In the ever-evolving world of smartphones, the budget segment remains fiercely competitive. Finding a phone that offers good performance, long battery life, and a decent user experience at an affordable price can be a challenge. Enter the Moto G Power 5G (2024), a contender vying for your attention in the sub-$300 price bracket. But does it deliver the goods, or is it just another budget also-ran? This review takes a deep dive into the Moto G Power 5G (2024), exploring its strengths, weaknesses, and whether it deserves a spot in your pocket.
Design: Moto G Power 5G Budget Looks with a Premium Touch
At first glance, the Moto G Power 5G (2024) doesn’t scream “premium.” Its design leans towards the functional, with a large 6.7-inch display dominating the front. Bezels are noticeable, particularly the chin, but not overly distracting. The back, however, throws a curveball. Instead of the typical budget phone plastic, Motorola has opted for a “vegan leather” finish. While it’s not genuine leather, the texture feels surprisingly good in hand, offering a grippy, premium feel that surpasses its price tag. The phone comes in two color options: Midnight Blue and Pale Lilac.
Display: Big and Bright (Mostly)
The Moto G Power 5G (2024) boasts a large 6.7-inch IPS LCD. This translates to a generous viewing area for movies, games, and browsing. The resolution is a respectable 720p+, offering decent clarity for everyday use. However, some users coming from higher-resolution displays might notice a slight lack of sharpness.
While the display is big, its brightness can be a concern. Outdoor visibility can be challenging under direct sunlight. This is okay for casual use, but heavy users who spend a lot of time outdoors might find it frustrating.
Performance: Capable Enough for Everyday Tasks
The Moto G Power 5G (2024) is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7020 chipset, which is essentially a rebrand of the Dimensity 930 used in last year’s Moto G Power 5G. This isn’t top-of-the-line hardware, but it handles everyday tasks like social media, browsing, and light gaming reasonably well. Multitasking can feel sluggish at times, especially with demanding apps, but overall performance is satisfactory for the price range. The phone comes with 8GB of RAM, which helps with multitasking and app switching. Motorola also throws in up to 8GB of virtual RAM, although most users likely will find this optional.
Camera: Decent Everyday Snaps, But Don’t Expect Flagship Quality
The Moto G Power 5G (2024) sports a triple-lens rear camera system: a 50MP main sensor, a 2MP macro sensor, and a 2MP depth sensor. In good lighting conditions, the main sensor can capture decent photos with acceptable detail and color reproduction. Nevertheless, performance in low light deteriorates, with pictures looking grainy and devoid of detail. The macro and depth sensors are fairly basic and will only be used occasionally by most users. The front-facing camera is an 8MP sensor, which is adequate for video calls and casual selfies.
Battery Life: The True Powerhouse
Where the Moto G Power 5G (2024) truly shines is in its battery life. The phone packs a massive 5,000mAh battery, and it delivers. In our testing, the phone consistently offered a full day of heavy usage with a battery to spare. For moderate users, two days on a single charge is a realistic possibility. The phone also supports 30W fast charging, which can quickly top up your battery when you’re short on time. This is a major advantage over some competitors in the budget segment that still rely on slower charging speeds.
Software: Near-Stock Android with a Few Bloatware Apps
The Moto G Power 5G (2024) runs a near-stock Android 13 experience. This is a plus for users who prefer a clean and bloatware-free interface. However, Motorola does pre-install a few of its apps and some third-party bloatware. Thankfully, most of these apps can be uninstalled if you don’t find them useful. The phone is guaranteed to receive one year of software updates and three years of security updates, which is somewhat disappointing compared to some competitors’ offering.