The Motorola Moto E4 is a budget-friendly smartphone that aims to deliver essential functionality without breaking the bank. While it may not compete with flagship devices in terms of performance or features, it offers a solid experience for users who prioritize affordability and reliability. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at its design, display, performance, camera, battery life, and software to see how it holds up in everyday use.

Design and Build Quality

The Moto E4 features a compact and straightforward design, with a plastic body that feels sturdy in hand. Unlike some budget phones that try to mimic premium materials, Motorola embraces the practicality of plastic, making the device lightweight and resistant to minor drops. The textured back panel provides a decent grip, reducing the chances of accidental slips. At 144.7 x 72.3 x 9.3 mm and weighing just 151 grams, it’s easy to handle with one hand, a rarity in today’s market dominated by larger screens.

The placement of buttons and ports is intuitive, with the power and volume buttons on the right side, a headphone jack at the top, and a micro-USB charging port at the bottom. The rear-mounted fingerprint sensor is a surprising inclusion at this price point, adding a layer of convenience for security-conscious users. While the design won’t turn heads, it’s functional and well-built for its category.

Display

The Moto E4 sports a 5-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of roughly 294 PPI. While this resolution may seem low compared to higher-end devices, it’s perfectly adequate for a phone in this price range. Colors are decently vibrant, and brightness levels are sufficient for indoor use, though outdoor visibility can be a struggle under direct sunlight.

Viewing angles are respectable for an LCD panel, with minimal color shifting when tilting the screen. The smaller screen size makes it ideal for one-handed use, and the 720p resolution ensures that performance remains smooth without taxing the modest hardware. If you’re not obsessed with sharpness or high refresh rates, the Moto E4’s display gets the job done without any major complaints.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Moto E4 is powered by a MediaTek MT6737 quad-core processor clocked at 1.3GHz, paired with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (expandable via microSD up to 128GB). This configuration is clearly entry-level, and while it handles basic tasks like web browsing, social media, and light app usage without much trouble, it struggles with more demanding applications or multitasking.

Gaming performance is limited to casual titles; don’t expect to run graphically intensive games smoothly. The 2GB RAM can lead to occasional app reloads when switching between applications, but for light users, this won’t be a dealbreaker. The inclusion of a fingerprint sensor is a nice touch, and it works reliably for unlocking the device. Overall, the Moto E4 is best suited for those with modest needs who don’t require high-end performance.

Camera

The Moto E4 comes with an 8MP rear camera with an f/2.2 aperture and a 5MP front-facing shooter. The camera app is simple and straightforward, offering basic modes like HDR and panorama. In good lighting conditions, the rear camera captures decent photos with acceptable detail and color accuracy, though dynamic range is limited, and shadows can appear crushed.

Low-light performance is predictably weak, with images suffering from noise and lack of detail. The front-facing camera is serviceable for video calls and occasional selfies, but don’t expect stunning results. Video recording maxes out at 1080p at 30fps, and while footage is usable, it lacks stabilization and can appear shaky. For a budget phone, the cameras are passable, but they won’t impress photography enthusiasts.

Battery Life

One of the standout features of the Moto E4 is its 2800mAh battery, which provides excellent endurance given the modest hardware and low-resolution display. For light to moderate users, the phone can easily last a full day on a single charge, and even heavier users will find it reliable for most of the day. The lack of fast charging means topping up takes a while, but the efficient power management helps compensate for this.

Software

The Moto E4 runs near-stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat, which is a significant advantage for those who prefer a clean, bloatware-free experience. Motorola’s light touches, such as Moto Actions (allowing gestures like twisting the phone to launch the camera), add useful functionality without overwhelming the user. While the phone is no longer receiving major Android updates, the software remains smooth and responsive on this hardware.

Final Verdict

The Motorola Moto E4 is a no-frills smartphone that excels in delivering core functionality at an affordable price. Its sturdy build, reliable fingerprint sensor, and excellent battery life make it a practical choice for budget-conscious buyers. However, the underpowered processor, limited RAM, and average cameras remind us that this is an entry-level device. If you need a basic phone for calls, messaging, and light app usage, the Moto E4 is a solid pick. But if you demand better performance or camera quality, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

Motorola Moto E4 Full Specifications:

Display: 5.0-inch IPS LCD, 1280 x 720 resolution (294 PPI)

Processor: MediaTek MT6737 quad-core 1.3GHz

RAM: 2GB

Storage: 16GB (expandable via microSD up to 128GB)

Rear Camera: 8MP, f/2.2 aperture, 1080p video recording

Front Camera: 5MP, f/2.2 aperture

Battery: 2800mAh, non-removable

Operating System: Android 7.1.1 Nougat

Dimensions: 144.7 x 72.3 x 9.3 mm

Weight: 151 grams

Connectivity: 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS, microUSB

Other Features: Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, water-repellent coating