Moto G (2nd generation)

The second-generation Moto G (marketed as simply Moto G) is an Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility (a subsidiary of Google when it was launched, but then becoming a subsidiary of Lenovo). 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,[3] although it is also available in developed markets as a lower-cost option compared to other phones in its class.[4]

Second-generation Moto G
Moto G running Android 5.0.2 "Lollipop"
CodenameTitan,[1] Thea (LTE)[2]
ManufacturerMotorola Mobility
SloganMoto G – Exceptional Phone. Exceptional Price.
SeriesMotorola Moto
Compatible networksGSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

UMTS/HSPA+ up to 21 Mb/s (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz) FDD LTE 2100/1800/2600/800 (Bands 1, 3, 7, 20)

TDD LTE 1900/2300/2500/2600 (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
First releasedSeptember 5, 2014 (2014-09-05)
PredecessorMoto G (1st generation)
Droid Mini
SuccessorMoto G (3rd generation)
RelatedMoto X (2nd generation)
Moto E (2nd generation)
TypeSmartphone
Form factorTouchscreen
Dimensions141.5 mm (5.57 in) H
70.7 mm (2.78 in) W
11 mm (0.43 in) D
Mass149 g (5.3 oz)
Operating systemOriginal: Android 4.4.4 "KitKat"
Current: Android 6.0 "Marshmallow"
System-on-chipQualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1.2 GHz quad-core ARM CPU
GPUAdreno 305
Memory1 GB LPDDR3 RAM
Storage8 GB internal storage; Micro SD card up to 32GB
Battery2070 mAh Li-ion non-removable 2390 mAh Li-ion (4G version) non-removable
Display5.0 in (130 mm) 1280x720 px (294 ppi) HD
Gorilla Glass 3
SoundTwo front-facing speakers; two microphones
Rear camera8 megapixels (3264×2448 px), autofocus, LED flash
Front camera2.0 megapixels (720p) HD video recording @ 30 fps
ConnectivityWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, BT 4.0LE, Micro-USB, 3.5 mm headset jack
Development statusDiscontinued
WebsiteMoto G 2nd Gen at the Wayback Machine (archived 2014-09-16)

Release and availability

The phone was unveiled along with the second-generation Moto X, Moto 360, and Moto Hint in India and the U.S. at their respective events in September 2014. It has U.S. pricing of US$179.99 with no contract for the 8 GB version. This phone was launched in India on Flipkart in September 2014. Only the 16 GB dual SIM variant of this phone is available in India with the model number XT1068 priced at ₹12,999.

As of January 2015, a 4G 16GB variant was made available in Brazil only.[5] The 4G chip on this model is not compatible with all countries.[6] It has many of the same specifications as the 3G variant, including screen, cameras, dual SIM capability, MicroSD expansion and processor, though it comes standard with Android 5.0.2 "Lollipop", has a larger 2,390mAh battery and a minimum 16GB of storage (depending on purchase[7]).[8][9] As of March 2015, the LTE variant (XT1072) was available in the UK.[10][11]

The LTE variant (XT1079) of the phone is available in India since October 2015; it started at a price of ₹8999.

Hardware

Specifications

The phone features a 5-inch HD LCD IPS screen, coated with Gorilla Glass 3, Google Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor clocked at 1.2 GHz, 1 GB of RAM, a "splashproof" coating, curved back, and front-mounted stereo speakers below and above the screen. The Moto G can come with 8 or 16 GB of internal storage. The user can add an additional 32 GB, or perhaps even more,[12] using a MicroSD card.

All variants of the phone support 2G and 3G connectivity; the XT1072 and XT1079 models also support 4G/LTE The phone is available in a dual SIM model in selected markets.

The phone includes a non-removable 2070 mAh battery (2390 mAh for the 4G version), which Motorola touts as providing "all-day" battery life. The phone supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 fast charging, if used with a charger which supports Quick Charge 2.0 or better.

The Moto G features an 8-megapixel rear-facing auto-focus camera with flash and a front-facing 2-megapixel camera. The device is available in either black or white front colors, and has an interchangeable rear cover with different color options.

The Moto G shares its design language with the Moto X and Moto E, although there are some key differences between them. To cut costs, the Moto G lacks the Moto X's low power coprocessor that would allow active notifications, quick capture, and touchless control. The Moto G's Lollipop update added Ambient Display, albeit limited to new notifications.

Model variants

All variants support the four 2G GSM bands 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz.

