Moto E3 Review: A Budget Smartphone

The Moto E3 is a budget-friendly smartphone that's perfect for those on a tight budget. It's available in two storage options: 16GB and 32GB.

The design of the Moto E3 is simple yet elegant, with a durable polycarbonate body that can withstand daily wear and tear. The phone is also water-resistant, making it a great option for those who want a phone that can keep up with their active lifestyle.

The Moto E3 features a 5-inch display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels, making it perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, and playing games. The phone is also powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, ensuring smooth performance even with multiple apps open at the same time.

The Moto E3 has a design that's both functional and unassuming. It's a generic design that doesn't try to be flashy, which is perfectly fine given the heavy use of plastic.

The phone's utilitarian curves and heft make it feel rugged, similar to HTC and pre-Microsoft Nokia phones. The earpiece and speaker form exaggerated slots that can collect lint over time, but they're not unpleasant and help with tactile alignment.

The Moto E3 is reassuringly substantial in the hand, with a matt plastic rear that may peel away and flex easily. However, when it's clicked into place, the phone feels sturdy.

The power and volume buttons are well-placed under the thumb or forefinger on the right edge, with the power button having a textured finish.

The display is a massive leap forward from the Moto E (2015), with a 5-inch size and 720p resolution for a pixel density of 294ppi. This is more than acceptable for a phone of this price.

The display can render everything well, from games to photos to Facebook posts, making it usable in day-to-day tasks.

Here's a comparison of the Moto E3's display with other phones in its class:

The Moto E3's performance is a mixed bag. The phone runs on a 1.0GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6735p processor and 1GB of RAM, which can feel a bit sluggish at times. The processor is indeed one of the simpler chips from MediaTek.

The phone's battery life, on the other hand, is quite impressive. It achieved a battery runtime of 10:21 hours in the Wi-Fi test, thanks to its strong 2800 mAh battery and relatively low consumption. Watching videos was possible for half-an-hour longer.

Here's a comparison of the Moto E3's battery runtime with other devices:

The Moto E3's power consumption is also relatively good, with a standby consumption of 0.31 watts and a load consumption of up to 3.16 watts. However, the phone's idle consumption is a bit high, at 0.79 watts.

The Moto E3's performance is a letdown, especially considering its processor and RAM. The 1.0GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6735p processor and 1GB of RAM are not enough to handle demanding tasks.

In everyday use, the Moto E3 struggles to keep up. It's not that it can't execute apps, games, or videos, but it does so at a snail's pace with noticeable lag.

The camera app is particularly slow, taking several seconds to load and often displaying images at a slow pace.

The Lenovo Moto E3's performance is a mixed bag. It's not exactly a powerhouse, but it can get the job done.

The phone's processor, the Mediatek MT6735P, is one of the simpler chips from Mediatek, and it shows. The combination of this processor, the Mali T720 GPU, and 1 GB of RAM is not exactly robust, and the phone struggles with even simple tasks.

In my experience, the phone's performance is slow and laggy, making it frustrating to use. I've noticed this particularly with the camera app, where it takes several seconds for the image to load, and often it's displayed in a choppy manner.

Here are some key performance metrics for the Moto E3 compared to other phones:

As you can see, the Moto E3's performance is not exactly stellar, but it's not the worst either. However, the battery life is a different story, where the Moto E3 shines.

The phone's battery runtime is impressive, with a Wi-Fi test runtime of 10 hours and 21 minutes. This is thanks to its 2800 mAh battery and relatively low power consumption.

In load, the phone lasts for over 5 hours, which is even more impressive considering its competitors. Here are some battery runtime metrics for the Moto E3 compared to other phones:

The Moto E3's battery life is a notable aspect of its performance, and it's something that sets it apart from its competitors.

The Moto E3's camera is a decent option for its price, with 8 megapixels on the rear and 5 megapixels on the front.

You can expect relatively sharp photos with decent colors, although high-end smartphones will still produce sharper images. Large areas with fine color gradients can look a bit muddy, but the color reproduction is still acceptable.

The camera also handles low-light situations reasonably well, and the autofocus is relatively accurate. Videos can be recorded in 720p with good sharpness.

The front camera takes decent selfies and photos, with good sharpness and color reproduction when the distance is right.

