Motorola Moto E30 review
The Motorola Moto E30 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch with its impressive specs. With a 5,000mAh battery that lasts an astonishingly long time, this device is perfect for those who want a phone that can keep up with their busy lives. The camera capabilities are also noteworthy, producing bright and colorful photos, even in low-light conditions. Priced at £99 in the UK, it's hard to find fault in the Moto E30's value proposition. But does its modest RAM and storage hold it back from being a truly great device?
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Moto E30 is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises great value for its price. While it excels in certain areas, its build quality and design are a mixed bag. On the plus side, the phone's polycarbonate back feels sturdy enough, although it may show some fingerprints and scratches over time. The phone's weight distribution is also evenly balanced, making it comfortable to hold. However, the device's plastic frame doesn't quite live up to expectations, feeling somewhat flimsy in certain spots. The display's design is one of the few things that impressed me about this phone. The 6.5-inch HD+ screen has a decent bezel-to-screen ratio, making it pleasant to use. However, the lack of a high refresh rate or OLED panel means that the visuals don't quite pop as much as I'd like. Another area where the Moto E30 falls short is in its audio output. The single speaker on the bottom gets loud enough, but the sound quality itself is somewhat lacking in terms of bass and overall clarity. Unfortunately, the phone's design doesn't do much to impress either. While it may look sleek at first glance, a closer inspection reveals some awkward lines and an unremarkable aesthetic. It's not ugly by any means, but it's certainly forgettable. One thing that might be worth noting is that the phone's weight and size are relatively manageable, making it easy to slip into a pocket or purse. However, this compact design also leads to a somewhat cramped keyboard experience on the smaller screen. In conclusion, while the Motorola Moto E30 has some redeeming qualities, its build quality and design leave much to be desired. While it's not terrible by any means, potential buyers should temper their expectations when it comes to these aspects of the phone.
Battery Life
One of the standout features of the Motorola Moto E30 is its remarkable battery life. The device packs a 5,000mAh power battery that seems to defy expectations and deliver an impressive performance. In my testing, I found that even with the screen on time reaching up to four hours and thirty minutes at sixty percent battery, the phone still had plenty of juice left. This translates to an entire day's usage, perhaps even two days if you don't use it excessively. The 90Hz mode was enabled manually in this test, but even without it, I'm confident that the Moto E30 would still deliver impressive battery life. The charging time is a different story altogether. With a sluggish 10W charger provided, it takes an awfully long time to top up the battery. However, considering the excellent battery life on offer, this minor inconvenience becomes almost negligible. In essence, the Motorola Moto E30's battery life is its greatest strength. It's perfect for those who want a phone that can keep up with their active lifestyle without requiring frequent recharging. With an impressive screen on time and exceptional overall performance, the Moto E30 is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a reliable smartphone.
Display
The display on the Motorola Moto E30 is one of its standout features. The phone boasts a 6.5-inch HD+ display that provides a decent viewing experience. While it's not the most vibrant or color-accurate screen, it gets the job done for everyday use. One of the notable aspects of the display is its resolution. With a pixel density of around 260 pixels per inch (PPI), images and text appear crisp and clear. However, when viewed up close, minor imperfections become apparent. The colors are generally accurate, but may not be as punchy as some other mid-range displays. The display's responsiveness is satisfactory, with smooth scrolling and decent touch sensitivity. However, it can feel a bit sluggish at times, particularly when navigating through menus or playing games. One feature that caught my attention was the phone's refresh rate options. The Moto E30 offers both 60Hz and 90Hz modes, which can be switched between in Settings. While not as smooth as some other high-refresh-rate displays, the 90Hz mode does provide a slightly more responsive feel when scrolling or gaming. In terms of sunlight legibility, the display performs reasonably well. It's easy to read text and view images even in bright conditions, but it may require adjusting the brightness settings for optimal visibility. Overall, while not an exceptional display by modern standards, the Motorola Moto E30's screen is decent enough for everyday use. Its responsiveness, color accuracy, and sunlight legibility make it a solid choice for those seeking a mid-range phone with a good viewing experience.
