Motorola Moto G05

The Motorola Moto G05 is a budget-friendly smartphone designed to offer essential features at a low price. While it lacks the bells and whistles of premium devices, its design, battery life, and overall performance make it a suitable option for budget-conscious users who does not require high-end specifications. The device boasts a sleek design, featuring a 6.7-inch IPS LCD display with a 20:9 aspect ratio, making it tall but slim and easy to handle. Weighing 188.8g, it strikes a balance between size and portability. The phone uses a plastic frame with a shiny faux-metallic finish and a "vegan leather" textured back, giving it a reasonably premium feel without the high cost. Though it may not rival more expensive devices in terms of looks, it offers a decent aesthetic at an affordable price. The 6.7-inch screen is an upgrade from its predecessor’s 6.6-inch display but retains a 1612 x 720 resolution. While the 720p resolution may disappoint those accustomed to high-definition screens, it’s sufficient for basic tasks like browsing and watching videos. The screen is not the sharpest, but it should meet the expectations of users looking for a budget-friendly device.

The handset also includes a side-mounted power button with an integrated fingerprint reader, making unlocking the phone easier, especially on a tall device. It also supports Face Unlock and NFC for contactless payments, adding a bit of convenience for its price range. Under the hood, the Moto G05 is powered by an entry-level MediaTek processor, paired with 4GB of RAM, expandable up to 12GB using the ‘RAM Boost’ feature, which borrows space from its 64GB internal storage. While the performance is acceptable for light tasks like browsing, social media, and video streaming, it struggles with more demanding apps and multitasking. Additionally, the device supports only 4G connectivity, which may feel limiting in regions where 5G is becoming more common. However, the 4G connection helps conserve battery life, which is a significant benefit for users who do not require ultra-fast data speeds. The Moto G05’s 5200mAh battery is one of its standout features. With its power-efficient processor and low-resolution display, the phone can last up to 40 hours on a single charge, making it an excellent choice for users who need a reliable device throughout the day without worrying about frequent recharges. While it lacks fast or wireless charging, the 18W USB-C charging is adequate for its class.

The camera system on the Moto G05 features a 50MP main sensor, which uses pixel binning to combine multiple pixels into one, resulting in 12.5MP effective photos. While the high megapixel count sounds impressive, the image quality doesn’t live up to expectations. Photos are decent in good lighting but lack detail and often suffer from oversaturation. Low-light performance is acceptable, but the phone misses key features like optical zoom and image stabilization. The 8MP front camera offers decent selfies, but overall, the camera setup is basic and best suited for casual photography. The Motorola Moto G05 is a solid budget option for users who need a phone for simple tasks and long battery life. While it offers reasonable performance, a decent camera, and a sleek design, it falls short in areas like display sharpness, camera quality, and software updates. It’s a good choice for pre-teens, seniors, or anyone on a tight budget who does not demand high-end features. However, tech-savvy users or those expecting longevity from their device may want to look elsewhere.

Hands-on article by Jagadisa Rajarathnam