Motorola Moto E13 review
The Motorola Moto E13 - another low-cost phone in a crowded market dominated by the brand. While Motorola has consistently delivered good phones at affordable prices, the E13 raises questions about whether it's one to get excited about. Priced at $149, this phone should deliver on its promise of value for money, but I'm not entirely convinced that it does. With a 6.5-inch 720p display, IP52 water resistance, and a dual-camera setup, the E13 feels like a compromise rather than a standout feature-packed device.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Moto E13 is the latest addition to the company's lineup of low-cost phones. While it's impressive that Motorola can churn out so many affordable devices, the question remains whether the E13 stands out from its predecessors. Upon closer inspection, I find myself wondering if this phone truly meets expectations. In terms of design, the Moto E13 is a straightforward affair. The 6.5-inch 720p display does the job without any major complaints. The controls are minimalist, with volume and power buttons at the sides, and there's even a proper 3.5mm headphone jack – always a welcome feature. However, I'm surprised to find that there is no biometric unlocking system whatsoever. No fingerprint reader can be found on the display, power button, or even the Motorola logo on the back. Face unlocking is available, but it's the standard flat photo approach, which raises concerns about security. Another pleasant surprise is the IP52 rating, indicating a water-repellent design that should withstand basic rainfall and splashes. This is more than I can say for some of Motorola's previous budget offerings, so it's nice to see them finally getting this aspect right. While the cameras are built to a price point, my main issue lies not with their quality but rather with their speed. The 13MP sensor at the rear and 5MP selfie camera take time to load and process images, making it difficult to capture moving subjects. This is a significant drawback for anyone expecting decent performance from their smartphone. The build quality of the Moto E13 is solid, if unremarkable. It's clear that Motorola has focused on providing an affordable phone without sacrificing durability, but the design itself feels uninspired and overly familiar. In a crowded market dominated by Motorola's budget offerings, it's tough to stand out with such a straightforward approach. Ultimately, the build quality and design of the Moto E13 are perfectly serviceable for its price point. However, they don't particularly excite or impress me either. If you're in the market for an affordable phone, there are likely better options available that offer more innovative designs and features.
Battery Life
The Motorola Moto E13's battery life is a mixed bag. On the one hand, its 5,000mAh battery sounds impressive for a phone at this price point. However, upon closer inspection, it doesn't live up to expectations. While most modern Android phones pack batteries of similar size, the E13's low-spec processor and display make it difficult to fully utilize that capacity. In my testing, an hour of 720p YouTube playback drained the battery by around six percent - a result I'd expect from a phone with more modest specs. This suggests that the Unisoc T606 processor is not doing much in terms of battery optimization, leading to underwhelming performance in this department. One thing worth noting is that Australian buyers should be aware that the model sold through Telstra and Optus comes with a charger included, but retail units do not. Additionally, charging is capped at 10 watts and there's no wireless charging option available. Ultimately, battery life on the Moto E13 is fair, but not great. Given its low specs and reasonable-sized battery, it feels like a missed opportunity for Motorola to deliver something more impressive in this area. While it won't leave you stranded without power, you might find yourself expecting more from such a large battery.
Display
The Motorola Moto E13's display is a 6.5-inch 720p screen, which, at this price point, is not particularly surprising. However, it's a decent effort nonetheless. The display works reasonably well, considering the phone's budget-friendly nature. It's not high-end by any stretch of the imagination, but for an e13 that costs just $149, you shouldn't expect too much. The 720p resolution might be seen as old news in today's smartphone landscape, but it still gets the job done. The display is clear and bright enough to enjoy media on, although it's not going to blow anyone away with its quality. The minimalist design of the phone means there are just volume and power buttons on the sides, which keeps things simple. One notable omission from the Moto E13's spec sheet is any kind of proper biometric unlocking system. There's no in-display fingerprint reader, nor a fingerprint sensor in the power button or even on the Motorola logo on the back. This means that face unlocking is your only option for security, and it's not exactly the most secure method. Despite being IP52-rated, which means it can withstand rain splashes but shouldn't be immersed in water, the Moto E13 does offer some protection against the elements. The display itself is decent enough to handle everyday use, but don't expect it to impress anyone with its quality or performance. Overall, the Moto E13's display is a solid effort for a budget phone, but it doesn't particularly stand out from the crowd.
