Moto E Guide

Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus: major differences between Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus

Which Moto E is for you: Moto E4 or Moto E4 Plus? You can get the answer here.

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Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus: major differences between Moto E4 and Moto E4 PlusMotorola announced two latest Moto E family products: Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus on June 12. This post summarizes the major differences between Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus.

Both Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus share a similar design and build quality. But the difference between these two phones is substantial.

Hopefully, the comparison of Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus will help you to decide which phone is for you.

Please note some features, e.g., dual SIM feature and CPU (Snapdragon 425/427  for North America and Mediatek MT6737 for other regions), are region-specific. We do not consider such differences in this post as such features are not options for users.

Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus: Moto E4 plus is bigger

Moto E4 Plus is far bigger and heavy than Moto E4.

The screen size of Moto E4 is 5″, while Moto E4 Plus 5.5″. But the screen resolution is identical at 720p (1280*720).

This means Moto E4 has a higher pixel density (294ppi vs 267ppi).  Same photos in Moto G4 may look sharper than in Moto E4 Plus.

Moto E4 Plus is about 31% heavier than Moto E4 (198g vs 151g).

Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus: Moto E4 plus has a bigger battery with 10w fast charging

One of the major differences between these two phones is the battery.

Moto E4 has a removable battery with a capacity of 2800mAH. Moto E4 Plus has a non-removable battery with an eye-popping capacity of 5000mAH, which is comparable to many battery packs in the market.

This means Moto E4 Plus should have far longer battery life than Moto E4 although it has a larger display. Motorola claimed Moto E4 Plus battery can last two days for most users.

In addition, Moto E4 Plus charges faster. It supports 1oW fast charging; while Moto E4 only supports 5W charging.

Unfortunately, Motorola does not offer power bank option for Moto E4 Plus. You probably cannot use the 5000mAH battery to charge other devices directly through the micro USB port.

Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus: 8MP rear camera vs 13MP camera

The rear camera in Moto E4 and E4 Plus is also substantially different.

Moto E4 Plus has a 13MP rear camera with f/2.0 sensor; while Moto E4 has only 8MP f/2.2 camera sensor.

The front camera in the two phones is identical. And interestingly, both phones offer LED flash for the front camera. Most high-end smartphones even do not have this feature.

Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus: E4 Plus have 3GB RAM (except in the US)

As a budget phone, Motorola is generous enough to pack 2GB RAM in Moto E4. This is sufficiently for daily use (except heavy games).

For Moto E4 Plus, 3GB RAM can be found in the international version. But in the US version, the memory is only 2GB.  This is probably due to the slightly higher price of Snapdragon chip used in the US version.

Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus: Moto E4 Plus is more expensive

Of course, Moto E4 Plus is more expensive.

The suggested price for Moto E4 Plus is $179.99 and $129.99 for Moto E4.

Can I use micro SD card in Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus?

Yes, both Moto E4 and E4 Plus have a dedicated micro SD card slot.

You can use micro SD card as either internal storage or portable storage.

Does Moto E4 or Moto E4 Plus have a fingerprint reader to unlock the phone?

Both Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus have a front fingerprint reader.

Which phone supports dual SIM cards: Moto E4 or Moto E4 Plus?

Dual-SIM versions are offered in most international markets for both Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus.

But in the US, both Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus support only one SIM card.

So, it depends on your region whether the Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus are dual SIM.

Please note, dual SIM version of Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus are dual standby only.

What’re your thoughts on Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus? Do you have any questions on differences between Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus?

If you have any questions on Moto E4 vs Moto E4 Plus or want to share your thoughts on differences between Moto E4 and Moto E4 Plus,  please let us know in the comment box below.

The community will try to help you and you will help the Moto E owners community.

For more Moto E guides, please check this Moto E how-to guides page.

Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 4G): the best value-for-money smartphone in 2015

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On February 25, 2015, Motorola released Moto E 2nd Gen (aka Moto E 2015, or Moto E 4G) through an innovative Moto E press conference box.  Everyone, not just journalists,  can join the press conference at Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 4G)any time to get more info on  Moto E 2nd Gen at StartWithMotoE.com.

The new Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) is probably the best value-for-money smartphone you can get in 2015.

What’s new in Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015)

1. Bigger (4.5″) and better (IPS) display

Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) shares the similar look of the old Moto E.  The display is slightly larger at 4.5″.

Although the screen resolution is still qHD (540*960),  it is upgraded to IPS panel, which will definitely give you better visual experience.  You may read this post on the display technology for smartphones.

