Moto X4 6GB RAM review: High on performance but…

Moto X4 is back with more RAM power and Android Oreo. Find out more about the phone in our detailed review.

Moto X4 now has 6GB of RAM (Motorola)

Motorola last week launched a repackaged Moto X4 smartphone with RAM capacity increased from 4GB of RAM to 6GB of RAM. Apart from increase in RAM size, the smartphone comes with Android Oreo out-of-the-box and IP68 certification for water and dust resistance. This new variant is priced at ₹24,999.

Note that the top-end model of the original variant of Moto X4 that launched in November last year is priced at ₹22,999. While the new variant is ₹2,000 more expensive, the smartphone faces a very little competition in the ₹20,000-25,000 segment as there's more focus on the ₹30,000 and above segment, or just the under-₹15,000 category.

From the outside, Moto X4 6GB hasn't changed much. As mentioned in our first impressions of the original Moto X4, the design philosophy behind the phone seems to be delivering a balance of trendy looks in a compact form-factor. And Moto X4 doesn't disappoint on this front at all.

While I wasn't a big fan of the phone in silver colour, I really liked the black variant of the newer model. This is mainly because the black model hides the fingerprint smudges on the glass back panel.

And there's the circular ring on the back that comprises of the camera module. The ring adds a slight bump to the back panel but looks pretty cool. It does remind us of the old Rolex dials, well, that's the how Motorola intends it to be anyway.

Another thing that takes a bit time get accustomed to is the old format of screen with large bottom and top bezels. After having used a slew of edge-to-edge phones in last six months, Moto X4 front feels a bit old-fashioned.

I have already written in length about the software features of Moto X4, so let's quickly skip to the main aspects - camera and performance.

Moto X4 comes with a dual-camera setup on the back which is comprised of 12-megapixel primary camera with f/2.0 aperture and 1.4-micron pixels and an 8-megapixel ultra-wide angle sensor with a 120-degree field of view and f/2.2 aperture.

There are some interesting preloaded features that make the camera more interesting. For instance, the Spot Color feature lets you choose a particular in the frame and take a photo that's black and white while the subject is colourful. If used wisely, the effect can help you take really cool portrait photos with vivid background. There's a Pro mode as well for serious mobile photography. The wide-angle mode, as expected, delivers a wider image, but with a little bit of fish-eye effect.

A casual shot taken by Moto X4 (Kul Bhushan)

A casual shot taken by Moto X4 (Kul Bhushan)

That being said, Moto X4 camera is pretty much average and mostly thrives under good light conditions. But there's a bit of inconsistency, especially when it comes to handling colour or brightness levels. The experience has been mostly hit and trial. The quality deteriorates in low-light. There's a lot of noise and focus is all over the place, figuratively. Hopefully, Motorola will be able to fix the camera in one of its future updates, but at the moment it's average at best.

HDR mode adds more punch to colours. (Kul Bhushan)

HDR mode adds more punch to colours. (Kul Bhushan)

Performance wise, Moto X4 doesn't disappoint at all. Extra 2GB of RAM comes in handy when it comes to multitasking and heavy-duty gaming. Not that 4GB of RAM is bad, but it never hurts to have some extra, considering that a few phones get slower after some time.

While I was pretty much satisfied with overall performance, the battery life is something I believe Motorola should work on for this phone. On full charge, it delivers up to 7-8 hours of back up on moderate to heavy usage before the battery hitting to critical 15% level. This in comparison with Samsung's Galaxy A8+ is underwhelming, though there's a big price difference between the two phones. If you consume a lot of multimedia or browse on your phone, carry your charger or powerbank.

Verdict

Motorola Moto X4 is clearly an upgrade over the older variant. The performance boost is welcome but camera and battery life leave room for improvement. One of the things that work in favour of Moto X4 is the price tag. There's barely any phone worth recommending between ₹20,000-₹25,000, leaving Moto X4 the only better alternative. If you aren't keen on spending a couple of thousands, you may still consider the 4GB variant of Moto X4.