06 Sep
Blog

Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro Review: Very Good at Being Average

Moto Edge 20 Pro on a desk.

Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro review: a phone that is very good on average

RRP $ 900.00

"The Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro does not make the most of its specification, so it is clearly average, and without a flashy design, the reliable software and good battery life are simply not enough to get it past this point."

advantages

  • Easy to use, reliable software

  • Good battery life

  • High refresh rate screen

  • Periscope zoom on the camera

disadvantage

  • No wireless charging

  • Inconsistent camera

  • Mono speakers

I remember checking out the Moto Edge in mid-2020 and really liked the design and screen, which excited me to try out the new Moto Edge 20 Pro. However, it seems that Motorola has decided to move away from almost everything that made the previous model a winner and hit the average street instead. It then set the price for a good measure. In other words, there is a lot to be done to impress.

Before we get into too much detail, it's worth talking about Motorola's naming and marketing of the latest Moto Edge series. In the US, you can only buy the Moto Edge (2021), which is known everywhere else as the Moto Edge 20. The Moto Edge 20 Pro we are reviewing here is a higher-end version of this phone that is currently available in the UK

With that resolved, let's talk about the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

draft

The Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro may be the highest spec model in the new Edge range, but don't think that it will automatically turn heads when it comes to design. It shares the same working-day, functional, but uninspired ethos seen on the company's affordable phones without you falling for the phone in any way. I feel nothing for the Moto Edge 20 Pro when I look at it, which won't be a problem for some, but for others it will push them into the waiting arms of OnePlus, Realme or Samsung.

Moto Edge 20 Pro hand-held, viewed from behind.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Its chassis is made of an aluminum alloy and Gorilla Glass 5 covers the screen and back so it has the correct references, but the flat panel display makes it look old and the platter sides make it uncomfortable to grip. Worse, they give the Moto Edge 20 Pro an impressive trick that feels thicker than the 8mm case suggests. It's also not nice to put a square camera lens over two round ones.

There are a couple of weird design choices too. The fast fingerprint sensor is housed in the power button rather than under the display, which will likely lower the overall cost, but it's placed quite high on the body and may not naturally fall under your thumb if you have small hands. On the opposite side, but at the very top of the case, is a Google Assistant button. That said, I didn't accidentally push it, but since I never pushed it on purpose either, I wonder why it's there in the first place.

Fingerprint sensor of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

On the positive side, the Moto Edge 20 Pro is light at 185 grams, and in addition to the Midnight Blue version seen in our photos, a vegan leather model is available, which may give the phone more personality. Otherwise, there isn't much here that inspires me to grab the Moto Edge 20 Pro, especially when beauties like the OnePlus Nord 2 and the Samsung Galaxy A52 5G exist.

Screen and audio

Motorola has spared nothing when it comes to the specification of the screen. It's a 6.7-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2400 x 1080 pixels, a refresh rate of 144 Hz and HDR10 + support. The 19.5: 9 aspect ratio makes it wider than the 20: 9 aspect ratio of the 6.7-inch OnePlus 9 Pro. It spends most of the time at maximum brightness, but I could still easily see it outside on bright days.

Moto Edge 20 Pro screen.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

When watching videos on the phone, it turned out that the sound is too quiet for my personal taste. It's not as vivid or as full of life and color as the OnePlus Nord 2's screen, and observing the cloudy and wet weather conditions in Carfection's Ferrari Roma test highlights its slightly dull quality. There is no setting to change the performance of the screen other than a normal or saturated color mode.

Google Assistant button on Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It's certainly not bad, and the warmer tone benefits the skin, for example, but it's just not as flashy a performer as some of the competition. It will be more disappointed with a mono speaker that, while powerful, does not deliver the sound, bass, or enjoyment that a good stereo setup does, as is common with other similarly priced smartphones. The screen responsiveness is also a bit strange as the screen sometimes senses swiping up and down as a left to right swipe, which is annoying when using the phone with one hand. The 144 Hz refresh rate is very welcome, but I don't see any difference from a 120 Hz screen.

camera

All of the Motorola Moto Edge phones launched this year – the Edge (2021) / Edge 20, Edge 20 Lite, and Edge 20 Pro – have 108-megapixel main cameras, but here on the Pro it is supported by a 16- MP wide-angle camera and an 8MP periscope telephoto camera with a 5x optical zoom. This makes the Edge 20 Pro quite unusual, as periscope zoom cameras are rarely used outside of very high-end phones like the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

The camera module of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The photos taken are inconsistent, and every few good photos will result in pretty bad photos, especially in low light. There is a significant difference in color balance and dynamic range between the main and wide-angle cameras. Pictures taken with 5x zoom use optical image stabilization, and the results are better than with 5x digital zoom in that it shows more details and better dynamic range, but it doesn't come close to the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Motorola is promoting a 50x super zoom mode, but it really shouldn't have because there is no stabilization at all and the image in the viewfinder is constantly moving. When you take a photo, you get a nice, pixelated approach to the subject.

Low light is surprisingly bad, as even in early morning shady conditions the 108MP camera with an aperture of f / 1.9 caused blurring that most other cameras would have no problem with. There's a fixed focus macro mode that can make it difficult to take a decent photo, 8K video recording at 24 frames per second, and a dual capture mode that uses both the front and rear cameras to capture video at the same time . The 32-megapixel selfie camera takes pleasant photos with natural skin tones even when the beauty mode is switched on.

The camera of the Moto Edge 20 Pro is typically Motorola. It has many features and some desirable technologies, but the execution isn't good enough to get the most out of them.

Software and performance

The Moto Edge 20 Pro uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 processor, which is a warmed-up version of the older Snapdragon 865 processor and is more efficient. The Snapdragon 870 might not be the best Snapdragon 888, but you probably won't notice a huge difference from day to day. I've played Asphalt 9: Legends with no issues, it's very fluid and fast, and I've multitasked as always, which undoubtedly helped by the 12GB of RAM inside.

Asphalt 9: Legends played on the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Android 11 is installed and like most of their phones, Motorola doesn't add too much, which means that it is similar to Android on a Google Pixel phone. There are some gesture controls like shaking the phone to activate the flashlight. Peek Display replaces the usual and preferred always-on screen with a tap-to-wake system. I like the way you can see more details from notifications by tapping and holding icons, but I would prefer that the basic information be shown all the time. Apps worked without errors, notifications are delivered as expected, and the phone has worked normally for all of my time.

Motorola is also pushing its desktop mode, which it calls Ready For, on the Moto Edge 20 Pro to include the required USB Type-C to HDMI cable to use it in the box. It's a nice touch. Ready For also works wirelessly if you have a compatible screen. It works similarly to Samsung DeX in that it displays a Windows-like start screen that is designed to increase productivity. Also, like DeX, it may not work with all smart TVs (it didn't connect to my Sony Android TV, for example) and to take full advantage you will need a bluetooth keyboard and mouse, as well as a controller if you want to play games to play.

The standby mode of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Moto app options of the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Browser displayed on Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Apps screen on the Moto Edge 20 Pro.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Calls on the Moto Edge 20 Pro are decent, but I didn't find the speaker very good. The voices weren't as clear as I expected, and background noise on the caller's side seemed more disturbing than normal. This is a 5G phone if you have coverage near you, with two 5G SIM slots plus Wi-Fi 6 on board and NFC for Google Pay. Small things aside, the Moto Edge 20 Pro gives you everything you could want in a high-end phone – cleanly designed, reliable software, and lots of power – with features like Ready For that may be helpful to some.

battery

The 4,500 mAh battery is a bit smaller than we've come to expect from smartphones lately, but if you don't squeeze the phone very hard, it just gulps power. On a few days with very little use, it stretched to three days for me, which very few other phones do. Play games and watch videos and this becomes two days of usage that are still good.

Charging port on the Moto Edge 20 Pro.Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Motorola's 30W TurboPower charger is included, and while a 10-minute zack apparently provides nine hours of operation, according to Motorola, it doesn't get 100% as fast as the quick chargers that came with the OnePlus Nord 2 or that Realme GT. The Moto Edge 20 Pro doesn't have wireless charging, which is unfortunate.

Price and availability

The Motorola Moto Edge 20 Pro is priced at £ 650, or around $ 900. It is available now in the UK through Motorola's online store. You'd have to import one to own it in the US and there doesn't seem to be any immediate plans for Motorola to officially launch it.

Our opinion

There's nothing wrong with being clearly average, which is a good thing because that's what sets the Moto Edge 20 Pro apart. It has a design that won't hurt your eyes or arouse your senses, a decent camera that takes photos that you'll never say wow, and a pretty screen that just can't quite keep up with the competition. Good battery life and reliable software aren't enough to go beyond that.

I haven't had any major issues with the phone at all, but the little annoyances add up without much to make worth the effort. Why Motorola abandoned the cool design and cascading screen of the Moto Edge (2020) is a mystery. This may be Motorola's top smartphone released so far this year, but it hasn't really been covered on the red carpet, and this is an issue as Motorola hasn't price-tagged it in the average range. Phones that don't seem average at all are yours for a little less than it costs to pick up the Moto Edge 20 Pro. At a time when competition is incredibly fierce in all areas of the phone world, the average is quickly forgotten.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, and for less money. If you're in the UK, the OnePlus Nord costs £ 2,400, or around $ 550, has a visually nicer screen, more attractive design, powerful camera and quick charge. You're missing out on the periscope zoom, but it's not worth the significant extra cost you pay for it. The Samsung Galaxy A52 5G is priced at $ 500 and is officially available in the US and the UK and is similarly excellent.

Alternatively, the Realme GT is worth a look at £ 450 or around $ 620 and has a Snapdragon 888 chip, fast charging, and a decent screen and camera. The $ 450 Google Pixel 5a has its perks too, with a good camera, IP67 rating, and great software. It misses the high refresh rate screen but is much cheaper.

The OnePlus 9 Pro costs a little more, $ 969 or £ 829, and if you can afford it, it's a better buy. The Hasselblad camera has received software updates since its inception which have greatly improved it, it has the latest Qualcomm processor, great software with extended support and a well-engineered design.

How long it will take?

Motorola intends to provide two major Android software updates and bimonthly security updates for the Moto Edge 20 Pro for two years. The phone has a splash rating of IP52, which means it's fine in the rain, but not so much if you drop it in the bathtub. It comes with a basic translucent TPU case in the box for extra drop protection. You can safely buy the Moto Edge 20 Pro and expect it to last two years.

Should you buy one?

No. It can't quite deliver on the promise of its specification, and there are better alternatives for less money.

Editor's recommendations



27 Jan
Blog

Moto G Play (2021) Review: Battery Life, Performance, Camera

motorola moto g play 2021 rating 4

"Motorola makes the best phone under $ 200 – just set your expectations before you buy."

  • Modern design

  • Great battery life

  • Good advertisement

  • Attractively priced

  • Below average camera

  • Limited software support

  • Mediocre performance

The Moto G series is back for 2021 and consists of the Moto G Power, Moto G Stylus and Moto G Play. While most might want to buy the Moto G Power or save up on the Google Pixel 4a for their competitor, the Moto G Play is great value for money and therefore only costs $ 170.

The phone looks great on paper. With a huge 5,000 mAh battery, a relatively modern design, and a lot more, it could be the ideal device for those looking for a decent phone under $ 200. Is it anyway? I've been testing the 2021 Moto G Play for a while to find out.

Design and display

The Moto G Play is an affordable phone. Hence, you shouldn't expect the design to look too expensive. That said, Motorola does a good job of making sure the phone looks modern enough in the age of edge-to-edge displays.

