Quality smartphones no longer have to cost an arm and a leg. A trend spearheaded by notable Android phones the Google Nexus 4 and the Moto G, buyers can now pick up an unlocked, contract-free handset for far cheaper than before. Enter the Moto E, the $129 phone that could become the new posterchild for budget-minded shoppers.

While the Moto E can be considered a successor to the already popular Moto G, the hardware is definitely a notch down. This doesn't mean that the phone is bogged down by its insides, rather, it becomes obvious at who the Moto E is aimed for: the consumers who want a cheap smartphone without any frills.

Underneath the hood lies a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor, 1GB RAM, and 4GB of internal storage. Yeup, only 4GB, but don't worry, Motorola has included a microSD slot for an additional 32GB. And unlike most other smartphones on the market, the Moto E comes equipped with only one, rear-facing 5-megapixel camera. Selfie-junkies will probably want to look elsewhere.

The screen isn't exactly eye-popping either. The 4.3-inch Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display's resolution of 960x540 pushes out 256 pixels per inch, something HD enthusiasts will want to think about.

What's more, the Moto E isn't exactly LTE-friendly. The phone will operate on both GSM and CDMA bands, meaning the Moto E is pretty carrier-friendly in the United States. Just don't expect any lightning fast 4G LTE surfing speeds, you'll be stuck on 2G/3G.

There are positives, however. The Moto E comes with Android 4.4.2 KitKat right out the box, the latest version. Motorola's version of Android is pretty close to vanilla, meaning that users won't have to navigate through much bloatware and will get a simple, streamlined Android experience. Motorola has also promised to update the Moto E at least once more, a luxury not many budget phones receive.

There's also the battery. Early impressions of the Moto E indicate that the simple phone and its 1980mAh battery can last close to two days on a single charge without excessive use. Not bad at all, and a feature that is sure to please the type of buyer who doesn't always want to be thinking about their phone's battery and the distance to the nearest outlet.

The Moto E is also scratch and water resistant, never a bad thing. Motorola allows users to customize their Moto E in the same fashion as the Moto G and says "Don't let the fear of everyday scratches and splashes stand in your way."

All in all, the Moto E looks like an excellent option for someone who doesn't want to spend a lot money and doesn't care to have a flagship phone with all the bells and whistles.

Let us know if you've decided to pick up a Moto E and what you think of the device in the comments section below.

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