Asus ROG Phone 5 Review: Mighty specs make gaming truly exciting
With a gorgeous screen and great performance, it's the ultimate gaming smartphone.
With a gorgeous screen and great performance, it's the ultimate gaming smartphone.
“You get good performance, great battery life, and a nice big display. But below-average cameras and a short software life have harmed the One 5G Ace. "
Modern design
Excellent battery life
Solid display
Good performance
Below average camera for the money
Only one software update guaranteed
Motorola recently unveiled the Moto G-Series 2021, which is solid value for money for those looking to spend no more than $ 250. In addition to the Moto G, the company has also launched a new model in its high-end One line: the Motorola One 5G Ace.
At first glance, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a bit confusing (and an awkward name), but it's important not to think of it as a replacement for last year's Motorola One 5G. This device has a lower-priced processor, a poorer display, and other cutbacks – but it costs $ 400 or $ 150 less than the standard Motorola One 5G.
However, there is no lack of competition in this price range. Does the Motorola One 5G Ace compete with the Pixel 4a and iPhone SE among its competitors? We put it to the test to find out.
Motorola has done well at offering relatively modern looking phones for the price, and the One 5G Ace is no exception to that rule. It's a large phone with a large 6.7-inch display with an aspect ratio of 20: 9 that is great for scrolling through Twitter, seeing all of your email at a glance, and seeing more anytime. Of course, there's a tradeoff: don't expect to be able to reach the top of the display without the help of a second hand.
While the original One 5G had a double front camera, the Ace has a single centered cutout for the selfie camera. And there's a tiny chin at the bottom of the display, although it's not too intrusive and you probably won't notice it at all in everyday use.
At first glance, the back of the phone looks metallic, but you won't be fooled for long. It feels like plastic. Well, that's not a big deal for the price – it doesn't feel as high-end as a glass or metal device, and its weight helps make it feel solid. Plastic makes the phone more durable against typical bumps and scratches, which is usually a solid selling point for those buying a device on a budget. On the back there is also a fingerprint sensor, which works relatively quickly and accurately, and a camera module with three sensors.
In addition to the standard power switch, volume rocker, and USB-C port on the edges, you also get a headphone jack. It's nice that Motorola has stuck to the headphone jack on its budget phones for so long.
Thanks to its higher resolution of 1080p, the display is a clear step forward over the Moto G series. Unfortunately, you don't get the 90Hz refresh rate that you get with the standard Motorola One 5G, but it still has decently vivid colors and gets relatively bright. It's a good looking display for a phone in this price range.
Under the hood, the Motorola One 5G Ace is a clear step up from any Moto G device thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G processor, 4 GB or 6 GB of RAM and 64 GB or 128 GB of storage. It's a solid setup, and the Qualcomm 7 series has proven to be a great way to get good performance over the past year without buying a flagship phone.
The phone is more than capable in everyday use. There were seldom problems even when used for heavy-duty multitasking, mobile gaming, and more. I have the 6GB RAM model and have never had issues with apps closing in the background before I was done with them. It even handled some Call of Duty: Mobile and Asphalt 9: Legends with ease. Sure, load times can be a little longer than the Snapdragon 765G-equipped Motorola One 5G, and it may slow down sooner, but in normal use they feel almost identical at this point.
The phone has a 5,000 mAh battery (yes, just like a Galaxy S21 Ultra) which is more than enough for a full day of heavy use. Although it doesn't last quite as long as the Moto G Power, most people can still work with it for two days due to the higher resolution display, as Motorola announced. If you can charge your phone well every day, no need to worry here. Unfortunately there is no wireless charging, which is a bit disappointing. It's still tolerable that a $ 400 phone doesn't offer it, but it won't be long – and it would have been nice if the One 5G Ace had been ahead of the curve.
As mentioned earlier, the Motorola One 5G Ace has a triple camera system with a 48-megapixel main sensor with a f / 1.7 aperture lens, an 8-megapixel ultrawide camera with a f / 2.2 aperture and a 2 megapixel macro camera. I still don't think people really use macro lenses (more than just to check them out), but Motorola disagrees, arguing that in the era of COVID-19, more people than ever are taking photos of things up close At home. I would have preferred a telephoto to a macro.
