Third generation Moto G has a long battery life

Motorola has been on fire since 2013, producing a new generation of devices that have been at the forefront of the budget-phone renaissance. The entry-level Moto E was initially designed to compete with smartphones in emerging markets like India. Its flagship device, Moto X, has tended to be high on features and modest in terms of price compared to other top-of-the-line products from rivals. But it was the Moto G that became the company's most-sold smartphone ever in 2014. The mid-range device was quite a hit with users in India, and its sequel was equally popular. Naturally, we were looking for a worthy successor.

What's good
This phone has a bigger screen (five inches) but its display remains on par with several other models in a higher price range. We've been fans of the pure Android experience on the Moto interface, and this one delivers as well. The hardware (Quad-core 1.4 GHz Cortex-A53) works well with the device. There were no lags or crashes that we experienced while playing games, surfing videos or using multiple apps at a go. Another big plus is the battery, which lasts for about a day-and-a-half with medium-to-high usage. The Moto Assist, which helps the phone adapt to your needs according to the situation - like reading out notifications while you are driving or turning the phone to silent mode while in meetings, is also extremely handy.

What's not
Our camera didn't work for two days. When we tried to use it, all we got was a pop-up that said the camera is busy, and were prompted to restart the device if the problem occurred again. We did so on multiple occasions to no avail. On the third day, the problem fixed itself. The images we clicked using the 13MP rear camera were decent, even in low-light condition.

Verdict
We give the company the benefit of doubt for the malfunctioning camera, since the device did not give us much reason to complain otherwise. Also, the features and hardware that one gets for the price are a steal. We recommend it to anyone currently shopping for a good budget phone.

Quick specs
Moto G (3rd Gen)
At a glance: Android Lollipop 5.1, 1GB internal RAM on the 8GB phone and 2GB on the 16GB phone, 13MP primary camera
Best buy: ₹11,999 for the 8GB phone and `12,999 for the 16GB phone on flipkart.com
USP: Pure Android
experience, price