Moto E (1st generation)

Last updated
Moto E
Moto E Black.jpg
CodenameCondor
Manufacturer Motorola Inc.
Slogan Made to last. Priced for all
Compatible networks 2G/3G
Global GSM Model:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+ up to 21 Mbps (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
First releasedMay 13, 2014 (2014-05-13)
DiscontinuedYES
Predecessor Droid Mini
Successor Moto E (2nd generation)
Related Moto G (1st generation)
Moto X (1st generation)
Type Smartphone
Dimensions124.8 mm (4.91 in) H
64.8 mm (2.55 in) W
12.3 mm (0.48 in) D
Mass142 g (5.0 oz)
Operating system Android 4.4.4 "KitKat" upgradable to Android 5.1 "Lollipop"
System-on-chip Qualcomm Snapdragon  200
CPU 1.2 GHz Dual-core Cortex A7
GPU Adreno 302
Memory1 GB RAM
Storage4 GB (2.1 GB usable)
Removable storage MicroSDHC (up to 32 GB)
Battery1,980  mAh
Display4.30 in (109 mm) diagonal LCD with Corning Gorilla Glass 3
540x960 px (256  ppi)
Rear camera5  MP, fixed focus, no flash
Connectivity GPS / GLONASS, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, FM Radio, Micro USB, 3.5mm audio jack
Website www.motorola.com/us/consumers/shop-all-mobile-phones/Moto-E/moto-e.html

Moto E is an Android smartphone developed and manufactured by Motorola Mobility. It was unveiled and released online in India and the United States on May 13, 2014.

Contents

Released in the wake of the success of the Moto G, the Moto E was designed to be a durable, low-end device marketed towards first-time smartphone owners and budget-minded consumers, especially within emerging markets.

The Moto E was positively received by U.S. technology publications, who praised the device's relatively high quality in comparison to other low-end smartphones common in emerging markets, albeit with shortcomings such as a lack of front-facing camera or camera flash. In India, the release of the Moto E was met with similarly high demand to that of the Indian release of the Moto G, and crashed the website of Flipkart—the online retailer exclusively marketing the device in the country. [1]

The Moto E was succeeded by a second-generation model in February 2015.

Development

The Moto E was designed to specifically compete against feature phones in emerging markets; according to Charlie Tritschler, Motorola's senior vice-president of products, the Moto E's goal was to "end the feature phone", and the device was primarily targeted towards "people who have been on the edge for a while but just didn’t think they could afford a smartphone." [2] The Moto E carries on from the entry-level Moto G, which it released in late 2013; the Moto G was a major success for the company—who had been acquired by Google Inc. in 2012, and was in the process of being sold to Lenovo as of January 2014. [3] In the first quarter of 2014, Motorola sold 6.5 million phones—a number led by strong sales of the Moto G, especially in markets such as the United Kingdom—where the company accounted for 6% of smartphone sales sold in the quarter, up from nearly 0. [4] [5]

Sales of the Moto G was also notably large in the emerging market of India; Magnus Ahlqvist, vice president of Motorola's EMEA division, estimated that between 65 and 70% of users in India still used feature phones. In February 2014, Motorola had partnered with the online retailer Flipkart to be the exclusive retailer of the Moto G in India, marking its first release in the country since 2012. The website's original stock of 20,000 units sold out within hours, and it sold 247,000 Moto G units in just two months, ranking as the 12th highest-selling smartphone in the country for the first quarter of 2014. [2] [6] [7]

Trischler noted that durability was a key selling point in emerging markets, specifically citing the device's use of Gorilla Glass 3, an anti-smudge screen coating, and a similar splashproof coating to the Moto G—which he also noted were attributes that are not normally seen in such low-end products. The company also emphasized its efforts to reduce the cost of constructing the phone—expanding upon those used by the Moto G. Tritschler stated that these measures must be designed "...[right] into the product; you can’t just cut the price." [2] Overall, the Moto E was 40% cheaper than the Moto G. [2] [6] The version of Android shipped on the device, 4.4.2 "KitKat", contains a number of changes designed to optimize the operating system for low-end devices such as the Moto G and E. To emphasize the device's performance, Motorola argued in a demonstration that the Moto E was slightly faster than the high-end Samsung Galaxy S4 at performing basic tasks such as launching certain apps (such as the camera and web browser) and going back to the home screen from an app. [8] [9]

Release

The Moto E was unveiled on May 13, 2014. India was one of the first countries where the Moto E was released; the device was released exclusively by Flipkart, where it retailed for ₹6,999 (US$88) without a contract. Upon its launch at midnight local time, demand for the device was so high that the resulting surge in orders caused the website to crash. [1] [7] The device was also released online through Motorola's website in the United States and in the United Kingdom. The Moto E was to be released in other markets, such as Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Spain. [7] [10] [11] [12]

