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Motorola Moto G6 Plus Smartphone Review

G as in great. Motorola advertizes the top model of the G6 series as having a brilliant camera and great performance. At a price of 300 Euros (~$355), the Moto G6 Plus has plenty to offer. What exactly that entails will be explained in our detailed review.

The Moto G6 Plus is the most powerful offspring of the Moto G6 series. Motorola had already left a good impression in our reviews of the Moto G6 and G6 Play, both of which offer a really good price-performance ratio. The Moto G6 Plus seems to be no different with a 12+5 MP dual camera, an 8 MP front camera, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, and an Adreno 508 graphics card, all at a price of 300 Euros (~$355).

With 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of eMMC flash memory, the smartphone should have a good enough performance to leave behind a lot of competitors in its price range, at least on paper. To find out if the same can be said in reality, we compare the smartphone with other manufacturers' phones of a similar price range and performance level. Many phones would qualify for this, but we have confined ourselves to the Sony Xperia XA2, the HTC U11, and the Nokia 6 (2018). The Moto G5s Plus was released only six months ago and could be a good alternative to the G6 Plus for price-conscious customers, so we have also included this model in our comparison list.

Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Moto G6 Series)
Processor
Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 8 x 2.2 GHz, Cortex-A53
Graphics adapter
Memory
4 GB 
Display
5.90 inch 2:1, 2160 x 1080 pixel 409 PPI, capacitive, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass 3, glossy: yes
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
, 52 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: 3.5 mm audio port, Card Reader: microSD (up to 128 GB), 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, Sensors: gyroscope, proximity sensor, magnetometer, ultrasonic
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 5.0, GSM/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850/900/1900/2100 MHz) 4G LTE (Kat. 13 DL/5 UL) (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38, 40), Dual SIM, LTE, GPS
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8 x 160 x 75.5 ( = 0.31 x 6.3 x 2.97 in)
Battery
3200 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Android 8.0 Oreo
Camera
Primary Camera: 12 MPix + 5 MPix ƒ/1.7 aperture
Secondary Camera: 8 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: 1 front speaker, Keyboard: onscreen, Keyboard Light: yes, silicone protective case, SIM tool, 15-watt USB power supply, USB Type-C cable, 24 Months Warranty, SAR head: 0.445 W/kg, SAR body: 1.407 W/kg, fanless
Weight
167 g ( = 5.89 oz / 0.37 pounds), Power Supply: 78 g ( = 2.75 oz / 0.17 pounds)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case - Motorola Smartphone with Glass Case

Comparison G6 Plus (left) ...
Comparison G6 Plus (left) ...
... and G6 Play (right)
... and G6 Play (right)

Motorola labels the material of the G6 Plus case as 3D glass. The manufacturer is following the overall trend of using more glass, as has been done for the Moto G6 and G6 Play. However, the material renders the device's back somewhat slippery and the material transitions at the sides of the phone have tangible edges. Overall, the Moto G6 Plus is edgier than other devices of the G6 series, but it also seems to be very robust and torsion-resistant.

A liquid-repellent P2i coating ensures that any water which comes into contact with the Motorola smartphone simply drips off. Motorola has placed the fingerprint sensor beneath the display. The dual camera at the back protrudes about one millimeter (~0.04 in) from the case. That, taken together with its slight bulge, causes the phone to wiggle when it is placed on a smooth surface. The Moto G6 Plus might slide down on slanting surfaces.

In comparison to its rivals, the Moto G6 Plus is significantly bigger, but not wider than other devices thanks to its 2:1 format. Its weight of 176 grams (~6.2 oz) is within the standard range for its class.

Size Comparison

160 mm / 6.3 inch 75.5 mm / 2.97 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 167 g0.3682 lbs153.9 mm / 6.06 inch 75.9 mm / 2.99 inch 7.9 mm / 0.311 inch 169 g0.3726 lbs153.5 mm / 6.04 inch 76.2 mm / 3 inch 8 mm / 0.315 inch 170 g0.3748 lbs148.8 mm / 5.86 inch 75.8 mm / 2.98 inch 8.2 mm / 0.3228 inch 175 g0.3858 lbs142 mm / 5.59 inch 70 mm / 2.76 inch 9.7 mm / 0.3819 inch 171 g0.377 lbs148 mm / 5.83 inch 105 mm / 4.13 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 1.5 g0.00331 lbs

Features - Moto G6 Plus with Snapdragon SoC

A Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 SoC and an Adreno 508 GPU are supposed to take care of the advertized "great" performance of the Moto G6 Plus. The SoC as well as the GPU are slightly older than one year, but they offer a high enough performance for most Android applications and ensure a fluent experience with the system. In addition, the Moto G6 Plus is equipped with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of eMMC flash memory. The latter can be expanded up to 128 GB with a microSD card. Optionally, apps can also be installed on the SD card. The SD card tray offers room for up to two SIM cards at once, so the user is not forced to choose between an SD card and a second SIM.

The bottom of the Motorola smartphone houses a USB port and a 3.5 mm audio jack. The USB port is designed as a Type-C, but it still transfers data with the 2.0 standard, which is not unusual in this price range. OTG is possible, so external storage devices can be used. Plugs fit tightly into the audio jack and click into place. The smartphone also offers Wi-Fi, NFC, an FM radio receiver, and Bluetooth 5.0.

In addition to the fingerprint sensor, the Moto G6 Plus also has facial recognition and the Moto Key function. Moto Key enables the device to recognize the owner's Bluetooth devices nearby and to stay unlocked automatically in this case.