Gone are the holes in the more expensive Moto G models in favor of a small teardrop notch at the top. Honestly, the notch is as intrusive as the hole punch cutout anyway, and you'll soon forget about it after you've used the phone. The device also has a bigger chin than the other Moto G devices, and that might be more noticeable. Neither of these issues are real, but they do contribute to the fact that the device is a little less premium – which it is.

On the back of the device is the camera with two sensors and a back-mounted fingerprint sensor that appeared to be fast and accurate in our tests. In 2021, on phones like the Galaxy S21, the camera shock on this device is quite small and almost flush with the back of the phone, which is a nice touch. It's also centered so it doesn't wobble a lot on a desk.

On the edges of the phone are the standard volume rocker, power button, and USB-C port. You also get a headphone jack, which is especially good to see on phones in this price range.

The Moto G Play's display is a 6.5-inch 720p LCD display and does the job, but that's about it. Colors aren't particularly vivid and obviously don't have a high refresh rate here, but for things like scrolling Twitter and reading email, this is perfectly fine. It also gets quite bright, which is helpful in direct sunlight or brighter environments.

Power and battery

The Moto G Play is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 processor as well as 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage. This is a notable step up from the other Moto G-series devices, which come with 6-series chips and offer at least twice as much storage space. 32GB of storage is a bit weak in 2021, but something is expected from such a cheap phone. Fortunately, there is a microSD card slot so you can expand the storage if you want.

Despite the slightly underloaded processor, the phone works perfectly in daily use. There was little to complain about with basic tasks like emailing, browsing social media, and even multitasking. If you're doing more intense tasks like mobile gaming while playing games like Call of Duty: Mobile, you should expect some serious slowdowns, but despite the slower loading times and jittery menus, the in-game phone has mostly done itself with the occasional skip.

All of the Moto G-Series 2021 devices have good battery life, and the Moto G Play is no exception. The device comes with a powerful 5,000 mAh battery. Thanks to the lower resolution display, it can last two days even with heavy use. If you have a good charging capacity for your device, you won't have to worry about battery life with this phone – and if not, you will have plenty of time to plug it in. You'll have to plug it in but there isn't any wireless charging, though that's no surprise.

Cameras

On the back of the Moto G Play there is a dual camera system with a 13-megapixel main camera with an aperture of 1: 2.0 and a 2MP depth sensor. Despite the fact that great cameras are getting cheaper on smartphones, the Moto G Play doesn't give you the versatility of an ultra-wide or telephoto camera.

Unfortunately, the Moto G Play's camera is mediocre at best. With good lighting, you can take pictures that are … okay. They're not particularly vivid or detailed, but they will get it. However, if you add a bit of complexity to the shot, you don't get much. Low-light photos are either blown, very blurry, or both, and backlit scenes have little to no dynamic range.

If you didn't know you used a $ 170 phone, the Moto G Play's camera will remind you of it – every time.

Software and functions

The 2021 Moto G Play comes with Motorola My UX, which is based on Android 10, and it's a pretty good experience. Motorola is pretty good at providing scaled down software, and you get it on this device. Everything is pretty much where you'd expect it to be, and the user interface is generally easy to navigate.

Motorola has also been pretty good at delivering additional functionality in its software. The phone is equipped with the Moto app, which enables some handy gesture controls – for example, the ability to take a screenshot by touching the screen with three fingers, or turn the phone upside down to “do not disturb”. Other features like Gametime, for example, tweak notification settings while you play. The great thing about these features is that you can enable or disable them depending on which features you actually like. They're all included in the Moto app – instead of being spread across the My UX interface.

Now for the disadvantages (beyond the camera). The phone comes with the dated Android 10. Motorola has stated that it will receive Android 11, but has not yet stated when. Given that Motorola marketing says it will get "at least one software update", Android 11 is likely the end of the line for the 2021 Moto G Play. Fortunately, the device will receive software updates for two years, but it's still very disappointing to see such a lack of software support – which spans all Moto G devices.

Price and availability

Perhaps the best thing about the 2021 Moto G Play is how cheap it is. You can get a whole lot of phone for just $ 170. You can overlook many shortcomings at this price point if you probably won't be holding the phone that long in the first place.

The Moto G Play is available directly from the Motorola website as well as from a few select retailers such as Best Buy. Indeed the device was at the time of this writing Available at Best Buy for just $ 120 When you activate with a carrier, that's an incredible deal.

Our opinion

The Motorola Moto G Play (2021) isn't perfect, and you wouldn't expect it for the price either. The camera is really pretty bad, and while the device's performance is okay for everyday use, it does get slower with heavier multitasking and intense gaming. If you can afford to spend more, this is why you should. You can get it parent Moto G Power for $ 250. And the $ 350 Pixel 4a is more than twice as expensive, but it's also more than twice as good as a phone.

That said, if your budget is no more than $ 200, the 2021 Moto G Play is the way to go. Motorola continues to prove that you can get a solid phone at a super affordable price. As long as your expectations are set correctly.

Is there a better alternative?

No. In this price range, the Moto G Play is the best cell phone under $ 200. However, if you can afford to spend more, you can get the exact same recipe, only better, with this new Moto G Power for $ 250. For a phone that will last longer, perform better, and take better photos along the way, you can access the phone Google Pixel 4a.

How long it will take?

The Moto G Play should be in use for two years given its plastic construction. It's not water-resistant, so you'll need to keep it dry, and you should expect it to get seriously sluggish by the end of those two years.

Should you buy it?

Yes, but only if your budget is no more than $ 200. For $ 250, you get a Moto G Power that performs better in every way.

Editor's recommendations




13 Jan
Blog

Moto G Power (2021) Review: Bigger, Cheaper, and Little More

moto g power 2021 rating Motorola 3

  • Excellent battery life

  • Retired Software

  • Solid design

  • Huge ad

  • Below average camera

  • 720p display

  • Missing NFC

The Moto G series has long been great value for money, adorned recommendation guides for the best budget phones, and offers a reliable experience for those who don't want or need a flagship phone. In recent years, however, competition has intensified. Phones like the iPhone SE, Google Pixel 4a, and others offer flagship-level features for only about $ 100 or more.

For 2021, Motorola has updated the Moto G series, with the main phone, the Moto G Power, getting one impressive price of only $ 200or $ 250 for the top of the line. That's $ 100 less than the Pixel 4a, $ 150 less than the iPhone SE, and significantly undercuts other phones of similar quality.

Is the Moto G Power the way to go for phones under $ 250, or should you keep saving? We put the 2021 Moto G Power to the test to find out.

Design and display

The 2021 Moto G Power looks and feels like a natural evolution of the previous year's model. It has a similar design on the front, with a cutout hole for the front-facing camera on the top-left of the phone and a slightly larger, edge-to-edge, 6.6-inch display with a small chin at the bottom. It looks great for a phone under $ 300, especially considering that edge-to-edge displays came at a high premium just a few years ago.

On the back of the phone is the camera module that has been moved to the center in a square camera pile. I don't mind that the module is centered, and although it was placed in the top left, it might look better than more expensive phones, but it still looks good where it is. The back is of course made of plastic. The slimy sheen looks cool but feels cheaper than it looks – obviously not as top notch as a glass appliance.

On the edges of the phone is a USB-C port at the bottom and luckily a headphone jack at the top. On the right side there is a volume rocker and an on / off switch with an integrated fingerprint sensor. The sensor worked very well in my tests. It was quick and accurate, which is very nice to see. You need to get used to using the power button to get inside your phone if you haven't already. However, this is a minor change.

As already mentioned, the display has a size of 6.6 inches and a resolution of 720p, which is well below the 1,080p display of the previous year. You might argue that it's difficult to tell the difference between a 1080p and a 1440p display, but the difference between a 720p and a 1080p display is definitely noticeable, and it's frustrating to see how Motorola resigns. The display does the job, but to a minimum.

I wish Motorola had better water resistance here. The so-called "water-repellent coating" weighs little more than a marketing message, and those who buy a $ 250 phone probably don't want to have to replace it if it accidentally gets wet. This is a feature that all phones should offer.

Technical data and performance

Under the hood, the Moto G Power has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor that is paired with either 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of storage in the base model or 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage for an additional $ 50. In both cases there is also a microSD card slot for expanded storage. Oddly enough, compared to last year's Moto G Power, which came with a Snapdragon 665 processor and 4GB of RAM, the base model of the phone includes components with lower power consumption – although I think that makes sense given the new lower starting price.

Now the impact is pretty small, and in fact the phone performed pretty much the same on benchmarks (the 720p display probably helps there). The Snapdragon 662 and 665 are based on the same architecture and eventually use the same GPU – the notable shortcomings are some lack of audio components and a lower-priced modem. But it's still a bit strange to see Motorola take such a step back. At least you expect the same chipset year after year.

Oddly enough, there are cuts from last year's Moto G Power.

In daily use, the Moto G Power did well with a few jumps and jumps every now and then, as you'd expect for $ 200. In general, the device responded quickly and quickly, even with simple mobile games and multitasking. Playing a game like Call of Duty: Mobile worked well, and while games like Asphalt 9 had a drop out frame and stutter, it still worked well enough for most.

Unfortunately, Motorola hasn't added NFC to the Moto G range yet, so you still won't be able to use features like Google Pay. This was a minor complaint a few years ago. At this point in time, this is an important loophole.

Battery life

The Moto G Power comes with a massive 5,000 mAh battery. This is the same as last year, but this is one situation where we don't mind that it isn't an upgrade – and you might get even better battery life thanks to the lower resolution display.

Most modern flagship phones offer much smaller batteries. The iPhone 12 Pro has a 2,815 mAh battery, while the Pixel 4a has a 3,140 mAh battery. And when you consider that these phones are more sophisticated and have higher resolution displays, they last significantly less.

Battery life is one of the main reasons to buy a Moto G Power.

I haven't had too long to test the phone, but based on my initial tests, I am sure you can use the device for two days and even a third day for lighter users. Really, this phone's battery life is so good and one of the top reasons to buy it.

The Moto G Power supports fast charging up to 15W, but unfortunately there is no wireless charging here.

Cameras

Like the 2020 Moto G Power, the 2021 model also has a three-lens camera. However, Motorola has swapped the ultrawide camera for a depth sensor, and the result is a less versatile experience.

You get a 48-megapixel main camera with a f / 1.7 aperture, but it has an effective output of 12 megapixels due to the quad-pixel technology used by Motorola (and most other companies). There is also a 2MP macro camera and a 2MP depth camera.

Photos from this phone are pretty boring. The colors are muted and despite the quad-pixel technology, the photos are a bit noisy than I would like. The macro lens is fun to use for five seconds before you leave the gimmick behind and realize that in everyday life you will probably never actually use it. Unfortunately, this is a reality of any cheap macro camera.

All is not bad now. The phone is capable, but not much more. I see – this is a $ 200-250 phone. However, when you have phones like the Pixel 4a with a standout camera for just $ 100 more, it's hard not to complain.

software

One of the best things about Motorola phones is the software experience, and that is true here too. The Moto G Power has a pared-down software experience that should appeal to anyone looking to cut out the lint. It's almost standard Android, and as such, it's responsive and easy to navigate.

One of the best things about Motorola phones is their software experience.

