Notebookcheck Logo

Motorola Moto G5s Smartphone

Camera evolution. The special edition of the Moto G5 is intended to add to Motorola's selection of mid-range smartphones, and there have been a number of changes to make that happen. Most notably, the camera has been significantly enhanced. In our review, we will ascertain whether this will prove a marked improvement in everyday use.
Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s

By now, Motorola's G-series smartphones have firmly established their position in the mid-range market. The respective generation is indicated simply by adding its number to the series name. The Moto G5 has been available for a while now, and Motorola, or its parent company Lenovo, has made the decision to offer a special edition of the phone by adding an 's' to its name, hence our test unit's designation, Motorola Moto G5s. In order to avoid any confusions, the manufacturer has printed 'Special Edition' on the unit's packaging. The G5s appears to be a stopgap before the Moto G6 hits the market, and consequently, not much has changed about the mid-range mix that made the G5 a successful product - it retains its comfortably rounded metal case and, apart from the differently positioned microphone and slightly protruding camera, it can barely be distinguished from the 'normal' edition.

The main camera now comes with a higher resolution sensor, the storage has been increased and the battery holds more power, although it is no longer removable in this iteration. These are the most marked differences of the special edition, which has an SRP of €249 (~$293) but is already available for under €200 (~$235). Currently, the Moto G5 can be ordered for about €150 (~176$). Is the G5s worth the premium and can the unconventional design still hold its own? We will find out in this review.

To answer these questions, we compare the Moto G5s not only with its predecessor, but other fairly affordable mid-range devices such as the Nokia 5, the BQ Aquaris X and the Samsung Galaxy J5. We have also added the Moto G5s Plus to the field and will ascertain whether the extra €80 (~94$) makes a noticeable difference.

Motorola Moto G5s (Moto G5s Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937) 8 x 1.4 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
3 GB 
Display
5.20 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 424 PPI, Capacitive touchscreen, IPS, glossy: yes
Storage
32 GB eMMC Flash, 32 GB 
, 21.7 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3,5mm-Headsetport, Card Reader: microSD up to 128 GB, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: acceleration sensor, gyroscope, proximity sensor, USB-OTG
Networking
802.11a/b/g/n (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.2, GSM (850/​900/​1800/​1900), UMTS (850/​900/​1900/​2100), LTE (B1/​B3/​B5/​B7/​B8/​B19/​B20/​B28/​B38/​B40); Max. bandwidth (download/​upload): 150Mbps/​50Mbps, Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 9.5 x 150 x 73.5 ( = 0.37 x 5.91 x 2.89 in)
Battery
11.4 Wh, 3000 mAh Lithium-Ion, QuickCharge
Operating System
Android 7.1 Nougat
Camera
Primary Camera: 16 MPix f/​2.0, phase-detection-af, LED-flash, videos @1080p/​30fps
Secondary Camera: 5 MPix f/​2.0, LED-flash
Additional features
Speakers: mono-speaker at the bottom, Keyboard: virtual keyboard, Fast charger, USB-cable, SIM-card tool, Moto, 24 Months Warranty, Head-SAR: 0.472W/​kg, Body-SAR: 1.050W/​kg, fanless
Weight
157 g ( = 5.54 oz / 0.35 pounds), Power Supply: 81 g ( = 2.86 oz / 0.18 pounds)
Price
249 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

As mentioned above, Motorola has changed the smartphone's case only marginally: its metal case is still available in the colors gray and gold and its edges are well rounded, as is typical of the brand. The design generally keeps to the organic forms and avoids angular shapes. The slightly inlaid Motorola logo on the back that also serves as a finger rest is still there. Since the phone's battery is now built-in, the back cover is now a one-piece construction. As with the G5, the special edition's overall build quality is remarkable, especially for a mid-range device.

The screen's size has grown slightly to 5.2 inches, although the change in the smartphone's dimensions is limited to the length. Its weight, on the other hand, has increased to a hefty 157 grams (~5.5 oz), making the Moto G5s one of the heaviest competitors in its class.

Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s
Motorola Moto G5s

Size comparison

150 mm / 5.91 inch 73.5 mm / 2.89 inch 9.5 mm / 0.374 inch 157 g0.3461 lbs149.7 mm / 5.89 inch 72.5 mm / 2.85 inch 8.05 mm / 0.3169 inch 148 g0.3263 lbs146.5 mm / 5.77 inch 72.7 mm / 2.86 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 153 g0.3373 lbs146.2 mm / 5.76 inch 71.3 mm / 2.81 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 158 g0.3483 lbs144.3 mm / 5.68 inch 73 mm / 2.87 inch 9.5 mm / 0.374 inch 144.5 g0.3186 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Connectivity

The good news is that memory size has been increased in the Motorola Moto G5s compared to its predecessor - the G5s has 32 GB, while its RAM remains at 3 GB. Storage capacity can be increased using the microSD card slot. The microSD card takes up one of the two SIM slots in the dual-SIM version that we were supplied with. The Moto G5s can format microSD cards into external and internal memory and the cards can be inserted and ejected while the device is running. Apps can only be transferred to microSD cards that have been formatted as internal memory.

