Moto G4 (2016) Review: Budget Smartphone with All-Day Battery

Moto G4 (2016) – Mid-Range Budget Smartphone with 5.5-inch HD Display & All-Day Battery

Definition

The Moto G4 (2016, model code: XT1622/XT1625) is a mid-range budget Android smartphone released by Motorola Mobility (owned by Lenovo) in May 2016. Positioned as a value-for-money device targeting cost-conscious users seeking reliable daily performance, it features a 5.5-inch HD IPS LCD display, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410/430 chipset variants, 13 MP rear camera, 5 MP front camera, and a 3000 mAh removable battery. The phone retained Motorola’s signature design elements (e.g., rear-mounted Moto logo fingerprint sensor, customizable Moto Actions) and ran near-stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow, competing with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016).

Core Specifications Overview (English)

Category	Details
Launch Date	May 2016
Model Codes	XT1622 (Snapdragon 410, 2GB RAM); XT1625 (Snapdragon 430, 3GB RAM)
Chipset	Variant 1: Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 (28 nm, 4×1.2 GHz Cortex-A53; Adreno 306 GPU) Variant 2: Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (28 nm, 8×1.4 GHz Cortex-A53; Adreno 505 GPU)
Display	5.5-inch HD IPS LCD (1280×720, 267 ppi); 60 Hz refresh rate; 16:9 aspect ratio; 2.5D curved glass
Camera System	Rear: 13 MP (f/2.0, PDAF, LED flash; 1080p@30fps video); Front: 5 MP (f/2.2; 720p@30fps video)
Memory & Storage	2GB/3GB LPDDR3 RAM; 16GB/32GB eMMC 5.1; expandable up to 128 GB via microSD (dedicated slot, no SIM hybrid)
Battery	3000 mAh removable Li-ion; 10W charging (micro-USB 2.0); ~12–14 hours mixed usage
Connectivity	4G LTE (Cat.4), 3G HSPA+, 2G GSM; Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n; Bluetooth 4.1; GPS/GLONASS; FM radio; 3.5 mm audio jack; no NFC
Security & Build	Rear-mounted fingerprint sensor (Moto logo); plastic frame/back; water-repellent nano-coating; colors: Black, White, Fine Gold
Dimensions & Weight	148.2 × 75.8 × 9.8 mm; 155 g
Launch OS & Updates	Android 6.0 Marshmallow; upgradable to Android 7.0 Nougat (official); no further OS updates
Launch Price (Global)	~$199 (16GB/2GB variant); ~$249 (32GB/3GB variant)

Detailed Hardware & Software Breakdown

1. Display: 5.5-inch HD IPS LCD

A practical panel for daily media consumption and productivity:

HD Resolution: Balances clarity and battery efficiency, suitable for streaming SD/HD content and web browsing.
IPS Technology: Delivers wide viewing angles and accurate color reproduction, ideal for group media viewing.
2.5D Curved Glass: Adds a premium touch to the budget design without compromising durability.

2. Camera: 13 MP Rear & 5 MP Front

Capable for casual photography needs:

13 MP Rear Camera: PDAF enables fast autofocus for sharp daylight photos; LED flash aids low-light shooting; captures smooth 1080p video.
5 MP Front Camera: Supports 720p video calls and basic selfies, with basic beauty mode for portrait enhancement.
Key Limitations: No optical image stabilization (OIS); low-light performance is mediocre compared to higher-end models.

3. Performance & Battery

Dual Chipset Variants: The Snapdragon 430 variant (3GB RAM) handles multitasking and casual gaming (e.g., Candy Crush, Subway Surfers) more smoothly than the Snapdragon 410 variant (2GB RAM), which is limited to light tasks (calls, texts, social media).
3000 mAh Removable Battery: A standout feature for budget users—swappable batteries allow extended use without access to a charger; 10W charging fully replenishes the battery in ~2.5 hours.
Water-Repellent Coating: Protects against accidental splashes and spills, adding durability for daily use.

4. Software & Connectivity

Near-Stock Android: Runs a clean version of Android 6.0 Marshmallow with minimal Motorola bloatware, ensuring fast performance and easy navigation.
Moto Actions: Customizable gestures (e.g., twist wrist to launch camera, chop twice for flashlight) for quick access to features, a hallmark of Motorola devices.
Dedicated microSD Slot: Unlike hybrid slots in many competitors, it supports both dual-SIM cards and microSD expansion simultaneously, a major advantage for users needing extra storage.

Core Features & Market Position

Key Features

Removable Battery: A rare and practical feature in 2016 mid-range phones, ideal for users with active lifestyles.
Dedicated microSD Slot: Enables dual-SIM and storage expansion at the same time, maximizing flexibility.
Moto Actions: Customizable gestures for quick access to core functions, enhancing user experience.
Near-Stock Android: Clean UI with fast updates to Android 7.0 Nougat, ensuring long-term usability.