Left side: no ports or controls
Left side: no ports or controls
Top: microphone, SIM/SD card slot
Top: microphone, SIM/SD card slot
Right side: volume rocker, power button
Right side: volume rocker, power button
Bottom: audio port, USB Type-C port
Bottom: audio port, USB Type-C port

Software - Motorola with Android Oreo

Motorola has installed Android 8.0 with security patches from April 1, 2018. The adjustments are so minimal that users are presented with an almost pure Android system. Motorola also did not overdo it with the pre-installed apps. Only two third-party apps are included - LinkedIn and Outlook - and both can be uninstalled without any problems. Moto's own app introduces the user to the various configuration options for the G6 Plus and it assists the user in optimizing the system. Not only can the smartphone's voice control be used via the Google Assistant, but also via Moto Voice. The latter has slower reaction times than the Google Assistant, but better privacy policies.

Communication and GPS - Moto Smartphone with Good GPS

To differentiate it from the two other G6 models, Motorola has equipped the Moto G6 Plus with a connectivity that is better in every sense. In addition to GSM and 3G, users with LTE category 13 can enjoy fast download rates of up to 390 MBit/s. The upload speed is limited to LTE category 5, so the upstream can reach only 75 MBit/s.

The G6 Plus also stands out from its siblings when it comes to the Wi-Fi, since it supports not only the a/b/g/n standards, but also the faster ac standard. The transfer rates that we measured reached up to 300 MBit/s, which places the Motorola in the upper midfield of comparison devices. It should be noted, though, that the Wi-Fi module's range is rather low in everyday use. The Wi-Fi reception of the G6 Plus already suffered at a distance of only three meters (~10 ft) and without any barriers.

The fast Wi-Fi is accompanied by Bluetooth 5 and an NFC sensor.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
639 MBit/s +105%
Nokia 6 2018
Adreno 508, SD 630, 32 GB eMMC Flash
345 MBit/s +11%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Adreno 508, SD 630, 64 GB eMMC Flash
311 MBit/s
Sony Xperia XA2
Adreno 508, SD 630, 32 GB eMMC Flash
289 MBit/s -7%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
Adreno 506, 625, 32 GB eMMC Flash
108 MBit/s -65%
iperf3 receive AX12
HTC U11
Adreno 540, SD 835, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
394 MBit/s +27%
Average of class Smartphone
  (last 2 years)
376 MBit/s +21%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Adreno 508, SD 630, 64 GB eMMC Flash
310 MBit/s
Sony Xperia XA2
Adreno 508, SD 630, 32 GB eMMC Flash
309 MBit/s 0%
Nokia 6 2018
Adreno 508, SD 630, 32 GB eMMC Flash
289 MBit/s -7%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
Adreno 506, 625, 32 GB eMMC Flash
121 MBit/s -61%
GPS test outdoors
GPS test outdoors
GPS test indoors
GPS test indoors

The Motorola Moto G6 Plus utilizes GPS, A-GPS and GLONASS for position tracking. Outdoors, the user's current position can be determined with an accuracy of up to three meters (~10 ft) with the "GPS Test" app. Indoors, the device remains connected to the satellites and still reaches an accuracy of up to 8 meters (~26 ft).

The G6 Plus had to compete with the reference device Garmin Edge 500 during our mandatory bicycle ride. The Motorola phone's GPS was able to keep up and was even slightly more accurate in curves. The smartphone was able to account for minor deviations from the track very well, as long as no big buildings were nearby. Those can disturb the localization, which can result in deviations from the actual route.

Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
Motorola Moto G6 Plus

Telephone Functions and Voice Quality - Good Connection with the Motorola G6 Plus

In terms of phone app, Motorola uses the standard Android app. Android users will be familiar with it right from the start and the G6 Plus does not show any weakness in this respect. All participants to a call are able to understand each other well and three microphones ensure a clear voice transfer. The hands-free mode also works really well. Even at higher volumes and from some distance to the Moto smartphone, call participants remain clearly audible.

As long as the user's provider supports these features, VoLTE and VoWLAN can be used with the G6 Plus as well.

Cameras - Good Dual Camera in the G6 Plus

Front camera picture
Front camera picture

Motorola's G6 flagship offers users a 12 + 5 MP dual camera on the back, which is equipped with dual auto focus and an f/1.7 aperture. Selfie enthusiasts can take portraits with the 8 MP front camera. Even indoors, good pictures which leave nothing to be desired can only be taken in daylight.

The main camera takes pictures that we really like. Landscape photographs as well as close-ups show pronounced colors and high details. Contours and color transitions are separated well. The low f-number of 1.7 gives the Moto G6 Plus quite the headstart for the image sensor exposure. Most rivals come with f-numbers higher than f/2.0, which often leads to darker pictures. Only the HTC U11 is able to keep up and has similarly good image results.

The automatic setting of the Moto G6 Plus is able to get the most out of the camera, and even HDR images can be taken with a really good quality. Users who prefer to manually adjust the image quality can use the professional mode to set the white balance, ISO, and exposure times. The customization options for video recordings are somewhat meagre in comparison. They are limited to deactivating the image stabilizer and switching on the LED lighting. The videos also have a good quality and the image stabilizer does its job well, reliably compensating for camera shakes of up to one centimeter in all directions.