The Moto G5s retains its micro-USB port and still only supports data transfer with USB 2.0 speeds. In return, the device is USB OTG enabled and has a 3.5 mm audio jack that no longer comes as standard with many of the latest models.

right: volume rocker, standby button
right: volume rocker, standby button
left: SIM slot
left: SIM slot
bottom: speaker, micro USB port, microphone
bottom: speaker, micro USB port, microphone
3.5 mm audio jack
3.5 mm audio jack

Software

Motorola continues to supply a fairly unmodified Android 7.1.1 and has confirmed Android 8 support for the device. Fortunately, bloatware and advertising apps are few on Moto-smartphones: only LinkedIn and Outlook come preinstalled. 

Other than that, Motorola has changed the stock Android 7.1.1. only very slightly by installing its own Moto App: This app has several features, one of them a blue light filter. The Moto App also has an option to display notifications on the smartphone's turned off screen, called Moto Display and another option that makes it possible to use various gesture and movement-controlled commands, called Moto Action.

Motorola Moto G5s Software
Motorola Moto G5s Software
Motorola Moto G5s Software
Motorola Moto G5s Software

Communication and GPS

WLAN speeds remain average: the Moto G5s supports wireless networks of the types 802.11a/b/g/n. Therefore, one could use the less overpopulated 5 GHz WLAN network. Considering its hardware capabilities, the Moto G5s achieves commendable networking speeds, but those who want to use the faster 802.11ac standard will be better served by some of the Moto G5s' direct competitors, for instance the BQ Aquaris X or the Samsung Galaxy J5.

Like its predecessor, the Moto G5s has better than average support for mobile bands among its class: LTE speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s download are standard. The smartphone's support for ten mobile bands makes it usable abroad and its reception quality is very decent – we tested logging into the well-developed German Vodafone network in the city and consistently noted at least ¾ of the total LTE signal strength even indoors.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
Mali-T830 MP1, 7870 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
281 MBit/s +153%
BQ Aquaris X
Adreno 506, 626, 32 GB eMMC Flash
270 MBit/s +143%
Nokia 5
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
112 MBit/s +1%
Motorola Moto G5s
Adreno 505, 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
111 MBit/s
Lenovo Moto G5
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
110 MBit/s -1%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
Adreno 506, 625, 32 GB eMMC Flash
108 MBit/s -3%
iperf3 receive AX12
BQ Aquaris X
Adreno 506, 626, 32 GB eMMC Flash
333 MBit/s +175%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
Mali-T830 MP1, 7870 Octa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
278 MBit/s +130%
Nokia 5
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
122 MBit/s +1%
Lenovo Moto G5
Adreno 505, 430, 16 GB eMMC Flash
121 MBit/s 0%
Motorola Moto G5s
Adreno 505, 430, 32 GB eMMC Flash
121 MBit/s
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
Adreno 506, 625, 32 GB eMMC Flash
121 MBit/s 0%
GPS test indoors
GPS test indoors
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors

Indoors, we could not achieve a satellite fix, even in the proximity of windows. Outdoors however, we achieved a quick satellite fix to a precision of 6 meters (~20 ft). 

To test the Moto G5s' GPS capabilities in everyday use, we took it on a mountain bike ride along with our Garmin Edge 500, a professional-grade bike computer. The recorded distances diverge by only 10 meters (~33 ft), which is an excellent result. At various points on the route, the Moto G5s' recorded track was closer to the actual position than the Garmin computer's, while at others clear course deviations that are obvious inaccuracies could be seen. The overall GPS quality, however, is very decent for a smartphone this affordable and one would be right to put their trust in its accuracy, even when exploring unknown terrain.

GPS Garmin Edge 500 – overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500 – overview
GPS Garmin Edge 500 – crossing
GPS Garmin Edge 500 – crossing
GPS Garmin Edge 500 – bridge
GPS Garmin Edge 500 – bridge
GPS Motorola Moto G5s – overview
GPS Motorola Moto G5s – overview
GPS Motorola Moto G5s – crossing
GPS Motorola Moto G5s – crossing
GPS Motorola Moto G5s – bridge
GPS Motorola Moto G5s – bridge

Telephone and Call Quality

Consistent with Motorola's principle of delivering an Android experience as unadulterated as possible, the Moto G5s uses Google's standard call app. This app is very intuitive and therefore a change seems unnecessary.

