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    Moto G Power 5G Review: This $300 Phone Gets Just Enough Right

    7.0 Moto G Power 5G (2023) Like
    Great display for its worth

    256GB of storage

    Works on all three US carriers
    Don’t like
    Weak pictures

    Slow charging

    No NFC for cellular funds
    The launch of the $300 Moto G Power 5G is a pivotal second for Motorola’s perennial value-priced telephone. After years of highlighting battery life above all else — generally lasting so long as three days — the brand new telephone’s powers revolve round its display, 5G compatibility and inner specs.The Power 5G is the bottom priced telephone I’ve seen that has a 6.5-inch 120Hz refresh price display, 256GB of inner storage and 6GB of reminiscence. This makes it a media powerhouse that may simply be a house in your music library, downloaded Netflix motion pictures and video games. And regardless that it is now not the star function of the telephone, the Moto G Power 5G’s 5,000-mAh battery can nonetheless final a few day and a half with heavy use, or two days with lighter utilization.Unlike a variety of telephones that price $300 or much less, the Moto G Power works on all three main carriers and runs a flippantly skinned tackle Android 13. However it is held again by a digital camera that struggles to seize a lot element, and it lacks NFC for cellular funds. That latter omission is very notable as contactless cost is a typical function for this worth vary. And like different Moto G telephones, the Power 5G will get one main software program replace and three years of safety updates. The telephone additionally features a few bundled apps which can be forcibly put in throughout setup like TikTok (learn: bloatware), however they’re straightforward sufficient to uninstall if you do not need them.If you’ll be able to cope with these compromises, the Moto G Power 5G continues to be a really succesful telephone for the value — simply so long as you do not want this to be your digital camera. Motorola’s new worth telephone, the Moto G Power 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETMoto G Power 5G design and specsThe Moto G Power 5G has a easy design that appears common. Its plastic physique is available in two colours: Mineral Black and Pearl White. The 6.5-inch show has a 1080p decision, the aforementioned 120Hz refresh price and a display cutout for the 16-megapixel front-facing digital camera.The display is sort of good for the value. The larger refresh price makes articles straightforward to learn, smooths out recreation animations and brings out particulars once I stream YouTube or Netflix movies. The Moto G Power 5G’s 120Hz display is superb to see offered on the telephone’s $300 worth. Mike Sorrentino/CNETThere are stereo audio system on the highest and backside, which is a pleasant improve from the one audio system we often see on this worth vary. A headphone jack sits subsequent to the USB-C charging port, and there is a SIM/microSD card tray. A aspect fingerprint sensor is constructed into the telephone’s energy button, which unlocks the telephone rapidly.On the again is a Motorola emblem and the telephone’s three cameras: a 50-megapixel foremost digital camera, a 2-megapixel macro digital camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor for portrait mode.Inside is a MediaTek Dimensity 930 processor, which carried out effective launching out and in of video games and apps. The telephone did chug a bit once I had the Marvel Snap card recreation cranked as much as its larger graphics settings, however once I moved these all the way down to medium, the sport ran at 60 frames per second with no downside. In benchmark exams, it in contrast favorably to the $258 TCL Stylus 5G and $228 OnePlus Nord N300 5G by way of efficiency.Benchmarks Geekbench 5 Single Core 691 597 550Geekbench 5 Multicore 1,885 1,739 1,739
    Moto G Power 5G

