I’m standing in line at Four Barrel Coffee in San Francisco with my Moto G Power 5G (2024). I’ve been reviewing Motorola telephones since 2016, however I’m about to do one thing I’ve by no means carried out earlier than with any earlier Moto G mannequin: Buy a espresso with Google Pay. I maintain the cellphone over the register terminal, and my cappuccino is paid for nearly immediately.Motorola is not reinventing the wheel; Google Pay has been broadly obtainable on most Android telephones for years. But options like NFC and wi-fi charging are nonetheless unusual on reasonably priced telephones and, within the case of the $300 Moto G Power 5G, they elevate the general expertise. After six days, I’m stunned by how a lot “phone” I get for the worth. 7.5 Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024) Like
NFC/Google Pay
Good battery life
Wireless charging
Moto shortcuts
Don’t like
Short software program assist timeline
Screen is just too dim in daylight
Lacks IP score for mud and water resistance
Read extra: Best cellphone below $300 for 2024Motorola has at all times been masterful at making good compromises in an effort to hit an reasonably priced worth for its Moto G collection. And this Taco Bell-like strategy, shuffling options and elements to create a cellphone with as a lot worth as attainable, is on full show with the Moto G Power.For every new profit you get with the 2024 Moto G Power, there’s often a disadvantage. For instance, Motorola provides NFC and wi-fi charging, however limits the built-in storage to 128GB. The display is taller, however the cellphone weighs greater than the 2023 model. There’s a brand new ultrawide digicam that doubles as a macro lens, however that replaces the devoted macro and depth cameras from final yr’s mannequin. The Moto G Power helps 30W quick charging and has expandable storage and a headphone jack, though it lacks an official IP score for mud and water resistance. And maybe most significantly, it solely will get one yr of software program updates and three years of safety updates.It’s this final bit that is essentially the most telling. Clearly Motorola would not anticipate you to have the Moto G Power for various years. And given the worth, I get it. But even with that important caveat, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is without doubt one of the higher cellphone values obtainable at the moment for below $300, particularly when you’re in a position to snag it on sale.Plush vegan leather-based FTW The “vegan” leather-based on the again seems to be posh and feels good to the contact. James Martin/CNETThe Moto G Power would not seem like a $300 cellphone. It’s strong and lacks the hole, plasticky really feel that plagued funds telephones from a number of years in the past.Like final yr’s Motorola Razr (2023), the again is roofed in “vegan” leather-based. When I used to be at dinner with a desk of iPhone-wielding pals, everybody complimented the fake leather-based again. Some even thought it was a case.The cellphone is available in both Midnight Blue or, just like the assessment unit I’ve been utilizing, Pale Lilac. This lilac shade seems to be practically white below sure lighting, however at different instances it has a lovely calamine lotion pink hue. The again picks up pet hair simply, which I discovered all of the extra noticeable on the lilac model.The cellphone’s 6.7-inch show has a variable refresh charge as much as 120Hz, which makes video games and animations look easy. The display is beautiful when utilizing the cellphone indoors, offering colours which might be good and punchy. I largely left the show set to auto, which modifications the refresh charge in keeping with what’s on the display. But in direct daylight, this show is just too dim. I obtained annoyed making an attempt to take a photograph at sundown as a result of I could not see the framing. NFC for Google Pay makes the Moto G Power really feel much less like a funds cellphone. Patrick Holland/CNETFor years, Motorola provided NFC on the worldwide model of some Moto G telephones however saved the characteristic for dearer funds telephones within the US. I’m so completely satisfied to have it on a $300 cellphone. It makes such an enormous distinction making the cellphone really feel extra full.The cellphone is filled with old-school Android cellphone extras like an FM radio and a aspect fingerprint reader, which I completely loved utilizing.The Moto G Power runs on Android 14 and has a slew of nifty Motorola customizations for a way apps look. There are additionally Moto Gestures for shortcuts equivalent to toggling the flashlight by making a karate chop movement with the cellphone. Double-twisting my wrist whereas holding the Moto G Power to open the digicam continues to be my favourite solution to take an image on any cellphone. I’ll depart it to your creativeness on how foolish this should look to strangers.Motorola says that the cellphone will get an replace to Android 15 and three years of safety updates. It’s too dangerous there is not even only one extra main Android replace past that, however I’m assuming that the brief timeline dedication is a part of what retains the Moto G Power’s price down. Patrick’s horrible, horrible, no-good, very dangerous drop Here is the aftermath. James Martin/CNETIt seems that cellphone reviewers