The G5s' call quality is similar to that of the Moto G5: the earphone delivers good voice quality, up to very loud volumes. By comparison, the microphone was less impressive, transmitting the speaker's voice with interference, albeit always in an intelligible quality. In handsfree mode, call quality remains decent, but the speaker needs to be in close proximity of the phone and not speak too quietly for the microphone to pick up their voice.

Cameras

main camera
main camera

The camera is surely the most exciting part of this update, since it is supposed to be the main upgrade in the Moto G5s. While the main camera does not have dual lenses like the Moto G5s Plus, its sensor has a higher resolution, and the front camera now has a higher aperture lens.

The main camera has a new 16 MP sensor, still with phase detection autofocus and its monochromatic LED flash. The recorded photos seem rather cool and the colors are significantly less bright than on, for example, the OnePlus 5. Other smartphones also have a better automatic brightness correction. In higher zoom levels, blur and pixelation is a real problem, especially compared to high-level smartphone cameras such as the one on the Galaxy Note 8, although the significant price difference must be taken into account. Compared to other phones in its class, the Moto G5s takes decent photos that are on the dark side. Those using their smartphone camera as a point-and-shoot and usually only look at the results on the phone itself, will be satisfied with the Moto G5s. But for those who already own a Moto G5, the improvements in photo quality will not be sufficient to consider an upgrade. One interesting point is that the new sensor handles brightness correction in low-light scenes better than its predecessor, while in turn, normal light conditions produce slightly somber shots.

Videos can be recorded with up to 1080p at 30 FPS. The sensor reacts to changing light conditions swiftly and appropriately, picture clarity and color precision are also decent. Here as well, the video brightness could be improved on, but the overall impression of the Moto G5s' video function is still good.

On the front camera, the new sensor has the same resolution as that of the Moto G5: 5 MP, although its aperture is now wider, which may make it handle low-light scenes better. As it happens, photos taken in adverse lighting conditions turn out respectably well, even without a flash. The picture quality of shots taken in bright conditions was also satisfactory; colors are vivid and realistic, and even zoomed shots have good sharpness and details.

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.

Scene 1Scene 2Scene 3
click to load images

The Moto G5s also had to prove its worth under controlled light conditions. Our test photo appears sharp and color transitions as well as lettering on colorful backgrounds are reproduced accurately. At higher zoom levels, edges show minor image noise and artifacts. Some colored areas appear unclear, but color precision is good on balance.

Lens and camera testing chart
Lens and camera testing chart
Lens and camera testing chart detail
Lens and camera testing chart detail
ColorChecker: target colour is displayed in the lower half of each colour square
ColorChecker: target colour is displayed in the lower half of each colour square

Accessories and Warranty

As well as the smartphone, the box contains a Quick Charge adapter, a USB cable and a SIM-card tool. Additional chargers can be bought from Motorola directly on its website for around €30 (~$35). Unfortunately, the possibility of customizing one's smartphone with the Motomaker before buying it has not been available for a while.

In central Europe Motorola offers 24 months of warranty for its smartphones. Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices and Handling

Googles GBoard is used as the device's virtual keyboard and offers good handling and various possibilities for customization. Alternative apps can always be downloaded from the Google Play Store or other sources. 

The menu keys are on the display by default, but can be disabled so that the system is operated only by touch, gestures and input through the fingerprint sensor. After a short period of familiarization, this works quite well and is a valid option for those who need more space on the display. This option, like many other touch and gesture input options, is available through the Moto app. For instance, there is an option to start the camera app by quickly twisting the phone twice, or another to enable a Do-Not-Disturb-mode by laying it display-down on a surface. All gestures can be activated individually and work reliably. 

The touchscreen is sensitive on its entire surface and handles touch inputs precisely.

keyboard in portrait mode
keyboard in portrait mode
keyboard in landscape mode
keyboard in landscape mode

Display

subpixel layout
subpixel layout

Compared to the Moto G5, the Moto G5s' display has increased marginally: it now has a diagonal of 5.2 inches, still a Full HD and with IPS technology. However, its maximum brightness is considerably lower than on its predecessor and many comparable devices. Only the Samsung Galaxy J5 has a darker screen, which, however, has AMOLED technology.

The Moto G5s' screen averages at around 502 cd/m², which is not bad, but below what other mid-range devices achieve. With the lowest intensity levels at about 92% of the maximum brightness measured, the display strikes us as accurate, so that even larger areas are displayed without obvious brightness variation.

