A Budget-Friendly Smartphone That Gets the Basics Right: The Motorola Moto E13 Review
Smartphones are increasingly becoming an expensive proposition, with top brands focusing primarily on premium models and leaving a gap in the entry-level segment. Motorola, a brand known for its budget-friendly offerings, has stepped into this space with the launch of the Moto E13, their most affordable smartphone in India to date. Priced under Rs. 10,000, the Moto E13 aims to provide a solid user experience by getting the essential features right. But is it a worthy contender in this crowded market? Our in-depth review explores the Moto E13’s design, display, performance, battery life, and camera capabilities to help you decide if it is the right choice for you.
Moto E13 Pricing in India
The Moto E13 is available in two variants: 2GB RAM + 64GB storage priced at Rs. 6,999 and 4GB RAM + 64GB storage priced at Rs. 7,999. It is the 4GB variant that we reviewed, which arguably offers a better user experience for the slight price difference.
Design and Display: A Familiar Blend of Comfort and Style
The Moto E13 embraces the contemporary flat-frame design trend, with both the frame and the curved rear panel crafted from durable plastic. Despite its budget-friendly material, Motorola adds a touch of sophistication with a gradient frosted finish, a design element that we found pleasing. The Aurora Green color variation we reviewed, with its subtle shimmer, is particularly attractive. For those who prefer a more classic look, there’s a Cosmic Black and Creamy White option too.
Weighing under 180g, the Moto E13 feels remarkably light in your hand. While not the slimmest phone on the market, its 8.47mm thickness is comfortable to hold and enables the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack at the top edge and a generously sized battery.
The Moto E13 features a spacious 6.5-inch IPS LCD display with a standard HD+ (1600 x 720 pixels) resolution and a 60Hz refresh rate. While the display is adequate for indoor usage, a slightly brighter display could be more desirable for outdoor visibility under direct sunlight. Fortunately, the ambient light sensor effectively adjusts the brightness as needed. While colors on the E13’s display are not as vibrant as those seen on AMOLED panels, they are still satisfactory. The phone boasts a WideVine L3 certification for SD video playback from streaming platforms like Netflix. The single bottom-firing speaker, though not a powerhouse, is sufficiently loud for basic multimedia consumption.
While the display has a noticeable chin bezel, this is expected in a device at this price point. The Moto E13 carries an IP52 rating for basic splash resistance against water and dust, offering a degree of protection. Notably, a fingerprint scanner, a feature found in the Redmi A1+, is absent from the Moto E13.
Specifications and Software: Powering the Basics with Android 13 (Go Edition)
The Moto E13 is driven by the UniSoc T606 chipset, a 12nm SoC paired with up to 4GB of RAM. It’s important to note that this device doesn’t support 5G networks. Powering the phone is a 5,000mAh battery with support for 10W charging through a USB Type-C port. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 5.0, dual-band Wi-Fi, FM radio, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a dual-SIM tray. The E13 also features a microSD card slot for expanding storage up to 1TB.
The Moto E13 ships with Android 13 (Go Edition) straight out of the box, overlayed with Motorola’s MyUx user interface. MyUx offers a clean and user-friendly experience, adding customisation and personalisation options. The phone comes with a couple of Moto gestures for flash and screenshots. While it lacks the full suite of features found in Motorola devices running the standard version of Android, the important privacy-centric features in Android 13 are present. This includes visual indicators for camera and microphone usage at the top right corner of the display. A notification is also shown when an app is using location in the background.
Interestingly, the Moto E13 comes preloaded with a couple of third-party apps like ShareChat and Moj, which is a departure from the usual Motorola approach. These apps can be uninstalled if one prefers a cleaner app drawer.
Performance and Battery Life: Dependable Performance for Everyday Tasks
For handling everyday tasks, the Moto E13 performs admirably. The 4GB variant we tested smoothly switched between apps and quickly loaded them. Routine tasks were handled competently. However, there were occasional instances where apps took a couple of seconds longer to load, and some stuttering was observed across the UI, particularly when returning to the home screen. The 2GB RAM variant might not deliver as smooth an experience.
While the Moto E13 isn’t designed for heavy gaming, we did test it with Call of Duty: Mobile and Subway Surfers. While Subway Surfers played smoothly, Call of Duty: Mobile struggled, as expected. It’s important to understand that the phone is not built for high-end gaming.
We conducted benchmark tests as well. The Moto E13 scored 182,498 points on AnTuTu, and in Geekbench 6, it achieved 376 and 1,354 points in the single-core and multi-core tests respectively.
Battery life on the Moto E13 is commendable. The phone easily lasts a whole day on a single charge. In our HD video battery loop test, it managed to hold out for 15 hours and 54 minutes. The E13 takes about two hours to fully charge from empty when using the 10W charger.
Camera: Adequate Performance, but Room for Improvement
The Moto E13 sports a single 13-megapixel rear camera sensor with an LED flash. For selfies, a 5-megapixel front camera is housed within a waterdrop notch. The rear camera’s performance is a bit of a mixed bag. Often, it overexposed highlights or crushed shadows while attempting to expose the subject correctly. When the colours were accurate, highlights tended to be blown out.
Night mode, available only on the 4GB variant, delivers a decent overall exposure. However, details appear soft, and there is noticeable noise in the shadows. The front camera suffers from even worse dynamic range performance. Edge detection generally works well, and the blur effect appears natural. However, given the price point of the E13, the camera performance is acceptable.
The Moto E13 can record 1080p 30fps videos using both the front and rear cameras. While video performance is satisfactory, the dynamic range struggles.
Verdict: A Budget-Friendly Option with Solid Basics
The Moto E13 sets out to get the essential features right at an affordable price. It boasts a sizable display, an ergonomic design, a large battery, and dual-band Wi-Fi and a USB Type-C port, all of which are commendable for its price range. The performance unit, powered by the UniSoc T606 chipset, surpasses other similarly equipped devices at its price point. Adding further value, the phone comes with the latest Android 13 software, even if it is the light Go Edition.
However, the camera performance doesn’t quite reach the same level as other aspects of the device.
For users seeking a budget smartphone under Rs. 8,000 that reliably handles basic tasks and offers a clean, near-stock Android experience, the Moto E13 is a viable option. Though its camera performance could be improved, it provides a solid foundation for everyday usage.
If you are searching for a device that excels in mobile photography, you might consider exploring alternatives. However, for users who prioritize performance, battery life, and a smooth Android experience within a limited budget, the Moto E13 stands out as a worthwhile choice.