are identical to you. On my fourth day with the cellphone, I fumbled getting it out of my pocket solely to witness the Moto G Power smack the sidewalk like The Rock’s hand throughout Cody Rhodes’s face throughout WWE’s WrestleMania kickoff. The display cracked, however the cellphone labored positive. To quote a Motorola PR rep after I advised her, “It happens.”This appears like the right time to say that Motorola sells Moto Care for unintentional harm, which prices $70 for 2 years of unintentional harm safety. There’s additionally a $30 deductible for repairs (damaged display or different bodily harm), and you’ve got 30 days out of your Moto G Power buy or activation so as to add on Moto Care. But hopefully you by no means have to make use of it.Less is extra with cameras The Moto G Power’s digicam bump. James Martin/CNETMotorola took a less-is-more strategy to the Moto G Power’s cameras, which I feel works properly. There’s a large and ultrawide lens on the again, in comparison with the trio of rear cameras on the 2023 mannequin, which included a depth sensor for Portrait mode.The most important digicam has a 50-megapixel sensor and optical picture stabilization (OIS) which permits for longer shutter speeds when taking pictures in combined and low-light conditions. An extended shutter pace permits extra gentle to hit the sensor, which usually leads to a greater picture. Notice the element and texture that the Moto G Power is ready to seize. Patrick Holland/CNETIn common, pictures from the principle digicam look good in brilliant gentle and likewise in medium and combined lighting, like indoor environments. But that is about the very best this cellphone can do, and it is about what I anticipate for $300. Phones, even costly ones, battle making an attempt to get shot of my cat, Maisie. I’m impressed with the HDR on the Moto G Power. Patrick Holland/CNETLook on the picture under taken in San Francisco’s Mission district on a brilliant sunny day. It’s the perfect state of affairs for any cellphone digicam, however the photograph suffers from oversharpening. Notice the splotches within the blue sky, and the way crunchy the leaves on the timber look. This is an efficient photograph from the Moto G Power, however not an amazing photograph. Notice the picture noise blotches within the sky and the way particulars are over-sharpened within the timber. Patrick Holland/CNETHere’s a picture of my pal Mikaela taken within the dimly lit inside of Trader Vic’s with brilliant gentle pouring in from a window behind me. It seems to be just like the cellphone is softening her pores and skin (which can be the results of noise discount). As a consequence, the small print round her eyebrows and hair are delicate, nearly blurry. This was taken with the principle digicam. Patrick Holland/CNETThe Moto G Power has an evening mode known as Night Vision. In dimly lit locations, Night Vision works properly. Check out the 2 pictures under of a door wreath. The first one was taken with the default photograph mode and the second with Night Vision. Not solely is the second photograph brighter, however it captures extra element and texture within the wreath and ornaments. This was taken with the default photograph mode. Patrick Holland/CNET Here’s one other photograph of the identical wreath taken with Night Vision. Patrick Holland/CNETBut it is nothing in comparison with the evening mode you’d get on a high-end cellphone just like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, which is 4 instances the worth. Take a have a look at the pictures under. A marina scene captured with the Moto G Power’s Night Vision. Patrick Holland/CNET Here’s a photograph of the identical scene taken with evening mode on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Patrick Holland]CNETThe ultrawide lens is new to the Moto G Power and doubles as a macro lens, so you will get near your topic and nonetheless have or not it’s in focus. This digicam has an 8-megapixel sensor, and I’m genuinely impressed with among the pictures it was in a position to take. Below is an ultrawide photograph I took of a wooden carving outdoors of Trader Vic’s. I could not see the photograph whereas I used to be taking it as a result of the display seemed too dim below the tough daylight. But I used to be pleasantly stunned by the end result I obtained, particularly on this backlit scene. Here’s a strong HDR shot from the Moto G Power’s new ultrawide digicam. Patrick Holland/CNETHere’s a macro photograph of a maple pecan donut taken with the ultrawide digicam. The chopped pecans are in focus, however on the whole I’m not a fan of how flat photos look out of the Moto G Power. The ultrawide digicam doubles as a macro lens. Patrick Holland]CNETOn the entire, this dual-camera setup works nice for a $300 cellphone, and it is all most individuals must take pictures for Instagram. I ought to warn you that on the subject of video, the very best decision you may report is 1080p. Don’t anticipate 4K on this cellphone. And that is a disgrace, as a result of even when you solely have the Moto G Power for a yr or two, you will in all probability hold your pictures and movies for for much longer. A better decision will doubtless look higher whenever you view movies years from now.Check out much more photograph samples from the Moto G Power under.