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
ColorChecker Passport
ColorChecker Passport

We tested the color accuracy of the Moto G6 Plus with the ColorChecker Passport, which showed a tendency towards colors that are too bright and shades of dark gray and black that are too dark. The dual cam deals best with saturated shades of yellow, green, and cyan.

The Motorola smartphone is able to photograph our test chart well under controlled lighting conditions. The tendency for too much brightness still shows, though, but details and color gradients are easily discernible. Fine lines and structures remain clear even at the edges, but a slight paleness is visible at the lower corners.

Accessories and Warranty - Sparse Motorola Accessories for the G6 Plus

Motorola includes a protective case made out of silicone rubber, a USB power supply complete with a Type-C cable, and a SIM tool. The protective case fits perfectly on the smartphone and protects the waterproof phone from collisions. The manufacturer does not offer any additional accessories especially suited for the G6 Plus.

Motorola offers a warranty of 24 months. Please see our Guarantees, Return policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices & Operation - GBoard for the Moto G6 Plus

Motorola has included Google's GBoard for users of the Motorola Moto G6 Plus. Even prolonged typing tasks can be completed fast and easily with this app. Each input is confirmed by a slight vibration. All keys are easily accessible in vertical as well as horizontal mode. The touchscreen reacts promptly and offers only a slight resistance for finger touches.

The features called "Moto Actions" expand the control options for the Moto G6 Plus even further. For example, shaking the device can execute a Quick Screenshot. Performing a swooshing gesture twice activates the flashlight, and raising the phone can mute the ringtone. Users can adjust the Motorola smartphone to their individual needs with these and other gestures.

Motorola has placed the fingerprint sensor beneath the display at the front. The sensor reacts quickly and reliably, enabling the user to unlock the phone with only minimal delay.

Display - Bright Smartphone Display by Motorola

Subpixels
Subpixels

The display of the Moto G6 Plus has a resolution of 2160x1080 pixels in the 2:1 format. The 5.9-inch IPS panel stands out from the competitors with its good brightness value of over 700 cd/m². The other smartphones from our comparison list do better than the G6 Plus in other respects, though.

One of the areas that the G6 Plus does not perform very well in is the distribution of brightness. The brightness is strongest in the center of the screen, but drops by up to 70 cd/m² at the edges. Furthermore, Motorola utilizes Pulse Width Modulation for brightness control. Since we only noticed the flickering at a brightness setting of lower than 6 percent and it also uses a relatively high frequency, even sensitive eyes should not encounter any problems in the long run.

Motorola protects the display with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and equips it with the Moto Display feature. It mostly controls notifications on the locked display, but it is also able to detect when the phone is placed inside a trouser pocket and nothing has to be displayed at all.

702
cd/m²
735
cd/m²
718
cd/m²
717
cd/m²
761
cd/m²
757
cd/m²
687
cd/m²
744
cd/m²
684
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 761 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 722.8 cd/m² Minimum: 5.44 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 90 %
Center on Battery: 761 cd/m²
Contrast: 1103:1 (Black: 0.69 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 2.4 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 1.8 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
92.2% sRGB (Calman 2D)
Gamma: 2.21
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
IPS, 2160x1080, 5.90
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
Sony Xperia XA2
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.20
Nokia 6 2018
IPS, 1920x1080, 5.50
HTC U11
Super LCD5, 2560x1440, 5.50
Screen
-29%
-71%
-85%
-6%
Brightness middle
761
512
-33%
513
-33%
417
-45%
482
-37%
Brightness
723
500
-31%
506
-30%
421
-42%
472
-35%
Brightness Distribution
90
90
0%
93
3%
88
-2%
90
0%
Black Level *
0.69
0.35
49%
0.42
39%
0.61
12%
0.33
52%
Contrast
1103
1463
33%
1221
11%
684
-38%
1461
32%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
2.4
4.6
-92%
5
-108%
6.1
-154%
3.2
-33%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
5.2
7.6
-46%
11.4
-119%
11.2
-115%
5.4
-4%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
1.8
3.8
-111%
7.8
-333%
7.1
-294%
2.2
-22%
Gamma
2.21 100%
2.11 104%
2.2 100%
2.16 102%
2.22 99%
CCT
6312 103%
6952 93%
7964 82%
8362 78%
6581 99%

* ... 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 2336 Hz ≤ 6 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 2336 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 2336 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.

The display of the Moto G6 Plus had good results in our test, but the competition was able to surpass it in several respects. While the contrast ratio can still be called good at 1103:1, the black value is far too high at 0.69. This causes shades of black to appear grayish, which is especially noticeable at the transitions of the display towards the frame of the device.

Users can adjust the Motorola smartphone's color representation to suit their individual preferences. While the color temperature can be varied from warm to neutral to cool, all modes also have a standard setting and a vibrant setting. The vibrant mode makes colors appear stronger and with a higher saturation. This mode resulted in a significantly higher DeltaH value in our CalMAN measurements. The choice of color temperature reduces/raises the proportion of blue in a given picture, with "cool" having the highest and "warm" having the lowest amount of blue.

CalMAN - ColorChecker (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - ColorChecker (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - ColorChecker (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - ColorChecker (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Color Space (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Color Space (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Color Space (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Color Space (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Grayscales (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Grayscales (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Grayscales (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Grayscales (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps (color mode: standard, temperature: warm, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)
CalMAN - Saturation Sweeps (color mode: vibrant, temperature: neutral, target color space: sRGB)

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
19.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6.4 ms rise
↘ 13.2 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 37 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (21.6 ms).
       Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey
37.2 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16 ms rise
↘ 21.2 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. » 48 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Thanks to its high brightness value, the Moto G6 Plus does really well outdoors. The screen content is legible even in direct sunlight. However, the legibility on the Motorola smartphone can still be impeded by stronger reflections nearby.