501
cd/m²
521
cd/m²
524
cd/m²
481
cd/m²
490
cd/m²
510
cd/m²
490
cd/m²
483
cd/m²
520
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 524 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 502.2 cd/m² Minimum: 6.63 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 92 %
Center on Battery: 490 cd/m²
Contrast: 1140:1 (Black: 0.43 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.7 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.7 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.4
Motorola Moto G5s
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.20
BQ Aquaris X
LTPS IPS , 1920x1080, 5.20
Nokia 5
IPS, 1280x720, 5.20
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
Super AMOLED, 1280x720, 5.20
Lenovo Moto G5
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.00
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Screen
1%
-4%
12%
26%
11%
Brightness middle
490
675
38%
630
29%
448
-9%
660
35%
512
4%
Brightness
502
702
40%
635
26%
451
-10%
625
25%
500
0%
Brightness Distribution
92
91
-1%
90
-2%
91
-1%
92
0%
90
-2%
Black Level *
0.43
0.59
-37%
0.57
-33%
0.29
33%
0.35
19%
Contrast
1140
1144
0%
1105
-3%
2276
100%
1463
28%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.7
4.5
21%
5
12%
2.7
53%
4.9
14%
4.6
19%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7.8
9.1
-17%
8.7
-12%
9.8
-26%
7.6
3%
7.6
3%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
4.7
6.4
-36%
6.9
-47%
1.6
66%
4.8
-2%
3.8
19%
Gamma
2.4 92%
2.24 98%
2.37 93%
2.06 107%
2.18 101%
2.11 104%
CCT
7526 86%
7478 87%
8736 74%
6557 99%
7357 88%
6952 93%

* ... smaller is better

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM detected 2358 Hz ≤ 6 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 2358 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 6 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 2358 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) Hz was measured.

At 0.43 cd/m², the new display's black levels are significantly higher than that on the predecessor's, which together with the lower brightness produce clearly worse contrast levels of 1140:1. On its own, this is not a poor result by any means and most competing smartphones offer similar display characteristics. In short, the Moto G5s lags behind its predecessor's vivid and bold portrayal of colors, but achieves a quite natural display of colors in its own right. 

In the display settings, the user can switch between 'Standard' and 'Intense' color modes, which make a subjective difference, but not a large one. Despite this impression, we measured the modes with our spectrophotometer and the software CalMAN. Our findings confirm that the two options change the display of images only slightly: in the 'Standard' mode, colors seem a little more natural, while the 'Intense' mode's portrayal of the grayscale is closer to RGB reference levels. In both modes, we found the image to have a distinct blue shift, which can be mitigated with the Moto mod's blue light filter that increases red levels in the white balance and makes looking at the display more pleasant, especially at night. 

In the Moto G5s' predecessor, we noted screen flickering below certain brightness levels and could observe the same issue with the Moto G5s. All the same, this flickering's frequency is high enough that even those sensitive to screen flickering should not be troubled by it. 

CalMAN colour accuracy – Intense
CalMAN colour accuracy – Intense
CalMAN colour space – Intense
CalMAN colour space – Intense
CalMAN grayscale – Intense
CalMAN grayscale – Intense
CalMAN saturation – Intense
CalMAN saturation – Intense
CalMAN colour accuracy – Standard
CalMAN colour accuracy – Standard
CalMAN colour space – Standard
CalMAN colour space – Standard
CalMAN grayscale – Standard
CalMAN grayscale – Standard
CalMAN saturation – Standard
CalMAN saturation – Standard

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
       Response Time Black to White
29.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 14 ms rise
↘ 15.6 ms fall
The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 76 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
48 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 22 ms rise
↘ 26 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 80 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

The predecessor coped with outdoor applications better due to its brighter display, but the Moto G5s still does decently well on all but the sunniest of days. Its ambient light sensor works reliably, contrast levels are sufficient and, having retreated into the shade, the display is quite usable. 

The IPS display’s viewing angles are flawless: the image can be seen clearly from all angles.

Outdoor use – ambient light sensor
Outdoor use – ambient light sensor
Outdoor use – maximum brightness
Outdoor use – maximum brightness
Outdoor use – intermediate brightness
Outdoor use – intermediate brightness
Outdoor use – minimal brightness
Outdoor use – minimal brightness
viewing angles
viewing angles

Performance

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 with its 8 cores and clock speeds of up to 1.4 GHz is a fairly popular CPU to use in mid-range smartphones and was used in the Moto G5 . The Nokia 5, for instance, also uses this CPU and most test units consequently perform at similar levels in terms of CPU applications. This is where the Moto G5s Plus can show up the competition: its faster CPU provides far better performance for a small premium. The BQ Aquaris X also scores with a faster CPU. Nevertheless, the Moto G5s handles all tasks swiftly and only very taxing apps will make it struggle. Stutters could not be found in everyday applications. By virtue of the sufficient 3 GBs of RAM, multiple running background apps do not impact its performance.

