Motorola e13 4G: low-cost smartphone from Telstra and Optus (review) - Cybershack (2023)

The Motorola e13 4G smartphone is by definition entry-level at $149, and as we've said before, there are compromises to hit that price. It's a good phone, but $50 more gets you a better phone.

The same goes for Nokia and other entry-level smartphones.

• 32-bit Android Go (will not run 64-bit Google Play apps).
• No OS update: 13 is all.
• Limited patches: 2 years.
• 2 GB slow RAM and 64 GB eMMC slow flash memory.
• Single rear camera.
• Slow processor and performance.
• Sin NFC.
• 7 hours plus charge, no charge included.

For $50 more, theMotorola g22– cheap and cheerful (smartphone review)solve all these problems. And you won't be locked into one telco or paying for higher data/voice plans.

So with that in mind, excuse us if we're not gushing and don't recommend this device unless all you have is $149; look for the extra for the G22.

Australian Review: Motorola e13 4G, 2/64GB, Model XT-2345-6 (Single SIM & Dedicated microSD)

Deep Dive Review Format

It now consists of two parts: an abstract (the first part) and a separate specification based on a database of more than 300 lines, which includes more than 70 tests to support the findings. It also helps us compare different phones and features.

We use Fail (below expectations), Pass (meets low expectations), Pass (meets expectations), Pass+ (nearly Exceed but not leading in class), and Exceed (exceeds expectations or is leading the class). class) against many of the items below. You can click on most images to enlarge them.

First impression: a basic smartphone for a basic price: Pass

It's a no-fuss glass slab. Motorola has done a good job with build quality, and the black plastic back has metal overtones.

It lacks a fingerprint sensor, just a 2D face unlock or a Pin.

Display: 6.5”, 1600 x 720p, 20:9, 60Hz, IPS LCD – Pass

It's a fingerprint magnet. Not daylight readable at 250/350 nits max/typical brightness (245/330 test); it's fine in the shade. Contrast is 1200:1 (tested 1100:1), but color accuracy has a distinctive blue cast. Fortunately, it doesn't have PWM, so it's acceptable for those sensitive to that. The 720p screen is fit for purpose and has an L3 Widevine rating for HD SDR streaming content.

It has an obvious center notch selfie and rather wide bezels.

Processor: UNISOC T606, 2GB, 64GB eMMC – Barely passable

It's the same 12nm processor that's used in a number of entry-level phones from Nokia, Samsung, and Motorola.

We don't have to test (but we did) because this is a very slow processor, exacerbated by 2GB of RAM, slow eMMC storage, and 32-bit Android Go. Screen lag is present every time you select an app, and it quickly chokes up if you leave multiple apps open. OS updates take up to an hour instead of 15-20 minutes.

Its performance is like a MediaTek P70 and Qualcomm SD665.

The Geekbench 5 single core score is 154, but multi cores would not run. OpenCL and Vulcan GPU tests were not running.

2 GB of RAM means it runs in Android Go 32-bit mode (usually full Android 64-bit), which means not all apps will run.

64 GB eMMC (44 GB free). CPDT sequential read/write scores are 179/127 MBps, very slow. It will mount a 1TB MicroSD card at 83/32MBps. An external USB-C S1TB SD hung up the phone, but it seems to be fine with flash drives up to 256GB.

Acceleration is minimal, but you will notice the low GIPS (power).

Summary: Android Go is 32-bit, and 2 GB is barely enough to run. The device is sluggish, sluggish and often hangs for a second or two. It is the lowest cost phone par excellence.

Communications - Wi-Fi 5 AC, BT 5.0 - Pass

Wi-Fi 5 AC has a theoretical maximum of 433Mbps. Our tests show a maximum of 292 Mbps with reasonable signal strengths up to 10m.

Since it's not a Qualcomm SoC, it doesn't have their aptX sound codecs, which means it's limited to SBC and AAC with a latency of 200+ ms, too high for gamers.

It doesn't have NFC.

GPS performance is slow and accurate to better than 10 meters, but the phone takes too long to recalculate routes, so don't rely on it for high-speed turn-by-turn navigation.

Telephone – only for capital city and suburbs – Passable

As seems typical with UNISOC modems, it could only find the nearest tower, up to 500fW. Pass for capital city users with good tower coverage.

Battery: 5000 mAh and 10 W charging – Barely passable

First, we need to chastise Motorola for not having a charger inbox. Sure, it's a 5V/2A/10W charger that everyone should have, but this market is waiting for one.

Charging takes more than 7 hours; using a higher power charger does not speed up charging.

