Motorola is finally jumping onboard the Android Go ship, launching a variant of the Moto E5 Play that'll specifically run Google's special Android Go edition.
The move comes just months after the company unveiled both the Moto E5 Play and E5 Plus in April.
Android Go, for the uninitiated, is a version of Android that's optimized for low-end devices in developing markets. The Moto E5 is one of Motorola's most affordable offerings, and it should be noted that while the Android Go version is also inexpensive, it bears a lot of differences from its non-Android Go siblings.
Moto E5 Play Android Go Specs
First up, instead of a 16:9 display, the Android Go E5 Play features a 5.3-inch 18:9 screen that matches some of the brand's more mid-range devices. Unfortunately, Motorola didn't specify the phone's resolution. It also failed to give details on things such as RAM, processor, and storage.
The phone sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with a fingerprint scanner embedded directly below. On the front is a 5-megapixel shooter for selfies, which isn't too impressive of a resolution, though that's the compromise users have to bear given that it's a budget phone. Even still, the front shooter surprisingly has its own flash, which should at least help users take better, more well-lit selfies.
In terms of design, the phone features a curved back with the camera and flash housed inside a circular layout, a typical design element of Motorola phones. On the front, underneath the display, there's a full Motorola logo instead of the much simpler "M."
Android Go
Because this is an Android Go phone, expect its software to be closer to stock Android than the standard Moto E5 and E5 Play. The Go edition of Android Oreo has fewer pre-installed apps and smaller application sizes thanks to Go variants of Android apps, helping users save on storage and data consumption. It doesn't stop there, however. — Android Go also features a built-in data saving application to help users manage their files and save even more space.
Moto E5 Play Android Go Pricing And Availability
The Moto E5 Play Android Go edition will go on sale "starting this month" in various countries in Europe and Latin America for €109 — roughly $128 stateside. No word on whether it'll have an official U.S. release.
Thoughts about the Android Go version of the Moto E5 Play? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
