Motorola has announced a smartphone that costs just £89 but still manages to catch the eye with a svelte, bright design, AI camera, and a big bright HD screen. The phone manufacturer – most famous for its desirable Razr flip phone from 2004 – is one of the few in the UK offering an Android handset for under £100 with the Moto G04, which is set to go on sale in early March.
The cheap as chips smartphone may well cut some corners to reach its bargain price but it comes with Android 14 out of the box, Google’s latest version of the Android operating system. Motorola keeps things nice and simple too, with a less cluttered interface than rival Samsung with its Galaxy phones.
The Moto G04 will come in Concord Black, Sea Green, Satin Blue and Sunrise Orange with a water repellent (not fully waterproof) construction. As you might expect at this price the phone is made from plastic, but the camera housing seems to mould seamlessly into the body, which is a nice touch.
Round the front is a big 6.6-inch LCD screen with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate to keep apps and games scrolling without jitter. That’s a better refresh rate than the £799 iPhone 15, which is stuck with a 60Hz display.
Refreshingly, the Moto G04 also only has one rear camera. You might think it’s better to have two or three, but in budget smartphones those extra lenses are often just for show, and are not good quality at all – they also put the price up. Motorola has opted for one 16MP lens rather than overegging the pudding, and the firm says it’s boosting results using artificial intelligence.
“Automatic enhancements ensure social media-ready shots, and fast-focusing capabilities guarantee sharp, detailed photos,” a press release says. “Smart features like HDR and Portrait mode bring a professional touch to photography, while the front camera’s Face Retouch feature enhances selfies.”
We’re also pleasantly surprised to see the phone has Dolby Atmos tech, which should improve sound output via the headphone jack – a port no longer found on most premium phones that cost ten times more than the £89 Moto G04.
The phone will be on sale in March from Motorola’s UK website, as well as Amazon, O2, Vodafone, Three, Currys, Carphone Warehouse, Giffgaff, ID Mobile, Tesco, and John Lewis.