The internal GPU is the Qualcomm Adreno 505, which is clocked at  MHz. As a result, the Moto G5s produces typical results of its class while the Moto G5s Plus can boast significantly higher graphics performance once more.

Overall, the Moto G5s needs not shy away from comparison with similarly priced smartphones in terms of pure performance, but has not grown compared to its predecessor, the Moto G5.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
46370 Points
BQ Aquaris X
63428 Points +37%
Nokia 5
45274 Points -2%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
45613 Points -2%
Lenovo Moto G5
44653 Points -4%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
63746 Points +37%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
4669 Points
BQ Aquaris X
5792 Points +24%
Nokia 5
5060 Points +8%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
5006 Points +7%
Lenovo Moto G5
4730 Points +1%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
5656 Points +21%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
3604 Points
BQ Aquaris X
4891 Points +36%
Nokia 5
3807 Points +6%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
3889 Points +8%
Lenovo Moto G5
3583 Points -1%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
5035 Points +40%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
848 Points
BQ Aquaris X
1333 Points +57%
Nokia 5
958 Points +13%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
1022 Points +21%
Lenovo Moto G5
815 Points -4%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
1033 Points +22%
System (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
1553 Points
BQ Aquaris X
3551 Points +129%
Nokia 5
2154 Points +39%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
2218 Points +43%
Lenovo Moto G5
1656 Points +7%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2914 Points +88%
Memory (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
656 Points
BQ Aquaris X
1039 Points +58%
Nokia 5
788 Points +20%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
1249 Points +90%
Lenovo Moto G5
538 Points -18%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
584 Points -11%
Graphics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
723 Points
BQ Aquaris X
1014 Points +40%
Nokia 5
740 Points +2%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
534 Points -26%
Lenovo Moto G5
722 Points 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
986 Points +36%
Web (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
703 Points
BQ Aquaris X
843 Points +20%
Nokia 5
671 Points -5%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
737 Points +5%
Lenovo Moto G5
686 Points -2%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
679 Points -3%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
630 Points
BQ Aquaris X
929 Points +47%
Nokia 5
671 Points +7%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
732 Points +16%
Lenovo Moto G5
619 Points -2%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
841 Points +33%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
2270 Points
BQ Aquaris X
4522 Points +99%
Nokia 5
2849 Points +26%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
3704 Points +63%
Lenovo Moto G5
2563 Points +13%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
4308 Points +90%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
1871 Points
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
2332 Points +25%
Lenovo Moto G5
1731 Points -7%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2628 Points +40%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
9491 Points
BQ Aquaris X
14034 Points +48%
Nokia 5
9529 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
8227 Points -13%
Lenovo Moto G5
9494 Points 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
13732 Points +45%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
9626 Points
BQ Aquaris X
13330 Points +38%
Nokia 5
9684 Points +1%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
7484 Points -22%
Lenovo Moto G5
9617 Points 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
13225 Points +37%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
9045 Points
BQ Aquaris X
17124 Points +89%
Nokia 5
9023 Points 0%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
12605 Points +39%
Lenovo Moto G5
9089 Points 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
15860 Points +75%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
555 Points
BQ Aquaris X
849 Points +53%
Nokia 5
581 Points +5%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
340 Points -39%
Lenovo Moto G5
572 Points +3%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
843 Points +52%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
483 Points
BQ Aquaris X
724 Points +50%
Nokia 5
503 Points +4%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
277 Points -43%
Lenovo Moto G5
496 Points +3%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
723 Points +50%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
1158 Points
BQ Aquaris X
2139 Points +85%
Nokia 5
1268 Points +9%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
1685 Points +46%
Lenovo Moto G5
1243 Points +7%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2016 Points +74%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
295 Points
BQ Aquaris X
465 Points +58%
Nokia 5
298 Points +1%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
231 Points -22%
Lenovo Moto G5
296 Points 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
463 Points +57%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
243 Points
BQ Aquaris X
380 Points +56%
Nokia 5
245 Points +1%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
185 Points -24%
Lenovo Moto G5
243 Points 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
379 Points +56%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
1199 Points
BQ Aquaris X
2179 Points +82%
Nokia 5
1227 Points +2%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
1727 Points +44%
Lenovo Moto G5
1245 Points +4%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2021 Points +69%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
16 fps
BQ Aquaris X
22 fps +38%
Nokia 5
27 fps +69%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
20 fps +25%
Lenovo Moto G5
14 fps -12%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
19 fps +19%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
16 fps
BQ Aquaris X
23 fps +44%
Nokia 5
17 fps +6%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
12 fps -25%
Lenovo Moto G5
16 fps 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
23 fps +44%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
7.4 fps
BQ Aquaris X
9.7 fps +31%
Nokia 5
14 fps +89%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
10 fps +35%
Lenovo Moto G5
7.4 fps 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
10 fps +35%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
7.1 fps
BQ Aquaris X
9.8 fps +38%
Nokia 5
7.2 fps +1%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
5.1 fps -28%
Lenovo Moto G5
7.1 fps 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
9.8 fps +38%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
5 fps
BQ Aquaris X
6.3 fps +26%
Nokia 5
10 fps +100%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
7.4 fps +48%
Lenovo Moto G5
5 fps 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
6.9 fps +38%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
4.6 fps
BQ Aquaris X
6.4 fps +39%
Nokia 5
4.6 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
3.2 fps -30%
Lenovo Moto G5
4.6 fps 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
6.4 fps +39%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
2.7 fps
BQ Aquaris X
3.5 fps +30%
Nokia 5
5.2 fps +93%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
3.7 fps +37%
Lenovo Moto G5
2.7 fps 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3.8 fps +41%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G5s
2.5 fps
BQ Aquaris X
3.5 fps +40%
Nokia 5
2.5 fps 0%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
1.9 fps -24%
Lenovo Moto G5
2.5 fps 0%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3.5 fps +40%

