The Motorola One Action has quickly become a go-to multimedia smartphone for creators and casual users alike, offering a distinct blend of video recording prowess, stylish ergonomics, and clean software courtesy of Android One. From its unique ultra-wide Action Cam to its Cinemawide LTPS IPS LCD display, this handset has sparked conversations among tech enthusiasts who crave dynamic content capture and an immersive viewing experience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down every aspect of the Motorola One Action—from design, performance, and battery life to camera capabilities, software updates, pros and cons, and real-world impressions—so you can decide whether this innovative device deserves a spot in your pocket.
Design and Build: Ergonomics Meets Style on the Motorola One Action
At first glance, the Motorola One Action stands out with its slim profile and rounded edges, ensuring it feels as comfortable to hold as it looks. Measuring 161.1 × 71.2 × 9.2 mm and weighing just 176 grams, this smartphone strikes a balance between sturdiness and lightness. You’ll find the plastic frame surprisingly resilient, and the textured back finish helps reduce fingerprint smudges while offering a reassuring grip.
Comfort and Grip for On-the-Go Use
Whether you’re navigating city streets or recording action-packed footage, the Motorola One Action’s ergonomic design makes one-handed use feel natural. The slightly curved rear merges into the side rails, preventing the phone from digging into your palm during extended recording sessions. Its strategic placement of the volume rocker and power button ensures quick access without awkward hand shifts, perfect for spontaneous snapshots or rapid scene changes.
Display: Cinemawide LTPS IPS LCD Experience
One of the most striking features of the Motorola One Action is its 6.3-inch Cinemawide display. With a 21:9 aspect ratio and a Full HD+ resolution of 2520×1080 pixels, the LTPS IPS LCD screen delivers sharp details (432 ppi) and well-balanced colors. Streaming movies in “cinema mode” feels particularly immersive, as the elongated panel fills more of your field of vision compared to traditional 16:9 screens. Although some rivals in this price bracket tout AMOLED panels with deeper blacks, the One Action’s display remains impressively bright (up to 600 nits peak) and easily visible under direct sunlight.
Performance and Hardware: Unboxing the Exynos 9609 in the Motorola One Action
Under the hood, the Motorola One Action runs on Samsung’s Exynos 9609 chipset—a midrange octa-core processor featuring four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.6 GHz. Coupled with a Mali-G72 MP3 GPU, this muscle allows the smartphone to handle everyday tasks and light gaming without breaking a sweat. The combination of 4 GB RAM and 128 GB of onboard storage (expandable via microSD) ensures that multitasking apps, media files, and high-resolution photos have ample room to breathe.
Real-World Speed and Multitasking
In daily use, the Motorola One Action navigates social media feeds, web browsing, and video playback smoothly. Geekbench benchmarks reflect a single-core score of around 330 and a multi-core score around 1200—performance numbers that hold their own against similar midrange devices. For gamers, titles like PUBG Mobile and Asphalt 9 run comfortably on medium graphics settings. Even after extended usage, the Exynos 9609 remains cool under pressure, avoiding the throttling or lag you might find in less optimized systems.
Battery and Charging: How Long Does the Motorola One Action Really Last?
For content creators who rely on their smartphone to document events throughout the day, battery life can make or break the experience. The Motorola One Action packs a 3500 mAh cell that, in our testing, delivered roughly 8–9 hours of continuous video recording at 1080p, 30 fps. In mixed usage—comprising browsing, messaging, streaming, and occasional photography—the device comfortably stretched to a full day, often touching 30% remaining by bedtime.
Battery Life in Daily Scenarios
• Light users (calls, texts, web browsing): Up to 1.5 days on a single charge.
• Moderate users (social apps, streaming, navigation): A solid 24 hours.
• Heavy users (gaming, 4K video recording, GPS): Around 10–11 hours before hitting 10% battery.
Fast Charging and Efficiency
The included 10W TurboPower charger isn’t the fastest on the market, but it recharges the Motorola One Action from 0–50% in about 35 minutes and reaches full capacity in roughly two hours. For those who value quick top-ups before heading out, enabling optimized charging via the Android One settings helps maintain battery health over the long term.
