Motorola Moto G31 smartphone review: OLED display at the expense of some features
Last year, Motorola introduced a broader product range with the new Moto G series. Right in the middle: The Moto G30, which had quite a bit to offer for just under 190 Euros (~$215).
The successor, the Moto G31, is here now: It's a slightly more manageable smartphone, but it's also 10 Euros (~$11) more expensive, and at first glance, you can tell that it lacks some of the features that the predecessor had. For example, a 90 Hz display or ample storage.
Is the Moto G31 maybe even worse than its predecessor? Our detailed review takes a closer look at this.
Possible contenders in comparison
Rating | Date | Model | Weight | Drive | Size | Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 78.9 % v7 (old) | 01 / 2022 | Motorola Moto G31 Helio G85, Mali-G52 MP2 | 181 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.40" | 2400x1080 | |
| 77.6 % v7 (old) | 04 / 2021 | Motorola Moto G30 SD 662, Adreno 610 | 197 g | 128 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 | |
| 74.9 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2021 | Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F Exynos 850, Mali-G52 MP1 | 205 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.50" | 1600x720 | |
| 78.4 % v7 (old) | 12 / 2021 | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 Helio G85, Mali-G52 MP2 | 190 g | 64 GB eMMC Flash | 6.30" | 2340x1080 | |
| 78.5 % v7 (old) | 11 / 2021 | Nokia G50 SD 480, Adreno 619 | 220 g | 128 GB UFS 2.1 Flash | 6.82" | 1560x720 |
Case – Splash-proof and quite lightweight
Measuring 6.4 inches, the Moto G31 is a bit more compact than its predecessor, and it is also quite light at 181 grams. Users with somewhat smaller hands will be happy about this. Thanks to the punch-hole camera, a large part of the front can be used for the screen, and the bezels are relatively narrow.
We like the slightly textured plastic back as well as the sturdy and high-quality build. The camera module also has a sleek design with its round, almost organic look. The manufacturer provided us with a review unit in Mineral Gray, although it can also look a bit bluish or dark green depending on how the light hits it. The second color option is Baby Blue, a fresh light blue.
The case is IP52 certified, so it's reasonably well protected against dust and splashing water, but you should never immerse the device in water.
Connectivity – Only standard fare now
Compared with the predecessor, the Moto G30, the Moto G31 has to put up with significant compromises in terms of storage capacity: While you still got 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage last year, you will now have to make do with 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage. This puts the smartphone on the same level as the Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos, which is at least 30 Euros (~$34) cheaper when purchased from the manufacturer.
NFC is still available, and there's also a DRM L1 certification that allows you to enjoy HD streaming content in all its glory with the now higher-resolution 1080p display.
microSD card reader
Users can use a microSD card to expand storage, but they will have to give up a SIM slot for this. In terms of read and write speeds, the Motorola phone achieves rates typical for its class in our test with the Angelbird V60 reference microSD card. However, the Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos also offers a phone with a much faster microSD reader for less money.
| SD Card Reader - average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Angelbird V60) | |
| Nokia G50 (Angelbird V60) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 (Angelbird V60) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 (Toshiba Exceria Pro) | |
Cross Platform Disk Test (CPDT)
Software – Motorola phone guaranteed to get Android 12
Android 11 continues to be the preinstalled system, but the Android 12-based My UX is supposed to be rolled out starting in February, and the manufacturer has already confirmed that the Moto G31 will also receive this update. However, it's not yet clear when this will happen. Upon inquiry, Motorola informed us that there will be no more OS updates for this smartphone besides this one.
The security patches are from December 2021 at the time of testing, which means they are still pretty up to date, a good performance for a relatively low-priced smartphone. Security updates are planned for three years from launch, so probably until the end of 2024.
Traditionally, Motorola uses a fairly pure Android version, and all special features are bundled in the Moto app. In addition, Motorola wants to ensure that users' data is protected at all times through ThinkShield for Mobile. This includes, for example, a detailed inspection of suppliers as well as of built-in hardware features and enhanced software to make devices even more secure.
Communication and GNSS – 4G with good reception
Thanks to Wi-Fi 5, the Moto G31 achieves WLAN transfer rates of around 350 Mb/s, which are common in this class. The phone performs slightly better than its predecessor in our tests with the Netgear Nighthawk AX12 reference router.
