The Moto G4 Play Edition is currently the least expensive Moto G4 yet. It is a mid-range phone since we have the Moto E to cater to the entry level audiences. It is a VoLTE enabled phone and supports the Reliance Jio network in India for 4G calling. This segment, however, has fierce competition from the likes of Xiaomi, Samsung, Asus, and Moto’s new owner Lenovo. So, how does the Moto G4 Play edition fare against the competition? Let’s find out in our Moto G4 Play Edition Review.

Also Read: Top Phones with builtin Infrared (IR) Sensor

Moto G4 Play Edition Review and Specifications

• Snapdragon 410 Quad CPU at 1.4 GHz coupled with a 450 Mhz Adreno 306 GPU unit.
• 2 GB LPDDR3 RAM and 16 GB MMC ROM for internal storage.
• Dual SIM support (micro & nano with adaptor), with second SIM slot for Hybrid SD Card installations.
• The Primary camera uses an 8MP shooter and 4x Digi Zoom. Flash comes with dual LED and a ƒ/2.2 aperture size.
• The facing camera is 5MP and can shoot up to 30 fps in full HD 1080p video mode.
• Screen Size 5inch (12.7 centimeters) 720p HD display (1280×720) and 294 PPI pixel density.
• Android Marshmallow OS v6.0.1  with dual-standby (4G+4G) and VoLTE support.
• The G4-Play – XT1607 model supports CDMA and LTE-B Bands (“B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 41”)
• Moto G-Play – XT1609 supports only CDMA “850, 1900 MHz” and 4G LTE “B2, 4, 5, 13” bands
• Protection from light rains and dust with “Water Repellent” nano coating and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 screen protection.
• 2800 mAh all day battery backup claimed by Motorola.
• Quick charging 10W Rapid charger is included in the box.
• 1-year standard Motorola warranty for the phone and a limited six months manufacturer warranty for accessories inbox which includes batteries from time date of purchase

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Back

Side Front View

Side Back View

Thickness

Standard Front

Moto g4 play comparison with the G4 and G4+

As you can see from the following product comparison, Motorola has indeed cut corners to keep the Phone cost in check. A smaller lower resolution (720p vs. 1080p) screen display, smaller size  (5.0 vs. 5.5) and a lower spec processor (410 vs. 617) from Qualcomm. The 2800 Mah battery life should support a full day of normal usage. Even though the battery is smaller than its siblings, it does have a smaller screen to help. Some compromises have also been made in the camera department as well. The Sony OmniVision camera is missing from the Moto G4 play. Other smaller missing features include the absence of Bluetooth 4.2 vs. 4.1 on its larger siblings. See the complete product comparison below:

Quick Comparison across the Moto G4 family

In our Moto G4 Play Edition Review model, we got a full day of battery backup under normal usage. However, under heavy gaming, WhatsApp, and YouTube usage, we only got about 8 hours of battery backup. The phone felt snappy and did not contain any bloatware. Just as you would expect from a Play edition model, the pics from the camera came out good in daylight conditions. However, low light and indoor photo quality took a hit which was to be expected. The bigger siblings go with larger pixels (1.3µm) and better low light image quality at approximately 70% more cost. The closest competitor in this category comes from a major rival Xiaomi which is a leader in the entry level phone category. Let’s have a closer look below:

Moto G4 Play Edition comparison with Redmi 3s

Things look different when we compare the Moto G4 Play edition with Xiaomi Redmi 3s or Redmi Note 3. Even though they are in higher price brackets, potential buyers are comparing them online. The 2GB, Redmi 3S model, is very similarly specced and priced when compared to the Moto G4 Play Edition review phone. The phone resolution is also a bit better, and we got better results when tested in low light indoor scenarios. We compiled a comparison sheet with the Xiaomi Redmi 3S and the Redmi Note 3. See below:

It is also fair to mention that the Xiaomi Redmi 3S scored higher in competitive benchmarks. However, the Xiaomi MIUI is a bit heavy on system resources with bloatware preinstalled. It was certainly not the case with the Moto G4 Play Edition review phone.

What you will Like

• A cost effective VoLTE entry level phone
• Bloatware free pure Android Experience
• A full day of battery life under normal usage
• Smooth performance and Lag free experience
• Guaranteed upgrade to Android Nougat

What you will not Like

• Thoroughly missed the Fingerprint reader.
• Lower specced when compared to the Redmi 3S
• Little Light photo quality could have been better
• Battery smaller when compared to the Redmi 3S

Conclusion

If you are a long time Motorola user who likes simplicity and smooth performance, the Moto G4 Play edition is the phone to go for. A small 5″ display is also pocket-friendly for those with smaller hands. If you are in the market for a new phone or is looking for a nice secondary phone, this could be it.