There are some improvements to the system, however. The Moto G Power runs software called "My UX" by Motorola, which includes gestures such as the ability to take a screenshot by touching the screen with three fingers, silence the phone by picking it up when it rings, or turn the phone to launch the camera. The Moto app also makes it easy to change wallpapers and the layout of the home screen, as well as enabling Gametime mode, which allows you to optimize the way notifications and power supply work when gaming on the go.

It's all relatively helpful, and it's really nice that Motorola put all of these tweaks and settings into the Moto app instead of breaking into the UI and cluttering everything – something other manufacturers have done.

Price, availability and guarantee

The new Motorola Moto G Power starts at $ 200which is impressively cheap. That gives you the base model with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, or you can up to $ 250 for 4GB and 64GB – which I would recommend. The base model is available in silver (shown in this review) and the taller model in dark gray.

After a short pre-order period, the phones will be available direct from the Motorola website, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and others starting January 14th. Motorola’s proliferation is extraordinary.

The device comes with a 12-month standard warranty, which practically only covers manufacturer defects. You should be careful with your device, especially given its water resistance.

Our opinion

The Moto G Power won't break records or blow people away with features. But it offers a solid experience with a huge display and great battery life for a low price. It will find a place on our list of the best cheap phones available today. Sure, if you can afford to pay more you should, but if $ 250 is your budget, this phone should be bought.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, if you can pay more. If you can expand your budget to $ 350, then the Google Pixel 4a The phone is easy to find thanks to the better processor, software updates on day one, and great camera. It isn't the size or battery life of the Moto G Power, but those are simple compromises.

If you can stretch up to $ 400, the iPhone SE is also worth considering, but I know this is a bit tricky when your original budget was $ 250. In Android land, the Pixel 4a is the phone to beat.

Alternatively, if you only buy last year's Moto G Power, there is something to be said for it. It is still available and now reduced to $ 220. As mentioned earlier, it has practically the same performance as well as a higher resolution screen and amazing battery life. This could be the biggest problem facing the 2021 G Power.

How long it will take?

The Moto G Power doesn't have any real water resistance to lean on, but the plastic body should withstand most drops and stains. With caution, the phone should run a normal two year cycle, although by the end of those two years it will likely slow down seriously.

Is there a better alternative?

Not in this price range. The Moto G Power is far from perfect, but at $ 250, it's about as close as possible.

Editor's recommendations




18 Jun
Blog

Motorola Moto E (2020) Review: As Good As It Gets For $150

motorola moto e 2020 review 5

Motorola Moto E (2020) review: Great value at $ 150

"The Motorola Moto E isn't perfect, but it's the best option for $ 150."

  • Relatively modern design

  • Good value for the price

  • Clean software experience

  • Camera could be better

  • Ad is not great

Motorola has long been a point of contact for inexpensive phones. The Moto E was first launched in 2014 and quickly became a fan favorite for those looking for a decent phone for around $ 150. Six years later, the company continues the tradition with a new Moto E model that features a relatively modern design, mid-range specifications, and more.

While the Moto E has remained a great option over the years, a lot of competition has emerged. Is the new Moto E still competing with the best phones under $ 200?

Design and display

Edge-to-edge displays have found their way to some of the cheapest phones – and the Moto E jumps on that train. The device has a small chin at the bottom and a drop notch at the top, but still looks good for a phone in this price range.

The display is 6.2 inches and the bezels are relatively narrow. This is good news – it means the phone looks modern despite its price range.

The back of the phone also looks good. The phone is mostly made of plastic, and while it doesn't feel as high-quality as more expensive devices, it doesn't feel too cheap either. There is a fingerprint sensor under the Motorola logo and a vertically aligned camera array on the back of the phone.

On the edges of the phone you'll get a fairly normal setup, including a volume rocker and a power button on the right, and a SIM / MicroSD card slot on the right. There is also a headphone jack at the top. This is good news for those who still use wired headphones.

You can find a micro USB port below, which is a little frustrating. The Moto E is a budget phone, but it is 2020, and USB-C should be the standard for all phones by now.

The Moto E's display is roughly what you'd expect from a $ 150 phone in 2020. It has a resolution of 720p and an LCD display. So don't expect much. It also seems to be a little different than the display of the new Moto G Fast, as it can't get quite as bright. If you are outdoors and in direct sunlight, you may have trouble seeing the display clearly.

Performance and battery life

Under the hood, the Moto E offers a Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor with 2 GB RAM. I have found that although it is not necessarily suitable for heavy multitasking or intensive mobile gaming, it definitely does the job for everyday use and clearly outperforms the competition in this price range.

In general, most users are more than satisfied with the performance of this device. If you switch between multiple apps at the same time, you may have to deal with slowdowns and jumps in the software. However, these usually resolved themselves quickly, and the device was still more than usable. The same applies to Chrome tabs. Simply surfing the web is perfectly fine, but anything that is heavier and you should consider a more powerful phone.

Basic mobile games are also possible on this phone, but don't expect much more than the basics. Call of Duty: Mobile was playable, although it wasn't the smoothest experience. The Moto G Fast or if possible the Moto G Power offers better performance.

If you are serious about mobile games, you want a phone with at least a Snapdragon 7xx series SoC or an iPhone. Budget phones are surpassed. This is not necessarily a problem that only occurs with the Moto E, but a compromise that all inexpensive phones make to get a lower price.

Benchmarks confirm decent performance for the price. The phone scored 118,004 points at AnTuTu, which is not a bad thing. For comparison: the Moto G7 Play scored 98,111 points last year, while the more powerful Google Pixel 3a scored 157,902 points. The Moto G Fast, which is $ 50 more expensive, reached 161,672.

The phone's battery capacity is 3,550 mAh, and we've found that it works just fine in everyday use. The battery should get you through a day of normal use, but heavy users may need to charge the device before the end of the day. Don't expect the next day to go too far. The phone does not offer wireless charging or fast charging. So you need to familiarize yourself with nightly charging or when you work at a desk while you are working.

camera

The 2020 Moto E offers a dual sensor camera, although one of these sensors is a 2 megapixel lens that is only used to capture depth information. The other sensor is a 13 megapixel lens with an aperture of 1: 2.0 and is generally fine. But only good.

In well-lit environments, the Moto E can take decent photos with monochrome rendering and depth of field. While photos weren't incredibly detailed, for most uses this won't be a big deal.

Of course, you are not always in a well-lit environment. If you are not, you are more or less unlucky. While more expensive phones take better and better photos in low light conditions, there is no significant night mode on this phone. As a result, poorly lit photos either look noisy or you cannot see the subject at all.

There is a 5 megapixel selfie camera on the front that does the job if need be. Like the rear-facing camera, it doesn't work in low light and is definitely prone to unnaturally bright colors in some situations. Nevertheless, it can be used for most social media posts.

The Moto E is a budget phone and has a budget camera. It works in most situations, but don't expect incredible photos and don't expect to be able to use it in low light.

software

The software experience on modern Motorola phones is great. With the Moto G Fast and Moto E, the company has renamed its Android skin to My UX. Other than a name change, nothing else is different – you still get the best experience with just a few small changes that frankly make the experience better.

Perhaps the best thing about My UX compared to standard Android are the moto actions, which allow you to control certain aspects of the phone software with gestures. For example, you can take a screenshot with three fingers or turn on the flashlight with a hacking motion. It's a nice touch.

My UX is based on Android 10, and Motorola was pretty good at providing software updates. Given that it's a budget phone, updates may not be updated as quickly as you want. The Moto G7, for example, only got Android 10 in May 2020.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Moto E is available directly on the Motorola website for $ 150. This is a great price for this phone. If you can stretch your budget a bit, it's worth considering the Moto G Fast, or if you can stretch the Moto G Power even more.

The Moto E comes with a one-year limited warranty that only covers manufacturer's defects. It is worth buying a protective case to protect the device

Our opinion

The Motorola Moto E is far from perfect, but the best option for $ 150. It offers a relatively modern design, solid performance, and more. When shopping on a budget, performance is one of the most important things to consider.

Is there a better alternative?

If you are willing to spend more money, there are definitely better options. The $ 200 Moto G Fast is a solid phone with better performance and much better battery life. If you can double your budget to $ 300, you should consider the Samsung Galaxy A51 or the Google Pixel 3a. The Google Pixel 3a in particular is an excellent phone with an incredible camera.

How long it will take?

When used easily, the Moto E should last about two years. The performance of the phone will deteriorate over time. Therefore, do not expect smooth experience for the entire two-year period. In addition, the phone is not waterproof. Therefore, do not take it near the bath or pool.

Should you buy one?

Yes, if you need a phone for $ 150 or less. If you can stretch your budget a little, it is worth spending the extra money.

Editor's recommendations




16 Jun
Blog

Motorola Moto G Fast Review: A Great Phone For $200

motorola moto g quick evaluation 2

Motorola Moto G Quick evaluation: Fast, but not expensive

"If your budget is a maximum of $ 200, the Moto G Fast is the best choice."

  • Modern design

  • Feels durable

  • Great performance for the price

  • Good battery life

  • Camera is just fine

  • Ad is not great

The Moto G Seires have weathered ups and downs. The device has long been considered one of the best budget options, but competition from Samsung companies has intensified in recent years. However, as so often, Motorola has launched a number of new Moto G models, including the extremely affordable Moto G Fast.

The Moto G Fast hopes to bring premium features and a thoroughly modern look at a price of $ 200. There are other phones in this price range, but not many – especially from well-known brands such as Motorola, Samsung and LG.

Is the Moto G Almost the Best Cell Phone Under $ 200?

Design and display

Two or three years ago, it would be difficult for you to find a phone with a modern, borderless display design in the price range below $ 250. Now they are becoming more and more common – and we are happy to see that.

On the front of the Moto G Fast is a nice large 6.4-inch display from edge to edge, which has a hole cutout in the upper left corner of the device. The neckline is slightly larger than some other devices, like the Galaxy A51 or the OnePlus 8 series, but it's still pretty remote, though you'll get used to it quickly.

The bezel is relatively narrow around the display, except at the bottom where there is a chin. It's not a big deal, and such design decisions are still expected in this price range. Here, too, you will get used to it.

The buttons and connectors on the edges of the phone are pretty standard. On the right side there is an on / off switch and a volume rocker, on the left a SIM and MicroSD card slot and below a USB-C port. There is also a headphone jack at the top, which is very nice in a world where higher-quality wired consumer audio disappears.

The back of the phone is also pretty sleek and stylish. At the top left you get a vertically aligned triple lens camera and at the top a fingerprint sensor. I have relatively large hands, but the sensor felt comfortable to me and appeared to be well positioned to naturally unlock the device.

The back of the device is mostly plastic, but generally felt solid. It definitely doesn't feel as premium as much more expensive phones like the iPhone 11 Pro or OnePlus 8, but this is also expected for a price-range phone, and the phone is still in my hand. The device is currently only available in one color – pear white. It doesn't look bad, but more color options would have been nice.

The display on the phone does the job, but isn't great. The 6.4-inch display is an LCD display with a resolution of 720p, and you can definitely see slightly jagged edges on fonts and surface elements when you search for them. The slightly more expensive Moto G Power has a 1,080p display, which makes the 720p panel of the G Fast a bit rough – but again, it does the job as long as you don't expect much. It can get bright enough for most purposes and is brighter than the $ 150 Moto E.

Performance and battery life

The Moto G Fast is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 processor, 3 GB RAM and 32 GB memory. Fortunately, a microSD card slot is also integrated in the phone, so you can expand this memory if you wish. The fact that it has the same processor as the Moto G Power is good news – and it helps the device outperform its weight.

