Moto G 5G (2024) Review

Moto G 5G (2024) Review،

Presentation of the Moto G 5G (2024)

The Moto G 5G is back this year and it looks better than ever. Available in just one color (Sage Green), but with a magnificent vegan leather back, it is clear that Motorola has returned this year ready to play with the big players in the budget smartphone category.

Starting March 21, the Moto G 5G (2024) is now available through T-Mobile and Metro by T Mobile, as well as AT&T, Verizon, Visible, and a number of MVNOs such as Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless, and more soon after. You'll also be able to purchase it unlocked on Amazon, Best Buy, and on the Motorola website starting May 2 for a suggested retail price of $200.

Along with this Moto G 5G (2024), Motorola is also launching the more refined and powerful Moto G “Power” edition. Check out our Moto G Power 5G (2024) review here.

Contents:

Moto G 5G (2024) specifications

Budget specs at a glance

Below is an overview of the Moto G 5G (2024) specifications:

Specifications	Moto G 5G (2024)
Height and weight	164.39 x 74.96 x 8.23mm 194 grams
Display	6.6-inch LCD screen 120Hz HD+ resolution (1612 x 720) Maximum brightness of 430 nits
Processor	Snapdragon 4 generation 1
Software	Android 14
Cameras	50MP main, f/1.8 aperture 2MP macro, f/2.4 aperture 8MP front
Battery size	5000mAh
Charging Speeds	18W wired charging
Prices	4/128 GB for $199

Moto G 5G (2024) design and display

Beautiful design at a reasonable price

Motorola has made dramatic improvements to its Moto G Power 5G lineup year after year, and this time around, they've once again delivered a superior product than last year. The price of the phone has come down compared to last year and has improved significantly in terms of specifications. At the $199 price range that this device will launch for, it's a bargain in terms of value for money.

Of course, it uses an older mid-range processor, which is normal for a phone at this level. However, during my testing of the device, I found that it provided a pleasant and reliable smartphone experience.

The design of the Moto G 5G is modern and sleek, making it a great choice for those looking for a budget smartphone with a premium look and feel. It's rare to find a budget phone with such attention to detail. That fingerprint-resistant vegan leather back, for example, isn't something you've seen on Motorola's budget devices in the past, but this year they've really stepped up their game in terms of design and materials . Additionally, while it's not waterproof, Motorola says the phone is designed to be water repellent. It's not IP rated, so you can't submerge it in water, but it is moderately protected against light water exposure such as accidental spills, splashes, sweat, or light rain.

In the box you will find a USB Type C charging cable and a SIM card removal tool. That's all. Like most phones these days, it doesn't include a charging brick, a fact I'm still trying to get used to.

At 430 nits of peak brightness, the LCD struggles outdoors, where direct sunlight can wash out the screen. Inside, the HD+ (1612 × 720) display works very well. Colors are vibrant for an LCD screen, but you can get a much more impressive OLED screen for the same price on a device like the Samsung Galaxy A15 5G. The 720p resolution is another downside as you can see the text is a bit jagged. On the plus side, scanning is very smooth as you have a 120Hz refresh rate.

Similar to its Moto G Power counterpart, the device's bezels are what you'd expect from a phone in this category: smaller bezels on the top and sides, but a larger bezel on the bottom. The buttons on the device are also very standard. Separate volume up and down buttons are located on the right side of the device, above the power button which doubles as a fingerprint reader, while a combined SIM and microSD card slot is found on the left. The device also includes face unlock as an alternative biometric security method.

Moto G 5G Camera (2024)

His greatest weakness

The Moto G 5G (2024) sports the same 50 MP main camera as its G Power counterpart, and just like with the G Power, the photo quality leaves a lot to be desired. Without optical image stabilization (OIS) and an ultra-wide lens, the Moto G 5G's camera performance is just… okay.

Photo quality improves in well-lit conditions but struggles in low-light conditions. Using the main camera to zoom in on a subject is also not recommended, as the quality deteriorates significantly. Motorola says the device uses Quad Pixel technology, which takes photos taken with the 50MP sensor and combines four pixels into one, resulting in a 12.5MP photo. However, even using this trick, images still lack clarity and detail. I had a similar experience with the 8MP selfie camera, which produced grainy, low-quality photos.

