Motorola Moto E4

The Motorola Moto E4 currently has an Informr score of 7.9 out of 10.
This score is based on our evaluation of 17
sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

The "1-Minute" Review

What's good

Price

Solid design

All-day battery

microSD support

Android 7.1.1

Dual-band Wi-Fi

What's bad

Weak camera

Limited Moto Action support

Limited internal storage

Not meant for heavy gaming or multitasking

No NFC

The Moto E series is known for offering a respectable entry-level phone experience at rock-bottom prices. However, with the competition growing in the budget market, their latest release—the Motorola Moto E4—has a higher bar to reach than ever.

A great entry-level phone is all about compromise. Does the E4 cut the right corners?

Reviewers have had time to put the new phone through its paces and are sharing their thoughts. Let’s see what they're saying!

Unlike much of the 2017 Moto line-up, the E4 features an all-plastic design. Despite this, reviewers loved how it felt in their hand and mentioned that it looks as good as Motorola’s mid-tier options. Android Police declared, “... When you actually get it in your hand, the Moto E4 feels surprisingly solid.”

Around front the 5-inch 720p LCD screen satisfied most reviewers. Many were quick to point out that the color accuracy is lower than a high-end phone. But the price is lower too. Visibility in bright light and viewing angles—common issues for budget phones—were no problem. Phone Arena summed up opinions well, saying, “... The display isn’t breath-taking but certainly gets the job done.”

Motorola’s choice of processor is where the budget roots of this phone show. It features a 1.4Ghz quad-core Snapdragon 425 chip and 2GB of RAM. Reviewers were quick to point out that heavy gaming isn’t the phone’s strong suit. However, few had problems with daily tasks, such as checking email, streaming videos or using GPS navigation. Even multitasking with Android’s new split-screen feature fared well.

Phone Arena gave a great summary of the phone’s performance, saying, “By no means is this the fastest phone we’ve ever tested—the benchmarks are clear about that—but in everyday usage, light or heavy, you’ll be hard-pressed to find similar performance at this price-point.”

The phone runs Android 7.1.1 Nougat. Reviews indicate that bloatware is minimal. However, with only 10GB of the 16GB of internal storage free fresh from the box, you’ll probably want to take advantage of the microSD slot if you plan to install any games or store media on your phone.

Due to a lack of sensors, the Moto E only includes a few of the Moto Action gesture controls available to other models. You must double-press the power button to launch the camera and there’s no handy double-chop to launch the flashlight.

Speaking of cameras, this was one of the weakest areas in most reviews. The phone includes an 8MP rear camera with autofocus and a front-facing 5MP lens with LED flash.

Reviewers had issues with lens flares and details washing out in bright light. Low light brought a lack of detail, noisy shots and blur. Android Police summed up opinions well, saying, “... The 8MP camera on the Moto E4 is better than other phones in this price range, but it's not a very good camera objectively.”

Fortunately, opinions improved for battery life. The phone includes a 2,800mAh removable battery. Full top offs require nearly two hours of charge time. However, you can swap the battery out for a spare in emergencies—a feature becoming rarer in recent years. Most reviewers had no trouble squeezing a full day of moderate use from a single charge.

Overall, reviewers would recommend the phone with a disclaimer that it’s good for its price.

Business Insider had an excellent summary of the phone in their verdict, saying, “Camera imperfections aside, the Moto E4 makes its inevitable sacrifices in the right places. It doesn't feel cheap, it's strong enough to get by, and its take on Android is light and user-friendly. It's perfectly coherent, and it rarely offends; that in itself is an upgrade from the ultra-cheap phones of years past."

What the Critics Are Saying...

The Moto E4 has great software, acceptable performance, and a fast, accurate fingerprint sensor. It’s a great value.

- Ryan Whitwam, The Wirecutter

The Moto E4 raises the bar for phones hovering around the $100 mark. Complete with a fingerprint sensor, Android Nougat, a swappable battery and reliable performance, this phone gets its kicks by surprising the user at nearly every turn. A must-buy for those on a budget.

- Cameron Faulkner, TechRadar

Moto E4 brings many improvements compared to its predecessor but at the same time has kept its low price. The device comes with renewed design which although makes its body slightly heavier and with a thicker profile, it certainly gives the feeling of a more elegant model.

- LaptopMedia

The Moto E4 delivers solid value for money, coming in cheaper than pretty much any other mobile by a well-known manufacturer. Despite that low asking price you still get HD visuals, a neat metal design, dependable battery life and performance that isn’t frustrating, making this a great choice...

