Light touch

What usually puts the Moto G head-and-shoulders above its rivals is the quality of its Android skin, and the refreshing lack of any irritating eye-candy. Fortunately, nothing has changed on this front. The Moto G4 runs on Android 6, and on the whole, it looks as Google originally intended.

Motorola’s own features, such as they are, are mostly highly useful and unobtrusive. For instance, the gestures that allow you to quickly switch on the torch by lightly karate-chopping the phone’s screen, or activate the camera by quickly twisting it twice in succession, are pure genius.

The Moto G4’s Active Display is just as handy. It displays recent notifications, the time and the date whenever you pick up the phone, so you don’t have to go fumbling around to locate the power switch.

Killer value

As an all-round package, it’s hard to find fault with the Motorola Moto G4. Yes, it’s £20 more expensive than last year’s Moto G, but since it’s better in most ways – with superior battery life, a better camera, a brighter, bigger screen and a sleeker, more grown-up design – you won’t find me complaining.

There may be some who moan that the Moto G is now too big – and yes, for those with smaller hands and pockets it may be a stretch too far. But let’s not get too hung up about what the Moto G4 isn’t and celebrate what it is: a terrific-value smartphone with quality in all the right areas.

There’s no disputing that rivals such as the OnePlus 3 ( see p64) are both sleeker and sexier. However, if want to spend less than £200 then there’s no better option than the Motorola Moto G4. SPECIFICATIONS Quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 617 processor Adreno 405 graphics 2GB RAM 5.5in 1,080 x 1,920 IPS display 16/32GB storage microSD slot dual SIM 13MP/5MP rear/front camera 802.11n Wi-Fi

Bluetooth 4.1 micro-USB 3,000mAh battery Android 6.0.1 1yr RTB warranty 153 x 77 x 9.8mm (WDH) 155g