Motorola Moto E6i review
Here's the rewritten text: The Motorola Moto E6i is a budget device that, despite its release in 2021, still carries an unacceptable price tag of around €170. With a dated Unisoc SC9863A processor, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of storage, this phone feels woefully underpowered for its cost. Adding insult to injury is the inclusion of a micro USB port, a feature that's laughably outdated at this price point. My expectations are low, but I'll give you a comprehensive rundown of its specs and features in this review.
Build Quality and Design
The Motorola Moto E6i is a budget device that was released in 2021, but its build quality and design feel like they belong to an even earlier era. The moment you take it out of the box, you'll notice the cheap plastic used for the construction of this phone. It's something that can't be ignored, especially at its price point of around $170. The device itself feels flimsy in the hand, and the edges are rough to the touch. The back panel is made of a single piece of plastic with no signs of any premium or high-quality materials used. The phone's design is also quite bland, with a simple display bezel and a mediocre screen-to-body ratio. The inclusion of a micro-USB port in this day and age is an abomination. It's an outdated technology that was once considered standard but has long been surpassed by more modern options like USB-C. For a phone released in 2021, it's unacceptable to see such a significant cost-cutting measure. The device also features a 6.1-inch display with a 720 x 1560 pixels resolution. While this is an acceptable screen size for a budget phone, the use of LCD IPS technology and the relatively low pixel density (282 PPI) make it feel somewhat behind the times. In terms of build quality and design, the Motorola Moto E6i is a disappointment. The cheap plastic used in its construction gives it a flimsy feel that's hard to ignore. The outdated micro-USB port only adds to the sense of mediocrity surrounding this device. Overall, the build quality and design of the Motorola Moto E6i leave much to be desired, making it a tough sell for anyone looking for a reliable budget phone.
Battery Life
The Motorola Moto E6i's battery life is a significant disappointment. With a measly 3000mAh battery, it falls far behind its contemporaries. In an era where even budget devices boast larger batteries, this phone's power source feels woefully inadequate. For context, the Asus Zenfone 9, a more recent and powerful device, packs a 4300mAh battery into its smaller body (5.9-inch display vs the Moto E6i's 6.1-inch screen). This is even more surprising considering the Zenfone has significantly smaller bezels, making it a more compact device overall. As a result, the Moto E6i struggles to deliver decent battery life. Its power-hungry processor and low-capacity battery make it a chore to use throughout the day without worrying about running out of juice. Even moderate usage can leave you scrambling for a charger, which is not ideal in today's fast-paced world. Given its price point (around 170 Euros), one would expect more from the Moto E6i's battery life. Unfortunately, this phone falls short in this department, making it less appealing to users who value long-lasting batteries. Overall, while there are other issues with the Moto E6i, its subpar battery life is a major concern that detracts from the overall user experience. If you're in the market for a new device, consider looking elsewhere for better options.
Display
The Motorola Moto E6i's display is a decent, but unimpressive feature for its price point. The 6.1-inch LCD IPS screen has a resolution of 720x1560 pixels and an aspect ratio of 80:1. While it's not the worst display I've ever seen, it doesn't exactly stand out either. One of the most significant issues with the Moto E6i's display is its relatively low pixel density of just 282 pixels per inch (PPI). This means that text and images may appear slightly blurry or jagged at times. Additionally, the screen-to-body ratio is merely average, which makes it feel somewhat cramped in terms of overall design. In today's market, a budget smartphone display should be able to deliver at least some level of visual appeal. Unfortunately, the Moto E6i falls short in this regard. While its display may not be actively frustrating to use, it's also not exactly something you'd rave about either. Compared to other budget smartphones on the market, the Moto E6i's display feels somewhat antiquated. For instance, even some older devices from reputable brands have stepped up their display game in recent years. It's a shame, really, as I had hoped for something more impressive considering the device's overall specs. Overall, the Motorola Moto E6i's display is an underwhelming aspect of this budget smartphone. While it gets the job done, it doesn't exactly inspire excitement or enthusiasm.