The Moto E3's cameras are a mixed bag. The rear camera has 8 megapixels and a 5-megapixel front camera, which is relatively impressive for its price.

The primary camera takes decent photos with good colors and sharpness, although high-end smartphones like Huawei's P9 produce sharper photos. Large areas with fine color gradients can look muddy, but the color reproduction is still acceptable.

The low-light outcomes are surprisingly good, with the photo being moderately sharp. Other low-cost smartphones like Wiko's Lenny 3 struggle more in low light.

Videos can be recorded in 720p, with good sharpness and accurate autofocus. The exposure quickly adapts to different situations.

The front camera takes quite decent selfies and photos, with good sharpness and color reproduction when the distance is right.

The primary camera also struggles in the lab, with muddy color areas and moderate sharpness that decreases towards the sides.

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The Motorola Moto E3 runs on an unmodified Android version, which is great for keeping things simple and lightweight. It's also a good thing that Lenovo hasn't cluttered the device with too much preloaded software.

The Moto E3 comes with Android 6.0, which is a bit outdated, but it's a good thing that Lenovo has kept the software uncomplicated. This means that the device has reserved the lowest possible storage capacity, making it more efficient.

Users who want a launcher will find plenty of options in the Google Play Store, so there's no need to worry about customization. The security patches are from October 6th, 2016, so Lenovo should provide updates to keep the device secure.

The Moto E3 has a standard configuration of 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage, but there are better options available for the same price, such as the Neffos C5 with 2 GB/16 GB.

The Moto E3's storage can be expanded with a micro-SD card, but it's limited to 32 GB, according to Lenovo. However, our test showed that a 64 GB card was also accepted.

The device supports USB OTG, allowing you to connect external storage devices or use the Moto E3 as a power bank with the right adapter.

The Lenovo Moto E3 has a standard configuration of 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage, but there are other options available with better specs at the same price.

You can expand the storage of the Moto E3 with a micro-SD card, but the maximum capacity supported by Lenovo is 32 GB. However, our test showed that the phone can accept a 64 GB card.

The USB port on the Moto E3 supports USB OTG, allowing you to connect external storage devices or use the phone as a power bank with the right adapter.

Unfortunately, the phone does not have dual-SIM support, so you can't use two SIM cards at the same time.

The Moto E3's GPS is decent for occasional navigation, but it's not as accurate as a dedicated navigation system like Garmin's Edge 500.

The Moto E3 is an affordable phone that's packed with great features. It's priced under $150, £100, or AU$200, making it an attractive option for those on a budget.

One of the standout features of the Moto E3 is its near-stock version of Android. This means it's easy on the phone's hardware resources and updates from Google can be integrated faster.

The phone's interface is also great, with a clean and simple design that's easy to navigate. It's almost as if you're using a stock Android phone!

The Moto E3 is also splashproof, thanks to a nano-coating that creates a water repellent barrier. This means it can survive spills and light splashes, but don't take it swimming with you!

Here are the key features and price of the Moto E3:

Overall, the Moto E3 is a great option for those who want a reliable and affordable phone.

The Moto E3 has its fair share of pros and cons. A solid build is one of the phone's strong points, making it a worthwhile purchase at £99.

One of the advantages of the Moto E3 is its pleasant and intuitive operating system, stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which is a major plus for users.

The phone's screen quality has also seen a major improvement, making it a notable upgrade over its predecessor.

The Moto E3's battery life is another area where it shines, boasting a 2800mAh battery.

Here are some of the phone's key specs:

The phone's performance, however, is a different story. The Moto E3's 1GHz MediaTek quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM can make it feel sluggish, especially when performing simple tasks.

The Moto E3 really shines in one key area: its display. The screen size has increased to 5 inches, a significant upgrade from the 4.5-inch qHD display of the previous generation.

This new display boasts a higher resolution, HD, and a density of 293 pixels per inch. While it's not the sharpest screen out there, the visual experience is still very good, with good contrast and color reproduction.

The IPS technology helps maintain true-to-life colors and visibility from various angles. However, the display could use a bit more depth in the blacks.

The Moto E3 is a budget-friendly smartphone that's trying to make a name for itself in a crowded market. It's priced at £99 (around $125, AU$170), which is a steal, but is it worth it?