The performance of the phone is great in everyday use. The phone can easily multitask easily without slowing down too much, and it can also handle basic games. It certainly won't charge as fast as more expensive phones, but Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9 worked pretty well.

Here is a brief overview of some of the benchmark results we have achieved:

  • AnTuTu: 161,627
  • GeekBench 5 single core: 312
  • GeekBench 5 multi-core: 1,391

Generally, these are good results for a phone in this price range. In fact, these values ​​correspond to the Samsung Galaxy A51, which is twice the price of the Moto G Fast.

The Moto G Fast offers a 4,000 mAh battery and is solid. I was easily able to survive a whole day of normal use, and at the end of the day I had 43% left. If you use your phone conservatively, you may be able to use it for two days.

camera

The Moto G Fast is equipped with a triple lens rear view camera that has a 16 megapixel main sensor, an 8 megapixel ultra-wide sensor and a 2 megapixel macro sensor. There is an 8 megapixel camera on the front.

The rear-facing camera can take decent photos in well-lit environments with relatively bright colors and solid details. The ultra-wide camera isn't the best on the market, but it definitely offers more versatility for the phone's camera and is a feature you don't normally get on phones in this price range.

However, without good lighting you are a bit unlucky. The phone can take better photos than the new Moto E, but that's not a high bar – and if you don't have enough light, you don't expect quality.

The phone also has a 2 megapixel macro lens and is pretty lackluster. There seems to be a trend these days to include macro lenses in phones of all price ranges. The problem, however, is that the macro lenses are of poor quality most of the time. This is especially true here. If you take a close-up of a small object, which I almost never do, you will likely get something of relatively poor quality.

The phone's front-facing camera is fine, but the colors aren't as deep as they could be, and the details aren't great. It will do the work for standard selfies, but don't expect much more.

In general, this is not a phone that you should buy for the camera. However, the camera is not bad for a phone in this price range – and it is much better than what you would have gotten just a few years ago.

software

The Motorola Moto G Fast comes with Motorola’s new Android skin, My UX. Fortunately, My UX is based on Android 10 and is very close to Android, with just a few minor changes to allow for some adjustments and gestures.

For example, you get Moto promotions with which you can easily access certain functions. These are pretty handy. You can take a screenshot by tapping the screen with three fingers, or you can lift the handset to turn off the ringtone. Some of these actions are enabled by default, while others must be enabled, and it's worth taking a look at.

While My UX is based on standard Android, it is possible that Motorola will deviate somewhat more over time – and it is currently unclear whether and when the device will get Android 11. Motorola has been doing Android updates well in the past, so we'll do it. I have to wait and see if it stays that way now, as the mix includes a new skin label.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Moto G Fast costs $ 200. This is an excellent price for a phone with these features. Sure, it doesn't compare to more expensive devices, but if you have a budget of $ 200, the Moto G Fast is the way to go. If you can stretch a little, the Moto G Power with its better display and bigger battery might be worth considering. However, if you are not interested in these features or do not have the money, you will be satisfied with the Moto G Fast.

The one-year warranty from Motorola, which covers practically only manufacturer defects, applies to the phone. You should make sure that you take care of this phone.

The Moto G Fast is available directly from the Motorola website.

Our opinion

The Motorola Moto G Fast isn't perfect, but in my opinion it's the best thing you'll get in this price range. It has a modern design and great performance in this price range, as well as a solid battery – and the latter two are extremely important when you buy an inexpensive phone.

Is there a better alternative?

There are better options if you can spend more money, but if your budget is a maximum of $ 200, the Moto G Fast is your best bet. If you can add another $ 200 to your budget, consider the iPhone SE, which is the most powerful phone for $ 400 or less. If you're more of an Android fan, consider the Google Pixel 3a or the Samsung Galaxy A51, which you might find for $ 300 if you're looking for it. Alternatively, you can wait for Google Pixel 4a, which may be released soon.

How long it will take?

The Moto G Fast is made of plastic, which means that it is likely to survive falls better than a glass device. That means it is not waterproof. So keep it away from the bath or pool.

Motorola has a decent track record of software updates, but given the price range here, no one can guess how many updates you will receive or when you will receive them. With normal use, you should be able to get two years out of the phone.

Should you buy one?

Yes, but only if your budget is $ 200 or less. If you can afford to spend a little more, it is worth doing so.

Editor's recommendations




30 May
Blog

Moto 360 Smartwatch Review: A Classic, Reimagined

Moto 360 2020 smartwatch review front

Motorola Moto 360 2nd Gen. Men's 42mm smartwatch, black with black leather

“The Moto 360 exudes style and quality, ignores unnecessary software distractions and focuses on simplicity. It is better in every way. "

  • High quality workmanship and materials

  • Two straps in the box

  • Design and size fit many wrists

  • Solid performance (for WearOS)

  • WearOS still lags behind WatchOS

  • No way to take calls

This is the Moto 360 smartwatch … except that it is not made by Motorola and is not a continuation of the Moto 360 that took the smartwatch world by storm when it was introduced in 2015.

Instead, it is the result of a license agreement between Motorola and a company called eBuyNow that manufactures and sells the new Moto 360.

Although it is important to know, you shouldn't be too concerned with branding. This is a spiritual successor. If you've passed this smartwatch because of the cost, the company has made a very welcome change that will help you appreciate its charm.

design

When I attended the early launch of the Moto 360 in late 2019, the company introduced it as a luxury watch, emphasizing the 3mm thick stainless steel body, the diamond-like coating (DLC) of the black model, and the physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating of the rose gold Model as the reason for charging $ 350. Every watch nerd knows that DLC and PVD can often be found on high-end watches, and every smartwatch fan will also welcome a stainless steel case.

Moto 360 dialAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

Aside from the fact that $ 350 was too much money in the crowded smartwatch market, even with these materials. Now, a few months later, the company seems to be agreeing. The price was lowered to $ 300. This makes it much more tempting.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I think the Moto 360 is a perfect design, material and style for smartwatches in everyday life. The DLC or PVD coatings make the stainless steel body more durable. The choice between rose gold, black or gray as well as the reasonable size of 42 mm and the weight of 52 grams fit every wrist. The round face, synonymous with the name 360, is flat and the bezel is not raised in any way, making swiping gestures always comfortable.

Moto 360 sideshiftAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

I also appreciate the small stylistic details. The top pusher is structured to facilitate turning and scrolling through the watch's menu system, while the Motorola "wing" symbol on the bracelet clasp is very classy. On the subject of bracelets, you get two in the box – a comfortable silicone bracelet and a leather strap in a contrasting color. The quick release pins mean that they also changed in a moment.

The Moto 360 doesn't make a bold statement on the wrist, except that it looks like a high quality, stylish watch. This is probably the best statement for a smartwatch. When you get the black model, it's as stealthy as you want it to be. I really like it.

Software and screen

There is no notorious flat tire screen here, as the 1.2-inch AMOLED display of the new Moto 360 is perfectly round. The resolution of 390 x 390 pixels ensures a lot of clarity and is bright enough to be seen outdoors in sunlight.

It may be a round screen, but there's a serious black bezel between the display and case, which affects the otherwise great design. I have no problem with the Moto 360's screen, which matches the look, color and brightness of other WearOS watches.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The watch uses Google's WearOS software and is installed here without additional apps. Most fashion brands offer fun extras or small improvements that fit brand messaging, and watch companies like Tag Heuer offer well-designed tools that appeal to brand loyalty. The Moto 360 appeals to those who like simplicity.

Simple is best when it comes to WearOS smartwatches. Adding dozens of features, apps, or related nonsense will only water down what works best on your wrist – notifications, fitness tracking, music controls, cards, and, if done correctly, even calls. Get it right along with the style and it's a potential winner. The lack of extras on the Moto 360 is an advantage rather than a disadvantage.

However, this does not mean that WearOS is a pleasure. Setup is still far too lengthy, and notification support depends on the phone you're using. Connected to a Galaxy S20 Ultra, it delivered annoying notifications several times, while with a little luck it delivered the bare essentials on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro.

Performance is also not particularly good, especially if you find that trying to update the software or use GPS, third-party apps can be similarly cumbersome to collect data from. I also don't understand why the rotary valve is used to navigate menus because it doesn't work across the clock.

Google Fit is one of the best features in WearOS. A current visual update made Google Fit more modern and readable. Most activities are tracked, and daily goals can be customized based on your needs.

I like the Moto 360 dials because they have different complications, which means I can see my step count or heart points at a glance. It takes seconds to start a workout on the watch itself. As soon as you are finished, the data is clearly displayed in the Google Fit app on your phone. It's everything fitness tracking needs the most, and it also works well with the Moto 360's heart rate sensor.

Although WearOS is still lagging behind Apple's WatchOS, it's tolerable on the Moto 360. Unfortunately, there is still no way to take calls.

Battery, connectivity and performance

WearOS 'performance is not unique. The watch has a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 3100 chipset with 1 GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage as well as a 355 mAh battery, which is also equipped with quick charge. It also has NFC for contactless payment, GPS and various sensors. It's identical to watches like the Fossil Gen 5 and fast enough that I was never frustrated to use them.

Moto 360 heart rate sensorAndy Boxall / Digital Trends

The battery lasts an entire working day and well into the evening, but that's all – when continuous heart rate measurement is active. You won't have a second day of it, but since it only takes an hour to recharge, this isn't too much of a problem.

It attaches magnetically to a proprietary charging base that came with the watch, which keeps it securely in place better than most similar systems. This is important as it will not come loose and will no longer be charged when tapped.

I used Moto 360 connected to Android phones and had no problem keeping the watch connected. While WearOS watches connect to iOS, some features don't work. These include the fact that iMessage notifications cannot be displayed, a less helpful Google Assistant and fewer options for interacting directly with notifications on your wrist. This is one of the reasons why we recommend iPhone owners to buy an Apple Watch instead of a Smartwatch with WearOS.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Moto 360 is now priced at $ 299 or £ 299. It is available directly from the Moto 360 online shop or from stores such as Amazon. It is covered by a one-year replacement warranty and a two-year hardware warranty if it should fail.

Our opinion

You will be proud to wear the Moto 360 on your wrist. It is stylish and well made, comes with a selection of straps and WearOS is manageable every day. No frills are required and instead focus on the essentials: good design, desirable materials, a decent ownership experience and a solid battery life.

Is there a better alternative?

The Moto 360 is a good buy if you want a WearOS smartwatch and is complemented by the excellent Fossil Gen 5 for $ 299. Your choice between the two depends on your personal preferences. They are both attractive watches with many functions.

We also recommend checking out the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 for $ 279, which Samsung's Tizen software uses if you have an Android phone and want a smartwatch. Both have strong performance and are a bit easier to use in the case of the Watch Active 2 and have excellent fitness tracking features.

If you have an iPhone, we recommend purchasing an Apple Watch Series 5 for $ 399. Not only do you get better software and great fitness tracking, you get great hardware, a haptic engine that's the best in the business, and access to a huge range of straps and accessories.

How long it will take?

The Moto 360 is made of stainless steel and is available with either a DLC or PVD coating, a plastic floor and Gorilla Glass 3 above the screen and a water resistance of 30 meters. It should be relatively hard-wearing if it is treated well. WearOS receives small, sporadic updates, but has not received a major update for some time. The weakest link here is the battery, but even under heavy use it should be fine for at least two years.

Should you buy one?

Yes. Now that the price has dropped to $ 299, the Moto 360 offers much better value than before.

