Summary
How good is Motorola’s.. To what extent can a smartphone priced at $300 really excel? The inquiry arose when I removed the Moto G Power 5G (2024) from its packaging and began the process of configuring it. In a society where several high-end smartphones are priced at $1,000 or above, what may be obtained for a mere $300 in the year 2024?
The Moto G Power 5G has several appealing features. The battery life is excellent, the new design represents a positive advancement, and Motorola has effectively preserved popular functions while also including long-desired enhancements. Concurrently, there are further facets of the phone that elicit a strong desire to tear my hair out.
How good is Motorola’s
The Moto G Power 5G (2024) seems to be one of the top-tier $300 smartphones available for purchase. Nevertheless, within a week of living with the phone, it becomes evident that there are more advantageous methods to allocate your finances.
The aspects of the Moto G Power that I like
My grievances about the Moto G Power 5G (2024) will be addressed in due course; nonetheless, I would like to start by acknowledging the commendable aspects that Motorola has achieved with this particular smartphone.
The process starts with the design. Similar to its antecedent, the latest iteration of the Moto G Power 5G is constructed using plastic materials. Nevertheless, it does not seem too inexpensive. The plastic frame exhibits a commendable level of durability, while the buttons demonstrate a proficient click upon activation.
I have a strong preference for the “vegan leather” material used on the back of the phone. The material remains plastic with a leather-like pattern and texture, however I find it to be really comfortable. The Moto G Power 5G has exceptional grip, resists fingerprints, and imparts a distinctive tactile experience compared to other phones in its price bracket. Motorola offers a Pale Lilac color option in addition to the Midnight Blue hue of my evaluation device.
The battery life of the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is another significant advantage. Motorola has included a 5,000 mAh battery into the phone, which, according on my experimental evaluation, results in a convenient two-day use duration per charge. Despite spending over three and a half hours on the screen on a single day, with over an hour dedicated to watching YouTube and an additional 30 minutes playing Marvel Snap, the Moto G Power remained with a remaining battery level of 53%. By reducing your phone usage, you can manage to enter day three with a little amount of leftover power. The Moto G Power series has always excelled in battery life, and this year is no exception.
When the battery is depleted, the charging process has seen significant enhancements in comparison to earlier iterations of the Moto G. In contrast to the sluggish charging rates of 10W seen in previous iterations, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) has an enhanced wired charging capability with a maximum rate of 30W. Moreover, in the event that one is averse to physical cables, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) also provides compatibility for 15W Qi wireless charging. All of those improvements are commendable.
The Moto G Power series has always excelled in battery life, and this year is no exception.
Furthermore, the benefits extend beyond that. In the event that the 128GB of internal storage is depleted, it is possible to augment the available space by inserting a MicroSD card, with a maximum capacity of 1TB. Additionally, the Moto G smartphones are equipped with a 3.5mm headphone socket and an NFC chip, which allows for contactless payments using Google Wallet. It is worth noting that Motorola often excludes this feature from its Moto G devices. Combine this with very high-quality stereo speakers, resulting in an extensive array of advantages for the Moto G Power 5G (2024).
The aspects of display, performance, and cameras
In the context of a $300 smartphone, it is important to consider the potential trade-offs associated with the Moto G Power. Here, you experience the painful impact of the $300 cost on the display, performance, and cameras.
Let us begin with the presentation. The Moto G Power is equipped with a 6.7-inch liquid crystal display (LCD) screen that has a refresh rate of 120Hz and a resolution of Full HD+, particularly measuring 2400 x 1800 pixels. On paper, such stats are impressive. Practically, the display of the Moto G Power is… unsatisfactory. Directly seeing the phone, the screen is satisfactory. The text is well defined, the colors are visually appealing, and the 120Hz refresh rate enhances the fluidity of your scrolling experience. However, it is the extent of the favorable aspects.
When examining the Moto G Power from even the most minor perspective, it becomes evident that the screen exhibits a notable decline in quality, characterized by excessive brightness and poor color reproduction. The visibility of the screen in direct sunlight is quite limited. The experience is subpar.