Outdoors
Outdoors
Outdoors
Outdoors

The IPS panel of the Motorola G6 Plus has a very high viewing angle stability. The smartphone's screen content remains legible from any imaginable position. The screen bleeding image shows the results of the uneven distribution of brightness. Slight screen bleeding effects can be seen in the corners, but this is hardly noticeable in everyday usage.

Viewing angle stability
Viewing angle stability
Screen bleeding
Screen bleeding

Performance - Only Average Performance by the Moto G6 Plus

The Moto G6 Plus is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 630 and it is equipped with 4 GB of RAM as well as an Adreno 508 GPU. The 14 nm SoC with 8 cores clocks at up to 2.2 GHz and supports dual-channel LPDDR4 RAM. With these values, the G6 Plus exceeds its little brother Moto G6 by 400 MHz and also has a distinct advantage in terms of its RAM. The Moto G5s Plus positions itself near the middle between those two, with its Snapdragon 625 reaching at least 2 GHz, and with dual-channel RAM support.

The benchmark results of our test device are so-so. The G6 Plus almost always positions itself in front of the Moto G6, but is overtaken by the Moto G5s Plus sometimes. The Moto G6 Plus gets side-lined especially in the PCMark- and 3DMark benchmarks. Overall, though, it can confirm its midrange ranking, but the HTC U11 in particular outperforms it.

