The Motorola Moto E3 Power is a budget-friendly smartphone that aims to deliver essential features without breaking the bank. As part of Motorola’s E series, it targets users who prioritize battery life and reliability over high-end specs. While it may not compete with flagship devices, it holds its own in the entry-level segment. Let’s dive into what makes this phone stand out—or fall short—in today’s competitive market.

Design and Build Quality

The Moto E3 Power sports a simple, no-frills design typical of budget devices. Its plastic body feels sturdy enough for daily use, though it lacks the premium touch of metal or glass-backed phones. The textured back panel provides a decent grip, reducing the chances of accidental slips. At 8.6mm thick and weighing 153 grams, it’s neither the slimmest nor the lightest phone, but it’s comfortable to hold for extended periods. The placement of buttons and ports is ergonomic, with the power and volume keys easily accessible on the right side.

Display

The phone features a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. While this isn’t Full HD, the 294 PPI pixel density ensures decent sharpness for everyday tasks like browsing and messaging. Colors are reasonably vibrant, though they lack the depth and contrast of AMOLED panels. Outdoor visibility is mediocre—the screen struggles under direct sunlight, requiring maximum brightness for readability. Still, for its price range, the display is serviceable.

Performance and Hardware

Under the hood, the Moto E3 Power is powered by a MediaTek MT6735P quad-core processor clocked at 1.0 GHz, paired with 2GB of RAM. This setup is adequate for light multitasking but shows its limitations with heavier apps or games. Casual users will find it sufficient for social media, streaming, and basic productivity, but don’t expect buttery-smooth performance. Storage is limited to 16GB, expandable via microSD up to 32GB, which helps mitigate the space constraints.

Battery Life

Where the Moto E3 Power truly shines is its battery capacity. Packing a 3500mAh battery, it easily lasts a full day—and often well into the next—on moderate use. Even with heavier usage, you’ll rarely find yourself scrambling for a charger before bedtime. The lack of fast charging is a downside, as refilling the large battery takes a considerable amount of time. Still, for users who prioritize endurance over speed, this is a solid choice.

Camera Performance

The rear camera is an 8MP shooter with an f/2.2 aperture, while the front houses a 5MP sensor for selfies. In good lighting, the main camera captures decent shots with acceptable detail and color accuracy. Low-light performance, however, is predictably weak, with noticeable noise and softness. The camera app is straightforward, offering basic modes like HDR and panorama but lacking advanced features found in pricier models. Video recording maxes out at 1080p, though stabilization is minimal.

Software and User Experience

The phone runs near-stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which is both a blessing and a curse. On the plus side, the interface is clean, bloatware-free, and easy to navigate. On the downside, it’s outdated by modern standards, missing newer Android features and security updates. Motorola’s minimal tweaks, like Moto Display for notifications, add slight value but don’t compensate for the aging OS.

Connectivity and Extras

The Moto E3 Power covers the basics with 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, and GPS. It includes a microUSB port for charging and data transfer—no USB-C here—and retains a 3.5mm headphone jack. The single bottom-firing speaker delivers average sound quality, sufficient for occasional media playback but lacking depth. A notable omission is a fingerprint sensor, which has become commonplace even in budget devices.

Final Verdict

The Motorola Moto E3 Power is a pragmatic choice for those seeking a reliable, long-lasting phone without frills. Its standout battery life and clean software are offset by mediocre performance and an outdated operating system. If you’re on a tight budget and can live with its limitations, it’s a functional device. However, competing options in the same price range may offer better specs or more recent software.

Motorola Moto E3 Power - Full Specifications:

General:
- Brand: Motorola
- Model: Moto E3 Power
- Release Date: September 2016
- Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow
- Dimensions: 143.8 x 71.6 x 8.6 mm
- Weight: 153 grams
- Colors: Black, White

Display:
- Type: IPS LCD
- Size: 5.0 inches
- Resolution: 720 x 1280 pixels
- Pixel Density: 294 PPI
- Protection: Scratch-resistant glass

Performance:
- Chipset: MediaTek MT6735P
- CPU: Quad-core 1.0 GHz Cortex-A53
- GPU: Mali-T720MP2
- RAM: 2GB
- Storage: 16GB (expandable up to 32GB via microSD)

Camera:
- Rear Camera: 8MP, f/2.2, autofocus, LED flash
- Front Camera: 5MP, f/2.2
- Video: 1080p @ 30fps

Battery:
- Capacity: 3500mAh
- Removable: Yes
- Charging: Standard charging (no fast charging)

Connectivity:
- Network: 4G LTE
- Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n
- Bluetooth: 4.0
- GPS: Yes
- USB: microUSB 2.0
- Headphone Jack: 3.5mm

Other Features:
- Sensors: Accelerometer, proximity
- Speaker: Single bottom-firing
- SIM: Dual SIM (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)