960 x 540 pixels. This means that the display is not impressively sharp and may even seem a bit blurry at times, especially compared to higher-end smartphones out there, but it's more than satisfactory considering the low $149 price tag.
Other specifications of the new Moto E (2nd-gen) include a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 processor "so it's buttery smooth and super responsive," 8GB of internal storage capacity, microSD card support for additional storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera with auto focus, and a VGA front shooter. Neat sensors, meanwhile, will trigger Motorola's Quick Capture and active display notifications. Motorola also claims that it's new Moto E will provide up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge.
In terms of design, the new-generation Moto E looks and feels good for its category, as the low price tag makes up for the fact that its plastic body is a bit thick. Moreover, interchangeable bumpers will allow Moto E (second generation) users to customize their smartphone by changing the accents around the side. Options include black, white, blue, yellow, and others.
As previously mentioned, the new Moto E also comes with LTE support, which is a neat feature for a budget smartphone. Moreover, the handset ships with Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box, "with none of the bloatware and all of the benefits of the world's most popular platform." Motorola also promises to keep its new Moto E up to date with future software updates.
Overall, the new Moto E second generation seems like a great phone for budget-conscious shoppers, as it offers neat specs and features for its price. For more information about the smartphone and to see it in action, check out the video below.
