On paper, the Moto G 5G (2023) looks like it could be a decent $250 smartphone. But once you actually use it, you’ll think otherwise. Here’s our review.
When it comes to cheap smartphones, it’s always important to remember that they aren’t going to be outfitted with the most cutting-edge hardware or run like their flagship counterparts. However, even with all of those things in mind, the Moto G 5G (2023) is still a letdown. While much of its shortcomings can be explained away with the simple reminder that it only costs $250, it’s lacking in so many areas that using it feels like a chore.
That $250 price tag might be enough to warrant a purchase for some, but based on my experience with the phone, you’ll likely be able to get much better than what the Moto G 5G is offering. That’s not to say that there’s nothing of value here, but rather that the well-designed parts of the smartphone are so heavily clouded by the numerous frustrating parts that it makes them difficult to see at all.Moto G 5G (2023): design
The design of the Moto G 5G (2023) is actually the one place where I think it shines brightest. The phone is sleek and reminiscent of the most recent iPhones with its sharper edges and rounded corners. The 6.5-inch display is plenty big, even with the thicker bezel that appears toward the bottom of the screen, which doesn’t detract too much from the rest of the display. All of its buttons are relegated to its right side, similar to many other Android devices, with a discrete lock button and a two-toned singular button for volume control.
The right side of the phone is reserved exclusively for its SIM and microSD card slot, and the bottom edge hosts a USB-C charging port, speakers, and a headphone jack. While I didn’t personally use the headphone jack, it’s always a nice feature to see, as it gives flexible audio-listening options for users.
On the rear of the device is the raised camera island, which houses the Moto G 5G’s flashlight, as well as its two camera lenses: a 48MP main camera and a 2MP macro lens. Like many of the other Motorola smartphones, the center of the Moto G 5G (2023) backside features the Motorola logo engraved in a silver color. The Moto G 5G is available in two colors: Harbor Gray and Ink Blue. Both are solid color options that give the phone a professional look for those looking for a more subtle, darker color option, as well as those who prefer a brighter, more noticeable style.
At only 6.67 ounces, the phone is comfortable to hold, especially for longer calls and text exchanges, thanks to how light and how well-sized it is. For the same reasons, it’s easy to slip into front and back pockets and can easily fit into handbags of all sizes, especially smaller ones.
While most of the Moto G 5G’s design is rock-solid, the one place I take issue is with its lock button and how it interacts with the user experience. The button doubles as its fingerprint sensor, which is always an issue for me. Because the phone automatically unlocks when my finger touches the button, it can be difficult to actually lock the phone since locking it requires you to press the button. Similarly, picking up the phone to look at the time or a notification often results in fully unlocking it since your finger naturally ends up resting close to the button.
Moments like this happen pretty often, resulting in several-second exchanges where all I wanted to do was look at the time, but found myself in a wrestling match with the phone as it kept locking and unlocking itself. The fingerprint sensor can be turned off, and you can use Face Unlock in its place, but it’s far less secure and only good for bypassing the lock screen.
The lock screen/fingerprint scanner issue has been one I’ve had with other Motorola phones, so if that’s not something that bothers you, then don’t pay it too much mind. However, I found myself feeling constantly interrupted by the phone due to how long it would take to pick up and put down when wanting to do simple lock screen activities.Moto G 5G (2023): screen
The Moto G 5G (2023) has a 6.5-inch LCD display with a resolution of 1600 x 720 and 269 pixels per inch (ppi). While it does have a 120Hz refresh rate — a feature that’s impressive for a phone at this price — the screen is best described as serviceable. The screen gets the job done, but doesn’t offer much in terms of clarity when compared to similar devices that have moved on to OLED screens or LCD screens with higher resolutions. Obviously, hardware upgrades like those can drive the price up, so it’s understandable that the Moto G 5G might suffer here due to its budget pricing.
The Moto G 5G’s LCD screen is decent, but falls into some pitfalls.