The One 5G Ace's camera is fine, but not much better than fine. In good lighting conditions, a solid shot can be obtained even though the colors are not very vivid and the details are not as sharp as they could be.
The pictures are far worse in poor lighting conditions. There's little detail and a lot of noise – when you can actually lock the focus and even get a blurry picture. Highlights are often overblown, which is often the case with low-end phones in poor lighting conditions. So while you can tell what you photograph most of the time, don't expect much more.
The same is more or less true of the front of the phone. The 16-megapixel front camera can take fine selfies, but nothing will fake someone like you have a high-end phone.
The Motorola One 5G Ace's main problem in the camera department has more to do with competition than anything else. The fact is that great phone cameras are getting cheaper and cheaper and this fee is charged by Google. The Pixel 4a costs $ 50 less, but it offers a camera that is an order of magnitude better than that of the One 5G Ace. When you're ready to make the move to iOS, the iPhone SE has a better camera too – although it's not as good as the Pixel 4a. After all, the OnePlus Nord may not have the best camera, but it's still better than the One 5G Ace's.
Motorola has been offering near-production software for its phones for years, and the Motorola One 5G Ace is no exception to that rule. The software is pared down, easy to navigate, and well designed.
Motorola's My UX also offers a number of additional features and gestures that can be turned on or off at will that can help make using the device more natural. Things like pressing three fingers down to take a screenshot, rotating your wrist to jump to the camera, and a lot more are useful.
There are also mobile game settings that can be customized. My favorite thing with all of these features is that they are all included in the Moto app and not distributed via Android like other manufacturers do. That said, if you don't want to use or see it, you can hide the Moto app and essentially use the phone as your standard Android device.
Motorola's commitment to software updates is incredibly weak.
Well, almost a standard Android device. While other standard Android phones like the Pixel series update quickly for at least a few years, the Motorola One 5G Ace does not. It ships with the already dated Android 10 (Android 11 has been out of stock for months), and although Motorola has announced it will bring Android 11 to the Ace, it hasn't specified exactly when. And that will likely be it for the phone. Motorola has promised "at least one" OS update, but I wouldn't expect more than one – the track record in this department is poor. Fortunately, you will receive security updates for two years.
It's really disappointing to see old software paired with missing updates. With a $ 150 Moto G game this is more acceptable, but at $ 400 it's hard to deal with and we really hope that Motorola will improve their game in the near future.
As mentioned earlier, the Motorola One 5G Ace is priced at $ 400 available now from Amazon. In the US, 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage are provided.
The Motorola One 5G Ace is a solid phone. It works well, has a nice display, and great battery life. But in 2021, phones under $ 500 have to go a step further – and it just doesn't. The advantages of the Pixel 4a are years of software updates and a camera in flagship quality. The iPhone SE offers flagship performance and even longer updates. The Motorola One 5G Ace, on the other hand, is “good” in just about everything, but “great” in almost nothing – expect a battery.
Of course, we didn't really mention the "5G" aspect of this phone, but there's not much to talk about there. I would warn against buying this phone because of its 5G support. Get the Pixel 4a instead, fix the lack of 5G, and when you're ready for your next phone, getting something that is 5G capable is more important. Alternatively, you can get the Pixel 4a 5G, which has an even better camera and improved performance for $ 60 more.
Yes. If $ 400 is a hard limit on your budget, then you can save $ 50 and get the best Google Pixel 4a. If you can just stretch a little and are interested in 5G and prefer a large display, then go for this Google Pixel 4a 5G instead.
The Motorola One 5G Ace has a plastic back, so it should withstand most drops. However, it's not waterproof, so you'll want to stay away from the wet. Given the lack of software updates after Android 11, the features may be out of date within a few years – but this hardly prevents them from actually working.