AnTuTu v6 - Total Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
71635 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
63746 Points -11%
Sony Xperia XA2
71552 Points 0%
Nokia 6 2018
72580 Points +1%
HTC U11
175032 Points +144%
Motorola Moto G6
59454 Points -17%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (44128 - 73617, n=12)
68642 Points -4%
AnTuTu v7 - Total Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
90347 Points
Sony Xperia XA2
89228 Points -1%
Nokia 6 2018
90435 Points 0%
Motorola Moto G6
71352 Points -21%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (87300 - 90674, n=11)
89396 Points -1%
PCMark for Android
Work performance score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
5712 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
5656 Points -1%
Sony Xperia XA2
5844 Points +2%
Nokia 6 2018
5484 Points -4%
HTC U11
8295 Points +45%
Motorola Moto G6
5321 Points -7%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (4948 - 6264, n=13)
5632 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (10884 - 19297, n=2, last 2 years)
15091 Points +164%
Work 2.0 performance score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
4875 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
5035 Points +3%
Sony Xperia XA2
5006 Points +3%
Nokia 6 2018
4719 Points -3%
HTC U11
6828 Points +40%
Motorola Moto G6
4552 Points -7%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (4636 - 5987, n=12)
4968 Points +2%
Average of class Smartphone (9101 - 12871, n=4, last 2 years)
10872 Points +123%
BaseMark OS II
Overall (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1535 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
1033 Points -33%
Sony Xperia XA2
1563 Points +2%
Nokia 6 2018
1504 Points -2%
HTC U11
3034 Points +98%
Motorola Moto G6
1069 Points -30%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (1152 - 1570, n=13)
1479 Points -4%
Average of class Smartphone (411 - 11438, n=158, last 2 years)
5704 Points +272%
System (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3249 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2914 Points -10%
Sony Xperia XA2
3256 Points 0%
Nokia 6 2018
3237 Points 0%
HTC U11
5570 Points +71%
Motorola Moto G6
2560 Points -21%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (1763 - 3319, n=13)
3147 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone (2376 - 16475, n=158, last 2 years)
9621 Points +196%
Memory (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1213 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
584 Points -52%
Sony Xperia XA2
1328 Points +9%
Nokia 6 2018
1161 Points -4%
HTC U11
2085 Points +72%
Motorola Moto G6
770 Points -37%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (838 - 1405, n=13)
1199 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (670 - 12306, n=158, last 2 years)
6230 Points +414%
Graphics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1523 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
986 Points -35%
Sony Xperia XA2
1500 Points -2%
Nokia 6 2018
1520 Points 0%
HTC U11
5976 Points +292%
Motorola Moto G6
965 Points -37%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (1409 - 1523, n=13)
1494 Points -2%
Average of class Smartphone (697 - 58651, n=158, last 2 years)
13900 Points +813%
Web (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
925 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
679 Points -27%
Sony Xperia XA2
921 Points 0%
Nokia 6 2018
895 Points -3%
HTC U11
1221 Points +32%
Motorola Moto G6
688 Points -26%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (666 - 936, n=13)
859 Points -7%
Average of class Smartphone (10 - 2145, n=158, last 2 years)
1487 Points +61%
Geekbench 4.4
64 Bit Single-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
822 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
841 Points +2%
Sony Xperia XA2
865 Points +5%
Nokia 6 2018
883 Points +7%
HTC U11
1906 Points +132%
Motorola Moto G6
743 Points -10%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (710 - 885, n=13)
853 Points +4%
Average of class Smartphone (800 - 9574, n=90, last 2 years)
5063 Points +516%
64 Bit Multi-Core Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
4011 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
4308 Points +7%
Sony Xperia XA2
4170 Points +4%
Nokia 6 2018
4210 Points +5%
HTC U11
6443 Points +61%
Motorola Moto G6
3868 Points -4%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (2246 - 4234, n=13)
4009 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone (2630 - 26990, n=90, last 2 years)
13549 Points +238%
Compute RenderScript Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3763 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2628 Points -30%
Nokia 6 2018
3690 Points -2%
HTC U11
8281 Points +120%
Motorola Moto G6
2777 Points -26%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (2910 - 3956, n=12)
3718 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (2053 - 18432, n=70, last 2 years)
10590 Points +181%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
16818 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
13732 Points -18%
Sony Xperia XA2
16974 Points +1%
Nokia 6 2018
17030 Points +1%
HTC U11
40014 Points +138%
Motorola Moto G6
12756 Points -24%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (15466 - 17032, n=13)
16750 Points 0%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
18449 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
13225 Points -28%
Sony Xperia XA2
18534 Points 0%
Nokia 6 2018
18572 Points +1%
HTC U11
55725 Points +202%
Motorola Moto G6
12441 Points -33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (16508 - 18635, n=13)
18279 Points -1%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
12845 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
15860 Points +23%
Sony Xperia XA2
13112 Points +2%
Nokia 6 2018
13196 Points +3%
HTC U11
20140 Points +57%
Motorola Moto G6
13997 Points +9%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (12437 - 13217, n=13)
12963 Points +1%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1348 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
843 Points -37%
Sony Xperia XA2
1334 Points -1%
Nokia 6 2018
1332 Points -1%
HTC U11
4744 Points +252%
Motorola Moto G6
800 Points -41%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (1315 - 1374, n=13)
1341 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (712 - 7285, n=52, last 2 years)
3495 Points +159%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Graphics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1258 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
723 Points -43%
Sony Xperia XA2
1251 Points -1%
Nokia 6 2018
1249 Points -1%
HTC U11
5877 Points +367%
Motorola Moto G6
690 Points -45%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (1234 - 1289, n=13)
1258 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone (618 - 9451, n=52, last 2 years)
3845 Points +206%
2560x1440 Sling Shot OpenGL ES 3.0 Physics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1802 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2016 Points +12%
Sony Xperia XA2
1737 Points -4%
Nokia 6 2018
1733 Points -4%
HTC U11
2832 Points +57%
Motorola Moto G6
1803 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (1687 - 1816, n=13)
1746 Points -3%
Average of class Smartphone (1093 - 4525, n=52, last 2 years)
2989 Points +66%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
833 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
463 Points -44%
Sony Xperia XA2
811 Points -3%
Nokia 6 2018
814 Points -2%
HTC U11
3590 Points +331%
Motorola Moto G6
442 Points -47%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (809 - 839, n=13)
825 Points -1%
Average of class Smartphone (286 - 7890, n=102, last 2 years)
2665 Points +220%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Graphics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
721 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
379 Points -47%
Sony Xperia XA2
709 Points -2%
Nokia 6 2018
707 Points -2%
HTC U11
3883 Points +439%
Motorola Moto G6
363 Points -50%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (704 - 729, n=13)
718 Points 0%
Average of class Smartphone (240 - 9814, n=102, last 2 years)
2655 Points +268%
2560x1440 Sling Shot Extreme (ES 3.1) Physics (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
1822 Points
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
2021 Points +11%
Sony Xperia XA2
1631 Points -10%
Nokia 6 2018
1738 Points -5%
HTC U11
2841 Points +56%
Motorola Moto G6
1834 Points +1%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (1631 - 1822, n=13)
1734 Points -5%
Average of class Smartphone (858 - 4679, n=102, last 2 years)
3119 Points +71%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
28 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
19 fps -32%
Sony Xperia XA2
31 fps +11%
Nokia 6 2018
31 fps +11%
HTC U11
58 fps +107%
Motorola Moto G6
20 fps -29%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (25 - 31, n=13)
29.2 fps +4%
Average of class Smartphone (22 - 165, n=178, last 2 years)
83 fps +196%
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
30 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
23 fps -23%
Sony Xperia XA2
30 fps 0%
Nokia 6 2018
30 fps 0%
HTC U11
91 fps +203%
Motorola Moto G6
22 fps -27%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (29 - 30, n=13)
29.7 fps -1%
Average of class Smartphone (19 - 791, n=178, last 2 years)
244 fps +713%
GFXBench 3.0
on screen Manhattan Onscreen OGL (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
13 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
10 fps -23%
Sony Xperia XA2
15 fps +15%
Nokia 6 2018
15 fps +15%
HTC U11
29 fps +123%
Motorola Moto G6
8.9 fps -32%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (11 - 15, n=13)
13.8 fps +6%
Average of class Smartphone (6.8 - 165, n=179, last 2 years)
71 fps +446%
1920x1080 1080p Manhattan Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
14 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
9.8 fps -30%
Sony Xperia XA2
14 fps 0%
Nokia 6 2018
14 fps 0%
HTC U11
51 fps +264%
Motorola Moto G6
9.4 fps -33%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (13 - 14, n=13)
13.8 fps -1%
Average of class Smartphone (9.2 - 363, n=179, last 2 years)
138 fps +886%
GFXBench 3.1
on screen Manhattan ES 3.1 Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
9.4 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
6.9 fps -27%
Sony Xperia XA2
10 fps +6%
Nokia 6 2018
10 fps +6%
HTC U11
15 fps +60%
Motorola Moto G6
5.8 fps -38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (5.3 - 11, n=13)
9.36 fps 0%
Average of class Smartphone (3.7 - 158, n=179, last 2 years)
59.9 fps +537%
1920x1080 Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
9.8 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
6.4 fps -35%
Sony Xperia XA2
9.7 fps -1%
Nokia 6 2018
9.8 fps 0%
HTC U11
33 fps +237%
Motorola Moto G6
6.1 fps -38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (5.2 - 10, n=13)
9.38 fps -4%
Average of class Smartphone (6.2 - 279, n=179, last 2 years)
96.7 fps +887%
GFXBench
on screen Car Chase Onscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
5.3 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3.8 fps -28%
Sony Xperia XA2
6 fps +13%
Nokia 6 2018
5.9 fps +11%
HTC U11
13 fps +145%
Motorola Moto G6
3.3 fps -38%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (4.3 - 6, n=13)
5.48 fps +3%
Average of class Smartphone (5 - 117, n=179, last 2 years)
42.9 fps +709%
1920x1080 Car Chase Offscreen (sort by value)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
5.6 fps
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3.5 fps -37%
Sony Xperia XA2
5.5 fps -2%
Nokia 6 2018
5.6 fps 0%
HTC U11
24 fps +329%
Motorola Moto G6
3.4 fps -39%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (5.3 - 5.6, n=13)
5.48 fps -2%
Average of class Smartphone (2.9 - 166, n=179, last 2 years)
58.6 fps +946%
Lightmark - 1920x1080 1080p (sort by value)
HTC U11
36.58 fps
Motorola Moto G6
5.38 fps
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
9.81 fps
Basemark ES 3.1 / Metal - offscreen Overall Score (sort by value)
HTC U11
812 Points
Motorola Moto G6
129 Points
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
190 Points
Average of class Smartphone (177 - 6114, n=61, last 2 years)
2145 Points