Camera Capabilities: The Action Cam Effect in the Motorola One Action
When it comes to multimedia, the Motorola One Action truly earns its name. The star of the show is its triple-camera setup—most notably the dedicated Action Cam sensor that sits on its side and captures 16 MP ultra-wide-angle footage oriented vertically. This design allows you to shoot stabilized video in landscape orientation while holding the phone in portrait, mimicking the feel of a mini action camera.
Video Recording: Stabilized 4K and Cinematic Angle
Thanks to the combination of the 12 MP main shooter (f/1.8) and the 16 MP Action Cam (f/2.2, 117° field of view), the Motorola One Action records smooth, shake-free video in up to 4K at 30 fps or Full HD at 60 fps. Electronic image stabilization (EIS) effectively irons out hand tremors, resulting in footage more stable than what many standard smartphones offer. Whether you’re mountain biking or chasing kids at the park, you’ll notice less jitter and more cinematic fluidity in your recordings.
Photo Quality: Daylight and Low-Light Performance
Under bright conditions, the main 12 MP sensor captures crisp photos with true-to-life colors and good dynamic range. The ultra-wide module showcases a generously wide vista, perfect for landscapes or group shots. Low-light photography sees mixed results: Night Vision mode boosts brightness and reduces noise, but it can’t match the performance of dedicated flagship night sensors. Still, for its price class, the Motorola One Action’s nighttime captures are respectable, delivering usable details without excessive grain.
Software and Updates: The Pure Android One Advantage in Motorola One Action
One of Motorola’s selling points is its partnership with Android One, promising a clean interface free of bloatware and timely system updates. Out of the box, the Motorola One Action shipped with Android 9 Pie (upgradeable to Android 10), and it’s slated to receive two major OS upgrades plus three years of monthly security patches. If staying current and secure ranks high on your list, this smartphone delivers peace of mind.
User Interface and Preloaded Apps
The interface on the Motorola One Action feels uncluttered, with only a handful of Motorola’s proprietary Moto Actions and a well-curated selection of Google apps. You can flip the phone twice to launch the camera, chop the air for the flashlight, and twist your wrist to switch between front and rear cameras—features that add convenience without overloading the system.
Future Proofing with Timely Patches
Security matters, especially when your device houses personal photos, bank apps, and sensitive data. Motorola’s commitment to quarterly security updates ensures the One Action remains protected against emerging threats. Compared to some budget brands that push out sporadic patches, this consistency is a definite advantage.
Price, Availability, and Competitive Alternatives for the Motorola One Action
Launched at a midrange price point (around $250–$300 USD), the Motorola One Action competes closely with devices like the Samsung Galaxy A50 and the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro. While those rivals may boast slightly faster charging or sharper AMOLED displays, the One Action’s unique video-centric features and pure Android One environment help it stand apart.
- Pros: Innovative Action Cam for stabilized video, Cinemawide display, clean Android One UI, reliable battery life.
- Cons: Average 10W charging, plastic construction (though sturdy), low-light camera performance could improve.
- Competitive Picks: Samsung Galaxy A51 for AMOLED display, Xiaomi Redmi Note 9S for larger battery, Nokia 7.2 for Zeiss optics.
Conclusion
With its wraparound design, Cinemawide display, Action Cam video stabilization, and Android One software promise, the Motorola One Action stakes its claim as a multimedia powerhouse in the midrange segment. While it may not boast flagship-level night photography or blazing-fast charging, its balanced feature set and intuitive user experience make it a solid pick for vloggers, travelers, and anyone keen on capturing life’s moments in smooth, cinematic style. If stable video recording and a clean Android interface top your priority list, the Motorola One Action deserves a close look.
FAQ
- What makes the Motorola One Action unique?
The Action Cam’s 90° ultra-wide sensor captures stabilized landscape video while you hold the phone vertically, mimicking a compact action camera. - How long does the Motorola One Action battery last?
In moderate use, expect around 24 hours on a single charge. Continuous video recording yields about 8–9 hours before requiring a top-up. - Can the Motorola One Action shoot 4K video?
Yes, the handset supports 4K recording at 30 fps and 1080p at up to 60 fps, all with electronic image stabilization. - Does the Motorola One Action support wireless charging?
No, the device relies on its included 10W TurboPower wired charger, recharging to 50% in roughly 35 minutes. - Is the Motorola One Action water-resistant?
The phone features an IPX2 water-repellent design, protecting it against light splashes but not full submersion.
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