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The formula for a good $400 phone is a tough one to solve for, and the Moto G 5G isn't quite right.
Performance might not be top-notch, but you only paid $300, so you are prepared for some significant tradeoffs. You will find some worthwhile upgrades and even a few nice-to-haves if you spend $500. The $400 phone seems to get the worst of both worlds: a no frills experience with a higher price than the $300 phone.
That sums up the problem of the Moto G 5G. It is a good performer, particularly the model I tested with 6GB RAM. I was able to drain it less than 50 percent in a day. I'm not sure if it's worth more than the other two. The extra $50 over the Moto G 5G is worth it because of features like a 120Hz screen and waterproofness.
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Buy for $399.00 from Motorola
The battery and overall performance are good. Good on paper, the Moto G 5G uses a 700 processor and 6 gigabytes of RAM, which translate to good real-world performance. It's a good idea for apps to stay open in the background for a while. As I jump between tasks, the phone keeps up well. You can add even more storage with a microSD card slot on this unlocked variant.
The Moto G 5G's 5,000mAh battery is about as big as they come and lives up to the claim that it will last up to two days on a single charge. After a day of moderate use, I used 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 888-739-5110 It's one of the best batteries I've seen in a phone.
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The software from Motorola deserves an honorable mention. It is a light-touch treatment of the operating system that is user friendly. The sunrise alarm option and peek notifications on the lock screen are features that I look forward to using when I test a phone, and it includes some clever features that I look forward to using. One OS platform upgrade and three years of security updates are promised by the Moto G 5G. For a little more money, you can get a better phone, such as the iPhone SE or the A53 5G.
There is 5G support here, but it is not very fast and hard to find, so it isn't much of a loss. At launch, the unlocked version of the phone will work on T-Mobile and Verizon's 5G networks, but other carriers will be available in the coming months.
Details just don’t look as nice on this screen as they do on a higher-res display
Even fast performance, a great battery, and nice software aren't everything. The Moto G 5G's screen isn't particularly inspiring, it has a measly 720p resolution for its large 6.5-inch display. The details don't look as nice on this screen as they do on a higher-res display. It's also an LCD, which doesn't offer as rich of a viewing experience as anOLED panel, though it does smooth out motion a bit.
The biggest problem I had with the display was using it to type out messages, something that we do roughly a million times a day. I need to backspace to take out extra letters and periods multiple times in the course of writing a single text because it registers a lot of double taps when I use the default Gboard keyboard.
I tried to turn the typing vibrations off, but they haven't changed anything. It doesn't help if you use another keyboard app. It's not something I'd be able to live with for very long, because it's so frustrating that I type and retype logins and texts many times a day.
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On a few occasions, the phone stopped receiving text messages without any indication that there was a problem. I was at home and only noticed because I kept requesting a two-factor authentication code that wasn't arriving. I didn't switch the wireless network off and on until I had missed a number of texts.
The Moto G 5G's camera performance is not a bright spot. The main rear camera has a 50-MIP sensor that combines with a 12-MIP sensor. There is a depth sensor on the back of the camera, but it is not very useful. There is a camera on the front. The selfie face-smoothing beauty filter is on, but you can turn it off completely or tune it down.
The photos in bright outdoor light are nice. Most budget phones have dim lighting. You will be challenged to get a good shot if your subject is moving and light is low. There is a night mode for very low light situations and video recording. It's not the best for the money, but it's not the worst either.
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The Moto G 5G is in a tough spot. Paying a bit more will get you a better phone than if you just buy a less expensive one. It is good for the budget class to have good performance. I haven't been able to test a version with 4GB of RAM, but certain carriers will sell it. The software is designed thoughtfully and the battery stamina is excellent.
The quirks I encountered with the phone are concerning. The Moto G 5G doesn't offer a lot of value for its price. A better screen, waterproofness, and five years of security updates are included in the price of the Samsung A53 5G. The same very good camera that was used in the previous iteration of the device will be included in the new iteration of the device, which will be arriving later this summer. If it's an option, there's also the 2022 iPhone SE. If you can live with a small display, it offers outstanding performance.
The Moto G 5G doesn’t offer a ton of value for its price
If you happen to be on T-Mobile or Metro, the OnePlus N20 is an excellent alternative at a lower price. It comes with a nicer screen, but with a slower refresh rate, and fast charging. If you can find it, the A32 5G is a good $300 option. It is a year old at this point, but with a more versatile camera system and three more years of security support promised, it is still a solid alternative.
The Moto G 5G is likely to be an option for a lot of people because of its lower price and less RAM. Is that version worth the money? It's probably good enough to handle all of your daily tasks, plus you get a big battery and good software with 4GB of RAM. The typing experience makes me hesitant to recommend it, even at a lower price, so the best course of action would be to try it out in a store. The safest bet would be to look at one of the very good alternatives.
Allison Johnson is a photographer.
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