Users looking for a 5G-capable smartphone won't be satisfied with the Moto G31. You only get the most necessary 4G frequencies here, so depending on the country, mobile Internet might not be available on international trips, because the phone is unable to communicate with the local network.
However, if you have access to the 4G network, reception is quite stable, and it can even compete with high-end smartphones like the iPhone 13 as far as signal strength is concerned. At least in our sample test, we can confirm that the Motorola Moto G31 has good mobile reception.
| Networking | |
| iperf3 transmit AX12 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Nokia G50 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| iperf3 receive AX12 | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Nokia G50 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
The Motorola phone proves to be quite fast when it comes to positioning outdoors: There are enough satellite signals available after a short time to determine the position with an accuracy of a very good 2 meters. GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo are supported, and the SBAS support system is also used.
In our field test with the Garmin Venu 2 as comparison device, the Moto G31 shows good accuracy: Every now and then, a garden or house is cut across, although we were naturally on the road, but accuracy is completely sufficient for everyday use and should even meet higher requirements for tracking accuracy.
Telephone and call quality – Moto G31 with clear sound
Of course, VoLTE and VoWiFi are supported by the Moto G31, which means that voice signals can be transmitted via the LTE network or Wi-Fi.
We checked the phone's call quality with a few test calls, and we have to say: We like it a lot. Neither the earpiece nor the speaker rumble, and the microphone picks up our voice very clearly and without background noise, even when we speak very loudly or very quietly. Overall, a great performance for such a low-priced phone.
Cameras – Moto phone with hybrid zoom
Motorola has slightly trimmed down the camera system compared with the Moto G30: The main camera only has a resolution of 50 megapixels, so it takes 12-megapixel photos with pixel-binning for higher brightness by default. In addition, the depth-of-field auxiliary lens has been dropped, but this is probably a tolerable loss that will hardly be noticeable in terms of image quality.
Photos taken outdoors under good lighting conditions are not 100% sharp, but they look quite nice overall. However, dynamic range could still be a bit higher, something that is also noticeable in low light and high contrasts: Here, a great amount of detail becomes lost quickly in dark areas.
The wide-angle camera takes nice photos, but they lose details quickly on closer inspection. Light sensitivity is quite low as well. Zooming in several steps between the wide-angle and main cameras is possible, but the transition between the lenses is less elegant than what you get on high-end phones.
You can't zoom while recording a video, so users have to choose a lens before they start recording. With the preinstalled camera software, it's not possible to pick a video resolution other than 1080p at 30 fps, either. This puts the smartphone on par with its class.
Image Comparison
Choose a scene and navigate within the first image. One click changes the position on touchscreens. One click on the zoomed-in image opens the original in a new window. The first image shows the scaled photograph of the test device.
Main camera - PlantMain camera - SurroundingsMain camera - Low lightWide-angle camera
In the lab under predefined light conditions, the Moto G31 shows a slightly decreasing sharpness towards the edges, but otherwise, the image sharpness is decent, and there are only minor deficits in terms of contrast. Overall, a good result for such a low-priced phone.
Accessories and warranty – motocare offers security
The box contains a wide range of accessories, and Motorola has even included a silicon case. When it comes to a suitable replacement charger, Motorola points to its official Amazon store, where the accessory is available for just under 16 Euros (~$18).
Motorola offers a 24-month warranty for buyers within the EU. In addition, you can purchase motocare from Motorola's official store, which extends the warranty by one year for between 20 to 50 Euros (~$23 to ~$57), while also offering optional accidental damage protection.
Input devices and handling – Mushy buttons
The virtual keyboard comes from Google, so users who have already used another Android smartphone will more than likely be familiar with it. Otherwise, it's intuitive and includes all the essential functions.
The physical buttons are located on the right side when the smartphone is held upright. The standby button is slightly recessed, and it also contains the fingerprint scanner. It works reliably and quickly. The volume rocker and a button for Google Assistant are found above. All the hardware buttons are easy to find, but they have a somewhat spongy pressure point.
Display – Full HD OLED display for under 200 Euros (~$226)
Hardly any smartphone offers a Full HD display like the Moto G31 does for around 200 Euros (~$226), which means that you usually have to resort to older devices that have become cheaper in the meantime, or you can take a look at the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021.