I Tested the Moto G Power 5G’s Cameras at Trader Vic’s in Oakland
See all pictures Performance and battery Motorola permits you to customise the best way apps look on the house display. James Martin/CNETDuring the six days I examined the cellphone, I solely charged it twice. Motorola claims the cellphone provides two-day battery life, and it largely lives as much as that promise. Even after I pushed the cellphone exhausting by taking pictures, recording movies and taking part in video video games, the Moto G Power would final a day and a half on a single cost. But it lasted for 2 days of regular cellphone use, ending the second day at 17%.In CNET’s streaming check, which entails streaming a video over Wi-Fi for 3 hours and checking the battery proportion at each hour, the Moto G Power carried out simply OK. Despite “power” being in its title, this is not the longest-lasting cellphone we have examined, doubtless as a result of it runs on a less-power environment friendly chip.Here’s how the Moto G Power stacked as much as others within the streaming video battery check. Keep in thoughts that final yr’s Moto G Stylus has a decrease decision and refresh charge show than the Moto G Power and ROG Phone 8 Pro.Streaming video battery check outcomes Phone Display decision, refresh chargeAfter 1 hourAfter 2 hoursAfter 3 hoursMoto G Power 5G (2024) 1,080p, 120Hz90%79%70%Moto G Stylus (2023) 720p, 90Hz93%84%75%Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro 1,080p, 165Hz94%84%75% The Moto G Power can cost quick, too. The 5,000-mAh battery, which helps 30W quick wired charging, went from empty to 55% in 30 minutes. (I ought to observe that the wall plug is not included within the field.) It additionally helps 15W wi-fi charging, which is uncommon for a cellphone at this worth.In truth the very first time I went to cost it, I could not discover a wall plug, so I simply put it on a wi-fi charging pad. I’m an enormous fan of this addition.The cellphone’s MediaTek Dimensity 7020 processor, together with its 8GB of RAM, made the Moto G Power able to dealing with every part I threw at it. This is not the quickest cellphone, however it’s speedy sufficient for on a regular basis duties like messaging, Zoom video calls, scrolling social media or simply watching films.If you need extra RAM, Motorola has a nifty characteristic known as RAM Boost, which helps you to use a few of your storage reminiscence for RAM for as much as 16GB whole. This got here in hand for gaming, however I can see this being useful for multitasking, too.Competition and ultimate ideas Google Maps operating on the Moto G Power. James Martin/CNETFor years, Motorola dominated the reasonably priced cellphone scene within the US. But lately OnePlus, Samsung and Google have given Motorola extra competitors with their very own aggressively-priced telephones.For instance, CNET’s prime $300 cellphone choose in 2023 was the OnePlus Nord N30. While an up to date model has not been launched in 2024, I feel this Moto G Power is healthier in each means, apart from the OnePlus’ 50W wired charging. In CNET colleague Mike Sorrentino’s OnePlus Nord N30 assessment, he discovered that the principle 108-megapixel digicam nonetheless suffers from most of the identical digicam processing calamities as different funds telephones.Google’s Pixel 6A is presently $349 however it often goes on sale for $300. If you prioritize images over anything, it may be price paying the additional $49, because the Pixel 6A makes use of Google’s wonderful computational photograph algorithms for very good snaps. Otherwise, I feel the Moto G Power is healthier general in practically each means: It has a bigger display, an even bigger battery, assist for wi-fi charging and quicker wired charging and it is two years newer. The Pixel 6A is rated IP67 for mud and water resistance, that means it may well survive being submerged below water.At the top of the day, even with elevated competitors, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) is a superb $300 cellphone. It represents the most effective cellphone values at any worth you can purchase at the moment.
