Motorola’s G-series phones topped our ranking of the most inexpensive phones for years, but the company’s 2021 lineup fell short of expectations, while Samsung and TCL models caught up. The Moto G Power is the first model in Motorola’s 2022 portfolio, and it puts the business back on track. Starting at $199.99, the quick and cheap Moto G Power has a display with a 90Hz refresh rate and can easily last two days between charges. If you can stretch your budget a little further, the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G ($279.99) is a more future-proof option with 5G connectivity and additional software upgrades.
Motorola Moto G Power
Long-lasting battery
Exceptional performance
Refresh rate of 90Hz
CONS
Android 11 is pre-installed.
Pixelation is visible on a 720p television.
Audio is mediocre.
MOTOROLA MOTO G POWER (2022) SPECS
| Operating System | Android 11 |
| CPU | MediaTek Helio G37 |
| Dimensions | 6.6 by 3.0 by 0.4 |
| Screen Size | 6.5 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 1,600 by 720 pixels |
| Camera Resolution (Rear; Front-Facing) | 50MP, 2MP, 2MP; 8MP |
| Battery Life (As Tested) | 16 hours, 7 minutes |
Low Resolution and a High Refresh Rate
The Moto G Power weighs 7.2 ounces and measures 6.6 by 3.0 by 0.4 inches (HWD). However, its weight is evenly distributed over its plastic chassis. Furthermore, the phone’s textured matte black rear is comfortable to hold, improves grip, and hides fingerprints and scratches.
The 2021 Moto G Power has a flat, 6.5-inch LCD with the same 1,600-by-720 resolution (269ppi), but with a quicker 90Hz refresh rate. Near the top of the display, in the center, is a little cutout for the 8MP selfie camera.
The biggest letdown is the 720p resolution. Although the screen displays realistic colors, close inspection reveals considerable pixelation. While the viewing angles are good, we wish the panel was a touch brighter because direct sunlight makes it difficult to see.
The phone’s top edge has a headphone jack, while the bottom edge has a USB-C charging connector and speaker. The single port on the left is a combined SIM and microSD slot, while the right has a volume rocker and textured power button. The buttons are easily identifiable by touch, however little hands may have difficulty reaching them.
A slim module for the camera sensors resides in the upper left corner of the G Power’s back. The fingerprint sensor on last year’s G Power was moved to the back of the phone; it works swiftly and correctly, and doesn’t require as precise a touch as in-display or side-mounted sensors.
The phone’s durability is comparable to other phones in this price range. Its plastic back and chassis should be able to withstand a fall without too much damage, but we can’t say the same for its reinforced glass panel. With an IP52 classification, it should be fine in the rain, splashes, and perspiration, but it won’t survive a drop in the pool or sink.
Middling Speakers, Competitive Battery Life
Motorola promises that the Moto G Power‘s 5,000mAh battery would last three days between charges. We believe you’ll get approximately two days unless you’re a really conservative user, but that’s nothing to sneeze at.
The G Power lasted for 16 hours and 7 minutes in our battery rundown test, which streams HD video over Wi-Fi at maximum brightness. That’s slightly over three hours longer than the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, which costs around the same. Unfortunately, charging takes a long time at 10W; by comparison, the Galaxy A32 5G allows 18W charging. The Moto G Power, like most phones in this price range, does not allow wireless charging.
The phone’s peak level is 88dB, which makes it easy to hear in a noisy place. Our test calls were clear, and the noise cancellation was effective. On the other side, the speaker quality is underwhelming. The phone’s single, bottom-firing speaker can reach a respectable 92dB, although high volumes should be avoided. We noted considerable distortion at volumes beyond 70dB, and the soundstage is boxy and imbalanced. It’s OK for quick conversations or skimming through TikTok, but not for marathon Netflix sessions.
Turn to the G Power’s Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity or the aforementioned headphone jack for improved audio.
LTE Only
The Motorola G Power comes in two flavors: an AT&T-optimized device and an unlocked model that works with all major US and Canadian carriers. Although neither variant has 5G, we have yet to test a US phone at this price that does. The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G delivers outstanding sub-6GHz 5G connectivity if you’re ready to spend a little more.
In Chicago, we put the phone through its paces on T-network Mobile’s and came away impressed. We averaged download and upload speeds of 68.2Mbps and 41.6Mbps, respectively.
The phone also has dual-band Wi-Fi, however it lacks NFC features.
A More Cost-Effective Shooter
The rear camera module on the Moto G Power includes a 50MP main sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. Quad-binning is enabled by default, resulting in 12.5MP images with a 1.3m pixel pitch. The camera module also contains the same 2MP macro and depth lenses with f/2.4 aperture as the previous year’s model.
In bright light, the 50MP primary lens performs admirably. Color accuracy and natural depth of field are evident in the test shots. However, when viewed in full size, we detected some small noise around the margins.
Photos taken in low light are comparable to those taken by other phones in this price range. Many of our test images are flat and lack depth, with muted hues. In majority of our test images, we saw inconsistent blurring in the foreground, some edge noise, and lens flare. The photographs’ overall vibrancy and noise levels are improved by Motorola’s Night Vision feature, but they still lack a realistic depth of field.
