It’s a long time since I reviewed the original Moto G. Actually, it’s only 3.5 years but
that’s an age in mobile.
That first G was a sleeper hit.
Sturdily designed it offered unmatched price-to-performance.
Since then, Moto itself has changed ownership and all the range have received facelifts.
Last year's G4 was somewhat controversial, swapping affordable & pocketable for 5.5"
phone with a fairly launch price.
Lenovo have dialled back the G5.
At £170 it's clear the G has outgrown its original entry-level trappings but can still
be considered a budget phone The key specifications are -
Android 7.0 Nougat 1.4 GHz octa-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon 430
processor 5-inch Full HD (1080 x 1920) IPS display
Removable 2,800 mAh battery Rear 13MP camera with Phase Detection AutoFocus
Front-facing 5MP camera with wide angle lens Fingerprint reader with swipe navigation
I’ve used the single SIM model with 2GB RAM.
There is a dual SIM model with 3GB RAM – that’s not available at the time of review.
In a world of big screens, 5" is the new sweet spot and you won't find much smaller.
The G5's IPS panel stays at Full HD 1080p when other budget devices drop to 720p.
The G5’s shape is reminiscent of the first 3 Gs.
The chunky design doesn't feel ugly or thick but is pleasantly weighty.
The G4 lost this; its slim construction and aluminium frame emulated 'premium' phones
and lost personality in the process.
The old 'banana curve' and rear dimple of early Gs has gone.
That’s no big issue but they did create a comfortable profile.
The back cover here has a two-tone effect and is removable.
This reveals the SIM/SD trays and, in a first for the G, a removable battery.
A surprise feature, as even recent entry level phones use sealed constructions.
This may pull in a subset of buyers.
Elsewhere - the camera is surrounded by a large black circle.
This mimics the design of Moto's Z range.
The volume rocker and power button have satisfying travel and click.
The fascia is a little busy.
A fingerprint sensor sits on the chin.
This is a simple oval pad; it doesn't click but can act as a navigation button.
On the top bezel you'll find the main speaker, selfie camera and moto logo.
Overall there's nothing to dislike.
The only detraction is the micro USB (micro-B) port, instead of the newer USB Type-C.
Out of the box you'll find a fairly bare-bones Android 7.0 installed.
It looks stock thanks to the Google Now launcher but isn’t quite.
Some Moto tweaks are in the settings, including managers for Moto / Lenovo IDs, backup services
and privacy settings.
One extra I love are Moto's gestures and display notifications.
These have been around for a couple of years and it's great to see them still utilised.
For those not in the know you can: Karate Chop twice to turn the flashlight on
Twist the phone around twice to load the camera Flip the phone over for Do Not Disturb mode
Pick up to stop ringing Notifications fade in/out when the screen
is off with an interactive button A new addition with this fingerprint sensor
is one button navigation.
Activate it and tap the pad for Home, Swipe left/right across it will go back or to recent
apps.
Enabling this will remove the standard Android navigation bar, which takes getting used to
but is smooth once you’re accustomed.
Android 7’s been out for a while, but its appearance on cheaper phones will be the first
experience for many.
There aren't many big new features; this is refinement not revolution.
The bottom of the home screen has changed.
You can now dock 5 apps here, the central one replacing the app drawer button.
Accessing this is now done by a swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
We move closer to fully gesture-based interaction with the UI.
Other Android 7 improvements are subtle.
Better battery life through an update to Doze.
Support for switching languages on the keyboard quickly.
And native Daydream VR.
These are all fairly niche footnotes though.
One big new feature is split screen.
A 3rd party addition from some manufacturers, it’s now native to Android 7.
Simply put, it works.
If you tap the recent apps button, the usual vertical list of active apps is displayed.
A prompt at the top of the screen explains how to access split screen.
Drag a window to this area and it will lock in place, taking up half the screen.
The other half still shows the vertical app list for you to choose a second window.
It works, although at this screen size you are left feeling very cramped.
I personally can't see it improving productivity for many outside of tablet size screens.
One use I did find was playing a YouTube video (which still won't play in the background)
alongside browsing.
Being made to read articles on half a 5-inch screen wasn't pleasant though.
It's oft-repeated but a camera really can make or break a phone.
Next to the screen, the camera is likely the most expensive individual component.
Yet so much about camera quality rests on more than just providing a good module and
lens.
Image processing and software trickery can utterly change the final result.
This is one reason cheaper handsets tend to have poor cameras.
Lesser known manufacturers don't have the resources to develop decent imaging software.
Dumping the Google Camera app supplied with stock Android can often result in barely passable
results.
The Moto G has always walked a tightrope here.
The Moto Camera app is basic.
The final image processing is certainly not the same level as a top-tier iPhone, Galaxy
or LG.
You do still get manual options however.
Switching to Pro mode provides white balance, ISO etc.
If there is one marked improvement over the last generation Moto G, it would be PDAF.
Standing for Phase Detection AutoFocus, this has been all the rage in more expensive devices
for a year or so.
PDAF is the foil to CDAF - Contrast Detection AutoFocus, which is cheaper and easier to
implement.
Without doing a science bit, the simpler Contrast Detection is generally considered much slower
for stills and landscapes.
It's also arguably not as refined.
PDAF often focuses faster and more accurately on moving subjects too.
PDAF does though still require a decent natural contrast to focus well.
As a result, low light images on the Moto G5 still aren't amazing.
They're better than they ever have been on a G of course, but not the best.
The most expensive devices still have improved lenses and larger pixels to increase captured
light for these situations.
Still, this is the best camera to grace a Moto G, and, by extension, one of the better
cameras you'll find on a phone of this price.
The Moto G5 continues this brand's traditions strongly.
At this point, the Moto G name has cemented itself as a 'go-to' cheaper phone.
And rightly so.
Putting the G4 to one side a little, good phone that it is, the G range has mostly succeeded
through simplicity.
The design, interface and capabilities have always been welcoming and easy to understand.
There are then more advanced capabilities just a few touches away for users that know
about them.
The specification too, whilst never groundbreaking, always ensures the phones perform well for
a good length of time.
This is something many other cheaper phones, even today, forget when pushing the cost down.
Moto G phones work across many demographics: teenager liable to break things, money-conscious
student (who may also break things), senior looking at a first smartphone etc.
I'm happy to say the Moto G5 is more of the same.
Once again we have a basic smartphone, with up to date hardware & software, that is pleasant
and simple to use.
There is undoubtedly more competition in this tier of phones than ever before.
Consumers are also far more savvy these days.
For those not wanting to drudge through pages of comparisons and specifications though,
the Moto G5 is a solid choice.
It's a Ford Focus.
It's a low cost Samsung TV without 4K or an Internet connection.
It’s a Hotpoint washing machine with simple programs and no flashing lights, buttons or
displays.
It gets the job done well without costing too much or shouting too loud about it.