Specifications

The Moto E's build and design is similar to that of the Moto G, with a "splashproof" coating, curved backing, and a front-mounted speaker below the screen. The device is available in either black or white front colors, and has an interchangeable rear cover with different color options. It features a 4.3 inches (11 cm) IPS qHD display, coated with Gorilla Glass 3. The device uses a dual-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, and includes 1 GB of RAM. The Moto E has 4 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB with a MicroSDHC card. The Moto E only supports up to 3G connectivity, and was available in a dual SIM model in selected markets. The device includes a non-removable 1980 mAh battery, which Motorola touted as having "all-day" battery life. The Moto E features a 5-megapixel rear-facing fixed-focus camera; the device does not include a flash or a front-facing camera. [2] [13] [14]

The Moto E shipped with Android 4.4 "KitKat". Several Motorola-specific apps are included, including Assist, as introduced by the Moto X, which automatically enable or disable certain modes, such as silencing the ringer or auto replying to text messages, depending on certain scenarios—such as when a user is in a meeting as determined by their calendar, or driving. [15] The Moto E also includes a new "Alert" app, which allows users to notify others of their location. Motorola committed to upgrading the Moto E to the next major version of Android following its release: [2] [13] [14] an update to Android 5.0 "Lollipop" was released in February 2015. [16]

Reception

Vlad Savov of The Verge praised the design of the Moto E for not appearing "downmarket" and for having adequate performance, but still noting that the device's camera was not as good as those on other smartphones. He went on to say that "a market populated by the likes of the Galaxy Fame and Galaxy Young—both of which are stuck on Android 4.1 with little hope of an upgrade—hadn't seen anything like the quick and well-made G before. Or since, for that matter." [17] Chris Velazco of Engadget was relatively positive, noting that the Moto E was well-designed and carried the trademark design cues of Motorola's recent products, while praising its vivid display, along with its sufficient performance, battery life, and nearly stock Android software. In conclusion, it was felt that "for all its minor shortcomings, the Moto E still represents a level of power and quality that's become even more accessible to people the world over, and that's something worth celebrating. If all you need is a smartphone that can take you to Facebook, capture fodder for Instagram or fire off missives on Twitter (or WhatsApp or Weibo), the Moto E will make a worthy sidekick. Not every important device has to be a flashy flagship." However, the device was still panned for its small amount of internal storage, and for lacking a camera flash or front-facing camera. [18]

Related Research Articles

Motorola Mobility LLC, marketed as Motorola, is an American consumer electronics manufacturer primarily producing smartphones and other mobile devices running Android. It is a subsidiary of the Chinese multinational technology company Lenovo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motorola Defy</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

The Motorola Defy (A8210/MB525) is an Android-based smartphone from Motorola. It filled a niche market segment, by being one of the few small, IP67 rated smartphones available at the time of its late 2010 release. It is water resistant, dust resistant, and has an impact-resistant screen. The phone was launched unlocked in Germany, France, Italy, Hungary, India, Thailand, Spain, the UK, Turkey, Romania and Greece under various networks and was distributed exclusively by a number of carriers, including T-Mobile in the United States, Telus in Canada, and Telstra and Optus in Australia. An updated version of the original MB525, Defy+ (MB526) is also available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenovo smartphones</span> Smartphones

Lenovo smartphones are marketed as the "LePhone" in Mainland China and the "IdeaPhone" overseas. Motorola Mobility, ZUK Mobile and Medion, divisions of Lenovo, sell smartphones under their own brands. As of September 2015, Lenovo is in the process of rebranding most of its phones using the Motorola brand name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto X (1st generation)</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

Moto X is an Android smartphone developed and manufactured by Motorola Mobility, and released in August 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LG G2</span> Android smartphone

The LG G2 is an Android smartphone developed by LG Electronics. Serving as a successor to 2012's Optimus G and the 2013 Optimus G Pro phablet, the G2 was unveiled at a press event in New York City on 7 August 2013, and first released in September 2013. The G2 is primarily distinguished by software features that LG billed would "learn" from users, a high fidelity sound system designed to produce higher quality audio, a 5.2 in (130 mm) 1080p IPS LCD screen with technology that the company claimed would improve energy efficiency and reduce the size of the bezel around it, along with the unique placement of its power and volume keys—eschewing their typical location on the edge of a smartphone by placing them on the rear below the camera lens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto G (1st generation)</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

The Moto G is an Android smartphone developed and manufactured by Motorola Mobility, at the time a subsidiary of Google. Released on 13 November 2013, the phone was initially aimed at emerging markets, although it was also available in developed markets as a low-price option.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Android One</span> Line of smartphones that run the unmodified Android operating system

Android One is a family of third-party Android smartphones promoted by Google. In comparison to many third-party Android devices, which ship with a manufacturer's customized user interface and bundled apps, these devices run near-stock versions of Android with limited modifications, and a focus on Google services. Devices that run Android One receive OS updates for at least two years after their release, and security patches for at least three years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto X (2nd generation)</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

The second generation Moto X, marketed as moto X and referred to in the media as Moto X (2014), is an Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility. Released on September 5, 2014, it is the successor to the original Moto X released in 2013. It was succeeded by the third generation Moto X Style and Play family, announced on July 29, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto G (2nd generation)</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

The second-generation Moto G is an Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility. Released on September 6, 2014, it is a successor to the original Moto G released in 2013. The phone was initially aimed at developing markets, although it is also available in developed markets as a lower-cost option compared to other phones in its class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modular smartphone</span>