The 2MP macro lens, unsurprisingly, is a disappointment. We saw severe fringing around the borders of items in our test photos, which seemed flat. You might get better results if you have a good light source and a steady hand.
In bright light, the front-facing 8MP sensor performs admirably. Natural depth and sharp foreground elements may be seen in our test selfies. However, color tones appear slightly warm, and fine details are lost. In low light, it struggled with a lot of noise and soft details.
Portrait mode on the G Power performs admirably. Although the rear-mounted depth sensor aids in the creation of natural-looking bokeh, we still detect object mapping issues around caps and ears.
Budget-friendly phones with decent cameras are hard to come by. The Samsung Galaxy A32 5G performs better in low light than the Moto G Power, but smartphone photographers will be disappointed. If you enjoy mobile photography, the $449 Google Pixel 5a With 5G is the best option.
Enough Power for the Majority
The MediaTek Helio G37 CPU and 4GB of RAM come standard on the Moto G Power. The base model comes with 64GB of storage, but for an extra $50, you can upgrade to a 128GB model. The microSD card slot on both supports up to 512GB of external storage.
The G Power starts up immediately, and there was no lag when switching screens or starting programs. We didn’t notice many slowdowns while scrolling through Instagram and Twitter feeds because to the 90Hz refresh rate.
The G Power is a good phone for simple tasks, but it isn’t a gaming phone. Genshin Impact was a tough game to play, with lag and abrupt shutdowns. Although we noted a few skipped frames, the less resource-intensive Alto’s Odyssey worked considerably better.
The G Power scored 181 single-core (SC) and 975 multi-core (MC) on Geekbench 5, a test that measures raw processing power (MC). That’s a long cry from last year’s model’s results (313 SC and 1,435 MC), and the Galaxy A32 5G did even better (571 SC and 1678 MC). However, benchmarks aren’t often representative of real-world performance, and the Helio G35’s architecture lacks the performance cores seen in Qualcomm CPUs, so the comparison isn’t perfect. For real-world tasks, the G Power performed marginally better than its predecessor and about on par with the Galaxy A32 5G.
Is Android 12 the Final Frontier?
While Samsung has extended the OS update term on nearly all of its low-cost phones to three years, Motorola has yet to follow suit. Instead, the Moto G Power comes with one OS upgrade and two years of security patches.
That wouldn’t be so bad if the Moto G Power included Android 12 and all of its cool new features, but it doesn’t. Instead, you’ll get Android 11 with the option to upgrade to Android 12 later.
Despite the fact that the G Power comes with standard Android, Motorola adds its My UX to the mix. Motorola’s My UX adds a few important new features and allows you to modify the Quick Settings and home screen of your phone. Moto Gestures, the flagship feature of My UX, lets you quickly access common functions by moving your phone in different ways. For example, you may rapidly turn on the flashlight by making a chopping motion with your wrist, or enable do not disturb mode by flipping the phone over.
Compared with similar products
| Motorola One 5G Ace – 2021 | Moto G Stylus – 2021 | Moto G Power 2021 | Moto G Play – 2021 | |
| MODEL YEAR | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| REAR CAMERA | 48MP (f/1.7, 0.8um), output 12MP (f/1.7, 1.6um) Quad Pixel PDAF | 48MP (f/1.7, 1.6μm) Quad Pixel Technology | 48MP (f/1.7, 0.8μm) PDAF + 12MP (f/1.7, 1.6μm) Quad Pixel technology | 13MP sensor (f/2.0, 1.12um) PDAF |
| FRONT CAMERA | 16MP (f/2.2, 1um) + 4MP (f/2.2, 2um) Quad Pixel | 16MP sensor (f/2.2, 1.0μm) Quad Pixel technology | 8 MP (f/2.0, 1.12μm) | 5MP (f/2.2, 1.12um) |
| DISPLAY | 6.7” FHD+ Max Vision display | 6.8″ FHD+ Max Vision display | 6.6″ Max Vision display | 6.5” Max Vision display |
| PROCESSOR | Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G 5G | Qualcomm Snapdragon 678 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 | Qualcomm Snapdragon 460 |
| MEMORY | 6GB + 128GB | 4GB + 128GB | 4GB + 64GB or 3GB + 32GB | 3GB + 32GB |
| BATTERY | 5000mAh | 4000mAh | 5000mAh | 5000mAh |
| FINGERPRINT SENSOR | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| WATER PROTECTION | IP52 water resistant | IP52 water resistant | Water repellent design | Water repellent design |
For $200, you get a good phone.
The Moto G Power 2022 is a good no-frills phone that isn’t too expensive. It effortlessly accomplishes simple chores, is free of bloatware, and can easily last a day between charges. However, we would have preferred a 1080p display (even if it meant sacrificing the 90Hz refresh rate) and wish Motorola had either shipped the phone with Android 12 or promised two future OS updates. Still, it’s a terrific deal for the money, with a longer battery life and better camera quality than the $159.99 Moto G Pure and $169.99 Moto G Play. The $279.99 Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, on the other hand, provides the best bang for your buck, with even higher camera quality, superior software support, and 5G connectivity, earning it our Editors’ Choice.
Motorola Moto G Power
Long-lasting battery
Exceptional performance
Refresh rate of 90Hz
CONS
Android 11 is pre-installed.
Pixelation is visible on a 720p television.
Audio is mediocre.