The Moto E3 has a 5-inch screen with a resolution of 720 x 1280, which is a significant improvement over its predecessor's 4.5-inch qHD display. This new screen is a major step forward, offering a density of 293 pixels per inch, making it a pleasant visual experience.

However, the Moto E3's performance is another story. With a MediaTek MT6735P processor, Mali T720 GPU, and just 1GB of RAM, it's clear that this phone is struggling to keep up. Simple tasks like launching apps or playing games are slow and often accompanied by a frustrating lag.

In fact, the Moto E3's camera is one of the areas where its limitations are most apparent. After tapping the camera icon, it can take several seconds for the image to appear, and even then, it's often displayed at a snail's pace.

The Moto E3's battery life, on the other hand, is a redeeming quality. With a 2800mAh battery, it's able to power through the day without too much trouble. But, let's be real, that's not enough to make up for its other shortcomings.

Here's a quick rundown of the Moto E3's specs:

As you can see, the Moto E3's specs are decent, but not impressive. It's a phone that's trying to offer value at an affordable price, but it's not quite there yet.

The Moto E3 has a 5-inch HD screen with a diagonal of 5 inches, offering a good balance between size and clarity. This is a decent size for a phone, and the HD resolution is a nice touch.

The phone's processor is a Mediatek MT6735P, a quad-core chip that's commonly found in budget-friendly devices. This might not be the most powerful processor, but it gets the job done.

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The Moto E3 has 1 GB of RAM, which is barely enough to handle multiple apps at once. You can expect creaky performance and frequent app crashes. However, you can expand the storage with a MicroSD card up to 32 GB.

Here are the key specifications of the Moto E3:

The Moto E3 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs some impressive specs. It features a 5-inch HD display with a resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels.

The phone's processor is a Mediatek MT6735P quad-core chip, clocked at 1 GHz. This is a relatively basic processor, but it gets the job done.

The Moto E3 has 1 GB of RAM, which is a bit on the low side, but it can be expanded with MicroSD cards up to 32 GB.

Here are the phone's key specs:

The phone's battery is a 2,800 mAh unit, which should provide a decent amount of battery life.

The Moto E3's benchmarks aren't exactly impressive, but they do match up with my experience of using the phone. The results are very poor, which is to be expected given the phone's lack of fluidity.

The phone's 1 GB of RAM is barely enough to handle multiple apps at the same time, and I've found myself closing apps unexpectedly more often than I'd like. This is partly due to the phone's 8 GB of storage, which leaves only 5 GB free - and that space fills up quickly.

Installing a MicroSD card (up to 32 GB) and formatting it as internal storage is almost a necessity. This will help alleviate some of the phone's performance issues.

On the bright side, the Moto E3 does have some autonomy to spare. With moderate use, I've been able to go a day and a half to two days without needing to charge the phone. Even on more intense days, I've managed to get to the end of the day with at least 20% battery life left.

The Moto E3 is a budget-friendly smartphone that's worth considering, but it's not without its drawbacks. The performance shortfall of the Moto E3 makes it difficult to recommend.

Motorola's return to the ultra-affordable smartphone market is a welcome one, but the Moto E3's limitations are hard to ignore.

The Moto E3's software is a major letdown. It came out with Android 6.0 Marshmallow and has not received any updates since, with no expectation of upgrading to Android Nougat.

The camera for selfies is decent, but don't expect outstanding results. It has a beauty mode that can be adjusted to several levels, focusing on illuminating the face and smoothing out skin imperfections.

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The Motorola Moto E3's performance is a major letdown. It's a shame, really, because the phone's hardware is just not up to the task.

The Mediatek MT6735P processor, Mali T720 GPU, and 1 GB of RAM are a combination that's woefully underpowered. It's not that the phone can't run apps, games, or videos, but it does so at a glacial pace, with a lag that's downright frustrating.

The camera app is a particular sore spot, taking an inordinate amount of time to load and often displaying images in a stuttering, jerky manner. It's a clear indication of the phone's performance limitations.

The Moto E3's software is a major strength, however, with a clean, uncluttered version of Android that's free from bloatware. This is a big plus, especially considering the phone's limited storage capacity. But, unfortunately, even the software can't make up for the phone's hardware shortcomings.