Motorola Moto E32 review
The Motorola E32 is a budget smartphone that officially sells for $229 Australian, but can be found for less than $200 from various merchants. As expected with a budget device, compromises are made to keep costs low. One of the highlights of this phone is its 6.5-inch LCD display, which features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and gaming. However, the processor and RAM are underwhelming, making performance sluggish and multitasking challenging. The camera setup is also disappointing, with a triple-lens configuration that includes a 16MP primary sensor, but two lower-resolution macro and depth sensors. While it can take passable photos in good light, don't expect exceptional results from the selfie camera or macro shots. The phone runs on Android 11, but unfortunately, this means no timely security updates. Battery life is decent, with a 5,000mAh battery that should last a day under moderate use. However, charging via USB-C requires patience, as the supplied charger is quite slow. If you can snag it for under $200, the E32 might be considered good value for those on a tight budget. However, if you're willing to spend a bit more ($300 Australian), you'll find phones with significantly better cameras and performance. Ultimately, the Motorola E32 is an unremarkable phone that gets the basics right but doesn't exceed expectations in any area. While it might not be the most exciting purchase, it's a decent option for those who just need a phone for everyday use without breaking the bank. If you're looking for more from your smartphone, consider spending a bit more to upgrade to a higher-end model.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Moto E32 is a budget smartphone that offers decent value for its price point. One of the first things you notice about the phone's design is its resemblance to Motorola's fancier Edge phones. The phone's style is somewhat reminiscent of its more expensive counterparts, but it still falls short in terms of overall build quality and design. The Moto E32 features a 6.5-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, which is quite impressive for a budget phone. However, the phone's body itself feels fairly basic and lacks any premium feel to it. The rear panel has a matte finish that is somewhat prone to fingerprints and smudges. The phone is available in two different shades: Misty Silver and Slate Grey (the color I have here). While neither of these colors is particularly exciting, they do help the phone blend in with other Android devices on the market. Unfortunately, the phone's overall design feels somewhat uninspired, and it lacks any notable features that might make it stand out from the crowd. In terms of build quality, the Moto E32 feels reasonably sturdy, but not exceptional. The phone's edges are smooth to the touch, and the buttons feel responsive enough. However, I did notice some minor creaking and flexing when applying pressure on certain parts of the device. Overall, while the Motorola Moto E32 is a decent value for its price point, its build quality and design leave something to be desired. If you're looking for a budget phone with great looks and feel, this might not be the best option. However, if you're willing to compromise on aesthetics in favor of affordability, the Moto E32 could still be worth considering.
Battery Life
The Motorola Moto E32 is a budget-friendly smartphone that promises to deliver decent performance for its price tag. One of the key features I wanted to explore in this review was battery life, and overall, I'd say it's satisfactory. Powering the phone is a 5,000mAh battery, which might seem impressive at first glance. While it's true that a larger capacity can provide more juice, the reality is that the slower processor on the Moto E32 doesn't require as much power to keep going. Additionally, the 90Hz display, while smooth for scrolling and browsing, does take its toll on battery life. In my testing, I found that moderate use – which includes some social media scrolling, web browsing, and a few hours of music streaming – can easily get you through a day. However, if you're a heavy user or plan to push the phone with gaming or video streaming, you might find yourself needing to top up by lunchtime. Charging is via USB-C, which is a welcome feature in this price range. However, the supplied charger is relatively slow, so be sure to plug it in overnight to ensure you've got enough juice for the next day. If you're a light user, you might even get away with multi-day battery life – but don't expect exceptional performance. In conclusion, while the battery life on the Motorola Moto E32 won't blow you away, it's still decent considering its price tag.
Display
The Motorola Moto E32 is a budget smartphone that offers decent value for its price point. One of the standout features of this phone is its display. The 6.5-inch LCD screen provides a nice size and clarity, making it perfect for scrolling through web pages or watching videos. What's particularly impressive about the Moto E32's display is its ability to run at 90Hz. This can result in a smooth scrolling effect when navigating through apps and websites. While this feature may not be as crucial on a budget phone like the Moto E32, it's still a nice touch. The display itself is available in two shades: misty silver or slate grey (which I have). The design of the phone is fairly basic, but there's a decent-looking style reminiscent of Motorola's more premium edge phones. A slipcase is included to protect the phone, which is always a welcome addition in this price range. The Moto E32's display is one of its strongest features, making it suitable for everyday use. The lack of high-end gaming capabilities and camera prowess may not be as appealing, but if you're looking for a budget smartphone that gets the basics right, the Moto E32's display is definitely worth considering. Overall, the Moto E32's display is a nice surprise in this price range, making it a solid choice for those on a tight budget.
