Moto E5 Android Go Available In The US

Android GO is a special configuration of Android, not a separate version, that's designed to work with hardware-constrained smartphones. There is the immediate presumption that it, therefore, caters only to emerging markets and lower. That said, everyone everywhere deserves to have an Android phone, no matter the budget. Fortunately, Android Go smartphones are starting to come into the US and the latest to join those ranks is the Moto E5.

Admittedly, one of the drawbacks of Android Go phones is that they tend to sound and look boring compared even to mid-range phones. That can't be helped since you can only cram so much into a smartphone without bumping up the price tag. That said, the 5th gen Moto E phone still manages to hold its own in design and features.

Cheap doesn't have to mean ugly. While it's far from looking premium, the Moto E5 bears Motorola's iconic design, with the large circular rear camera sitting above the fingerprint sensor underneath the "batwing" logo. And just because it's an entry-level phone doesn't mean it has to miss out on the 18:9 screen craze, though there's still plenty of bezels to go around.

Specs-wise, the Moto E5 runs on a Snapdragon 425 with 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of expandable storage. That 5.7-inch 18:9 screen sports a resolution of 1440x720 HD+. No notches here. The 8 megapixel main camera and 5 megapixel selfie camera might not be the best, but they should be serviceable. And the 4,000 mAh will most likely carry you through days, not hours.

Of course, the real appeal of the Moto E5 is Android Oreo Go Edition, which an almost (but not completely) pure and fast Android experience and a suite of Go apps that respect your hardware and data limitations. Most importantly, the Moto E5 also respects your budget, with a $99.99 price tag on Best Buy via prepaid carrier SIMPLE Mobile.