VersionDescription
XT1063Global GSM, Single SIM
XT1064US/Canada GSM, Single SIM
XT1068Global GSM, Dual SIM, EU, Colombia
XT1069GSM+DTV, Dual SIM, Brazil model supporting DTV or LTE
XT1072LTE, Single SIM, EU model
XT1077LTE, Dual SIM, China, 8/16 GB
XT10784G, Dual SIM, Brazil, 16 GB
XT1079LTE, Dual SIM, India/China, 16GB

Official accessories

As a part of customizing the phone, Motorola released replaceable back covers and flip covers both in the following colours; Liquorice, Chalk, Cherry Red, Turquoise, Royal Blue, Violet, Spearmint Green and Lemon/Lime. The "Moto Maker" service is not available for this handset.

Software

The second-generation Moto G was initially shipped with Android 4.4.4 "KitKat". It provided a mostly-stock Android user experience, but did have some additional features. These features included:

  • Moto Alert, which lets users notify others of their location;
  • Moto Assist, which automatically enables or disables certain modes, such as silencing the ringer or auto-replying to text messages, depending on the situation — such as when a user is in a meeting as determined by their calendar, or driving;
  • and Motorola Migrate.

The handset comes preloaded with Google Now Launcher as the default home-screen launcher. Nowadays, it ships with Android 5.0 "Lollipop" and can be easily updated to Android 6.0.0 "Marshmallow".

Firmware updates

The second-generation Moto G received an Android 4.4.4 "KitKat" maintenance update in September 2014. The update was for version 21.11.23 and includes various bug fixes and performance improvements. The main changes noticed in this update are: the Google Now Launcher, an improvement in battery life, new language and input options, a new camera picture-taking sound and a new design for the "Powered By Android" logo on the boot screen.

The Android 5.0 "Lollipop" update began rolling out in November 2014. This update was for version 22.11.6.[13] The Pure Edition of this phone in the US (the carrier-unlocked version) became the world's first mobile phone, after Google's current Nexus models, to be updated to Android 5.0 Lollipop.

The Android Lollipop 5.0.2 update became available in several non-US countries including Australia, Germany, India, and the United Kingdom in January/February 2015.[14][15][16]

In India, the Marshmallow update was rolled out for the second-generation Moto G in February 2016.[17] Motorola has published the release notes for the Android 6.0 Marshmallow update, which include details on the enhancements included in the update.[18]

Critical reception

The second-generation Moto G received extremely positive reviews from critics with several websites calling it one of the best budget smartphones of 2014. It was mainly praised for its smooth performance after its Lollipop update. Michael Sawh of trustedreviews.com gave it 9 out of 10 stars, praising its strong battery life and excellent value for money.[19] GSMchoice claims that the phone is a good quality product. However, compared to the previous model, it did not offer anything special. According to GSMchoice, the second-generation Moto G's advantages are: dual SIM, micro SD card slot, USB On-The-Go, good stereo speakers, good quality camera, good call quality, and all the features that most users need without adding bloat. Disadvantages include a poor sales package, durability of plastic bezel, and lack of LTE in some models.[20]

References
  1. "Information: Motorola Moto G 2014 ("titan")". LineageOS. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  2. "Information: Motorola Moto G 2014 LTE ("thea")". LineageOS. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  3. "Motorola Moto G review: how good can a $179 smartphone be?". The Verge. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  4. Gibbs, Samuel (13 May 2014). "Motorola aims for Indian buyers with super-cheap Rs 6,999 Moto E". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  5. "Moto G Smartphone incrível. Preço surpreendente". Motorola Brazil. Archived from the original on February 26, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  6. "Moto G (2014) with LTE goes live in Brazil". AusDroid. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  7. "Motorola Moto G Specs". Archived from the original on 2015-03-13. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
  8. "Motorola Moto G 4G (2015) debuts in Brazil, already on sale". GSM Arena. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  9. "Motorola Moto G 4G (2015)". GSM Arena. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  10. "New Moto G 4G (2015) Release date, price and specs UK - PC Advisor".
  11. Moto G Lowest Price in India
  12. Sims, Gary (9 May 2016). "High capacity microSD cards and Android". Android Authority website.
  13. Android 5.0 "Lollipop" Update.
  14. "Android 5.0.2 Lollipop begins rolling out to some Moto G 2nd Gen owners". Phandroid. 12 January 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  15. "2nd Gen Moto G Android 5.0 Lollipop Now Rolling out in the UK and Germany". Android Geeks. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  16. "Android 5.0.2 now rolling out to Motorola Moto G Gen 2 in Australia". Ausdroid. Archived from the original on February 22, 2015. Retrieved February 22, 2015.
  17. "Motorola starts rolling out Moto G (2nd Gen) Marshmallow update". Motorola Mobility. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  18. "Moto G (2nd Gen.) - Android 6.0 Marshmallow Release Notes". GSMArena. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  19. Moto G 2 2014 Review
  20. "Moto G 2nd Gen Review". Archived from the original on 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-02-25.

Further reading
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