Editor's recommendations




30 Apr
Blog

Motorola Moto Edge Plus Review: Yet Another Android Flagship

Moto Edge Plus

Moto Edge Plus review: overshadowed by giants

"The Moto Edge Plus looks like the future."

  • Beautiful "Endless Edge" display

  • Sleek, futuristic design

  • Sharp 108MP camera

  • Good performance

  • Massive battery

  • Fat and heavy

  • The aspect ratio of 21: 9 is cumbersome

  • Mediocre front and telephoto

Motorola's new flagship, the Moto Edge Plus, looks like something from the HBO Westworld series. The show shows handheld devices as edgeless displays, which, apart from a sharp, bright screen, largely lack any recognition features. Actually, they are not smartphones – just intelligent devices, a mixture of tablet, phone and PC.

The Moto Edge Plus feels like a big step towards Westworld's fiction. It's almost the entire screen, and thanks to a fast Qualcomm processor, 5G support, lots of RAM, and a smooth 90 Hz display, it responds to your touch with unnatural speed. There is a subtle Motorola logo on the back. Otherwise it is elegant and without branding.

Despite its futuristic design, Motorola also tries to undercut the competition. The Moto Edge Plus costs "only" $ 1,000. This is a lot, but also less than first-class flagships from Apple and Samsung. This is a daring, bold phone.

display

Motorola's Moto Edge Plus has an obvious, massive headline feature that you stare at every time you pick up the phone. This is the 6.7-inch "Endless Edge" display.

Phones with slim, curved-edge displays aren't brand new (believe it or not, the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge is five years old), but the Moto Edge Plus is part of a new generation that takes it to the extreme. The edges wrap a full 90 degrees around the sides, with the side panels being practically eliminated when looking directly at the phone.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

Phones like the Huawei Mate 30 Pro adopted this design concept last year, but the Moto Edge Plus is all-in. Perhaps more importantly, it's widespread in the U.S., while Huawei and Oppo phones are hard to find and use in North America. This is practically a first for an average US smartphone buyer.

The Endless Edge display is a beautiful OLED touchscreen with a long list of features, including FHD + resolution, 90 Hz refresh rate, 10-bit color support, and HDR10 + certification. The unusual and dramatic aspect ratio of 21: 9 results in a phone that feels large and narrow. This is an advantage when writing SMS, surfing the Internet or reading, because it increases the content that you can see without increasing the width of the phone.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

However, it can be a problem when streaming videos or games, since most are produced with an aspect ratio of 16: 9. A 21: 9 display shows black bars on the sides when 16: 9 content is displayed, effectively reducing the usable screen area. For most videos and some games, you can enlarge the content to take up the entire display. However, this cuts off part of the image.

The touchscreen can also be difficult to use. It looks seductive and futuristic, but it makes it difficult to handle the phone without activating touch when it is not intended to. This was not a problem for me while surfing the Internet, but it did become a problem when playing. I never found a handle in Minecraft that was comfortable and avoided accidental touches.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

The display has two more quirks. First, when viewing a website or document, text is often displayed on both sides of the phone. Although it remains legible, it looks strange. The extreme curve also distorts color and brightness at the edges due to the odd viewing angle. This is obvious when you see a uniform color streak on the display, e.g. B. the pure white background of many websites. I got used to it, but I would certainly call it a mistake.

Your appetite for the Moto Edge Plus mainly depends on whether you fall in love with this screen. It's insane and futuristic, but not flawless. Phone freaks like to adapt to the quirks of the display and enjoy the striking look. However, if you're more interested in function than shape, consider a more traditional large-screen phone like the Galaxy S20 Plus.

design

The Moto Edge Plus is a phone that was developed around the display. Its large, narrow, blocky body is tailored to the high, narrow aspect ratio of 21: 9.

But wow, it's an eye catcher.

Would you like to know what the phone feels like? Get a Hershey chocolate bar. I admit that I didn't have a candy bar to do a side-by-side comparison, but my mind immediately jumped to that comparison.

Despite the rounded edges, the phone feels chunky compared to an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus. According to official information, the size of the phone is bulky 0.37 inches. The iPhone 11 Pro Max is 0.32 inches thick, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is 0.31 inches and the OnePlus 8 Pro is 0.33 inches. This makes it more difficult to hold the phone than its slim profile suggests.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

It's weirdly slippery. Even the slightest incline lets the phone slip slowly. It spontaneously threw itself from the edge of my desk, couch, and several chairs. It always feels ready to get out of your grip.

The phone also feels top-heavy because it is large and you naturally hold the phone near its bottom. My test device weighed 7.2 ounces on my kitchen scale. This is more than a Galaxy S20 Plus, but less than Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max. This is a large phone that, like its competition, can be uncomfortable to hold in bed or while lying on a sofa.

But wow, it's an eye catcher. The entire Moto 2020 product line is clearly designed to offer luxury design at lower prices, and the Edge Plus is successful. The noble blue finish of my test device in combination with the slim appearance of the phone results in an elegant, professional device. The Moto Edge Plus seems to belong in a boardroom or private jet.

Optical fingerprint reader

The Moto Edge Plus uses an optical fingerprint reader for secure login. It appears in the lower quarter of the phone and is easy to use.

However, it does not avoid the shortcomings that have caused this technology. While fingerprint recognition usually worked, it often took a moment to recognize my fingerprint. This is sluggish compared to the almost instant login that traditional systems can offer. The system also has major problems with water, lint, or dirt on your hands.

5G, WiFi and ports

The Moto Edge Plus supports both mmWave and Sub-6 Hz 5G networks and, according to Motorola, can reach network speeds of 4 Gbit / s under ideal conditions. I couldn't test this myself because 5G wasn't deployed in my region. Still, it's good to see support for both 5G networks as this should improve connectivity and unlock access to the fastest speeds possible. New Android flagships will offer this feature in 2020, while the iPhone doesn't yet offer 5G support.

The phone is exclusive to Verizon. You must be a Verizon subscriber to use this phone or be ready to switch to the Verizon network.

You will also find support for Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. I would expect to see the latest wireless connectivity standards in a new flagship phone, but it's good to see that Motorola didn't skip any features to keep the $ 1,000 price tag going.

The wired connectivity includes USB 3.0 Type C and a 3.5 mm audio jack, both of which are located on the bottom lip of the phone.

Camera quality

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

The camera is the other heading feature of Motos Edge Plus. The triple lens system features a 108-megapixel main shooter, a 16-megapixel ultrawide lens and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. It also includes optical image stabilization, video stabilization and laser auto focus with a time-of-flight sensor.

Yes, 108MP. As with the Endless Edge display, the phone's 108-megapixel camera isn't a unique feature, but it is up-to-date and somewhat unexpected on a $ 1,000 phone. If you're in the U.S., the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is just a generally available phone with this feature. And it costs $ 1,400.

That's a lot of megapixels. But translated into an excellent camera?

Main camera quality

Although it has a 108MP sensor, pixel binning is enabled by default on the Moto Edge Plus. This technique, called Moto Quad Pixel Technology, combines the light of four pixels into one. This reduces the output to 27 MP, but increases the brightness, contrast and color of the image – at least in theory.

At first glance, the Moto Edge Plus makes a strong impression. When shooting outdoors, the camera vibrates with a lively, saturated appearance, as is common with flagship cell phones. These shots will surely draw your attention and look great on a variety of screens.

However, I feel that the Moto Edge Plus has color problems. My close-up of a flower makes it look almost fluorescent while it was lukewarm in real life. Colors can become so extreme that they destroy details and remove subtle patterns or flaws that would otherwise be visible. It's not bad for Instagram, but sometimes far from reality.

The color was distorted in the opposite direction when I took indoor pictures with moderate to dim lighting. While the pictures looked sharp and bright, the colors appeared. The camera seemed particularly confused by the yellow wall of my kitchen and often leaned towards a faint, dark pastel that is not accurate at all.

Portrait mode solidly improves the appearance of portrait photos and works quite well even in moderate lighting, although it is more grainy than photos taken with a Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus or Apple's iPhone 11 Pro Max. My curly hair is, as always, a mode stress test, and Motorola’s camera is sure to have problems with broken curls, but the slight halo that dances around the edges of my frizz is not uncommon. Every portrait mode I've ever tried had problems coping with my locks.

The Moto Edge Plus is best suited for taking photos at a moderate distance with moderate to bright lighting. Breathtaking pictures can be taken in these conditions, but the main camera is not as versatile as I hoped.

108MP Ultra-Res / Tele quality

While the 108MP sensor uses pixel binning by default, you can disable this mode and take full 108MP photos. However, if you do this, you will encounter some problems. Using the 108MP Ultra-Res mode significantly extends photo processing time. The photos themselves are huge and take up a lot more space than the standard photos with 27 MP.

You will be disappointed if you expect an obvious improvement in clarity. The 27MP photos are output with a resolution of 6,016 x 4,512 – already well above 4K. The 108MP photos are output with a resolution of 12.032 x 9.024. This is much higher, but you need a display with a resolution well above 4K to see the difference.

Motorola does not know this problem and quickly points out the additional versatility of a high-resolution photo. A high-resolution image can improve the digital zoom because, first of all, more details have to be edited. However, the Moto Edge Plus also has an 8 megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom.

I decided to compare them side by side by taking photos of text from a distance and then cropping them to see which ones showed the most detailed.

motorola moto edge plus review 108mpcrop2 "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/108mpcrop2-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7108MP ultra-res mode

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The results are fascinating.

The telephoto lens clearly delivers superior sharpness. This is not an insult to Ultra Res mode because the detail here is impressive. These narrow crops contain less than 1 percent of the over 108,576,768 pixels in the 108MP photo. Nevertheless, the crop of the telephoto lens is easier to read.

However, you will notice a clear difference in the appearance of each shot. Photos from Ultra Res mode are significantly more colorful than those from the 8MP camera. This makes sense since the 108MP main camera has an aperture of 1: 1.8, while the telephoto camera has an aperture of 1: 2.4 and therefore captures less light.

Overall, these results lead to the assumption that experienced smartphone photographers will find a lot to discover. The ultra-res mode and the telephoto lens are each suitable for different situations. On the other hand, less experienced photographers (like me) are likely to ignore Ultra Res mode and use the telephoto lens when zoom is required.

Ultrawide and macro quality

A 16 megapixel ultrawide camera offers a field of view of 117 degrees for more expansive shots and works well. The dramatic photos you're likely to take with an Ultrawide lens go well with the Moto Edge Plus' tendency to oversaturate colors.

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Are the results realistic? No – but that's not what an ultra-wide smartphone camera is about. It's a fun, versatile option that gives a sense of scale and size that is normally not possible on a smartphone. I enjoyed it and the photos I took are easily some of the best I could take during my review.

The phone's macro mode has a job to do, but this job is probably more specific than expected. It can deliver solid quality if it comes very, very close to a subject. I speak at most a few inches away. Otherwise, I found that the main camera could take sharper, more colorful photos.

Front camera

The Moto Edge Plus has a 25-megapixel front camera that, like the main camera, has quad-pixel technology. 6.2MP images are output as standard.

My quarantine haircut doesn't make me the best subject, but I think the camera is solid. Photos of it are vivid, clear and crisp. The photo shows the overly saturated appearance of other cameras, but I think this is less of a problem for selfies. My skin tone certainly doesn't "glow", but here is a hint of warmth.

However, you need adequate lighting to get the most out of the camera. Even if pixel binning is activated, the front-facing camera cannot avoid a grainy appearance even with poor interior lighting, not to mention a really dark environment. There is no night mode or the like to improve quality with limited lighting.