Legend

 
Motorola Moto G6 Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, Qualcomm Adreno 508, 64 GB eMMC Flash
 
Motorola Moto G5s Plus Qualcomm Snapdragon 625, Qualcomm Adreno 506, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Sony Xperia XA2 Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, Qualcomm Adreno 508, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
Nokia 6 2018 Qualcomm Snapdragon 630, Qualcomm Adreno 508, 32 GB eMMC Flash
 
HTC U11 Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 (8998), Qualcomm Adreno 540, 64 GB UFS 2.1 Flash
 
Motorola Moto G6 Qualcomm Snapdragon 450, Qualcomm Adreno 506, 32 GB eMMC Flash

The Moto G6 Plus is almost always ahead of the Moto G6 in the browser benchmarks as well. The HTC U11 again prevents the G6 Plus from taking the top position, though. Our subjective impression was quite decent. Browsing the Internet was fast and media content loaded quickly.

JetStream 1.1 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (66.1 - 414, n=3, last 2 years)
194.9 Points +597%
HTC U11 (Chrome 58)
69.5 Points +148%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (27.4 - 30.8, n=12)
28.3 Points +1%
Nokia 6 2018 (Browser: Chrome 65)
28.17 Points +1%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
27.97 Points
Sony Xperia XA2 (Chrome 65.0.3325.109)
27.37 Points -2%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus (Chroem Version 62)
26.41 Points -6%
Motorola Moto G6 (Chrome 66)
22.56 Points -19%
Octane V2 - Total Score
Average of class Smartphone (4633 - 89112, n=202, last 2 years)
33525 Points +569%
HTC U11 (Chrome 58)
11781 Points +135%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
5011 Points
Nokia 6 2018 (Browser: Chrome 65)
4993 Points 0%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (4398 - 5202, n=13)
4963 Points -1%
Sony Xperia XA2 (Chrome 65.0.3325.109)
4771 Points -5%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus (Chroem Version 62)
4456 Points -11%
Motorola Moto G6 (Chrome 66)
3943 Points -21%
Mozilla Kraken 1.1 - Total
Motorola Moto G6 (Chrome 66)
11751 ms * -20%
Sony Xperia XA2 (Chrome 65.0.3325.109)
10236 ms * -4%
Nokia 6 2018 (Browser: Chrome 65)
9923 ms * -1%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
9797 ms *
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (8396 - 10257, n=13)
9702 ms * +1%
Motorola Moto G5s Plus (Chroem Version 62)
9361 ms * +4%
HTC U11 (Chrome 58)
2760 ms * +72%
Average of class Smartphone (388 - 9999, n=165, last 2 years)
1653 ms * +83%
WebXPRT 2015 - Overall
HTC U11 (Chrome 58)
162 Points +50%
Nokia 6 2018
117 Points +8%
Motorola Moto G6 Plus (Chrome 66)
108 Points
Sony Xperia XA2 (Chrome 65.0.3325.109)
106 Points -2%
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 (86 - 117, n=10)
105.9 Points -2%
Motorola Moto G6 (Chrome 66)
90 Points -17%

* ... smaller is better

The SD card reader in the Moto G6 Plus reads data from our reference card Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 at a good speed. The values that we measured surpass those of most of the rivals. Still, the G6 Plus can reach only the second place in our comparison list because the Sony Xperia XA2 reads data just a little faster than our test device.


The results for the internal storage are similar. The Moto G6 Plus comes second of our comparison list again, beaten by the significantly better result of the HTC U11. The write/read values of the Motorola smartphone are still really good, though. Apps start quickly and data access is not impeded by waiting times.