The performance of the Moto G Power is also poor. The mobile device is equipped with a MediaTek Dimensity 7020 octa-core CPU, which is complemented by 8GB of RAM. The Moto G Power demonstrates decent performance in doing basic activities, like as browsing through Threads or streaming YouTube videos. However, when further inquiries are made, the phone encounters difficulties.
This is particularly evident in the context of gaming. The performance of Marvel Snap, my favorite mobile game, is subpar on the Moto G Power. The speed of animations is somewhat slow, the process of scrolling through menus may be characterized by stuttering, and the act of hitting a menu button often results in a wait prior to any action taking place. When attempting to play the game at a frame rate of 60 frames per second (fps) with low graphics, the use of medium or high graphics significantly diminishes the gameplay experience, making it almost unplayable. The Moto G Power is capable of meeting your requirements, while it does not excel in terms of speed.
Subsequently, we encounter the cameras. It is likely that you can anticipate the direction of this.
The rear of the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is equipped with a pair of cameras, namely a primary camera with a resolution of 50 megapixels and an additional 8 megapixel ultrawide camera that also facilitates macro photography. Located at the front of the device is a 16-megapixel selfie camera. Motorola’s decision to include a secondary camera in lieu of a discrete macro or depth camera is praiseworthy. Regrettably, this is insufficient to salvage what ultimately becomes a subpar camera configuration.
The primary camera has the highest level of usability among the sensors present, which is the most favorable aspect that can be attributed to it. The first photograph of my canine companion (Damon) is among the more commendable images I captured, if not of exceptional quality. The brightness and sharpness of the grass are very high. The depiction of Damon’s skull lacks intricacy, lacking depth, and creating a bland overall impression. The second shot exhibits anemic hues in the Rueben and fries, while the image of my cat has difficulties related to exposure and sharpness. Each photograph captured with the Moto G Power 5G has inherent flaws.
What is the camera’s ultrawide capabilities? The situation is unfavorable. The 118-degree field of vision provides a broader perspective of the topic, but, no other quality of the photographs is commendable. Ultrawide photographs exhibit a dearth of significant intricacy, devoid of depth or distinctiveness, and even a rudimentary sidewalk (in close proximity to the camera in the aforementioned picture) seems as a disorganized mass resembling watercolor.
Even more unfavorable are the nocturnal photographs captured with the 50MP primary camera. I believe it is unnecessary to provide an explanation for the negative nature of them. For the sake of context, the third photograph depicted a tree positioned in front of me, but with little visibility.
Did I approach the Moto G Power 5G (2024) with the anticipation of a very proficient camera? Absolutely not. However, despite being a $300 smartphone, the photography experience is not pleasurable. It is adequate for sharing casual images on Instagram or X (previously Twitter), but that is the level of faith I would have in this camera system.
Additional information on the Moto G Power is required
At this juncture of the evaluation, a substantial amount of information has been addressed; nonetheless, there are a few more aspects that need attention.
The Moto G Power 5G (2024) is equipped with the Android 14 operating system, and as to other Motorola smartphones, it offers a software interface that closely resembles that of a Google Pixel device. With its prominent Quick Settings toggles, Google Discover feed, and user-friendly Settings app, this Android device is considered the epitome of functionality in 2024. The Android UI is clear, straightforward, and my favorite choice.
The Moto app has all the special features of Motorola, and it offers a multitude of appealing features. The gestures of chopping the phone to activate the flashlight or twisting it to access the camera app have been present on Motorola phones for a considerable period of time, and they continue to be among the most exceptional gestures on the Android platform.
Regrettably, the Moto G Power also has many undesirable software enhancements. Motorola attempts to preinstall a multitude of applications, such as LinkedIn, Booking.com, Walmart, Wayfair, Hulu, Netflix, and a variety of strange mobile games, during the phone setup process. The deselection of these options may be readily accomplished during the setup process. However, failure to do so may result in the accumulation of a substantial amount of bloatware on the mobile device.