Summary of camera quality

The Moto Edge Plus camera offers owners many options in the hope that some will stay. Some do it. Outdoor shots look great on the main camera, which does its best in good lighting with colorful landscapes. It's Instagram-friendly and sacrifices balance and realism for a lively, saturated look that stands out on every display.

I like the 108MP camera. This is not often used by most owners, but it increases the versatility of the phone. You can take pictures in 108MP Ultra-Res mode and crop them later for best results.

It's a great camera system, but it's not noticeable. All modern flagship phones offer excellent picture quality. The Moto Edge Plus can take spectacular photos, but it didn't blow me away.

Video quality

The Moto Edge Plus brings the warmth to the video specs. It can record videos with a resolution of up to 6K or 1080p videos with up to 60 frames per second (frames per second). Other features include optical image stabilization, video portrait mode, and a video snapshot function that can be used to retrieve 20 megapixel still images from the video while filming.

I have little experience with video recording on smartphones, so I cannot seriously test the video quality. Still, I found the video quality strong, with sharp details and vivid colors.

The phone continued to perform well when recording 6K video. I did not notice any significant delay or processing time before or after recording with 6K.

There is also a slow motion mode that captures up to 120 fps at FHD resolution or 240 fps at HD resolution.

Audio

Stereo speakers tuned by Waves, a Grammy award-winning audio technology company, give the Moto Edge Plus its voice. And, boy, does it really scream?

At full volume, the phone delivers a strong, balanced sound that can handle a wide range of content, from bass-heavy tracks to the most hectic action films. The phone doesn't deliver most of the bass, but it does offer a clear, distortion-resistant experience. Dialogues or vocals can also be distinguished from the roar of a jet engine or a constant, deep bass beat.

performance

A Qualcomm 865 processor supplies the Moto Edge Plus with power. This is the latest and best offer from Qualcomm, which serves eight cores. This is paired with 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage connected via the UFS 3.0 storage standard. Motorola does not offer models with more storage space, and SD card expansion is not an option.

Since most Android phones are based on Qualcomm processors, the Moto Edge Plus has no particular advantage over the competition. Still, this is a fast processor. Only Apple's excellent A13 Bionic will defeat him.

  • Geekbench 5 single core: 910
  • Geekbench 5 multi-core: 3,297
  • 3DMark Sling Shot: 9,415

I noticed in previous reviews that smartphone performance has reached the point where most phones are "good enough". Still, you will feel the difference between a flagship like the Moto Edge Plus and any phone with a mid-range Qualcomm 600 processor.

The Moto Edge Plus flies through content and rarely hesitates even when you scroll through large lists of high-resolution images or videos. It's not flawless, but it's close. Combine this with the 90 Hz screen, which is more responsive than the 60 Hz screens that used to dominate flagship phones, for a pleasant experience.

The Moto Edge Plus flies through content.

I mentioned that Apple's A13 Bionic is faster, which you can see from benchmarks. For example, the iPhone SE from Apple scored 1,324 points for Geekbench single-core and 3,192 points for Geekbench multi-core. This means that the $ 400 Apple phone is significantly faster than the Moto Edge Plus in terms of per-core processor performance. The iPhone SE is also competitive in the multi-core area. But do you see this speed in practice?

I only noticed it when using the camera. For example, if you take a lot of pictures in succession, I noticed that current-generation iPhones can take multiple photos quickly and feel a little more responsive. I also notice a more responsive feeling in multitasking applications (despite the RAM memory in the Moto Edge Plus).

Nevertheless, "good enough" remains in force. Does a modern iPhone feel more responsive? Yes. Is it really important with 99% of usage? No, it doesn't.

Qualcomm's 865 has a built-in Adreno 650 GPU and can handle any game Android can give you. After all, this is Qualcomm's current top tier component. There is no superior chip for an Android game developer. Games fly, run with high frame rates and excellent quality settings.

I don't have an iPhone 11 Pro Max for direct comparison, but 3DMark's benchmark results make me believe that the iPhone 11 Pro Max and Moto Edge Plus offer an approximately equivalent experience. And since many other Android flagships have the same Qualcomm 865 part with the same Adreno GPU, you probably won't notice a big difference between them either.

As I said earlier, I have some complaints about how the design of the phone can make playing games more difficult when I rely on touchscreen controls, but I can not degrade performance in any way.

Battery life

A massive 5000 mAh battery powers the Moto Edge Plus. Batteries of this size are not uncommon in 2020, but this still gives the Edge Plus a capacity advantage over most of its competitors. The OnePlus 8 Pro has a 4,510 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus has a 4,500 mAh battery and the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max has a 3,969 mAh battery.

I assume that most people will end the day with 30 to 50 percent of the remaining battery.

Motorola gives the battery life after two days, and in my experience, that was the case. You can extend it to three days if you make little calls, or use it in a single day if you do everything you can to play games. I assume that most people will end the day with 30 to 50 percent of the remaining battery.

The phone supports an included 18-watt quick charger or 15-watt wireless charging. It also supports wireless power distribution up to 5 watts. These numbers aren't impressive for a flagship phone because the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus can charge up to 25 watts and the OnePlus 8 Pro supports 30 watts. However, given the long battery life, I don't think mediocre charging is worth worrying about.

software

Motorola ships the Moto Edge Plus with a relatively flawless version of Android 10. Much of the bloatware on my device came from Verizon, not Motorola, but even this mess was minimal. Apps like My Verizon can be largely ignored if you don't want to watch them.

The Moto Edge Plus has Moto promotions, a special bonus that can be found in all Motorola phones. These gesture-based shortcuts provide quick access to some common functions. For example, a quick double-chop process opens the flashlight, or you can quickly twist your wrist twice to open the camera.

Moto Edge PlusMatthew S. Smith / Digital Trends

I've been a Moto fan for many years after jumping on board the Moto G3 for the first time, and Moto promotions are a major reason for my preference. I love her. They are simple, reliable and affect functions that you use every day.

The camera app is my biggest complaint. The rudimentary look is not uncommon on Android phones, but it looks unaffected. It's not as attractive as the iOS camera app or the one you find on Google's pixel phones, and the tendency to rely on small icons and option lists can be anything but intuitive. It's usable, but not as user-friendly as some of its competitors.

Motorola informed me that the Endless Edge display is being used for notifications during my briefing over the phone, and I noticed that it was lighting up. However, I have not gained any value from the light show. I was hardly surprised. Any phone that offers a curved edge display has in some way claimed to provide helpful notifications, and it has never shown me a real utility.

Our opinion

Motorola's Moto Edge Plus is solid, but struggles to stand out from a crowded field. Apple, Samsung, LG, OnePlus, Oppo and Huawei offer their own flagships. In most cases, these companies offer several. They all have huge screens and lots of functions. You can opt for the Moto Edge because of the 108-megapixel camera or the extreme display, but these features aren't a must for most buyers.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes. That is the problem with the Moto Edge Plus.

It's a nice phone, but there's a lot to choose from. Most buyers in this price range will likely opt for the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, a reliable choice with a stunning yet functional design. There is also the OnePlus 8 Pro, which loses some ground in the camera specifications, but makes up for it with a larger 120 Hz screen.

If you want a flagship experience on a budget, Google Pixel 4 XL is a great choice. You can also wait for the Moto Edge to come later this year. It's a stripped-down version of the Moto Edge Plus that retains the screen, but is downgraded to a 64-megapixel camera, among other things. However, Motorola has not announced its price.

The iPhone Pro Max from Apple is another top choice. Here, too, the iPhone offers a design that better combines form and function. It outperforms the Edge Plus and, in my opinion, offers superior camera quality overall. However, since it is an iPhone, Android users need to consider changing the operating system in their decision.

Do you want more options? Check out our favorite 2020 smartphones.

How long it will take?

The Moto Edge Plus is a fast, full-featured phone that runs the latest version of Android. Therefore, it should perform well in the coming years. Support for new Android operating system versions will stop working after a few years, a problem that is common with Android smartphones.

Should you buy it

No. The Moto Edge Plus is a good phone that doesn't stand out in the impressive lineup of Android flagships from 2020.

Editor's recommendations




16 Apr
Blog

Motorola Moto G Stylus review: An A-OK Stylus On A Budget

Moto G stylus

Motorola Moto G Stylus Review: Play on a stylus

"The Moto G Stylus has a niche function and cannot make a profit from it."

  • Attractive 6.4-inch display

  • Solid battery life

  • Rounded performance

  • Long lasting, expensive feeling

  • Heavy and thick

  • Action camera is a miss

  • The pen is not often useful

The smartphone arena has become a cruel battlefield. Buyers have chosen a set of preferences that don't offer much room for differentiation. Budget phones that are plagued by low prices find it particularly difficult to stand out. Motorola's two new phones, the Moto G Stylus and Moto G Power, solve this problem by going to the extreme.

While the Moto G Power is in a massive battery, the Moto G stylus that is the subject of this review adds something that you won't find anywhere else. Obviously a pen.

A pen is of course not the new sharpness. The Galaxy Note line has long positioned itself as a brand for stylus super fans. However, the Moto G stylus combines the stylus with an unusual feature – a low price. The phone costs $ 300. This gives you 4 GB of RAM and 128 GB of internal memory (MicroSD cards with up to 512 GB can further upgrade the memory). This is the only version available.

Does the Moto G Stylus make sense or does it feel more like a gimmick? Here is the ball.

Design and display

Motorola attached great importance to its unusual design sensibility, which included the option to customize the appearance and color ex works for certain cell phones. However, you will find no evidence of this. The Moto G Stylus wants passers-by to think it's a more expensive device. It is sleek and elegant, with a glossy plastic back that gives an appropriate impression of glass.

The G stylus weighs 6.77 ounces and is 0.36 inches thick. This makes it heavier and thicker than some of its competitors. The Moto G7 Play is 0.31 inches thick and weighs only 5.3 ounces. The Samsung Galaxy A50 is only 0.3 inches thick and weighs about 5.9 ounces (its replacement, the Galaxy A51, is similar). The G Stylus is slightly lighter and thinner than the G Power, and the difference is noticeable, but the G Stylus is still a powerful device.

This adds a feeling of quality and durability that is not often found on inexpensive phones. However, weight can be a problem. I noticed it most when I lay down on my sofa or read articles in bed. After a short time, my arm began to tire and the phone felt ready to slide onto my chin as soon as I loosened my grip.

Moto G Power / Stylus displayMoto G Power (from left) and G Stylus Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

The weight and volume of the phone are shared between the pen and the battery. The pen is not massive, but slides into the phone when not in use and takes up valuable space. The battery is contained in a 4,000 mAh device. This is rather large and can add weight to the phone. However, some alternatives have a battery that is at least as large or larger.

A fingerprint reader for secure login is included. It is fast and rarely cannot read a fingerprint like I am used to from similar readers on other devices. NFC is not here. That means the phone is not compatible with Google Pay.

On the front of the Moto G stylus is a 6.4-inch IPS LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 2,300 x 1,080. It is an attractive, sharp display with vivid colors. The backlight is bright enough to use the phone on a sunny day. It's better than most budget phones, but Samsung's OLED displays, available in budget options like the Samsung Galaxy A series, offer better contrast.

The screen is surrounded by relatively thin bezels. Flagship phones have sleeker frames, but frankly, I'm not convinced that the difference matters. I think most buyers will be impressed with the Moto G stylus display. It's a massive upgrade from what a budget phone could offer a few years ago and very close to what you would see on a flagship phone.