Motorola Moto G6 PlusMotorola Moto G5s PlusSony Xperia XA2Nokia 6 2018HTC U11Motorola Moto G6Average 64 GB eMMC FlashAverage of class Smartphone
AndroBench 3-5
-26%
-24%
-27%
31%
-10%
-14%
361%
Sequential Read 256KB
286.6
237.4
-17%
271.5
-5%
272.6
-5%
717
150%
238.2
-17%
273 ?(95.6 - 704, n=201)
-5%
1467 ?(215 - 4512, n=210, last 2 years)
412%
Sequential Write 256KB
216.1
75.7
-65%
127.4
-41%
118.3
-45%
206.4
-4%
117.2
-46%
176.8 ?(40 - 274, n=201)
-18%
1077 ?(57.5 - 3678, n=210, last 2 years)
398%
Random Read 4KB
58.4
37.94
-35%
43.07
-26%
38.78
-34%
91.4
57%
69.9
20%
59.1 ?(9.58 - 148.5, n=201)
1%
241 ?(22.2 - 543, n=210, last 2 years)
313%
Random Write 4KB
62.8
44.89
-29%
13.82
-78%
15.3
-76%
80
27%
59.9
-5%
31.7 ?(2.34 - 146.9, n=201)
-50%
265 ?(13 - 709, n=210, last 2 years)
322%
Sequential Read 256KB SDCard
83.7 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
79.6 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-5%
86 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
3%
83.4 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
0%
68.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-18%
75.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-10%
77.4 ?(21.1 - 107.6, n=144)
-8%
Sequential Write 256KB SDCard
62.1 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
58.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-5%
64.8 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
4%
61.3 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
46.25 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M401)
-26%
61.5 ?(Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
-1%
58.3 ?(11.2 - 83.3, n=144)
-6%

Games - Casual Games and More for the Moto G6 Plus

The Qualcomm Adreno 508 graphics unit ensures that the performance of the Moto G6 Plus suffices to play most games fluently. At 650 MHz, the clock speed is only slightly higher than for the Moto G6, in line with the midrange classification by the manufacturer. The Motorola smartphone was able to display moderately demanding games fluently at high details during our tests.

Temple Run 2
Temple Run 2
Dead Trigger 2
Dead Trigger 2
Temple Run 2
 SettingsValue
 default60 fps
  Your browser does not support the canvas element!
Dead Trigger 2
 SettingsValue
 high30 fps
  Your browser does not support the canvas element!

Emissions - The Motorola Smartphone Barely Heats Up

Temperature

Manhattan
Manhattan
T-Rex
T-Rex

The surface temperatures of the Moto G6 Plus are rather moderate. In idle mode, our test device remains mostly below 30 °C (~86 °F). Even under load, we measured a maximum of 36 °C (~97 °F). With these results, the Motorola smartphone is able to leave behind its competitors, which reach more than 40 °C (~104 °F) under load in some cases.

We tested the SoC's performance stability under constant load with the GFXBench scenarios called T-Rex (OpenGL ES 2.0) and Manhattan (OpenGL ES 3.1). With the exception of a few minor fluctuations, which barely had any influence on the system operation, we did not detect any anomalies.

Max. Load
 31.8 °C
89 F
32.8 °C
91 F
35.5 °C
96 F
 
 31.6 °C
89 F
32.4 °C
90 F
35.5 °C
96 F
 
 30.8 °C
87 F
32 °C
90 F
36 °C
97 F
 
Maximum: 36 °C = 97 F
Average: 33.2 °C = 92 F
31.4 °C
89 F
31.8 °C
89 F
31.1 °C
88 F
31.7 °C
89 F
32.2 °C
90 F
32.1 °C
90 F
31.7 °C
89 F
31.6 °C
89 F
31.8 °C
89 F
Maximum: 32.2 °C = 90 F
Average: 31.7 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  28 °C = 82 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Voltcraft IR-260
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33.2 °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 32.2 °C / 90 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.2 °C / 86 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.
Thermal image - top
Thermal image - top
Thermal image - bottom
Thermal image - bottom

Speakers

Pink noise graph
Pink noise graph

The speaker of the Moto G6 Plus has a comparatively high volume and a moderately balanced sound spectrum. Users have to do without low mids, but the highs are almost entirely represented. However, the sounds start to get distorted at higher volumes. Our pink noise measurements with comparable devices show that the speakers of the G6 Plus are able to compete with most smartphones of this price range.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2035.239.22532.937.43137.2384031.739.85039.639.96328.335.78027.32910026.931.712526.732.41602441.620020.948.925020.95431519.554.740018.563.350017.564.763017.567.380015.768.3100015.873.6125016.675.2160015.873.8200015.472.4250015.570.231501671.7400015.87750001677.5630016.378.3800016.372.81000016.276.21250016.471.11600016.460.5SPL28.686.3N1.167median 16.4median 70.2Delta2.28.835.245.832.946.537.232.231.738.439.639.728.332.227.330.926.929.726.732.52433.620.939.120.947.319.551.118.559.217.568.517.566.715.768.515.872.916.673.615.87515.476.815.578.51676.715.876.41676.116.375.516.375.516.268.616.463.616.452.128.687.21.167.9median 16.4median 68.52.211.9hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseMotorola Moto G6 PlusNokia 6 2018
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Motorola Moto G6 Plus audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (86.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 26.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.9% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.6% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 15% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Nokia 6 2018 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (87.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 29.6% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (7.2% 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 6.9% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (3.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 45% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 47% worse
» The best had a delta of 12%, average was 38%, worst was 134%
Compared to all devices tested
» 64% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 29% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Battery Life - The Moto G6 Plus Has a Good Battery

Energy Consumption

Power Supply
Power Supply

Our test device's power consumption is slightly above average. We measured a maximum power consumption of 5.14 watts, which places the Moto G6 Plus in the midfield of our comparison devices.