No, go for that either Google Pixel 4a or the Pixel 4a 5G instead.
Editor's recommendations
Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro Review: Big in size, specs and camera, but not attractive
"The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro has a lot of power and capabilities, but the large, heavy housing and LCD screen mean that the outside doesn't feel as up-to-date as other phones."
Long battery life
Great camera
Good performance and audio for gaming
Big and heavy
No wireless charging
It's difficult to get massive phones right, as the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro proves. It's a whopper and fits the overall size of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, but the large Samsung phone is much more comfortable and natural to hold than the Mi 10T Pro. The reason for this lies in some ergonomic choices that make it more unwieldy than we'd like. However, there is no denying that the phone is capable or offers a competitive price. I've used it and so it is.
Related Black Friday sales
How much do we talk here? The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro weighs 218 grams, is 9.3 mm thick and 76.4 mm wide. Since it has a flat screen rather than a curved screen, it feels every bit that size and a bit more. The handling of the Galaxy S20 Ultra proves that the Xiaomi's dimensions are misleading as the Samsung phone is wider and a little heavier, but the curved screen and thinner frame hide these things more effectively. Don't buy the Mi 10T Pro if you have small hands.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The fingerprint sensor is hidden in the side of the power switch. While it's quick and accurate, the way you have to grab the phone to use it helps make it feel uncomfortable. The back of the phone – the model shown here is in the color Lunar Silver – is a matte finish made of Gorilla Glass 5 that gets quite smeared with use, but looks very pretty in the right light. The camera module adds a few millimeters to the phone's thickness, but at least the unusual design is eye-catching.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I like the modern look of the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro, and its firmness in your hand gives it a reassuringly powerful feel and highlights the great build quality, but I found it a strain to use. It's mainly the fault of the flat panel display and thick case, and I've often been delighted to pick up my iPhone 12 Pro and use it instead. If a phone the size of the Galaxy S20 Ultra appeals, but the price doesn't, the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro is worth considering.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The Mi 10T Pro from Xiaomi can keep up with the S20 Ultra in size, but not in terms of screen technology. Xiaomi has chosen an LCD screen for the phone. While it has the right specs – 144 Hz refresh rate, HDR10 +, and 6.67-inch size – you'll miss the contrast, colors, and gloss of an OLED screen. Not only that, the lack of OLED means the phone doesn't have an always-on mode, which I always miss.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
About that 144Hz refresh rate – it just doesn't look as effective as I've seen other phones do. Scrolling through Twitter, for example, is smoother and less blurry on the 120 Hz Galaxy S20 Ultra and probably also on the 60 Hz iPhone 12 Pro. Flipping through the general operating system is easy on the eyes, but adding the high refresh rate to an LCD seems like half a step as the OnePlus Nord N10 5G made a similar impression.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Overall, the design and screen of the Mi 10T Pro are quite acceptable, but it feels a bit aged compared to other big screen phones that were available last year.
This is a top of the line smartphone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 chip and 8 GB of RAM. This is reflected in the phone's performance. It's really fast whether you're watching movies, playing games, or just browsing the software. Xiaomi's MIUI 12 is installed over Android 10.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The most annoying part of MIUI on the Mi 10T Pro is the decision to separate the swipe menu from the home screen. A swipe with the right hand brings up the quick access panel and a swipe with the left hand shows notifications. I would almost always cross the quick access controls down. Due to the size of the phone and a frustrating design choice in the software, it is difficult to get across the screen with one hand.
MIUI is endlessly customizable. So if you want to change the look of your phone's software, it has a lot of potential. You can select an app drawer or distribute app icons across multiple home screens. This feature is a good example of where MIUI frustrates even when its intentions are good. Applying the app drawer option will keep all of your app icons on multiple home screens so you get a cleanup job.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I've played Asphalt 9 Legends for my reporting period and the game is immensely fast and fluid, but there is a bit of heat from behind for the phone when gaming. However, this is not uncommon for phones with the Snapdragon 865 inside. The size and weight of the phone help here as it is comfortable to hold in landscape orientation, although the large camera module can reach into your fingers. This makes gaming one of the Mi 10T Pro's greatest strengths, right down to the great audio from the two speakers.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Xiaomi's MIUI takes some getting used to, just like Huawei's EMUI, but once you've set it up it's manageable and usable on a daily basis. I didn't have any reliability issues. However, when deciding between Samsung OneUI, Google's Pixel software, or Apple's iOS, it comes down to the last time due to the confused design – for example, icons rarely have the same shape – and some usage issues.