Use the pen

Motorola's 2020 lineup clearly hopes to define itself as more than a low price. With the G Stylus, the heading function is exactly in the name. The phone comes with a stylus that snaps into the body of the device.

This is a fascinating choice because very few phones offer a pen. The LG Stylo series is the only real alternative, but let's face it: have you ever heard of the LG Stylo? The LG Stylo 5, a 2019 phone that also sells for $ 300, is inferior in almost every way.

The pen suffers because it is unique. Most Android phones don't have a pen, so the Android ecosystem isn't really designed for using pens. It is rare to find an app that has really been improved by the pen.

Moto G stylus with penMatthew Smith / Digital Trends

Microsoft OneNote, which I use a lot, supports it. But an app is not a killer feature. As with the Samsung Note series, Motorola tries to compensate for this with some built-in apps, but I didn't find them convincing. Why should I use Motorola’s Notes app instead of OneNote?

This is just another smartphone stylus. The pen is useful for writing a short note, but too small to be comfortable for more than a few minutes. Its awkward, thin design makes it difficult to hold and it dug into my palm.

I think the pen is a failure. After trying to incorporate it into my daily use for a few days, I gave it up, snapped it back on the phone, and mostly forgot about it. Die-hard stylus fans may not agree, but I think most people will feel the same way.

performance

The Moto G stylus has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 octa-core processor with a Qualcomm Adreno 610 GPU. It is a new chip that will be the first choice for phones that will sell between $ 200 and $ 350 in 2020.

The performance is solid. Applications are usually started in a few moments and run smoothly while they are active. The phone's 4GB RAM doesn't look particularly good on paper, but multitasking felt relatively quick. I think 4 GB of RAM go well with the processor's performance.

Here are some benchmarks:

  • Geekbench 5: 311 single-core, 1,392 multi-core
  • 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme (volcano): 1,046

The limits of the phone become apparent when you quickly scroll through long lists of content such as news feeds or podcasts or visit websites with intrusive elements such as pop-up video players or extensive animations. Occasional jerks and problems were obvious, but even the best phones can have problems here. I think the Moto G stylus feels less fluid than a Google Pixel 4 and roughly corresponds to last year's budget cell phones like the Samsung A50 or the Moto G7.

In truth, it's stupid to be obsessed with the performance of this phone. Modern phones that sell over $ 200 are fast enough for most people most of the time. I had no problem using the G Stylus regularly. Is a Google Pixel 4 or iPhone 11 faster? Absolutely. With the G Stylus, however, you can easily cope.

In truth, it's stupid to be obsessed with the performance of this phone.

Gaming is a mixed bag. Mobile games are often designed for a variety of hardware and most won't push the Moto G stylus hard. Call of Duty: Mobile and SimCity BuiltIt ran without problems. The most demanding games like Injustice 2 or Asphalt 9 push the phone to its limits. These games were playable, but stuttered and delivered poor frame rates. Serious mobile gamers need a more powerful device.

Battery life

As already mentioned, the Moto G Stylus has a 4,000 mAh battery. This is a large battery that goes beyond mid-range phones like the iPhone 11 and Google Pixel 4. On the other hand, many phones offer a battery that is larger or larger. An obvious example is the Moto G Power, which drops the stylus for a larger 5,000 mAh battery.

Moto G stylus cameraMatthew Smith / Digital Trends

Still, the G Stylus is no problem when it comes to endurance. I never ended a day with less than 30 percent, and the phone was usually used for two days before it needed to be charged. That is more than enough for most people.

However, the loading process is somewhat slow. The phone's USB-C port is the only way to charge and does not support fast charging.

Audio quality

Stereo speakers tuned by Dolby flank the phone when held horizontally. One is above the display while the other is on the bottom lip of the phone. This asymmetrical design makes audio stronger on one side than the other. It stands out, but I didn't find it too distracting.

Audio is loud and clear, although the bass is missing. The maximum volume is significantly lower than that of flagship phones, but it's enough to keep you entertained when the phone doesn't have to compete with significant ambient noise. Audiophiles should bring earphones, headphones, or a Bluetooth speaker.

Camera and video quality

Motorola made some strange choices for the G Stylus cameras.

A 48-megapixel camera (with 12-megapixel output) is coupled with a 2-megapixel macro camera and a 16-megapixel action camera (4-megapixel output) with a field of view of 117 degrees.

The 48-megapixel main camera has quad-pixel technology, in which four pixels are combined into one. For this reason, photos are output at 12 MP, exactly a quarter of the 48 MP sensors. This is said to result in better performance in low light conditions, and I think there is evidence of this here. I was surprised at how vivid and sharp photos looked with poor indoor lighting.

However, don't expect the Moto G stylus to blow your mind. The main shooter is great for an inexpensive phone and can deliver attractive results in many situations. However, photos are often lacking in the vivid color and breathtaking contrast found in the best smartphone cameras. This was obvious when I took the G Stylus outside. Photos often look flat, and the phone's automatic white balance is difficult in bright light.

The 2MP macro camera detests anything that resembles poor lighting and therefore often does not provide an image that is sharper than the standard camera. In my tests, I almost always found the main camera to be more user-friendly than the 2MP macro camera. Macro mode works very, very close to tiny objects, but how often do you take such photos? I'm not sure I will ever do that.

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Then there is the action camera. In a startling decision, Motorola decided to make the Ultrawide camera available only for videos. This differs from the Moto G Power, which offers the opposite. Aside from an extremely wide perspective, the action camera is designed to take horizontal videos while holding the phone vertically.

I will be dull. Motorola made the wrong call here. This is pointless since mobile video platforms are based on vertical videos. You can shoot vertical videos with the action camera, but you must keep the phone horizontal and the ultrawide effect is largely lost. Better use the standard video camera.

The Moto G Stylus can record 1080p videos at up to 60 frames per second or 4K videos at up to 30 frames per second. It can also process slow motion videos at 120 frames per second and a resolution of 1080p and slow motion at 240 frames per second and 720p. The video quality is acceptable, but not remarkable. It shares the main camera's problems with auto white balance, and while 4K recording is supported, the image quality is often not sharp enough to really appreciate what 4K can deliver.

There is another 16 megapixel camera with quad-pixel technology on the front. It's solid for a budget phone that takes sharp photos in good lighting and usable photos in moderate to poor lighting.

software

Motorola delivers a fair-skinned version of Android 10. It's not as easy as some previous Motorola phones, but the additions and tweaks are largely unremarkable, and the overall look and feel of the phone's user interface resembles that of an Android 10 phone.

A pop-up widget provides quick access to Moto Note when the stylus is removed from the phone. The widget is easy to use, but Moto Note is extremely simple. Don't worry – the widget can be customized so you can add the notes app you want. I found it more useful after adding OneNote. Screenshots can also be taken with the widget.

A pop-up widget provides quick access to Moto Note when the stylus is removed from the phone.

The camera app is Motorola’s only misfire. It has a minimal, monochrome surface with tiny control icons at the top of the app and a record button that looks like a camera shutter. Bad camera apps are generally hardly new on budget smartphones or Android phones. Placed next to a Google Pixel 3a, the difference is day and night and not at all in favor of Motorola.

Like previous Motorola phones, the Moto G Stylus offers Moto promotions. These gesture-based shortcuts provide quick access to some common functions. Two quick chops turn the flashlight on and two quick turns of your wrist turn the camera on. I like these shortcuts. They are fun and faster than playing on the touchscreen.

Our opinion

The Moto G Stylus makes a game of chance that doesn't pay off in full. The pen is not a killer feature and appears to increase the size of the phone. Most people want a thinner, lighter device.

Is there a better alternative?

Most buyers will want to consider the Samsung Galaxy A51 or maybe even a Moto G7 device. These phones are widely available, have a slim frame, and are sold at similar prices (or less). However, the Moto G7 is an older device and does not currently have Android 10 in the U.S.

Here is my professional tip. Just wait. April is early in the release schedule for smartphones. The release of Google Pixel 4a and iPhone SE 2020 is planned for soon. It's unclear whether they're offered at competitive prices with the Moto G stylus, but they could lower prices for other devices, including the still desirable Google Pixel 3a and 3a XL.

How long it will take?

The G Stylus is not waterproof, but is made of plastic and should therefore do a little better in the event of a fall than a glass phone. However, it is by no means a "hard" phone.

Budget Android phones have a short lifespan because they don't get the latest Android updates quickly or at all. It is promised that the Moto G stylus will be received with an operating system upgrade and frequent security updates. Better support would be excellent, but this is typical of an Android phone in this price range.

Should you buy one?

No. The Moto G Stylus is ideal for stylus fans, but too heavy and thick to recommend to most people.

Editor's recommendations




16 Apr
Blog

Motorola Moto G Power Review: Big Battery, Big Phone

Moto G Power Display

Motorola Moto G Power Review: Heavy battery life

"The durable Moto G Power offers long battery life, but is too heavy for most buyers."

  • Two to three days of battery life

  • Nice display for budget phone

  • Feels solid and durable

  • Using an Ultrawide camera is fun

  • Heavy and thick

  • No NFC for Google Pay

  • Main camera is just OK

Do you want a cheap Android phone? Motorola is probably your first stop. The experienced smartphone manufacturer has two new releases, the Moto G Stylus and the Moto G Power, each aimed at very specific users.

They do what they say. The G-pen has a pen and the G Power tested here has electricity. Battery power. I know your child may be looking over your shoulder. Let's just call it a metric fudge ton – 5,000 mAh, to be exact.

That is much! The iPhone 11 has a 3,110 mAh battery and the Google Pixel 4 XL has a 3,700 mAh battery. Some phones, like the Asus ZenFone 6, are the same size as the G Power battery, but most are not.

What makes the G Power so exceptional is the price you pay for this battery. Motorola is selling this unlocked phone for $ 250. This brings you the huge battery, 4 GB RAM and 64 GB internal storage (MicroSD cards with up to 1 TB can improve this number). This is the only version available.

Is this durable budget phone worth finding a place in your pocket? Let's have a look.

Design and display

If you've ever hit a battery case on a phone, you know that the extra endurance comes with the price of extra weight and a thicker profile. The Motorola Moto G Power bundles the battery inside, but is not excluded from this problem.

The Moto G Power is 0.38 inches thick and weighs over 7 ounces when touched. The older Moto G7 Play is 0.31 inches thick and weighs only 5.3 ounces. The Samsung Galaxy A50 is only 0.3 inches thick and weighs about 5.9 ounces.

So, as Twitter could say, the G Power is THICC.

Moto G Power DesignMatthew Smith / Digital Trends

You will feel it. It is a powerful, extensive phone. On the plus side, this offers an aura of quality that is not often found in inexpensive phones. On the other hand, it is difficult. I noticed it most when I was holding the phone in bed or lying on my sofa. After a short while my arm felt tired.

Yes, I am a saggy wrist tech reviewer who couldn't put a big house cat on the bench. Still, the extra weight was annoying. I wouldn't buy the phone for that reason alone. This is not a problem I want to deal with in an everyday device.

As Twitter could say, the G Power is THICC.

The weight of the G Power does not only depend on its battery. It also includes a 6.4-inch display with an aspect ratio of 19.17: 9. It is a large display, although this is not uncommon for the category. The Samsung Galaxy A50 and Samsung M30 both have 6.4-inch displays.