A modular smartphone is a smartphone made using components that can be independently upgraded or replaced as modules. This aims to reduce electronic waste, lower repair costs and increase user comfort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto E (2nd generation)</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

The second generation Moto E is an Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility. Released on February 25, 2015, it is a successor to the Moto E released in 2014. The New Moto E is a low-end device for first-time smartphone owners or budget-minded consumers, and is available in 40 countries worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto X Play</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

Moto X Play is an Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Lenovo. Unveiled on July 28, 2015, it was one of three devices that succeeded the second-generation Moto X. In contrast to the high-end Moto X Style, the Play is a mid-range device distinguished by its high battery capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto G4</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

Moto G4 is a line of Android smartphones manufactured by Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Lenovo. They are the successor to the third-generation Moto G, and were first released in Brazil and India on May 17, 2016, with the other markets following.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto Z</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

Moto Z is an Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility. Unveiled on June 9, 2016, as its flagship model for the year, the Moto Z is distinguished by the "Moto Mods" technosystem which allows case accessories to be magnetically attached to the device to provide additional functionality. The Moto Z was later joined by the more rugged Moto Z Force of which shares most of the same internals as the former, and the mid-range Moto Z Play with downgraded specifications, all three devices being compatible with the modular system.

The Moto E3 and the Moto E3 Power are Android smartphones developed by Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Lenovo. These phones make up the third generation of the low-end Motorola Moto E series. The E3 was released in July 2016. The E3 Power was released through Flipkart in India in September 2016, and sold a record 100,000 units on its first day of sale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moto G5</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

Moto G5 is a series of Android smartphones developed by Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Lenovo. It is the fifth generation of the Moto G family. Announced as successors to the Moto G4, they were first released in March 2017 in several markets including India and Europe. The original variants are the Moto G5 and Moto G5 Plus, the latter also being available as an Amazon Prime version in the United States. The mid-cycle updates, the Moto G5s and Moto G5s Plus, were released in August 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foldable smartphone</span> Smartphone form factors that use flexible displays

A foldable smartphone is a smartphone with a folding form factor. Some variants of the concept use multiple touchscreen panels on a hinge, while other designs utilise a flexible display. Concepts of such devices date back as early as Nokia's "Morph" concept in 2008, and a concept presented by Samsung Electronics in 2013, while the first commercially available folding smartphones with OLED displays began to emerge in November 2018.

The Moto Z3 is an Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility, as the successor to the Moto Z2 Force Edition. It is the world's first 5G-upgradable smartphone. Like all of Motorola's smartphones in the Moto Z series, it supports Motorola's magnetically attachable "MotoMods" modules.

The Motorola Razr (2019) is an Android foldable smartphone produced by Motorola Mobility. Unveiled on November 14, 2019, it was released on February 6, 2020. The device is designed to be reminiscent of the original Motorola Razr feature phone series and features a horizontally foldable screen.

The Motorola Edge and Edge+ are Android smartphones developed by Motorola Mobility, a subsidiary of Lenovo.

References

  1. 1 2 Singhal, Nidhi (14 May 2014). "Flipkart server crashes as Motorola Moto E goes on sale". Business Today. Retrieved Jun 10, 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Motorola launches £89 Moto E – its bargain basement smartphone". The Guardian. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  3. ↑ "Google sells Motorola to Lenovo for $2.91 billion". The Verge. Retrieved 30 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Moto G resurrects Motorola in UK market". CNET. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Motorola ships 6.5 million phones in 2014 thanks to Moto G." CNET. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  6. 1 2 "Motorola aims for Indian buyers with super-cheap Rs 6,999 Moto E". The Guardian. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Krishna, R. Jai (13 May 2014). "Motorola to Sell the Moto E Low-Priced Smartphone First in India". IndiaRealTime. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  8. ↑ "KitKat's 'Project Svelte' could signal the end of Android fragmentation". TechRadar. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  9. ↑ "Motorola launches the $129 Moto E, a durable and affordable Android smartphone". Engadget. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  10. ↑ Choudhury, Santanu (14 May 2014). "Motorola's Moto E Smartphone Brings Down Flipkart". IndiaRealTime. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  11. ↑ "Motorola Moto E release date, news and features". TechRadar. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  12. ↑ Pratap, Ketan (13 May 2014). "Moto E Launch Day: Flipkart Offers 50 Percent Discount on Covers and More". NDTV . Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  13. 1 2 Sarov, Vlad (13 May 2014). "Motorola adds LTE to Moto G, introduces an even cheaper Moto E". The Verge . Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  14. 1 2 "Hands on: Motorola Moto E review A dinky dialler that's got a lot to shout about". TechRadar. Retrieved 14 May 2014.
  15. ↑ "Moto X review". The Verge. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Moto E and Moto Maxx getting Lollipop for real". GSMArena.com. Retrieved 2019-02-07.
  17. ↑ Byford, Sam (2013-09-30). "The Moto E is shockingly cheap and surprisingly good". The Verge. Retrieved 2014-05-13.
  18. ↑ Velazco, Chris. "Moto E review: Where very good meets very cheap". Engadget. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.