The Moto G Power 5G Looks Good in ‘Vegan’ Leather and Lilac
See all pictures How we check phonesEvery cellphone examined by CNET’s evaluations staff was really utilized in the true world. We check a cellphone’s options, play video games and take pictures. We study the show to see if it is brilliant, sharp and vibrant. We analyze the design and construct to see how it’s to carry and whether or not it has an IP-rating for water-resistance. We push the processor’s efficiency to the extremes, utilizing standardized benchmark instruments like GeekBench and 3DMark in addition to our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and taking part in graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.All the cameras are examined in a wide range of situations, from brilliant daylight to darkish indoor scenes. We check out particular options like evening mode and portrait mode and evaluate our findings in opposition to equally priced competing telephones. We additionally try the battery life by utilizing the cellphone each day in addition to operating a collection of battery drain checks.We have in mind extra options, like assist for 5G; satellite tv for pc connectivity; fingerprint and face sensors; stylus assist; quick charging speeds; and foldable shows, amongst others that may be helpful. And we steadiness all this in opposition to the worth to provide the verdict on whether or not that cellphone, no matter worth it’s, really represents good worth. Though these checks might not at all times be mirrored in CNET’s preliminary assessment, we conduct follow-up and long-term testing in most circumstances.Motorola Moto G Power 5G (2024) specs vs. Nothing Phone 2A, OnePlus Nord N30 5G, Google Pixel 6A Moto G Power 5G (2024)Nothing Phone 2AOnePlus Nord N30 5GGoogle Pixel 6ADisplay dimension, tech, decision, refresh charge 6.7-inch LCD; 2,400 x 1,080 pixels; 60-120Hz refresh rate6.7-inch AMOLED; 2,412 x 1,084 pixels; 30-120Hz adaptive refresh rate6.72-inch LCD; 2400 x 1080 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate6.1-inch OLED; 2400 x 1080 pixels; 60HzPixel density 391 ppi394 ppi391 ppi429 ppiDimensions (inches) 6.6 x 3 x 0.3 in.6.37 x 3 x 0.34 in.6.51 x 2.99 x 0.32 in.6.0 x 2.8 x 0.35 inDimensions (millimeters) 167.2 x 76.4 x 8.5 mm161.74 x 76.32 x 8.55 mm165.5 x 76 x 8.3 mm152.2 x 7.18 x 8.9 mmWeight (grams, ounces) 201 g (7.09 oz.)190 g (6.7 oz.)195 g (6.97 oz)178 g (6.3 oz.)Mobile software program Android 14Android 14Android 13Android 12Digicam 50-megapixel (most important), 8-megapixel (ultrawide)50-megapixel (extensive), 50-megapixel (ultrawide)108-megapixel (most important), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth)12.2-megapixel (extensive), 12-megapixel (ultrawide)Front-facing digicam 16-megapixel32-megapixel16-megapixel8-megapixelVideo seize 1,080p4K1,080p4KProcessor Mediatek Dimensity 7020MediaTek Dimensity 7200 ProQualcomm Snapdragon 695Google TensorRAM + storage 8GB + 128GB8GB RAM + 128GB, 12GB RAM + 256GB8GB + 128GB6GB RAM + 128GBExpandable storage Up to 1TBNoUp to 512GBNoBattery 5,000 mAh5,000 mAh5,000 mAh4,410 mAhFingerprint sensor SideUnder displaySideUnder displayConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB CHeadphone jack YesNoYesNoneSpecial options 30W wired charging, 15W wi-fi charging, Dolby Atmos, NFC (Google Pay), water repellent, gesture controls, Moto Secure, RAM Boost, Moto Gestures45W wired charging, Rear lights, NFC (Google Pay), Wi-Fi 6, IP54 score, RAM Booster50W SuperVooc quick charging, 108-megapixel most important digicam, recreation mode, twin stereo speakers5G-enabled, 18W quick charging, WiFi 6E, safety updates for 5 years, Android OS updates for 3 years, twin SIM, IP67 water resistanceUS worth begins at $300 (128GB)$349 (128GB)$300 (128GB)$349 (128GB)UK worth begins at Converts to £234 (128GB)£319 (128GB)Converts to £238 (128GB)£349 (128GB)Australia worth begins at Converts to AU$453 (128GB)AU$529 (128GB)Converts to AU$443 (128GB)Converts to AU$527 (128GB)