Camera
In a budget-friendly smartphone market where camera capabilities are often compromised, the Motorola Moto E30 has managed to surprise with its excellent camera performance. While it may not be a flagship-grade snapper, the Moto E30's cameras have delivered impressive results, making it a great value for those who want a decent camera without breaking the bank. The main camera is where things get interesting. The Moto E30 boasts a 13-megapixel primary sensor with an f/1.8 aperture, which has performed remarkably well in various lighting conditions. Photos taken during the day are crisp and detailed, with vibrant colors that accurately represent the scene. Indoor shots also turn out well, thanks to the camera's ability to handle low light situations. One of the standout features of the Moto E30's main camera is its Night Vision mode. While not as polished as some high-end smartphones, it still manages to produce decent results in low-light environments. The photos may have a bit of noise, but the overall quality and details are surprisingly good considering the price point. While the macro camera on the Moto E30 has been touted as a feature, it's unfortunately a 2-megapixel sensor that feels like an afterthought. The results from this camera are nothing short of disappointing, with photos often lacking in clarity and detail. The selfie camera is another area where the Moto E30 could improve. While it takes decent shots, they tend to be a bit washed out, with less-than-stellar dynamic range and details. It's not the worst we've seen, but certainly not the best either. When it comes to video recording, the Moto E30 holds its own. The stabilization is on the shaky side, but overall, the footage looks acceptable in good lighting conditions. However, when light levels drop, the video quality takes a hit. In conclusion, while the Motorola Moto E30's camera may not be perfect, it has managed to impress with its main camera performance and Night Vision mode. The macro camera and selfie camera are areas where improvement is needed, but overall, this budget-friendly smartphone has some great tricks up its sleeve when it comes to photography. If you're in the market for a decent camera phone without breaking the bank, the Moto E30 should definitely be on your radar.
Price and Value
The Motorola Moto E30 is a budget smartphone that punches above its weight, offering impressive features at an incredibly affordable price point. Priced at £99 in the UK (approximately $130 USD), this device is an excellent value for those on a tight budget. For a phone costing less than a hundred pounds, the Moto E30 packs a surprisingly robust set of specs. The 32GB storage with 2GB RAM may seem limited, but it's still enough to handle everyday tasks and light gaming. The battery life is exceptional, with more than four and a half hours of screen time on average. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want a phone that can last all day without needing a recharge. The camera, although not the best in its class, delivers impressive results, especially in bright lighting conditions. The presence of a night mode feature is also a welcome addition, allowing users to take better photos in low-light situations. In terms of value, the Moto E30 stands out as one of the best budget smartphones available today. It's not perfect, but it offers an excellent balance of features and affordability that makes it hard to ignore. If you're on a tight budget or simply looking for a reliable phone without breaking the bank, the Moto E30 is definitely worth considering. While some may find the phone's performance to be slightly sluggish at times, the battery life more than compensates for any minor shortcomings. The addition of Android 11 Go Edition out of the box also adds value, offering users access to essential Google apps and features in a watered-down but still usable package. Overall, the Motorola Moto E30 is an excellent choice for those seeking an affordable smartphone without sacrificing too much in terms of performance and features. Its price point makes it an unbeatable value proposition that's hard to ignore.
Performance
The Motorola Moto E30 is a budget-friendly smartphone that packs a punch when it comes to performance. Under the hood, you'll find a 32GB storage option with 2GB RAM, which may seem limited but surprisingly handles daily tasks efficiently. In our testing, we found that the phone can run multiple apps simultaneously without significant lag or slowdown. However, heavy users might experience some occasional freezes and restarts when using resource-intensive apps like Samsung Internet or TikTok. The phone's processor handles day-to-day tasks with ease, making it perfect for casual users who just need a reliable device for social media, messaging, and browsing. However, demanding tasks like gaming, video editing, or multitasking might be a challenge due to the limited RAM. One of the standout features is the battery life, which exceeds expectations. With a 5,000mAh power-packed battery, this phone can easily last a full day with moderate use, making it perfect for users who need a long-lasting device. Charging times are unfortunately slower than expected, taking around an hour to reach 60% capacity using the provided 10W charger. However, the wait is well worth it given the impressive battery life. Overall, the Motorola Moto E30's performance is respectable considering its price point. While it may not be suitable for heavy users or those requiring advanced features, it's a great option for casual users who want a reliable and long-lasting device without breaking the bank.
Pros
1. The battery life on this phone is beyond amazing, it's like the battery just doesn't want to die.
2. The storage and micro sd card slot is great, with a capacity to expand up to 256GB
3. The speaker gets very loud on maximum volume which is good to see or hear
4. The night mode feature on the camera is quite detailed and bright even though it may have some noise
5. The device is priced at £99 in the UK which makes it one of the best value smartphones available
Cons
1. The storage capacity is only 32GB with no option for a larger variant
2. The 2GB of RAM can cause issues such as apps freezing and restarting
3. The selfie camera has washed out colors, low dynamic range and details
4. The video recording stabilization on the front camera is quite shaky
5. The charger provided is only 10W which takes an awfully long time to charge