The included 15-watt power supply comes with a fast charge feature, which can fully charge the battery of the G6 Plus in just about 3 hours.

Update: Our retest revealed that the Moto G6 Plus was already fully charged after about 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0 / 0.11 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.5 / 1.78 / 1.81 Watt
Load midlight 3.3 / 5.14 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 G6 Plus
3200 mAh
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3000 mAh
Sony Xperia XA2
3300 mAh
Nokia 6 2018
3000 mAh
HTC U11
3000 mAh
Motorola Moto G6
3000 mAh
Average Qualcomm Snapdragon 630
 
Average of class Smartphone
 
Power Consumption
-14%
10%
-1%
-30%
2%
-18%
-36%
Idle Minimum *
0.5
0.83
-66%
0.39
22%
0.67
-34%
0.73
-46%
0.6
-20%
0.732 ?(0.35 - 1.4, n=13)
-46%
0.891 ?(0.42 - 2.37, n=157, last 2 years)
-78%
Idle Average *
1.78
1.67
6%
1.61
10%
1.76
1%
1.96
-10%
1.81
-2%
1.835 ?(1 - 2.31, n=13)
-3%
1.448 ?(0.69 - 4.26, n=157, last 2 years)
19%
Idle Maximum *
1.81
1.85
-2%
1.62
10%
1.78
2%
1.98
-9%
1.86
-3%
2.16 ?(1.4 - 3.8, n=13)
-19%
1.63 ?(0.79 - 4.45, n=157, last 2 years)
10%
Load Average *
3.3
3.47
-5%
3.12
5%
2.82
15%
4.82
-46%
2.78
16%
3.81 ?(2.82 - 6.2, n=13)
-15%
5.57 ?(2.4 - 16.5, n=157, last 2 years)
-69%
Load Maximum *
5.14
5.41
-5%
4.92
4%
4.56
11%
7.15
-39%
4.04
21%
5.62 ?(4.56 - 8, n=13)
-9%
8.27 ?(4.32 - 20.8, n=157, last 2 years)
-61%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Runtime

Motorola has equipped the Moto G6 Plus with a 3200 mAh battery, which lasted for 11 hours 42 minutes in our Wi-Fi test. This is a good result, but it suffices only for a rank in the midfield of our comparison group. Other than the Sony and Nokia rivals, even the Moto G5s had a significantly longer runtime.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
30h 46min
WiFi Websurfing (Chrome 66)
11h 42min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
9h 02min
Load (maximum brightness)
6h 44min
Motorola Moto G6 Plus
3200 mAh
Motorola Moto G5s Plus
3000 mAh
Sony Xperia XA2
3300 mAh
Nokia 6 2018
3000 mAh
HTC U11
3000 mAh
Motorola Moto G6
3000 mAh
Battery Runtime
8%
19%
12%
-27%
-16%
Reader / Idle
1846
1496
-19%
2503
36%
1833
-1%
1250
-32%
1170
-37%
H.264
542
766
41%
675
25%
498
-8%
600
11%
WiFi v1.3
702
974
39%
886
26%
942
34%
560
-20%
553
-21%
Load
404
419
4%
298
-26%
362
-10%
212
-48%
338
-16%

Pros

+ bright display
+ dual SIM plus microSD possible
+ good camera
+ good GPS

Cons

- slippery glass on the back
- low Wi-Fi range

Verdict - The G6 Plus Has Many Rivals

In review: The Motorola Moto G6 Plus. Review unit courtesy of Motorola Germany.
In review: The Motorola Moto G6 Plus. Review unit courtesy of Motorola Germany.

The Moto G6 Plus is the culmination of the current Moto G6 series by Motorola. Hence, the hardware stands in strong contrast to that of the other G6 models. In comparison with other smartphones for about 300 Euros (~$355), the G6 Plus stands out in only very few areas, mostly consisting of the camera and the additional features of the Moto software. The pure performance values sadly do not suffice to put the rivals into any kind of predicament.

With the Moto G6 Plus, Motorola is offering a powerful midrange smartphone. However, it is beleaguered not only by external rivals, but also by the good alternatives in Motorola's own ranks.

Buyers of the G6 Plus will receive a smartphone that certainly lives up to the expectations for a midrange device. Budget-oriented potential buyers might be better served with the Moto G5s. If the inferior camera does not bear a high relevance, this smartphone's performance is almost the same as the successor model's. In addition, other manufacturers also offer powerful smartphones in the 300-Euro range. In the end, personal preference will be the deciding factor in which device to choose.

Motorola Moto G6 Plus - 06/04/2018 v6(old)
Mike Wobker

Chassis
91%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 92%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
45 / 60 → 75%
Weight
91%
Battery
92%
Display
89%
Games Performance
42 / 63 → 66%
Application Performance
54 / 70 → 77%
Temperature
92%
Noise
100%
Audio
71 / 91 → 78%
Camera
72%
Average
77%
86%
Smartphone - Weighted Average

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Mike Wobker, 2018-06- 7 (Update: 2020-05-19)