In addition, Motorola offers an OLED panel that can display full blacks by completely switching off the individual diodes, which in turn makes colors shine more brightly. The significantly higher brightness compared with the predecessor is also a big plus point, even though the smartphone is still not quite on par with its class.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 94 %
Center on Battery: 423 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 1.58 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.88
ΔE Greyscale 2.7 | 0.5-98 Ø5.1
99.9% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.219
| Motorola Moto G31 OLED, 2400x1080, 6.4" | Motorola Moto G30 LCD IPS, 1600x720, 6.5" | Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F IPS LCD, 1600x720, 6.5" | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 IPS LCD, 2340x1080, 6.3" | Nokia G50 IPS, 1560x720, 6.8" | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen | -35% | -65% | -75% | -65% | |
| Brightness middle | 423 | 284 -33% | 446 5% | 496 17% | 568 34% |
| Brightness | 425 | 263 -38% | 423 0% | 491 16% | 525 24% |
| Brightness Distribution | 94 | 83 -12% | 88 -6% | 91 -3% | 85 -10% |
| Black Level * | 0.34 | 0.29 | 0.19 | 0.24 | |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 1.58 | 2.92 -85% | 4.94 -213% | 5.5 -248% | 5.31 -236% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 4.68 | 5.06 -8% | 8.81 -88% | 8.88 -90% | 9.04 -93% |
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 2.7 | 3.6 -33% | 5.1 -89% | 6.6 -144% | 5.6 -107% |
| Gamma | 2.219 99% | 2.307 95% | 2.145 103% | 2.36 93% | 2.517 87% |
| CCT | 6674 97% | 6780 96% | 7890 82% | 8432 77% | 7541 86% |
| Contrast | 835 | 1538 | 2611 | 2367 |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 223.2 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 223.2 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 223.2 Hz is relatively low, so sensitive users will likely notice flickering and experience eyestrain at the stated brightness setting and below. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8553 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
We observe PWM, which is usually found in OLEDs. Sensitive users should test the display at low brightness before buying the device in order to see whether they are bothered by the flickering. Response times are fast, which makes the touchscreen well suited for gamers as well.
The display performs satisfactorily using the "Natural" color mode, where these are displayed quite accurately, even though there's a very slight greenish tint when it comes to absolute white.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 15 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (20.8 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 3 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 3 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows very fast response rates in our tests and should be very well suited for fast-paced gaming. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 15 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (32.6 ms). | ||
There are no complaints regarding viewing angles. The smartphone can be used outdoors on cloudy days without any problems. However, if it gets sunnier, you should look for a spot under the shade, otherwise reflections on the screen in combination with the average brightness will make it difficult to view the screen content.
Performance – Standard performance level for its class
The MediaTek Helio G85 is used as the SoC. It has eight cores with clock rates of up to 2 GHz. Our review unit achieves good performance rates with it that are in line with its price range. In everyday use, this means that navigating through menus feels fast. However, the predecessor still felt a bit smoother despite having slightly less computing power thanks to its 90 Hz display.
Several apps running simultaneously or demanding applications quickly bring the smartphone to its limits. Controlling the volume, for example, can only be done sluggishly then. If you want more power, you should consider the slightly more expensive Nokia G50: The Snapdragon 480 provides considerably more computing power.
At first, the Moto G31 seems to be behind when it comes to the graphics benchmarks, but one should keep in mind that it has a higher-resolution display than its predecessor. So, in practice, it's certainly possible that users will perceive the smartphone to be a bit slower in terms of graphics processing. In the offscreen tests, which are all rendered in the same resolution, our review unit has a small advantage over the Moto G30. Nevertheless, this is clearly not enough to compensate for the additional performance needed due to the higher-resolution display.
| Antutu v9 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (191865 - 231224, n=3) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (99654 - 2056989, n=88, last 2 years) | |
| AnTuTu v8 - Total Score (sort by value) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (171116 - 177574, n=2) | |
| AImark - Score v2.x (sort by value) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (5912 - 7145, n=3) | |
The Motorola Moto G31 cuts a fine figure when browsing the web, and it usually manages to reach the top positions in the browser benchmarks. You'll have to put up with slight delays when loading sites and when retrieving photos, but the smartphone does quite well overall here.