Camera
The camera on the Motorola Moto E13 is a mixed bag. On one hand, the 13-megapixel sensor at the rear is decent for its price point, capturing okay-ish photos with sufficient resolution. However, it's the speed of the camera that becomes a major issue. The shutter lag is painfully slow, making it almost impossible to capture fast-moving objects or moments like when a pet does something cute. The selfie camera, which boasts 5 megapixels, fares no better. It struggles to deliver impressive shots, and digital zoom only up to four times doesn't help matters. While you can take some decent photos with the E13's cameras, they're not exactly what you'd call spectacular. One major frustration is that the camera software feels like it's holding back the performance of the hardware. The speed at which you can take a photo and process it is sluggish, often leaving you wondering if the shot was even taken in time to capture the moment. Given that cameras are one of the most important features for many users, this aspect of the E13 is particularly disappointing. Even at its budget-friendly price point, there's room for improvement here. Other phones in similar segments have managed to deliver better camera experiences, and it's hard not to feel like the E13 falls short. One might argue that expectations should be tempered when buying a phone in this price range. However, with so many competing options available, consumers can now reasonably expect more from their devices – especially when it comes to the cameras. Unfortunately, the Motorola Moto E13 doesn't quite meet those standards. If camera performance is at the top of your list for features, you might want to consider other options in this price range before settling on the E13. While it's not a bad phone overall, its lackluster camera experience makes it harder to recommend than some of its competitors.
Price and Value
At $149, the Motorola Moto E13 is another low-cost offering from the brand that dominates this market segment in Australia. While it's not bad value for the price, I'm left wondering if it's enough to impress. One would expect a phone at this price point to make some compromises, but the question is whether they're balanced appropriately. The design is serviceable, with a 6.5-inch 720p display and minimalist controls. However, there are some notable omissions, such as the lack of biometric unlocking or a fingerprint reader. The camera is another area where expectations aren't met. While the sensors themselves are fine for the price, the speed of the camera is painfully slow, making it difficult to capture fleeting moments. Selfie shots are similarly unimpressive. In terms of value, I'm left feeling that the Moto E13 doesn't quite deliver enough bang for its buck. The processor, an Unisoc T606 with 2GB of RAM, is underwhelming, and the battery life, while not bad, isn't great considering the phone's specs. The lack of a charger in the box (in retail units) adds to my concerns about the phone's value proposition. For a phone that's supposed to be budget-friendly, it feels like Motorola has been pinching pennies too much. Overall, I'm struggling to recommend the Moto E13 with enthusiasm. While it's not a bad phone for the money, there are other options in this price range that offer more exciting features and better value. The likes of Nokia have some decent competitors in this space, making the Moto E13 feel like a hard sell.
Performance
The Motorola Moto E13 is another low-cost phone from the brand, but with so many options in this space, it's hard to stand out. While not bad value for money, its performance falls short of expectations. The phone is powered by the Unisoc T606 processor, paired with 2GB of RAM. This is a relatively underwhelming configuration, especially considering modern Android phones often feature more powerful processors and larger RAM allocations. The result is a slow experience that's noticeable in everyday use. Apps take time to launch, and even basic tasks can be sluggish. Geekbench scores are similarly disappointing, with the phone struggling to deliver decent results. 3DMark tests also reveal limited capabilities, making it unsuitable for gaming enthusiasts. While Android Go is designed to optimize performance on low-end devices, it's clear that the Moto E13 is pushing its limits. The processor's inability to handle demanding tasks means the battery life isn't as impressive as one would expect from a 5,000mAh battery. In our tests, an hour of YouTube playback at 720p drained around 6% of the battery – not terrible, but unimpressive considering the phone's specs. Charging is another area where the Moto E13 falls short. While it supports 10W charging, its actual performance is slow, especially when compared to more modern devices that can charge faster and more efficiently. Overall, while the Motorola Moto E13 is not a bad phone for its price, its underwhelming performance makes it hard to recommend with enthusiasm. Those looking for a reliable budget option may want to consider alternatives from Nokia or other brands that offer more impressive specs at similar price points.