Legend

 
Motorola Moto G5s Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
BQ Aquaris X Qualcomm Snapdragon 626, Qualcomm Adreno 506, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Nokia 5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos Samsung Exynos 7870 Octa, ARM Mali-T830 MP1, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Lenovo Moto G5 Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 (MSM8937), Qualcomm Adreno 505, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
Motorola Moto G5s Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, Qualcomm Adreno 506, 32 GB eMMC Flash

In web applications, the Samsung Galaxy J5 has the edge over its competitors, while our test unit performs similarly to the Moto G5.

Our Moto G5s does not cope too well with more demanding HTML5 content such as the game under letsplay.ouigo.com: loading times are quite long and we needed several tries to get the game to actually start. The actual gameplay was so jerky that the game was unplayable.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
BQ Aquaris X (Chrome Version 60)
27.1 Points +45%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus (Chroem Version 62)
26.41 Points +42%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos (Samsung Browser 5.4)
26.37 Points +41%
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
21.48 Points +15%
Lenovo Moto G5 (Chrome 57)
20.36 Points +9%
Motorola Moto G5s (Chrome 62)
18.66 Points
Octane V2 - Total Score
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos (Samsung Browser 5.4)
4968 Points +64%
BQ Aquaris X (Chrome Version 60)
4786 Points +58%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus (Chroem Version 62)
4456 Points +47%
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
3138 Points +3%
Motorola Moto G5s (Chrome 62)
3035 Points
Lenovo Moto G5 (Chrome 57)
2604 Points -14%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Motorola Moto G5s (Chrome 62)
13057 ms *
Lenovo Moto G5 (Chrome 57)
11358 ms * +13%
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
10396 ms * +20%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus (Chroem Version 62)
9361 ms * +28%
BQ Aquaris X (Chrome Version 60)
8825 ms * +32%
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos (Samsung Browser 5.4)
6784 ms * +48%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos (Samsung Browser 5.4)
80 Points +31%
Motorola Moto G5s (Chrome 62)
61 Points
Lenovo Moto G5 (Chrome 57)
57 Points -7%
Nokia 5 (Chrome 56.0.2924.87)
57 Points -7%

* ... smaller is better

The Moto G5s memory is very fast, even more so than its predecessor's and noticeably faster than the direct competition. Our reference microSD card, the Toshiba Exceria Pro M501, is utilized properly as well.

Motorola Moto G5sBQ Aquaris XNokia 5Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) DuosLenovo Moto G5Motorola Moto G5s Plus
AndroBench 3-5
-14%
-14%
-36%
-15%
-5%
Sequential Read 256KB
259
266.4
3%
255.6
-1%
204.4
-21%
230.6
-11%
237.4
-8%
Sequential Write 256KB
77.5
75.3
-3%
74.9
-3%
52
-33%
45.6
-41%
75.7
-2%
Random Read 4KB
40.6
37.47
-8%
40.54
0%
24.07
-41%
37.6
-7%
37.94
-7%
Random Write 4KB
46.2
11.85
-74%
8.39
-82%
9.9
-79%
37.9
-18%
44.89
-3%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
84.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
84.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
0%
83.9
0%
72.2 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-14%
78.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-7%
79.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-5%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
62.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
62.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
0%
62
0%
44.21 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-29%
58 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-7%
58.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-6%

Games

Unfortunately, the app 'GameBench' failed to launch on our test unit, so we could not provide any frame rate counts for the tested games. Since the relevant hardware for game performance has not changed compared to the predecessor's and noting that the Moto G5s performs very similarly in other benchmarks, it seems reasonable to consult our findings in the review of the Moto G5 as reference values. In any event, in gameplay we found that the highest graphics options of “Asphalt 8” produce slight jitters, but slightly lowered settings result in smooth gameplay. Other games such as “Dead Trigger 2” or less demanding ones such as “Angry Birds” are rendered smoothly.