Video quality

Both rear cameras capture video at 30fps, but only the main camera can capture 1080p quality. There's no 4K support, but that's no surprise at this price. Video quality is as expected given the photo quality issues discussed above. It works well in well-lit scenarios, but falls apart in low light or when zooming.

Overall, considering the price, it's a decent option for casual photos and videos, as long as you don't try to push it.

Moto G 5G (2024) performance and benchmarks

Surprisingly great performance

This smartphone is only available in one configuration: 4 GB of RAM, which is one of the weaknesses of this device. Motorola says you can increase this to up to 8GB of “virtual RAM” by borrowing storage, but we're not sure that compares to more native RAM.

Performance was quite solid when running multiple tasks, which was shocking to see. To be honest, this little device packs a punch for its size and price. I thought it would perform as well as any other budget smartphone based on the on-paper specs alone, but I was pleasantly surprised. This, despite its economical Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 chip.

Performance Benchmarks:

As you can see from the benchmarks above, the Moto G 5G doesn't have the most impressive benchmarks, but it still managed to perform exceptionally well in real-world use. The phone's smooth performance and reliable connectivity make it a great choice for everyday use.

This device also includes a microSD card slot that allows the 128GB of onboard storage to be expanded by up to 1TB. This makes it an attractive option for those who want to save on cloud storage and an advantage if the device needs to leverage internal storage to get that increase in RAM.

Moto G 5G Software (2024)

It's in the software experience where this phone really shines. Running My UX, which is Motorola's skin on Android, was a very similar experience to running the native Pixel launcher. The Moto G 5G comes with Android 14 out of the box and requests a software update immediately. At the time of writing this review, our review unit is updated to the February 2024 Android security patch.

However, Motorola adds a little more to the stock Android experience with its own gestures and Moto Actions. These allow quick and easy access to commonly used functions, such as the “three-finger screenshot” which happens to be my favorite, and the “chopping” motion to turn on the flashlight. This level of customization is a key selling point for many Moto users.

Additionally, Motorola confirmed to us that the Moto G Power will receive an OS upgrade and three years of bi-monthly security updates. This means that this device will indeed receive Android 15.

Battery Moto G 5G (2024)

Battery that lasts all day with average use

The Moto G 5G's 5,000mAh battery should provide up to a full day of battery life on a single charge. I put this to the test and was pleasantly surprised at how long the battery lasted, even with heavy use. The only disappointment here was the charging speed, which is capped at 18W with the right charger and has no wireless charging capability to speak of. In my testing of this device, I found the battery to work quite well. I was able to get between 8 and 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, depending on the intensity of my use. Of course, streaming YouTube videos and playing a casual game used more power, while performing simple tasks like checking email and social media only used a fraction of the battery.

Moto G 5G (2024) Audio and haptic quality

The Moto G 5G is a great entertainment device, featuring a dual speaker on the bottom edge, a 3.5mm headphone connection, and Dolby Atmos support. The speakers are incredibly loud, although there isn't much bass, as you'd expect from smartphone speakers. Still, the audio quality is adequate for casual listening.

The haptic feedback of the device is average. While it's surely timely and responsive, it lacks the depth and intensity one expects from a more expensive device.

Moto G 5G (2024) Summary and Final Verdict

The Moto G 5G is a solid budget device for those looking for a reliable device that doesn't break the bank. At its MSRP of $199 USD, it's hard to argue with its value proposition. However, if Motorola isn't your thing, there are other options at this same price that may be interesting, like the Samsung Galaxy 15 5G or the Google Pixel 6a.

My experience with this device while testing it for this review was very positive. I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed using this device compared to the flagships I'm used to. This may have something to do with how well it feels in the hand or how easy it is to handle due to its small size (disclaimer: my hands are on the small side). Regardless, I found myself using this device more often than my usual devices.

I would highly recommend the Moto G 5G to those looking for a reliable and budget-friendly smartphone option while still offering excellent performance. Its impressive battery life and 5G capabilities make it a solid choice for those who need a reliable device for everyday use.