Get to work with the Moto G6
The Moto G6 is the true successor of the winner of the prize for the best economic phone in the Awards Awards last year. On first impressions, it seems that Motorola will be hard to dethrone.
It's in the middle of a range of three new Motorola smartphones that have Android stock, and I think it's the selection of an impressive group that offer great value.
For a tone of less than £ 220, you get a clear 5.7-inch Full HD + screen in a narrower body and just a little higher than its predecessor. There is also facial and fingerprint unlocking, fast USB-C charging, dual rear cameras and a fully glass and metal design. It presents emblematic features at a fraction of the cost.
Related: The best smartphones
Of course, you have to give something to keep the price down, but in the case of the Moto G6 I think the commitments that are they have achieved are the correct ones. For starters, there is no official resistance to water or wireless charging, which are nice to have, rather than essential.
The Snapdragon 450 that has been chosen may be just one of Qualcomm's mid-range processors, but it is capable and should be sufficient for all but the most ardent 3D players of mobile devices and multi-taskers. The Moto G5, which includes a less powerful Snapdragon 430 processor, is still as smooth and responsive as last year, so there should be no complaints about the 450.
Related: Best Budget Smartphone
If you choose the cheapest Moto G6 Play you will get the previous Snapdragon 430. Advance to the Moto G6 Plus for £ 269 and you'll get a bigger screen and a more robust Snapdragon 630.
Moto G6 – Design and screen
Following the current trend, the Moto G6 has a screen ratio of 18: 9, and that means that the screen is taller and narrower than before. This is ideal for watching widescreen movies or TV and also makes sense from the design point of view. A wide phone is much harder to use than a tall one, and the Moto G6 is now significantly narrower than its predecessor, while having a much larger screen. It is also much thinner, making it much easier to put it in your pocket.
The quality of materials used by Motorola also feels like a great step forward. The Moto G6 has an elegant metal frame sandwiched between the screen on one side, and Gorilla Glass curved and scratch-resistant on the other.
Ergonomics is punctual; The G6 feels robust and comfortable to hold, thanks to the metal frame and the conical back. And they occupy a prominent place in the back the two new cameras, accentuated by an engraved circle and covered in glass. It really is a nice phone, but the design has more than just a good appearance.
Many phones have rear cameras placed very high, almost touching the top edge. This makes it difficult to take pictures with both hands, since it is very easy to cover a lens with a finger. The positioning of the camera on the new G6 phones solves this, and means that you can take more stable pictures.
The Moto G6 speaker has moved from the lower edge to the front, which is a good move, as it is much harder to muffle. It also comes with Dolby Audio
The Moto G6 will be available in one color at the launch, called "Deep Indigo".
Moto G6 – Camera
Perhaps the biggest improvements that Motorola has included in the G6 and G6 In addition, there are dual rear cameras.
We have seen many dual cameras in high-end devices in recent years, and these work in various ways. The Huawei P20 has a monochromatic sensor to support the main, while the LG G6 has opted for a second wide-angle camera to adapt better.
The Moto G6 approach is more similar to that of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. The second sensor is there so you can create shallow depth of field effects that keep the focus on the objects while softening the background.
I was trying a preproduction model that did not have the final camera software, but I did some test shots and the effect was good: crisp around the edges of the subject and blurry in the background. You can also adjust these effects in post-production, through the Portrait Editor application.
The main rear sensor is 12 megapixels, which is actually down at 13 megapixels in the G5 last year. But do not let that fool you. Megapixels are not everything and this camera comes with a wider f / 1.8 aperture, which should mean better photos in low light. I could not prove this during my time with the phone, so wait for the full review to find out how well the Moto G6 is doing when it comes to photography.
The dual camera configuration also allows some ingenious functions. The recognition of Landmark is one. Just point the G6 at a famous place and information will appear on it. The recognition of objects is similar but works with anything. I tried it with a small plant and the Moto G6 correctly identified it as a succulent and brought information to the screen. Very smart indeed.
Motorola claims that the camera on the Moto G6 is also brilliant in scanning and converting images into text.
It is worth noting that the Moto G6 Plus comes with a superior rear camera, on paper. It comes with a more advanced image signal processor, has a wider f / 1.7 aperture and features Dual Autofocus Pixel technology. You can also record 4K video. The Moto G6 reaches a maximum of 1080p (60 fps).
The front camera now has 8 megapixels and comes with an LED flash and beautification mode, something I need most mornings. It also allows you to unlock your phone by facial recognition, such as with the iPhone X. We still have to see if it's as slippery as that, or how well it works in the dark.
Moto G6 – Specifications and features [19659002] The Moto G6 comes with 3GB of RAM (4GB in certain regions) and Qualcomm's latest midrange processor, the Snapdragon 450. This is a step up from the Snapdragon 430 processor. Last year you will find in the G5 and the most economical Moto G6 Game.
In addition to packing faster cores, the Snapdragon 450 uses 14nm transistors, half the size of the 430 & # 39; s. The smaller the transistors, the more efficient processors tend to be, and that means a longer battery life.
I could not test the resistance of the Moto G6 in the time I had with it, but in operation the stock experience of Android 8.0 was smooth and the applications were opened quickly Turn on the application of the camera and take a quick snapshot, for example It was a free experience of delay.
Motorola sure has packed a lot in the Moto G6. In addition to the sharp 5.7-inch screen and dual cameras, the phone's storage has been increased to 32GB from 16GB last year. It will also come as a 64GB option, but since there is a microSD card slot to expand that, the entry-level model should suit most people.
G6 vs G5
There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack, something that has become a rare item these days, and Bluetooth 4.2 for those who discovered the freedom of wireless headphones.
While the G6 Play comes with an old-school micro USB port for charging, the Moto G6 and G6 Plus have opted for the newer USB-C connector. Most flagship phones now include USB-C, but not many cost so little. It may mean that many of your old charging cables become obsolete, but USB-C is a more robust connection and much easier to connect, since it is reversible.
There's no wireless charging, but the Moto G6 comes with NFC as standard, which is another step up from last year's model. Motorola also includes a charger and TurboPower cable in the box. This allows you to charge the Moto G6 quickly; In fact, Motorola says that a 15-minute explosion will give it six hours of useful life.
The 3000 mAh battery should be large enough, especially with the most efficient processor, to guide it one day. However, if the life of the battery is a key concern for you, then Moto G6 Play may be a better option. That comes with a monstrous 4000mAh battery.
Finally, it is worth noting that, while the Moto G6 is not officially water resistant, it has been treated with a P2i nanor coating. This repels the water of the vital components, and should mean that the smartphone survives accidental liquid damage even if it is not truly amphibious.
Moto G6 – Price and release date
The Moto G6 will cost £ 219 without a SIM card and the -sale date is TBC.
First impressions
Although most people will be inclined towards the cheaper G6 Play or the larger G6 Plus, I think it is the Moto G6 that reaches the optimal point between price and features. This is a phone that looks great and comes full of goodies. However, it all comes down to the camera, and we'll have to test it more thoroughly, so check our full review soon.