The Moto G Power has several incendiary software enhancements
Furthermore, there are other aspects to consider. The default Weather application may be characterized as rather unsatisfactory. The content is replete with advertisements and sporadic news stories. Furthermore, it exhibits poor performance on the Moto G Power, often experiencing prolonged periods of freezing when engaging in simple scrolling activities.
Likewise, the Moto G Power is equipped with a default feature known as “Glance” that is integrated into the lock screen. During the setup process of the Moto G Power, Glance is characterized as a distinctive lock screen that provides real-time information and tailored suggestions for every specific moment. Indeed, it only displays arbitrary articles on your lock screen.
The Moto G Power may be used in a manner that circumvents the presence of preexisting applications, including the unfavorable Weather application and the Glance lock screen. Nevertheless, the task requires a certain level of technical proficiency. I am aware that my mother or grandmother would lack the knowledge or expertise to eliminate these items. In essence, they are adhesive, provide no additional benefits, and diminish the perceived cost of the Moto G Power.
Several concluding details before we conclude:
Motorola commits to provide a single significant operating system upgrade and a three-year duration of security fixes for the Moto G Power. Upon receiving an update to Android 15, you may anticipate the last significant software change.
The vibration motor is defective. The situation is really unfavorable. The haptics of the Moto G Power, while being a $300 Android phone, do not meet the expectations of the iPhone 15 Pro. In fact, they are notably subpar, to the point of being disturbing.
The Moto G Power has a water-repellent design to safeguard the device from any damage caused by spills, splashes, perspiration, or light rain. However, it is worth noting that the phone lacks an official IP classification.
The performance of the fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button is satisfactory. It is fast, precise, and simple to configure.
The pricing and availability of the Moto G Power 5G in 2024
The Moto G Power 5G (2024) is scheduled to be made available for acquisition commencing on March 22, contingent upon its purchase via Cricket. The shipment is expected to be sent to additional carriers on a later date, and you will be able to buy it without any restrictions starting from March 29.
There exists a singular iteration of the Moto G Power, which encompasses a storage capacity of 128GB and an 8GB RAM, and is priced at $300. The product is available in two distinct hues: Midnight Blue and Pale Lilac.
Is it advisable to get the new Moto G Power?
Let us revisit the inquiry posed at the outset of this review: To what extent can a smartphone priced at $300 really excel? The response to the inquiry on the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is “Not very.” While the Moto G Power has some strengths, it is hindered by a multitude of shortcomings, resulting in a comprehensive list of shortcomings.
Fortunately, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) does not represent a small-scale representation of inexpensive smartphones in 2024. By observing your surroundings, including other Motorola phones, you may identify more efficient methods to use your financial resources.
The Motorola Edge (2023) warrants consideration. The Motorola Edge, priced at $600 and launched in October 2023, surpasses the Moto G Power 5G in almost all aspects. The device has an OLED display of superior clarity, a CPU with enhanced capabilities, a wired charging capability of 68W, an extended battery life, and a camera that exhibits more reliability. Currently, it is readily accessible for a cost of $350.
If you are able to allocate a little larger portion of your financial resources, the OnePlus 12R stands out as one of the most remarkable $500 smartphones I have ever used. The device has a combination of glass and metal components, an exceptionally high-quality display, a top-tier chipset, a charging capacity of 80W, an impressive battery life, and a much improved 50MP primary camera. Even a rather obscure Android smartphone such as the Nuu B30 Pro seems to provide a more advantageous proposition in comparison to the Moto G Power 5G.
In the recent past, Moto G phones were regarded as the epitome of affordable smartphones. They served as exemplary demonstrations that inexpensive smartphones may really be of high quality. By 2024, they have mostly transformed into the antithesis: cheap, average, and indelible. The Moto G Power 5G (2024) is a phone that should not be purchased unless absolutely necessary.