2. Faster quad-core processor

The processor in new Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) is upgraded from dual-core in the old Moto E to quad-core.

For Moto E 2nd Gen 4G model, the processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon 410,  which can be found in many middle-range ($200-$400)  smartphones and tablets.

3. More storage (8GB)

The meager 4GB internal storage in the old Moto E is often complained. Although you can add a 32GB SD card, a lot of apps cannot be moved to SD card. Many owners feel frustrated because they cannot install their favorite games/apps due to lack of internal storage. For moving apps to SD card, you may check this guide.

The Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) gives 8GB storage with SD card support (up to 32GB).  So, for most users, this is probably sufficient.

4. Improved rear camera

The rear (main) camera in Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) is still 5MP. There is still no flash. You may think the camera is still the old one

You are wrong.

The camera is actually significantly improved.

Autofocus is available in the main camera in Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015).  This feature is very useful when you take photos with some printed text, for example, scan a few pages of a book/magazine.

For videos, the camera in Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) now supports 720p HD video, not just 480p as in old Moto E.

Auto HDR and burst mode is also available in Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015). We are still testing them.

5. The front camera, although it is just a VGA one

Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) adds one front VGA camera. It is suitable for taking selfies to share through MMS. You can also use it for video chat/calls.

6. Larger (20% more) battery

The old Moto E actually has decent battery life. Most users reported 1 to 2 days of normal usage for each charge.

Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) is packed with a 2390mAH battery, which is 20% larger than its predecessor. You should get similar battery life even using 4G LTE.

7. 4G LTE

Moto E 2nd Gen also supports 4G LTE (in Moto E 4G models). If your area has 4G LTE coverage, the new Moto E will give you faster mobile data access. Some carriers also provide VoLTE, which gives faster voice call connection and far better voice quality.

Of course, 4G LTE will consume data quota faster.

Also, if you are looking for the dual-SIM model, you still have to get the Moto E 2nd Gen 3G model, which will be released in Q2 2015.

8. Moto Display

Moto Display (old name: active display) is one of the prominent and unique features in Moto X.

Now, Moto Display is also available in Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015).  It works similar to the ambient display in Android Lollipop. But Moto Display provides more options.

9. Quick capture

Quick capture is another exclusive feature in Moto X (and Moto X 2nd Gen). You can launch the camera by simply twisting your wrist.

Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) now get quick capture so that you can snap photos faster than any others.

10. Customization

Customization is still a luxury for smartphones.

Motorola introduced Moto Maker for Moto X owners so that they can choose different colors and materials for the phone.

Now, part of such customization comes to Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015): replaceable trim and back cover.

When and where can I buy Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015)

Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) was already released in the US.  If you live in the US, you can order it now from Motorola online store. The price (4G LTE) is $149.99.

For other regions, the availability will vary from March to April. You may check with local Motorola distributor. The price may vary, but it should be around $150.

We will update the progress of the international availability here.

When will be the Moto E 2nd Gen 3G version available?

Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015) 4G LTE model is a single SIM phone. If you want to get a dual-sim Moto E 2nd Gen, you have to wait for the release of the Moto E 2nd Gen 3G model.

The 3G model will be released in Q2 2015.

Will the 4G LTE model of Moto E 2nd Gen sold in US work in my country?

The frequency used for 4G LTE varies from country to country (even from carrier to carrier in one country in some cases). You may check this page or check with your carrier on the bands (frequencies) in your carrier network.

The following 4G LTE bands are supported in the US version of Moto E 2nd Gen: band 2, 4, 5, 7, 12 and 17.

Please also note, the 3G frequencies used in the US may be also different from those in your carrier.

So, do check the 3G and 4G frequencies.

It is best to buy a local version from the local distributor and you will not worry about network compatibility issues. In addition, in most regions, you can get a one-year local warranty if you buy the device locally.

Why Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 4G) is the best value-for-money smartphone in 2015

Moto G (and Moto G 2nd Gen) probably was the best value-for-money smartphone in 2014.

It seems the $150 Moto E 2nd Gen now provides even higher value for money (VFM). And it supports 4G.  It seems Motorola is serious to reach more customers with affordable and high-quality smartphones.

Based on the incredible (at $150)  combination of hardware and software,  I would say Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 4G) is the best value-for-money smartphone in 2015.

What do you think about Moto E 2nd Gen (Moto E 2015, Moto E 4G)?

Please share your thought in the comment box below.