The affordable Motorola Moto G 5G smartphone does a lot right in our test

After the previously reviewed Moto G 5G Plus, the Motorola Moto G 5G, the smaller model counterpart of the Moto 5G series, was put through our test course. It also features a rather modern design with relatively narrow display bezels thanks to the punch-hole design. Regardless of that, the Motorola phone offers a nice overall package consisting of minimalistic software, fast WLAN, and accurate GPS navigation. The performance of the mid-range phone is also appealing due to the Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G that is used. In addition, the 5,000 mAh battery in the Moto G 5G, which can be charged at up to 20 watts via the TurboPower fast-charging technology, provides very long runtimes of 17:30 hours in our WLAN test under realistic conditions.

However, the Moto G 5G's biggest strength is revealed when it comes to communication. In its mid-range phone, Motorola uses Bluetooth 5.1, a 3.5 mm audio jack, and dual-SIM functionality with Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE; in addition, the built-in NFC chip enables Google Pay. The dual-SIM smartphone uses the fast 5G standard for mobile Internet access and covers all LTE frequencies relevant for Germany - with 20 supported LTE bands, the Moto G 5G is even on par with a few flagship smartphones.

However, our review of the Motorola phone also revealed one major shortcoming. The display of the Moto G 5G is by no means bad, but the LTPS panel of the Moto G 5G doesn't quite live up to what prospective buyers might expect from a 300-Euro (~$364) smartphone nowadays. The LC display is a bit low in contrast, uses PWM for brightness control, and has a native refresh rate of only 60 Hz as well as the typical LCD weaknesses (shadows, clouding, ...). Display fans will definitely find better panels in this price range.

Is the display quality in a smartphone of little importance to you and are you interested in the affordable mid-range smartphone? If so, you can get a detailed impression of the Moto G 5G from our comprehensive review of the Motorola smartphone.