| Performance Rating - Percent | |
| Average of class Smartphone -1! | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Jetstream 2 - 2.0 Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (13.8 - 387, n=169, last 2 years) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (29.2 - 61.3, n=8) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 (Chrome 97) | |
| Motorola Moto G30 (Chrome89) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 (Chrome96) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| JetStream 1.1 - Total Score | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 (Chrome96) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 (Chrome 97) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (53.9 - 58.9, n=4) | |
| Motorola Moto G30 (Chrome89) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Speedometer 2.0 - Result | |
| Average of class Smartphone (15.2 - 569, n=150, last 2 years) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (27 - 48.6, n=7) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 (Chrome96) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 (Chome 97) | |
| Motorola Moto G30 (Chrome89) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| WebXPRT 3 - Overall | |
| Average of class Smartphone (38 - 347, n=79, last 2 years) | |
| Motorola Moto G30 (Chrome89) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 (Chrome96) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (43 - 47, n=5) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 (Chrome 97) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Octane V2 - Total Score | |
| Average of class Smartphone (2228 - 100368, n=207, last 2 years) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (10299 - 15443, n=14) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 (Chrome96) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 (Chrome 97) | |
| Motorola Moto G30 (Chrome89) | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F (Chrome96) | |
| Motorola Moto G30 (Chrome89) | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 (Chrome96) | |
| Motorola Moto G31 (Chrome 97) | |
| Average Mediatek Helio G85 (2712 - 3939, n=8) | |
| Average of class Smartphone (277 - 28190, n=168, last 2 years) | |
* ... smaller is better
With eMMC flash memory, the Moto phone is equipped with the slowest storage type that is currently used in smartphones. This is also common in this price range, and the Moto G31 achieves quite decent transfer rates in comparison here. However, the Nokia G50 shows how much smoother a system feels when it makes use of the faster UFS storage type.
| Motorola Moto G31 | Motorola Moto G30 | Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | Nokia G50 | Average 64 GB eMMC Flash | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AndroBench 3-5 | 15% | -33% | -15% | 89% | -33% | 403% | |
| Sequential Read 256KB | 309.8 | 214.5 -31% | 302.3 -2% | 309.4 0% | 515 66% | 274 ? -12% | 2009 ? 548% |
| Sequential Write 256KB | 221.5 | 190.2 -14% | 74.5 -66% | 159.7 -28% | 486.6 120% | 177.3 ? -20% | 1619 ? 631% |
| Random Read 4KB | 84 | 247.4 195% | 77.8 -7% | 73.6 -12% | 182 117% | 59.9 ? -29% | 283 ? 237% |
| Random Write 4KB | 109.8 | 12.2 -89% | 47.21 -57% | 88.9 -19% | 166.5 52% | 32.7 ? -70% | 324 ? 195% |
Games – 60 fps is barely achievable
True 60 fps gaming is almost impossible with the Moto G31. Even somewhat less demanding action games like Armajet tend to run more like at 55 fps. In PUBG Mobile, the frame rate drops to 30 fps at high details, and it reaches around 40 fps using low settings. We measured the frame rates with the tools from GameBench.
So, you can definitely run games smoothly, but you should avoid having overly high expectations in terms of frame rates. The controls using the position sensor and touchscreen work reliably.
Emissions – Nothing gets hot
Temperature
The smartphone's surface temperatures aren't excessively high even after prolonged load, which means that problems might only arise in extremely high outdoor temperatures.
The 3DMark stress tests reveal that performance hardly drops even during prolonged periods of high load. The scores are pretty much on par with those of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 that is equipped with the same SoC.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.2 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 35.1 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 63.7 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 39.2 °C / 103 F, compared to the average of 33.9 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.5 °C / 73 F, compared to the device average of 32.8 °C / 91 F.
3DMark Wild Life stress test
| 3DMark | |
| Wild Life Stress Test Stability | |
| Motorola Moto G30 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
| Wild Life Extreme Stress Test | |
| Motorola Moto G31 | |
| Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 | |
| Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F | |
Speaker
As with the predecessor, the Moto G31's sound has very emphasized mids, which prevents highs from droning unpleasantly in the ears even at maximum volume. The sound is warmer and more balanced than in some other budget smartphones, but naturally, it's a far cry from really great smartphone speakers. The maximum volume is also too low for that.
Sound output using the 3.5 mm audio jack and Bluetooth works without issues. All the latest aptX codecs can be used for wireless audio playback.