    OnePlus Nord N300 5G

    TCL Stylus 5G
    Note: Higher scores are higher
    Even with the telephone’s display set to its 120Hz refresh price, the 5,000-mAh battery carried out effectively even throughout heavy utilization. I took the Moto G Power on a weekend journey to Philadelphia; absolutely charging it Friday afternoon earlier than I left. It lasted on a single cost for over a day and a half and survived two-and-a-half hours of heavy use on a practice experience, a photo-centric late evening out and a whole day of touring. On Sunday morning it nonetheless had 35% of its cost from Friday.While I’ve no complaints concerning the battery life, I do have points with its charging pace. The telephone comes with a 10W telephone charger, which took about two-and-a-half hours to totally cost the battery from 5%. When I used an 18W charger, it took one hour and 47 minutes to go from 35% to 97%. In comparability, the OnePlus N300 and OnePlus N20 every ship with a 33W quick charger that may cowl the identical floor in beneath an hour. The TCL Stylus 5G comes with an 18W charger that takes about 90 minutes to totally cost.Similarly, the Moto G Power’s 5,000-mAh battery will not be as distinctive because it as soon as was and is a typical function amongst competing telephones. The 120Hz refresh price makes apps, movies and video games animate very easily. Mike Sorrentino/CNETMoto G Power 5G camerasThe Moto G Power 5G cameras should not excellent, even for the value vary. Photos constantly regarded blurry, particularly in indoor settings. There’s a Night mode, which prompts robotically in a darker setting, however it actually did not assist. I took images on a dance ground and later of my mates’ cats, and each regarded like they’d an excessive amount of picture noise. The dance ground at Franky Bradley’s in Philadelphia, taken on the Moto G Power 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Cats Tilly and James nuzzle one another inside a home, however the picture taken on the Moto G Power 5G makes it exhausting to tell apart between them. Mike Sorrentino/CNETI was notably not pleased with the meals images I took all through the weekend. During a birthday mocktail celebration, I acquired blurry images of our drinks and charcuterie, to the purpose the place I requested my buddy to ship me a photograph of a dish she took with a Pixel 7 Pro. This is the shrimp on toast plate taken on the Moto G Power 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET This is the shrimp on toast plate taken on a Pixel 7 Pro. Courtesy of Karen ShoreOutdoor pictures was higher. My images and movies of Philadelphia murals had nice shade. I used to be even in a position to take a couple of good meals snaps that had a pleasant pop to them outdoor in daylight. Outdoor park taken on the Moto G Power 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET The Lavender London Fog donut at Federal Donuts, taken whereas outdoor on the Moto G Power 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETI took a couple of take a look at pictures with the Moto G Power 5G, the OnePlus Nord N300 5G and the TCL Stylus 5G utilizing the CNET workplace’s grass wall and bookshelf to additional evaluate the three telephones. The grass wall has a lot of element and is pretty effectively lit, with the Power 5G and the TCL Stylus 5G every emphasizing extra of the darker shades of the wall. The OnePlus telephone as an alternative saturates a lot of the greens, making a extra neon-like impact. Grass wall picture taken on the Moto G Power 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Grass wall picture taken on the TCL Stylus 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Grass wall picture taken on the OnePlus Nord N300 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETA darker bookshelf within the workplace nevertheless proved to once more be a problem for the Power 5G. Both the TCL and the OnePlus had been in a position to brighten up the bookshelf and get extra element. Bookshelf picture taken with the Moto G Power 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Bookshelf picture taken with the TCL Stylus 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNET Bookshelf picture taken with the OnePlus Nord N300 5G. Mike Sorrentino/CNETMeanwhile the 16-megapixel front-facing digital camera does a serviceable job of taking selfies and for video chats, however it’s additionally not notably detailed. A photograph I took in a well-lit setting, equivalent to this picture in New York’s Penn Station got here out alright. It’s not particularly detailed, however I really feel prefer it has stability and shade. Like with the rear digital camera, the Power 5G’s front-facing digital camera does an