The Moto G5s' touchscreen controls and handling as well as its position sensors were entirely satisfactory.

Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2
Asphalt 8
Asphalt 8

Emissions

Temperature

GFXBench battery test
GFXBench battery test

The maximum temperatures measured under load on the case itself amounted to 36 °C (~97 °F). This warming is noticeable, but not critical by any means. As with the predecessor, the highest temperatures were measured in the earphone area, which can make calls uncomfortable on hot summer days. In general, the temperatures are fairly even across the case and are significantly lower while idling.

With the benchmark GFXBench and its included battery test, we could ascertain that the frame rates remained consistent even after 30 benchmark cycles. Accordingly, any throttling of the hardware components under prolonged load seems unlikely.

Max. Load
 36 °C
97 F
33.4 °C
92 F
32.6 °C
91 F
 
 34.3 °C
94 F
33.7 °C
93 F
31.6 °C
89 F
 
 34.9 °C
95 F
32.5 °C
91 F
31.4 °C
89 F
 
Maximum: 36 °C = 97 F
Average: 33.4 °C = 92 F
32.4 °C
90 F
33 °C
91 F
33.1 °C
92 F
32.1 °C
90 F
32.3 °C
90 F
31.9 °C
89 F
30.1 °C
86 F
32.1 °C
90 F
32.2 °C
90 F
Maximum: 33.1 °C = 92 F
Average: 32.1 °C = 90 F
Power Supply (max.)  22.4 °C = 72 F | Room Temperature 20.8 °C = 69 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.4 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 36 °C / 97 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 33.1 °C / 92 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 27.9 °C / 82 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Heatmap Motorola Moto G5s front
Heatmap Motorola Moto G5s front
Heatmap Motorola Moto G5s front
Heatmap Motorola Moto G5s front

Speaker

Speaker test 'Pink Noise'
Speaker test 'Pink Noise'

On the Moto G5, the speaker was positioned within the earphone, which was satisfactory, and now, on the new Moto G5s, Motorola has adopted a more usual layout, positioning the speaker at the case's bottom. In exchange, the speaker now has decidedly more power with an intensity of more than 88 dB(A). Our test software ARTA also found that it has greater variety in the lower mids and even more so in the highs. We were satisfied with the low mids, but the highs are overemphasized now. This impacts the overall sound performance negatively, since the core bass range is hardly perceptible now. On the whole, the Moto G5s' speaker is better than what the competing devices offer, and above all, much louder, but it could have used some more fine-tuning. To improve on the sound balance, one would need to find an equalizer app on the Google Play Store, since no such app is preinstalled. 

The sound is played cleanly over the 3.5 mm audio jack and Bluetooth.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.243.32532.946.63137.236.84031.735.55039.642.16328.3388027.336.810026.934.212526.737.91602441.820020.94625020.951.131519.556.340018.559.850017.564.263017.56980015.774.2100015.875.8125016.673.6160015.869200015.471.4250015.57131501677.6400015.879.750001679.9630016.376.2800016.374.41000016.282.41250016.480.81600016.462.2SPL28.688.4N1.173.5median 16.4median 71.4Delta2.29.231.636.625.436.225.335.832.927.833.627.631.630.328.430.32727.820.832.9223221.339.620.845.521.252.819.457.319.564.917.769.417.969.817.873.217.372.117.470.216.770.717.272.518.271.817.969.817.669.617.765.717.86417.964.318.157.518.251.33082.11.351.5median 17.9median 64.91.49.8hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseMotorola Moto G5sLenovo Moto G5
Motorola Moto G5s audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (88.4 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 4.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 25% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 67% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 47% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo Moto G5 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (82.1 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.5% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (10.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(+) | mids are linear (6.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 47% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 44% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 67% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 26% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency diagram in comparison (checkboxes above selectable/deselectable!)

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Once the Moto G5s is turned off, it draws almost no power, which will be useful for those who like to turn off their smartphones once in a while and just leave them for a time; even after several weeks the battery level should be about the same as before.

