We compare the new Moto G 3rd gen to 2014’s Moto G 2nd gen, to see what’s been updated – and decide if you should upgrade to the latest model.
Motorola Moto G 2014 vs Moto G 2015: Design
The new Moto G boasts a couple of major design improvements over last year’s model. Firstly, Motorola now lets you customise your Moto G with the Moto Maker tool. When you buy your Moto G, you’ll be able to personalise the look and feel with a range of colours to suit your awesome personality. Of course, last year’s Moto G already featured replaceable colourful covers if you wanted to change up your phone’s look, but now you can also change the colour of that camera bar on the back and even get the thing engraved.
If you’re a bit of a butter fingers, the new Moto G will be a better mobile partner for you thanks to its water resistance. The 2015 model can survive a dip in the bath, pool or toilet, even if you leave it in there for half an hour or so for whatever reason.
Motorola Moto G 2014 vs Moto G 2015: Screen and media
The Moto G hasn’t changed at all when it comes to media, with the same 5-inch 720p panel in place. So if you were hoping for 1080p visuals in the new model, you’re out of luck.
And as last year’s model already boasted expandable storage, there’s no need to upgrade to the latest version, even if you’ve got a huge media collection to carry around.
However, if you’ve got the basic 3G version of the old Moto G, the good news is that the 2015 version comes with 4G as standard. Provided you’re in a supported area, that means you can stream video and music with no irritating buffering.
Motorola Moto G 2014 vs Moto G 2015: Performance and battery life
The new Moto G upgrades last year’s Snapdragon 400 processor to a 1.4GHz Snapdragon 410, and with our first couple of hours of play it certainly seems like a smooth experience. However, the 410 is already getting on a bit and will probably start showing its age before the end of a contract. We’d rather have seen a Snapdragon 615 stuffed in there instead.
That said, our Moto G from last year is still running smoothly, most likely thanks to the clutter-free vanilla version of Android. Which of course means even less reason to upgrade just yet. The 2015 model Moto G also boasts similar day-long battery life.
Motorola Moto G 2014 vs Moto G 2015: Cameras
The biggest upgrade in the new Moto G is the 13-megapixel camera, which is the same tech found in the premium-priced Nexus 6. Last year’s 8-megapixel camera was a strong budget snapper, but the Nexus 6’s optics was one of the best parts of that phone, and to find the same camera on the new Moto G is a tremendous accomplishment.
Motorola has kept the same simple camera interface, so it’s once again tap-to-snap, with auto-focus and a dual LED flash for night shots. In our brief play time it certainly seems like a solid improvement over last year’s model, so anyone who loves snapping every aspect of their lives should definitely consider an upgrade.
Verdict
The only real reason to upgrade to the 3rd-gen Moto G is the improved camera, which is a seriously impressive budget shooter. If your old Moto G is starting to slow down already, then definitely consider an upgrade if you’re a habitual snapper – but bear in mind rival handsets that are even cheaper but also pack excellent premium features, such as the Voda Smart Ultra 6.
Read next: Our Moto G 2015 review (hands-on)
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