OK job in well-lit environments. Mike Sorrentino/CNETOn the opposite hand, a selfie I took as soon as I arrived in Philadelphia at Franky Bradley’s bar had the identical points as my footage taken on the 50-megapixel foremost digital camera. Put merely, in that darker setting with some lighting and the telephone’s evening mode, I actually do not look good in any respect. A photograph taken in a darkish setting utilizing the front-facing digital camera of the Moto G Power 5G. It’s full of picture noise. Mike Sorrentino/CNETMoto G Power 5G: The backside lineThe Moto G Power 5G works very effectively if you happen to primarily plan to make use of the telephone for calls, texting, watching movies and enjoying video games. You get loads for $300, equivalent to a 6.5-inch 120Hz refresh price display and a telephone that comes unlocked. If you might be utilizing Verizon, the Power 5G may be your solely possibility for a tool beneath $300 with out being on sale, and if that is the case, then it is a fairly first rate one.However in case you are utilizing AT&T or T-Mobile, I extremely recommend wanting into the OnePlus N20 5G or the OnePlus N300. Both telephones have higher cameras than the Power 5G, cost quicker and embody NFC. However Motorola beats OnePlus in safety replace help, which could possibly be extra interesting to somebody that plans to make use of the telephone till it breaks.Moto G Power 5G vs. OnePlus Nord N300 5G vs. OnePlus Nord N20 5G vs. TCL Stylus 5G Moto G Power 5G (2023)OnePlus Nord N300 5GOnePlus Nord N20 5GTCL Stylus 5G Display measurement, decision 6.5-inch LCD show; 2,400×1,080 pixels; 120Hz refresh rate6.56-inch IPS LCD show; 720p decision; 90Hz refresh rate6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display6.81-inch FHD+ show (1080 x2400 pixels)Pixel density 405 ppi269ppi409ppi395ppiDimensions (inches) 6.41 x 2.94 x 0.33 in.6.4 x 2.9 x 0.3 in.6.2 x 2.8 x 0.29 in.6.67 x 3.01 x 0.35 in.Dimensions (millimeters) 163 x 75 x 8.45 mm163.8 x 75.1 x 7.99 mm159.9 x 73.2 x 7.5 mm169.6 x 76.5 x 8.9 mmWeight (ounces, grams) 185 g (6.52 oz.)190g or 6.7 oz.173g or 6.1 oz.213g or 7.51 oz.Mobile software program Android 13Android 12Android 11Android 12Digicam 50-megapixel (foremost), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)48-megapixel (foremost), 2-megapixel (depth lens)64-megapixel (foremost), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (monochrome lens)50-megapixel (foremost), 5-megapixel (broad), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth sensor)Front-facing digital camera 16-megapixel16-megapixel16-megapixel13-megapixelVideo seize 720p at 60 fps1080p/720p at 30 fps1080p/720p at 30 fps1080p at 30fpsProcessor MediaTek Dimensity 930MediaTek Dimensity 810Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5GMediaTek Dimensity 700 5GRAM/Storage 4GB RAM + 128GB; 6GB RAM + 256GB4GB/64GB6GB/128GB4GB/128GBExpandable storage YesUp to 1TBUp to 512GBUp to 2TBBattery/Charger 5,000 mAh (15W wired charging pace, 10W adapter included)5,000 mAh; 33W charging4,500 mAh; 33W charging4,000 mAh; 18W chargingFingerprint sensor SideSide fingerprint sensorIn-screenSide fingerprint sensorConnector USB-CUSB-CUSB-CUSB-CHeadphone jack YesYesYesYesSpecial options Estimated 38-hour battery life, Moto Gestures, stereo speakersDual audio system, NFC, Face Unlock, HDR, Portrait, Face retouchingNFC, Face Unlock, HDR, Screen Flash, Face retouchingStylus with built-in storage, productiveness software program, NxtVision HDR modePrice off-contract (USD) $300$228$299$258Value (GBP) Converts to £240Value (AUD) Converts to AU$445 How we take a look at phonesEvery telephone examined by CNET’s opinions group was really utilized in the actual world. We take a look at a telephone’s options, play video games and take images. We study the show to see if it is shiny, 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 each standardized benchmark instruments like GeekBench and 3DMark, together with our personal anecdotal observations navigating the interface, recording high-resolution movies and enjoying graphically intense video games at excessive refresh charges.All the cameras are examined in quite a lot of circumstances from shiny 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 it each day in addition to operating a sequence of battery drain exams.We keep in mind further options like help for 5G, satellite tv for pc connectivity, fingerprint and face sensors, stylus help, quick charging speeds, foldable shows amongst others that may be helpful. And we stability all of this in opposition to the value to provide the verdict on whether or not that telephone, no matter worth it’s, really represents good worth.

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