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Moto G4 and G4 Plus

A

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
1,133
Cannot see myself going with anything upcoming here when I already have a Moto X Pure I got on sale from BB back when. I did not even keep the Nexus 6P.

By the time these come out, one can rock a S6 with further price drops.
 
MRU

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
8,952
a better place
I hope they haven't messed it up making the X about 'gimmick peripherals'.

The beauty of the X was always it was a humble phone performing like a flagship but on a budget, by utilising stock android with the important additions of Hey Moto voice commands and customised colours.

The formulae that won many critic favour, began to break by an ever increasing size but essential elements remained.

With this years Moto X being the first completely Lenovo product, and those iffy leaks looking like a knockoff lumia 950 rear , I'm concerned they may screw up this year big time ...
 
N

nj-morris

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Nov 30, 2014
1,897
804
UK
Since we have a new thread on the recently announced Moto Z, and it doesn't look like there will be a new Moto X, I think it's appropriate to make this a G4 specific thread.
 
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epicrayban

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
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Been researching the G4 and G4 Plus models as potential replacement phones for my parents, and let me just start by saying:

TERRIBLE naming convention. The G4 Plus implies a bigger device, but the "Plus" only really means a fingerprint scanner and a better camera. Such a naming fail.

The devices themselves look pretty good though for their price points.
 
tbayrgs

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
epicrayban said:
Been researching the G4 and G4 Plus models as potential replacement phones for my parents, and let me just start by saying:

TERRIBLE naming convention. The G4 Plus implies a bigger device, but the "Plus" only really means a fingerprint scanner and a better camera. Such a naming fail.

The devices themselves look pretty good though for their price points.
Click to expand...

To be fair, I think your expectations have been colored by Apple, where 'plus' for the most part just means bigger. If Motorola had come first, you very well might be saying Apple's naming convention is problematic. ;)

I think Moto is actually a bit more accurate as to me it implies the G4 Plus is the standard G4 plus these additional features.
 
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epicrayban

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
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tbayrgs said:
To be fair, I think your expectations have been colored by Apple, where 'plus' for the most part just means bigger. If Motorola had come first, you very well might be saying Apple's making convention is problematic. ;)

I think Moto is actually a bit more accurate as to me it implies the G4 Plus is the standard G4 plus these additional features.
Click to expand...


Fair points.

After researching, I may end up getting a pair of g4 pluses with some microSD cards. Just wish they weren't 5.5" screens.
 
Savor

Savor

Suspended
Jun 18, 2010
3,742
918
Very much interested in this one or the G4 Play. The Moto E3 Power doesn't seem compelling enough.

I'm kinda anti-flagship right now after realizing how much value gets lost over the years. I was scouring yesterday checking out second hand phones I used to own. I saw my Nokia N82 which I originally bought for $500 unlocked in January 2008. Cost only $22 eight years later. My iPhone 4 cost only $80 these days when I paid close to $400 on launch day with contract. Bought a $220 new Nexus One about 20 months after its release. Cost $530 originally. Saw one go for $30 a couple years later. HTC One M7 for $600 ($260 with taxes and contract). Cost only $70 on Craigslist and practically mint condition! Even a PS3 can still go for over $100 used while a phone from three years ago can't.

Moto G from late-2013 was the one that taught me that I don't need to spend over $200 to buy a decent phone. Because flagships are overpriced and overrated. After three years, they probably won't be practical to use vs a budget phone in 2019. Then we watch these $400-$700 current phones drop to less than $100 with degraded batteries and software lag. Disposal. Lumia 640 and Moto E2 4G spoiled me even better with $29.99 price points. So cheap, why resell them either? ZTE Zmax 2 went back down to $59.99 on Best Buy after being $99.99 last week and a better phone than the Lumia or Moto E.