The camera module contains a 108-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera and a 5-megapixel macro camera. The 108MP camera is the Samsung HMX 1 / 1.33 inch sensor that was developed with Xiaomi and can record 8K videos. There's no optical or hybrid zoom, but it can zoom up to 30x digitally.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The camera app is a bit busy and not always very logical. There are plenty of features here to play with, including a long exposure mode, the ability to record video with the front and rear cameras at the same time, and a dedicated 108MP photo mode. However, it doesn't always make sense to find these features. For example, to enable macro mode, it's not under the "More" option, but rather in the drop-down menu at the top of the screen.
The large sensor doesn't work as well when getting close to subjects, but I didn't have any focus issues. The 5-megapixel macro lens is easier to use than the useless 2-megapixel cameras found on some cheaper phones, and even the digital zoom can produce some good photos, provided you're not too picky about it.
Selfies taken with the 20-megapixel front camera are sharp and detailed, although the various lighting modes aren't as effective as Apple's modes. Portrait mode is available front and back. The use of the rear camera's edge detection isn't great when compared to phones like the Pixel 5, but the app has plenty of customization and editing options. It's better if it can see a face, as can the selfie camera. Night mode is decent at dusk and adds atmosphere without making shots look like daylight.
The Mi 10T Pro's camera is fun and versatile. It delivers photos with a lot of atmosphere and captures wonderful colors with just the right contrast and a comfortable dynamic range, even in difficult, cloudy conditions. Some of the additional features can be fun, but there is a lot to try, and not all of them are successful.
It's a massive 5,000 mAh battery in the Mi 10T Pro that lasted two days with average use. Squeeze the phone with games and big videos – streaming or calls – and you won't make it through day two. However, you have no single day concerns. There is 33W wired fast charging, but no wireless charging.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The phone has a 5G modem, but I don't have coverage in my area so couldn't try it. I got a decent 4G LTE signal, but the call quality isn't as clear and reliable as some other phones I've used recently, including the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra.
Where the Mi 10T Pro wins points is in the price. It costs £ 599 or about $ 800 via Xiaomi's own store and various UK networks. It is not officially available in the US but can be imported. Importers sell it for around $ 800. It is worth noting, however, that it is not an official US phone. Although it operates on GSM networks such as T-Mobile and AT&T, the phone may not always receive the best signal due to band compatibility.
The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro is a competent, albeit unexciting smartphone that offers top-notch specs at a reasonable price. The overall size and weight haven't been managed as well as other larger phones, so it feels a bit awkward, but there's no question that it's very capable in terms of both performance and camera.
Yes. The Google Pixel 5 ($ 699 / £ 599) costs the same, with better software, guaranteed updates, and a great camera – all in a smaller, more convenient package. The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE (£ 699/599) and OnePlus 8T (£ 749/549) are also excellent buys if the design and small size of the pixel are not appealing. If you're not set to Android, the Apple iPhone 12 ($ 799/799 British Pounds) is also a better alternative.
The Mi 10T Pro is not waterproof, but it has an attractive transparent silicone case in the box. The specs are great and it has 5G so on a technical level the phone will easily last for several years. Xiaomi updates its own software frequently, but there is no guarantee that an update to other major versions of Android will be available. There is no official release date for Android 11 with MIUI 12 on the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro.
No. The Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro has enough power and capabilities, but because of the large, heavy body and LCD screen, it doesn't feel as up-to-date on the outside as other phones that are available for the same price.
Editor's recommendations