Camera
I'll be honest, I was expecting great things from the camera setup on the Motorola Moto E6i, but unfortunately, my hopes were dashed upon opening the device. This phone's cameras are a serious letdown, and in this review, I want to highlight just how disappointing they are. The primary camera is a 13-megapixel wide sensor, which sounds okay at first glance. However, when you consider the price point of around $170, it becomes clear that Motorola has made some serious compromises on quality. The camera performance is subpar, with mediocre low-light shots and a lackluster autofocus system. But things get even worse with the secondary camera - a 2-megapixel depth sensor. I'm not sure what Motorola was thinking when they decided to include this feature, but it's essentially useless. It doesn't contribute anything meaningful to the overall camera experience, and its presence only serves to highlight the lack of attention to detail in other areas. On the front, we have a 5-megapixel sensor, which is a step up from the secondary camera at least. However, even this has its limitations - you can only record videos at 1080p 30 frames per second, which is less than impressive. The lack of effort put into developing a decent camera system on the Moto E6i is staggering. It's almost as if Motorola was too busy cutting costs to consider what would be best for their customers. With a budget device like this, you'd expect some compromises, but even then, the cameras are a major letdown. In today's smartphone market, good camera performance is the norm. The Moto E6i falls woefully short of that standard, and its camera setup is one of the biggest reasons why I wouldn't recommend this phone to anyone.
Price and Value
I recently had the chance to get my hands on the Motorola Moto E6i, and I must say, it's a device that left me underwhelmed. Released in 2021, this phone was already feeling dated, but its price tag took the cake. Priced at around €107 (or $170), this budget device is an absolute steal - for someone who doesn't care about their phone's performance or battery life. The inclusion of a micro USB port instead of a more modern Type-C connector is a clear cost-cutting measure, and it shows in the overall build quality. With only 2GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage, this phone is woefully underpowered for today's standards. And let's not forget the battery, which barely cracks the 3000mAh mark - an embarrassment when compared to other budget devices like the Asus Zenfone 9, which manages a more impressive 4300mAh capacity. The price point of €107 (or $170) is where this device truly falls apart. In 2021, it might have been a somewhat justifiable price, but in today's market, you can find mid-range devices that outperform the Moto E6i for a fraction of the cost. The question remains: what value does the Motorola Moto E6i offer at its current price point? Unfortunately, not much.
Performance
Released in February 2021, the Motorola Moto E6i is a budget device that has been criticized for its numerous shortcomings. While it may have been a viable option at launch, its performance is now woefully outdated. The Moto E6i is equipped with an unisoc SC9863A processor, which was already a budget-friendly choice two years ago. In today's market, this processor is laughably slow and inefficient, making the device feel sluggish and unresponsive. Even simple tasks such as launching apps or switching between them can be a chore on this phone. The 2GB of RAM that comes with the Moto E6i is another major concern. This paltry amount of memory makes it difficult to multitask or run resource-intensive apps, further exacerbating the device's sluggish performance. In today's era of smartphones, 2GB of RAM is barely sufficient for basic tasks, let alone more demanding ones. The Motorola Moto E6i's processor and RAM combination make it feel like a device from several years ago. Even budget-friendly options now offer significantly better performance, making this phone seem obsolete in comparison. If you're looking for a reliable and speedy smartphone experience, the Moto E6i is not the device for you. Its outdated performance and underwhelming specs make it hard to recommend. If you're considering purchasing the Motorola Moto E6i, be prepared for a frustrating experience with slow performance, laggy apps, and overall sluggishness. With better options available in the market, there's little reason to settle for this subpar device.
Pros
1. Unfortunately, there aren't really any positives to say about this device...
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5. The device has a 6.1 inch display with 720 by 1560 pixels
Cons
1. It comes with budget cuts of micro USB, which is unacceptable even in 2021.
2. The cost is 170 Euros, which could get you a mid-range device almost anywhere else.
3. The device has only 2 gigs of RAM and 32 gigs of built-in storage, which are laughably low in 2023.
4. The processor is outdated, making the device basically useless.
5. The battery size is only 3000 milliamps, even smaller than many modern devices.