Motorola Moto G31 audio analysis
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (80.7 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.4% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 5.1% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (20.5% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 32% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 59% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 51% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 41% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Motorola Moto G30 audio analysis
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 66.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(-) | nearly no mids - on average 66.6% lower than median
(+) | mids are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(-) | nearly no highs - on average 66.6% lower than median
(+) | highs are linear (0% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (119.4% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 87% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 4% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 36%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 96% of all tested devices were better, 3% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 24%, worst was 134%
Battery life – Almost no other phone charges this slowly
Energy consumption
The Moto G31 is demanding in terms of energy consumption under maximum load. Otherwise, the phone is quite frugal.
| Off / Standby |   0 / 0.2 Watt |
| Idle |  0.7 / 0.9 / 1.3 Watt |
| Load |
3.5 / 8.5 Watt |
    
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
| Motorola Moto G31 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto G30 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 4000 mAh | Average Mediatek Helio G85 | Average of class Smartphone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | -38% | -50% | -29% | -37% | -46% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 0.7 | 0.8 -14% | 1.4 -100% | 0.8 -14% | 1.043 ? -49% | 0.872 ? -25% |
| Idle Average * | 0.9 | 1.5 -67% | 1.9 -111% | 1.3 -44% | 1.609 ? -79% | 1.439 ? -60% |
| Idle Maximum * | 1.3 | 1.8 -38% | 2.1 -62% | 2.1 -62% | 1.988 ? -53% | 1.589 ? -22% |
| Load Average * | 3.5 | 6.1 -74% | 3.8 -9% | 5 -43% | 4.27 ? -22% | 6.96 ? -99% |
| Load Maximum * | 8.5 | 8.4 1% | 5.6 34% | 6.9 19% | 6.98 ? 18% | 10.4 ? -22% |
* ... smaller is better
Energy consumption: Geekbench (150 cd/m²)
Energy consumption: GFXBench (150 cd/m²)
Battery life
In terms of battery life, you shouldn't expect any major gains compared to the predecessor. At the same time, the Moto G31 makes good use of its 5,000 mAh battery and achieves rates that are on par with its class, but that can't age to stand out, either.
That said, the smartphone only charges at 10 watts, so you should factor in up to 3 hours if you need a full charge. Even if you only need power for a couple of hours of use, this takes much longer than with other phones. This is also disappointing, because the predecessor was still equipped with a 20-watt charger.
| Motorola Moto G31 5000 mAh | Motorola Moto G30 5000 mAh | Samsung Galaxy A12 Exynos SM-A127F 5000 mAh | Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 4000 mAh | Nokia G50 5000 mAh | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Runtime | 4% | 17% | -19% | -6% | |
| Reader / Idle | 2140 | 2336 9% | 2094 -2% | 1698 -21% | |
| H.264 | 1294 | 1349 4% | 1078 -17% | 946 -27% | |
| WiFi v1.3 | 1032 | 1069 4% | 879 -15% | 748 -28% | 972 -6% |
| Load | 226 | 219 -3% | 455 101% | 226 0% |
Pros
Cons
Verdict – Features traded for an OLED display
The Motorola Moto G31 is a budget mid-range smartphone that is quite interesting in itself. It features a high-quality Full HD AMOLED display, which is by no means common in this price range.
The camera takes decent pictures, battery life is long, the speaker sounds good, and the location tracking is quite accurate. Although you have to do without 5G, that might be bearable if you hardly use this fast mobile Internet standard anyway.
However, there are also significant setbacks compared with the Moto G30 predecessor: For example, the maximum charging capacity has been reduced to an outdated 10 watts, the display only offers a refresh rate of 60 Hz, the camera's resolution is lower, and there's also less storage space. Admittedly, this is still a typical configuration in the price range of around 200 Euros (~$226), but you still get the feeling that Motorola had to sacrifice a lot here in order to include an OLED display.
However, it's fair to say that the significantly better color reproduction and the higher brightness speak for the Moto G31's display. Moreover, the phone is also a bit more compact and lighter than some of its rivals, which is convenient for users with smaller hands.
The Motorola Moto G31 is a good, budget-friendly, and lightweight mid-range phone with a great OLED display. Unfortunately, it's otherwise a bit inferior to the more affordable predecessor in terms of features.
Finally, let's take a look at the competition: If you want 5G, the Nokia G50 is a good choice: It also offers considerably more performance, but the price is a bit higher as well. The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 2021 has a Full HD display like our review sample as well as additional features like an IR blaster.
Price and availability
Motorola Moto G31
- 08/30/2022 v7 (old)
Florian Schmitt
Price comparison