• Video loop 50% brightness/volume, airplane mode: 19 hours 36 minutes
• PC Mark Modern Office Battery life: 23 hours 24 minutes
• GFX Bench Manhattan and T-Rex tests: Would not run
• GFX Bench T-Rex: 733.7 minutes (12.23 hours), 1931 frames
• 100% charge battery discharge: 4 hours 43 minutes
• Idle mA: 350-400
• Full Load mA: 1150-1200

Battery Summary: Reasonable battery life, but unacceptable charge times and relatively high charge current make it hard to recommend. It uses too much power in standby mode and will need a daily charge.

Sound - Passable

This mono device with Dolby Atmos decoding is about as useless as a submarine screen door! It's more about bragging rights and does exactly nothing except add an equalizer that doesn't work.

• The maximum volume is 78dB (a bit low).
• The speakerphone is poor with a microphone on the bottom, no noise cancellation and low speaker volume.
• BT codecs are SBC and AAC, but channel separation and BT volume were only average.
• It has no bass, almost no mid-highs, late mids and early highs for clear dialogue and no mid or high treble, so the music is not good and lacks vibrancy.

Build – Pass

No matter the plastic frame or PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate shatterproof glass substitute), it's probably more impact resistant than glass. It's well made and the warranty is one year for retail and two years through Telco. It is IP52, not very waterproof.

Android 13 Go – Barely passable

It ships with Android 13 Go 32-bit and Motorola's My UX overlay. There is no operating system update; you can reasonably expect two years of security patch updates.

Android is almost pure, and MY UX adds things like a camera app and Moto gestures. See the table to see all the features.

But Android Go is slow and doesn't run 64-bit Android apps, so you're limited in what it can do.

Missing

• NFC, but we don't expect that at this price
• performance
• Sound quality

Camera – Motorola e13 4G

It has a single 13MP Galaxy Core GC13053 sensor and a 5MP selfie shooter. Camera performance is basic and shooting options are limited (no night mode or macro).

UNISOC AI's competition is unknown, but it produces shots of social media classes on a decent day or office light. Video fights.

camera feedback

• 1X Day Primary Sensor: Colors are natural with decent dynamic range. Good details in the background, shadows and lights.
• 2X Daytime Primary Sensor: Colors are natural with good dynamic range. The background is getting noisy.
• Day 4X: Main Sensor: Pushing your limits.
• Macro – Doesn't have a macro sensor, but the main sensor handles this with a 4cm focus
• Indoor office light: colors are good and the dog's face/ears are black.
• Bokeh Depth – Although there is a portrait setting, it requires a human face for bokeh.
• Dark <40 lumens: The standard (not night mode) is quite good, with adequate details, although there is too much noise.
• Night mode: Not applicable.
• Selfie: The 5MP selfie has natural skin tones, details and a range of filters to enhance any image. The best in daylight and office.
• Video (we're not video experts): You can record at 1080p at 30 fps. It has problems, and it would be better at 720p@30fps.

CyberShack's Motorola e13 4G review redefines entry-level in a pretty fitting way

It's fit for purpose if this is all you can afford and lowers your expectations. At this level, you get what you pay for!

But the processor drags, photo results are variable, phone reception is for capital city use only, and we had to drink a lot of coffee waiting and waiting for tests that usually take anywhere from seconds to minutes to complete.

It's not helped by 32-bit Android Go (and 32-bit apps), a meager 2GB of RAM, slow 64GB eMMC (18GB free), and crashes and freezes far too often. Did I say it's slow to a crawl?

You wonder how low you can go - lookBest Android Phones 2022: $200 to $2000 (January 2023 Update Guide)and still get a decent working phone, albeit slow. Frankly, we think the $179Motorola g22– cheap and cheerfulIt was borderline, but compared to this, it's stellar.

Rating Explanation: Motorola e13 4g, 73 out of 100

Any smartphone with a score higher than 7 is suitable.

• Characteristics: 75 – It has basic characteristics according to the price. Lose points by inbox without charger.
• Value: 80 – Only one Telco in a plan
• Performance: 60 – It's an entry-level value SoC and gets adequate performance for its purpose. It is not for gamers.
• Ease of Use: 70 – My UX adds some value to stock Android, but loses points to 32-bit Android Go. 2 years of security patches.
• Design: 80's - All plastic is fine - looks like a more expensive smartphone

Motorola e13 4G

Screen

Processor

communications

LTE y 5G

Battery

Sound

Sound quality

Build

operating system

Camera – Motorola e13 4G

Frente – Motorola e13 4G

Camera Review – Motorola e13 4G

Ratings

Motorola e13 4G, Motorola e13 4G, Motorola e13 4G