Once it is turned on, and used moderately, the Motorola Moto G5s draws power sparingly: 1.52 watts while idling is decent. When it is taxed, however, its power consumption jumps to relatively high levels, using more power than all the competing devices with 7.05 watts at maximum load.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.01 / 0.23 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.67 / 1.4 / 1.52 Watt
Load midlight 4.56 / 7.05 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.
Motorola Moto G5s
3000 mAh
BQ Aquaris X
3100 mAh
Nokia 5
3000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
3000 mAh
Lenovo Moto G5
2800 mAh
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3000 mAh
Power Consumption
-20%
5%
36%
0%
-4%
Idle Minimum *
0.67
1.12
-67%
0.52
22%
0.52
22%
0.73
-9%
0.83
-24%
Idle Average *
1.4
2.16
-54%
1.78
-27%
1.17
16%
1.64
-17%
1.67
-19%
Idle Maximum *
1.52
2.18
-43%
1.96
-29%
1.24
18%
1.68
-11%
1.85
-22%
Load Average *
4.56
2.94
36%
3.23
29%
1.66
64%
3.46
24%
3.47
24%
Load Maximum *
7.05
5.1
28%
4.88
31%
2.94
58%
6.13
13%
5.41
23%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

Its high power consumption makes the Moto G5s lag behind in our benchmarks: although its battery is larger than that of the Moto G5 at 3000 mAh, the battery life has not changed practically. Completely apart from these two, the Moto G5s Plus uses its power more efficiently, its larger screen and equally sized battery notwithstanding: its power consumption is significantly lower, making it perform better in our WLAN test and stress test.

With just 8:38 hours of battery life in our WLAN test, the Moto G5s performed the worst among its direct competition. The battery seems to survive away from the plug for the whole day, but having to charge it every day should be expected. With Quick Charge and the supplied charger this takes under two hours.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
20h 33min
WiFi Websurfing
8h 38min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
10h 45min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 45min
Motorola Moto G5s
3000 mAh
BQ Aquaris X
3100 mAh
Nokia 5
3000 mAh
Samsung Galaxy J5 (2017) Duos
3000 mAh
Lenovo Moto G5
2800 mAh
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3000 mAh
Battery Runtime
14%
37%
53%
-1%
65%
Reader / Idle
1233
1772
44%
1564
27%
1243
1%
1496
21%
H.264
645
790
22%
917
42%
616
-4%
WiFi v1.3
518
592
14%
713
38%
738
42%
561
8%
974
88%
Load
225
323
44%
449
100%
207
-8%
419
86%

Pros

+ robust, attractive case
+ almost no bloatware
+ accurate GPS
+ Loud, decent sound characteristics on speaker
+ good camera
+ precise handling
+ performance carries over well to everyday tasks
+ does not heat up much

Cons

- battery could last longer
- screen has low contrast-levels in comparison
- high power-drain at load
- unexceptional microphone

Verdict

Review: Motorola Moto G5s. Test unit supplied by Motorola Germany.
Review: Motorola Moto G5s. Test unit supplied by Motorola Germany.

The Moto G5s is a successful evolution of its predecessor and has changed less than appears at first glance: more memory, improved camera, larger screen and a new speaker. Furthermore, the new camera sensors perform very decently: photos taken with the main camera are on the cool side, but the sensor corrects adverse lighting conditions well. The front camera confirms these findings.

The smartphone has no serious faults: its screen is darker than its predecessor's and its power consumption is slightly too high. Moreover, the respectable speaker has to be fine-tuned with an equalizer to correct the overemphasised highs. The microphone is also rather mediocre. In return, the software runs smoothly and comes without bloatware. The device remains cool as well.

Even with the larger battery, battery life has not improved and, all things considered, an upgrade from the Moto G5 is not worth it. If you are, however, deciding between getting the G5 and the G5s, it depends on how important the removable battery of the G5 is to you. Otherwise, picking the G5s is surely a good call, since it comes with more memory and an improved camera. The G5s Plus comes with a dual camera that does not constitute a drastic advantage, although the markedly faster CPU and GPU could justify the price difference.

The Motorola Moto G5s is a successful intermediate product that does not offer revolutionary innovation. Rather, it comes with improvements of some details, but one or the other change for the worse as well: its display, for instance, is darker than its predecessor's. All things considered, the Moto G5s appears to be a well-balanced deal that finds its place in the lower mid-range.

Overall, the Moto G5s has earned its place in the Moto G-series family and can hold its own against similarly priced smartphones of other manufacturers.

Motorola Moto G5s - 12/07/2017 v6(old)
Florian Wimmer

Chassis
87%
Keyboard
65 / 75 → 87%
Pointing Device
93%
Connectivity
42 / 60 → 71%
Weight
92%
Battery
91%
Display
86%
Games Performance
19 / 63 → 30%
Application Performance
40 / 70 → 57%
Temperature
92%
Noise
100%
Audio
60 / 91 → 66%
Camera
72%
Average
72%
83%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
Florian Wimmer, 2017-12-10 (Update: 2019-03-25)