Motorola is continuing its assault against lackluster affordable phones by making improvements to an existing device and introducing a new one. In addition to adding LTE connectivity to the incredibly popular Moto G, the company today announced the Moto E, an even cheaper handset that boasts some of the Moto lineup’s best features.

We had been expecting a Moto G 4G upgrade after the device popped up for pre-order on Amazon last night, and we’re glad that the listing materialized into a real product. A lack of LTE connectivity was one of the few complaints users had with the original Moto G, which has been praised for other features, such as its impressive battery life.

The Moto G is still widely regarded as one of the finest “budget” smartphones available. It has a clean and simple design with changeable backplates, a 720p display, a microSD card slot, and a quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor. Its capable 5-megapixel camera and Android 4.4 KitKat OS are also treats for a device that costs under $180 in the U.S., and under £120 in the U.K.

But the Moto G now has new competition, and it’s called the Moto E. The device will go on sale this week in the U.K., priced at just £89 ($149). It sports a 4.3-inch Gorilla Glass 3 display with a 960×540 resolution, a 1.2GHz dual-core Snapdragon 200 processor, 1GB of RAM, and 4GB of internal storage that’s expandable with a microSD card.

The Moto E also features a 1,980mAh battery that promises a full day’s use out of a single charge, dual-SIM capabilities, and the same 5-megapixel camera you’ll find in the Moto G.

It’s very much an entry-level device, and it won’t be stealing any market share away from this year’s flagships. But its affordable rivals should be very worried. Like other Moto devices, the Moto E has changeable backplates, and it ships with the latest Android 4.4 KitKat firmware with a guaranteed update to the next Android release.

When you buy a budget smartphone, you almost always have to settle for an older version of Android — and there’s little hope it will ever be updated. But Motorola’s changing that with the Moto E, and if that wasn’t enough, the device also has a waterproof coating that will keep it safe from splashes and accidental spills.

• SourceMotorola