- Chris Barraclough, Recombu

The Moto E4 is a solid entry-level smartphone that has only few essential weaknesses and convinces with a removable battery and fingerprint sensor. However, the camera should not be very important to the user, since the image quality is rather meager.

Prices (Where to Buy)

Common Questions

The Moto E4 price will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. You can compare Motorola Moto E4 prices from around the web here on The Informr.

If your Moto E4 has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Motorola support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Motorola's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.

Who knew the low-end could be so good

The Moto E4 raises the bar for phones hovering around the $100 mark. Complete with a fingerprint sensor, Android Nougat, a swappable battery and reliable performance, this phone gets its kicks by surprising the user at nearly every turn. A must-buy for those on a budget.

The Moto E4 raises the bar for phones hovering around the $100 mark. Complete with a fingerprint sensor, Android Nougat, a swappable battery and reliable performance, this phone gets its kicks by surprising the user at nearly every turn. A must-buy for those on a budget.

One of the best budget options this year

Moto E4 brings many improvements compared to its predecessor but at the same time has kept its low price. The device comes with renewed design which although makes its body slightly heavier and with a thicker profile, it certainly gives the feeling of a more elegant model.

Moto E4 brings many improvements compared to its predecessor but at the same time has kept its low price. The device comes with renewed design which although makes its body slightly heavier and with a thicker profile, it certainly gives the feeling of a more elegant model.

A brilliant budget blower

The Moto E4 delivers solid value for money, coming in cheaper than pretty much any other mobile by a well-known manufacturer. Despite that low asking price you still get HD visuals, a neat metal design, dependable battery life and performance that isn’t frustrating, making this a great choi...More

The Moto E4 delivers solid value for money, coming in cheaper than pretty much any other mobile by a well-known manufacturer. Despite that low asking price you still get HD visuals, a neat metal design, dependable battery life and performance that isn’t frustrating, making this a great choice for students, festival goers and anyone else hunting for an affordable device.

An affordable smartphone that offers some highlights

The Moto E4 is a solid entry-level smartphone that has only few essential weaknesses and convinces with a removable battery and fingerprint sensor. However, the camera should not be very important to the user, since the image quality is rather meager.

The Moto E4 is a solid entry-level smartphone that has only few essential weaknesses and convinces with a removable battery and fingerprint sensor. However, the camera should not be very important to the user, since the image quality is rather meager.

A great, low-cost phone for everyone

While it’s nothing remarkable to look at, and while performance can drag a little under heavier usage, this is a great phone for the price. The camera is definitely a bit of a let down, but it’s more than good enough for a few happy snaps to share with friends.

While it’s nothing remarkable to look at, and while performance can drag a little under heavier usage, this is a great phone for the price. The camera is definitely a bit of a let down, but it’s more than good enough for a few happy snaps to share with friends.

The perfect marriage of performance and design, in a well-priced package

For the price, Motorola’s Moto E4 is a very impressive smartphone. Its performance might be middling, and the camera has its limitations, but overall it’s an attractive and capable handset with no really serious shortcomings.

For the price, Motorola’s Moto E4 is a very impressive smartphone. Its performance might be middling, and the camera has its limitations, but overall it’s an attractive and capable handset with no really serious shortcomings.

A budget-friendly Nougat machine

While the Moto E4 is not meant to be in the ring with the flagship phones in the market, there is something to be said for a device that lets you do all your things, do them pretty well, and leave you some money in your wallet.

While the Moto E4 is not meant to be in the ring with the flagship phones in the market, there is something to be said for a device that lets you do all your things, do them pretty well, and leave you some money in your wallet.

For the price, it's hard to argue

You can't expect miracles when you pay so little for a phone, but the Moto E4 has a lot to offer. The display is good, battery life is excellent, the fingerprint sensor is above average, and the build quality is solid. Even with the snap-on back and removable battery, there's no excessive flex or...More

You can't expect miracles when you pay so little for a phone, but the Moto E4 has a lot to offer. The display is good, battery life is excellent, the fingerprint sensor is above average, and the build quality is solid. Even with the snap-on back and removable battery, there's no excessive flex or creakiness. The software is definitely one of the main selling points—it's based on Android 7.1.1 and has a few of Motorola's cool extras. You might not get many updates, but it's in a good place right now.

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