Gadgets: Moto G now available in the Philippines

If you’re on the hunt for a decent quality smartphone but a little restricted when it comes to budget, then this little bit of news might brighten your day: Kimstore is now carrying Motorola’s Moto G!
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It’s no big news that Motorola is now Google-owned. I’m sure I’m not alone in waiting for the big G to announce a Motorola-made Nexus device since it makes perfect sense for the brand to actually start making phones for its parent company.

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With the local release of the Nexus 5 being a little pricey, the Moto G is the next best “pure” Android experience. After all, it’s made by a Google-owned company! It’s gotten great reviews, thanks to its impressive spec sheet:

  • 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor
  • 1GB RAM
  • Adreno 305 GPU
  • 4.5-inch HD IPS LCD, 720 x 1280 pixels, Corning Gorilla Glass 3
  • 8/16GB of storage (non-expandable)
  • 5-megapixel camera with autofocus
  • 1.3-megapixel front facing camera
  • GSM, HSDPA
  • Bluetooth, WiFi, WiFi hotspot capable, GPS, GLONASS

The Moto G comes with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but is assured of a KitKat update before the end of the first quarter.

I’ve actually been on the hunt of the Moto G since it was released in the US late last year, but was dismayed when no news about local availability came up. I’ve also combed through Greenhills, but the sellers there informed me that they only carry the popular brands: Samsung and Apple.

So it’s been a nice surprise knowing that Kimstore is offering the Moto G in dual SIM mode! Here comes the confusion, though. According to their Facebook page, the Moto G 8GB variant retails for P10,400, while the 16GB variant goes for P11,800.

A quick look at their website says that the 16GB variant retails for P10,400. I’ll have to check on this and will update this post in a bit, but whatever the price, the Moto G offered by Kimstore is still a decent buy if you’re looking for a budget phone while waiting for this year’s Nexus release. It’s a little more expensive than its US-release version, but for dual SIM capability plus a really solid spec sheet backed by great reviews, the Moto G is back at the top of my priority list.