Camera
The Motorola Moto E32 is a budget smartphone that offers decent value for its price tag. However, its camera performance is a letdown, especially considering the advancements made by other manufacturers in this segment. On paper, the triple rear lens setup on the Moto E32 sounds impressive, with a 16-megapixel primary wide lens, accompanied by two 2-megapixel macro and depth sensors. But, as I discovered during my testing, this camera configuration is more of a compromise than a significant upgrade. The primary sensor produces average results in good lighting conditions, while the other two lenses are essentially mere add-ons. The 2-megapixel macro lens, which has become a standard feature on many budget phones, failed to deliver decent macro shots. I had to work hard to capture acceptable images with this feature, and even then, they lacked detail. The camera's inability to perform well in challenging lighting conditions or when taking close-up shots is a significant drawback for a budget phone that promises to offer a triple-camera setup. In addition, the front-facing 8-megapixel camera takes okay selfies but nothing more than that. Motorola has seemingly prioritized other features over camera performance in the Moto E32, which is understandable given its price point. Nevertheless, in an era where smartphone cameras have become increasingly important for many users, this aspect of the phone falls short of expectations. In the sub-200 budget space, it's not uncommon to find phones with similar camera limitations. However, when you consider that a small increase in budget can get you phones with significantly better cameras, the Moto E32's performance becomes even more disappointing. If you're in the market for a basic phone and don't expect exceptional camera capabilities, the Motorola Moto E32 might be worth considering at its price point. However, if you value good photography as an essential feature on your smartphone, there are other options available that offer better camera experiences without breaking the bank.
Price and Value
The Motorola Moto E32 is a budget smartphone that sells for AU$229 in Australia, although I've seen it available from merchants for under AU$200. This price point raises the question of which compromises are acceptable and whether they're worth it. In terms of value, the Moto E32 offers a 6.5-inch LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for web browsing and smooth scrolling. However, its performance is not as high-powered, so gaming capabilities are limited. The phone also features a triple rear camera setup, which is impressive in this budget space. Yet, the primary wide lens is only 16 megapixels, while the macro and depth sensors are 2 megapixels each. In terms of processing power, the phone's Unisox T606 processor with 4GB of RAM is mediocre at best. This results in laggy performance, particularly when multitasking or running games. The 64GB of onboard storage can be expanded via micro SD cards, but this doesn't significantly improve the overall user experience. While I appreciate the clean Android UI on the Moto E32, it's frustrating to see an outdated android 11 operating system with delayed security updates. This is a common issue in budget phones, where manufacturers prioritize cost over software updates. Considering its price and value, the Motorola Moto E32 is a decent option for those on a tight budget. If you can afford a bit more (around AU$300), you'll find phones with significantly better cameras and performance. However, if you only need a phone for basic tasks, the Moto E32 gets it right, even if it's not an exciting or particularly good value proposition.
Performance
The Motorola Moto E32 is a budget smartphone that sells for $229 Australian, but can be found for under $200 from various merchants. While it's great value for those on a tight budget, the performance of this device leaves much to be desired. Under the hood, you'll find a unisox T606 processor paired with 4GB of RAM and running Android 11. Unfortunately, this recipe is mediocre at best, resulting in slow system performance, lag, and difficulty multitasking. Games also struggle to run smoothly, which is not surprising given the budget constraints. In fact, many phones in this price range exhibit similar performance issues. If you're looking for a faster experience, be prepared to pay more. The 4GB of RAM only exacerbates the problem, making it difficult to keep multiple apps open simultaneously. While it's understandable that Motorola would prioritize cost-cutting measures, the resulting performance is underwhelming. Android updates and security patches are also not expected to roll out rapidly on this device, which is a common issue with budget smartphones. The 5,000mAh battery may seem impressive at first glance, but it's only partially effective due to the slow processor and high-power 90Hz display. While you can get a day of moderate use from it, heavy usage will still result in a dead phone within a few hours. Charging is via USB-C, which is a welcome feature, but the supplied charger is relatively slow. Overall, while the Motorola Moto E32 may be a decent value for those on a tight budget, its performance is not something to get excited about. If you can stretch your budget to around $300 Australian, you'll find better cameras and performance in other options.