Thank you, Motorola, for showing me the light. After the $299 Nexus 4, it was really companies like Motorola, Xiaomi, and Asus that spending over $200 for any smartphone seems unwise. Wait about 1.5 years when we start seeing an S6 edge go for under $150. By then, a budget phone around the same price has improved enough and would be more practical to use because it is newer.
 
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tbayrgs

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
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epicrayban said:
Fair points.

After researching, I may end up getting a pair of g4 pluses with some microSD cards. Just wish they weren't 5.5" screens.
Click to expand...

If I didn't already have a 6P, I'd be seriously considering picking up a G4 Plus. I like the display size, actually prefer 1080p for battery performance, and have professed my need for a front positioned fingerprint reader. Camera's have always been a weak point of past Motos so I'm curious to see what real world performance yields and having now started to collect USB-C cables, can't go back to microUSB. ;)

I have to admit though that buying anything other than Google smartphones is fairly unlikely as I simply value timely updates on unlocked devices far too much to consider anything else, even at the expense of superior hardware. Years of Apple products or Nexus phones/tablets have ruined me for anything else...new software updates are simply my weakness. :p
 
R

ramram55

macrumors 6502a
Jul 27, 2012
829
189
Savor said:
Very much interested in this one or the G4 Play. The Moto E3 Power doesn't seem compelling enough.

I'm kinda anti-flagship right now after realizing how much value gets lost over the years. I was scouring yesterday checking out second hand phones I used to own. I saw my Nokia N82 which I originally bought for $500 unlocked in January 2008. Cost only $22 eight years later. My iPhone 4 cost only $80 these days when I paid close to $400 on launch day with contract. Bought a $220 new Nexus One about 20 months after its release. Cost $530 originally. Saw one go for $30 a couple years later. HTC One M7 for $600 ($260 with taxes and contract). Cost only $70 on Craigslist and practically mint condition! Even a PS3 can still go for over $100 used while a phone from three years ago can't.

Moto G from late-2013 was the one that taught me that I don't need to spend over $200 to buy a decent phone. Because flagships are overpriced and overrated. After three years, they probably won't be practical to use vs a budget phone in 2019. Then we watch these $400-$700 current phones drop to less than $100 with degraded batteries and software lag. Disposal. Lumia 640 and Moto E2 4G spoiled me even better with $29.99 price points. So cheap, why resell them either? ZTE Zmax 2 went back down to $59.99 on Best Buy after being $99.99 last week and a better phone than the Lumia or Moto E.

Thank you, Motorola, for showing me the light. After the $299 Nexus 4, it was really companies like Motorola, Xiaomi, and Asus that spending over $200 for any smartphone seems unwise. Wait about 1.5 years when we start seeing an S6 edge go for under $150. By then, a budget phone around the same price has improved enough and would be more practical to use because it is newer.
Click to expand...
Your pricing theory seems to be on the spot, yet what happens for someone who needs a cell phone to use, has to get the latest gadgets ? 3 years down the lane depreciation catches up and technology improve. It is a matter of enjoying new tech while it last. Obviously better deal than buying iphone coughing out $700 in 2014 and today it is worth less than $400. What gives ?
 
epicrayban

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
6,517
5,353
Surf Donkey said:
As noted above, this is only $125 if you are cool with ads on the lock screen:
http://www.droid-life.com/2016/06/29/deal-moto-g4-yes-new-one-just-124-99-today-amazon/

Don't see the same deal on the plus. But that is a killer deal.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was reading about that this morning. I'm not willing to compromise to save that money. I rather my parents have ad-free phones.

Interesting attempt by Amazon though. I fear this tactic will catch on with the carriers... =X
[doublepost=1467217216][/doublepost]After further research, I think the G4 regular is the way to go. Not happy that the fingerprint scanner on the G4+ isn't also a capacitive home button.
 
Surf Donkey

Surf Donkey

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epicrayban said:
Yeah, I was reading about that this morning. I'm not willing to compromise to save that money. I rather my parents have ad-free phones.