It's an attractive screen that's vivid and bright enough to use on a sunny day. You will surely see a better contrast to the OLED panel, and here the cheapest devices from Samsung can achieve an undeniable victory. However, the Moto G Power's display is solid and I think most buyers will be impressed.

Turn it over and you will find the Moto G Power in the conservative new look from Motorola. Moto used to be synonymous with quirky design (I bought and loved a blue-and-orange Moto G3), but the company's newer phones are more elegant and frankly boring. Like many new phones, the G Power is shiny, subtle, and sophisticated. Moto hopes you will be mistaken for glass some distance away.

A fingerprint reader for secure login is included. It is quick and seldom possible to read a fingerprint like I am used to from similar readers on other devices.

Moto G Power camera

Ports? You will receive USB-C and a headphone jack. I have no complaints there. I wish Motorola made the phone waterproof. It is sold as "water repellent" but is not designed to be submerged for any length of time. Don't let it fall into the toilet.

The design of the Moto G Power is okay. The display even has somewhat slim bezels. It's a bit boring and a step back from Moto's more ambitious previous cell phones, but I understand. People want to buy cheap phones that look like expensive phones. From this point of view, the design of the Moto G Power is successful.

Battery life

The Moto G Power is all about battery life. It has 5,000 mAh of juice to be precise, and Motorola promises up to 72 hours of battery life.

That would have seemed a few years ago. Today it is still a lot, but not unusual. The Asus ZenFone 6, Samsung Galaxy M30 and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra all have batteries of a similar size, although their endurance requirements are not that extreme.

It's an impressive battery for the price, to be sure. While the Galaxy M30 is available at low prices on Amazon, the ZenFone 6 costs $ 500 and the Galaxy S20 Ultra "How much do you have?" The large battery is an outstanding feature.

The battery lasted two full days and a few thirds.

I used the Moto G Power lightly in my first week on the phone when I turned my attention to the Moto G stylus. The battery lasted five days. After I switched mainly to the G Power, the battery lasted two full days and a few thirds. I admit that I am not the most demanding user. Nevertheless, this is an outstanding result.

In fact, it's over the top. I don't think charging a phone overnight is a problem. Therefore I think a battery is sufficient for a day with heavy use. Most modern phones can do this. The Moto G Power could take two, but I have to ask. What's the point Why should you put up with a heavier, thicker phone all day every day?

If your answer is "well, I need it because of …", then for sure. I understand that. The Moto G Power deserves recognition for bringing extreme endurance to a low price. But let's be real. This is a niche device. It was developed for people who want to talk a lot on the phone, but also don't want to spend a lot on it.

performance

The Moto G Power has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 octa-core processor and a Qualcomm Adreno 610 GPU. This is an option for a budget phone that will be sold in 2020.

Performance is usually not a problem. Most applications are started in no time and run well when active. While the phone's 4 GB of RAM on paper may be fine, there have never been any problems switching applications.

The Moto G Power has proven itself in benchmarks

  • Geekbench 5: 312 single-core, 1388 multi-core
  • 3DMark Sling Shot Extreme (volcano): 1.133

The Geekbench 5 score offers a modest improvement over last year's budget phones. A Moto G7 reaches 268 in single-core and 1,183 in multi-core. The result of Sling Shot Extreme is a huge upgrade over the older Moto G7, which only reached 543 when we tested it last year. Another one-year-old Samsung Galaxy A50 beats the Moto G Power with a score of 1,368 in the Sling Shot Extreme from 3DMark.

I only noticed the limits of the Moto G Power when scrolling quickly through long content lists such as news feeds or podcasts or when visiting websites that (frankly rather intrusive) elements such as pop-up video players or extensive animations put a lot of strain. In these situations there was an occasional jerk or a moment of pause. Even the fastest phones can have problems here, but I think the Motorola G Power feels a lot less fluid than, say, a Google Pixel 4 that shipped with a Snapdragon 855 late last year.

Still, it's a bit silly to be obsessed with the Moto G Power's performance. Modern smartphones, like laptops sold ten years ago, are fast enough for most people today. I had no problem using the Moto G Power every day. Is a Google Pixel 4 or iPhone 11 faster? Yes. With the G Power (or another phone with this SoC) you can get along easily.

Obsessed with being a bit silly about the performance of the Moto G Power.

Gaming is a mixed bag. Most cell phone games are designed to run on a variety of cell phones and not to press hard on a cell phone like the Moto G Power. Even Call of Duty: Mobile and SimCity Build went well enough that I didn't notice any hesitation. Demanding games like Injustice 2 and Asphalt 9 were a different story. These were playable on the Moto G Power, but occasionally stuttered and were rendered at a frame rate that was well below 30 frames per second.

It is important to know that G Power does not have an NFC. This means that Google Pay is not supported. This is almost certainly an unfortunate omission to keep the price down, but contactless payment is always helpful – and is even recommended in these days of social distancing – and is overlooked here.

Audio quality

Stereo speakers tuned by Dolby are on either side of the phone (when held horizontally). One speaker is above the display, the other on the bottom lip of the phone. This means that audio is stronger on one side than on the other. It stands out, but is not annoying.

The sound is loud and clear. There is not a lot of bass and the maximum volume is not what flagship phones can produce, but it is enough to keep you entertained in a room with little to no ambient noise. Audiophiles should bring headphones, earphones, or a Bluetooth speaker.

Camera quality

Despite its price, the Moto G Power does its best to emulate the camera functions of more expensive competitors. It comes with a 16MP main camera on the back, an 8MP Ultrawide with a 118 degree field of view and a 2MP macro camera. There is also a 16 megapixel front camera.

For me, the 8MP Ultrawide is the outstanding feature. This is unusual for low-cost phones and offers a lot of versatility. With this camera, you can take more convincing landscape shots or better capture a narrow space. The camera delivers subdued colors and extreme lighting issues, but a decent smartphone photographer could use it for some outstanding shots. It's also fun to play around with.

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Moto G Power Standard FOV "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motogpower_standard-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / / www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Moto G Power Standard FOV Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

The 16 megapixel main camera is what I would expect from an affordable smartphone in 2020. It takes neutral, balanced shots that often lack the vibrancy and sharpness that you find in the best phone cameras. Quality is best with excellent lighting and noticeably drops in dark situations, but excellent lighting can also affect color balance, so you can fumble with the rather delicate manual controls.

Although the main camera didn't set my hair on fire, I should note that this is a massive step over the inexpensive phones sold a few years ago. The main camera of the Moto G Power can be used for great photos if you have some skill.

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Moto G Power photo example "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motogpower_sample4-2-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

Moto G Power photo example "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motogpower_sample5-2-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

Moto G Power photo example "class =" m-carousel - image dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn7.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motogpower_sample3-2-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: / /www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

With this option, the 2MP macro has the same difficulties as other smartphones. The ability to enlarge a subject is offset by reduced sharpness, poor performance in low light, and color balance issues. To be honest, I'm not sure if most macro shots look better with the 2MP macro camera enabled. Macro mode works when very, very close to very small objects, but how often do you take such photos? I'm not sure I will ever do that.

Moto G Power Macro Off "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn2.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motogpower_macro_off-2-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: //www.digitaltrends.com/data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Moto G Power macro lens Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

Moto G Power "class =" m-Karussell - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn3.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/motogpower_macro_on-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https: // https: // www. digitaltrends.com / data: image / gif; base64, https: //www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7Moto G Power macro lens Matthew Smith / Digital Trends

What about the 4MP (Quad Pixel) selfie camera? It works well enough. The quality depends on the lighting. However, if you have the right angle, your shots can look great. However, I am annoyed about the relocated camera location. It's in the top left corner of the phone, not the center, making finding the best angle less intuitive.

Video quality

The main camera of the Moto G Power can record 4K videos at up to 30 frames per second (fps) or 1080p videos at up to 60 fps. Slow motion videos can record up to 120 frames per second at 1080p or 240 fps at 720p.

This is solid for a budget phone, though you shouldn't plan to use anything other than 1080p frequently. 4K video can look sharp in ideal lighting, but quickly fall apart in more demanding situations. The same applies to slow motion.

If you stick to 1080p, you can expect a sharp picture with a generally neutral color balance that, like photos taken with the main camera, will struggle with very dark or excessively bright situations. Taking the budget into account, I think the video of the Moto G Power is solid.

software

The Moto G Power has a slightly skinned version of Android 10. My unlocked test device was delivered without any noteworthy bloatware, unless you count the slim and mostly unnecessary Moto and Moto audio apps. As with previous Motorola smartphones, the G Power greets you with a happy “Hello Moto” when you switch it on.

Moto Actions are back. They allow you to activate certain functions with certain gestures. For example, you can activate the camera by turning your wrist twice or turning on the flashlight with two quick cutting movements. Moto promotions are convenient and fun.

The camera app is Motorola’s only misfire. It looks fussy, with tiny control icons at the top of the app and a record button that looks like a camera shutter. Placed next to a Google Pixel 3a, the difference is day and night and not at all in favor of G Power.

Price, guarantee and availability

The Motorola G Power costs $ 250 and will be released in April. You can order one directly from the Motorola website. It is also sold through Verizon, Republic Wireless, US Cellular and Google Fi. If you live in Europe, Motorola has confusingly launched the G8 Power instead of the G Power. It's almost identical to the G Power in every way, but with an additional 8-megapixel telephoto camera on board. It costs £ 220 or about $ 270.

Motorola grants a one-year warranty on its phones in the United States. Buyers can also purchase an additional MotoCare plan to cover water and accidental damage. Prices vary between $ 23 and $ 64 a year, depending on coverage.

Our opinion

The Moto G Power is a good phone that sells at an affordable price but is a niche by nature. I don't think the transition between "power users who need a multi-day battery life" and "budget phone buyers" is wide.

Is there a better alternative?

Yes, but you have to pay more. If your budget isn't incredibly tight, it's worth spending more on a phone because it can be used longer regardless of whether your usage changes. If you can reach up to $ 400, Google Pixel 3a has a great camera and guaranteed software updates for several years. Spend $ 500, and the Asus Zenfone 6 is an excellent buy with its near-flagship specs and a fun flip camera.

If you only want to spend less than $ 300, have a look around and try to purchase the Samsung Galaxy A51 for this price. The international version, which is compatible with GSM networks, is often offered on Amazon for less than $ 300. Samsung also announced the new Galaxy A21, which will sell for $ 250. We don't have it in our hands yet.

If you choose Motorola, you can check out the Moto G stylus, which is only slightly lighter.

Finally, here is my professional tip. Wait to see what Google does with the rumored Pixel 4a that is expected in the coming weeks. It is certainly desirable, and even if your budget is not exhausted, the still excellent Pixel 3a can lead to significant price reductions. In addition, Apple is expected to show the iPhone SE 2 / iPhone 9 soon, which can be affordable for around $ 400. It's also worth seeing how long it takes for the Nokia 5.3 from HMD Global to reach the US in April. At this point, it will be launched in Europe for $ 205

How long it will take?

The G Power has no water-repellent housing, but is made of plastic and should therefore be slightly better off in the event of a fall than one made of glass. However, it is not a "hard" phone.

Budget Android phones also have a short lifespan because they don't get the latest Android updates quickly or at all. Motorola’s Android update schedules are confusing. It is promised that the Moto G Power will get through an operating system upgrade and frequent security updates. Better support would be excellent, but this is typical of an Android phone in this price range.

Should you buy one?

No. The Moto G Power fits into a certain niche of power users who are short of money, but is too heavy and too thick for most people.

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