Introduction
The smartphone market is fiercely competitive, with manufacturers constantly vying for consumers' attention across all price segments. In the mid-range category, Motorola has long been a respected player with its Moto G series. The Moto G5 Plus represents the company's latest effort to deliver a compelling balance of features, performance, and value. As a tech enthusiast, I've spent considerable time with this device, putting it through its paces to determine whether it lives up to the Moto G legacy and stands out in a crowded field.
Design and Build Quality: A Step Up
The Moto G5 Plus marks a significant evolution in the design language of the Moto G series. Gone are the days of plastic builds; this device boasts a full metal unibody construction that immediately elevates its perceived quality. The cool touch of aluminum and the satisfying heft it imparts create a premium feel that belies the phone's mid-range price point.
Motorola has wisely opted for a 5.2-inch display, bucking the trend of ever-expanding screen sizes. This decision results in a device that strikes an excellent balance between screen real estate and one-handed usability. The curved edges further enhance ergonomics, making the G5 Plus comfortable to hold for extended periods.
The circular camera bump on the rear is reminiscent of higher-end Moto devices, lending the G5 Plus a familial resemblance to its more expensive siblings. While this design element does cause some wobble when the phone is placed on flat surfaces, it's a minor inconvenience that's easily forgiven given the overall aesthetic improvement.
Display: Crisp and Capable
The 5.2-inch 1080p IPS LCD display is a highlight of the Moto G5 Plus. With a pixel density of 424 ppi, text and images appear sharp and clear. Color reproduction is accurate, and viewing angles are generous, ensuring content remains visible even when the phone is not viewed head-on.
Brightness levels are commendable, with the display reaching up to 450 nits in our testing. This ensures good outdoor visibility, though it may struggle in direct sunlight. The inclusion of Corning Gorilla Glass 3 provides a decent level of scratch resistance, though it's not the latest iteration of this protective technology.
Performance: Smooth Sailing
Under the hood, the Moto G5 Plus is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor. This octa-core chip, built on a 14nm process, strikes an excellent balance between performance and power efficiency. In day-to-day use, the G5 Plus feels responsive and capable, handling everything from basic tasks to moderate multitasking with aplomb.
The review unit I tested came with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. This configuration provides ample headroom for app management, allowing multiple apps to remain in memory without aggressive background killing. The storage is expandable via microSD, a welcome feature for media enthusiasts.
In benchmark tests, the G5 Plus achieves scores that are competitive within its price range. AnTuTu v6 yields a score of around 63,000, while GeekBench 4 single-core and multi-core scores hover around 840 and 4,300 respectively. These numbers translate to real-world performance that should satisfy most users, though hardcore gamers may want to look at devices with more potent GPUs.
Software: Clean and Functional
One of the Moto G series' strongest suits has always been its software experience, and the G5 Plus continues this tradition. Running a near-stock version of Android 7.0 Nougat at launch, with the promise of timely updates, the interface is clean, intuitive, and free from bloatware.
Motorola's light touch on Android manifests in thoughtful additions rather than wholesale changes. Moto Display provides convenient at-a-glance notifications and media controls, while Moto Actions enable useful gesture shortcuts like chopping twice for flashlight or twisting to launch the camera. These features enhance the user experience without compromising the purity of Android.
Camera: Punching Above Its Weight
The camera capabilities of mid-range smartphones have improved dramatically in recent years, and the Moto G5 Plus is a prime example of this trend. The 12MP rear camera boasts an f/1.7 aperture, which is impressive for this price point and promises improved low-light performance.
In practice, the camera delivers results that often exceed expectations. In good lighting conditions, photos exhibit excellent detail, accurate colors, and impressive dynamic range. The large aperture indeed helps in dimmer environments, though noise becomes more apparent as light levels drop.
The inclusion of dual-pixel autofocus technology, typically found in more expensive devices, ensures rapid and accurate focusing. This is particularly noticeable when shooting moving subjects or transitioning between near and far objects.
Video capabilities are also noteworthy, with the G5 Plus able to capture 4K footage at 30fps. While not groundbreaking, this is a feature often omitted in mid-range offerings and provides future-proofing for content creators.
Battery Life: Endurance Champion
Battery life is an area where the Moto G5 Plus truly shines. The combination of a 3000mAh battery and the power-efficient Snapdragon 625 results in excellent endurance. In my testing, the device consistently lasted through a full day of moderate to heavy use, often with 20-30% charge remaining.
Screen-on time regularly exceeded 6 hours, a figure that competes with many flagship devices. The inclusion of Motorola's TurboPower charging technology is a boon for those times when a quick top-up is needed, providing up to 6 hours of use from a 15-minute charge.
Connectivity and Audio
The Moto G5 Plus covers all the essential bases in terms of connectivity. 4G LTE support ensures speedy mobile data, while dual-band Wi-Fi provides robust connections on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks. The inclusion of NFC in some regions is particularly noteworthy, as it enables contactless payments – a feature often omitted in this price range.
Audio performance is adequate, if unremarkable. The single bottom-firing speaker gets reasonably loud but lacks bass and can distort at high volumes. The retention of the 3.5mm headphone jack is welcome, bucking the trend of its removal in many modern smartphones.
Value Proposition
When considering the Moto G5 Plus, it's essential to contextualize its offering within the competitive landscape. At its launch price of Rs. 16,999 in India for the 4GB/32GB model, it faces stiff competition from devices like the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4, which offers a larger battery, and the Honor 6X, which boasts dual cameras.
However, the G5 Plus counters with its clean software experience, superior build quality, and well-rounded feature set. The promise of timely software updates from Motorola also adds long-term value that shouldn't be underestimated.
Conclusion
The Moto G5 Plus successfully carries the torch for the Moto G series, offering a compelling package that balances performance, features, and value. Its premium design, capable camera, and clean software experience make it an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable mid-range smartphone.
While it may not lead the pack in any single area, the G5 Plus's strength lies in its consistency across all aspects of the smartphone experience. For users who prioritize a clean Android interface, solid build quality, and good all-around performance, the Moto G5 Plus remains a strong contender in the ever-evolving mid-range smartphone market.
As technology enthusiasts, we often seek devices that push the boundaries of what's possible. However, there's something to be said for a phone that simply gets the basics right, and does so with aplomb. The Moto G5 Plus is such a device – a dependable workhorse that proves you don't need to break the bank for a quality smartphone experience.