Interesting attempt by Amazon though. I fear this tactic will catch on with the carriers... =X
[doublepost=1467217216][/doublepost]After further research, I think the G4 regular is the way to go. Not happy that the fingerprint scanner on the G4+ isn't also a capacitive home button.
Click to expand...

Well amazon, carriers, whatever.... as long as it is a choice people can always be ad free. And I doubt it will be hard for the XDA community to rid these ads very fast :)
 
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A

AppleRobert

macrumors 603
Nov 12, 2012
5,729
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My local Best Buy has it on display along with the Plus model. I guess worth a look see if you are close to a store and in the market for one of them.
 
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spriter

spriter

macrumors 65816
May 13, 2004
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epicrayban

epicrayban

macrumors 604
Nov 7, 2014
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Android Central agrees with Verge the processor is "overworked".

http://www.androidcentral.com/moto-g4-plus-review

The Takeaway

Lenovo's first full cycle with the Moto brand seems to be off to a good start, at least with the most powerful variant, the Moto G Plus. While the device shares a number of hardware specs with the Moto X Play, a slimmer, more approachable design, and the addition of a fingerprint sensor, make this one of the best devices in its class.

THE GOOD
  • Nice, simple design
  • Fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate
  • Good camera quality and features
  • No-nonsense Android software
THE BAD
  • Snapdragon 617 processor feels overworked
  • Lacks popular Moto Voice features
  • Loose, plasticky buttons and back cover
[doublepost=1468257878][/doublepost]A lot of conflicting reviews, honestly. Some say the fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable; others say no. Some say the performance experience is smooth as heck; others say no or "overworked."

Don't know what to make of these phones.

What else is out there that are in the sub-$250 category? $300 tops.
 
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MRU

MRU

macrumors Penryn
Aug 23, 2005
25,370
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a better place
If they think the G is a miss-step in the right direction from what made the G good, I can't wait for the reviews of the Z to land.
 
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R

ramram55

macrumors 6502a
Jul 27, 2012
829
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epicrayban said:
Android Central agrees with Verge the processor is "overworked".

http://www.androidcentral.com/moto-g4-plus-review

The Takeaway

Lenovo's first full cycle with the Moto brand seems to be off to a good start, at least with the most powerful variant, the Moto G Plus. While the device shares a number of hardware specs with the Moto X Play, a slimmer, more approachable design, and the addition of a fingerprint sensor, make this one of the best devices in its class.

THE GOOD
  • Nice, simple design
  • Fingerprint sensor is fast and accurate
  • Good camera quality and features
  • No-nonsense Android software
THE BAD
  • Snapdragon 617 processor feels overworked
  • Lacks popular Moto Voice features
  • Loose, plasticky buttons and back cover
[doublepost=1468257878][/doublepost]A lot of conflicting reviews, honestly. Some say the fingerprint scanner is fast and reliable; others say no. Some say the performance experience is smooth as heck; others say no or "overworked."

Don't know what to make of these phones.

What else is out there that are in the sub-$250 category? $300 tops.
Click to expand...
For the price point, it is a good deal with better spec. I have been using an Iphone 4s, Moto G4 plus sounds like a lot better.
 
nfl46

nfl46

macrumors G3
Oct 5, 2008
8,538
9,505
I ordered the Moto G4 ($124) and the Blu R1 HD ($59). So, I got two phones for under $200. I should be getting them tomorrow. I will see which one I like better.

Flossy told me, "On a scale of 1 to 10 these are a go!"

I will listen to Floss!

 
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jamezr

jamezr

macrumors P6
Aug 7, 2011
16,079
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US
nfl46 said:
I ordered the Moto G4 ($124) and the Blu R1 HD ($59). So, I got two phones for under $200. I should be getting them tomorrow. I will see which one I like better.

Flossy told me, "On a scale of 1 to 10 these are a go!"

I will listen to Floss!

Click to expand...
Can't wait to read your thoughts! :) Floss is the man!
 
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