Moto G5 Plus First Impressions: Moto G Now Goes Metal on a Budget
Motorola launched its latest version of the phone. Know more about Moto G5 plus prices, features, specification
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Now that MWC 2017 is over, Lenovo has taken no time to launch its Moto G5 Plus in the Indian market. With the price starting from Rs 14,999, the Moto G5 Plus is available in 3/4GB RAM variants, both offering 32GB expandable storage.
This is the first Moto G phone to move away from being a safe bet in terms of design, and borrowing its elements from the recently launched Moto Z and Moto Z Play. We find out if this phone has enough in the tank to become the go-to option in the mid range segment.
Design
As we’ve mentioned above, this is the first Moto G phone to get a metal finish. This, and the round shape encasing around the camera lens at the back, is similar to what we saw with the Moto Z and Z Play recently.
Even while being 7.7 mm thick, the phone’s overall weight feels well distributed, and this has been helped by Lenovo’s call to switch the G5 Plus from a 5.5-inch sized device to 5.2-inch. The G5 Plus also feels lighter to hold than the Redmi Note 4.
The new-look fingerprint scanner is more user-friendly than the one you got on the Moto G4 Plus last year. Unlocking the device isn’t an issue anymore. All in all, we like the new G5 Plus for its design refinement, and small tweaks it more easier to use.
Where it Scores?
We are yet to test out the camera, but on paper at least, the Moto G5 Plus seems to be carrying more wits about it than the Redmi Note 4.
The G5 Plus gets a 12-megapixel camera with f/1.7 aperture, the same that you got with the Samsung Galaxy S7. However, we’ll quickly point out that the sensor model on the G5 Plus doesn’t match up to the one on Galaxy S7.
The picture’s have more detail and clarity than the Redmi Note 4, with quick time capture, all thanks to the nimble Android Nougat version. Having said that, the camera bump is noticeable, making it imperative that use the phone with a cover, to avoid scratches on the lens.
Powered by 3000mAh battery, the Moto G5 Plus supports turbo-charging, which means you don’t have to plug in the phone for long hours. This ensures the 1000mAh battery size difference between the G5 Plus and Redmi Note 4 doesn’t haunt buyers.
You also get the option to add 2 nano-SIM along with the microSD card, all at the same time. Clearly, Moto hasn’t compromised here with a hybrid slot, which is becoming rather common these days.
Where it Lacks?
Compared to others in this price bracket, we found the display quality of the Moto G5 Plus lacking sharpness. This results in the images clicked, videos that you see looking dull to the naked eye. For this price, Moto has opted for battery efficiency, but then compromised on a display, that might be full-HD resolution, but doesn’t look like one.
Both the variants of Moto G5 Plus offer 32GB storage. While you can expand it up to 128GB, but still many consumers these days would like a 64GB option. Xiaomi has one, so does Honor.
First Take
Moto G5 Plus is a solid mid-range option for buyers. Quality design, coupled with reliable hardware in tow will work for most of us. The camera quality looks decent but we’ll reserve that judgement for our review. This metal-laden device surely has the look and brains to become a viable option to consider.
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