Moto G4 Plus in comparison Part 3

Continued from Moto G4 Plus in comparison Part 2

Processing power, RAM, and storage

If youre in the market for a new smartphone, you dont have to pay up your nose for an Android device that has at least 3 GB of RAM and a capable processor. Its no longer practical to purchase a mobile device with less than 3 GB of RAM, because Android developers are now designing their apps around devices with faster processors and generous RAM. With really capable devices from Huawei and Honor hitting incredibly affordably prices, its a good idea to get a smartphone such as the Moto G4 Plus with at least 32 GB of storage and 3 GB of RAM.

The 64 GB of my Moto G4 Plus seems overkill and too roomy for users like myself who regularly back up to Linux or FreeBSD file servers. On the other hand, the lack of storage is the reason why I replaced my reliable Sony Xperia C3 with the G4 Plus. Saddled with only 8 GB of internal memory, the Sony Xperia C3 could only handle a limited number of apps and accept a limited amount of app/Android updates. Recent releases of iOS and Android require plenty of room to breathe, and even though you can arguably run Android Nougat on 16 GB of internal memory, improvements in smartphone camera technology have made taking photos a storage-costly affair. Plus, if you keep around a lot of apps on your device (a habit Millenials have sadly acquired), then 32 GB or 64 GB will allow your device and apps to receive updates without maxing out internal storage.

Its an unfair comparison since Windows 10 Mobile and Android 6.x are two totally different platforms and the Lumia 625 is a budget device that is scratchin g the bottom of the barrel, but I quickly noticed performance difference when opening OneNote on the G4 Plus. Both the Xperia C3 and Lumia 625 often couldnt open OneNote pages immediately unless they were synced beforehand or cached, but the G4 could without blinking, so although Im fine with entry-level devices, the advantages of more RAM and a better processor are obvious.

Applications that use processing power, such as VLC for Android, definitely benefit from more powerful innards. The Xperia C3 holds its own despite its age and entry-level hardware, but loading apps and multi-tasking on a device with 3GB of RAM is a different discussion entirely.

Networking and USB OTG

The Android 6.x-powered G4 Plus has the same minor niggle regarding certain Wi-Fi networks as the Android 5.x-powered Xperia C3. Depending on your Wi-Fi router, the G4 Plus may indicate that you are connected to the network but no Internet is ava ilable. However, in actuality, the Wi-Fi connection is fine and works as designed. Ive encountered the same message on the Xperia C3, which runs on Android 5.1.x. Its not a big problem, but may befuddle less patient users.

Support for USB On-the-Go adapters should be mandatory for all Android devices by now. Surprisingly, there are still plenty of Android tablets that dont support OTG adapters. Oddly enough, Samsung and ASUS uses the feature to distinguish their cheaper products with their more expensive releases. Thankfully, the Moto G4 Plus has support for OTG and worked with my flash drives and Microsoft wireless mouse. 

Continued in Moto G4 Plus in comparison Part 4
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